First Day

Margie Grace and her buddy Katherine are in the same class!


Walking in with Mommy




One last picture with Daddy before we head to school


Our first-day-of-school girl

Holy blog, Batman! It's a new post. Yes, I know I am severely behind in updating this blog but it seems like life just gets in the way sometimes. Thankfully, Neil and I were able to buy a second computer -- a new laptop -- so I'm hoping that this enables me to be a little more regular with keeping folks updated on what we've been up to. Since Neil works from home, his time on the computer takes precedence since it actually pays the bills. (My computer time at home is usually just for fun.) Rest assured the delay between posts is never for lack of content! We've had a wonderful summer with lots of playing at the park, swimming at the lake, fun trips and I've even gotten to do a little sewing. But fall is definitely here and a new season has dawned for our family.

Monday, August 24, was a big day for the Wilder clan. Margie Grace and I both experienced firsts. She had her very first day of preschool and I had my first day of work at a new job. We are both very excited! Margie Grace will be attending preschool three days a week and my new position as a writer and editor for the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn will allow me to work part time -- on the days MG is in school -- and be home with her on the other two days. I think it is the perfect arrangement and it is something that our family has been praying for since Margie Grace was born. I have always wanted to be at home with her but it just hasn't been economically feasible. However, Neil and I kept praying that we could find a way to make it work for our family. Throughout this past year, the Lord has slowly revealed that plan to us. Neil got a new part time job (in addition to all the other things he already does!) that provides full benefits so we no longer have to be dependent on my full-time job to meet those needs. His new part-time salary also supplements the income that is lost from my check being cut in half.

See, I already knew this:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7)

And then I remembered this:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

And just this weekend I took note of this verse:

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4).

This entire time I know the Lord has had a plan. And although it wasn't what I would have initially hoped for and although it wasn't on my timetable, it was what was best for our family. Today when we took Margie Grace in to preschool there were many apprehensive and upset little ones who were likely leaving their mothers for the the first time for an extended period. Margie Grace strode into her classroom with confidence and never looked back. She was so happy to be there and to be meeting new challenges and making new friends. She gave her teachers each a big hug and was ready to take preschool by the horns. I believe that leaving her -- as much as I hated to -- while she was little has helped instill these qualities in her. She knows I'm coming back to get her and she's going to have an incredible time meanwhile. She did, by the way, have an incredible time. She played on the playground, had a snack, colored and painted a picture. She also happened to get tempera paint on the brand new outfit I made her (with mom's help!) to wear for this momentous occasion. I'm sure it is not the first time she'll come home with a little paint on her clothes. I know she had fun and that this is going to be an exciting year for her. It is also going to be an exciting new chapter for our family. Thank you, Lord, for giving us this opportunity. Now, I'm off to try to remove paint from new clothes!

Stylish swimwear and a brand new bishop

Each spring, I strike out in pursuit of the perfect swimsuit and cover-up combo for Margie Grace. Said pair must rate equally high in the durability and cuteness categories but without breaking the bank. I'm so excited about this year's find. I happened upon this precious brown polka dotted suit at Target but was disappointed that they didn't have a cover-up to match. I considered not getting it but am so glad I changed my mind. Most children's suits are light colored and I prefer one that won't show the dinginess that often comes from a summer filled with weekends at the lake. I snagged this green cover-up, although it was pretty plain, because I thought I could always spruce it up later with a monogram. I was pleasantly surprised, however, when I got home and found this scrap of brown fabric with my applique supplies -- a near perfect match to the polka dot print on the swimsuit and just right for jazzing up the cover-up. MG loves her new suit and cover up and can't wait to wear them!


I started this lovely bishop last summer and like a lot of things, had put it away unfinished when fall came and I got busy with birthdays and holidays. I decided to get it out again this spring and finish it so that Margie Grace could wear it to all the weddings we attended/are attending. I am so pleased with how it turned out! I think the color combination will allow her to wear this into the fall and because of the length, I am hoping she can get some wear out of it next year too! (For anyone who is interested, the smocking plate is "Ruth" by Little Stitches.)

