Homeschool continued...

This pandemic has taken us all many places that none of us expected to go. In my case, I never imagined that I would choose to homeschool my kids. But, here we are. Crosby's school is opening up part-time on Monday and we have decided to keep him at home. The best case scenario is he will be learning at home a couple weeks more before heading back to school. The main reason to keep Crosby home is the UK Corona variant is spreading rapidly in Germany. Additionally, there are the smaller practical reasons:

- The 8:00 am - 11:45 am school hours are less than idea for our family.  Early mornings + commuting during the mid-day meal when Crosby ate at school at 11:15 = Tired + Hangry

- The Kita isn't open for Hugo yet, and we don't know when it will be. It is better for Hugo to have a buddy and also for Carmen to have a protector from Hugo. ha!

- Our Oma Friend, Leanne - who watches Carmen and Hugo while Crosby and I do homeschool, spent two weeks in the hospital with Covid in March. We would like to keep having her help while not putting her at additional risk.

- Crosby told me I am the best teacher ever yesterday. (Ok, I let him finish early.)

- Clothing is optional.

Crosby is seen here with his new clock to learn days of the weeks, telling time, etc. The kid speaks three languages but he just learned his birthdate this week. See next point...

- I feel like Crosby is making really big strides with all the one-on-one instruction. As I have no formal early-elementary education training, perhaps he would be making these same gains in school. I'm talking to a teacher friend this weekend to confirm (or deny) my strategy. 

In addition to Crosby's morning reading practice and afternoon one-on-one working through workbooks, we're adding some new subjects:

Music and Circle Time

The Kita headmaster gave us the green light for Crosby to join Hugo for Tuesday music and Thursday circle time. Circle time at Kita when school is in session is usually a singing and sharing time for the kids. On lockdown the teachers read the kids a story, have an activity, or act out a play or song.

Story Time with Daddy and/or Oma Friend

Graphic novels and comic books are our jam.

Home Economics with Val

Val made her roommate a delicious no-bake cheese cake and requested special assistance from Crosby. Everyone wins on this teamwork.

Physical Education

Oma Friend or I get the boys out every day to "blow the stink off". Today we also did some praise dancing. We're adding-in some awesomeness to our Lent.

Art

Crosby made great birthday signs for the big Beckley birthday bonanza this week - GG, Oliver, and Papa.

Child Development

Ok this is just a gratuitous photo of our new 17 day-old neighbor because she is adorable and Crosby LOVES babies.

Snail Hunting

Schneke is the word for snail in German. It's also the word for cinnamon roll. (Also, East German slang for a cute girl.) Per my last post, getting out the door usually involves the draw of either sweets or a sausage. So when my friend Shannon got the hot tip for the best Schneke in town, we were ready for the adventure.

Google maps said a 17 minute walk to The Bread Station from our house. Our usual rule of thumb is whatever google says multiply it by three. With the snow, and some help with Rammy, we arrived in about an hour to a lunch of Boston creme brioche pies and Schnekes. #healthfulmom The Schneke turned out to be more of a kouign-amann. Amazing. We also picked up a loaf of Brioche; Crosby is now understandably hooked. 

For the way back, I convinced Shannon to squish in Rammy and let the motor do the work.

Hugo feel asleep on Shannon in about five minutes. He is pictured here not happy about loosing his snuggle buddy.

Carmen was still snoring away so I threw an extra poncho on her and used the Ipad as a baby monitor to give her another 30 minutes of rest. 

The Scandinavians famously put their bundled babies out in their prams to sleep. Carmen's poor little hands and feet were pretty chilly so I don't think I'll try this one again at this temperature. 

This snow has been a welcome source of entertainment and beauty in these challenging times. Because I can't resist the cuteness, I leave you with our little Schneke:

Miracle on Danziger Strasse

Exactly 14 years ago, I came to Berlin to do the first module of a Masters degree in International Health at the Charite University. My friend Anja, who I met in Nicaragua in 2004, was studying here and connected me with a shared flat on Danziger Strasse in Prenzlauerberg neighborhood.

Fast forward 11 years, and a few major life changes, and I again found myself back on Danziger Strasse. And, much to my delight, my old apartment building now houses a fancy donut shop called Brammibals. Somehow we managed to live here 2 years before finally checking out Brammibals. When we finally did, we rolled deep with our friends visiting from Hungary.

Scooter Gang

We had to try all the options. 

We took over most of the tables with 8 kids and 4 adults.

Since that Halloween 2019 visit, we probably go back once a month. Correction - in lockdown twice a month. Brammiballs is in the line-up of places that offer sweets that can get Hugo to co-operate to leave the house. 

Side note - I'm reading the book Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurchinka to help with our spirited child. Not naming any names. ha! It's a Corona silver lining that I've been able to learn *out of desperation* some tools to keep family life running smoothly*.

Anywho, Paul was off last week to take a breather after a crazy January. We needed to get some fresh air so we walked to Brammibals on a Wednesday. This visit we only had Crosby on his bike but somehow we got distracted and all walked home. 

Fast forward to Sunday, we came back from sledding and Paul mentioned - where is Crosby's bike? My mind figured someone stole it from our inner courtyard but Crosby said he rode it to the donut shop. And low and behold...

An unlocked, aluminum framed, bicycle was still there. Yes, the dusting of snow might have given the bike some camouflage. Even still, an untouched bike anywhere in any city after four days is unbelievable. This experiment shall not be attempted a second time. 

The second miracle on Danziger Strasse is that no one was injured on our most recent donut run. 

I could not resist the urge to tow a sled behind our electric bike. Our donut run was a bribe to get my hands on a newborn baby in our building. I will brave the snow to trade donuts for newborn snuggles because it has been a long time since this famous bike adventure.

Before (Heading to the hospital to have Carmen)

After (Carmen's first ride six hours after birth)