It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I haven't yet figured out the law of physics that allows for me to be twice as busy homeschooling one child than I was homeschooling two.  Thus the two week lag in a post.

Holden and I have been winding down his semester, finishing his outside classes, planning for after the winter break.  He still loves homeschooling and says he never wants to go back to school.  But I've been secretly planting the idea of going to Ella's school starting in 6th grade by taking him with me when I volunteer there or, as has been the case recently, when Ella is being honored for one thing or another.

 

I think I mentioned before that Ella was chosen by her crew teacher (equivalent of homeroom) as the student who most reflected the school's core values of wonder, compassion, creativity and resilience/growth mindset.  And now this week Kevin and I were invited to a breakfast to celebrate the school's academic honor roll students for the first semester.  Our little smarty pants made the cut.  The best part is that Ella is really enjoying herself there.  She's interested in all of her classes, has made good friends, is growing through her extra-curricular work, and is just blossoming all around.

We enjoyed a very quick overnight trip up to Woodstock.  The leaves have all fallen from the trees and it is starting to feel like winter up there.  There will likely be snow on the ground the next time we're up.  It will be our first winter since getting the house and we're excited to explore the ski resorts nearby and do some snow shoeing.

And this past weekend Holden had his first sleepover at a friend's house for a birthday party.  They slept a total of 3 hours and watched about 20 movies.  He said it was one of the best nights of his life.  And in true New York City/homeschooler fashion, the slumber party ended with a Children's Peace March through Central Park the following day :)

After the march we made our way down to the Morgan Library & Museum where they were having a reading of A Christmas Carol and had THE ACTUAL MANUSCRIPT of the book on display!!  Charles Dickens' handwriting.  Not even kidding.

And as a bonus we also got to see a notebook of Isaac Newton's.  Yes, that Isaac Newton.  Who knows, maybe he was writing in it when the apple hit his head :)

Where else in the world can you get all of this in one place?  I'm constantly worrying about all that we're missing out on because there are always SO many amazing activities to choose from.

One thing is a constant though, ending our week at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.