2020 Thanksgiving

We finished our first 12-week term of school by the week before Thanksgiving. The kids all got a break, while I spent the week grading their exams, analyzing how the term went, and organizing everything for the next 12-week term. I think it was our best term ever. As I was planning, I realized that after four years, I’ve stumbled on solution to the January school problem. Every other year, we have finished up our term right before Christmas. Then I was supposed to plan the next term over Christmas Break and be ready to start right after New Year’s.

You will not be surprised to learn that I never plan school over Christmas Break, and beginning on schedule in January is a major stress for me.

This year, we finished first term before Thanksgiving. We will have 3 weeks of second term before Christmas, and then close our books for 2 weeks. I don’t have to plan because I’ve already done it over Thanksgiving week. January 4, 2021, I will just open the books and continue where we left off on December 18. It’s brilliant!! What a relief!

I did make time to play Monopoly with these four smarties (secret math class).

And I sewed a few masks, which was a fun day for me.

I’ve always wanted to cook a whole Thanksgiving Feast by myself. But I was never willing to skip out on fun family parties in order to do so (some “dreams” aren’t really worth the sacrifice!) However, this was the year for it, because we are all being careful and staying separate. I made turkey, potato casserole, green bean casserole, jello, and 3 pies (coconut cream, apple, and chess pie.)

I didn’t really make the whole dinner.

Peach Pie made the rolls, and Cherry Pie made the stuffing, because I had to zip to the store to get cinnamon for the apple pie. I had also planned to make creamed corn and sweet potatoes, but decided to save them for another day.

It was the quietest Thanksgiving I’ve ever had. It was also the least stressful, because I didn’t have to be anywhere at a certain time and no one was coming over. It was a great day!

After we took naps, this kids and I played Settlers of Catan, Code Names, and several hours of Pit.