Emma = Artist

"Artist" is on Emma's short list of answers to the classic, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" question. Of course her answers list changes frequently and is always at least three deep. But her love of art and her (correct) conviction that she is good at it has kept "artist" as a prominent contender for some time now.

Back in December we got a note home from her art teacher at school, Ms. Yates, that some of her work had been chosen to be displayed in the Knoxville Museum of Art. I think Ms. Yates selected about five or six pieces of art from each grade to send in for display. Emma was over the moon that she was one of them. We wanted to go see it earlier, but being in and out of the hospital through December then finally coming home with a baby made it tricky.

At last, near the end of January we made it in and we were not disappointed. Emma beamed as we took dozens of photos of her with her "Starry Night" rendition. Scott's parents wanted to come see it with us too which made Emma feel all the more special.

I hadn't been to KMA for years and years. I don't know if the third floor hands-on-for-kids setup was new or if I'd simply forgotten all about it. In any case, the kids loved the big rolls of paper and jumbo-sized lite-brite.

All of the creativity around us inspired some silly faces.

The joy of the simple outing elicited many smiles.

Lydia's earnest attempts at getting a drink from the water fountain evoked the biggest laughs...

...and the sincerest form of flattery.