A Day Home from School...oh wait.

Snow or no snow...We're always home from school!

Today was a snow/ice day for most everyone we know. So, of course, the girls were excited for a school holiday too. We did sleep in later than usual and shortened a few of the usual subjects like handwriting and spelling.

But, unfortunately for them...ice doesn't really change homeschool much. It's a good thing school usually includes some fun too, because they didn't seem to mind once we got started today. (And, what they don't know is that we're taking a surprise day off on Thursday to take Kendyll shopping for her birthday! So, I had to stay somewhat on track this week!)

So, since we had time to do it, I thought I'd share our "day home from school" in our house. Just for fun. And, because I haven't blogged near enough about school this year.

And, I'll warn you. It's cheesy. That's just how I roll. Especially these days. :)

Since today was the first day of a new month, we began our new memory work and hymn for February. This is one of my favorite parts of school. I try to match our scripture and hymn to whatever the month represents. So, this month it's all about LOVE. {and so was our art}.

Our memory work: John 15:9-13 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands, and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

And, don't all of you want to hum along to this month's hymn? "Oh how I love Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus, because He first loved me." Makes me think of my great-grandmother, just like almost every other hymn does.

Kendyll learned it on the piano this morning and played along as we learned the words. She is loving the piano and I am loving hearing it! It was another one of those "mommy moments" I just want to store away.

In history, we read about the pioneers on the Ohio River, and Johnny Appleseed's great faith. Check out AK's "appleseed tree". :)

We finished our unit on plant and animal cells in science...

And, they both passed their "test" on drawing and labeling the cells. I was SO proud of Miss Carlie who remembered words like "nucleus" and "organelles"!

I think that's because our awesome curriculum has us make things like this:

Today was actually our last day with our jello cell models (they've been in our fridge for a week)...but they definitely did the trick. They know all about cells because of a ziploc bag, a bowl of jello, grapes, and dried beans. Such a creative way to learn something that can be rather boring otherwise!

Now, we're on to learning about the classifications of animals. To make it more fun, Kendyll got to teach "the class" about reptiles. She had fun writing their characteristics on the board and picking out books for us to read. I always love it when Kendyll spends an hour in the floor reading through science books, without realizing she's learning. :) It's the best kind of school there is.

And, speaking of reading for fun. This is what I found when I walked in Chase's room this morning.

While Kendyll and I did math, Carlie had pulled Chase's red rocker to the big window, and was reading a book she found in an antique store in Mineola. It makes this Mommy heart so happy to see reading for fun on a cold, snowy day.

And, of course, school didn't stop us from including the fun of a snow day too.

Daddy even took a very short work break to experience the ice and {very small} snowflakes.

We all laughed at his dramatic gasping over the cold wind. He didn't last long before he escaped back to his little office. :)

The girls, however, slid down the hill, skated down the hill, ran down the hill...and had the best time ever.

Mommy officially called the fun off when their noses were redder than little cherries.

We headed inside to popcorn, coke, and Pollyanna. Oh my goodness, I love these kind of afternoons. Naps, old movies, snuggling.

Mark is now promising a re-entry to the cold icy yard when he finishes work for the day. And, while they all freeze, I am curling up with my fuzzy blanket and a book.

I love our days "home from school". Icy or not. :)