January 12

(Click on picture to enlarge)

1. peeking up stairs

2. a note from Andrew

3.picnic lunch in the back of the van

4. rocking my baby

5. drawing on the windows

6. running at gymnastics

7. a school drawing with teacher's comment

8. snuggling to watch a movie

9. sitting on the vault waiting his turn

10. backyard

11. climbing down from big brother's bed

12. bath time!

p.s. per his request, comments have been turned back on :) 

Cherish (January's theme)

Happy Monday

I hope you find a puddle to play in today!

why i love mirrors part 2

This is what my rigged up set looks like.  I don't have real equipment so I have to get creative...especially when shooting indoors...especially on a grey winter day in michigan.  Sometimes a mirror and rigged up lighting does the trick.  Kind of messy and somewhat humerous, I know.
But hey, it gets the job done.

Don't you just want to eat her up!  We miss her so much already!  Ben roams around the house calling, "Aaaaannnnaaaa!  Aaaaaannnnaaa!"

why i love mirrors

sometimes, a mirror is the only way for me to be in a picture.

me, stealing a kiss from my little niece, liliana.

the essence of my children...

I think this photo (mobile upload) captures the essence of my two boys.
The one who pushes the limits and the lady's man.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

In other news...

He swallowed his tooth. In a bowl full of Quaker Oat Squares.

They are ready to take to the streets tonight.  They'll be climbing up your porch, snatchin' up your candy. Hide yo' Twix, Hide yo' candy cause they're trick-or-treating all up in here!

Even the rocks will cry out (a.k.a shrowning chalk)

Last night I finished up a piece, went outside and put some chicken on the grill.
That is when I saw this.

Me: What are you doing there?
A: Shrowning chalk.
Me: Drowning chalk?
A: No, shrowning chalk.  Putting the chalk under water.  I move it back and forth real fast until it disdapears.  Then I get a new piece.
Me: Wow, that is really pretty!
A:  I know.  I am an artist, Mommy.  Just like you.

If I died that second or decided to never write another word on this blog it would be a perfect ending. 

A bit dramatic?  Maybe, but you should know by now what moments like this do to me.

We talk a lot about art in our home.  Partly because it is always happening in some form (especially with two wild and imaginative boys) but mostly because I believe that teaching my children to see beauty and purpose in the most seemingly insignificant details helps them (and me) to see the Lord working in all of it.  This is why making art matters.

So, I grabbed my camera and watched Andrew work,

and work,

and work. 

When he was finished with his piece he was filthy and happy.

From a distance his finished product looked just like what is was...a colorful rain puddle. 

Up close (to an enamored momma) it was a buffet of endless colors, textures and compositions.

Of course I would have taken more pictures but the responsible artist decided it was time to clean up. 

And in case you were wondering about the chicken on the grill...well, let's just say my husband knows me all too well.  He took over the grill as soon as he saw me with my camera.



October already?

It has been a while, but we are still here!

We have kept ourselves busy this month laughing, healing, whining, growing, playing, praying, creating, celebrating, exploring, and giving thanks.

i wrote you a love letter

i started it as i went to sleep last night. i continued stringing words together as i woke, made corrections over a bowl of cheerios and elliptical machine, added more words in the shower and found the perfect way to sign off as i paid for my groceries. i tell you, it was the best letter EVER. it said exactly what i wanted to say to you. there were metaphors of shelter and communion. there were illustrations of beauty and pain. all pointing back to you. i bet you would have read it and cried. i bet you would have read it to all of your friends.
i bet you would have written me back, validating what i feel in those moments of genius as the words flow freely right before i fall asleep at night.
but i'll never know because i didn't write it.
i couldn't find a pen...

This one, y'all

Sparklers

Remember when you were little and it was the Fourth of July and the closest thing to a firecracker your parents would ever let you touch was a sparkler?
Even though it took something like 45 seconds to light, 20 seconds to burn out and 5 minutes for the entire pack to disappear, those sparklers made staying up until dark totally worth it.

That is how the past six weeks feel to me.
Burned up fast but totally worth staying up late.