This week the school gave us integrated learning packets in addition the the worksheets I’ve printed off homeschooling websites for the kids to do so we included those in our school day. Alex’s packet centered around weather and Brooke worked on states of matter. Monday for our Open Air session we went on a hike to Lake Smith. We all got to walk over the water on a forked, fallen beauty. Tuesday stuffies joined us for Writing, and I got some work done too (air show earmuffs needed with kids playing in the background). On Thursday for PE, I took the kids on a 6.3 mile bike ride. They did great and it was nice since we’d been inside while it rained Tuesday and Wednesday. Brooke had a nice afternoon chat with Ollie before playing ninjas with Alex in the backyard. Nibbles, our backyard bunny, has been out and about a lot while we’ve been outside lately. We invited Ollie to join Reading on Friday. The kids have been wearing their PJ Masks costumes from Halloween for Recess in the backyard a lot this week. For PE Brooke practiced her Tap videos and Alex had Coach Daddy for Basketball. We walked the Great Bridge Lock Hike for our Open Air class and AJ was able to join. We had some fun swinging from the vines! Saturday the kids helped AJ with some yard work and we had a Rosenbaum/Langa Skype session before bed. Sunday, the Daddy Express took the kids all over the house before I tried my best and home cut Alex’s hair on the back deck with an electric razor and some thinning shears- at least he’s a little less fuzzy. I spent the day playing with the kiddos outside, and using our new lawn game, ring-toss, to have even more fun in the backyard. After dinner we roasted the very last of our marshmallows under the bright moonlight.

We started over the weekend by making a social distancing chain to count the days out of school/practicing social distancing (I’ve got more links if we need to extend it-but for now they enjoy removing one every night).  I’ve been conducting school as normally as I can at home and the kids LOVE me being ‘Teacher Mommy’.  I even pick them up from their rooms on the ‘bus’ which is basically us conga-lining down stairs after they get themselves dressed. I printed out a bunch of worksheets to subsidize the workbooks I already had the kids (I use workbooks normally to supplement their school homework assignments). In the afternoon’s we do an ‘open air park excursion, where we go to an area outside that isn’t populated. On Tuesday, we did a field trip to the beach. It was mid-50s and windy so we were the only ones there essentially. We enjoyed corned beef and cabbage for dinner and AJ came home form working finally! I have access to the schools teaching computer programs (yea-me for saving the log-on papers from September for Alex and from kindergarten for Brooke!) and every day after quiet time they play the learning games they’d use at school. Today we pretending it is ‘Saturday’ because AJ is home (though he’s attending virtual meetings until this afternoon) and the weather is so nice (80s!). We will have ‘Friday’ tomorrow when it’s raining and AJ’s on shift. They have been doing really well with the new routine and not fussing about having to wave at the neighbors from across the street as everyone plays in their own front yard. Just wanted to let you all know what we are up to!