Tee Up for Down Syndrome

It was 5:30 in the morning and I was driving to the golf tournament when I got a text from my co-chair saying his car was broken in to and everything was gone... "ha ha" I texted back "your funny this early in the morning". The next text I got made me sick to my stomach- it was a photo of a destroyed dashboard and an empty seat... all of our golfer bag prizes, event shirts and misc other things were stolen and I was on my way to the tournament- no way to replace anything!

Thankfully wonderful people came out to support us and didn't mind not getting the fun stuff promised. It was a challenging course at Ridge Creek Golf Club- our very own Jamison Whiting and team came in FIRST! It was actually a Schneider/Whiting sweep- Tom Schneider, Creed and friends came in just 1 or two strokes behind the winning team.

I have to give a huge hug and shout out to my dad- he ran our putting contest so well, supplied a greaat Kindle as a prize and was so very supportive all day- thank you very much.

I also need to thank Jamison who came home yesterday from the east coast and through jet lag and exhaustion- helped organize, pack and set up with me.

Now I am going to curl up and take a nap :)

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Nappy Time

Like Father, Like son. 

Go Red Sox!

On our adventures back east, a few of us managed to squeeze in a night in Boston and catch a Red Sox game!  It was a nice warm day, great crowd and a good game.  We had amazing seats about 20 rows up from first base- we all thought we would burn in the sun but our seats stayed perfectly shaded the entire game while the rest of the crowd melted in the 80 degree weather (insert laugh from Californians who deal with 106 degree weather regularly) It really was ideal weather to watch a baseball game.
We saw "The Laser Show"
... until the Red Sox lost in the 9th.

Evenings at Buzzard Bay

I warned you I would be adding more! Our memories are what get us through the hard times and I can go back to this wonderful vacation on the blog. We had some wonderful evenings on the shores of Buzzard Bay. Shawn made sure that we had a bonfire on our beach. Tom & Shawn went and dug a pit and then Shawn built a great fire. Everyone gathered for s'mores. In the pictures it looks like Molly was an out-law but really we found out smoke follows beauty. Those of us that endured the bug bites were treated to a sky full of stars.
We also had a hysterical game night. We promised no pictures of it because if you have ever played group charades you would understand. Just imagine four people miming things at the same time. Thanks Thomas for the games.

Dinner on the Cape

We decided that no one person would want to do the cooking for the week. The cost of restaurants for dinner too would be prohibitive so I came up with the idea that everyone should have a turn to cook. We then mixed it up even more by separating couples and putting together different sets of twosomes. It went better then could be planned. We had fabulous food every night.
Jamison and Molly went first. Think regional! This twosome followed their recipes all the way to Papa Gino's Pizza Parlor.  True east coast pizza. We even got instructions on how to properly fold your pizza.

The next night Jessica & Thomas treated us to a Clam Bake. Due to inclement weather cooking on the beach was cancelled. Turks was our fish supplier and regular haunt.  Creed found out that cracking lobsters can be exciting with pieces of shell and juice showering down. The broth they made to go with the clam bake was unreal! They ended with a Boston Creme Pie.

Jamie and Creed were next up. Starting off with appetizers that allowed us to taste several regional treats. Grilled beef & mushrooms dipped in Cape Cod bbq sauce. Another regional treat served was quahogs. It is clams and stuffing mixed together and  baked in its shell. They finished up with scallops that were to die for and a lemon buerre blanc sauce that was heavenly. They served a cheese risotto and grilled asparagus as sides. The risotto was so good that Wyatt ate "cheese" for three days. Dessert was S'mores at the bonfire.

Then  Jenn & Shawn finished off the week with a real Fish & Chips dinner! Jenn let us know that she had practiced and perfected her dinner and with Shawn as Sous Chef they produced an exceptional meal. The cod was delicious as the fish of choice. The onions rings were divine and even fried zucchini & asparagus. Dessert was delicious - brownies with cookie dough served with ice cream.

We want to thank Turks for all the seafood. We wished we had a t-shirt to sport but Tom forgot. It was a great week of food. Those gaining only 4 lbs felt really good about it! Thanks to all Cooks/Dialers it made for a fun event. Dinners together are always welcomed.

