“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2015.”

Lillia: This week your class participated in a graduation ceremony for your completion of the D.A.R.E. program (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education). Out of all of the students in your grade, you and one other child were selected to read your final essays in front of all of your classmates and their parents at the graduation ceremony! You wrote a fantastic essay, and many people came up to me after the ceremony and told me what an amazing writer you are. You received a little gold pin, too, which you are holding in this picture. Your dad and I are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished this year.

Zane: This week you attended a birthday for your Uncle Caleb at his house. You were so excited because Uncle Caleb & Aunt Becca’s nephew Tanner was there. He is a little baby that is only six months old. You could not get enough of him! You counted all of his toes (correctly, I might add), and you even got to hold him on your lap, with my help. You were a little dismayed when he spit up on your leg, but that incident didn’t seem to diminish even slightly your opinion of Tanner, or babies in general. Later in the day you looked at your pants and exclaimed, “Hey, the baby barf is all gone!” I hope that someday you are blessed with lots and lots of little babies of your own (hint, hint) because I think you are going to be an incredibly nurturing, loving dad.

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2015.”

Lillia: It’s getting harder and harder to take portraits of you — this is the face I get most of the time! This week your class went on a special field trip to Grafton, Vermont. You visited the Grafton Nature Museum and spent two whole days out in the woods learning all about the forest ecosystem. You also hiked and explored vernal pools. You’ve got a busy couple of weeks coming up, with your dance rehearsals and performances looming large on the calendar. And, after that, the school year will be coming to an end. I cannot believe you will be sixth grader next year. It just doesn’t seem possible!

Zane: This week you had your spring concert! We were all very excited to see you sing, and all of your grandparents came. But, for some reason, once you were up on stage, you didn’t want to sing! I kept thinking, “Oh, maybe he just doesn’t know this song,” but you didn’t sing a single word of any of the songs. You were very well-behaved, though, and I just had to laugh because it was such a Zane thing to do. Afterwards, I asked you why you didn’t sing and you said it was because you were getting squished by the other kids. You’re a funny boy, Zane Wilson.

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2015.”

Lillia: This week you have been much happier, and that is a relief. The highlight of your week was your first school dance on Friday! The fifth graders were invited to attend the last middle school dance of the year, and you were really excited. I felt a little emotional about it, of course. How can my baby be old enough to attend a school dance??? You came home pretty tired and sweaty, and reported that it was both the best and worst experience of your life. You said that only the fifth graders danced, and that you drank 1.5 cans of Sprite. I guess I should really come to terms with the fact that in just a few months you will be a real middle schooler. You also brought home your report card and we are all SO PROUD OF YOU for earning straight A’s! As I’ve said before, the grade isn’t everything, but you worked really hard to pull your B+ in Science up to an A and that deserves some accolades. Great job, Lillia!

Zane: This week we have been living outside. We’ve been doing tons of yard work, moving plants around, putting other plants in. You are such a huge help to me, and I really appreciate that. You’re so excited about all of the little pea shoots that have sprouted up! My favorite Zane story of the week is as follows: You came home from school on Tuesday and said, “Guess what I did at circle today, Mom?” I was thinking, oh, no, what did he do? Then he said, “I hugged a girl!” I said, “Oh, that’s very nice of you — why did you hug her?” To which you replied, “I had to hug her because she had a flower on her shirt and she looked so beautiful!” My heart just about shattered from the cuteness. (I hope the little girl didn’t mind being hugged.) Zane-a-roo, you are quite the little love bug!