Some highlights from the last few months...

Jeremiah's graduation from high school

2011 Senior Prom

Jeremiah and long time friend, Courtney, attending the Senior Prom together this past weekend.

I didn't even have a limo for my wedding!

I would love to have Courtney for a daughter-in-law (someday)!

Look at all these pretty girls.

So sweet.

Music Memory Champ

For the last 3 years, Abby has participated in a Music Memory competition though the Private School Interscholastic Association. Each year she has placed a little better, but this year she won 1ST in District for 5th grade. She then went to State and placed 6TH! Great job, Abby! I think I have learned as much as she. We enjoy recognizing the tunes we have studied in movies, commercials, and on the radio. Even after the competition is over, we listen to our Music Memory CD over and over. Can't wait until Rebecca can start competing in 3rd grade.

My baby is 18 today!

The 50 Days of Easter

One of these days I will actually post an event while it's happening, but for now here are some of our spring activities.

The Church celebrates Easter for 50 days concluding with the Feast of Pentecost. Our children's school always has Spring Break during Easter Week. So it is usually a very fun and festive time for us.

We launch into Easter with a Holy Thursday "Passover" meal - lamb, unleavened bread (pita), bitter herbs (spring mix with vinaigrette), apples with cinnamon and raisins (to resemble the bricks that the Israelites had to make), and of course Kosher wine. :-) After 40 days of giving up wine for Lent, that glass of grape wine tastes really good.

There can be no resurrection without the crucifixion. We love celebrating Easter Sunday, the Holiest day of the Church Year, after we have fasted, prayed and given alms for 40 days.

Then, it's Spring Break. This year we went to Fredrickburg for a few days. We climbed Enchanted Rock, shopped, and ate delicious German food.


We also toured the newly updated Museum of the Pacific War. It was very well done and could take many hours to see the whole thing. Surprising for such a small town. I highly recommend it if you are ever in that area.

The wildflowers were amazing this year as we had a lot of rain during the Spring. The Willow City Loop outside Fredricksburg was a beautiful drive.

Now, maybe I'll get around to July 4th in the near future.

BFF (Best Friends Forever for you non-texters)

Last week, Abby and I went to visit one of my dearest friends from high school, Kim Gilchrist Nisbett. Kim was always light-years ahead of the rest of us. She was class valedictorian, married her high school sweetheart, Keith, (while still in high school) and put us all to shame with her artistic, musical, and theatrical talent.

(Please forgive me for posting this pic, Kim)

Almost 30 years later, she has 10 children (plus one son-in-law) who are/have been home schooled, a family farm, and a beautiful life in a small, idyllic town in Missouri.

Kim and Keith have founded a local theatre group. When I learned that they were going to be performing Pride and Prejudice I knew it was time to make a visit. Abby and I were not disappointed! It was a top-notch performance. Ever since we returned, we have been unable to pull ourselves away from watching all the various adaptations of Jane Austen's works.


You can see some more of their work at:

www.Finelinendrama.com


Our 10 year old daughters, Abby and Anna, quickly became new BFF's.



Thanks to the whole Nisbett family for hosting us and giving us such a memorable experience.

We love you!