- Minecraft (on Kindle)
- Pizza Boy (on Kindle)
- Battle Cats (on Kindle)
- The Legend of Zelda (on Nintendo, the one older than my children are)
- Angry Bird Star Wars (on XBox 360)
- Lego Movie (on XBox 360)
- Super Mario 3 (on Nintendo)
- Excite Bike (on Nintendo)
- Pac Man (on Nintendo)
After game time was up kids scattered to do a variety of activities. A few completed paint by sticker pages. Several played with the Little People we brought out of the attic on Monday. Two played with Kinetic Sand. One went upstairs to work on art. The day kept moving along smoothly. We spent the afternoon outside enjoying the sunshine in our still a bit muddy yard. Dinner was spaghetti and meatballs.
We spent some extra time reading today to finally finish Framed! by James Conti. It was a solid family read aloud, entertaining, and the kids begged me to get the next two books in the series. So I did. (Three of the big kids already read the series, using library books for book 2 and 3. Libraries are closed for who knows how long, and ours didn't have ebook copies available. My big kids enjoyed the series enough they are willing listeners as I read it aloud. That means I know the series is a winner.)
We spent some extra time reading today to finally finish Framed! by James Conti. It was a solid family read aloud, entertaining, and the kids begged me to get the next two books in the series. So I did. (Three of the big kids already read the series, using library books for book 2 and 3. Libraries are closed for who knows how long, and ours didn't have ebook copies available. My big kids enjoyed the series enough they are willing listeners as I read it aloud. That means I know the series is a winner.)
Thursday the kids asked about their Lego Masters Challenge, today's theme. The first challenge was to build a boat out of Legos. They were told we would test the boat's ability to float and to carry passengers. It took them an hour to create their boats. They had so much fun testing them out - and my dining room had so much water not in the tub by the end of it all.
In the afternoon we watched the newest episode of Lego Masters online. Then the kids spread out to play and craft, so we decided to save the second challenge, bridge building, for another day. We also read two chapters in Vanished! by James Conti. We were sucked right in to the action. The kids love that I am learning what happens right along side them.
By evening the kids had pulled their Kiwi and Tinker crates back out to work on more activities.
Friday some of the kids did end up building Lego bridges. The actual themed activity of the day was Model Magic, so we have another pan of creations air drying. Beyond that we grabbed some short sleeve shirts and shorts out of the attic bins, to help with our more spring-like weather days. Of course, now each child's 1-2 drawers for clothing are overstuffed. We will deal with that soon. We got to help Makayla with an assignment for her Music and Civilization class that included a fun karaoke session.
Saturday I made a quick trip to the store to replenish what supplies I could find. Stores were better stocked than they have been the last two weeks. In the afternoon we did our themed activity - watching a movie. We bought the new movie Onward by Pixar. Joseph and Emma went to the theater to see this one several weeks ago, but it was new for everyone else.
Sunday our family participated in a worldwide fast, shared our testimonies in our home sacrament meeting, baked cookies late in the day to break our fast, and went through clothing in kid drawers to remove half the cold weather clothes and add in some warm weather clothes now that spring is here. In the evening we watched half of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Monday was the beginning of the end of our school year. We have 7 weeks left, with different subjects finishing along the way. For example, history will be the first subject we finish, in about 3.5 weeks, while math will be the last subject we finish, in 7 weeks. Today we learned about elephants in science. They are fascinating creatures!
Tuesday kids got their school work done quickly. It felt like old times when Makayla asked for help explaining a math concept for one of her college classes. By snack time the elementary kids were ready for science. Today we finished reading Mammals of Small Pond. It is one of the extra books that go with our Mammals unit from The Good and the Beautiful. Next we will start Track It. Over lunch we read another chapter in Vanished.
Wednesday kicked off gray and dreary. School work was streamlined, with kids needing help at different times. I love when it works out like that! We learned about trench warfare and the changes in weapons capabilities in World War I today. The middle boys (Caleb, Oliver) helped me bake a double batch of banana bread for lunch.
