Project Life Update: Week 16

Nothing super crazy this week.  Just stuck with the Honey Kit again.  We played outside quite a bit, lots of shots of ordinary life this week.

Bottom left pocket will be a flip up page.  The two images on the inside of flap are below.  

I love these little hands, so proud of his creations.  I love his half-worn off tatoos on each arm.  I love that he names each one of his lego creations (yellow journal card).  This kid rocks.

I had lots of photos from our walk downtown last weekend to check out the flooding of the Grand River.  I used Design H (basically half of Design A) to add as an insert. 

Front

Back.

There we go.  Week 16...done.

Thankful Thursday

Last Thursday, Renee at Mommaste, and writer for the Simple Moms launched a new series called "Thankful Heart Thursday".  I love the idea of slowing down and just being thankful for what I have.  I need {and want} to do more of this everyday, so this is a great way to express what I'm thankful for.

This week, I am thankful for the City where we live.  {Grand Rapids, Mi...in case you aren't sure where I'm referring to!}  Being a transplant to this city 14 years ago, I have come to appreciate all the things that West Michigan has to offer.  Not that Metro Detroit doesn't have a million great things, the culture and feeling is just...different.

 I love this town for so many reasons, but this time of year, I am very thankful for the art and culture that saturates this entire area of Michigan.  I'm talking about ArtPrize.  

{Today Show Soundbite from 2010}

What is ArtPrize?  It's a huge, city wide Art Exhibit and contest where anyone can create and showcase their art. (my description) The best part is the winner is chosen by the public, and is awarded $200,000!  However, for those of us who live here, we get to enjoy about 2 weeks of events, displays, and all around excitement pretty much everywhere.  To read more, click here.  

Last night, we decided to brave the crowds and head downtown.  It was amazing!  We only saw a sliver of what was down there, but it was totally worth it.  Can't wait to get out and see more!

I'll let the rest of the photos speak for themselves...

 

 

watch video clip below to see how this exhibit works...

Here is another post where I brag about the coolness of my town. 

and here too. 

Winter Wonderland...uuggghhhh.

It has been snowing like crazy the last few days.  Lots of schools had a snow day friday, and it kept coming all day yesterday.  I know I have said this before, but it is worth repeating...I do not enjoy the snow.  Not so much at all.  I don't enjoy driving in it.  I don't enjoy seeing other people drive in it.  I do not enjoy shoveling in it.  I do not enjoy playing in it.  I do not like it here nor there, I do not like it anywhere.  I do not like it Sam Sara I am.

HOWEVER...

I have two children that do not share these opinions of mine.  (And one husband who outright disagrees with my opinions...not that he has any say around here.)  Lucky for all of them, the sun was out in all it's splendor today, so I gave in, and we all went for a walk around Frederick Meijer Garden.  IT.WAS.MAGICAL.  

 There were about 2 other cars in the parking lot, so we had the place all to ourselves.

 We were all bundled up and just walked around looking at how different everything was under a blanket of fresh snow.

 The sunshine felt amazing and helped keep us out there a little longer than we normally would have been able to.

 The blue skies were stunning, and created a perfect backdrop to the crisp white snow, and countless empty branches.

 We found a few reminders of Christmas left over.

It was an absolutely stunning afternoon.

After our walk, we headed inside for some hot chocolate and found some pretty things there too!

It sure was pretty, but I'm looking forward to the butterflies coming back! 

I guess if this snow is going to be around, I might as well enjoy it...oh...and did I mention I taught myself how to fire up (and actually use) the snow blower this week?  

 Sure did!

Don't mess with me.

Just the Girls

With Bryce at school a few days a week, Syd and I have been able to spend some time together...just the two of us.  

This day in particular was Bryce's first day of school, so I wanted to do something fun with Syd.  We went to Frederick Meijer Garden and had very nice morning.

Of course this one had her own agenda and insisted in pushing the stroller around the entire time.

So sassy, this one!

Since we were moving at a snail's pace, we had plenty of time to admire all the sculptures

...and all the flowers

...and even read the little signs that we normally would have walked right past!

