Thanksgiving Trip (109/180)

We drove to Austin, Texas to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family.  On the way we listened to a lot of podcasts, some with actual educational value ...

J baked with her cousin:

We all went to The Thinkery, a sort of science/maker museum/play space.  The water room was the biggest hit with the widest range of ages:

The kids all experimented with their uncle's virtual reality setup:

D (and to some extent J) did a lot of sewing, enjoying using her grandmother's classic Singer sewing machine.

R did some archery.

We went for a hike:

And D and J went to an Anglican worship service and made Advent wreaths afterwards:

This week included 5 days of instruction.

Yellow Fever (104/180)

R played soccer!

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.  W attended his Teen Program classes.

W played D and D.

We went to a Yellow Fever interactive workshop at the Pennsylvania Historical Society.

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R, and D worked with LOF.

R completed Life of Fred Kidneys by Stanley F. Schmidt

W and R read independently.  D practiced reading.  J worked with Explode the Code.


The Little Bear Treasury: Little Bear/ Little Bear's Friend/ Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik


Making Tracks by Stephen Savage


The Little Lamb by Judy Dunn


Having a Friend by Betty Miles

This week included 7 days of instruction.

In which we have a rare, ordinary week (97/180)

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.

W played D and D several times and attended his Thursday Teen Program classes.

R played soccer.

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R and D worked with LOF.  J worked with Explode the Code.  R and D practiced reading.  W read independently:
Opal by Jane Boulton



I read to them:  Angels, Angels, Angels by Andy Warhol
Waiting for Baby by Harriet Ziefert


One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss


Old Turtle [With CD] by Douglas Wood


Press Here by Hervé Tullet

This week included 7 days of instruction.

Halloween (90/180)

R had soccer practice and a game.

The boys both worked hard on assembling a new couch (here's the finished product:

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.

And then it was Halloween!  We traded kids around and W and R went trick or treating with friends in a different neighborhood, while we took D and J's friends trick or treating with us.

W attended his Teen program.

He played D and D.

R, D and J attended their religious education classes.

W, R and D worked with LOF.  J worked with Explode the Code.  

W read independently.  R read (alternately with me) 

Minecraft: Combat Handbook by Stephanie Milton

D practiced reading.

I read to the girls:

Manners by Aliki



Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg



Anno's Math Games III by Mitsumasa Anno

This week included 7 days of instruction.

Pumpkins! (81/180)

R went to his soccer practice (but missed the game for a family event.)

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.

W attended the Teen program and played D and D.

We carved our Halloween pumpkins:

R, D and J attended their religious education classes (W's class only meets sometimes.)

W, R and D worked with LOF.  D finished Life of Fred: Dogs by Stanley F. Schmidt.

W read independently and R and D practiced reading.  J worked with Explode the Code.

R did not quite finish The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan


(but he's done reading it for now).

I read to them:

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss


The Little Red Train Storybook by Benedict Blathwayt


A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History by Lynne Cherry


Three Little Kittens by Tanya Linch

This week included 6 days of instruction.

National Colonial Farm (75/180)

R went to soccer practice, but games were cancelled this week for the Harry Potter Festival ... which we also missed.

All the kids attended their MAHC classes, new for the second half of the Fall Trimester.  D is taking Making Bracelets, Fall Fun, and Kindness.  R is taking Fencing, Teen/Tween Storytime, and Logic Games.  W is taking Fencing, Optical Art, and Logic Games.

W got the last few parts for the computer he'd been working, saving, and planning to build since the summer.  With some help from YouTube, his dad, and a friend's tools, he put it all together in 1 day (we're super proud!):

W attended his Teen Coop classes.

Over the weekend we made a road trip to Maryland.  The kids hung out with old, gold friends from our first homeschooling group there while the grownups went to a family wedding.  They had a fabulous time!  The next day we spent time with cousins and aunts and uncles, mostly at an old family friend's home.  They have a zip line which all the kids greatly enjoyed!  And a VR setup.

 and visited the National Colonial Farm.  We had an interesting discussion of what "Colonial" meant which ended with D proclaiming that Europeans taking the Native people's land and killing them or driving them away was "stupid!".

W, R and D worked with LOF.  R and D practiced reading.  J worked with Explode the Code.

I read to them:


Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman


Earthquack! by Margie Palatini


This week included 5 days of instruction.