Rolls and Toes

Miles is growing up... I've been around and worked with children my entire life but I have never spent so much time with one child as I am now spending with Miles. You really get to know someone when you're responsible for all of their needs not just the occasional diaper change and cuddle but for everything.
This was Miles' new trick on Mother's Day:

Look at me mom, I'm learning to roll!!! Watch out! 

And then a week later, he found something new to play with:

Toes are so much fun!

These are the fun things that come with growing up. But we've now moved on to teething at 4 and a half months and it is most definitely not fun. Poor little guy is struggling to smile and giggle and play with his toys. He was such a happy little fellow that this growing pain is very confusing to him and he just doesn't know what to make of it. The good thing is that this stage will pass, like all of his firsts. And I can't wait to see what else he'll be showing us soon.

Returning!

After a very long hiatus, I have returned! Even if it is only for a few posts, I feel like an update is needed. It's been almost a year since I shared on this site and I am hoping to begin to visit more frequently but one can never be too certain of such things. So much has occurred since the last post about my dear Arnie. He had surgery, he recovered. He had surgery again and he recovered. He had surgery for a third time and he recovered one more time. Now a year later, his battle still continues and he is slated for a PET scan with a date to be determined. We are hopeful that the spot they think they see will turn out to be nothing but we can't be sure until the test is completed- a coding error with the insurance has caused the delay- stupid insurance.
A year and so much has occurred. Such a short amount of time and yet so many changes in my life. We have now lived in our new home for 13 months and I am celebrating my very first mother's day. It's such a joy to have a little one. I've been waiting so long! The time finally arrived and after three months of being scared senseless, I'm sitting here on our couch watching my husband hold my son's hand while he sleeps. Such a pleasant way to spend an early spring evening. Such a blessing to have two special guys in my life.

Hugs to all of my dear friends- those who read this blog and those who do not... I've missed you very much in this last year of transitions and I'm looking forward to a summer filled with trips to see all of you!

Day 109

I'm not sure how Amanda Soule does it everyday... something positive. Today I've cried more than I've smiled and I'm just not sure how to put a positive spin on this.... I found out today that Arnie has cancer in his left kidney. I need to focus now on other things rather than this blog- like finishing his sweater and possibly closing on the house or finding another one and finishing the school year... so I'm going to take a break for a bit. I will be back and resume posting but it may be a bit before I return. I will continue to focus on what positives there are in each day but I may just be sharing them in a different way. Thanks for understanding you twelve readers of mine...

Day 108

As you know, G is not a big fan of veggies so I'm always on the look-out for ways to sneak them in. Recently we made Thai noodle stir fry and the only veggie he passed to my plate was the broccoli. Not bad. Plus, I've learned that he likes curry. This is a spice that some people have a hard time with and was not one of the staples my mom used in the kitchen when I was growing up, but in college my friends from Nepal would always use curry to flavor their food and the warmth of it was amazing. To discover that G is also a fan was wonderful!!! I feel like this is a discovery that can only lead to new eating adventures.
My friend Kala is helping this adventure today with a giveaway on her blog. The giveaway is sponsored by Lightlife and they have some appetizing looking recipes. Check out this one for Chick'n & Bacon.

Pass the broccoli to my plate and G would enjoy. 

Plus, who doesn't love some extra veggies? Oh, right, the man I married... good thing I do!

Day 107

I brought my camera to school today to take pictures of the student artwork from the art show. Here's Ashley's piece:

It's such a great piece. I'm so proud of all the work she put into it. 

I really like the way she created two separate lids and the details in the underglaze.  

I'm teaching a Mixed Media class this trimester and for our first project we poured plaster into milk containers and then carved abstract human forms. We researched Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. We learned how to use carving tools like rasps and sanding paper and we talked about proportions of the human form. The results were amazing. I'm so proud of my students.  

Day 106

Palm Sunday at Dad's

Such a nice day both inside and out. 

(p.s. I love my camera)

Day 105

Student Art Show Day 

(ok, so this was officially yesterday but we'll just call it good and I'll post about it today...)

Five of my students submitted work to the Waseca Arts Center for their annual spring art show. Each student created an amazing piece but only one received an Outstanding with a cash price of $10. YIPPIE for my ceramic student Ashley. I'm so proud of her! I featured her work here earlier and I also selected her as art student of the week earlier this fall. I'll add a photo of her winning artwork later- I didn't get a chance to take a pic before the art show and we were pretty busy after....

During our day at the art center, the students participated in an art activity with all of the other students and these were their results:

Each school split the word INSPIRATION into five parts and then each student was to create a piece that included their section of the word. When all the pieces were put together they formed this artwork- pretty cool.....