Mohaus Schoolhouse Week 17

Highlights of last week include building things from the Smithsonian Maker Lab book, including a weighted paper airplane, speakers for a phone, and a plane powered by an inflated balloon.

We read great stories from some great books. We started The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, are still working our way through The One and Only Ivan, and also enjoyed lots of Christmas short stories.

Jack decided to make green eggs for lunch one day, so of course we read Green Eggs & Ham.

We are continuing through our Slow + Sacred Advent study. Week one covered the seed of advent, while last week we focused on the star of advent. We made gingerbread cookies to hang on the tree, including stars (making homemade gingerbread ornaments for our live Christmas tree is a yearly tradition of ours).

On Wednesday, we had a library visit and a cold afternoon at the park with friends to burn off energy.

Thursday both boys had Christmas parties (Isaac at preschool and Jack at his Y program). I wasn't going to be able to make either program while also picking them up on time, so I skipped and went and bought stocking stuffers for them instead.

However, I found myself in a bit of a conundrum when a friend texted to say Jack's program finished early and he was the last kid there. Thank goodness she called and offered to meet me with him halfway! We agreed to meet at Hobby Lobby and I let the boys pick out their ornaments for this year (normally I pick them out and stick them in their stockings).

That night, we visited a local live Nativity as a family. We enjoyed singing the Christmas hyms and the kids were able to make star ornaments to add to our tree.

In juxtaposition to our Slow + Sacred Advent, there were a lot of dance parties happening last week. We are introducing the kids to a variety of music, from Neil Diamond to the Beastie Boys. We want them to be as well rounded as possible.

Jack had me cracking up with his "letter to an artist" as part of his Art Study with Narration. I don't think he quite gets the point yet (or doesn't care).

We ended the week with our first play of the year, A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Chattanooga Children's Theatre. It wasn't our favorite play, but it was sweet and we are always happy to spend time with friends.

To cap off our Friend Friday, we grabbed lunch at Good Dog and the kids had a chance to write letters to Santa. Jack's only wish was that it would snow this year.

Saturday was our Christmas Party with our small group. The boys helped me make bon bons for the party (another tradition I have had since I was a kid).

Then on Sunday we attempted to see Santa at Bass Pro (but made the mistake of showing up without getting passes ahead of time). We will try again this week.

I had originally planned to do some school this week (including our annual Homeschool Cookie Decorating party), but Daniel and I both came down with a stomach bug sometime Sunday (also our 16th Anniversary), and have spent the better part of the last two days in bed while the kids fended for themselves.

So, I think we are just done for this year. We will still work on our Slow + Sacred Advent material, but I that is it. I hope you have a blessed Christmas and holiday season!

Mohaus Schoolhouse Week 16

Last week we finished Pilgrims Progress and How to Be a Pirate. Jack wanted to know if there was a movie to watch. LOL

Every morning we have listened to The Same Page podcast share the birth of Christ from the gospel of Luke, and the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore. Jack thinks the line "He had a broad face, and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly" is hilarious.

We started our Slow + Sacred Advent by Jennifer Naraki. We did this study last year and I enjoyed how it takes us through the time leading up to the birth of Christ. Each week we read different scriptures, discuss different aspects of the birth of Christ, make a recipe, do copywork, listen to Christmas hymns, and make some type of handicraft.

Last week we talked about the seed of Christ, as in the genealogy and the promise of redemption. Then we planted a tree to help us remember what we had learned.

We also talked about the Fruit of the Spirit, and ways that we can spread kindness during this season. Our recipe was an Orange Cake. Instead of a cake, we decided to make two loaves of orange cake and share one with another family.

I created an Advent Calendar for the second year. Each envelope is filled with scripture and candy. We read and enjoy the candy as a family every night after supper.

We picked up our live Christmas tree as a family, and got it set up in our living room. We strung the lights and it is just waiting for us to make strings of popcorn, and homemade gingerbread cookies.
It's funny what kids remember... Isaac immediately told me that he didn't want to hang food on this tree. He wants to eat the food instead! I told him we could do both.

Another Christmassy thing we have going on, is that Jack set up my dad's electric train track next to the Christmas tree. He and Isaac spend hours playing with this toy from a couple of generations ago.

During the week, Jack got to help Daniel use the electric winch to pull one of our vehicles into the garage. He also used the winch with a pulley system to lift himself into the air (STEM!).

We did a little more painting at the end of the week. Jack painted his version of a Christmas tree and I worked on painting an ornament for an Ornament Swap party I attended at church.

A lot of afternoons end with Jack playing with one of his neighborhood friends. They like to make their way between the houses. If they are lucky, and it is cold, I let them have some hot chocolate.

While Jack was at his YMCA Enrichment program I used my free time to wrap up a couple of freelance design projects.

We had mid-week dentist appointments. Everyone in our family is cavity free (even with the hot chocolate habit).

On Sunday Jack's Boy Scout Troop did a service project together.

We haven't done our Friend Friday or weekly hikes lately. I am going to blame both on the weather. To be honest, I have had a hard time getting either of these activities off the ground this year. And both are really important to me. They just aren't happening like I hoped. That is just the ebb and flow of homeschooling. Sometimes things work out like you want them to, sometimes they don't. We will just keep trying to make it happen.