Our Vacation - frozen Frozen, Assateague, and more

Day 1

After Seminary, we got in the car, and headed to Big Stone Gap, Virginia, to visit some friends and stay for the night.  Benji knew them in high school, and after E was born, I watched their daughter during the day until they moved away.  They also lost a baby just a few months before we lost our baby, ... anyway, they are especially near and dear to our hearts.  We stayed up late catching up.  They have a baby just a few months older than T.

Day 2

We slept in then headed to Hampton, Virginia to spend a few days with my sister, Katherine, and her family.  They are being stationed out of the country next month, so it was awesome that they were on the way to Assateague Island.  Actually, that is part of the reason we decided to meet Bob & Anna at Assateague in the first place.  We arrived, settled in a bit, ordered pizza, and visited while the kids played together (E: in the garage).  Justin had a gig, so he got home later.  T was fascinated with Uncle Justin's action figure collection.

Day 3

We planned a day-trip to Colonial Williamsburg.  We parked by the Visitors' Center and walked a distance to the village (learned later there is paid parking much closer).  The children did not really appreciate the living history, but we got some pics, so we can prove they were there sometime when they may care.  They did, however, like the candy shop.  Benji let E & J pick out one item of their choice.  E chose a deluxe candied apple (with chocolate candy pieces and everything!), and J chose a chocolate pumpkin.  When we got back and cut open the candied apple, E decided that actually she did not like candied apples - too caramelly - I thought it was delicious.  It's a shame, though, for all the begging she did for the caramel apple.  Aunt Katherine made a delicious homemade chicken noodle soup ... which the kids did not care for, but had to eat anyway.  I had seconds, and possibly thirds.

Day 4

We spent the day mostly relaxing - the dads took the kids to a large park while Katherine & I picked up her raw milk.  Benji kept texting us when would we be back, and could we please bring water.  They walked to the park, but did not want to walk back.  They did run into one of Justin's best friends in the air force band, and the kids all played together, and even after we arrived with water, we probably stayed another hour.

That evening, we had a surprise for the children - we did not give them a clue.  First, Aunt Katherine picked up their former foreign exchange student, then we all went out to Olive Garden.  We went to the Hampton Coliseum ... 

... it was Disney's Frozen on Ice.  

It was sweet.  Albeit pricey.  Benji told me to take E & J out one-by-one to pick out a souvenir of their choice.  They each chose a wand that has tendrils ($25 and $22 respectively) that light up and spin around when you push a button.  It was kind of neat to see these devices throughout the stadium during the performance.  Oh the crown came with the cotton candy ($13).

The neatest thing to me about the performance was that most of the audience sang along with the songs.  Big crowd vibe.  At the beginning and ending of the program, they bring out lots of Disney characters - almost all the princesses, and Buzz & Woody, and of course Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy.  I was impressed with the snow monster.

Day 5

We went to 9am Sacrament meeting - but left after the Sacrament - T was already in the hall with me following him around, when Benji came out with the other two.  We went back to Katherine & Justin's, changed clothes, and headed to Assateague Island.  We went through the tunnels under the Chesapeake Bay and across the bridge that is several miles long.

We were a little fascinated by the sea gulls that were on every lamppost - and many many dead seagulls on the side of the bridge - I am glad we did not hit one - that would be distracting on a bridge.  We arrived on the island.  Assateague has herds of wild horses that roam the thin, barrier island.  We saw several on our way to in to the ranger station and campsite.  

We arrived and scoped out our site - holy mosquitos!  We stayed on the bayside of the island (less sand) and were literally right next to the marshes and then the bay.  We set up our tent.

Bob & Anna and their kids arrived with their travel trailer while we were finishing setting up the tent.  We decided to go for some seafood on the mainland for dinner.  Service was slow.  But the food was good enough.  A couple hours later, we arrived back, visited for a bit, and went to bed.  The kids fell right to sleep - except T, who decided to attack J a few times before I held him too tight, and he submitted to sleep.  I got up at about 4am, and as I stood up in the tent, I heard a horse noise, then saw a horse walk right by our tent door!  Grandma & Grandpa arrived late in the night.

Day 6

Dew drops woke us in the morning.  We like the design of the tent as far as circulation ... but there was an issue of dew which collected then dripped down right about where our arms were.  We stayed in the tent until we heard Alex & Vickie on their bikes to go see Grandma & Grandpa.  We sent the kids out to join them.

There were 3 horses in an empty campsite.  So we visited the horses.  A small, harem herd of 4 horses owned the territory we camped on - we saw them every day.

