First Day of School 2016

Posting first day of school photos in February?  Why not.  I don't make baby books or anything of the sort, so if it doesn't end up here it won't end up anywhere.  Plus this was a big first year of school- Fisher attends all day public school in Ann Arbor and Gracie attends 3 mornings a week at a local preschool.   Both kids have adjusted and are doing great in their new schools, proving once again that change is often harder on adults. Fisher has a ton of friends and Gracie impresses with her desire/ability to learn.  So yeah, basically the same as in Spring Lake.  Jameson was even here for the first day of school- so that was the same too.   

A trip to the diag to check out the scene

Oh man, seeing this photo reminds me of how much work our yard is going to be come summer

BFF Forever

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is a pair of pants without a hole.

Love,

Fisher

PS he really wants transformers and legos

First Day of School 2015

It's mid-September and I officially have two kids in school.  Fisher attends preschool M-F 9 to 11:45 and Gracie attends Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30.

Some people were so excited to start school they slept in their new backpacks.

On the other hand this is Fisher's third year of school in the same building.  He loves it, but really didn't understand why I wanted to take pictures or take him out to a special lunch.  School is old hat to this veteran.  He did let me snap a few pictures, but "only on the dock because I want to look for fish".  This is how this kid rolls.  He really couldn't have a more cliche name for his current favorite pastime.

Fisher and his buddy Porter ready to tear up 4 day 4s at the Learning Tree

Gracie was 5 days old the first time she visited The Learning Tree for Fisher's 2 year old program orientation.  She has grown up in the this building and really couldn't believe it was finally her turn to "go to class".  I wasn't expecting a dramatic drop off, but was caught off guard when she asked me to stay and grabbed my hand extra tight.  It was a good reminder that sometimes the scariest things, are the most highly anticipated things in the most familiar of surroundings.  Thankfully she found the baby dolls and loosened her grip on my hand and I quietly shrunk out of the room.  By all accounts she had a great first day.   Let's hope both kids have plus or minus 22 more perfect first days of school in the coming years.  Okay I admit thats asking a lot, but I want to remember that in 2015 the start of school was perfect.

Okay so Gracie wasn't into the picture thing either

She is into swinging like a monkey

and picking out her own clothes

and not brushing her hair

Oxbow: Art Camp 2015

At the end of July I attended two, week long workshops at Oxbow in Saugutuck, MI with my mom and her friend Margot.  We had a blast.  Oxbow is a one hundred year old art "camp" associated with the Art Institute of Chicago.  They offer classes for all ability levels from kids to graduate level fellowships.  We took an acrylic class in the morning and an oil pastel class in the afternoon with the same instructor.  The other students traveled from all over the country to participate but in general had a "rich, white, wannabe hippy, retired vibe".  You know the type.  The young students taking undergraduate and graduate level coursework had an, "I do anything just to be different so I don't end up as a rich, white, wannabe hippy, retiree vibe".  Just as I remembered from my art school days.  On Friday night they held a party with a DJ in the middle of the woods, where the guests dressed as their "spirit animals".  We didn't attend.  I hate to admit it but I related more to my retiree classmates.  Scary thought.

I loved spending a week away from the kids, playing with paint and oil pastel doing what I love to do.  We shared good laughs, good food and bad art work.  Thanks to Jann/Horacio/Erica and Nick for taking on a week of childcare so I could enjoy this experience. Hoping I can return next summer!  Maybe I will have improved?!

There were tons and tons of old painted chairs around the campus.  

Me, Weze and Margot and our impromptu art show at the end of the week.  All painting by all artists are mixed together

I loved all the hand painted signs throughout the campus

Because when you are almost 70 and you are at art camp of course you hula hoop with a giant hoop.  They were both surprisingly good at this.  I was thankful that I was pregnant and had an excuse not to try.

The campus is on a lagoon that used to be attached to the Saugatuck harbor, but no longer is dredged

Our morning acrylic classes were held in this building

Afternoon oil pastel classes were held "en plein aire" or under this tent

10x14 Oil Pastel on paper by Jane, clearly I need a photography course more than anything ;)

10x14 Oil Pastel on paper by Jane

10x14 Oil pastel on paper by Jane

10x14 Oil Pastel on paper by Jane

8x10 Still Life study by Jane (Acrylic on paper)

12x15 Sunflowers by Jane (Acrylic on paper)

Welcome Home Erica!

After six years living in Mexico, some little people and their parents are happy to have aunt Erica stateside.  She starts Kellogg business school at Northwestern in the Fall.  Only three hours away from us!

Last Day of School 2015

Fisher had a great year at school.  He loves his teachers and never complains about going.  He seems to have lots of friends and particularly enjoys classes like "gym" and "parties".  Now if only we could get him to concentrate on his letters as much as self arranging play dates with random children. 

Here are his three day three class photos.

He likes to sleep with the below class photo next to his bed- so he can look at all his friends. At all times.

This year Fishy was sensitive like his mom and adventurous like his dad.  He hates getting yelled at or when people raise their voice, but is the first to jump in the pool or climb to the top of the playground.  He started the year into Curious George and ended it loving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Mostly he grew into a fun little man.   Nick and I love spending time with him and relish the opportunity to  bring him to more adult places with little stress.  

Big kids are fun.  Fisher is fun.  He tells me multiple times a day, "I love you so much mommy, you are so beautiful".  Right back at you big guy.  We love you and you are so handsome!

Below are some photos from our last day of school photoshoot and activities.  I organized a trolley ride and ice cream treat with his class, just like last year.   It was a great day celebrating the school year and the start of SUMMER!

First Day of School 2014

Fisher started preschool for the year last week.  It is the same school he attended last year with many of the sane friends and parents.  Fisher loves seeing his friends at school, I love the structure it brings to our week.  Win, win!

Of course we had the obligatory first day of school photoshoot.  Can't wait to see what he learns this year!