MG loves her new dress -- here's a shot of her tearing up the dance floor at cousin Nick and Julie's wedding in Birmingham in April.

Happy Spring!

I love to take Margie Grace's picture every year by the beautiful azaleas around Samford. Here are a few from a couple of weeks ago when the bushes were in full bloom. I can't believe she is getting so big!

The rundown . . . and a new look

I can't belive that it is already May! Where does the time go? Obviously, not spent on the Wilder blog. So, since I've been out of touch lately let me fill you in on our last few months. Our family had an extremely hectic start to the year! Aren't January, February and March supposed to be the slow months? Not for us. Here are our last few months by the numbers:

• 3 boughts with the flu-like virus (one for MG and two for me--luckily Neil was spared this year!)
• 1 torn (and might I emphasize the word "TORN" here) rib muscle for me from all the coughing after suffering two boughts of said virus.
• 1 discovery that I am allergic to Loratab thus complicating the recovery of the torn muscle (Seriously, the torn muscle was the most painful thing I have ever endured -- sounds ridiculous I know!)
• 1 triple by-pass heart surgery for my granddad -- he came through with flying colors and is doing well!
• 1 kitchen remodel -- we pretty much gutted the entire room and got all new everthing: cabinets, flooring, countertops, etc. I want to post pictures but we're still not done with some of the finishing touches.
• 3 wonderful weddings -- two in April and one in May as we have officially entered "wedding season." Neil was in his cousin Nick's wedding April 18 and Margie Grace is the flower girl in my cousin Rachel's wedding May 30. We also attended in April the wedding of a dear college friend of mine.

So we've been busy and life has gotten in the way of my blogging just a little bit. But I have still taken lots of pictures and hope to have lots of new things posted in the coming days. By the way, do you like the new look? I wanted something a little different and unique for our family. I think this does the trick! I love the picture in the header -- it was taken by Heather Carson in November at Kiesel Park. She does beautiful work!

Some delayed Christmas cheer

Did I mention that the battery in our digital camera died on Christmas morning? Yeah, right about the time Margie Grace was getting ready to make her way down the stairs at my grandparents' house to survey her Santa loot for the first time that day. So we had to go to plan B -- while Neil manned the video camera, I borrowed my Mam-ma's digital camera for the morning. Just last week I was able to make a disc with all of our Christmas pictures on it so I thought I'd share some. As I mentioned before, we had a wonderful Christmas season. Margie Grace was particularly entertained by the festivities this year as it was the first time that she really knew that something special was going on. And, having ample practice during her birthday in October, she was primed and ready for opening lots of presents! By the way, Santa did fulfill Margie Grace's two requests this year; she received her much-anticipated kitchen and some bubbles.

**Please note: The kitchen set and items on the couch comprised MG's gifts from Santa. While she was blessed, Santa IS on a budget :) The wrapped presents in the background were the stockpile of presents to and from members of both our immediate and extended family. This year we got to celebrate Christmas with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on my mom's side. You should see the place after 20 people unwrap all those gifts -- it's incredible!!

A Daddy by any other name . . .

Recently we were driving in the car and Neil engaged Margie Grace with the following: "Margie Grace, who is your favorite daddy?" (as if she has lots of choices here) He, of course, was expecting her to answer "you!" and was surprised when, after a pensive moment, she replied "Neil!"

She's too funny!

Bundled Up!

Although Jack Frost's appearances in east central Alabama are usually few and far between, we have had a couple of days of severely cold weather this January (yes, one day our themometer on the deck said "10"). It was the perfect opportunity for Margie Grace to wear her hat, scarf and gloves (or "gubs" as she likes to call them). Now that we're back in the mid-60s, MG's cold weather accessories have gone back in the closet. However, if I'm willing to roll the dice on WSFA's five-day forecast then we actually might need them again next week.