The 52 Project

“A photo of each child, every week of 2014″

17/52

(1) March/April were consumed with studying. I felt like we were eating, sleeping, breathing facts. Our boys committed to trying to achieve what is known as a “Memory Master” within our local Classical Conversations group. After studying day and night, help from parents and grandparents, four separate rounds of proofing, they made it! To earn this honor they had to memorize over 500 facts word for word (some facts being small paragraphs) including: 161 events and people in a chronological timeline, 24 history sentences to add depth to our timeline (including Charlemagne, Renaissance, Reformation and World Wars), 44 U.S. presidents, over 100 locations and geographic features in Europe, Asia, and select parts of the world, 24 Science facts (including biomes, planets, laws of motion, and laws of thermodynamics), Latin Verb endings of the first conjugation, English grammar facts (including pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs), multiplication tables up to 15×15, common squares and cubes, as well as basic geometry formulas and unit conversations. 

I would like to take this time to say this would not have been possible without strong coffee, countless prayer, help from grandparents, tears, an occasional margarita, will power, and most importantly, God’s  mercy and grace.

We’re so proud of our boys!

(2) If you follow us on Instagram (@jesszwo @brettzwo) then you know about our kitten saga. It will be coming to a close this week as families begin picking them up and giving them loving homes. We’ve had a few tears, especially from Gabe, but I know it will be a good life lesson for these kiddos. Gabe has been wrapping up his babies and giving them special love before they go.

(3 & 4) As Priya closed out her 8th grade (Challenge B) with our CC group, she took part in a mock trial along with other groups of 8th graders in Cincinnati. She studied a murder case throughout her second semester, and then was assigned the role as the lead detective on prosecution. As a key witness, she had to stand up against a defense team of 8th graders that she had never met–in a real courthouse, with a real judge! I was SO nervous watching, but she rocked it!

It was an incredibly proud week for us as parents. :)

The 52 Project

“A photo of each child, every week of 2014″

15 & 16-ish/52

Ok, ok…I must admit to having fallen off the wagon with my weekly portraits of the kids. These last couple weeks were just over-the-top packed with a variety of things, and the camera didn’t quite make it out like I had intended. Oh well. I’m not going to quit the project because of being a little off–just refocusing and jumping back on.

(1) We found five tiny kittens in our garden shed a couple weeks back. Gabe adores this one and lovingly named him “Hot Dog.”

(2) Brett’s 96 year old grandfather passed away, so we traveled down to his hometown in Tennessee for the funeral. We went out to visit his farm and think back fondly on him. We are so blessed that our kids had great-grandparents to know and learn from in their lives.

(3) Adin and Brett went to a special Cincinnati Red’s event where they could have photos taken with different players. Pictured is Adin, waiting for the players to enter the field.

(4) Although this photo is not in focus and Riah’s foot is cut off, I love the carefree emotion and mood of this technically imperfect shot. Grandpa would have loved to see his great-grandson’s pure joy for life.

(5) Our sweet girl, sitting on the fence of Grandpa’s cabin.

(6) Gabe helping Baba organizing brush and sticks from around our landscaping, and making a dinner side fire…

(7) Crack!

(8) Riah, helping breakdown the large sticks…

(9) What a gorgeous weekend it was in Cincy! Priya and her neighbor friend painted nails, played with kittens, and enjoyed a simple backyard spring day.