We went for a hike - there are 3 hiking trails on the Maryland side of the island.  The Marshlands trail was very near our campground.  We saw lots of pretty waterfowl.  

After lunch, we took the kids to the bayside beach.  It was very calm and shallow waters, so I let T play in the water, and just followed along behind him, the water up to my ankles or thereabouts.  The older kids went out a long ways, and it was still almost just as shallow!

We had campfire hot dogs and s'mores and such for dinner.  The stars were beautiful.  I could make out the milky way, and several constellations.  I wish I knew more constellations, but I don't usually see them so well...  After dinner, the grandparents kept all the grandkids while the middle generation went to Wal-mart for ice and a few other supplies (more insect repellent, in particular).

Day 7

Some light rain during the night helped keep the dew off of us in the morning.  We took pictures.

This day, we also went to Ocean City - just our family and Grandma & Grandpa.  It has changed a bit.  We rented this bicycle carriage, where the four adults pedaled while the kids sat (although they took turns, too), and pedaled most of the way down the boardwalk and back - it sure beat walking!

Lots of shops were closed for the season.  We passed some sand art.

After we returned the bike, we had lunch and walked along the beach and into the waves.  One of the waves sucked J down with it.  Poor guy - I watched him struggle and lose his balance.  We played in the waves, and then walked back to the parking lot, rinsed off the sand and loaded back up into our car.

We met up with the cousins at the Assateague Island visitor center, and watched a movie about the horses.  We learned that the stallions are aggressive with each other and have "battle scars."  J still likes to talk about the battle scars.  Also learned that they give the female horses a shot to prevent them from getting pregnant but once to keep the numbers down and extend the mares' lives.  We had a spaghetti dinner, and the kids told ghost stories by firelight and ate more marshmallows.  J decided he likes to light them on fire!  One after another.

Day 8

Benji and I decided to take Grandma & Grandpa up on their offer to host the older kids and bring them home for us (I think they initially offered - or did we just dump the kids on them??).  We took down our tent (kind of funny, because it kept sprinkling on and off - so we kept laying stuff out to dry and then running to get it out of the sprinkles).  We took T with us, and headed back through Katherine & Justin's to get a hot shower, and made it as far as Emporia, Virginia before T started to get really fussy, and we got a hotel room for the night.

Day 9

We made a stop at Town Creek Indian Mound on our way home, because I enjoy learning about Native Americans, and it was basically en route.  They had a self-guided tour of the archaeological site, and some recreated huts, including a ceremonial center on top of a manmade hill.  I think T really enjoyed the break from his car seat.

We had dinner in Atlanta with another high school friend of Benji's and her family.  It was dark when we got home, but we made it home in not too long.  E & J got home two days later.

E:  We had lots and lots of fun and at night, sometimes, we told ghost stories (even though it was not Halloween).  One night, Aunt Katherine made chicken noodle soup, and I don't like chicken noodle soup, so I barely ate it.  We went to a kind-of-little-village-place.  J found a penny and a dime.  I had the dime.  While we were going our way to the car, I saw an old man in a wheelchair, and I wanted to give him my dime.  I was a little shy, but I did it.  There was a surprise.  We saw Disney on Ice!  It was so much FUN!  We even had cotton candy and it was delicious.  We even got little Frozen wand-thingies.  When you press the button, it spins.  J got an Olaf one, and I got an Elsa-and-Anna one (in a heart).  It was so beautiful.  We saw lots of Disney characters skating on ice - even some little kids were skating.  After the three days were up with our cousins, K & E, we went to Assateague Island.  It was amazing.  There were beaches, and oceans, and I loved it!  And Alex & Vickie came, and Grandma and Grandpa, and both everyone except us and some of the people were in RVs.  We went to the beaches a couple of times.  We had so so SO MUCH FUN!  Two or one time, we slept in Alex & Vicki's RV (J: you mean travel trailer).

What did you like on the trip?

J:  The ghost stories and the s'mores.  The ghost stories kind of scared K, so she couldn't hear the ghost story I was telling.  When we were on Assateague, well, then, we got to go on a hike and I had so so so so so much fun.  When we got back, we came a different way.  Then, when we got back, I really loved the trip.  So, then we were in Grandma and Grandpa's RV, when Mom & Dad left, and we wanted to stay.  So we went in the RV, and we slept in the RV.  Then we liked the trip.  Then we did like the trip so much.  Then we wanted to stay when they gone.  So we stayed.  And I liked it so so so so much.  Then I remember when the marsh got deeper so it moved closer to the tent.

