Visiting JCC

On September 29, when Caleb was about 4 weeks old, we went to visit JCC (Joey, Christine & Caleb). It was the first time Ryan & Evan got to meet their baby cousin! We also spent the night at their house for the first time. JCC were awesome hosts. Caleb did not wake us up at all, which was very kind of him. Joey & Christine are impressive parents. In my opinion, they are doing everything right to the best of their abilities. We all know (or can imagine) that being a new parent is probably one of the most challenging things, and they do it with grace and make it look easy. I am so proud of JCC!  

Joey and the musical worm entertain Caleb during some changing table play time. 

Then Christine got Caleb dressed in a cute outfit that gives a shout out to his Auntie...ME! 

Ryan & Evan check out the crib and mobile.

Their crib days are long gone.

Last time we visited Joey & Christine, Evan wanted Joey to make him some juice. We weren't able to do it at that time, but Evan remembered and asked about Joey's juicer from time to time. So, for this visit, Joey was sure to juice some apples for Evan. Yum! Evan even got to help a bit. Thanks, Uncle Joey!

While the juicing was happening, Caleb was chilling in the swing. I took a little video of him and was so excited that I captured a sweet baby yawn on video. 

Then Evan & Ryan discovered their play mat, which we handed down to Baby Caleb!

Their play mat days are also long gone.

It was a beautiful day, so we went to a nearby park for a while. 

Look at Evan's follow through!

And check out Ryan's pitching wind up!

 I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

Oh, Caleb! Why are you hiding your cute little face? In the hospital, we all were noticing how when he was sleeping, his little hands go right up to his face. This must have been his go-to position in utero. It's such a unique little thing that's all Caleb. 

JCRE

Well, this was a surprise! 

JCC had birthday gifts for me and Burke. They also had a Portillo's cake (a serious favorite!). Joey had said, my birthday was kind of bypassed with all the excitement of Caleb's birth (although I insist my actual birthday was awesome!). Plus, Burke's birthday had just been 4 days earlier, so we had a mini-celebration. This was very kind, thoughtful and very much appreciated.  

 Before we left, we snapped a few pictures of Ryan, Evan and their newborn baby cousin Caleb. 

Gazing adoringly.

COUSINS!

It's been 3 weeks since this trip, so Caleb is just about 7 weeks now. Can't wait until our next visit! They grow so fast and I don't want to miss too much! Hope to see JCC soon!

Caleb Joseph

On August 31, 2013, my brother Joey and his wife Christine welcomed their first born. He is Caleb and he's awesome! Caleb arrived about a week before Joey & Christine's first wedding anniversary. Now they are a family of three!

I just love these newborn pictures!

Little feet

I give Christine and Caleb 99.9% of the credit for his specific birth date, I the other 0.1% was all me! When I heard her due date (September 9), I thought, "Oh...That's really close to my birthday. That would be awesome if my little nephew and I share a birthday." I had variations on this thought more than once over the course of Christine's pregnancy. And so it came to be! Yes!!!

Uncle Burke

Now this is why it's especially cool that Caleb was born on my birthday. Joey was born on our mom's sister's (Aunt Carol) birthday. So it is only appropriate for his child to be born on his sister's (me) birthday. Birthday-sharing aunts and nephews! 

Grandparent photos!

Big eyes already!

Welcome, Caleb Joseph Ponka!

{our first nephew and cousin}

Born 8/31/13 @ 7:58 a.m.

6 lbs. 14 oz. -- 19.5 inches

We barely know you, Caleb, but we already love you so much!

Congrats, Joey & Christine!

ArtPrize 2013

ArtPrize is one of my favorite things about living in western Michigan. ArtPrize is an international, annual art competition that takes over downtown Grand Rapids. The competition, in it's fifth year, is juried by the public. As we perused some of the 1,524 entries, I used the ArtPrize app to vote for my / our favorite pieces. [As I type, the ArtPrize app tells me that 445,031 votes have been cast.] This event is very accessible and dynamic, displaying art of all sizes and mediums. We checked it out for the first time last year and were very happy to make the trip to Grand Rapids again this year to be a part of the excitement!

We met my friend Allyson, and her husband Greg for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. There was a piece in there of the Eiffel Tower. Ryan's art teacher, with whom I just had a meeting, had spent a year in France. Paris is a big part of her story, so we took this picture and emailed it to her...and I voted for it in honor of her. Paris: Three Years and Two Lifetimes Ago by Jolie Masters - made with beads, sewn one at a time, artist from MI

This is the piece that motivated me to make this trip to ArtPrize happen! I love maps. Ryan and Evan are currently obsessed with the USA. Thanks to the app, Stack the States, they have memorized all the states' names, locations and shapes. They can sing a song that lists the states in alphabetical order. They can't get enough of the US map. Recycling USA by James Kuipers - it was a family project, made from recycled shipping pallets, artist from MI

How cool and cute is this? That is the artist with the black hat. The kids were allowed to touch (but not pull) the panda. Tired Pandas by Nick Jakubiak - made from recycled tires, TOP 10, artist from MI

I loved this one. Each panel of this heart had inspiring / happy words and phrases. Actions Speak Louder by Marla Rae Anders - she is from Nebraska, and creates pieces found in home decor departments of major retailers, TOP 100. 

