MOSAIC MOMENTS

I am an avid reader who loves just about any good story that will capture me into a make-believe world while I escape my own hectic life, if only for a little while. So, a few months ago when I got a message about a book called Ready Made Family by Cheryl Wyatt I was intrigued.

The part that grabbed my attention at first was the character, Hutton, who had mosaic Down syndrome. Not many even know about mosaic Down syndrome, so I wondered about this and wanted to learn more. 

I emailed Cheryl about her book and found that this was a series of Christian romances-each based with a character from the military. I further learned that Cheryl was born on a military base and her birthday is on Valentine’s Day, thus her love for military romance!

After emailing with the author and explaining my interest in her book, she offered to send me a special copy of it for myself and then offered to donate some for our Silent Auction at our conference. I was thrilled!

I wasn’t able to begin reading the book till after the conference, and for this past week I have stayed up till 2 and 3 am trapped in the story of Ben and Amelia unable to put it down!

Ready Made Family brings you into the life of Amelia who is a young single mother of  witty, 5-year-old, Reece. Together they have left her unforgiving father and dependent mother to try life on their own. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to move out when you have very little money and Amelia finds herself waking up in a hospital after passing out from dehydration and wrecking her car. This is where she meets Ben. Ben is a paratrooper and wants to help Amelia and Reece. He is handsome and kind and prays often for Amelia to see how strong and beautiful she really is. However, Ben has a few problems of his own. His brother, Hutton, has mosaic Down syndrome and Ben was not very kind to him growing up. He wished that Hutton didn’t have mDs and never gave himself a chance to really get to know him. The plan is, for Hutton to stay with Ben for a year while their parents go on a long vacation. Ben wants to get to know Hutton better and be there for him, but he can’t even bring himself to tell Amelia about him. While they both struggle with their problems, they find themselves getting closer and closer and of course…. it all works out in the end because we have to have a “Happily Ever After”

I think Cheryl Wyatt depicted mosaic Down syndrome very well in this story. Not everyone with mDs has the level of delay that Hutton has, but many do and there were a lot of attributes that I could totally relate to with my own son, Tim.

I highly recommend Ready Made Family for anyone interested in a book about mosaic Down syndrome, relationships, military, single parents, romance and/or Christianity. Cheryl Wyatt touches all these aspects in her tiny little town of Refuge where people come together to help one another. 

To order this and other books by Cheryl Wyatt you can go to www.cherylwyatt.com

Thanks Cheryl! I look forward to reading more!

Hi everyone,it’s Garrett again. Mom is really busy with the conference planning, so I’m writing this for her. I’m wanting to write this story to remind you how d.u.i drivers hurt other lives and for you not to drink and drive.

This is a fictional story.

Best friends stick with you to the end no matter what . You be with them, you get in trouble with them, sometimes you even live with them. But sometimes you mess up. You call them names, they get a bloody nose, or even a black eye. Well not my three best friends: Jake, Cal, and Tom. We do everything together…mostly. 

I wake up every morning praying to God for me to be safe and my friends. I ride to school and i see that my three best friends are not there. I ask one of my other friends if he saw them last week…he didn’t. They are probably still tired from our party on Friday. I don’t know how, I’m feeling good though. It was on a Friday,today is Monday. Oh well, it’s just going to be a normal day.

Something is different about this day. Usually the preps are walking and laughing over God knows what and a nerd is reading a book. None of those things were happening. Actually everyone was quiet. You would just hear footsteps. I walk in to my bi-polar teacher’s classroom and she ask for our homework. She isn’t really bi-polar, but sometimes we wonder. Like I would do homework over the weekend. Usually she starts screaming at us and tell us how bad we were. But there was no sign of anger.  She just frowned and turned away. What is going on?

School was over and me and Jake were suppose to go and play at the school, but since he wasn’t at school today he wouldn’t be able to come. I go to my other friend’s house, Dylan, to see if he wanted to chill at the school. “You wanna chill at the school since Tom , Jake, and Cal are sick?” And with the same expression as he had at school, he just frowned and shut the door. Look I’m sad that they’re gone, but come on it’s not that sad that they are sick. I’m sure they will be at school by tomorrow..I hope.

