A Banner Weekend for the Niemans

It's a rare occasion that I'm at a loss for words, but there aren't many that would do this last week justice. It was a week of banner events for the Nieman family, and we were lucky enough to get to share them in person with lots of people who mean the world to us (as well as bask in the well wishes of the many more who were there in spirit.) We spent an absolutely insane couple of days ordering cupcakes and preparing scripts and getting the house semi-company ready and making sure there were batteries in the camera and frontloading homework assignments and rearranging work obligations... but things worked out and the maze of logistics fell away- as these things have a way of doing- by Thursday, when an assorted crew of friends and family and former teammates and West Point classmates and old bosses and even a decorated football coach descended on the Fort Belvoir Golf Course for Seth's promotion to Major.   

It was a terrific way to celebrate. LTG Thomas did the honors, and gave a speech that was personal and inclusive, funny and touching, interesting and inspired. Plus he let Finley crawl around while he talked and generally steal the show. Seth had to give part of his speech holding her, but still managed to thank his family, make everyone feel included, shift the focus to his teammates and supporters, choke up a little bit, and avoid dropping the f-bomb. Big win. And after the ceremony everyone hung out and drank beer and avoided traffic while Finley charmed the kitchen staff into making her some chicken tenders and I attacked the cupcakes. We were thrilled that so many people- especially Seth's parents- could be there to share his hard-earned moment.

And our celebrating was just getting started! Tony and Jayne were in town for the whole fortuitously-timed weekend, so we also managed to do Halloween (Finley loved her costume once she realized that people thought it was cute, and spent two parades and a 5k literally preening in it), squeeze in a date lunch sans baby (I only felt a little guilty for having chicken and waffles without her), and stage an early one-year birthday party, cake smash and all. It was such a big weekend for the little beast, I'm a little worried about how she's handling a post-daylight-savings-time Monday with no cupcakes, no presents, and no grandparents in sight. I always hate leaving for work in the dark, with Seth and Finley still snoozing peacefully- but in light of the above, I feel a little like I dodged a bullet today.

 I AM encouraged by the fact that, even after a morning spent opening presents and playing with new toys, her favorite game Sunday afternoon was still stealing forks out of the dishwasher. And that her own personal slide in the living room was still trumped in the "utter glee" department by the rusty swings at the park.

There are too many terrific photos from the weekend to pick just a few, although I loved this father-son moment from Halloween night, which Seth spent hanging streamers for Finley's birthday party and ignoring Tony's baby slide-building advice.

The rest of the photos from the weekend are an unedited, unsorted mess here. Although there are some gems.