Summertime used to scare me – home with both kids and loads of time to find things to do, hot weather and daddy gone. When Ty was little and with overflowing overwhelming boy energy, I used to make lists of all the things we would do so that I could have structure and survive. Summertime as I used to know it has become SUMMERTIME…. a glorious part of the year where I am home with both kids and loads of time to find things to do,...

I hope you enjoyed your Easter this year. It was a beautiful day to celebrate together! This year Mylie really understood so much more about what was happening. That Sunday morning Mylie and her brother woke up early and excited. We had been anticipating Easter Sunday for 40 days. This year Ty, decided he would give up his new iPad in honor of Lent. It was a long struggle, at times wondering if he should just give it up, but each time he decided...

I recently spoke to a friend in Lompoc, a mom with a daughter with Down syndrome like me, who has no other moms in the same situation in her area. There is no group of mothers, much less one single mother with which to connect. It made me stop and think for a moment and try to imagine what that must be like. It made me sad. From day one I have had the blessing of having not one but various other moms to lean on, talk to, laugh with and...

Saturday, February 4th I awoke excited that we were going to the party that I had so enjoyed the year before. All day I was wondering how it would be to party hardy with all our friends and with all my favorite people in Santa Barbara. The Down Syndrome Association of Santa Barbara County (DSASBC) outdid themselves again as they hosted their 2nd annual Valentine’s Day celebration at the Elks Lodge in Goleta for people with special needs and...

It’s been exactly one year this weekend that my son, Ty, finally learned about Down syndrome and I think it is a precious story to share, so here we go: “Mommy, Mylie has Down syndrome?” Ty asks me as I am having a conversation with a representative from SELPA at the Valentine’s Day party last year. I did not know he was behind me listening, as we were at a huge party for people with special needs and their families. It was a...

Happy New Year to all you Alpha fans! Did you see the sunset on January 2? If you didn’t catch it, here is a photo for you to enjoy.  How’s THAT for the beginning of a new year!?  Christmas this year for the Willson crew was super mellow and relaxed. We stayed close to home and enjoyed our family and friends. With so much time off school and work and with some pretty amazing weather we became quite the beach goers. We surfed the sand...