I hope that they’re here today. I wait in the classroom for them to get here, but the bell just rang. Class started and usually the teacher ask ” where is so and so” , but she didn’t this time. After she taught us what to do on the paper, I went up and asked the teacher where Cal was because she was his mom. She said,” Aw baby…” and she started to get choked up.” Come with me. I have to show you something” We were on the top part of the school and we looked out the window, and then my whole life flashed before my eyes. There I stand and I see three wooden crosses with leis on them. I run down there and it was for a fact that my best friends were killed by a drunk driver. My teacher told me how it happened. They were riding bikes to come and get me and a drunk driver hit them. Now I know why they never came and got me. I just didn’t bother calling back. I’m glad I didn’t. My face was as red as a strawberry and I could of made a river with all my tears all I thought was that the last thing I said to them was”See you tomorrow”. But I never did…

 I hope you liked my story and I hope to write y’all again and I hope that you remember to never drink and drive!

See you in a few weeks at the Down Syndrome Research & Awareness Conference in Cincinnati! I can’t wait!!!

-Garrett

Note from Mom: Wow! Garrett told me he had a story he wanted to share tonight with everyone and since I am working on conference planning and have not had time to write, I said, “Sure! Go ahead!” As parents, we hope and we wonder if we are getting through to our children. We worry that they will make the wrong choices in life and we pray that they will live through their teenage years. Garrett turned 13 just a few months ago. I cringe when I think of what I was doing at 13! I am so blessed to have the fantastic sons that I have and every now and then, they say something like this and I realize, maybe I am not doing such a bad job after all!

Don’t drink and drive people! You heard it from my son!

As you all know I have been crazy busy planning for our upcoming conference! I wanted to give y’all some important info so you don’t miss out. 

First of all, Next Friday, June 19th is the deadline for reserving your hotel room. We got a great room block at the Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel & Indoor Water Resort. It is only $105 per night and for $12 per person you can enter the water park. You can book your hotel by going to our website. 

The conference registration deadline is Friday, June 26. After this, the fees will increase. You can register at our website.

Finally, please see below our press release. If you have a blog or an email list, please post this information for others to see. We are very excited to bring this to everyone and we would hate for anyone who would benefit from this conference to miss out!

See you in just a couple of weeks in Cincinnati!!

 
Keynote Speaker Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers with husband and newborn son w/DS,  Cole

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-June 11, 2009

Parents of children with Down syndrome (DS) are universally concerned about the wellbeing of their child’s health, future, and ability to connect with other DS families.  The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (DSAGC) hosts “Building Bridges for Down Syndrome”: the fourth biennial research and awareness conference presented by the International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association (IMDSA).

The term Down syndrome (DS) was named after Dr. Langdon Down, a British doctor who first described the condition in 1887.  This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of the discovery of the extra 21^st chromosome that causes Down syndrome.  DS is a genetic condition that occurs in one in every eight-hundred (800) births.  There are four types of Down syndrome:  Trisomy-21, Translocation, Mosaic, and Mosaic-Translocation. 

The Down syndrome community has leapt many hurdles in paving the way for future generations, but there is still a lot of work to do.  The attendees of this biennial research and awareness conference are empowered with information, hope for the future of all individuals with DS, and are given the opportunity to participate in various research studies being conducted onsite during the conference.  Teens and adults with DS, along with their siblings, will learn everything from how to manage a budget to relationships and friendships in the “Teen and Adult Conference.”  Children ages 2-12 with DS along with their siblings, will learn a variety of subjects: Acting and Puppetry to Bullying to Stranger Danger in the “Kid Konference.”  Students interested in professional careers pertaining to DS will supervise these youngsters; giving them a better understanding of what DS really means for these individuals.  Together, families and professionals will enjoy the “Friday Night Family Reunion & Silent Auction” with entertainment from The Amazing Portable Circus and self-advocates Sujeet Desai, Tim Colvin, and Casey Morton.

Some attendees of the 2007 conference held in Richmond, VA said, “At the IMDSA’s Conference, there’s a sense of family the moment you step through the doors, everyone is welcoming.  I’ve learned so many things from all the speakers!” 

