How do you know your entire family LOVES homeschooling?  When you plan a family vacation around a homeschool convention!  We are going to Cincinnati in April for the Midwest Homeschool Convention!!!  I first saw an ad for the convention through a local homeschool email group and then went to check it out (online of course).  I was shocked to see the incredible list of speakers, tons of vendors, and the budget friendly registration fee.  We paid much more to go to a smaller local convention last spring. 

I wasn't sure if we could swing the cost of traveling that far, but then once dh and I started thinking about it we decided to try making it a mini-vacation for the entire family.  So we are traveling with all the kiddos and Grandma and Grandpa.  We will stay at an extended stay hotel with a pool and kitchen facilities.  While dh and I enjoy the great speakers, fellowship, time alone, and vendor hall the kiddos will have a couple of afternoons of Gma & Gpa time at the Aquarium, the Children's Museum, or the Zoo.  Then we all plan to stop by the Creation Museum before we head home. 

I'm also happy that they allow you to choose whether you want to bring your children with you or not.  The convention we attended last year didn't allow children and it made dh and I sad.  We had always had so much fun at the yearly convention when we lived in AR.  It was a family event and we usually took the kiddos with us on the last day to see the vendor hall, have a picnic, and fellowship with other families.  Pickles was really sad last year when he couldn't go.  So, this year he is excited to go again with us.  I'm hoping he gets to see Little Bear Wheeler while we are there. 

So, I'm busy making my curriculum list, setting a budget, talking with dh, researching, and praying about each step.  We are all so excited about the joy of planning a new school year!

Will we see you at the Midwest Homeschool Convention?  Hope so...