04Mar
2

Unschooling: Our February 2015 adventures

March better go out like a lamb, because I’m just plain tired of Pennsylvania’s winter.

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That said, despite its ridiculous temperatures, ice and snow, February was a pretty cool month for us, even if we spent more time inside than I’d really like. Here’s a quick look at some of what we read, watched, saw and did.

(If this is your first time catching our month-in-review posts, welcome! Check out our archive of previous wrapups here for some more info on why we take this approach to documenting some of our unschooling learning adventures.)

One cool project in February: Ashar made custom thank-you notes HER way for two very special families who gifted her with cool things.

One cool project in February: Ashar made custom thank-you notes HER way for two very special families who gifted her with cool things.

Books

Ashar looked at Chris in mid-February and said, "We're having a plaid day!" She was making a face here because he didn't have his thumbs out of his pockets originally.

Ashar looked at Chris in mid-February and said, “We’re having a plaid day!” She was making a face here because he didn’t have his thumbs out of his pockets originally.

Movies and TV

Another super-cool thing this month was going to the opening of this quarter's art exhibit at the main library in our county, where Ashar has this work, "Random Fun," on display, as well as another, and I have a few too.

Another super-cool thing this month was going to the opening of this quarter’s art exhibit at the main library in our county, where Ashar has this work, “Random Fun,” on display, as well as another, and I have a few too.

Video games

We call this an artie. I'm seen with one of my paintings, "Peacock," at the art in mARTin opening in early February. Sarah's "Jazz Bluebird" is above it.

We call this an artie. I’m seen with one of my paintings, “Peacock,” at the art in mARTin opening in early February. Ashar’s “Jazz Bluebird” is above it.

Places and projects

Ashar went to see the orthopedist earlier this month about her scoliosis, and he wanted more x-rays. But no gown needed (Ashar hates changing!) - they had these cool shorts!

Ashar went to see the orthopedist earlier this month about her scoliosis, and he wanted more x-rays. But no gown needed (Ashar hates changing!) – they had these cool shorts!

  • Seeing our art on display at the “Out of the Blues” exhibit at Art in MARTin, our local library, during an opening reception on First Friday, Feb. 6.
  • Hanging out for the day at the King of Prussia mall, our state’s largest retail experience.
  • Physical therapy. This is news: Ashar has (fairly severe) scoliosis and while we await the doctor’s final consultation on what we’ll do, she’s having six weeks of intense physical therapy three times a week to strengthen her spine and core muscles.
  • Arranging Ashar’s new room (she swapped with her dad and she now has the master bedroom!)
  • Seeing Sweeney Todd, the musical, at York Little Theatre, following our viewing of the movie version a couple of months ago.
  • The start of this year’s 4-H alpaca club fiber project, making Mannikin Spanalong.
  • Snowboarding! Ashar went snowboarding for the first time, along with Chris. She had been campaigning to do this for awhile and unfortunately, it lined up that their planned day came on easily the worst weather day of the year. It felt like something like -10 outside, but she was a trooper. She wants to go back on a slightly better day!
Snowboarder Sarah! She had her first lesson on what was easily the coldest day of the year.

Snowboarder Sarah! She had her first lesson on what was easily the coldest day of the year.

Odds and ends of stuff we’ve talked about/read/geeked out over

  • What’s “the point” of Valentine’s Day?
  • Why many parents wouldn’t let someone Ashar’s age play Grand Theft Auto.
  • What AIDS is and why we don’t hear about it as much now as we did in the 1990s.
  • What Hong Kong’s relationship is to China proper.
  • My new job! I just started in late February as a web design and content specialist for the research mission of Penn State Hershey College of Medicine at Hershey Medical Center. That’s a mouthful, but essentially, I get to hang out at a medical school all day and do internetty things. I love it.
I made homemade Valentines for all my humans. Ashar got this Baymax who says "Balalala" along with a note on the back from me with fun Big Hero 6 references.

I made homemade Valentines for all my humans. Ashar got this Baymax who says “Balalala” along with a note on the back from me with fun Big Hero 6 references.

Ashar and Kaitlyn came to my going-away party at the newspaper where I'd worked for 15 years, and surprisingly (because she was put on the spot), Ashar even gave a short speech about being proud of me in my new endeavors! I almost cried. She was so great!

Ashar and Kaitlyn came to my going-away party at the newspaper where I’d worked for 15 years, and surprisingly (because she was put on the spot), Ashar even gave a short speech about being proud of me in my new endeavors! I almost cried. She was so great!

So what’s new with your family this month? Drop me a comment! I love hearing from all my “blog friends!”

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