Long Days

We've hit the February slump around here.  School days have been incredibly long.  Greater attention has been given as to whether Benson likes the latest couch fort over any lessons in math, history, or English.  

At least when we are at CC, Caroline goes all in for her Essentials class.  She is always volunteering to diagram the sentences and she got picked to do so this week.  

They also played Around the World with their vocab words.  Caroline was all excited at the beginning, pumping her arms in the air, saying she was going to win.  I warned her about getting too cocky.  She started the game by standing next to her tablemate.  The definition of the word was read and the kids have to say the correct vocab word. Whoever says it first moves on.  Caroline then went around the room and successfully beat out every kid.  She was pretty proud of herself.  All that studying paid off.  

After English grammar, they do writing, and Caroline is not a big fan of that portion.  I really like the writing program, but I think she hits the post-lunch slump and starts to tune out.  By math games, she's all-in again and they had a lot of fun playing Valentine's BINGO.  

Earlier in class, they played Minute to Win It during review time.  One game was to stack Froot Loops.  Another was to use popsicle sticks to put the Froot Loops in a cup.

For art, they learned about Berthe Morisot.  They used joint compound mixed with paint to make it really thick and textured.  There were three painting options, but Caroline & Henry both chose the vase of flowers.  Towards the end of the time, Caroline used her finger to blend the vase colors.  Sadly, we only have one more week of art before moving on to orchestra.  Art is definitely a family favorite.  

The kids were able to pass out Valentine's during their classes as well.  Henry came home with almost his entire lunch uneaten but very little candy.  Who knows what he ate all day.  All three kids came home with their carrots and grapes still in their lunches.  Why did you eat the candy before the healthy foods?  

This weekend Caroline was on a cleaning frenzy.  She cleaned all the countertop areas in the kitchen.  Then she took everything off the refrigerator and put it back how she liked.  She sneakily put a picture of the three kids over the chore chart.  She even mentioned how much she liked that picture.  I have often moved the picture lower to show the chart.  She repeatedly covers it again.  That doesn't mean the chores won't get done!  

Henry worked on some Etch a Sketch art.  He did a ton of vertical and horizontal lines and titled it, "The static TV screen."  

Henry came up with his own joke as well.  

    Q - What did the beaver say when his house fell apart?

          A -  Oops!  I better get busy as a beaver.

        Why? What did you think I was going to say?

Henry likes to walk close to the edge of things he's not supposed to say.  We always have to tell him, if the implication is there, it's the same thing.    

Josiah is currently spending the night in the upstairs hallway with Benson.  It was suggested that he open the playroom door and sleep just inside of it so he would at least be on carpet.  No.  

Benson's bed could come right up to the doorway so you'd still be right next to each other.  No.  

You're not going to sleep well on the hardwood floor.  That's okay.  I'll put the couch cushions down.  

They're going to slip on the floor.  I'll put a blanket under them.  

If I was a betting person, I would say we'll have Mr. Cranky McCrankerton tomorrow morning.