Well I tried

In honor of spring and Savannah's birthday, I tried to get some portraits of her today.  After looking through them, I know why I pay professionals. I have neither the skills nor the equipment to get the photos I want even with a cooperative subject.

We had brownies on Monday for her actual birthday.

Even though I am not pleased with the results, it got her out of the house.  She's been very sick, and even a short walk in a park with a few photos wore her out.

17!

Today marks the day that Savannah turns 17.  I have tried so very hard to hold onto every moment of raising my children, but try as I might, time is fleeting.  It can't possibly be 17 years since I held her as an infant!

In this past year, Savannah learned to drive, started her first job, and opened her first checking account.  She saves her earnings faithfully as she longs for a car of her own, but she is also very generous with her money.  In the past week we have been so encouraged. Savannah did not get into the summer program for which she spent hours on the application. We learned that a few months ago, but last week we learned that she did get into another summer program that will give her a three week experience on a college campus this summer where she will earn six hours of college credit.  Savannah received her ACT score in the mail this weekend, and we are very pleased.  She is one point away from full tuition potential for the two colleges at the top of her choice list.  We feel hopeful that she can get that one point as she has been strongly prepped for the test this year, and she did not have a watch and did not have a clock in the room for this last test so that she could pace herself.  That threw her off enough that we think she can have a better test experience if she tries again.

Savannah works so hard, complains very little, smiles often, and has a sweet spirit.  As we wrestle over how to afford school this coming year for Zach and Julia, we need the encouragement that a little respite might be just around the corner.  At the same time Savannah puts so much pressure on herself to be a successful student that we don't want to add pressure that will burn her out.

We are so blessed to be her parents.  Savannah is truly one in a million.

Because Zach attends college near St. Louis, and he will be transferring after this semester, we splurged on a weekend getaway and made that part of celebrating Savannah's birthday.  It was a truly fun trip, and you can see lots of pictures in my previous few posts, but here are a few in honor of Savannah's birthday.

Monet's Water Lilies at the St. Louis Art Museum.  I had no idea it was that big!

Savannah posed with a painting by her favorite artist - Van Gogh.

opening a gift at dinner

My instagram post went along with this picture today and reads: Happy Birthday to this sweet, kind and beautiful girl! Savannah, you inspire us all to be better people.  We love you bunches and bunches and bunches...and even more than that!

Savannah was bummed that her birthday fell the day she returned to school after spring break.  I do hope that her friends made that a little more palatable today.  Happy Birthday Savannah!

Road Trip - Sunday

Sunday was our final day for our getaway, so we had only one attraction on the agenda - the zoo.

We dropped by campus for what might be the last time.  Zach will transfer after this semester, so unless we go to help him pack his stuff home, GC is behind us - aside from the hefty student loans.

I ask myself why? Why do my kids seem to take the best group pictures in zoos?  Things that make you say hmm.

You might ask why so many penguin pics and why Savannah is pictured with the entrance to the sign.  Well you see ("well you see" is a commonly used phrase in our family thanks to Wyatt), Savannah started using funny penguin videos as a way to relieve stress a while back.  She has become enamored with this interesting bird.

I personally thought the puffins were very cute.

Julia had to have a picture next to some sort of ape.  She's a monkey herself.  We did enjoy watching an orangutan play around with a blanket over his head.  Fun stuff.

The sea lion exhibit was really cool and included a tunnel so that we could watch these fun creatures swim over our heads.

I am not sure I've ever seen a baby kangaroo this big being carried in a pouch.

I love baby elephants.  We were so excited several years ago that our zoo had one.  We looked forward to watching him grow up, but he died from a virus he contracted in his youth.

The butterfly exhibit was the best I've ever seen.

I do wish I could have gotten this butterfly with his wings open to show off the beautiful blue of his wings.

When we left the zoo, we took a loooong walk through the park to see the zoo sculptures.  I saw them driving in, but because the traffic required so much attention, Andy never saw them until we actually walked up to them for pictures.

perspective---these sculptures are huge!

I have to say this was my best spring break ever.  It's the first time since college that I enjoyed a getaway that was more than a day trip.  We would not have pushed it so late in the week, but we had a hard time finding a kennel for the dogs. At one point I thought I would be staying home with the dogs while the rest of the family explored St. Louis.  Other than the trip, we managed a couple of college visits and got a little bit done at home.  It was a great balance of fun, work, and rest.  I had one goal that was not met.  We need to make a video for Julia's upcoming student of the week.  I am not very knowledgeable about that process, so I really need to carve out some time for that.

I am very satisfied with this break and returned to work in a great mood.  This was good for my mind, body, and soul.