Join IMDSA and DSAGC Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12 at the Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel and Indoor Water Resort in Sharonville, Ohio for a fully scheduled weekend of information, family fun, socialization, and entertainment by Sujeet Desai, Dan Kulp, Tim Colvin, and Casey Morton.  Over 30 experts will discuss various topics that will beneficial to the betterment of all families of children and adults with DS.  This is a life-span conference with topics pertaining to all ages of people with DS.  Researchers and professionals will also benefit greatly by attending.  There will be many great activities, workshops, and sharing of information.  A sure highlight of the weekend will be the “Family Awards and Celebration Banquet and Dance” with self-advocate Jennifer Katz and comedian/musician Dan Kulp. 

Reservations are filling fast and space is limited, so register and reserve your spot today!  For more information on how to register, visit www.imdsa.org

 # # #

The International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association (IMDSA) provides support, information, and research to any family, individual, or professional whose life has been affected by mosaic Down syndrome. Its Research & Awareness Conference provides support, information and research to all forms of Down syndrome.

Contact:

Kristy Colvin

IMDSA President

Email: president@imdsa.org

Toll free:  1-888-MDS-LINK

Web:  www.imdsa.org

Yesterday , I described just a little of what it was like the day before and days-years after I had my son, Tim.  This morning when he awoke, I sang Happy Birthday to him. Tim, being the literal man that he is, told me it wasn’t his birthday till 3:45 pm. (the time he was born) Unfortunately, I was not home at 3:45 because I had to go to the store to buy Tim’s favorite dinner. Chili Enchiladas and Cheese Cake for desert. (yeah… it sounds gross to me too!)

So when Garrett and I arrived home we loudly sang Happy Birthday and it was official! My baby boy is 23 years old!

Twenty-three years can go by very quickly. It seems like yesterday that I was outside in the front lawn encouraging him to take his first steps, to say his first sentence, or when his older brother Arron, taught him to ride a bike. It doesn’t even seem that long ago when he graduated high school! And as I look back on the last twenty-three years, I see not only changes in Tim, but also changes in me.

Sure, I have a few more gray hairs than I care to share. Most definitely, my jeans size is no where near what it was back then. And the energy I had to chase around a hyper-active two-year-old is long gone! But there are other changes in me that are not as physically visible as the others.

Back when Tim was first diagnosed with mosaic Down syndrome, I felt very lost and extremely alone. I did not have a clue what mosaic Down syndrome was and I wanted more than anything to have something concrete that I could hold on to. Something that would tell me what this meant, what to expect, what to be worried about, what not to be worried about. I was so frustrated when there was no information out there. Yes, there was plenty of information on Down syndrome. And I tried to use that information to compare notes. But none of it really fell in line with what was happening with Tim.  He was either meeting his milestones way before what the books were saying or way after. He wasn’t having trouble in some areas that the books said he should have trouble in. And when I tried to attend a Ds meeting, I was shunned by the other parents. They made it clear that I did not belong.

So, I just raised him the best I could with the zero information I had. I didn’t know what to expect, so when something came up I dealt with it. Which really is not a bad way to live. If you worry about the unknown that may never happen, you will miss out on all the great things that are happening now!

However, as a parent, I know how important it is to have something in your hands that you can read and know that everything is going to be alright.

Over these past 10 years, I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on mosaic Down syndrome. I have spoken with countless doctors, researchers and the real “experts”-parents and individuals with mosaic Down syndrome. I have asked the hard questions and insisted upon answers that I could easily understand.

Over these years, it has always been my goal to make sure that no parent ever feels alone, as I did, in raising their child with MDS. We at IMDSA have accomplished that goal! Every family knows they are part of a much larger family. When one family is sad, we are all sad. When one family is happy, we are all happy! But, there is still so much that families need to better understand mosaic Down syndrome. They need the concrete information. They need something to hold on to-to open up and refer to when they have a problem or a question. They need information and they need more than just a blog or a research paper. Families need to know what mosaic Down syndrome is, what it means, what to expect, and what they can do to help their child become the best person possible!

They need what I so desperately wished for 21 years ago when I received the diagnosis for Tim.

I know this is “Taboo” for writers to do this. But, I am doing it out of my faith in God. Because I know that He has lead me over the years to do this and with His help I can accomplish it! So, although authors are not supposed to announce things such as these I am going out on a limb here and hope I don’t hang myself completely!

