grass and vines or how to enjoy a summer day

what more could you ask for than a backyard, a day with nothing in it, and a little imagination

bliss

photo by Ash Ram Photography

We had the most splendid reason to travel to Utah at the end of May: somehow my crazy brother convinced this beautiful girl to marry him.

The day was in bloom; the temple reflected the radiance of the brides that stood on the steps, smiling for the photographers; the children didn't wander; the family was together. It was good for this old married woman to see the immense happiness that was all over Whitney's face that day. It was as if she couldn't believe her luck in getting to marry Alan, and if she stopped to breathe she might miss some part of it all. It was good to see the tears that spring from such joy. It was good to remember the day I felt like that.

We celebrated with them at their reception in Bountiful. Caleb looked so handsome in his suit; the girls were darling in their matching flower girl dresses and curled hair; Ben was all smiles. We even managed to go the whole night without getting something of a red nature all over the clothes.

After dancing the night away on the rooftops, and sending Alan and Whitney off in an explosion of bubbles, we carried the sleepy childen home, and I went to bed feeling happy to have been a part of it all.

Welcome to the family, Whitney!

at the temple

my brothers

Caleb loved dancing with his cousin, Chloe / Ben and my bestest cousin, Heather

whirling dervishes

excuse

things to blog about when my computer stops throwing a temper tantrum:

green belt achieving

preschool graduating

a baby's blessing

a brother's wedding

lazy grass lolloping

t-ball playing

musical singing

rain down pouring

stay tuned. or not. either way.

front page

Remember the post about the reading contest Caleb entered?  Well...to our surprise, he was not only the first grade winner, but the school winner!  He got his ride to school on a fire truck yesterday.  The big yellow truck arrived, sirens blaring, in front of our home.  Caleb posed with the firemen, then hopped into the front seat for a ride around town before being dropped off at school.  And when he arrived, all the kids were out front clapping and cheering.  

As if that weren't enough, a reporter from the local paper came by to interview Caleb about it (which was quite funny).  I appreciate that he called Caleb "polite" and "articulate" in the article, and laugh about the part where Caleb says, "If I had even one little book, that would be worth more than even a great big Xbox."  Wow, does he have a gift for embellishment, or what.   The story made the front page this morning (perk of a small town?) and Caleb read it over and over to anyone who would listen. Which, of course, was all of us.  That kid definitely loves attention.  

a critical approach

The first thing one notices about the most recent uncommissioned work by our resident artist, 

Elisabeth, is the striking resemblance to the Masiakasaurus knopfleri.  How deftly she captured the ferocity and agility of the young predator, as well as the ingenuity of the would-be prey who, in a remarkable show of bravery, has attempted to frighten the beast with the scathing words, Go Away (though its effect is somewhat questionable as the predator, himself, lacks any verbal ability).   

Still, the lines are bold, the strokes confident. Her proportions are perfect, and I am impressed with her balance of positive and negative space. It calls to mind the early works of Jean Dubuffet, with its childlike simplicity.  

Elisabeth chose a monochromatic color scheme for this work, and it represents a continuation of what is being called her Pink Period ("any other color just won't do," she has been heard to say).  It's a daring move, but I think 

it works.  She pushes the Feminism even further in this piece by adding a new, dazzling touch of glitter, though my sources tell me she owes the inspiration for this to her younger sister, on whose hair and hands she first tested this effect.  As you can see, she determined it to be quite pleasing and would, in fact, employ it in all her further works had she not exhausted her supply.

Although Elisabeth's work has been derided by critics in the past, I believe it shows remarkable artistic progress, and that she stands out among her peers for her bravery and willingness to push my buttons...er, the envelope.  We eagerly await her next work.

one year

one year ago this weekend that I got on a plane that wouldn't go fast enough

that I lay in bed with my arms around my sister, waiting for her crying to turn to the rhythmic breaths of sleep

one year ago that I watched a distraught sister skillfully organize a search for her brother, balancing on the precipice of hell  

one year ago that I saw the best of humanity as a multitude of friends and strangers came together, to give up their vacation, their time, their food, their love, their concern  

one year ago that I gave assurance that "you won't have to raise your baby alone" and praying with all my little heart that it would be true

one year ago that our lives stood still, when the only thing that mattered was each other, our families, and finding the one who was lost

There is a shut-off part in my head where I put all the memories from that week.  I still struggle to find words for all of them.  But this month I've allowed that part to remain open, though it's been hard as I think not only of my memories of those days, one year ago, but of John.  I remember driving back and forth from Milton to Pensacola, searching, searching, and trying to comprehend a reality where I wouldn't see him laugh again or hear him call me TimTam.   I will be thinking of John this weekend, of his family whom I have come to love as my own, and of my sister.  

julie and emily

on the shore of escambia bay

emily and her john

ben at one month

...and a sister who adores him.

Also, here's something I read today that made me smile:

"One child is a lot of work.  You might think a second child would be double the work, but he will quadruple it.  The third child multiplies it by 27.  A fourth child makes very little impact, possibly because you can't find him."