smile, you're a senior...

the big senior picture session sorta snuck up on us. I've been busy with holiday videos and john deere segments (talk about a dichotomy) but jake and i managed a mall-run and grabbed some stuff for the shoot. we got a great day, not too hot, a little cloudy so we weren't battling blazing sun, and we really really liked the photographer. paige said we could post pictures of her taking pictures, so we're all good. She was very laid-back and related to jake really well. i can't wait to see the shots, they're the perfect setting (urban, 'gritty', lofty) for jake, who as we all know, can't stand the outdoors! He thinks of himself as a city boy and i think paige really got it. all in all a really good time -stay tuned for final results.

Guru Gal

So Jake, and then his dad and i, met with the 'college guru' today. i think every kid in the greater des moines area who's even thought about going to college has met with this woman. here's how she works. your kid fills out a personality profile, then does some other voodoo with the guru, and then the parents join the party - and she tells you all about your kid and what school would be a good fit for them. very interesting afternoon. she had some good insights, or the tests did, and really opened our eyes to a lot of things. unfortunately, she burst the bubble about the dream school. basically said with his grades and test scores, he wouldn't get in. ouch. glad it was her and not me wielding that pin. the upside, she showed us some schools that would be an alternative to the 'big' film school experience - (which she doesn't think would be a good experience for jake)- schools jake is actually excited about exploring. so i spent the rest of the night online trying to get a feel for these places, and planning our college visit roadtrip. btw, her personality assessment of jake = likes quirky people, quirky things, quirky ideas, is VERY visual, discerns small details that others overlook, is a good judge of character, oh and did i mention that he likes quirky things? quirky ideas, quirky people, quirky things.....he's quirky. wasn't sure if that was code for weird or not. she also said he is a charmer, and will go a long way on charm alone. hmmmmm. how quirky.

i will survive...

most of the kids we know who are headed off to college this fall have left and settled in, and i've gotten a good sampling of their moms' reactions. they all admitted to getting weepy AFTER they left, having a good cry in the car. mostly because they didn't want to lose it in front of their kid, but also due to the frenzy of getting them moved in and shopping etc. they just didn't have time to focus on being sad. a few moms have already had the opportunity to see the kids at school, dropping off supplies or things that got left behind and they all said the kids practically kicked them out the door. too busy being independent and hanging with new friends and doing their own thing. which is great - the moms are interpreting it as the kids having made the right choice - and while they're having some separation pangs, they generally feel positive and hopeful for their kids' new experience. which is how i'm going to choose to look at all of this. to focus less on the ending, and more on the beginning. good luck right?