I have been doing Winter Promise American Story I with the DC and have really been enjoying it. I think I am getting more out of it than the DC and actually didn't think Dd was getting anything out of it other than enjoying the stories I read to them (Right now we have started Little House on the Prarie Series Again, WP started reading Little House on the Prairie and completely left out The Little House in the Big Woods, so I couldn't skip that one) Anyway, I have relearned American History and probably it will stick this time!! So we have been studying the War of 1812 and yesterday I was quizzing the DC on the circumstances surrounding the writing of the "Star Spangled Banner." DS was looking puzzled like he had no idea what I was talking about. Then DD, who I did not expect to learn much from this study, pipes up and says, "Francis Scott Key (I had just said his name, so don't let me let you think that she thought of that on her own) was on a English ship because he was trying to get Americans off, but then they wouldn't let him off, and he watched them bomb the fort and he saw the flag through the little sparklie lights and wrote a song." I was very impressed and DS was a little annoyed that sister showed him up. But you can bet today that he will remember it when I ask him again!! But it's moments like that when I see with clarity the impact that I have on them, whether it be for good or bad. When you don't think they're listening, THEY ARE...

We are leaving for Florida for our Spring Break this noon. I have all morning to clean the house and finish packing. I found out the other day that it is I who is in charge of Adventurer Club Eager Beavers Wednesday night, so I have to finish planning what I am going to do and actually get back in time. UGH. I really, really do not want to lead anything next year. I am going to do school with the kids in the car in the afternoon. We are skipping Math as I have to take to much "stuff" for what we're doing in math right now, so I figure I'll do a lot of extra reading and Bible, Language Arts and History. That should keep us busy for a while. I have a whole crate of books in the car, just in case...

We are going to Randy's brothers house in central Florida, where we will meet up with Randy and spend the weekend with all them catching alligators, then go to the beach Sunday and Busch Gardens Monday or Tuesday. DH went to AAA and bought tickets at a discounted price for Busch Gardens and they were still $222. UGH, I guess we haven't ever paid for a ticket to a theme park with the kids, so this will be a treat. We went to Sea World once and my dear aunt paid for season passes for us for a year. So we made a few trips to Sea World at that point, but DS was living in Florida at that point too...

Went walking three days this week. I wish I could get at least five days in, but for one reason or another, we just can't seem to do that. I am usually too tired on Monday AM from working Sunday night, and DN is usually tired on Thursday am and can't get out of bed, so that leaves us with Tue, Wed, Fri and Sat, and usually at least one of those days something is going on (rain, freezing cold, etc.). When I get back, I really want to try to do a little more.