Thursday 1/17

R left for CA business trip at 6:30 a.m.




I got up and putzed around on internet. Tidied up family room and kitchen somewhat. Took a shower, got everyone up at 8:30. Made bacon and eggs and said rosary which kids joined in for the last 3 decades. J however had breakfast in the dining room trying to finish up his homework. W took worked on his math. I don't think either of them had quite finished by the time the tutor came.

Sean is very into learning how to shuffle cards and making card houses.

Started snowing really hard. H went to library, says she can't focus at home, but I called her after an hour because the snow looked so heavy.




B and S watched Electric Co. dvd while I registered J and B for summer camp. J and W met with math tutor. After math, J practiced guitar some and then read the Guinness Book of World Records that we got for Christmas.




Went downstairs with B and S. S copied over a little poem; we reviewed new spelling words, also reviewed a bit of punctuation. B read a little out of Ordinary Parent's Guide to reading. Then she wrote something down in her notebook she'd seen on Electric co. and drew a picture too. S reviewed his 3x and 4x tables.




Lunch - B asked what metal was made of so I googled and we found out! Then S asked how to tie a lasso knot, so I looked that up and we learned how!

9:30 p.m. It really started snowing big time before lunch. Wound up cancelling Little Flowers/Blue Knights. Major snowstorm. B played outside for a long time and even made a little snowman. S went out for about 15 minutes but then a big old splotch of snow fell off a tree and down the back collar of his coat and he came in screaming. W rescued him. But after that he was feeling too Charlie Brownish and decided to lie on the couch and watch Arthur and such. H went out and shovelled the walk. W walked out to see if the main road was backed up and brought the mail in. J didn't go out at all.

J was on the computer a lot and playing on his gameboy. But we did a session in Classical Writing. Review spelling orally, practiced cursive a tiny bit, diagrammed sentences together and then he wrote a rough draft of the 1st 2 scenes from To the Sea Xenophon. He'll have to finish drafting it tomorrow.

At 4:00 we lost power and didn't get it back until just before 7. It got very dark quickly. H busied herself lighting lots of candles. Just before we lost power I ordered pizza so we got that. We ate and then the kids played charades while I feel asleep on the couch. H and W entertained us with the acoustic guitar and piano.

It was lovely when the lights came back on! I let B watch some TV while I putzed on the internet. W read Hitchhikers to S and J and they were laughing and laughing. Not sure what H was up to.

8:30 Made everyone come and clean up. Read a lot of The Little White Horse aloud. S and B got really into drawing cartoons while I read. We said prayers and then went upstairs with their cartooning book, lots of paper and pencils. They are very quiet up there but occasionally I hear them talking to each other. I should go up and make them go to bed.

J said he couldn't get into Over Sea, Under Stone. Since I've been intrigued by those Susan Cooper books since I heard Susan Wise Bauer mention them. I think I might see if he'll let me read some of the first chapters aloud to him.

Wednesday 1/16

Woke late; didn't get people up until 9 ish.


Read Sophie's World to W and H on Hellenism.


W did lesson in Alg. II

H showered then tried to read Ivanhoe. She took S to VT and also took J to chess club. Then she took W to CLC. She did a lot of driving.


B and S played while I did Religion and Classical Writing with J. B took a bath and washed hair.

J had guitar lesson. W had his guitar.

J played Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga; went to chess club; after dinner did some math; read some Dave Barry before bed but I took away because it is too adult!

S -went to VT with H. Then to gymnastics to the end of the semester show. After dinner, listened to The Little White Horse.

B - went with me to drop off Little Flowers material then to gymnastics show. After dinner listened to The Little White Horse.

We watched the video of the gymnastics show which was fun.

R read more of Half Magic to S and B at bedtime.

W did 30 minutes of Latin and read some of Ivanhoe. Went to CLC and came home swearing off his ipod.

Tuesday 1/15

Woke up at 7 to R's alarm. Felt so much better than I did yesterday! Got up puttered around, moved laundry. Ran to grocery store and bought donuts and trashbags. I really have to do a real weekly grocery run this pm.


S got up early and was watching Between the Lions. At 8:30 got everyone up. Made J and S put clean clothes away.


W got up early and was playing guitar and working on his timeline. H slept in but then got up and worked on timeline.


Somehow I never got my rosary said this a.m. Instead I researched Ivanhoe study guides.


After breakfast S asked me about Martin Luther King so we had a nice talk about him and I pulled out the last volume of History of US to show him and B a picture of MLK.


@ 9 or so B and S and I went downstairs. S told a long, long story that his friend Joseph told him yesterday. While he talked I tidied the downstairs, B helped a little. The we sang Father Abraham, did a little bit of mental math, went over 3x and 4x tables with S. Becky copied out Goo Gone from a label and then wanted to know what it spelled. I gave S spelling test on 5 words that had the -ea- = long e sound. He got 100%. Then he asked me to write out a sentence and he would punctuate it, so I did.



During this W and H went off to Chem class and J was reading The High King which he started last night and finished this a.m.


