A Few Days in Lawrence

While we had Monga visiting us in Manhattan, we decided to take a trip to Lawrence for a few days.  We needed some good cousin time, and Monga needed all her grandchildren together in one big messy cuddly lump.

We played non-stop for our two days together either at the playground or in Lily's bedroom, wreaking havoc wherever we went.

I rather enjoy watching strangers scramble to "rescue" Rose from playground equipment.  People seem to find it hard to believe that something so tiny could climb so high.  Rose may be small, but her will is mighty.

Just let her go.

A visit to Cale's backyard was in order on this trip to Lawrence.

Lily's cousin Cale.

We finished off the day with this lovely face.

A very common Rose face that is usually accompanied by a loud "NO!"

Feed Your Soul

Oh!  Hello there!  I didn't see you there.  Don't mind me, I'm just sipping my extremely caffeinated beverage at my favorite Lawrence joint.  I'm simply prepping for a fabulous girls' day out with my mother and big sis.

 

Fellow coffee and art lovers.

 

I craved this day out like I crave coffee.  A lot.  And I needed a day with art like I need air, because my soul longed for replenishment. 

 

I've always been proud of Kansas City's love for the arts, and there is no finer example of that love than the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  This museum is stellar in every way and one of my favorite places to escape to in this world.  Because it was built in the 1930's amidst the Great Depression, the Nelson was able to acquire an impressive collection of art with a relatively low budget.  The result is a world-class museum in the heart of Kansas City.

 

Inscribed on the outside of the museum:  "Art still has truth. Take refuge there." -Matthew Arnold

 

The outside of the Nelson is so cool that you could spend hours wandering through the sculptures alone.  So we did.  Sara and I lost our mother out there somewhere.  We figured if she missed us, she would give us a call, so we decided to take photos of each other for a while.

 

I told Sara to sit down in my low loud voice, (just like old times), and she did.  I've still got it.

 

Totally wish I lived next door.

Ferment by Roxy Paine, 2011

Storage by Judith Shea, 1999.

She wouldn't stop staring at me.  I asked her what her problem was, but she ignored me.  Sooo rude.

 

Once inside, seriously like over an hour later, we found our mother had gone done lost it again.

 

 

Do I always have to be the sane one in the family?

 

The real reason why we trekked to KC was to see the Bonjour Picasso! exhibit.  Why?  Because I love me some Pablo Picasso.  While I was in college, I did a paper on Picasso for an art class, and in doing so, I sifted through biographies and artwork aplenty.  What I came away with was this:  Picasso is crazy brilliant.

 

Left:  Woman in Mauve Hat by Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, 1939.  Right:  Photo of Picasso by Arnold Newman, 1954.

Grand Vase aux Femmes Nues by Picasso, 1950.

My mother loves visiting the courtyard inside the museum.  It's a great place to chill with a diet coke.

Is it obvious that we're sisters?

Of course we couldn't leave the museum without checking out other masterpieces.  I have found that every time I enter the museum, my old favorites are not my current favorites anymore.  My taste in art flows with the tides of my life.  It's a beautiful thing.

Clockwise from left:  The Sun Trader (Portrait of Carl Ruggles) by Thomas Hart Benton, 1934, Women at Sunrise by Joan Miro, 1946, The Great Peak (Longs Peak), Birger Sandzen, 1938.

 

I couldn't leave the Nelson without getting closer to one of the famous shuttlecocks.  In fact, I got right inside one.  If no one saw me do the giggling happy dance inside the birdie, does that mean it didn't really happen?

 

Shuttlecocks by Claes Olderburg and Coojse van Bruggen, 1992.

 

Once our souls had been refueled, we needed our bodies to catch up.  Off to D'Bronx we went, where we stuffed our faces silly with pizza pie!  Or was it just pie?  Or both?  I can't remember.  You can't prove anything. 

 

 

Across the street from D'Bronx is this kind of insane bookstore.  The owner clearly uses this place as his personal editorial bulletin board.  Having said that, it's downright awesome, yet sketchy at the same time.  Find a book?  Nope.  I spent most of my time reading all the newspaper clippings and posters the owner had hanging on the walls and bookshelves.

