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.

Goodbye, Great Grandpa (23/180)

J and D went to their Circus School classes.

D made an entire paper birthday party to enclose in a birthday card, and J copied the words "Happy Birthday" all by herself:

R baked cookies, reading a simplified recipe independently:

The kids' great-grandfather died on Friday, and they were able to go visit him to say goodbye earlier in the week.  He was conscious, able to accept touch, hugs, and kisses.  We also got silly with their great-grandma:

W played Dungeons and Dragons twice.

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

I read to them:


Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn


My Baby and Me by Lynn Reiser


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


You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman


The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Rayner


Do You Still Love Me? by Charlotte Middleton


Beautiful Yetta: The Yiddish Chicken by Daniel Pinkwater


Treat by Mary Sullivan


The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale


This week included 5 "days of instruction".