Sunday, August 24, 2008
Danny Boy
check out this sweet angel! he really is as sweet as his big, beautiful eyes suggest! what a mild mannered boy and a big flirt! mom really wanted the big gummy smiles she's so accustomed to but nothing bowls me over like eyes that look like they want to know everything! and what's cuter than little piggies!!!!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
our week in the poconos
we had dreams for a more exotic family vacation, but one thing led to another and we ended up in our own backyard. we drive through the poconos every time we head to poppy and grandma's house, what an unusual sensation to stop and get off the highway and make that our home-away-from-home for a week of family vacation time. somehow seeing deer on vacation is SOOO much more exciting that seeing the deer we see all the time at home.....
ron and his family came for a short visit over the weekend. ron and eric were able to steal away to the nascar race and emily and i occupied all the kiddos. we also had mimi's family come up to their family house for part of the week. it was fun getting to see them outside of home and do new and exciting things with them.
a brief recap of our trip in photos...
playing baseball and all sorts of games right out back of our condo. we were on top of a ski slope (well, they called it a ski slope, keep in mind we're still in PA you have to use your imagination) and had a beautiful view.
swimming in the icy waters in the pool associated with our condo. gracie and i were the only ones brave enough to go in!
jackson taking a turn driving mimi's pop pop's boat on lake wallenpaupack when they visited us over the week.
again, little miss swimmer braved the waters to dabble in a little lake swimming.
and here's little miss pass out realizing that a weeks worth of vacation activities is proving to be a little much for our BIG girl. she actually fell asleep sitting up while the boat was moving full speed holding on the hand rail. poor thing....
FINALLY jackson braves the chilly waters on his own time and in his own way hours later.
now THAT'S a bubble bath! what more could a girl want than a jacuzzi bubble bath!
a trip to claws n' paws. a local "zoo". never saw a giraffe so close up before! they do feedings there and he comes right out to you!
family portrait on our way out.
things i didn't have the camera for were a trip to the county fair. we had a GREAT time on the rides and winning expensive really cheap stuffed animals and getting to see all the farm animals up close. and a trip to the amusement park which started out iffy with whiny and tired kids but ended up being a great afternoon of bumper boats, go karts, mini golf, and a little swimming, of course by just me and grace:-)
action packed, fun filled, great time had by all. vacations don't necessarily mean the same thing once you have kids. we still go go go, partly because we want to do fun things in new places but partly we know the kid's need to DO stuff will eventually drives us out anyway! so we may have over planned but we enjoyed everything we did and you can tell the kids did just about the right amount that when their heads hit the pillows at night the fell asleep fast and hard.
ron and his family came for a short visit over the weekend. ron and eric were able to steal away to the nascar race and emily and i occupied all the kiddos. we also had mimi's family come up to their family house for part of the week. it was fun getting to see them outside of home and do new and exciting things with them.
a brief recap of our trip in photos...
playing baseball and all sorts of games right out back of our condo. we were on top of a ski slope (well, they called it a ski slope, keep in mind we're still in PA you have to use your imagination) and had a beautiful view.
swimming in the icy waters in the pool associated with our condo. gracie and i were the only ones brave enough to go in!
jackson taking a turn driving mimi's pop pop's boat on lake wallenpaupack when they visited us over the week.
again, little miss swimmer braved the waters to dabble in a little lake swimming.
and here's little miss pass out realizing that a weeks worth of vacation activities is proving to be a little much for our BIG girl. she actually fell asleep sitting up while the boat was moving full speed holding on the hand rail. poor thing....
FINALLY jackson braves the chilly waters on his own time and in his own way hours later.
now THAT'S a bubble bath! what more could a girl want than a jacuzzi bubble bath!
a trip to claws n' paws. a local "zoo". never saw a giraffe so close up before! they do feedings there and he comes right out to you!
family portrait on our way out.
things i didn't have the camera for were a trip to the county fair. we had a GREAT time on the rides and winning expensive really cheap stuffed animals and getting to see all the farm animals up close. and a trip to the amusement park which started out iffy with whiny and tired kids but ended up being a great afternoon of bumper boats, go karts, mini golf, and a little swimming, of course by just me and grace:-)
action packed, fun filled, great time had by all. vacations don't necessarily mean the same thing once you have kids. we still go go go, partly because we want to do fun things in new places but partly we know the kid's need to DO stuff will eventually drives us out anyway! so we may have over planned but we enjoyed everything we did and you can tell the kids did just about the right amount that when their heads hit the pillows at night the fell asleep fast and hard.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Shameful representation in our Hollywood movies...