Martha's Vineyard

One of my favorite days on vacation was actually Jamie's birthday. What I learned is that if you want to have the day you want on your birthday then you should plan it. Jamie planned our Martha's Vineyard day.
We arose early and got the ferry from New Bedford to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard. When we got there we rented bikes for a ride. The landscape is beautiful - everything you think it should be!!  Sand dunes and inner waterways. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. We ate lunch at the Seafood Shanty where we were sent by one whose name should not be mentioned (Rachel Ray). In the pictures you can see the perfect bite.
Muffy, Timmons, Skip and the many different personas adopted truly fit the shops in Edgartown. Wyatt found a puppy he wanted to take home instead he got the baby version. This is the home of the Black Dog.
Wyatt loved his bike cart and did not want to leave it. Molly proved herself Iron Woman by riding back on a flat tire. We all felt that after the ride the ice cream wouldn't count.
Jamie - Thank you for your planning!!! Happy Birthday

Cape Cod Trip

We just returned from a great family vacation. Tom and I decided 15 months ago that when we took a trip for his 30 years at BAIF and our 30 years of marriage we wanted to take our whole family. We have always wanted to go to the Cape Cod area. Jamie & Tom did a bit of research and came up with a location and a house in Marion, Ma.
On June 9th we loaded up 3 cars with 11 people and headed out to the airport for a full day of travel. Wyatt (and those that kept him smiling) gets props for flying in two airplanes and an hour car trip with no melt downs at all!!!

The house was built in 1894 and sleeps 16 people. It is lovingly referred to as "The Ark". No pictures of the inside do it justices. Doors and rooms galore. It has a weather vane that actually runs through the house and displays directions on the ceiling in the family room.

The house sits on the shore of Buzzard Bay. The porch is large and when it rained we played corn toss on the porch. The grass area made for much play - chase, wiffle ball, corn toss. The wild life kept Wyatt amused as bunnies, "hop hops", were everywhere. There was a pond with frogs and fish. We even were visited by a fox.
We had our own beach where we searched for sea shells and played in the water. Shawn pushed and we are glad he did because we had bonfires on the beach two nights. From the house we watched sail boats head out everyday. We got to see the Tabor Man a ship that the local private school set sail.
We read books, played games, toured the area, went to Red Sox games and biked Martha's Vineyard so get ready for more family posts from our vacation.

More Fresno & Redinger Pics

On the MS&M farewell to California tour we hit LEGOLAND on Saturday.  Amazing what you can do with LEGOs.  I still want to know the story behind the idea to create an entire amusement park based on LEGOs.  It was a fun day and Maddy is the perfect age.

Outstanding in the Fields

Okay there is a reason I couldn't make it to the gathering in Fresno and I know its not a great excuse but it had been planned 4 months ago.
Saturday Jamie and I went with some women from the exercise club to an event called Outstanding in the Fields. We went to the seafood dinner in a secret cove in Santa Cruz!!! This event sold out in 14 minutes. 150 - 200 people that did get tickets got to eat incredible, organic sustainable food prepared right there on the beach. We toured the farm with the farmer where our salad came from. We met the fisherman that caught our fish.  Wine was served with each course by a local vintner that paired his wine with the food.
It was actually a clear beautiful evening but a little windy. They built a huge bonfire that we gathered around. The whole evening makes for a very memorable event.
This group travels the country and they now even do dinners in Europe and Canada.

O'Dell & Young Fun in the Sun

We were so lucky to have gotten to spend some time this weekend with Megan, Scott, Maddie, and Uncle Mike. They made the trek up and stayed at our house so that we could all go out and enjoy a day on Redinger Lake before Megan, Scott & Maddie move out to Cleveland. The weather was warm (ok hot) and the water was chilly... a perfect combination for a fun and exhausting day for the kiddos.

Wyatt and Maddie had a great time and loved playing together. After a day on the lake, we were met at home by Aunt Kimmie, Jenn & Jamo, Tim & Ruth for a BBQ and birthday celebration for Kim. So much fun seeing everyone and I will make sure to post better pictures when I get them from Scott!

Thanks Uncle Mike for bringing the boat up!! So much fun and can't wait to go again!

Gluten Free Pizza... taught by Kim!

Chef Kim came to Fresno to share her skills with the Down Syndrome Association of Central California- Gluten Free Pizza... It was DELICIOUS! Thank you Tom Schneider for donating the ingredients! and Fresno Young Chefs Academy for donating the space!