Art Prized x2

It's all the talk in Grand Rapids! If you live anywhere in Michigan, you have probably heard of Artprize...and probably attended! This year was the 2nd annual Artprize. I attended briefly with the kids last year (Trent had a broken leg). This year I was able to attend two different times!

Now, let me just say, I'm not really a 'artsy' kinda gal. I usually don't get artists artistic minds! I also gravitate to the metal type artistic venues..I also like the touchable items. Really don't care for painted artwork...but that is just me!

The first time I went this year, a Sunday, was with Steve Troy & Trent. It was packed, you could hardly get around to see the artwork. I'm not going to give each name..simply because I don't have time! So you can just enjoy the pictures----

This one was one of my favorites right out of the box! It was made with pennies and in a penny form...cool huh? I know, I have a simple mind!

My second visit was with the girls. We went on a Monday afternoon...and let me just say, it was perfect weather and not a lot of people out...so we could really enjoy the art. Here we are in front of the Gerald R. Ford Museum. (L-R)Renee's friend Mary, Mary's SIL Tammy, Renee, Danielle, Joanne & Darica. Renee was our tour guide and she did a great job...she got us to all the Top 10's

The Elephant WalkThis was made with crayons...the bottom side of them...it's the seven days of creation. Calvary, a 28 foot drawing with 2H pencil. He drew this from a photograph.

Here I am with Chris LaPorte, the Artist. Because it took me soooo long to post these pictures, we now know he was the 1st place winner! He won 250,000. Does this make me famous? This was done with wine stained corks. Impressive

When girls get together, they have to go for lunch. We went to Big O's

Steam pig

Bohemian wave Artprize placed pianos all over town. People were encouraged to sit and play a tune..here is Danielle playing a number for us.

This was another of my favorites. From a distance it looks like a mural of Grand Rapids...as we took a closer look we realized what it truly was......It was balls in tubes...very impressive! Can you imagine sliding all those balls in that tube...and in the right order..Patience! To give you an idea of what it looked like up close....I snapped this picture.

What a great idea for GR. It was stated that there were 450,000 votes cast....WOW! Almost 1/2 million people... a great boost for the GR economy. Later.....

2 cute 4 words!

Okay, so I posted this before the Homecoming Pictures....I'll get to those..promise!

Trent plays on a soccer league in Sparta. He enjoys playing..but his team hasn't won a game..yet! He keeps a great attitude about it though. He never gets irritated or mad that they haven't won. As a matter of fact, I asked him after his game..."How do you think you guys did?"....He said..."oh, we played great!"...if we could all have that kind of attitude! As Goalie.... Sweetness!

Homecoming 2010

With Homecoming, comes Homecoming games....and boy was it loud and fun! I have never been up to the High School during games till now! There was a lot of energy in that gym. And how much fun for these kids, to have a day to bond together and work together as a team, to win for their grade! They all purchase class shirts and get all decked out in red/black/white. So much fun!These kids are watching the lip sync competition. 1 group competes, from each class that lasts a max of 4 minutes. They were all good and you could tell the kids put numerous hours in after school practicing...but the Seniors sync was outstanding....the best!Seniors pulling in the tug-o-war..always a favorite! (Tyler is not in there)Tyler participating in the wheelbarrow races.He's the barrow here....Tyler doing the three legged raceTroy watching his class compete. That's Jordan, his cousin, to the left of him. Jordan is a big boy and Troy is little for his class....lol!Troy in a hula hoop raceThe football players on a KC fire truck in the Homecoming parade! We love this about our small town.....we can shut the town down for an hour to run a parade through main street! Yes! What a great place to live! Oh....and did I mention they won!

Up next...Homecoming Dance pictures!

Guns & Deer

A couple of weeks back we went up to Steve's Dad & Mom's to site in the guns before deer hunting season. Here are the boys practicing up..... Steve shooting his 44 MagnumJoanne shooting Troy's Marlin 270watch out I'm a good shot! Bullseye!And so is Troy! He got this doe on the week-end of youth hunt. This was Troy's first deer he's taken. Great job Troy! I was in Fremont shopping when he shot this deer. We were expecting to eat dinner after they got in about 8pm. As I rounded the corner, about 6:30, to the house I saw the deer hanging in the tree...wow...that was fast...I was now the one holding up dinner!Steve & Troy skinning the deer (more Steve than Troy!) Ewwww! Here is a close up of the "wound" ENJOY!

I know you are all jealous of my life!

Eatin' Out

I know, I know this is a very late post.....but you know the sang..."better late than never" But like I have wrote before..this is a blog to share my life and also a journal for me to keep track of my life.

One Sunday, after my Dad's party....all of us Kids & Grandkids headed to Wendy's. We had a great time together...laughing and redesigning the dining room. It was hard for me to get everyone in...so here is my best shot.Here is Grandma Elsie & (bil) Tod...nice of him, not so nice of g-ma. She was in fine form that day!On Labor Day we took over Arnie's in Rockford. They were so great at accommodating us! Half the crew had come from a fun day at Craig's Cruisers and half at come from the mall...you figure out who!!! Another great time together..love my family!Here is Eric (Hannah's boyfriend) and Trent making Batman Eyes. Trent fell in love with Eric (along with Hannah). Eric had to leave that night to head back to Uof M. The next day, when we were heading over to Dad & Linda's, I was telling Trent to get ready to head over..he asked...who was going to be there? I told him Eric had left to go back to college....Trent said he didn't want to go over...lol!! We were also able to squeeze in a cousins lunch! We meet my cousins Denise and Diana at Russ's on Alpine. It's always fun to relive some of your childhood with family.

LOVE IT!!!

Soccer Kids....

Got some shots of the boys playing soccer together. Kent City only has a Varsity team so the boys get to play together. Tyler is #27 and Troy is #13.....

And again..

Is that legal Tyler???

Brother's discussing the game..maybe they do like each other???Fan Club....Grandpa & Grandma came to a game.....

They have had a fun year together. They have not had a winning year! They enjoyed the comradery being on a team brings..it's all good!

Back to School 2010-2011

Tyler the last-first day of High School!! He's a Senior! I couldn't get a picture of the three of them together as Tyler heads up to school at 5:45 ish or more like 5:52...bus leaving at 5:55!

He is attending first session at Kent Career Tech Center (KCTC) in Grand Rapids. He is in the Aviation Maintenance Program which he attended his Junior year too. The program has an actually hanger at the Gerald Ford Airport...so he does a lot of bus hopping to get there. He gets on a bus in KC..then Sparta..then KCTC...then airport!Our 3rd grader Trent..isn't he the most adorable kid!! Just love him to pieces! Troy is a Sophomore..he looks thrilled doesn't he!

They are great boys ad we are so proud of the men they are becoming! We pray that God will bless there lives! Love you guys!