Well, spring and summer have left, and now fall is on the way. What have we been up to? To catch up: we had a great end to our homeschooling year with Will and Meredith, and our summer was calm and relaxing (trips to Atlanta to see our friends the Lutzes and to the beach with Ryan's family) until the very end when we helped Papa sell some Tasti-Lee tomatoes here in Memphis. The tomatoes produced a flurry of activity to end our break time, but we did very well for Papa and further spread the word about Tasti-Lees. Sad to say, these tomatoes have also produced quite a few tomato snobs!!
School was upon us, and Maggie made the transition to middle school with much enthusiasm that has not waned a bit. She loves everything about Macon and all her classes. Towards the end of the summer, Ryan also encouraged her to take up golf, which she did, and she is on the middle school golf team. So far she has played in three meets, and she has done very well each time for one just starting (on a par 27 course she has shot 39, 45, and 44). Who knows where the Lord will take this girl in the future? If nothing else, she'll have a sport she can play even into adulthood.
Will is homeschooling again for his 4th grade year, and he is loving it (so am I!!). This year his studies include a pretty intense writing program, as well as Latin which he asked to study -- these are in addition to math, history, grammar, reading, spelling and science. He has risen to the occasion and is working hard. On the side, he is also taking up golf, so we have a pretty calm fall compared to past years when we were zipping around to soccer or football practices and games.
Meredith is in 1st grade here at home, and she loves school too -- most of the time. Though she is not doing Latin or intensive writing yet, she loves her new subject -- grammar. Meredith is continuing with ballet, and she has made some sweet friends in a homeschool class that she attends once a week. (Will also attends a class which is loaded with boys -- great for him, a lot on the teachers!)
Besides homeschooling and keeping up with Maggie, I am tutoring quite a bit at ECS. I really enjoy my students and their classes. On top of that, I have started selling Mary Kay. So, I have a pretty full plate. The Lord is good in all of these areas, and I have seen him do some amazing work, especially in Will when we brought him home.
Ryan is currently coaching the 5th and 6th grade football team, but he has also started running some baseball clinics on Saturday mornings. Hopefully these will continue to grow, and the rising baseball players at ECS will benefit from the extra practice.
Hopefully these pictures will fill in the blanks from my months off of writing:
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| On our way to St. Louis for the 5th grade trip in April |
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| In the "egg" heading up to the top of the Arch |
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| And we made it -- even I did! |
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| Back home making edible locusts for our lesson on John the Baptist |
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| Not too crazy about the Vienna sausages, but they look cute |
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| Maggie's history project |
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| My Mother's Day play and flowers |
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| And all my cards |
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| Meredith's t-ball experience was so fun! |
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| And we have a budding pitcher! Will loved it and did great! |
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| Crosscheck Champs! |
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| In Yazoo City, MS for nephew/cousin Ford Halbert's baptism |
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| Maggie with her sweet teacher, Mrs. Colley |
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| ECS State Champs -- a nerve-racking, joyful occasion! |
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| Celebrating the victory with sushi (I had promised sushi and a blizzard if we won) |
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| Our completed history timeline |
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| Celebrating summer at Lichterman Nature Center |
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| We made it to the almost top of Stone Mountain |
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| Balcony of our hotel -- super nice and super deal |
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| Stone Mountain |
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| Reunited at last!! |
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| Still best buds!! |
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| Six Flags Adventure -- waiting for Jonathan on this coaster. |
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| Helen, GA picnic |
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| Saying "See you soon!" Trying not to cry!! |
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| Beehive in our neighbors' tree -- we witnessed the rescue |
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| Bartlett Bee Whisperer |
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| Beach Pic |
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| Will arrives at double digits |
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| Water Balloon Birthday -- this was the war. |
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| Butterfinger cake for the family |
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| Our Tasti-Lee tomatoes to sell -- Round 1; Papa brought about 1,000 more pounds later |