One interesting happening over the last two weeks - Rebekah, who turned 2 in February, has started to potty train herself. As in, she literally walked up to me one day and told me she wanted to use the potty and has done so with semi-regular success ever since. I wait until a child is close to age 3 to pursue potty training, and she is not dry overnight yet, so I know her body isn't completely ready. She is still in diapers during the day, we just take it off when she asks to use the bathroom, and put it back on when she is finished if it is still dry (about 50% of the time it is still dry). After potty training 9 children, I'm thrilled that #10 seems to plan to potty train herself. I'm going to let her.
Thursday was the opposite of Wednesday in the homeschool arena. It felt like every child needed my help at the exact same time all morning. We made it through it, but my brain was ready to pop. I took a mommy time out to sit quietly for a few minutes before we did history. Today's history was really interesting. We looked at American posters from WWI and read about how they related to life in America during the war. The kids were able to understand things like rationing better due to the current shelter in place orders from COVID-19, and how that has affected food and other supply availability.
It's Friday afternoon now. Another week of school is finished. We have 6 weeks left. Some kids are already making rumbling comments about doubling up lessons to finish even earlier. We shall see what they each decide to do.
This weekend is one of our absolute favorites of the year. It is General Conference time! I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Our church leaders share talks, music, and encouragement every 6 months in a live broadcast of sessions free online. There are five sessions, each with a different roster of speakers. At our house we count down to this, and have family traditions surrounding it. For example, we live in the Eastern time zone, so the morning and afternoon sessions on both Saturday and Sunday happen during meal time. We picnic in the living room where our tv is. (In general, we do not eat in the living room, except at birthday parties when we cannot seat everyone at our table.) Kids are encouraged to bring paper and something to write or draw with to take notes or keep their hands busy as we listen to the speakers. They listen for familiar scriptures we've read and interesting stories. They know that within a week or two we will have family Jeopardy night, with every question relating to General Conference. We have foods we make every year - cinnamon rolls for Saturday is the favorite. Then, over the next six months, we will re-read/watch/listen to these inspired talks and discuss them, apply them to our lives, and learn and grow together.
If you want to join us and watch General Conference there are several ways to do that, right from the comfort of your home. All are free. The broadcasts will air on the church website, on YouTube, and on BYUtv's website. Sessions are at 12pm Eastern, 4pm Eastern, and 8pm Eastern on Saturday and at 12pm Eastern and 4pm Eastern on Sunday. If you would like to learn more about what we believe, you can do so here.
In the afternoon we watched the newest episode of Lego Masters online. Then the kids spread out to play and craft, so we decided to save the second challenge, bridge building, for another day. We also read two chapters in Vanished! by James Conti. We were sucked right in to the action. The kids love that I am learning what happens right along side them.
By evening the kids had pulled their Kiwi and Tinker crates back out to work on more activities.
Friday some of the kids did end up building Lego bridges. The actual themed activity of the day was Model Magic, so we have another pan of creations air drying. Beyond that we grabbed some short sleeve shirts and shorts out of the attic bins, to help with our more spring-like weather days. Of course, now each child's 1-2 drawers for clothing are overstuffed. We will deal with that soon. We got to help Makayla with an assignment for her Music and Civilization class that included a fun karaoke session.
Saturday I made a quick trip to the store to replenish what supplies I could find. Stores were better stocked than they have been the last two weeks. In the afternoon we did our themed activity - watching a movie. We bought the new movie Onward by Pixar. Joseph and Emma went to the theater to see this one several weeks ago, but it was new for everyone else.
Sunday our family participated in a worldwide fast, shared our testimonies in our home sacrament meeting, baked cookies late in the day to break our fast, and went through clothing in kid drawers to remove half the cold weather clothes and add in some warm weather clothes now that spring is here. In the evening we watched half of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Monday was the beginning of the end of our school year. We have 7 weeks left, with different subjects finishing along the way. For example, history will be the first subject we finish, in about 3.5 weeks, while math will be the last subject we finish, in 7 weeks. Today we learned about elephants in science. They are fascinating creatures!
