Contemporary Women Art Exhibition

Downtown tonight at [Scene] Metrospace with Savannah

"My print series "Pressing the Issue" is about contemporary women's body issues. 
Each model was turned into a human collagraph, 
strategically coated with handmade ink and printed on frosted mylar. 
The series sets out to show every woman that she is beautiful no matter her height or weight. 
The whole idea is meant to be empowering for women, so that they can realize 
their inner strengths and see themselves as the truly inspiring human beings that they are." 
Artist, Kimberly Lavon


{real life: the two of us were getting into it, really feeling it...and then this tall, skinny, 
model-looking girl walked by and Savannah was all, "Oooh, I want to look like her,"
and then we laughed really hard.  And, now we're sitting here laughing some more, 
and now she's pretending to look at art and says with a fake smile, "I LOVE my body now!  
I just feel so EMPOWERED!"  


It's nights like tonight when I'm amongst art, when I'm laughing and talking 
about real life with my girls, that I feel good in my skin - that I feel empowered - far more 
than I do in a great pair of jeans, new highlights, or nice shoes.


Now watch, I'll probably wake up with my face all broken out tomorrow, think my blog is dumb, 
and I'll want to grow my hair out because Savannah said it looks like Owen Wilson.


Until then, cheers to the moments when you actually feel like you just might 
be an inspiring human being.}

"I'm telling my teachers you throw away my projects," she said. So, for the sake of posterity, I post her picassos.

"Never has there been and never again will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art and
I can see the fingerprints of God, when I look at you."

Stephen Curtis Chapman

In the dead of winter, a little bit of Somer...we sipped our Starbucks, snuggled on the couch, played made up games with kings and queens, and made homemade whole wheat bread with our hands.

It was a good day.

Spoken like a true middle child, she told me I take more pictures of her sisters, than I do of her. So, we grabbed the camera, drove to our favorite spot, and took these pics.

birthday celebration, take two

6:30 in the morning...preparing her birthday treat for school. Apparently, the arrival of the fifth birthday also means the arrival of the fake smile. You should have seen the finished product...an absolute obscene amount of sprinkles. The crunch was delish.

birthday celebration, take one

In just three days, she will be five. Since G&G Sodeman were in town, we thought we'd start the celebrations early. Look at her little face, soaking up all the attention...you should have seen her just minutes before - making sure we turned the lights off before she blew out the candles, as though she'd envisioned exactly how she wanted this to go...

THIRTEEN YEARS!

Even though we celebrated Friday night, Joel and I ran out tonight for Starbucks and ColdStone Creamery to celebrate our thirteen years (today!). We arrived home to two precious cards taped to the outside of our door, and a treat on our table. I have such sweet girls and a husband whom I love!

5+ inches!

I woke to this precious face looking out my bedroom window at all the snow!

And the night shall be filled with music

I had a bad day yesterday...until this. She was so proud, that girl of mine, showing off a little as she gently rosined her bow.

Then again, so am I.

The problems that minutes before seemed so burdensome suddenly seemed, as she raised her violin...trivial. I felt so thankful. Blessed. Rich.

"And the night shall be filled with music,
and the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents...
And as silently steal away."
Henry Wordsworth Longfellow, The Day is Done

my syd

She loves horses, ankle socks, and sleeping in...She is a giver, full of compassion and empathy, often the first on the scene with band-aids...She wants to be a teacher and an artist...She's a blooming writer, an accomplished jump-roper, and a rather natural comic. She's intuitive, smart and fearless - the first to accept a dare...She's quick to forget - not just her homework - but also those times when I've lost it and yelled at her. She's full of spontaneity, kindness, and mercy.

I love her.

She's getting older

She checked the weather this morning, just as she's done since she was little....She practiced her violin scales.... She talked to me about solvents, greasy hair, and eating disorders. She brought me a hot cup of tea tonight...She wants to go to culinary school...She befriends the lonely girls at school...I want so desperately to get this thing right...to foster independence...confidence...creativity....a passion and love for life, for others....I feel inept. Scared. Please help me, God.

I love her.

Two months before 5, I'm soaking up 4

She loves preschool

She loves her seahorse nightie

She wants to grow her bangs out

She wants to be an animal doctor and a ballerina

She doesn't think Dorey is funny, but likes Marlin
because "he's just a regular guy"

She still says, "It got bleed," when she scrapes her knee.


I love her.

book ends

Around 5:15 or so this morning, I awoke to heavy rains and the three daughters in our room. And now, the day ends with heavy rains, and the girls, again by our sides. Kind of like book ends to my day. To top it all off, all the in between stuff was good, too.

It's been a good day.

proud

I attended a meeting this week with Sydney's teacher, student teacher, principal, and speech path-ologist. I literally had to fight back tears as they spoke so highly of my girl - things like..."Sydney is a ball of fire (her teacher said this so passionately - with closed eyes!)....she is definitely here to change the world." And then, "We're all so stunned she's a "new kid" as she acts as though she's been here all her life." I could have sat there all day hearing them sing the praises of Sydney! Then, when I was putting them all to bed (they're all in the same room right now), Savannah and Sydney were rather hyper. I got after them - frustrated - telling them to SETTLE, when I noticed Somer snug under the covers, who appeared to be sleeping. I went and laid with her, telling her how proud I was of her, (she immediately began to smile, all the while, never opening her eyes), how she won the prize tonight for going to bed the best and then what a brave, tough girl she was during her booster shots this week,etc. When I got up, Sydney softly said, "Mom, can you talk to me like you talked to Somer?" So, then I laid with Sydney, and told her how wonderful her principal/teachers think she is, how IMPRESSED they are with her (she often asks me, "Mom, are you impressed with me?") and on and on. And then, just as expected, Savannah said, "Me too, Mom?" So, I laid with her, telling her how proud I am of the leader she is - how pleased I was when during her first week at a new school, she was joining Orchestra, Caring Leaders, Safety Patrol, and more. If there's a program, Savannah is inquiring about it. I'm so proud of my kids...they are three precious, precious girls.