Hello everyone.
I am contacting all of you in regard to Ben Stiller's new movie that is scheduled to be in theaters this Wednesday. It is called "Tropic Thunder." I was informed by the National Down Syndrome Society that there are significant portions of this movie that depict people with mental disabilities in an extremely derogatory light. The entire movie's premise is "actors making fun of actors" and "using extremes to make fun of movie plots", but part of this "poking fun" includes a pretend movie entitled "Simple Jack." There is one particular conversation in the movie between Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr that discusses Stiller's character acting in "Simple Jack" which is a movie that outwardly exemplifies prejudices and stereotypes of people who have mental disabilities. The derogatory word "retard" is used repeatedly and in a negative connotation to those who have a disability. I specifically viewed a clip of this portion of the movie and I was horrified and disgusted. There is one particular part of the clip where Downey Jr says "nobody goes full retard" and means that when you play that role in a movie, you never are completely changed into that particular character, where Stiller felt like he was "stupid" or in his words "retarded" as a result of playing Simple Jack. There are many more parts within this movie that are extremely offensive in the same nature.
As a mom of a child with down syndrome, I was so disheartened and disappointed that the stereotypes and ignorance that I try to combat every day of my life within the community were going to be featured, highlighted, and even made to be "funny" on the big screen. I know Hollywood is anything but upstanding when it comes to morals and decency, but I feel the line needs to be drawn somewhere. It would not be acceptable for another minority group in our country to be disrespected, so why should it be any different for those with disabilities? Do people think they cannot voice their thoughts and defend themselves? If so, they are severely mistaken.
I ask you to spread the word about this movie to anyone you know as well as discuss it with your children who may be part of the target audience. This will not only result in less money that ends up in Ben Stiller's pocket, but it will also provide you with a "teachable moment" to open their eyes to the world around them.
Thank you
Fara, Eric, Grace and especially Jackson Lippincott
I am contacting all of you in regard to Ben Stiller's new movie that is scheduled to be in theaters this Wednesday. It is called "Tropic Thunder." I was informed by the National Down Syndrome Society that there are significant portions of this movie that depict people with mental disabilities in an extremely derogatory light. The entire movie's premise is "actors making fun of actors" and "using extremes to make fun of movie plots", but part of this "poking fun" includes a pretend movie entitled "Simple Jack." There is one particular conversation in the movie between Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr that discusses Stiller's character acting in "Simple Jack" which is a movie that outwardly exemplifies prejudices and stereotypes of people who have mental disabilities. The derogatory word "retard" is used repeatedly and in a negative connotation to those who have a disability. I specifically viewed a clip of this portion of the movie and I was horrified and disgusted. There is one particular part of the clip where Downey Jr says "nobody goes full retard" and means that when you play that role in a movie, you never are completely changed into that particular character, where Stiller felt like he was "stupid" or in his words "retarded" as a result of playing Simple Jack. There are many more parts within this movie that are extremely offensive in the same nature.
As a mom of a child with down syndrome, I was so disheartened and disappointed that the stereotypes and ignorance that I try to combat every day of my life within the community were going to be featured, highlighted, and even made to be "funny" on the big screen. I know Hollywood is anything but upstanding when it comes to morals and decency, but I feel the line needs to be drawn somewhere. It would not be acceptable for another minority group in our country to be disrespected, so why should it be any different for those with disabilities? Do people think they cannot voice their thoughts and defend themselves? If so, they are severely mistaken.
I ask you to spread the word about this movie to anyone you know as well as discuss it with your children who may be part of the target audience. This will not only result in less money that ends up in Ben Stiller's pocket, but it will also provide you with a "teachable moment" to open their eyes to the world around them.
