Mardi Gras - Williams Style

We, the Myers family, drove down to San Diego State University today to attend a party for families of people with William's Syndrome.  It was our first chance to connect in a large group like this, and very fun.  Gina heard about it through a Facebook group for Williams...  There is a research facility (Stark, I think) that specializes in Williams, that hosted it. Below are some of the pictures.

There was a pot luck (mostly pizza and desert), games for the kids, mask making, and some neurologists available for talking to. (Below is my brother and me, not the neurologists!) 

They brought in a music coordinator, who led us in drumming and rhythm.  (The angels really liked this, can you see all the orbs?) 

Rachel did ok with this - when it got loud she asked to be taken out, but the minute she was taken out she wanted to come back in...

Then they had a parade!  I carried Rachel, and she loved clapping her hands to "Oh when the Saints go marching in..."

At the end they took a picture of all the Williams kids.  We tried to get Rachel in the picture with her sisters (but she wasn't too keen on it, she was pretty tired by this time.)

But my favorite part of the whole day happened at the very end.  There was an 18 year old Williams gal named Samantha who had shown major concern and compassion at Rachel being in a walker. She wanted her to walk "like the rest of us."  At the end, Rachel was tired and crying.  Samantha rushed over and pointed to the "tatoo" she had had painted on her arm today that said "NO FEAR!"  She kept telling Rachel "Remember, NO FEAR!"

I am undone just thinking about it!