I am in the process of writing a book about mosaic Down syndrome.  I am half-way finished now and after the conference I will devote the majority of my time to this book. I will still blog every now and then, so please stay with me and if you are subscribed please don’t leave, so when I do write, you wont miss anything.

I want to thank my loyal readers here for all your questions this past year. You have helped me grow and helped me learn even more. I am confident that with God’s help, I will be able to bring you the information that you need to help someone with mosaic Down syndrome. This person may be your child, your patient or client, or yourself. I will update you as I can and of course continue writing more about our upcoming conference in Cincinnati! (I hope to have schedules ready for the Teen and Adult Conference and Kid Konference by next week!

23 years ago today I was lying on a narrow hospital bed waiting for my baby’s lungs to develop before delivery for the next day. The next day, was D-Day. This day would mark 32 weeks in my pregnancy. Throughout my pregnancy I had Placenta Previa-basically this means that my placenta was falling out. So, I was put on bed rest and when I continued to have trouble I was admitted indefinitely into the hospital and had been there for a month before my water broke-which marked my indefinite D-Day.

I was young-only 20 yrs old. It never occurred to me that babies died. It never occurred to me that having a premature baby was a dangerous thing. It never occurred to me that at 20 years old, I would come face to face with death-not just for my baby, but also for myself. And, it never occurred to me that my baby would be born with anything out of the ordinary.

Oh sure, I knew these things happened….to other people. 

So, 23 years ago today I lain on this hospital bed in a “semi-private” labor room in which I had various “room mates” for my three-day stay. I watched them come and go and it never occurred to me that within the next 24 hours my life would change forever. 

On May 19, 1986 I had a beautiful baby boy. I wasn’t able to see him till the day after he was born because I was too weak and far to sick from the loss of blood since I had refused a transfusion because of the high risk of AIDS in transfusions back then. 

Having a baby changes your life. This one definitely changed mine. I could say it was because I was near death. Or even because he was too.  But that is just where the story begins. It wasn’t life-altering at that moment. Probably because I was far too young to realize the true danger that we were both in. Even when my doctor came in to my room with tears in his eyes as he explained that I was dying and there was nothing more that he could do, it never occurred to me that I would actually die. And thankfully, only by God’s grace, I didn’t die. And neither did my baby.

The beginning of my life-altering moment came 2 years later with a blood test that revealed that my beautiful baby boy had a few extra chromosomes. The moment when they told me that he had mosaic Down syndrome and there was nothing in the literature; no book, no pamplet, not even a flyer, that could tell me what to expect with this diagnosis, my life changed. 

Many would think that my life changed for the worse. After all, I had no information, I had no one to talk to and compare notes, I had no support. But I had my “Mommy Instincts”. And as the years went by, I realized that raising a child with mosaic Down syndrome was no different than raising any other child really. Sure, we had to make up some rules as we went along! Definitely, I had a few Pity Parties throughout the years. But the thing I learned the most is, having a child with extra chromosomes is no different than having any other child. And I have others to compare it to! 

23 years ago tomorrow, my tiny 4 lb 4 oz baby boy was born via Emergency C-section. He had his Mommy’s dark brown eyes and was so tiny that his 6 inch high Teddy Bear was more like a Grizzly to his small frame. He loved to snuggle up to me and fall asleep while I rocked him gently in the squeaky old  wooden rocker in the “growers room” at NICU. I loved the way he would yawn and crinkle up his face like a miniature wrinkled old man. I loved the way he smelled when I held him and when I had to leave him I would smell my shirt for the rest of the day-just to try to stay close.

Now, 23 yrs later, that tiny baby is a grown man who takes care of his mom. He is always sensitive to my needs and jokes that he is amazed that I lived through his hyper-active years. He says that he is glad that he has mosaic Down syndrome because without it, he wouldn’t be the person he is today.

I know that if Tim did not have mosaic Down syndrome, I would not be the person I am today. I would not be as strong as I am. I would not have the knowledge that I do. I would not have the wonderful extended family that I have. And, International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association would not exist the way that it does. Families would still be left out in the cold wondering what this means for their children.

Tomorrow is my baby’s 23rd birthday. For this special day, I have a very important announcement that you may not want to miss.  