B found an old U.S. State Quarters map and wanted to know what it was for, so we wound up collecting all the quarters we could find and going through and putting in as many state quarters we could find. I think we're missing 15. This led to them counting out quarters and sorting the change into pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. So it was a geo and math lesson all at the same time.


I decided to take a shower and did, then came down and got the kids to help me take down more Christmas decorations. At some point J read a chapter in F&L. The kids really helped clean up. S was very happy unloading the dishwasher for me and we had a very nice chat. J and B helped put things away and then started a very boisterious game downstairs. Not sure what it is. After S was done his chores he ran down to join them. They are laughing up a storm tho. Something is very funny!


H and W came home. I sent H out to get lunch. Forgot to read Scripture readings during lunch!


Had Brit. Lit and Hist. It seems hard to get the class going again. Momentum is off. But we watched the next in the DVD series which was interesting about how the Hanoverian house was established and how Scotland fared during the Jacobite uprisings (badly!) and how commerce became the glue that began to hold England and Scotland together.



J did a bit of research on his science fair project. He wants to do something on acids and bases. he is very intrigued by chemistry.



B and S played a lot downstairs. I don't really know what they did.



Now I need to go grocery shopping.

9:38, went shopping, came home and made quesidillas for dinner. Earlier W had shown B how to burn her own disc from itunes. So she played it for us. The song everybody really liked was a famous Benny Goodman dance number; can't remember name. Anyway, B and S practiced their swing dance moves. W and J disappeared. I think J was playing some games downstairs illicitedly as I had said no more screen. Then B and S got into an idea of teaching dancing and then having auditions for a play. I interrupted to call everyone for reading aloud. H had gone to Theology of the Body class at church.

Read Horton Hears a Who and some more of The Little White Horse. R came home in time for prayers. Now he's just finishing dinner and he's going to read Half Magic to the littles.

Monday 1/14

Woke with migraine. I wasn't sick to my stomach though. It stayed in head, which was something to be grateful for.



Got people stirring around 8:30. J took a shower then worked on his math homework. W got up and worked on his math too. H slept until 10! Everyone got their breakfasts. S and B played very nicely downstairs. B especially; made a train out of toys downstairs. I had to go ride her train. She used a basket and blocks to be the 'coal' which she shoveled in with a serving spoon she borrowed from the kitchen.



J and W did math with the tutor. H was supposed to start her Spanish class at comm. college but realized in a panic that she had registered at the wrong campus and she couldn't switch because the class she wanted was full. So I called the dean and found out that there is another class starting in 2 weeks that fits H's schedule. So she's got a 2 week hiatus.



After that tho my headache came back terribly. B made me a bed on the couch. I was sorely tempted to let the kids do screen but I had just issued a rule that screen time was between 3 and 6 p.m. Instead B, S and J (he was finished with math) and I all played Jr. Pictionary which S got for Christmas. H ran to the bookstore to get a copy of Ivanhoe for Will and also did a quick grocery shop for me. Pictionary was fun. Only had tears once! We called it a draw (ha ha) because everyone got hungry for lunch.



At lunch H read from her Magnificat, the readings for the day. This made B and S start playing "Mass" which was cute. My headache was still throbbing. I took a shower. B and S were playing some permutation of hide and seek; J was listening to Jim Weiss' Uncle Wiggly cd. H was planning her RE class. W was playing his electric guitar.



B reviewed her reading words from her reader. S read 3 pages from his reader. J and I sat down and did Day 1 of Classical Writing. He also did a little cursive penmanship.



3:00 B played on her new MP3 (got from in laws, ugh!!!!!!) Barbie World girl website. Yikes I hope this passes soon. R says those kids MP3 players break easily. I might step on it by accident one day. Actually almost did this last night, truly accidentally. S watched Arthur. J got on Wii. Then Joseph came over to play so J, S and B are all downstairs on the Wii carrying on. Lots of laughing and screaming and joking around. Joseph is a big joker of a kid, loud and friendly. Always cutting up. Lots of fun.



W is reading lots of Ivanhoe and also took a walk outside. It is cold and gray out.



H went to visit Katie at Starbucks and planned more for RE. I hope she's reading Ivanhoe as well plus they have to work on their timelines for history tomorrow.



I've been planning my class and also for Blue Knights and Little Flowers clubs. My headache is mostly gone. It's 4:37. I think I'll do some laundry and clean the kitchen a bit. I think we'll have omelettes, rolls, baked acorn squash and applesauce for dinner. Have to teach RE tonight. I'm glad the headache is finally going away. But it has still been a good day.

Thursday 1/10

Late start. Construction very loud this a.m.


J - woke late, hadn't done most of his math homework. Tutor was very kind and got him in a better mood. Now I think he's closed himself off in the study.


S - woke, showered, ate scrambled eggs for breakfast. Been playing w/ B much of the morning; fooling around the harmonica, read Calvin and Hobbes. We did a tiny bit of school. He said his 2x, 5x and 3x tables. Did a little bit of cursive. He's eating lunch and then he's going to read to me from his reader.

B- woke really late, had scrambled eggs and eng. muffins. Played a lot this a.m. pretending she's a royal princess. We did a little bit of math where I kept using the term 'minus' she can't remember it means the same thing as take away. Then she did really well in reading. She read the first story in First Steps reader.