Thank you
Fara, Eric, Grace and especially Jackson Lippincott
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
something new...
i recently had a different opportunity. a fellow artist/crafter friend of mine approached me to help her photograph some of her product. a change of pace for me. instead of running around after kiddos trying desperately to get them at their best, we were able to take our time and set up a shot. it was a completely different animal. i'm so used to worrying about getting the subject comfortable and in good light now i had to check clothing to see if it was laying right and looking it's best. we were both pleased with the results and i think it was great groundwork. next time we'll know a little bit more going in to it.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Happy Birthday to GRACIE!!!!
today was miss gracie's 3rd birthday! where has the time gone! i cannot believe it. quite a big girl these days. we had a very excited, full, fun birthday. she picked a special dress to wear to school and got to wear all of her "firework" hair clips in the her hair. (auntie manya, just so you know, she still asks about you and your clips and always thinks it's special when she gets to wear them :-) she picked to make cookies as her treat to bring to her classmates, and oddly enough her favorite cookie is gingersnaps. i warned her that it's possible that the other children in class just might not like them but i suspect that was part of her plan! she'd finish off the ones the others left behind! yesterday we made gingersnap cookies from scratch. gracie was a big help and loved bringing them in herself to share with her friends and much to every one's surprised the other children loved the cookies (either that or the teachers told me that and ate them themselves!)
she was excited to leave school after lunch because we were going to the mall to get her ears pierced! she has been talking about it for about a week and had her mind set on earrings. we've talked about it in the past but it was always a passing moment or short lived infatuation, but she was persistent this time and we felt she was ready. she was SOOO excited! i tried to tell her that it might hurt without scaring her. i'd hate for her to be blindsided and look at me like "WHY on earth wouldn't you tell me that were going to be making HOLES in my EARS!!!" we arrived at claire's only to find that they only had one person working there today. in the past we've seen little ones get double timed and have one person shoot each ear at the same time. eric and i paused but felt if they only got one in we'd be able to talk her into the other. the woman was great with grace and she was all ready, never really put any thought into the fact that it might hurt. the woman did one ear and within 5 seconds she did the other and then grace figured out was going on and started to cry. the woman said that ws the trick get that second one in during the shock period of what-just-happened-here?!?! and we were able to go to the hello kitty section and distract her by picking out some new earrings. she was good as new, even better because she had shiny new earrings in! what a birthday treat!
we came home and opened her presents. she got a fancy nancy book and a fancy nancy tutu, but the most beloved was a littlest pet shop set of her very own! she was very excited and we got it out right away and just kept thanking me for picking such a great gift! very sweet.
no big birthday party here but she got to pick where we were going for dinner, CiCi's Pizza it is! and she got to pick her friend mimi to come along (mimi who is actually a friend of jackson's from school but who gracie just adores) i can't really complain because selfishly it meant that we were going to get a night out with good friends as well, even if it was over pizza with macaroni and cheese on it!
fun-filled, jam packed day! good day all around. happy 3rd birthday my little chunky monkey!
ready for school!
running full speed to get to Claire's
sitting like a big girl all ready to get her ears pierced
showing off her new earrings after only very few tears
showing off her hello kitty tattoos she got in her birthday card
this afternoon was a hot one so gracie gave her new ariel snorkel set a try
can't leave out the j-man on this day
at birthday dinner with her buddy mimi
passing off CiCi's brownies as birthday cake!
family pic
mr. dirk in charge of ALL the kids in the arcade!
gracie got to play the grabber game as a birthday treat. keep this girl out of vegas because i think her gambling habits are forming early!
she was excited to leave school after lunch because we were going to the mall to get her ears pierced! she has been talking about it for about a week and had her mind set on earrings. we've talked about it in the past but it was always a passing moment or short lived infatuation, but she was persistent this time and we felt she was ready. she was SOOO excited! i tried to tell her that it might hurt without scaring her. i'd hate for her to be blindsided and look at me like "WHY on earth wouldn't you tell me that were going to be making HOLES in my EARS!!!" we arrived at claire's only to find that they only had one person working there today. in the past we've seen little ones get double timed and have one person shoot each ear at the same time. eric and i paused but felt if they only got one in we'd be able to talk her into the other. the woman was great with grace and she was all ready, never really put any thought into the fact that it might hurt. the woman did one ear and within 5 seconds she did the other and then grace figured out was going on and started to cry. the woman said that ws the trick get that second one in during the shock period of what-just-happened-here?!?! and we were able to go to the hello kitty section and distract her by picking out some new earrings. she was good as new, even better because she had shiny new earrings in! what a birthday treat!
