It has been such a homeschooling kind of last few days.† Chan came over last Tuesday and spent the night with Kei until Friday.† I mean how cool is that?† That we can do things like that?† Kei taught Chan how to knit and I can tell you there were some knitting marathons going on.†
There was game playing.† Of course there was very little ‘following by the rules’.
They played “Life” [which I HATE] and I heard things like this; “Oh so you are making your kids work for money”, “I’m soliciting money from the children in the orphanage”, “Let’s pull another bank job for money”.† Ahhh those great lessons games teach us!
Kei knitted some scarves.† I was really proud of her because they were the first ones she had ever knitted.† She is crazy good at things like this!
Thursday night we went to our Library’s Christmas Program.† A professor at a nearby college was reading “A Christmas Memory”.† He has this magnificent voice and we always try to go when he is speaking.† This is one of our favorite Christmas stories.† You should definitely read it if you haven’t.† It is written by Truman Capote about his childhood.† He grew up in Alabama and was always friends with Harper Lee [To Kill a Mockingbird].† It is also on instant on Netflix.† It is wonderfully done.†† My brother reads it aloud every year at Christmas.
†Friday was Skate Day and we went but I didn’t let Keilee skate.† She had ran a fever the day before and had a sore throat so we didn’t stay very long.
I read 11/23/63 by Stephen King.† I downloaded it to my Kindle and while Kei and Chan were doing their thing I read an 873 page book in 2 1/2 days.† I LOVED IT!!† I have always loved Stephen King, but he is not everyone’s cup of tea.† This book had a feel of King, but not really.† It was definitely worth reading!
Saturday we decided to go shopping.† I bought Kei some new clothes, boots, a hat and a few more little things.† Most of them are put up for Christmas!† I look back fondly on the days that I could just buy her clothes and she would love them.† She still likes what I pick out but she MUST try everything on.
Monday we went to Santa’s Village with a Homeschool Group.† Now this place is really for younger kids but Keilee wanted to go because it was the 1st Field Trip she ever went on in Kindergarten.† We both had a blast.
Last night Kei spent hours texting with A and P, Theresa’s daughters.† She had a blast and plans to play an online game with them today.† I think there are Face Time plans in the future too!
Today she has decided she simply ‘must’ write. This second….before she forgets this amazing story she thought of.† Me: “Why don’t you move somewhere more comfortable”?† Kei: “No I have to write this NOW”!
Did we learn?† Well of course silly!† We learned about Vikings and Odin and read myths and played online games about the Vikings.† We did a unit study on Rocks and Minerals and Kei did 2 months of Pet Shop Math and she is reading 2 books at once and she has written and written on stories.† She watched Brain Pop every day, we watched a documentary about Vikings and a movie.† She has watched documentaries about the intelligence of mammals and keeps telling me all these facts that she has learned.† She had an online Knitting Club meeting and had such fun talking about knitting.† We also started “Connect The Thoughts” Christmas study.† It seems really cool so far.
So here it is ….December.† DECEMBER!† I am so not ready for Christmas.† Blast all of you who has your tree up, decorations abounding, baking done and all your gifts bought and wrapped.† I work better under pressure. …..OK?????!!!!!!
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
ìTrue learning ñ learning that is permanent and useful, that leads to intelligent action and further learning ó can arise only out of the experience, interest, and concerns of the learnerî† ~ John Holt
I am so impressed with her knitting! I’ve always wanted to learn, but somehow have just never had the opportunity. It’s on my bucket list!
I am DYING to read that Stephen King book! I got it for my husband for Christmas…so I suppose I;m going to have to wait until he finishes it. And he’s a really slow reader…*sigh*….
Knitting is awesome!!! I really admire how you let your preteen daughter just be herself. I’m having trouble with this age… I was very good with my daughter when she was little, but now that she has attitudes and opinions it’s really hard for me! So, I love the freedom you give Kei. You inspire me.
A and P are all about Kei…they can’t wait to text or Face Time again! It’s so funny the things I worried about. I was so afraid that if we homeschooled my girls would not have friends and when they got to the texting age they would have no one to text– really, it’s silly, but I just didn’t want to deprive them of anything! Now they have so many awesome, wonderful friends!!
I love all of Kei’s knitting and spending 2 1/2 days reading sounds like pure bliss to me!
i just realized how many smiley faces i posted. 😉 wowzers! 🙂 i have an addiction, evidently. ha. 😉
how fun! better under pressure… you crack me up. 😉 oh, how my nator would love to take knitting lessons from your kei. they should exchange info. we love facetime over here, too. 🙂 i hope she is feeling much better now. oh… and this movie is now in our netflix-q. thanks! 😉
I love your week:) Where do I start?!? Scarves, friends, games, books, field trips, writing…
Awesome, fun, and inspiring! Kei has amazing creativity and talent…I bet she gets it from her mother:)
I need to check out “A Christmas Memory”- I read To Kill A Mockingbird last year, but I might have to pull it back out again for a re-read…love it. Not sure about the Stephen King book though- I’ve liked a few of his books, but some of them have just creeped me out!
And the text fest with Theresa’s girls?!? Too cool:)
I love that you take the time to snap pictures throughout your week. I have to get better about that. I take photos of the big things, the trips, the outings, but not the day to day. Part of it is that I don’t want to show the world we are doing math in our pajamas again. Seriously. Yesterday we had a hard time getting dressed and out for a 1:00 appointment!
I am going to do more picture taking around the house. You have inspired me….not only to photograph but to get dressed!
This post made me smile, too!! so much goodness in your week! I love all the knitting, how Kei has really taken off with it. So much learning and fun…YAY!!
I love Kei’s scarves, by the way. They are beautiful 🙂
Ooooh I am loving all that knitting! And the learning too! We have been a little quiet down here but slowly getting back on track. I am smiling at all the fun you have been having and especially love the must write picture. Wish my boys liked to write. Their latest stories are very funny but very short. LOL
I am also smiling at Helena’s comment. She is such a sweetheart. 🙂 Much love to you both! Please tell Kei her knitting is awesome! I love it! Hugs xoxoxox
So much fun and so much talent. Your posts always want me to be there!
Oh Karen. Can I tell you how much your words mean to me? You are both so INSPIRING. Your lives are so fullófull of bounce and spirit and living in the moment. What a wonderful wonderful week you hadóshared with friends, with fellow homeschoolers, with each other in joy and gratitude. And all the things you guys learned!! WOW. I LOVE that Kei is writingóher hunger to do it is exactly like my girl’s. I love that Kei is reading two books at once! And she’s been a teacher, too, and a great friend and a loving daughter. You are such a blessed and giving Mom. You are both so lucky to have each other.
See? See what your words have done to me? They’ve made me go on. They’ve made me GUSH. Yeah, I’m so glad I know you guys. I so wish you lived right here. Or I lived right there. Love to you both. Big smiling hug-filled love!