W - finished up Alg. II homework and is now working with tutor.


H - slept in. Her school year doesn't really start up until Monday with Spanish and Chem on Tues. She should be reading Ivanhoe though. As should W.


Later today. I want to play SET, go shopping for gifts, tidy up some and read The Little White Horse.



1:09 W has been playing lots of guitar. I'll hear Leila by Clapton and then a Little Richard riff. S and B are downstairs watching Tv. H went to Panera to get lunch. J is off in his room. But I'm going to call him down in 20min to work on Classical Writing some.



I'm sleepy. Hoping we'll also watch the last segment of T3 this afternoon too.

9:02 p.m. J worked on Class. Writ. Took B and S shopping for Theo and Andrea's gifts. Came home and chilled for a while. Then tidied up house a bit, did some laundry. H got pizza, etc from Jerry's. After dinner, B took bath, S played his skateboard game and we watched 2nd to last segment on Luke in T3. Love it!

After that read Little White Horse to B, S and J. R came home @ 8:30, ate quickly and is now reading Half Magic to B and S.

H spent most of day watching Arrested Dev. W playing his guitar.

It's been a good day.

Wednesday 1/9

Went to bed so late because R was up watching Primary returns.


Woke up 8 ish.

Said rosary, S joined me. W was up early but wanted to read Bible and Jason Evert book instead.


J and S have been really getting into The Worst Case Scenario book and the new Guiness Book of World records.


Been eating lemon cake R bought at store last night. Bad breakfast.


B is very grumpy this morning.


Circle time - sang Father Abraham, then did mental math. S wanted to review squares. B counted by 2's with her collection of sea shells then we did some subtraction problems with the shells.


J was supposed to be doing math at this time but he wasn't focusing.


did 2 mad libs at kids request but B started to get mad.


B and I went over some words from her reader written on flashcards but she started to get mad again.


S got new spelling words: beach, treat, clean, leave, peace. He filled in the blanks in his wkbk. We also went over the conjunction 'and'.


B keeps losing her temper. J got stuck on something in math. H is helping him now.


need to distract B so I can read Sophie's World to H and W.


B wound up playing on a website, bananaboo for a little while, while I read some of Sophie's World to H and W. Still working through Aristotle.


Then S and B played on the Wii making Mii's while J, H and W and I watched the second to the last lecture in the T3 Bible study. Wow, what a good program that is.


Now we are eating lunch. We've got VT, guitar lessons, gymnastics, chess club and CLC.


1:44 p.m. S had a meltdown about having to work on the uneven bars in gymnastics. He's been talking about it for days on and off. He's really working himself up. Tried to give him a pep talk but he dissolved into tears. My goodness, I do wish my children were not so prickly. Have had tears from J, B and S today and I'm trying to be nice to them! No wonder I want to hide my head in the sand of the blogosphere.


Gotta get ready for VT.

Made it to VT. Got feeder fish for the lionfish. Came home. J and W had guitar lessons. H and W went to Great Falls with friends. Left J here to play on computer games while I took S and B to gymnastics.

Ate MacDonald's for dinner. Came home. H took J to chess club.

Didn't read aloud at all tonight. Kids played Starfall on the Wii. H took W to CLC.

Poor J remembered he had lots of math homework still to do. He's working on it but he stayed up so late reading last night he's really tired and doesn't want to do it. W is also working on homework.

R had dinner with client and is coming home now. He's tired too but I think he's going to be doing math for while! 9:51 p.m.

Tuesday 1/8

Woke up at 6:30a.m. Supposed to get new washer today. Very sleepy. Researched about Johnathan Swift and read more Gulliver's Travels. Got every one up at 8:30. Kids are all excited about new computer.


Washing machine men called, they'll be here in 20 minutes!


10:46 a.m. Washer is here. Had to run a trial cycle to see if it worked.


H took B and S with her to run errands and then for a walk at meadow lark gardens while she reads the rest of Gulliver's Travels.


W wandered around a bit looking for his copy of the book, finally just decided to read online.


J did copywork - he's writing out Angelus in cursive. Then we reviewed ch. 8 of F&L; then we did Classical Writing - grammar: we reviewed subject complements and transitive and intransitive verbs, digrammed 4 sentences. Orally reviewed spelling words. Also did a fun exercise where we replaced words with synonyms. Now J is working on rewriting story from outline we did yesterday.



B - snacked on cheese and watched Arthur. Took her new big Barbie coloring book outside with us while the teens and I discussed Gulliver's Travels and read about the Hanover dynasty. The weather was lovely but got really windy. B started acting up and being disruptive so after a couple of tries we sent inside. She wound up watching Paper Mario that J and S were playing. Now she's upset because her glitter got messed up on her picture.

Follow up from next day:
H went to Theology of the Body in the evening.

S taught himself the squares of number 1 to 10 on the computer calculator.
B played at National Geographic for Kids site. They also watched PBS show Fletch.

J read more of The Lighthouse Land
R started to read Half Magic to B and S.
Lots of talk about New Hampshire Primary.