ArtPrize 2009

Unless you've been hiding in a cave, or under a rock, or live in ANTARCTICA, ArtPrize must have reached your earlobes at some point in time. Evidently it's a big deal. I dunno. I think it's just a DeVos way of one-upping me...SO WHAT IF I BEAT YOU IN CROSS COUNTY IN HIGH SCHOOL, MAN, GIVE IT UP ALREADY! But anyway, even if you take away the fact that I AM FASTER, the DeVos' know more people and have more money and that allows them to put on a pretty good show. For once, this past week, GR had life and style. I don't think I've ever seen it before, but wow, keep it going! Please, I beg you! Enough pleading. On with the art. Brackground: So even though it was freezing Tues evening, we (a group including Ed, Deb, Travis, Adalynn, Keely and I) ventured out on the town to experience ArtPrize before Week 1 voting is over. For those of you who have been under a rock, in a cave, etc, ArtPrize is voted on by the public, yup, you and me man, and WE choose the winners. (opening night, last wed, the girls and i traveled into town to my sister's church, Monroe Community, to their opening night reception. it was great, with live music and appetizers (i'd say it all fancy and french but i don't know how to spell it). unfortunately, the memory card was not in my camera. poop.)

The art rocked. It really did. It's amazing what people make from leftovers (note: vertebrae on the liiizzzaaarrrd). Leftover art was the coolest art of all.

Like this Moose.

It's made out of NAILS!!! Ingenious.

Although I blurred the Tin Man and screwed up his picture, this one took some thinking too. Looks like a basic, very bronzed sculpture. Then you look closer, because he has groupies man, and notice that HE'S ALIVE. Crazy!

I hope this mural stays. Painted on the side of the B.O.B - it's Perfect.

This barn could be my favorite. It's amazing. Simple and amazing.

This little piece of art is pretty cool too. She's quite a performer. But we didn't enter her in the contest - didn't want to show up everybody and make them feel bad.

Oh, Nessie. What will the Grand River be without your low, moaning growl. It just won't be the same.

Wait - what's this? A table and chairs? ON A BRIDGE? Could it be?

Why yes, it could. Huh.

This Boat Rocked. Literally and figuratively. What a dad-gum piece of art. Wow.

Seriously. Wow. Pictures do NOT do it justice.

Chihuly look-a-like.

I love gracefully dancing slender women sculptures.

Ewwww....recycling...how is this art?

BECAUSE IT'S IN THE FORM OF A "G". For GARBAGE? Get It? Me neither.

Oh - oh! This guy was awesome too. The art - I'm speechless!!

Look, look - it's all LITTLE MICHAEL JORDANS!!! I Love It!!!
The blow-up blowy thing caught Adalynn's attention.

Another seemingly benign, simple piece made out of ... wait for it ...

THUMBTACKS!!! Whodathunkit?

And a waterfall-ish masterpiece ... made out of ...

WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIAS!!! Oh, the clever people! I can hardly stand it!

Another favorite. On the outside it's a rhinoceros.

Oh the inside it's a bunch of tires! Fascinating!

So I tended toward the leftover art. I just like it and I give those artists my green stamp of approval. The performance art (the little bit that was out this evening) was great, different too. I like. The traditional art was of high quality as well. Overall, only a few that I am going to vote thumbs down on - not a bad percentage.

Summary: ArtPrize 2009 - you made a great inaugural run. Looking forward to next year.

It's about time...

See anything? Anything at all? Ok, ok, besides the baby blanket, burp cloth, gown, and obvious pack'n'play. Look closer:

I just put the kids to sleep, and ... IT'S EMPTY!!! Keely, for the first night in...well...ever, is sleeping in her big girl crib in Adalynn and Keely's bedroom.

I feel oddly naked. I wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight.

Mmmmm. Fresh, Fall Apples!

