51 weeks – heading out to his birthday party at the library – they had a little gathering for all little ones turning one that month – tell us about the library (I could have told her more 🙂 ) and they birthday boys & girls (or boy & girl as it was) got a brand new board book for their birthday. Ben chose Barnyard Banter – great fun!!!

46 weeks

47 weeks

48 weeks

49 weeks

50 weeks – all bundled up to go out & carve pumpkins!

Can’t believe I never got weeks 41-52 uploaded. Now that he’s almost a year & a month, I thought I’d go back & post those last few from his first year.

41 weeks

42 weeks – in the high chair

43 weeks

44 weeks

45 weeks

Many of you know that Veterans Day holds a special place in our hearts as both of our fathers served in Vietnam. This year I was fortunate enough to be employed by a school district that feels that same. Last Monday we held a Veterans Day celebration that we could be very proud of. I actually had the opportunity to thank my dad publicly for the very first time. It was a life changing moment. Part of that celebration was a powerpoint presentation put together by our students including some readings of papers they wrote about an interview with a veteran. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as we did.

The beloved school pictures have arrived….check them out! I’d say it was worth the chaos of the morning. Of course, how could the pictures not be good with blessings as precious as these??

But what do you think of the ones I took AFTER school??

And now, for the much more realistic shots…

And we can’t forget little Mr. B.

So today was school picture day – the day we dread…the hair, the clothes, the EXPENSIVE pictures…suffice to say, we’re opting for the class photo & a couple of wallets option.

At any rate, Jac was upset b/c we didn’t know where her sparkly pink barrettes were (I just don’t take care of my stuff good enough! Can we say “tired little girl”?) not a big deal, the purple butterflys are way cute & pretty – let’s just use those. And then, “I just don’t want to wear these grubby old tennis shoes on picture day” (what was I thinking??…her “new” tennis shoes have lost ½ their outside in the week she’s had them, so they will be returned for a refund – yea, they’ll actually do that since I still have the receipt!)

Bless his heart – Rob tried to help…”Jaclyn, those aren’t grubby, they look really….ummm, nice – they look…really nice.” And that’s when it happened…the look. She’s 6 & she has “the look” down to a science. Noticing this, I shielded my first-born with a bear hug hiding his face & quietly whispered “Thanks, Rob” into his ear & realized, hmm, he has his hood up. So I took it down & asked, “did you do” but didn’t need to finish as I saw his locks screaming for attention! Laughing I yielded a perfect pitched “Robert Wilkie – you look worse than I do!!”

Did I mention the bus driver had already honked??? Quick to the bathroom & under the shower hose the head went. Grab the mousse – mom, that’s a LOT of mousse – trust me Rob, you need it & out the door he went.

Meanwhile, there’s Tom – easygoing, free-spirited Tom… shirt buttoned to his chin, toes in one shoe & strings on the other shoe stuck….got him laced & tied & unbuttoned to avoid the geek squad calling for interviews, when suddenly, my beautiful dainty princess returns (she had forgotten her backpack) and yet, she’s holding her jacket (it was crisp this a.m.) and crying….Jac, honey, what’s wrong?? I fell. I FELL on the WET, SLIPPERY, SLIMY GRASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many kisses, hugs, one backpack & a gentle shove out the door & they’re off – all three are on their way to school. Looking wonderfully spiffy for pictures too rich to purchase, but feeling good (?) about themselves – well that was the goal – at least we (some of us) had some laughs to start our day. I shut the door & sigh with relief, one more picture morning checked off the list & marvel at these wonders God has blessed us with. Meanwhile, wonder #5 sleeps peacefully & I settle in with a steaming cup of coffee (thanks, honey!) to get some work done before he arises and am reminded once again, that yes, God is good. He is so very, very good.

(Pictures will be posted upon arrival…perhaps I should repost this when I add the pics??)