Welcome to the World baby Bennett

Justin Bennett Wilson

Monday, September 28, 2009

8:39 p.m. MDT - 8 pounds - 20" long

The happy family!

Back to School!

Wednesday, September 9th was the first day of school. The kids begged me not to take pictures as the bus came. Not that I have for the past few years anyway.

Here's Jared. This year he's a Senior in high school. I can't believe it.

Here's Lauren. She's in 8th grade this year.

My kids are growing up. Where does the time go?

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime...

...When all the world is green? Naturally you would want to install your TV antenna in your attic and mow your lawn. But what then? Well since it was a warm Summer day, Lauren and Glen went kayaking at Collins Park. It's close, it's calm and it was fun. Then, of course, since it's the last weekend that Jumpin' Jack's is open, the trip just has to end with ice cream. And what the heck, throw in some onion rings too! Special thanks to the Maughan family for loaning us the second kayak.

SPAC

We went to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) last Friday (August 14th). It was the Philadelphia Orchestra's "Family Night". The program that night was Broadway Rocks!

They did selections from West Side Story, Ain't Misbehavin', Grease, High School Musical 1 and 2, Movin' Out, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, The Wiz, Wicked, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Fame, Jersey Boys, and Hairspray. They also had four fantastic vocalists (two men and two women) who sang a lot of the songs.

They also had free Stewarts ice cream, and a fantastic balloon artist. We'd been there the Friday before and Lauren had seen him make a motorcycle for another kid, so that is what she decided she wanted. While you waited in line they passed down a card with the different types of balloon sculptures you could ask for - and the motorcycle wasn't on there. But when Lauren got to the front of the line she decided she was going to ask for it anyway. The man looked at the line and then said that he would do one. He also said that he only does one motorcycle each night. Lauren was sooooo thrilled that she was the one that got it. We ended up taking it to the car during intermission because we knew we wouldn't be able to carry all of the other stuff we had there as well as the motorcycle.

It was a beautiful night to sit out under the stars, eat dinner, and enjoy some fantastic music!

Happy 13th Birthday Lauren!!!!!

I can not believe that my "baby" is 13.

Here's a picture of Lauren as a newborn.

This is a picture of Lauren with her friend Craig.

Easter 2000

Blowing out her birthday candles.

Lauren with her 1st grade teacher.

2003 - Hawaii

2004 school picture

2005 school picture

2006 school picture

2007 - 11th birthday

First day of school 2008.

Donating her hair to locks of love in April 2009.

Happy birthday Lauren! We love you!

Personal Best

Today, Michelle recorded her personal best in the Freihofer's 5K Run for Women. Ok, it was her first 5K, so by definition it was her personal best. But before you laugh, think to yourself, when was the last time YOU ran a 5K? We're very proud of her. But we're not going to bronze her shoes just yet. She may need them again next year! Below you can watch a video of her at the start and finish. Michelle finished in about 43 minutes. The video is only 5. As you will see, there was an enormous field this year.

Jared's Prom

Last Friday Jared took Carolyn to the Prom. She is a senior and will be graduating soon. They are good friends that have been in plays and musical groups together. Before they left for Saratoga we went over to her house to take pictures. It was a beautiful day. Warm and sunny. They are so lucky.

Here's the group Jared went with. They all came to Carolyn's house to take pictures before going to the Hall of Springs where the dinner and dance were held. The girls dresses were lovely and the boys all looked handsome.

The Hall of Springs is nestled in along the Avenue of the Pines in Saratoga Spa State Park. This historic facility reflects an era of grand style. Tremendous marble columns, Belgian crystal chandeliers and vaulted ceilings lend a passage back to its creation in the early 1930s.



Before the kids line up for the promenade they mill around talking to each other. It's a great time to take even more pictures. This is a picture of Scott, Marie, and Jared. All friends from church. Don't they all look great!

All of the couples line up and promenade down the hallway you can see under the arches. It is so fun to see all the girl's dresses, and see how well the girls coordinate with their dates.

Here are Jared and Carolyn at the walk-in. You only have seconds to snap a picture before they're past and headed into the banquet hall.

After the Prom walk-in Lauren and I always go into Saratoga Springs and go to Ben & Jerry's for ice cream. If we get there in time we ride the carousel in Congress Park. Unfortunately we got there just as they were closing this time, so we didn't get to go on it. After our ice cream we went and walked around Saratoga Spring's main street. It's always fun! This is our fifth time doing it. Twice for Erin, twice, for Brett, and now this once for Jared. Lauren will be a pro by the time it's her turn to go to Prom.