Five Things for Friday

1.  Seminary
I forgot to mention that Benji got a new calling last month - to be a stake seminary teacher.  It is a stake calling because the classes are usually split by high schools, not by wards, so there is some overlap between wards.  Since a high councilman set up the meeting to extend the calling, we went through the stake callings directory to speculate what it might be.  We had decided it must be the stake young men's presidency, since there was an opening.  Surprise!  Seminary Teacher!!  Oh - and by the way, it had started the preceding week!  Be there at 6am tomorrow for a week of observation!  It was very unexpected, but not completely unwelcome.  Our family has gone through an adjustment to accommodate the requirements for the calling.  The biggest thing is bedtime.  The kids are ready for bed around 8pm.  On school nights, Benji usually has his light out around 9pm.  We have been getting up earlier.  It's kind of funny - Benji admitted to me that he had been praying for better scripture studying.  I confessed I had been praying to wake up earlier - have I mentioned that I've always wanted to be a morning person?  Well, we each have the opportunities now!  I am really excited for Benji's calling.  I am trying not to feel a little left out, in fact.  I'm attempting to keep up with the lessons.  I did get to substitute for him the other day when he had to work late, and get a taste for it.  Fun times.  T woke up almost right after I left ... so I'm not sure how worthwhile it was.  T was back asleep by the time I got home, though.

 2.  Little Samurais
We went to a Samurai exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art.  Nice museum, by the way - actually fairly kid-friendly!  This was one of our field trips with our field trip group.  We split into groups of about 11 (Benji came too - that was fun), and went on guided tours.  Our tour guide was extremely patient with the children - a grandma.  E told her she liked her necklace, and she said it belonged to her great-grandma!  I think E was the oldest one in our group, and she was able to ask and answer a lot of questions and make comments.  She did so very appropriately, with raising her hand, and patiently waiting.  She had a lot of excitement.  Before we went on the tour, I had the kids practice "soldier arms."  J did so well with not being able to touch things! Here, the kids are trying on a samurai costume.  It's a little big, but a cute photo op.  That is J's "attack" pose.

3.  Freedom in the parked car
If you ever wondered what T would do if he got to roam loose in the car ... well, first, he sat in E's seat and viewed the world from there.  Second, he sat in J's seat and viewed the world from there.  Third, he sat in the driver's seat, and viewed the world from there.  Ever learning, ever experiencing, that one.

4.  Zoo School Part 2
E's turn to explore the zoo with Mom and T, while J attended a fun explorer class at the zoo.  She makes a good lion!

5.  Raindrop Plop
I recently bought the children raincoats (for all 3), and boots and umbrellas (just for the older two).  They are so proud of their new gear.  They've already broken both umbrellas.  At first, I tried to counsel them to stop playing with them, to hang them on the hooks by the back door.  Don't do that; it might break.  Then, I decided it was futile, and it didn't matter if they broke them, because it wasn't like I had to buy them new ones.  Ay caramba.  Maybe they will learn a lesson.  So today (Friday), we had our first big downpour since they got their raingear.  Actually, two big downpours.  They were so DELIGHTED to go splashing outside and down the street.  E says they pretended our driveway was a river.  They even filled their boots with water with all the splashing.  So ... I'm not sure how effective the gear is ... but it was worth it just to see their delight.

Five Things for Friday

1.  Road Trip for Campers

On Labor Day, we had lunch with Grandma & Grandpa, and then we all piled into Grandpa's car for a road trip to Georgia to check out a camper/trailer they were considering buying.  T got tired along the way, and because he could see me (Benji & I were sitting on either side of him), he was a little fussier than he would have otherwise been.  Still, I like this smile, where he's managing a smile for his momma, even though what he really wanted was cuddles and milk.  Oh, by the way, this boy has bottom molars!  So, currently 10 teeth.

2.  Paper Airplanes
On Tuesday, E decided that they could make some extra money by selling paper airplanes.  She started by making one in every color of construction paper.  Then, she checked out books about making paper airplanes from the library.  We have made every kind in the first book!  The kids are having so much fun with this ... shall I say, "unit study."  No further plans on the selling front, but I've enjoyed watching their creativity and play at work.  Of course, now there are paper airplanes all over the house.  They have flown from standing on top of the table, and from sending them down the stairs.  They have played games where they try to hit each other, or see whose can go farther, or which type plane goes farther.

