Classical Conversations : Faces of History

Will and Hannah's Classical Conversations Essentials class
concluded the year with a Faces of Medieval History celebration. 

Here's Johannes Gutenberg

And Lady Jane Grey presenting her paper

We did it! Completed our first year of Essentials!... sadly, Hannah's only year.
Next year she is on to Challenge A. 

The very impressive feast complete with a pig's head centerpiece. 

I grabbed a tutor board for a backdrop
and took a quick photo of the diagrammed mugs
we made for our amazing tutor.  

Boca Grande 2014

Winter was long, cold, and oh-so-snowy. In early March, the kids bellowed a giant "Noooooo!"

when I announced 8 inches were coming our way. Clearly, we were done with it all.

So, having our feet in the sand while the last snowstorm swirled in DC
was exactly what we needed. A few weeks back, we visited my husband's parents
in Boca Grande - a tiny sliver of an island in southwest Florida that is very nearly perfect.  

Spring Training games just 30 minutes away! Will was in baseball heaven.

Waiting for our ride to the airport... just hanging with Nana on the golf cart. 

And a "someone please document that I was on this trip" last minute photo. 

Linden

Linden holds so many happy memories for us. Last year five dear friends went in together and bought a house in those lovely mountains of Virginia, and this past weekend our extended group of friends gathered there to celebrate one of the many 40th birthdays happening this year.

We were all able to be there for the ceremonial hanging of the sign.  

Eight

We spent the long holiday weekend celebrating Peter. 

Eight years old... such a fun age!

His big birthday treat: Saturday morning at an indoor climbing center. 

We were all thrilled with his birthday pick. 

He LOVED every minute.

I could really get into this kind of exercise... we all could!

Monday morning birthday breakfast... all his favorites were requested. 

 Afternoon fun at Beauvoir's Outdoor Playground. 

 A beautifully mild and sunny mid-winter day. The perfect birthday for this outdoor loving kid.

Hard to believe that 2 days later I sit here looking at 5 inches of snow on the ground
and 6 degrees on the thermometer! 

Then home again for dinner and birthday cake with the Flemings.
Happy 8th Birthday to my sweet and spunky Peter! 

Happy New Year!

January, how I love thee. So cozy and uncomplicated.

I mean December was oh-so-fun, but I need to catch my breath a bit... and a big inhale of chimney-smoke scented, crisp, mid-winter air. 

But before we set sail into this new year, a few moments to share from the end of our 2013....

cutting down the tree... timber!






my cute husband serving at the women's Christmas luncheon at church


and some catch-up time with Susan (our speaker)


this sweet boy turned TEN!


first snow of the season... oh, how I hope we have more this year!


Christmas dress-up day at Classical Conversations. And the last day of tin whistle! ; )

my CRAZY class of eight 8/9 year-old boys. oh. my. 

an afternoon of gingerbread house decorating with good friends

a day at the holiday market and the National Portrait Gallery

my wonderful parents were here for a week and this is the ONLY photo I have of one of them... 

after-Christmas ice skating