I decided to post our Christmas letter and some current pictures to most of our family (and some friends that may check back to this blog every now and then). If you're really wanting a picture to put on the fridge, then I'll mail you one :) I know all my parents have requested one, and honestly I've been trying since August to get all my boys to be in a picture together without one of them making a funny face or moving-I tried again the other night and kinda got one, not frame worthy, but at least they're all in it!
What a long, strange year it’s been…
January—we started this year excited to see the realization of a 3-year pursuit come true. Jody started recruit training for the Bellevue Fire Department. After all the classes, volunteering, and constant testing, it appeared to have all paid off. He lasted all of 7 weeks before being sent packing along with one other recruit. Unbelievably disappointing to say the least.
February—this month has fewer days than the others.
March—Stacie turned 33. To celebrate this (and all the unexpected free time Jody had) she decides to jumpstart a long overdue dream of becoming a photographer. Evidently not only does life take Visa but so do the folks that sell really expensive cameras and lenses and flashes and memory cards and website templates and can you tell how supportive her husband is when he doesn’t have a job?!
April—question: what do you do if you lose your job, don’t work for a month, and decide to start a new business? Go to Maui, of course! We took Gavin (almost 1 at the time) to Maui for 8 days. We hadn’t been back since we left in February of 1999. We stayed at a decent place and caught up with old friends. Jody read “Atlas Shrugged.” It has over 1200 pages. He read them all. Stacie took pictures of Gavin eating sand.
May—Jody ran the inaugural Tacoma marathon. This was not a good idea. Luca breaks his arm jumping off the trampoline in the backyard. There’s a play by play account of the whole event at
http://wilkinscreative.com/ if you’re interested.
June—the 3rd of June is one of the most popular dates mentioned in popular music songs. I bet you’re already humming “Desiree” in your head before you finish this sentence.
July—Stacie gets referrals (Thanks Troy and Jana!) to do 2 weddings. She buys Jody a camera of his own and asks him to come. This cheers him up a great deal. His pictures are blurry and their “styles are totally different” she says.
August—Jody turns 36, Caleb turns 8. With Luca (6 on July 12), they throw a 3-way combo birthday party at the Super Jump Party Zone. They each invite 3 friends and the friends’ families.
September—morn, we danced until the night became a brand new day. Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play. September mornings still can make me feel this way.
October—for Halloween, Caleb was Obi Wan, Luca was a SWAT team member, Atticus was Venom, and Gavin was a frog.
November— this is crazy: the really nice neighbor that sold us the trampoline a couple years ago offered us his house. No lie. He’s a cabinet maker and he remodeled this house at the end of our street. Stacie went and looked and came back smiling
December—we are preoccupied with the idea of moving. We look forward to a new year in a new house with a growing new business. Merry Christmas- The Wilkins
A little out of order, but here are our three boys who started school a couple weeks ago.... Caleb in 4th grade, backpacks full and ready to go, Caleb and Luca, Luca in 2nd grade, and Atti (with some obvious hesitation in his eyes). 
Gavin in his cuteness! Luca on Mother's Day. And a fire.... we've been doing a lot of s'mores around here since being in our new house. Our big back deck is wonderful to entertain on, just need some comfortable seating and a table and we'll be set!
.jpg)
Luca on his first day of first grade
Atti-close up and sideways :)
Home with mommy means the camera may come out! The day of shots, he got four plus the prick on his finger...
Finding and then soaking up the sun, anywhere you can find it here in WA during these months.
The best husband and daddy in the world! He's our rock!
Luca and Gavin, snuggled in watching a movie one night.
Ok, you can't see it, but Luca lost his first tooth, I'll have to find the picture that shows the hole! :)
Big brothers attack Gavin with kisses! Look at that pucker of Luca's!.jpg)
Atticus on his first day of pre-K this September..jpg)
A refreshing strawberry lemonade at Cheesecake Factory!
Two peas in a pod....Luca and Kellie
Deep in thought
Luca and daddy.
Gavin at 14 1/2 months
Luca (two weeks away from 6 yrs old) and Caleb 7 (8 yrs in August). Caleb giving me the look for wanting a picture. I tried to get one of all four boys so I could update Gran's fridge but it didn't work out.
Gavin, oh what a cutie! I love him! :)
Jody and Gavin, my other cutie.
Atticus, he turned 4 years in April. Boy, he dodged the camera all weekend, so this was the best shot Jody got of him! He's a stinker-those third borns, like father like son! :)
Chloe
Lili and Chloe to meet up with big sister, Sasha.
Close up of Sasha
Lili
Chloe
