Christmas Break!
Monday - Today is the first day of "Christmas break" but Christmas break is sometimes hard to define when you homeschool. We took a break from our curriculum but we are still engaging in learning and the kids still had some of their classes this week. As always I don't take pictures of everything but the kids also practiced Spanish and worked on their instruments today which I plan to have them work on all break long.
My parents came to visit and we played these two games with them. Apples to Apples is a great vocabulary game and Hive Alive is a great number value game.
Learning about the human body for fun
Caiden was excited to do some science reading after I picked up some books I had on hold.
The kids still had art school today. They are working on landscapes.
Solar system puzzle
Maddy writing a letter to a friend.
Building a snow man
I took the kids to McDonalds after art.
Tuesday- I took the kids to the Fredrick Meijer Gardens today. They enjoyed seeing the Rodin exhibit, seeing the traditions around the world, the trains, and playing in the sculpture room. We came home and made cookies and my parents stopped over and caiden played Hive alive with my dad and we all played apples to apples. then the big kids went to their art school Christmas party.
Checking out Rodin's work
learning about Christmas traditions from around the world
The retiree volunteers have a wealth of knowledge and love to talk to the kids.
The kids learned the story of the Swedish St. Lucia
Sculpture play area
Making their own sculptures
Westin's favorite part of Christmas at the gardens
Annual Christmas cookie baking day
Team work in the kitchen
Art school Christmas party
Wednesday - My parents took Westin home with them so we have a few days with just the big kids, which is so nice. Mike took the day off too. We worked on a jig saw puzzle, played board games in the morning, the kids still had music, and Awana, and we went and saw the new star wars movie in the afternoon.
Gingerbread houses with the kids
Fun with friends
So intense
I love playing guess who with this girl!
Jigsaw teamwork
Settlers in the morning with Mike.
We all loved the new star wars movie!
Working on his Awana book in the guitar shop after his lesson.
It's always fun to teach the kids a new game
Both kids continue to enjoy their instruments
Thursday - More games! We played a ton of games today, including a new one, dutch blitz. We also practiced instruments went to gymnastics, and worked on Spanish.
Settlers has been really good for Maddy's addition facts.
Friday- The kids got to open their shared gift early today. They got a robot and it will take some time to assemble it. The worked on it a little this morning. Then we had friends over for a ginger bread house building party. After Mike came home from work we went to Jackson to see my family for the weekend.
Saturday- We spent the weekend in a hotel in Jackson with my parents, my brother and his 2 kids. Then on Saturday we got together with my dads extended side of the family. There was swimming, lego building, puzzles, games, laughter, and lots of fun. We always look forwad to this time with family.
Christmas eve (Sunday)- We came home from Jackson and then that evening we went with friends to their Christmas eve candle light service.
Christmas (Monday)- I love Christmas day. Playing outside in the snow. All the fun of playing with new toys. Staying in our pajamas all day.
Caiden's marked card from his magic set. Notice the circlein the upper left corner 2 down and 2 in
Playing with the new marble run
Playing with new playdough
Working on the new robot
Tuesday, December 26th - We planned on going to the Art museum today but there had been an explosion at the power plant and the museum was without power. So we went to the public museum instead. In the afternoon we listened to book on tape and then Caiden worked on his magic and Maddy put together another lego set. In the evening we had family playdough time.
Make it take it station
Virtual reality
Waiting for the planetarium show to start
afternoon lego build
Family playdough time
Working with his new magic set
Wednesday, December 27th - We stayed home all day today, and it was awesome. We played outside, listened to Harry Potter, there was intense imagination play, and game time.
Legos!
Playing with new toys
The kids were outside and saw this rainbow
Thursday December 28- Day 2 of staying home. The big project for today was both kids were working on writing thank you notes to family members who gave them gifts. Maddy and Westin also filled trays with snow and play with food coloring with them. The big kids listened to book on tape and we've also been working memorizing the geography of central America in preparation for our trip to Nicaragua in a couple of weeks.
writing letters to family
working on how to address an envolope
Working on memorizing the location of the 8 countries in Central America
The slant of the line tells you what the suit is ( this one was a spade)
The circle placement tells you what the number is. This card was an 8. Caiden memorized both charts and is really good at telling the cards by this system.
Friday, December 29th- Today we met some college friends of mine and their kids at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. It's free and lots of fun. I spent most of my time talking with my friends so I didn't take too many pictures.
The world's largest playable guitar
The traveling exhibit was on the science and history of guitars
I had the kids work on identifying the 8 countries in Central America
Saturday, December 30th-Today was a very chill day at home. We listened to books, worked on the robot, and worked on learning about the geography of central america. We also watched the first Deathly Hallows movie.
Mike and Maddy like to play hockey in the basement these days.
The robot is almost finished the kids and mike have been working hard on this.
The kids continued their work on memorizing the countries in central america
We're almost done with the Deathly Hallows so I let the kids watch the first movie.
Sunday, December 31st - We finished the robot and finished Harry Potter today. Then we had friends over and played games and played outside and rang in the new year.
Monday January 1st- The kids are enjoying playing with the new robot. Mike and Caiden also worked on code academy today and Katie and I took a class at the spartan YMCA then we took the kids swimming. Angie and Heidi met us at the pool too. Great start to the new year.
Working on Code Academy
Enjoying the new robot
Tuesday January 2nd- Something I like to do at the end of break is get the kids ready for going back to our school routine. So we started reviewing math facts today. Adding in 1 subject before we jump in has been a great fit for us.
working on math
Wednesday January 3rd- We worked on Math and the kids had music lessons today. Maddy also enjoyed a make your own nutcracker that I found on sale for 80% off. We also started our new audio book. We've been listening to Harry Potter for over 6 months so it's weird to be hearing a new story but we all enjoyed it.
Maddy worked on a make your own nutcracker kit today
Today we worked on an actual math worksheet from their curriculum and Maddy's nutcracker has been coming with her everywhere.
We started our new book on tape today.
I also did some packing for our upcoming trip to Nicaragua!
Thursday January 4th- The kids had gymnastics today and Westin and I stayed today instead of going to the ymca. It's fun to see what the kids have been working on. The kids also worked on writing thank you letters to family members who sent us gifts for Christmas. And listened to Wrinkle in Time during Westin's nap.
The kids weekly gymnastic class
Working on addressing an envelope.
Friday January 5th- In the morning I had the kids read then we had friends over. After Mike got done with work we headed up north for a skiing weekend.
The kids were excited to show their friends their new robot.
The boys played legos for over an hour.
Caiden loves playing chess with his friend Joel
Saturday January 6th- Over the weekend both of the big kids ended up throwing up so they didn't go skiing but they did play a few games with their grandparents. Mike and I snuck away for a few hours to get some skiing in.
Blokus game
date ski
Sunday January 7th- With sick kids we just woke up and headed home on Sunday. We got home and unpacked and planned for the week.
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