Adventure Day

          We school year 'round, so we're used to being out of sync, at least schedule wise, with most of our friends.  When we found out that our public school friends were off and ready for Adventure today, we took them up on it.  Before leaving, I wanted to use some ready-made bran muffin mix.  Baking bran muffins in the shape of a donut means they're really donuts, right? 
Introducing the donuts that help you poop. 
Despite them having fiber and at least some nutritional value, they were eaten almost instantaneously.  Even by Sam.  I'm thinking more things will be baked in the round...at least until folks catch on. 

        We trekked up to Carlisle, PA to the Army Family Heritage Trail.  We had fun exploring, running around, shooting at the range, investigating under the Sherman tanks and geeking out at Redoubt 10.  Every morning, on #OTDIH, we've been learning about the lead up to the Persian Gulf War in 1991, following the US progress in newspapers that Nina sent to us.  We didn't anticipate staying all afternoon, but we did. 
I promise you there were more kids present than just Benjamin, but since he has to make a book for school about our adventure today, I tried to focus on taking pictures of him to provide adequate inspiration.  It will still be a battle, I'm sure, but he'll love reading the book when it's done. 

We stopped at the Seton Shrine for some time with our friend Betty Bayley.  She's one of our favorites.  Plus, I had to check the Seton Shrine off from my new favorite t-shirt.
My goal is to get to know each one of these Friends better and to visit their homes. 
Kateri &
Solanus &
Fulton &
Katharine &
Stanley &
Elizabeth &
Frances &
Dorothy

Our family Patrons, Stanley and Elizabeth are checked off...I'm really looking forward to planning some Adventures to check off more. 

Thursdays in January

Thursdays are tough. 
With the cold, long nights and spring a couple months off, Thursdays in January are REALLY tough. 
We haven't really had much illness since the kids started homeschooling.  I'm sure they still lick doorknobs and eat boogers, but their immune systems have been dealing effectively.  Sam is currently down with a fever and sore throat and Nate is running at about 50%.  We'll have to see how it goes. 
I thought Sam was dogging it during school yesterday afternoon and said, "If you're that sick, just go upstairs and go to bed.  No television tonight and no Lego playing." 
He got up, crawled into his bed and slept for the next 3 hours. 
I guess he showed me. 
Sam is still pretty out of it.  He didn't do any school today and is still lying on the couch - but he didn't feel well enough to even ask to watch anything until after 5pm.  Nate looks washed out and is lacking his usual vigor.  I'll have to keep an eye on him. 

School today with only three kids was pretty uneventful.  Benjamin is *so* close to finishing first grade.  About 18 lessons to go.  We just have to power him through it.  His writing is improving, its just getting him to write thoroughly and elaborate that is the challenge. 
I'm loving that today was a good day. 
Some days look like this:

 And some days look like this:

Got to take it as it comes. 
Grace is the word. 

Tseitle is adjusting nicely to her new digs. 
And we were afraid she wouldn't be comfortable. 
Let's just say she has made herself at home. 

Back At It

After a couple year hiatus...we're back.
I miss having this record of the insanity that is US.
Reading over the past 14 (!) years, sometimes I horrify myself and sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised by how good I am at sounding like I have my act together. 
I won't lie.  Two cross country moves in two years have taken a toll.  Somehow I feel like I still have whiplash from it all. 
Mostly though, I'm grateful. 
It's a nice place to be.   

So here we are.
2020.
Back in Maryland.
4 kids
4 cats
Homeschool.
Grad School.

Adventures Abound.