Beautiful

On Saturday, we celebrated the marriage of two of our favorite people. The kids (and I) had been counting the months-weeks-days to this most anticipated event. A wedding. A bride and groom we adore. 

And then a big party at the farm we love on a brilliant 70 degree spring day. 

Will even asked if he could wear a coat and tie. It was that huge. 

Getting his picture in it was another story.

I only got a few photos at the reception... and not one of the beautiful bride and groom. Sigh.

It was all so lovely. Every detail. 

Dad and Daughter. 

Dancing in the barn. Hannah's favorite part.

On our way home, Will said, "I have never seen so many old people be so crazy for so long." 

I'm pretty sure "old people" are people over 20.

Spring Break 2013 : Boca Grande

Just home from a week away full of sweet time with family in beautiful Boca Grande.

So incredibly thankful.

on our way to dinner on the beach

every day was this beautiful

always with a camera

love this moment

these two make me laugh

out to dinner and loving golf cart living

our last day we took at boat ride to Useppa Island...

... where Hannah and I wandered around taking pictures of fascinating flowers...

... and crazy birds

... and funky trees

... and everywhere orchids growing out of trees! 

Thank you so much for a wonderful visit, Nana and Papa!

Our Homeschool : 1st Grade : 2012/2013

Oops! I never posted what Peter has been busy doing around here. Here it is.

This is my third time teaching first grade. So at the beginning of the year, I sat down do get started with Peter on what first grade looks like around here. After a few weeks, I decided to make some changes. Each change proved to be a perfect fit for Peter. Just one of the million things I love about homeschooling: a custom-fit education.

Peter : 1st Grade

Math

• Math-U-See, Alpha. We started the year using Saxon 2, but switched to Math-U-See and the change has been a perfect fit. He loves it!
• I still do a Saxon-like "Math Meeting" with him everyday - working with weather graphs, the calendar, skip counting, money, telling time, math facts, patterns, etc.

Phonics/Grammar/Writing

• All About Reading, Levels 1 and 2. This program is brilliant and so easy to use. We have both enjoyed the readers more than any others I have found - beautifully illustrated, sweet stories.
• Expode the Code workbooks. This is one thing that all my kids have enjoyed. Solid phonics reinforcement. I just subscribed to Explode the Code Online for some extra "fun" practice. Peter is loving his new computer time. 
• First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind: Level 1. I have used this for all 3 - love it. 
• A Reason for Handwriting: Level A
• Poetry Memorization
• Lots of reading aloud to me (or Hannah or Will). 

And we all do Bible, Memory Work, History, Geography, Science, Art, Music, and PE together. Those subjects can be found here: Our Homeschool : 5th Grade : 2012/2013

Soaking Up Spring

This week has felt a bit more like summer than spring. Good thing we didn't have to stay inside. 

We joined up with some friends at the Natural History Museum...

... and visited the butterfly pavilion (free on Tuesdays!).

Then we walked over to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms. 

It was too crowded around the trees, so we jumped on a paddle boat. 

Much better.

Ice cream on the mall and a quick metro ride home. 

I love this city. 

Easter Monday

I found all these photos on Hannah's camera today.

the Easter wreath she made with spring's first blossoms... so pretty

Our family has been memorizing selected questions from the Heidelberg Catechism.
This morning, thankful for Easter Monday faith,
we continued our memory work with these words...

Heidelberg Catechism, Question 60

Q. How are you right with God?

A.

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.

Even though my conscience accuses me
of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments
and of never having kept any of them,

and even though I am still inclined toward all evil,
nevertheless,
without my deserving it at all,

out of sheer grace,
God grants and credits to me
the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ,

as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient
as Christ was obedient for me.

All I need to do
is to accept this gift of God
with a believing heart.