 

What in the heck is she looking at?

Don't go back there, Mom!  I'm scared for your safety!

 

 Twas a fabulous day.  This pretty much sums it up...

 

 

Thanks, girls.  xoxo

Miss Independence, Mister Tiger and Miss Bossy Pants

Miss Independence loves herself some playground equipment.  She's all over the place, trying everything out without the tiniest bit of fear.  She can climb and dangle and run with the best of them.  Oh, and also she's adorable.

 

Miss Bossy Pants and Mister Growling Tiger went to the playground with Miss Independence, and together the three of them left nothing untouched.

Also fearless, Miss Bossy Pants aka Mini Dave gave me her best "Oh Jeez Aunt Wendy, hurry up already and take my picture" face.

Miss Independence was just steps behind her cousin.  She will conquer that rock climbing wall, oh yes she will.

Do they ever get tired?  No, no they do not.

A Grand Affair

It was most definitely a grand affair...for us.  A proper tea party of sorts thrown by the hostess with the mostest, Perfect Pink Polkadot Princess Sara, in honor of her glorious birthday.  And why not throw a party with tea and scones and hats?  We aren't heathens!

I have to confess, I googled "tea party etiquette" before writing this blog post and discovered, as I really already knew, that we did not, in fact, have anything close to a proper tea party.  So let's call this the Midwestern Proper Tea, shall we?  The kind in which you lick your fingers and laugh too loud, while your children eat too much chocolate and run about screaming.  Why yes, the perfect Kansas tea.

 

Rose helped Aunt Sara in the kitchen, while Mommy and Monga did everything wrong that was requested of them by the party princess.

 

Yes, Rose was a big help, but she did abandon her aunt once it was time to get ready for the party.

 

Rose looked radiant and proper in all her froufrou.

The guests started arriving with their delightful hats and children.  It was lovely.

Ammy Alice with Cale, Bo with Jordan, Katie with Ammy.

 

 We had such a splendid time.

 

A proper splendid time, that is.

 

What a marvelous table Princess Sara set up for us, with treats and sweets galore.  Why, it was absolutely lovely.

 

"Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things." -Chaim Potok

 

Rose was just a precious as can be, giving gentle kisses to baby Jordan.

 

Everyone was proper and happy, delighting in their lovely tea.

Even Cale was a perfect gentleman.

But then.

Whose filthy child is this?  How improper.

They all ate the chocolate though.  The children, that is.  And it led to this.

That's right, it was the chocolate's fault and had nothing to do with the lack of adult supervision.  Oh, and don't let this picture fool you, Miss Lily was there, oh yes.  In fact, it was probably her idea.

Then it got worse.  These horribly obscene women started cackling in the living room.

Lovely ladies, come along and join us.

 

How totally improper.

Sunflowers in July

July 29, 2012

 

Ah, Kansas sunflowers.  I do so adore you...

 

The Grinters sweetly welcome strangers onto their property every year to share in the wonderment that is a giant field full of happy sunflowers over six feet tall.  This year the flowers bloomed early, but we were ready.

 

Dale and Lily were both so cooperative and smiley.  They are growing up so fast!

 

 

Rose wasn't ready.

 

Most of my shots are like these:

At least he was happy!

 

 

Dale does a million silly poses, but he eventually makes himself laugh, and I get that perfect Dale shot.

 

Rose, however, did not feel like laughing.

 

 Lily was as cute as can be, but as soon as I told her how pretty she looked, she frowned.  I got this one picture.  Next time I'll keep my mouth shut.

 

 

 Since our kids were so good at the sunflower field, we rewarded them us by going to Starbucks.  They we deserved it so much.  Rose finally started to smile at everyone and everything.  Clearly the girl needs her coffee to start the day out right.

 

On our way home we stopped at St. Mary's for some lunch at local diner.  Tiny Kansas towns are so much fun.  We'll be back to this one for sure!