This "living painting" was created by a Hope College grad! Back to Eden by Dave MacKenzie - over 2,500 plants were used in this piece, TOP 25, artist from MI

Evan about to get chomped by a crocodile! Gustave by Keith Coleman - made mostly of old hot water tanks, artist from MI

An actual fire breathing dragon! It was huge, hot and amazing! Gon KiRin 54232 by Ryan C. Doyle and Teddy Lo - full scale, 3D, made of steel, car tires and other found objects, upon the frame of a 1963 Dodge dump truck, hydraulics control the head, neck and tail, TOP 25, Doyle is from Detroit, Lo is from Hong Kong

Evan is turning the wheel on Steam Baby by Anthony Jackson - a young dragon bursting out of his egg, metal sculpture, TOP 25, artist from MI. *** I also really liked the fireman. TIME OF CRISIS by Brian Bennett - made of different types of fire equipment, meant to express gratitude to those that serve communities, artist from MI 

I am so glad we happened upon this puppet show. One of the involved artists is the author of one of my favorite children's books, The Tomato Collection, a collection of poetry set to music. I sought out his entry last year, but not this year. Then we accidentally walked right by it! Burke and I liked it because the puppet started heckling some young hipsters, which we found amusing. Puppets at Pearl and Monroe by Kevin Kammeraad and Justin Haveman *** Evan had to climb around, over and through the tail of this next sculpture. Monty, a dog gone dragon by John Andrews - made of hand cut scales using recycled multicolored shipping containers, made to immortalize a friend's beloved pet dog by transforming him into a dragon, TOP 25, artist from FL

The Blue Bridge became a piece of art. Hydro-Anthem by Liz Miller - creates a tunnel of light, shadow, color and movement for those walking across the bridge, artist from Minnesota

Ryan taking a break on The Blue Bridge admiring Hydro-Anthem and Silkwaves in the Grand. 

Colorful and beautiful in the wind. Silkwaves in the Grand by Al & Laurie Roberts - TOP 25, artists from CA

This flower is one of six panels in a relief sculpture. I noticed the artist listed as Excel Charter Academy, where my friend Angie sends her kids to school. So I had to take a picture (and vote for it) in her honor. From what I understand, students created this in art class. Awesome for art education! "Trial by Tires" - made from upcycled wood and bicycle tires, artists from MI

So cute! Love it! It says "do not climb" on it. How can you create a huge duckling toy and not expect kids to want to climb!? Giant Quackers by Dovetail -TOP 50, artists from Pennsylvania

Luckily, they could play with this. One of my favorites, since it's a music maker! KinderBells by Tom Kaufmann - made from industrial oxygen tanks and tuned to a major scale, TOP 100, artist from MI

ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?

This sculpture, fountain is beautiful and one of my favorites. UPlifting by Andy Sacksteder - made of bronze, a study of fluidity with water as a central theme, an attempt to capture movement of muscles, bones and tendons as they flex and stretch in dance, TOP 10, artist from Ohio

On the Gillett Bridge, there was a car, with a wooden bridge built over it. People, including Ryan & Evan, were going up and down the steps of that bridge on a bridge over a car. Umm... I didn't really get the piece, but sometimes that's the beauty of art, right? Temporary's Pursuit of Permanence by Daniel Feinberg, artist from Minneapolis

Taking a break, enjoying the view after walking through the blue dome. Hilo-Sacred Geometry by Kimberly Toogood, artist from MI

These flowers were mesmerizing and fun! The boys really liked them. I love these pictures of Ryan watching them up close. A.I. - Algorithmic Interactions by Del Jackson - explores our relationship with technology, audience response causes different reactions through the use of computer programming, the artist is interested in audience interaction with the piece, he is from Iowa

Very interesting to explore the details of this piece. Transformation by Jan Dean - made from polystyrene and light, meant to explore infinity, finite, and connection, TOP 100, artist from South Bend, IN

Our last stop was the Grand Rapids Children's Museum. Sadly, we could not go in because it had just closed, which was too bad because it looked fun. Next time. There were some pieces to enjoy outside the museum, including this colorful wristwatch. Ryan and Evan are striking a 6 o'clock pose. Lifetime by Mary Steenwyk - described as a celebration of the mosaic of life, artist from MI

As soon as we got in the car, Evan zonked out, holding one of the voting postcards. Ryan got straight to work creating on the DoodlePro. He drew the US map! I declare the trip a success!

The next day, Burke was inspired to be creative with chalk. He outlined the head and fire, but he says the boys really got creative with colors and shapes. The first picture is the head...

...the body and tail. 

Wow! What an amazing experience in creativity!

Tomorrow the winner will be announced.

All I can say is, thank you and congratulations to all the artists and to Grand Rapids.

See you next year for ArtPrize 2014!

www.artprize.org

p.s. if you haven't had enough, do a blog search for "art" to see pictures from our trip last year.