Our Week in Review - November 29, 2008

Holiday weeks are notoriously short on "school" work, but I'm finding that they can be pretty heavy on learning.  Here's the highlights from this week - even with some photos!

Monday - I had a migraine.  The kids did mostly reading and other independent work then went to dance class and AWANA.  Their Christmas dance recital is in 2 weeks, so they're pretty excited!  Ga'hoole Girl wrote a short summary of the organization of the books of the Bible.

Tuesday - Mr. Math Tutor took the kids to piano and shopping while I stayed home and worked on Christmas presents, etc.  The kids picked up some books from the library.  That evening, I made the cake, buttercream, chocolate ganache, and fondant for our Thanksgiving cake.  We also watched "Good Eats" on the DVR

Wednesday - We watched a TV show about nebulas which got Ga'hoole Girl thinking about the electromagnetic spectrum.  She did a little internet research and then wrote a short, but very good, paper about the spectrum and how it is used by people today.  Wild Man didn't get as much from the show, but enjoyed it anyway.  During the afternoon, Wild Man and I filled the cake layers with ganache and frosted the whole thing with buttercream.  Then, I rolled out the fondant and put it on the cake (successfully!).  Ga'hoole Girl then piped a design onto the fondant with colored buttercream.  After that, she used piping gel to paint the design to give it a stained glass effect.  She also piped stars around the top and bottom of the cake.  Pretty cool, huh?  I think that counts as something educational on everyone's part!

Thursday - We got to talk to Grams and Grandpa on Ga'hoole Girl's webcam.  We watched  part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and, later in the afternoon, watched a History Channel show on the background about the parade.  Ga'hoole Girl and I made Rock Cornish Game Hens with gravy, stuffed tomatoes, steamed broccoli, and hash browns.  Wild Man and Ga'hoole Girl set the table with our best china for a lovely meal.  After dinner, we all worked together and put up our Christmas decorations.  We all feel so festive now!!

Friday - I woke up with a migraine that is persisting through today.  The kids stayed busy, though.  Ga'hoole Girl has been reading The King's Fifth and some of her science book (about deserts since she recently read a book that was set in a desert).  Wild Man has been doing lots of general playing!  Last night, I read the last of the week's History to them, which sparked some good discussion.  After they went to bed, Mr. Math Tutor and I watched part of "Lady Jane Grey" on DVD.

Saturday (today) - Mr. Math Tutor and Wild Man went to church this morning to help with Christmas decorating.  Ga'hoole Girl and I slept in.  Ga'hoole Girl and I watched the rest of "Lady Jane Grey", which Ga'hoole Girl understood because we just finished studying Tudor England.  Throughout the week, we have been reading Brisingr.  Just a few more days and we'll be all finished with it.  After Brisingr, we move on to our traditional Christmas reading of Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkein.

So, how was your week?  Check out Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers to see what other homeschooling families have been up to!