ArtPrize 2012

Yesterday we headed to Grand Rapids to check out ArtPrize, defined as the world's largest open art competition. There are 1517 entries this year, exhibited at 161 venues located in the downtown area. The art is everywhere! We sought out a few pieces and happened upon some great ones as well. My friends from college, Angie (along with her 2 boys) & Allyson, met us there. They were great tour guides and it was a treat to spend time with them.  

Variety of Puppet Vignettes in G Major

Kevin Kammeraad & Justin Haveman

I was a little starstruck at this one. I have been a huge fan of Kammeraad's The Tomato Collection, a collection of poems put to music, for 10 years. I used it while I was teaching. Ryan & Evan know it too now. So we were all pumped to see him live, in action.

Family picture outside St. Cecilia Music Center, where we saw the puppets. 

Flora Metamorphicae 2012

produced by six female ceramists from Belgium

Ryan & Evan loved running circles around these flowers. I was freaking out that they would fall into it. Made me so nervous! It was hard to stop them. Luckily, the art remained unscathed.

Chopper at LARGE

Ron Finch

How cool is a gigantic motorcycle? This is the one Evan mentioned this morning when I asked them which pieces they remembered/liked.  

Friends

Nnamdi Okonkwo

A Second Chance at Life

Gary & Travis Fields

Burke leads the boys around life-size sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. It's made of of 75% re-cycled materials with a clay overlay.

The Penguin Project

Paul Nilsoon

It was a lovely day enjoying creativity in a great city!

Can't wait to hear about the winners. 

Looking forward to going back next year. Who wants to come with?

Wedding Day!

JOEY & CHRISTINE

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

Chicago, IL

The day started early. I had to start my hair and make up at 7:30 a.m. Later in the morning, the boys visited us in the bridal suite. Here's Ryan & Evan with Aunt Christine before getting dressed.

Burke rode in a limo with the groomsmen and I rode in a separate limo with the bridesmaids and Christine. Ryan & Evan rode in the guest shuttle with Nana & Lolo. Here are the boys with Nana, ready to head to the church. 

Almost show time for the ring bearers!

Joey & Christine Ponka

(This picture came from one of Christine's family member's camera.)

The bridal party drove around the city after the wedding, before the reception, taking pictures at scenic locations. Burke & I on the party bus.

Bridesmaids with the bride!

Becky, Kim, Christine, Tracy, Natalie

Groomsmen & Ushers with Bride & Groom!

Brad, Erik, Andy, Christine, Joey, Matt, Steve, Burke

Cake. Go Blue!

(This is from Christine's family member's camera.)

First Dance. You & Me by Dave Matthews Band. 

(Also, not from my camera.)

Evan really enjoyed the reception! He danced his booty off. Ryan's mood deteriorated as the night went on. Like I said, we really pushed them to their limits and all in all, Ryan & Evan handled everything better than I could have imagined. It was super helpful to have Nana & Lolo there too. It was a really fun, joyous celebration. I feel really blessed and thankful!

Many years of happiness, Joey & Christine! 

Congrats!

Tuxes & Rehearsal

Last weekend, Burke, Ryan, Evan and I were honored to be a part of Christine & Joey's wedding. It is probably one of the most memorable experiences we will share as a young family. Before the big day, however, we needed to make sure the tuxes were satisfactory and rehearse a bit. 

At the tux shop, we had Ryan & Evan practice walking slowly, side by side. 

Ryan's tux fit pretty well. 

Handsome ring bearer!

Evan's tux needed some work. 

The jacket sleeves and pants length needed to be adjusted. 

The boys goofed around by the mannequins while we waited for the alterations. 

Because we did not have room in our car for 6 people (us + Nana & Lolo) and 6 people's luggage, Ryan, Evan, Nana & I took the train into the city. Burke & Lolo drove the car with all the luggage. 

We pushed these boys to their limits this weekend. Evan took a quick nap in the train and then continued to sleep until we got to our hotel room.

The bridal party and parents took a shuttle to the rehearsal at the church. It was a bit of a distance from downtown Chicago and traffic is usually an issue. Thankfully, Christine knew arranging a shuttle would be a convenient, necessary option.

Ryan took his cat nap on the way to the rehearsal. 

Ring bearers!

Christine & her dad

Joey & Christine

At the rehearsal dinner, at the top of the John Hancock Building with amazing views of the city and lake, Nana & Lolo ordered the boys Shirley Temples. The boys were not too interested in drinking them. They preferred stirring them and playing with the cherries. It kept them happy and occupied. 

Evan ended the night with a bit of crabbiness due to exhaustion and over-stimulation. Poor kiddo. Even so, we had a lot of compliments on how good the boys were. For that we are very thankful. 

Next up: The Wedding Day!

Preschool

Well, the day has finally arrived. Ryan started preschool this morning. Today was Day One of his next 18 (at least) years of schooling. I am thankful to have had him all to myself for the first 4.3 years of his life. I will miss our lazy mornings. I am anxious about releasing into the world, as it's not always a nice place and I want to protect him. On the other hand, I am excited for the new experiences he will learn from. I look forward to watching him go from little boy, to bigger boy, and into a young man. 

We are so proud of Ryan. 

Smart, sensitive, sweet, thoughtful, observant, friendly, cuddly and so special!

My favorite picture! 

Ryan walks into school, holding hands with Evan. 

He found his locker!

He was so brave. He didn't cry or act shy. 

He found the Legos right away. 

Evan right near him. 

Circle Time with families. 

See if you can find Ryan. 

Evan realized Ryan was sitting in the circle and wanted in on that too. 

So he plopped himself in the center. 

Video of Ryan introducing himself. 

Painting.

And chalk. 

Evan nearby. He loves his big brother. 

I was the last parent to leave. I shed a few tears. It's safe to say it was harder for me than for Ryan. Evan and I left Ryan to his teacher and classmates. We went the store and it was astounding how different it feels to have only one child to tend to. I am looking forward to some quality alone time with Evan. 

Pick Up!

When we picked Ryan up, I took them out to lunch for a celebratory meal. (I also got celebratory cupcakes while shopping with Evan!) Burke stopped by the restaurant to say hello to Ryan too, so that was nice.

Ryan & Mrs. Meyer

We're looking forward to an wonderful year! 

(sniff, sniff)