Snails (59/180)

R went to his soccer practice and game (they lost, but by a lot less than they lost the last time they played this team.)

We went for a family hike in the woods (down to the Wissahickon Creek):

All the kids attended their MAHC classes, and W attended his Thursday Teen program classes:

W played D and D several times.

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R, and D worked with LOF.

R read independently.  D practiced reading.

J started working with Explode the Code!

D experimented with a new drawing style:

I read to them:

Barbarians! by Steven Kroll


Time For Bed, Spot by Eric Hill


Numbers by John J. Reiss


Triangles by Yusuke Yonezu


One Sheep, Blue Sheep by Thom Wiley


A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett


This week included 6 days of instruction.

Downtime (53/180)

Another lee week.

R went to soccer practice and a game, which they won this time, including goals scored by him.  Exciting!  The girls did a lot of climbing during the practice:

All the kids went to their MAHC classes on Tuesday.  W attended his art and writing classes at Teen MAHC on Thursday.

Here is J in her class making counting sculptures:

W played D and D several times.

D did (lots of) spontaneous crafting and creating, including this lovely depiction of her favorite treat:

(Don't worry. She took a bath shortly after this was taken.)

R did some independent reading.

This week included 4 days of instruction.

217 Steps to the Top (45/180)

We didn't go back to school - but we did go to our MAHC social:

We visited the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, where we climbed to the top (217 steps!) and explored the neighboring tidal pool environment.

W played D and D several times.

W, R, and D worked with LOF.  R completed Life of Fred: Jelly Beans by Stanley F. Schmidt.

W read independently:

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan.

R and D also practiced reading.

Fort Box (41/180)

D was very creative this week.  She made some play food out of hot glue and paint:

And she and J made, painted, and interior decorated a fort out of a big box:

R and D and J attended their religious education classes.

W, R, and D worked with LOF.

W read independently.

R practiced reading, as did D.

J asked to do 'real' lessons so we got her the first pre-Explode the Code workbook.

I read to them:


Knight: A Noble Guide for Young Squires by Geoffrey de Lance


Big Red Tub by Julia Jarman


John Coltrane's Giant Steps by Chris Raschka


Five for a Little One by Chris Raschka

Partial Eclipse! (38/180)

We were able to get away to the beach for the partial eclipse (having decided not to drive 10 hours south for the complete.)  We all saw the 79% eclipse and noted the dim light for about 20 minutes on either side.  Plus had an awesome time swimming and sand-castle building.

W went on another ride to the lock on the river/canal.  R went with a friend to the parkour gym (they made it up this wall!):

W played D and D once.

R, D, and J attended their religious education classes.

R read independently, finishing these books:


The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel by Jeanne DuPrau


Today I Will Fly! by Mo Willems


Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

The later two he read to his sisters.

I read to them:


The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss


Locks, Crocs, and Skeeters by Nancy Winslow Parker

W, R, and D worked with LOF.  D worked on learning to read.

This week included 5 days of instruction.

Rambling (33/180)

J and D went to their circus classes.

They also built a fort out of scrap lumber in the yard.  I must say, the boys' forts are NOT generally this well decorated:

We went to the zoo with friends.  The 'highlight' of the trip was probably getting to hear the noise a tortoise makes when it tries (unsuccessfully) to mate.  But we had a lot of other fun and saw a lot of the inside animals.  A docent showed us some recycling, including paper made from elephant dung.

W played D and D several times.

M took the big kids on a couple of rambles, finding a lock between the Schuylkill river and the canal adjacent to it:

R and D bought 40,000 Orbeez and spent hours and hours over several days experimenting with how long they took to expand, culminating in filling the entire bathtub and sitting in them:

J went to visit her great-grandmother and spent most of the time telling her a pretend story, which she was totally engrossed in listening to.  Great-Grandma is probably slightly younger than J now, emotionally, as she progresses into Alzheimers.

W, D, and R worked with LOF.

R read independently.  D practiced reading.

I read to them:


Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel by Adam Rubin


Eddie Gets Ready For School by David Milgrim


Liberty by Lynn Curlee


Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Imperial China by Joanna Cole


Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson


Who Built the Pyramid? by Meredith Hooper


This week included 6 days of instruction.

Basket! (27/180)

This was a quiet week.

R & D won a raffle basket from our new local library:

 J went to her circus class.



W played D and D.

We went to the pool.

R, D, and J went to their religious education class.

W read independently: Crazy Is the New Normal by Tom Tomorrow

And I read to them: My Somebody Special by Sarah Weeks


I Can Be a Gymnast (Barbie) by Kristen L. Depken

This week included 4 days of instruction.