For the majority of my life-time, I have been a mother. Like many, I have endured the joys and the heartaches that go along with the title. I have kissed scraped knees, taped and glued broken toys, and done my best to mend broken hearts.

With a vengeance that I never knew was within me, I have fought battles for my children to ensure their best interests. When something was not right for them, my “Mother Bear” instincts kicked in and I did my best to right the wrong.

As a mother, I have learned many valuable lessons from my children. I have learned that love is unconditional, that laughter is wonderful and contagious, and that letting go is hard, but necessary.

I have learned how to read between the lines and how to know when something is terribly wrong when they say everything is “fine”. I have learned that my children are not always as “innocent” as they would like me to believe. I have learned that respect is not something you demand, but something you share.

As a mom, I have cleaned up the most disgusting messes known to man. I have held out my hands to catch contents abruptly coming from the mouth. I have used my shirt to ensure a clean nose. I have held bones together on one-while treating for shock on the other-and caring for a newborn baby-all at the same time. 

I have sat up late at night asking God for help when I knew only He could fix it.

I am not a perfect mother. I have made mistakes more times that I would like to think about.  But I remind myself that I am a “Mom-in-Training”. Because no matter how many years you are a mom, every day is a new day and with each new day a new set of challenges arise.

There will always be scraped knees, runny noses and broken hearts.  There will be late night-last minute science projects. There will be arguments between siblings, friends and yourselves. There will be friendships and relationships lost. There will be countless meetings with the school trying to right whatever is wrong. There will even be late night trips to the emergency room.

But the Joys of Motherhood, far outweigh the struggles.

There is laughter within your house and in your heart.  There is love that you never knew could exist. There is a special bond that only a mother can know. There is a sense of accomplishment for every milestone that takes place-be it the first steps your child takes, or the steps across the stage to receive their diploma. There is this an indescribable feeling of pure joy each time you hear your child say “Mom”

Motherhood isn’t for Sissies. 

It is the toughest job, but the most rewarding job you will ever know.

Happy Mother’s Day!

So, yesterday I was too tuckered out to really read over the research to explain more and today just isn’t a whole lot better!

I did get the lawn mower blade that Tim broke and thankfully it fit the lawn mower. (that was questionable) But, apparently when Tim ran over the “bolder” with the lawn mower that also did some damage on the inside where the blade is and there is some stupid rubber/plastic stuff that lines the inside of the mower. That “stuff” was torn up and bent over (no… I didn’t notice it when I was putting on the blade!) and so we had to get rid of this rubber/plastic stuff so the blade would move around.

From the moment we stepped outside to begin this adventure, Garrett’s obnoxious Basset Hound, Buster began to bark.

I hammered…. I pulled…. I used these clipper things that actually are meant for cutting siding and in the process of trying to tear it off with that (because it wasn’t cutting it at all) my hand slipped and I hit the blade with the side of my hand! Thankfully, it wasn’t the sharp part, but I busted a blood vessel the size of Dallas and felt it through my toe nails and out my ears! 

I looked up from the mower and the little boy next door (the culprit for the rocks on my lawn in the first place) was staring at me licking an ice cream. I took a deep breath, then another…. turned around and yelled at Buster for the thousandth time to shut up… and went back to work. 

It still didn’t cut. I sent Tim in to get Garrett (who was happily tapping on his new “practice drum pad” that he bought today from his band director for $24.99 with his own money. It is a good thing I didn’t spend my money on this! I would have sent it back! 

This is basically what it looks like

 Yeah… pretty silly!

So, at this point I am beyond reasonable thinking and couldn’t take the dog barking or my hand throbbing, so I told Tim and Garrett to use the pocket knife and cut the dang rubber/plastic “stuff” off! 

Garrett took about 30 seconds and said he couldn’t do it. He went inside to go back to drumming.

Tim just sat there.

The boy kept licking his ice cream.

The dog kept barking.

My hand kept throbbing!

I took the knife and began to saw. It was working! I gave it to Tim and he was not trying near hard enough and the dog kept barking! 

I was losing any bit of sanity I had left!

I sent Tim in to fetch his brother AGAIN and finally between the three of us we got the stupid rubber/plastic “stuff” off the mower so Tim could begin cutting the grass and Garrett could finish. 

Tim started mowing.

I went in.

Garrett was drumming.

