First Day of School...for the 22nd time if anyone's counting!

Jared started school today, so our carefree lives that we've become accustomed to over the last couple of months have come to an end.  I really wanted to take a picture of him in front of the fireplace (like his mother always did)....but we don't have one.  I thought I could build one out of cardboard boxes, but I only have one box.  So I decided to hand him our mini Texas flag to add a little flare!  So this picture will have to do!

I can't put into words how proud I am of Jared.  He constantly downplays his intelligence but let me be the first to say that he is brilliant! (English "brilliant"!)  Jared is definitely a life-long learner and I know that he will thoroughly enjoy every class he takes at Oxford.  I know he will learn so much, but I also know that so many will learn from him.

This picture is for our niece Addilyn:

During the Kress stop of the Tour of Texas, Addilyn and Jared became best buds.  She refers to him as Uncle J-Rod (per Jared's coaching of course).  Addilyn will be three next month and she was so excited about starting preschool.  When she learned that Jared would be starting school too, she was thrilled about his backpack and wanted to compare it to her princess one.  Although having a backpack like Uncle J-Rod made her day, she was very concerned that J-Rod's school would not have a slide.  He tried to assure her that his school was still cool even though it did not have a slide.  Although he didn't tell her....I'm sure Jared's recess will be at the local pub!

*Bonus points for anyone who can figure out why this is Jared's 22nd first day of school!

**Double bonus points if you post where your mom made you take the infamous picture on your first days.