NDSC Convention in ORLANDO!!!

I think we need to have a big blogger union in Orlando next summer!!! I believe it is July 16-18. I am so excited about the location!! We went last year when it was in Boston and I LOVED that city! Watch the NDSC website for details and book your room as soon as they are available. We booked our room for Boston about 9 months ahead of time and got one of the last rooms at the convention sight.

See you in Sacramento!

To answer the question about next year...the NDSC Convention is in Sacramento, CA next year (the weekend of July 31st). It would be fun to have a group from WI go together next year. We plan to book a hotel ASAP, but we will decide for sure if we will go later. I booked our hotel almost 1 year in advance for Boston and I got one of the last rooms available where the convention was held.

NDSC Convention

We had a great time in Boston. The convention had many exhibitors displaying and selling their products or services related to DS. There were also great speakers and many workshops to attend. We also got to meet authors of many popular books and listen to professionals on DS topics and important issues. I especially enjoyed meeting families and listening to many self-advocates speak. Sunday, we spent the second half of the day touring Boston by trolley and boat. It would have been nice to spend an extra day or two checking out the city, but we saw a lot in the afternoon that we had free.
Logan enjoyed spending a complete weekend with 100% of our attention on him, and it wasn't just Dale and I who were giving him a lot of attention. It was great to show him off! He was a hit with everyone as were all of the little ones at the convention, and there were a lot of them. All of the babies were super cuties and their parents were so warm and friendly. I wish there would have been more time to just sit and talk with all of them.
There were also many teens and adults with DS who were attending the youth and adult conference (separate from the general convention). It looked like many of them attended every year and loved meeting up with there friends. Seeing them enjoying themselves made me excited for when Logan can attend that portion of the convention. There was also a siblings conference with workshops and activities for siblings of people with DS.
Some fun moments were when Logan was recognized by some blog readers. We ran into many families I have met online. Meeting them was amazing because I just never thought I would meet them and especially their kids in person! I am hoping we will see them at future conventions and that Logan and there kids can become great friends.

Some famous faces were Chris Burke, the authors of Gifts, Welcome the Holland, Road Map to Holland and some doctors who are dedicated to our DS children.

Water taxi that we took from the airport to the hotel.
Seaport World Trade Center where the convention was held. The Seaport Hotel is right behind and across the street.
Walking around the city. Check out Logan's smile! He was having a great time watching the traffic! We are standing on the bridge over where the Boston Tea Party took place.

Having dinner at a restaurant on the Boston Harbor.

Another pic at dinner.

Logan and Violette (I know her Mom on DS forums)

Mayson (fellow blogger), Logan and Violette. We also met Payton and Mason and Erin. I wish we could have got more pics of the families we knew and the new friends we made!

More of Violette and Logan!

Dad and Logan at the Banquet and Awards Dinner Saturday night.

The three of us at the banquet.

Dad and Logan boarding the Harbor Cruise.

USS Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument in the background.

Sight seeing in style!

Logan enjoying his first plane ride!

Enjoying the view on the way home.

NDSC Convention

We are looking forward to attending the NDSC Convention in a couple of weeks. Anyone out there planning to go??