The Keene Family

Schools in our area announced closures for six weeks starting on March 16, the day we brought Maverick home. So we decided to do some school-at-home similar to summer time, but a little more organized. Soon I had all three fifth grade boys and two third grade girls in the neighborhood enrolled in my remote learning group! We kicked off on Monday, March 16th with "Pi Day" activities in person - even though Pi Day was March 14. We just needed a way to get started. Everyone met at our house to get logged into Teams, OneNote, and make pies!

I was able to chaperone Haley's field trip to the Tacoma Art Museum today, and we had a great time. The museum docents did an amazing job. Our first station was reading the book Blue is My Happy, which I now love. Then we talked about how color evokes emotion, and we analyzed this painting below for colors. Our next station took us to learning about line. The kids drew on blank paper the path their eyes followed as they looked at this huge painting from the public works era. Finally, we stopped in the Chihuly glass area and the children got to bend pipe cleaners to make shapes. We also had free time to explore the museum, and these are some of our favorites. I also just like spending time with Haley.     Our final station was hands-on art. The students had to complete a brainstorming page (on color, line, and shape) and then complete an art project. Haley took it seriously and really enjoyed her final product. ...

JT and his fifth grade school mates performed at the Veteran's Day Assembly, and this was the first assembly in his life that he has been moderately okay with being up front. (Read: didn't complain for weeks and instead appropriately internalized all anxiety. Ha!) Grandpa Cole came to watch and he was recognized as a veteran during the "stand if you..." portion of the assembly. It was very nice!

How exciting to be starting another school year! Both kids were so excited to go back. They love their teachers and they But let's begin at the beginning. First, Haley and I went back-to-school shopping with Grandma Keene, an annual tradition. We got clothes and shoes and even some things for JT. Grandma Keene is always so generous and we have a blast watching Haley pick out and try on clothes! The day before school started, the kids had their hair cut appointments. Haley decided to go short! ...and our Zappos back-to-school shoe shopping order arrived. They each chose a pair and the rest went back, as usual. It's the best! And then the big day arrived. We waited at the bus stop for quite awhile (first day and all), and JT took some time to explain some school specific details to Haley. And then I stopped at our neighborhood bus stop (our kids ride a different bus to a different school) and took a quick photo with the oth...

The Keene family had two field trips on one day! Fortunately, Jim wasn't working that day and he went with JT while I went with Haley... and my Mom Tribe from school. :) Jim and JT enjoyed their day at Pioneer Farms by bus. The girls went to the Seattle Aquarium by bus and by ferry.