we came home and opened her presents. she got a fancy nancy book and a fancy nancy tutu, but the most beloved was a littlest pet shop set of her very own! she was very excited and we got it out right away and just kept thanking me for picking such a great gift! very sweet.
no big birthday party here but she got to pick where we were going for dinner, CiCi's Pizza it is! and she got to pick her friend mimi to come along (mimi who is actually a friend of jackson's from school but who gracie just adores) i can't really complain because selfishly it meant that we were going to get a night out with good friends as well, even if it was over pizza with macaroni and cheese on it!
fun-filled, jam packed day! good day all around. happy 3rd birthday my little chunky monkey!
ready for school!
running full speed to get to Claire's
sitting like a big girl all ready to get her ears pierced
showing off her new earrings after only very few tears
showing off her hello kitty tattoos she got in her birthday card
this afternoon was a hot one so gracie gave her new ariel snorkel set a try
can't leave out the j-man on this day
at birthday dinner with her buddy mimi
passing off CiCi's brownies as birthday cake!
family pic
mr. dirk in charge of ALL the kids in the arcade!
gracie got to play the grabber game as a birthday treat. keep this girl out of vegas because i think her gambling habits are forming early!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
arts fest
here's a little visual blog of the weekend. very LONG, very HOT, very TIRING, but super successful and all worth it! all around great weekend, great show. hot, steamy weather but the people still came out. loved seeing folks i haven't seen in awhile and catching up with local friends and getting to see old customers who stopped in to say hello and how pleased they are with what they purchased years before. doesn't get any better than that! all my new products were received quite well. and i love to see the totes and messenger bags i work so hard on go home with very excited customers. alright, must go put my feet up!
me, doing my thing
a complete set on display, sling, mat, tote, single serve, binkee bungee.
a favorite of passersby this show
FUN inside!
new product that was a hit, reversible, reusable shoppers. go green!
another new product that was a hit, i had one left! reversible smocks.
one more new product that everyone loved, binkee bungees, a natural addition to the baby gift set.
gift set for a client that i made beforehand to put on display
a great new messenger that was happily sold!
still looking for a home, the inside fabric sells this one!
see?
gracie's version of helping. she liked stopping by to see momma work and wanted to know why i went to the fair so much.
me, doing my thing
a complete set on display, sling, mat, tote, single serve, binkee bungee.
a favorite of passersby this show
FUN inside!
new product that was a hit, reversible, reusable shoppers. go green!
another new product that was a hit, i had one left! reversible smocks.
one more new product that everyone loved, binkee bungees, a natural addition to the baby gift set.
gift set for a client that i made beforehand to put on display
a great new messenger that was happily sold!
still looking for a home, the inside fabric sells this one!
see?
gracie's version of helping. she liked stopping by to see momma work and wanted to know why i went to the fair so much.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
i bet you couldn't do this if you tried....
yes, that's the j-man sleeping.
during the fireworks.
he didn't go to sleep beforehand, he fell asleep right in the middle of the thunderous roar of the 45 minutes long fireworks show. you know the booming, the kind that you feel in your chest? yes, that's when he couldn't take anymore and went to sleep. CRAZY!!?!?
i thought that was pretty remarkable. other than that we had a lovely fourth of july. E's parents came up as well has his brother and his family and a friend of KT's. we played and bbqed, and trekked over to the show. here in quiet little central pa we happen to have the one of the largest all volunteer non profit july 4th festivals and fireworks displays. not too shabby. the whole days draws 50,000-70,000 people. all in walking distance from our home. if anyone would like to learn more visit http://www.4thfest.org/.
the in laws took my kids back down to their house afterwards. it was weird for E and i to stand there afterwards waving good bye to EVERYONE and to go back in to a QUIET home! quiet and productive home for the rest of the weekend. E hung drywall, i sewed sewed sewed, getting ready for Arts Fest. i'm excited about the amount of inventory i have. i know i'll always want to have more, but i have more now than i ever had for any other show. now let's just hope folks come looking to buy!
a little face painting to get into the festivities
J's full 4th of july regalia, compliments of school
all the kiddos sporting presents pap and gram brought back from their trip to CO
showing a little pride in the red white & blue
maddie pushing N & G on the way to the fireworks
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