Tuesday kids got their school work done quickly. It felt like old times when Makayla asked for help explaining a math concept for one of her college classes. By snack time the elementary kids were ready for science. Today we finished reading Mammals of Small Pond. It is one of the extra books that go with our Mammals unit from The Good and the Beautiful. Next we will start Track It. Over lunch we read another chapter in Vanished.
Wednesday kicked off gray and dreary. School work was streamlined, with kids needing help at different times. I love when it works out like that! We learned about trench warfare and the changes in weapons capabilities in World War I today. The middle boys (Caleb, Oliver) helped me bake a double batch of banana bread for lunch.
One interesting happening over the last two weeks - Rebekah, who turned 2 in February, has started to potty train herself. As in, she literally walked up to me one day and told me she wanted to use the potty and has done so with semi-regular success ever since. I wait until a child is close to age 3 to pursue potty training, and she is not dry overnight yet, so I know her body isn't completely ready. She is still in diapers during the day, we just take it off when she asks to use the bathroom, and put it back on when she is finished if it is still dry (about 50% of the time it is still dry). After potty training 9 children, I'm thrilled that #10 seems to plan to potty train herself. I'm going to let her.
Thursday was the opposite of Wednesday in the homeschool arena. It felt like every child needed my help at the exact same time all morning. We made it through it, but my brain was ready to pop. I took a mommy time out to sit quietly for a few minutes before we did history. Today's history was really interesting. We looked at American posters from WWI and read about how they related to life in America during the war. The kids were able to understand things like rationing better due to the current shelter in place orders from COVID-19, and how that has affected food and other supply availability.
It's Friday afternoon now. Another week of school is finished. We have 6 weeks left. Some kids are already making rumbling comments about doubling up lessons to finish even earlier. We shall see what they each decide to do.
This weekend is one of our absolute favorites of the year. It is General Conference time! I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Our church leaders share talks, music, and encouragement every 6 months in a live broadcast of sessions free online. There are five sessions, each with a different roster of speakers. At our house we count down to this, and have family traditions surrounding it. For example, we live in the Eastern time zone, so the morning and afternoon sessions on both Saturday and Sunday happen during meal time. We picnic in the living room where our tv is. (In general, we do not eat in the living room, except at birthday parties when we cannot seat everyone at our table.) Kids are encouraged to bring paper and something to write or draw with to take notes or keep their hands busy as we listen to the speakers. They listen for familiar scriptures we've read and interesting stories. They know that within a week or two we will have family Jeopardy night, with every question relating to General Conference. We have foods we make every year - cinnamon rolls for Saturday is the favorite. Then, over the next six months, we will re-read/watch/listen to these inspired talks and discuss them, apply them to our lives, and learn and grow together.
If you want to join us and watch General Conference there are several ways to do that, right from the comfort of your home. All are free. The broadcasts will air on the church website, on YouTube, and on BYUtv's website. Sessions are at 12pm Eastern, 4pm Eastern, and 8pm Eastern on Saturday and at 12pm Eastern and 4pm Eastern on Sunday. If you would like to learn more about what we believe, you can do so here.
Yeah for a kid potty training themselves! It sounds like a pretty good week.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Dawn
You are one cool mom! Those Lego boats must have been a blast!
ReplyDeleteHooray for your little one and easy potty training!
And we've prepared so much for General Conference, that I hope it is the spiritual feast we've been promised. I hope it is for you, too. :)
Hi Tristan! I just found your blog because I was researching Trail Guide to World Geography, saw your post from 2014 on Simply Charlotte Mason, and was wishing I could read your geography plan from your old blog :) Any chance you are able and willing to share that?
ReplyDeleteWhat is general conference? The kids and I have been learning how to play chess lately since lockdown started. Potty training sucks but it must be done one way or another. The kids and I were planning to try out another escape room in the summer but that day out had to be cancelled unfortunately. The last escape room we did five months ago before Christmas one day was fairly easy. Do you have any to recommend or not? Thanks in advance.
ReplyDelete