3.  Tacky
Yes, I showed my children the video to one of Weird Al's latest parodies, "Tacky" (view here).  (Also showed them "Foil" (here) which they've almost memorized - or at least they've memorized the line "In case an alien is inclined/ To probe your butt or read your mind."  I've heard that one more than I care).  E asked what "tacky" means, and explaining, that it has two meanings - first, it can mean clothes that are very bright and/or don't look well together and second, it can mean people who do things without thinking of others' feelings or whether it's appropriate.  Then, E & J decided to make a game out of it, by taking turns finding the tackiest outfits, and posing for the camera.  :)

4.  Zoo School
We enjoyed our first visit to the Birmingham Zoo!  E participated in a day at "Homeschool Academy" and the boys and I began exploring the zoo.  One of the fun things at the zoo is that there is a flock of guineas that roam free.  T also got a chance to get out of the stroller, and enjoyed playing and walking through the Primates building (air conditioned - perhaps my favorite exhibit).

5.  Gymnastics
We decided to enroll E & J in gymnastics again this year.  We found a gym that is offering classes for homeschoolers - so we can add it to our daytime schedule, and don't have to drive during rush hour (it's that bad).  The kids both seemed to really enjoy it so far.  I had a good feeling when talking to the staff over the phone.  Yay for another physical outlet!  :)  In case you can't tell, E is flipping on the bar in the top picture, and J is skipping.  The picture quality isn't great from the observation room.  With gymnastics, I think we've finished all the regular, scheduled activities we are going to do this year (some zoo, some science center, some state park, and various field trips).  I think it will be a good balance of being home and being about.

Five Things for Friday

1.  Back to School Party
We are part of a homeschool group that does joint activities and gets group rates for field trips.  We had a Back-to-School party last Friday at a park that has a creek!  E and J spent the entire time in the water, and even explored and found some rocks to climb, a trench "90-feet-deep!" according to E, and a waterfall.  Unfortunately, said waterfall was so far downstream that they couldn't hear me calling when it was time to go.  I finally asked another child who was headed down there to tell them to come back now.  When they got back, E says, "Is it time for snacks?"  No, dear, ...the snacks were almost all gone, as many people had left already!  There was a bit of a warm discussion on the way home about how we shouldn't go so far for so long even if other kids are doing it, and what to do if the water is deeper than J, and what to do if you hear your mom even faintly calling. ...  I would have gone after them if either I didn't have T, or my arm wasn't sprained.  The two together made me wary of climbing down the steep bank.  At least they stayed together. ...

2.  Wa-wa-waffle king...
Waffle House brunch with Grandma and Grandpa.  They didn't have a table big enough for all of us, so we split up.  I think fun was had all-around.  :)  The staff was extremely friendly, and the waitresses made a big deal of my kids.  I think E and J both got chocolate chip waffles and bacon.  :)  T had some scrambled eggs and hash browns.

3.  J's Favorite spot at the Library
The library has several iPads for kids to play on (and others for older kids), as well as computers.  This is J's favorite spot once he has picked out books.  His favorite game?  He calls it:  "Angry Birds in Out-the Space."  The kids checked out a bunch of books on snakes recently, and now I know the dangerous indigenous ones (cottonmouths, copperheads).  I also read that a girl was bit by a cottonmouth at a park we play at frequently (granted, it was on the nature trail - and we usually stay on the playground area).  Now I feel like I'm constantly on the lookout.

4.  Speech Therapy
I made an appointment to have J screened for speech therapy.  He has a partial tongue-tie (like his uncle and grandma), and has difficulty making an "r" sound.  My favorite example is the word "girl" which approximates to "goy-oo."  The results?  He is still within normal development for his age - no speech therapy for him unless this persists to age 8.  The speech pathologist also gave me some ideas with how to work with him and letter exercises for his tongue and jaw.  So at least there's that.  He is a good reader, and his speech has improved a lot recently from our reading "lessons."

5.  Animation Exhibit
We went to the McWane center on Wednesday, to see the Animation Exhibit one more time before it's dismantled and a new one put up.  One of the activities has several cameras positioned in front of a circular wall to get a 3-D view of an instant in time.  The Bullet effect.  After the cameras take some pictures, you come out of the set and watch yourself on the tv screen - so if you can see it, E is holding J on the screen there.

Five Things for Friday

1.  Playing in "The War Room"
Benji has been working on a particular project (client move) since the beginning of the month, and it has taken him out-of-the-house more than normal, with long days/nights.  We decided to visit the scene of action, and had some fun playing with Grandma.

