Inspired by Jenn's post describing a day at the Casey family homeschool, I thought I would write about what we did today, which was a pretty typical day for us.
I met Livy's dad to pick her up at 11:45. Usually, we get up about 10:30 or so, so this was not too much of a late start for us. We went to Borders to buy some books that we had talked about, and we ordered hot chocolate and tea to drink while we read them. Livy read a few out loud to me (yes, she is reading, hip, hip, hooray!).
Next we headed for the grocery store. On the way, we listened to music (Fleetwood Mac and The Dixie Chicks), and Livy did some phonics pages in a book she likes to keep in the car.
In the store, she got a kid cart (which she freakin loves - why can't all groceries have them?) and we picked up the few items we needed. She unloaded the cart and stared down a lady who told her she needed a coat.
We drove home, put away the groceries, and cooked lunch (and put supper in the crockpot). She loves to help cook, so she put the spices on the flank steak, dumped veggies and spices into the crockpot, and helped me pour stock into freezer containers. While I browned pork stew meat, she played the piano. She started a piano class last week, and though she still mostly picks out notes that sound good to her, she has shown much more interest in the piano.
While we ate lunch, we browsed through a book on the seven wonders of the ancient world. I didn't read it out loud cause my mouth was full of flank steak, but we chatted about the pictures and decided to read it later.
After lunch, she helped me unload and reload the dishwasher. She played a 3D maze game on the computer while I finished the cleanup and started the crockpot.
She really loves to ride the bus, so even though the library is within a walk, we decided to take the bus there. We walked about a half mile to the bus stop, and she read out loud to me while we waited for the bus to come. She continued to read to me on the way to the library. Once we got there, we both browsed for things we'd like to read (in the children's section). I read a few out loud while we were there:
2 Arthur books - that's my limit cause I hate those books
Llama, Llama, Red Pajama - a true delight, we read it twice
a book about gardens
a children's version of Chaucer's Nun's Priest's Tale - The Chanticleer one
an African myth about why ostriches' necks are so long
We checked out several more to read at home.
We decided to walk home from the library, and she climbed all over every wall, tree, and curb between the library and our house. It was nice to be out, especially since we have been trapped inside by the ice and cold for nearly the whole weekend.
When we got home, she started playing on her computer (mostly Blue's Art Show, a game where you make all kinds of art with the characters of Blue's Clues). I played on the internet a while, read some (Guns, Germs, and Steel), and worked on my French. When the stew was ready, she ate hers a bite at a time between art projects with Blue, and I read while I ate. After I cleaned up, I tried to start a fire, but the wood was all wet. FAIL.
We climbed into bed together, and she fell asleep watching a documentary about Shakers with me. When it was over, I moved her to her bed and watched another on Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.
That was our day. How fun was that?! I just love being home with Livy, and I love having the leisure to pursue, both with her and alone, all the learning that I desire.
1/11/10