Amazing what you can find when you just slow down a little bit! :)

We've been coming to the gardens for 2 summers, but it is usually hot and we don't make it past the children's garden to splash in the water or dig in the sand pit.  Today, Sydney and I discovered the arch, the farm, and so much more!

It was a very nice morning.  She was sweet.  She was enjoyable.  She was quiet.  Then as soon as  we picked Bryce up from school, she was back to her old self again.  At least I get 5 hours a week of the enjoyable Sydney while we spend "quality time" together.

My City is cooler than yours (part 2)

I'm not trying to brag or anything (ok...maybe a little bit), but my city probably is cooler than yours.  Remember when I wrote this post?  Well, Grand Rapids kicked it up a notch.

I've seen this video floating around facebook and even some friend's blogs, but honestly...I kept telling myself I didn't have 8 1/2 minutes to sit and watch it.  (Crazy, I know??)  Well, I just did, and I was not disappointed!



Are you kidding me???  How cool is this?  Not being a Grand Rapids "Native", I can proudly say that I chose to make this city my home and will boast about what a flipping awesome choice I made ;)  Ok...I know this is a little cheesy, BUT...This is the city where I first moved away from my entire family and became an adult.  I received my college education.  I met my husband.  I got married and laid down some serious roots.  I conceived, birthed, and really became a mother to two of the coolest kids on the planet.  Yes, we may live in the "bible belt" and it is rather conservative for someone who grew up in the "D", but clearly there are some cool people that live here and are full of ridiculous amounts of creativity!  I have met so many wonderful people and my family and I have been blessed with some AMAZING opportunities because of this city.  (...and to think, Dan and I almost took a job in Milwaukee 6 or 7 years ago.  How different our life would be right now?)

  My only negative comment about this video is...WHY THE HECK WAS I NOT INVITED TO BE A PART OF THIS????  I must have been busy that day.

Best Day EVER!

To say that I was excited about going to the Kenny Chesney concert would be an understatement.  There are no words to describe the pure elation that I was feeling.  Could it have been the beautiful and unexpected weather?  Maybe.  Could it have been the fact that my AMAZING sister in law took my kids overnight?  Perhaps.  Could it have been the massive amounts of margarita I consumed on the deck during our pre-party?  Very likely.  Could it have been that I was surrounded by tons of my favorite family and friends?  Absolutely.  Whatever the reason, the day was perfect.

Our good friends Paul and Heather came over before the concert.  We joked about how we've been friends for almost 8 years and we have no pictures together???  This disappointing fact prompted our faux prom mini photo shoot.

We finally made it downtown and grabbed our drinks seats at the concert.  Not the greatest seats, but no fear...it gets better as the night goes on.

The opening acts:

AND FINALLY...

My sole reason for existence...you know, after my husband and children.

The rest of the family had seats a few sections away, and realized there was a huge area of seats unoccupied and were given the "ok" to move down and sit there.  We quickly moved and had the most amazing view!!!

Kenny was even nice enough to pose for a quick picture with me!

Heather and I kept saying "he's RIGHT there".  You would think this was my first Kenny Concert!!  (I think I'm on number 4 or 5??)  Never gets old.

Yes, we are a tad sweaty.  We were rocking it out.

My sisters and cousins. :)

Can you watch this video and not get excited???

This was seriously the most fun I've had in a long time.  So happy everyone was able to make it to Grand Rapids to hang with us and celebrate Bryce's birthday on Sunday.  (pictures to come.)

Butterflies at the Garden

Thursday afternoon we met Ben and Cassie at Frederick Meijer Garden to see the butterflies.    It was a yucky, chilly rainy day, but you would never know from inside the hot and humid butterfly house.  (Forgot how hot it gets in there!)

The Butterflies were in full (?) bloom, and they were everywhere. The kids loved it.

I spent the majority of the time chasing them around and dragging Bryce from the  roped off exhibit to actually see much of anything, but the few butterflies that fluttered past my sweaty face were awesome. 

We may try to get back up there one more time before the exhibit ends for the season.  Maybe I will get to see a few things that I missed this time :)