Rock Climbing (166/180)

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.  Here's R in his science class:

W attended his MAHC Teen program classes, and played Dungeons and Dragons twice.

I took W to check out rock climbing.  It may not be a regular activity, since he's not allowed to belay or boulder until age 16, but it was fun!

R built a coin-pushing machine from scratch in just about an hour:

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R, and D worked with Life of Fred (R finished 

Life of Fred: Honey by Stanley F. Schmidt)!

R is working on reading a Choose Your Own Adventure book.  D is working on reading an Elephant and Piggie book.

They listened to podcasts, and newscasts.  We did not participate in a march in person, but we did follow along on social media at home, as well as noting the Inauguration.

We walked, exercised, and listened to lots of music.

W baked cookies.

I read to the kids:

Little Humans by Brandon Stanton


These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder


Old Turtle by Douglas Wood


Blue Hat Red Coat by Clara Vulliamy


Rosie's Magic Horse by Russell Hoban


The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter


Even an Ostrich Needs a Nest: Where Birds Begin by Irene Kelly


Saint Valentine by Ann Tompert


Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton


Recycling by Charlotte Wilcox


Just Like You and Me by David Miller


All The Magic In The World by Wendy Hartmann


King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood


Bugs and Beasties ABC by Cheryl Nathan




This week included 5 'days of instruction'.

Happy Birthday, Mommy! (161/180)

J went to ballet.

All the kids went to their MAHC classes.  Here R and D are in our Card and Board Games class:

We went for a hike in the woods:

R and D baked and decorated cakes for my birthday:

And we went to the zoo:

We went to the library.

W played Dungeons and Dragons three times with different groups of people.

He also attended the ShakesPEER production of The Tempest.

The kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R, and D worked with LOF.

W read independently:  

The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies by David Lubar

R and D practiced reading and writing copywork.

I read to them:


The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield


Baby Says by John Steptoe


Dot. by Randi Zuckerberg


Billy's Big-Boy Bed by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes


Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan


What Happens to Our Trash? by D.J. Ward


W and R exercised and we did a lot of walking.

This week included 7 'days of instruction.'

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jog (154/180)

We began this week in Austin, Texas and returned home, driving on Wednesday and Thursday.

 W managed the baking of pies:

J enjoyed 'actually touching!' her baby cousin:

Aaaaand, then we spent a really long time in the car.

After we got home, the kids cooperated to decorate gingerbread houses:

All the kids went to their religious education classes.

W went for a walk.

Again, this week didn't include a lot of educational time, but it was fun (maybe not the driving.)  It included three 'days of instruction'.

Texas Trip! (151/180)

Beginning Monday afternoon, we drove from Philadelphia to Austin, Texas. That's about 24 hours of drive time, plus stopping for gas, bathroom breaks, meals, and sleeping. We arrived midday on Wednesday. In the car we listened to an audiobook:


Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

and a bunch of podcasts.

Once we arrived, W and R spent most of their time hiding in a boy-cave of video games with their cousins (no pictures, please) and D and J spent most of their time playing with cousins.  W and R did emerge occasionally.

We also went bowling.

We celebrated the New Year with family, and went for a walk in the 80 degree (!) weather.

There was not a lot educational about this week, but it was a lot of fun!  It included three 'days of instruction'.

Christmas! (148/180)

J and D went to their observation dance classes:

We were on break from MAHC, and the girls were sick most of the rest of the week, so it was fairly low key.  

R made a graham cracker gingerbread house:

And we did make it to the Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant:

We celebrated as a family on Christmas morning, and with my father's side of the family in the evening:

I read to the kids:

The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree by Stan Berenstain


Jingle Bells: A Magical Cut-Paper Edition by James Lord Pierpont


Night Tree by Eve Bunting


W and R exercised sometimes.

We baked treats for the holidays!

This week included four 'days of instruction'.

Getting ready for Christmas (144/180)

D and J went to ballet class.  We went to visit my grandparents very briefly:

The kids went to their MAHC classes.  Here's W in Debate Club:

W also participated in a community Improv show.  And played D and D.

J had her birthday party!  I missed it - this is probably the first time I've missed something like this for a birth.

We got a Christmas Tree and decorated it.  All the kids attended worship which told the story of the origins of the Universe, and sang in church.  D sang in the Family Choir with Matt!

I read to them:

Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson


Celebrate Hanukkah: With Light, Latkes, and Dreidels by Deborah Heiligman


The First Christmas by Robbie Trent


The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle


My First Chanukah by Tomie dePaola

W and R exercised.

They watched documentaries and listened to podcasts.

This week included 5 'days of instruction'.