Enjoying a rare few moments when I'm (nearly) alone

Seryozha is still here, watching "The Land Before Time" on the computer via Netflix.  He's actually not a screen-watcher so "watching" is a relative term.  He seems to be spending more time talking to the screen than he does paying attention to what's on it.
The older kids are all at their Saturday Russian class.  The Big Guy is usually working so it was nice to send them with him today, leaving me in semipeace for a brief time.
Homeschooling last week went very, very well.  Liza learned about ancient Africa and photosynthesis, Alyosha continued reading Johnny Tremain, learned about biomes, and plants in the New World.  Misha is *almost* done with Oak Meadow's alphabet review/Term One.  Yesterday he worked on sounding out words with the Big Guy.  He learned about how animals survive in winter, giving examples of animals that hybernate, migrate, and save food (as well as those who don't prepare at all).  He learned how to use a compass (I used the one on my iPhone) and we're deep in a groove of knitting, singing, and playing recorder.
I'm doing some preplanning for winter for both little boys.  I've been so out of the cooking habit--with the Big Guy's work schedule and my nursing courseload we eat pizza a lot--but the other day I started some beef stew in the crock pot before I left for my Thursday classes.  It was so delicious that I'm going to have to get into the habit of using the crock pot.  My mom was a you-cook-roast-in-the-crock-pot type and I don't care for roasts so I'll admit that I underestimate the wonders of crock pots.  I do have a vegetarian crock pot cookbook that I need to drag out (well, it's sitting on the kitchen counter with my other cookbooks, but you know what I mean).
As Misha and I head into second term I would like to add History Odyssey (a modified version--I loathe History Pockets in all of its contrivedness and don't plan on using it, although I have it somewhere, probably at the old house).  At the very least I'd like to start reading SWB's Story of the World as some sort of supplement.  I just don't feel like OM's social studies is quite meaty enough for Misha.
I'm also planning a lot of great songs, crafts, and baking for the little boys and I to do together.  Since starting preschool Seryozha has definitely decided that he wants to be more involved with 'schoolwork'.  Seryozha adores preschool.
The kids' Russian teacher is leaving the beginning of December to teach about an hour away.  Part of me is so sad to lose her but I'm also fighting burnout as my own fall semester is coming to an end--I'd just like a break from some of my responsibilities.  I have 11 days vacation coming up for Thanksgiving break and then almost a month off between fall and spring classes, so hopefully that will give me time to recharge.  I'm starting to feel like I have this semester mostly in the bag--I have A's pretty much clinched in Psych and Exposition and Persuasion, Algebra I have to get a C or better (although I currently have an A) and an A is within reach in Anatomy and Physiology (you can't really say, I have an A right now because it doesn't matter, all that matters is if you have the points at the end).  But I'm tired and ready for new classes.