Finally, after Banks running away and finding him, scouring the property for the property lines, sending Jeff and Jerilynn into blissful wedding bliss-dom - the kids and I felt the need for a PJ day. And it was fabulous. Without the obligation to wear clothes many belated chores were finished: vacuuming, cleaning the kitchen, laundry and putting away clothes. But, best and most importantly of all: the apples that we bought over a week ago to can are CANNED. And the picked apples are either eaten or transformed into APPLE CHIPS. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm.

Excuse the mess. This is definitely a BEFORE/DURING picture. After is much better. I promise...or maybe not too much. I'm awaiting the toilet installation to occur in the basement before I can move the canned goods downstairs into their resting place. But it will be much better. Hopefully. One day. Until then, I'm just glad it's clean.

This is what my day was like:

Except replace Travis with me. I'm pretty sure I wrestled wild gorillas all day. Or maybe orangoutangs. I'm not sure. But it was hard, and there were a lot of them.

Either way, that feeling dimmed next to the happiness we felt for Jerilynn and Jeff. (no, this is not jerilynn and jeff. but at this point in time i am unable to move the pictures i uploaded due to blogger website difficulties. and i'm too fatigued to argue, or delete these and re-upload. so we're working with it.) Isn't Jerilynn beautiful...and Travis adorable? What a ham.

1/4 of the fam posing for pictures.

Our beauties were A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. Almost making up for their severe inattention to the wedding itself, as demonstrated by hyperverbosity and hunger in the middle of the ceremony.

Causing our trio to stand up and trample away to go see "Fishies!" ... per Adalynn's multiple requests. During the ceremony.

The tram ride was a hit - when it finally started moving.

I attempted to get a decent picture of Travis and I taken since we don't get out much.

Naomi, poor child, was not herself these 2 days of wedding festivities. Fevers and chills dragged her down - no fun at all. But she was a trooper and made it through. She was so excited leading up to this day, telling me multiple times that, "We're getting married!". Even more excited that once they were married, "Mommy can bake me a brother in her oven!"

The lone picture I of the ceremony, from my camera. I'm sure they have some beauts from the lovely photographers. Imagine rolling waterfalls over rocks behind Jerilynn and Jeff, and you'll get half of the picture. Too pretty to describe with words.

Oh, my dear. One day, you will learn what "Quiet" means, or at least how to tone it down. And at that time I will party. I know though, it's really not your fault, your lineage has predisposed you to inherit the loud, carrying voice that you possess. We love you in spite of this. And sometimes because of it.

CONGRATULATIONS JEFF, JERILYNN AND NAOMI!

WE LOVE YOU!

Happy Wedding Day Jeff and Jerilynn!

Happy Wedding Day Jeff and Jerilynn and Naomi,

We are so happy for you and pray for a long lasting, beautiful and joyful marriage!

We love you!

Our Prodigal Son

I think he'll sleep for a week. Maybe 2. Since his little adventure yesterday and his homecoming today, Banks has sacked out in Adalynn's room next to her bed. He's moved, maybe, twice? The poor chunk-a-lunk.

Then again, maybe not so poor. When I picked him up this morning, after receiving the phone call reporting his location, he had 5 or 6 children hanging on him. Older children, not the little annoying buggers that he has at home. But he must have missed us, because I got a puppy dog grin and a mini-jump and a strong tail wave when I stepped out of the jeep.

Oh the feet. His poor feet. They carried him quite a ways yesterday, but not as far as he has traveled in the past. We lost him late afternoon/early evening while searching for the last survey stake to the property. The corn turned Banks around and he shot out onto Kalamazoo, heading east towards our house. Banks has a good compass on him.

The problem? The truck was parked to the west. Glad to have you home, Bubbas.

A Note From Me

My Mama may not tell you, but I hold the reins around here.

And when something happens that I don't agree with, I give out this face. And if they don't start to pay attention to me, I give out this one:

And trust me, this one gets 'em to pay attention fast.

This is my happy face. It's cute.

This is my "Help me, I'm scared" face.

It's for times like when my sister tries to pick out my eye goobers.

And then my face crinkles and I put on my helpless face and everyone comes running.

Thas right, I know waz up.

Gotta keep 'em in line around here. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.