April 2023

EASTER FUN!

My little bunnies searching for Easter eggs at their Aunt Sarah's house.

Girls in white dresses with blue denim jackets.

Bad lighting and angle, but here's a picture of the kids on Easter Sunday. Abby and Maddy did a nice harp/flute duet. 

Our neighbors gorgeous tree. I'm loving all the beautiful blossoms!

The kids had fun dying and coloring Easter eggs.

We had a fun Easter egg hunt at co-op too!

We had a nice dinner at Sarah's house for Easter. We got to meet Avery's parents.

FUN TIMES!

A mobile Abby made for Physics class

Audrey learned how to sew scrunchies with Mom

Brooklyn and Audrey really wanted to build their Magnatiles to the ceiling. Luckily they have a nice older brother who helped. 

IWO JIMA MEMORIAL

ARLINGTON CEMETERY

It was sobering to look at the rows of graves marking the bodies of those who gave their lives in defense of our country. 

The tomb of the unknown soldier. 

Kitchens and slave quarters connected to Arlington house. 

Arlington house. It was the home of Robert E Lee before he went to lead the Confederate army. The Union confiscated it and used it during the Civil War. When the number of casualties became too great for the cemeteries to handle, they starting burying soldiers here. 

CO-OP FUN!

Making oil lamps out of clay

Burning the lamps

Nathan played Mark Antony in the play Julius Caesar.

LUNCH BUNCH

Brooklyn is always an angel at school so she gets to have lunch with the teacher each month.

DC TEMPLE

The girls love visiting the temple and the visitors' center. 

We love it too!

Beautiful tulips!

THE ARBORETUM

The girls loved the National Arboretum children's garden. 

Cousins!

The blooming azaleas were gorgeous! I loved seeing all the different shades of pink. 

It was so fun seeing the bonsai trees covered in blossoms! 

The arboretum is always a perfect way to spend a day--except that Nathan ran off in the woods with his cousins and got a tick and a gash on his knee that required stitches. 

MARY'S BIRTHDAY

Jared and the kids made me some delicious falafel for my birthday. 

LAKE NEEDWOOD

We happen to live close to a beautiful lake. Unfortunately the water is toxic and the forest is full of ticks, but we try not to think about those things. 

HARPER'S FERRY

Jared and I visited Harpers Ferry. Since moving to MD we have visited many historical sites, but this was my first time researching about an ancestor and then visiting a site with that ancestor in mind. It was an inspiring experience. My great-great-great-grandfather Walter Donaldson fought for the Union in the Civil War, and he spent much of his time fighting and building fortifications on the heights near Harpers Ferry. On July 7, 1863 he was wounded in a major battle on Maryland Heights. He died in Sandy Hook field hospital 3 weeks later. He left behind his wife, 9-year-old daughter, and 4-year-old son Walter Donaldson (who is my great-great-grandfather). Despite the many efforts of his descendants, we have been unable to find his grave. Most likely he was buried in a mass grave which was common after Civil War battles with high casualties. I’m grateful for his example and sacrifice.

The town of Harpers Ferry was completely devastated by the war as the Union and Confederates fought for control of the railroad and the nearby heights.

This church is one of the only buildings not shot up and destroyed during the war. The church flew the Union Jack to show its neutrality during the war.

Harpers' Ferry was also the site of John Brown's raid. 

The railroad

 Jared and I hiked up Maryland Heights to visit the camps and fortifications where Walter Donaldson served. 

Civil war weapons and supplies that the soldiers would have carried.