Family Resemblance

I had the privilege of bringing back all of our family pictures and records when I came back from our Washington trip. While I haven't been able to go through them all yet, I let Justice go through my childhood school pictures.  He came into the kitchen with his mouth wide open and a strange look on his face.  He held up a picture and said, laughing: 

"Is this YOU, or is this ME dressed up like a girl?"  He was kidding of course.  "This is RIDICULOUS, I look JUST LIKE YOU!"

I've told him that 1,000 times over the years.  If he had Jack's red hair it would be difficult to tell the two of us apart at that age.  Back in 1980 the boys hairstyles weren't much different than the girls styles, LOL!

This picture was taken in 7th grade,  I'm a year older than Justice is now.  Funny how I wasn't allowed to wear makeup yet, but feathered hair was all right.  I was clearly a feathered hair novice in this picture.  I will have to do a beginner/advanced feathered hair photo on my birthday post.  Classic.  

I remember I was wearing a brand new pair of Jordache Jeans in this picture, too.  Jordache Jeans had just come out and they were only the most awesome thing ever.  :)  I was such a tomboy, I think my Mom bought me the jeans in sheer excitement that I had finally come to terms with the fact that I was indeed a girl.

  There are other pictures where he looks a lot more like me than this one, but I'm pretty sure you don't need it to actually see the resemblance between us.  This picture is my favorite picture of Justice of all of the pictures he has ever taken.  It actually gives me a lump in my throat every time I look at it.  Although he is definitely in that stage, his picture captures none of that "tween" awkwardness that mine reeks of.  You have to love school photographers, I truly believe they hang on that shutter button until the picture couldn't possibly be any worse.  In this not-taken-at-school portrait on the other hand, Justice looks calm, confident, and so sweet.  He eyes are warm and his freckles are perfect.  Does anyone else find it funny that my skin is darker than Justice's?  I have been tan since I was out of a diaper.  Arizona summers were the very best.

My friend Shannon put this side-by-side together and sent it to me.

When my Dad met Justice for the first time, he said "It's like looking at you at that age", and I could hear his breath catch in his throat and see the emotion on his face.  His first question was "How's his temper?" Hahaha!  "Oh it's fine, Dad.  He didn't get my temper."

Here, now let me introduce you to Jack...

:)