Not only was my hand throbbing, but now my head was too!

The dog kept barking!

I sat down at my computer and posted an ad on Craigslist. 

It is either me or the dog and I was here first!

I just know that other presidents of major organizations do not go through these kinds of days! Surely that presidency title earns them a little respect among their children, neighbors and dogs! 

It has been a long, yet productive day.

I ordered a lawn mower blade because Tim was mowing grass last week and ran over a huge rock and bent the blade like crazy. (I blame this entirely on the Y chromosome) I know that most who read this and live in the north of the US or somewhere else that is full of snow right now is checking the date of this post and wondering when I wrote it because most do not mow their grass in April. However, in Texas this will be our 4th grass mow for the season and today it was 95 degrees in the shade!

I got Garrett’s band director to agree to let him switch from trombone to percussion. Rock Band has taken over his life and he plays his Rock Band drums every moment he is inside (which the past 2 days has been a lot since it has been so hot) 

Then, I handled a pesky bill that was counted late even though it wasn’t late. They told me not to worry about it, so I wont. 

So, today I actually took care of a few things that had to do with my personal life which rarely happens with conference planning and helping IMDSA run smoothly. Which I still did in the midst of these other things and hopefully by tomorrow I will have grass mowed, house cleaned, laundry washed and trampoline bought for Garrett’s Birthday party this Saturday. (Birthday is Monday April 27th… My baby is turning 13!)

So… no research info tonight… I am sorry and hopefully tomorrow I can pick back up on it again. It is a lot to read and a lot to translate and my brain is currently “stuffed with fluff” so maybe tomorrow will be a more thoughtful day.

I know that you all are enjoying this research information that I am explaining. And, you are looking forward to me getting to the good stuff and get past all the technical stuff. And I promise that I will do that! However… It will have to be tomorrow.

Believe it or not, I actually have a life outside of the computer (sometimes) and unfortunately, my “other life” is making me wake up at 4am tomorrow morning! My youngest son, Garrett, has a field trip with his school band tomorrow and the bus leaves at 5am. So…. I need to go to sleep so when I am driving to the school at 4:30 in the morning my eyes are at least half way open. 

Please be sure to come back tomorrow when I begin explaining some of the really intersting findings the researchers at VCU/MCV found concerning the percentages and how this affects the health and development of those with mosaic Down syndrome.

MySpace Countdowns

This weekend I am going to take a much needed break from it all. With Easter this Sunday, and my hubby, Glenn coming home this evening, I am going to be off the computer for the next few days. As a Christian, this is the most important holiday we have. It helps us to remember that Jesus died on the Cross to forgive us of our sins. If you are not a Christian, that is OK. I am not saying you have to be. But since I am I can only talk about what I know!

So, today I thought I would give you a little background on the Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs, Jelly Beans, and activities you can do with your child to help them understand Easter.

According to History.com the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.

Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two popular egg-related traditions. In the U.S., the White House Easter Egg Roll, a race in which children push decorated, hard-boiled eggs across the White House lawn, is an annual event held the Monday after Easter. The first official White House egg roll occurred in 1878, when Rutherford B. Hayes was president. The event has no religious significance, although some people have considered egg rolling symbolic of the stone blocking Jesus’ tomb being rolled away, leading to his resurrection. 

Eggs have long been associated with Easter as a symbol of new life and Jesus’ resurrection. Another egg-shaped candy, the jelly bean, became associated with Easter in the 1930s (although the jelly bean’s origins reportedly date all the way back to a Biblical-era concoction called a Turkish Delight). According to the National Confectioners Association, over 16 billion jelly beans are made in the U.S. each year for Easter, enough to fill a giant egg measuring 89 feet high and 60 feet wide. For the past decade, the top-selling non-chocolate Easter candy has been the marshmallow Peep, a sugary, pastel-colored confection. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based candy manufacturer Just Born (founded by Russian immigrant Sam Born in 1923) began selling Peeps in the 1950s. The original Peeps were handmade, marshmallow-flavored yellow chicks, but other shapes and flavors were later introduced, including chocolate mousse bunnies. 

I found a great site that is full of children’s activities for Easter. This has recipes, color pages, songs and crafts. Click Here for that page.

If you celebrate Easter I hope you have a happy and safe one!