2.  More of that smile
E's adult tooth came right in - immediately visible - behind her baby tooth.  The second front tooth is a little wiggly. ...  Thanks for sharing that smile beautiful.  Oh I remember the context - she found some of my foundation, and asked if she could put it on; I said yes.  She came out, and I instructed her to blend it - with this result.  Not too bad.  :)

3.  For the love of cars
Out of the toys in the house, T gravitates to a few things in particular - dog food, pens/pencils/crayons/markers, and CARS!  Nothing will incur his displeasure like taking away a car he was playing with.

4.  Elbow Update
My sprained elbow continues to improve ...despite my children.  I still choose not to twist it very far, or open doors, but I can carry a glass of milk now.  I've been using an arm sling to remind myself not to open the fridge, and today I managed completely without sling or ace bandage.  I also stayed home all day, though.  I made the mistake of trying to make a pie crust on Monday - it was too soon (too soon).  So I ended up piecing the crust together in the pie plate if you know what I mean.  But I have high hopes of a full recovery.  E has been a huge help - she even changed T's diaper all by herself today.  She is a special girl.

5.  Cookie Monster
We went to Chick-Fil-A yesterday because we didn't want to heat the house while the air conditioning was off (we've been having problems with it for a couple of months - someone had come out last month with a temporary fix, but came again today to put in a new coil).  T really enjoyed his cookie!  It was just slightly warm, so the chocolate chips were perfectly gooey.

Five Things for Friday

1.  A double rainbow

We saw this beauty on the way to our house a couple of weeks ago.  The upper arc is a lot fainter than the lower, if you need help spotting it.

2.  A visit to Memphis
I took the children for a visit to Memphis.  We are hoping to get renters in our house, and we decided I should go and clean out the shed more.  Benji had a busy weekend working and would barely be home anyway.  We stayed with my parents.  I went to the house twice - once with Sarah for the collecting and purging, and once with dad along, and he helped me trim the front tree (before and after above).  I weeded the front beds, and did a spider sweep in the house, and brought home our remaining chicken supplies (a waterer, 3 or 4 feeders, 2 heat lamps), and some other random supplies including my growing light that Benji made.

3.  A stay in Memphis
We had fun staying at my parents' house.  I have never been away from my children so much for 3 days in succession.  Thursday was house day 1 to salvage or purge, Friday was getting my car serviced and shopping with my mom and sisters (sales-tax holiday for the weekend on clothes and school supplies), Saturday was house day 2 doing the yard work and cleaning and more shopping in the afternoon.  Sunday we were all together - we went to church with my parents, then a baptism at our old ward.  We put together two 1000-piece puzzles while I was there.  J stayed in his pajamas from the first night until Sunday church.  He loved watching and helping his Grandma and Aunt S play on their computers.  E watched a lot of movies, and had a play-date with her friend.  T explored.

4.  George Washington, a Life
I've been listening to an audio book about George Washington (Chernow) and quite impressed by the man, his mission, and the Revolution.  I have been surprised at the lack of unity of the people.  The sheer number of Loyalists (but it makes sense, seeing as they considered themselves English, or even English citizens) - the Revolution was originally a rebellion; the number of people profiteering - selling their goods to British troops over the American, or keeping a hand in both pockets; and the depravities - the nakedness, the cold, the heat, fighting with bayonets, or crude farm-implements-turned-weapons.  I've marveled at the natural elements that saved the Americans several times - rain which stopped an assault that might have destroyed the army and the cause, dense fog which concealed a retreat, a nor'easter which concealed an attack by sea.  Washington truly believed Providence was on their side - he would stand poised in or near the battles, without flinching while bullets and cannon landed nearby.  He took great care in his dress and manner, and was impressive.  He was a skilled horseman - something I hadn't really thought about.   He was a great leader, even with his flaws (so far in my reading, there's a perfectionism, and occasional (usually private or among a few) outbursts of emotion/anger).  How different our state would be if all of our leaders had his sense of duty, of love of country, of liberty from tyranny, of morality and virtue, of principles worth fighting and dying for.

5.  Healing from a sprained elbow
I had the surreal experience of falling down the stairs on Tuesday.  I think it's because the kids had earlier taken our dog's bed to ride down the stairs as if in a sled, so the carpet was slippery-smooth in that energy.  I slipped once, and put out my right hand to stop myself and landed on one hip, righted myself, then slipped again, landing on the other hip.  I must have been holding my breath, because I looked at E, and said, "I'm going to faint" in an incredulous voice, and lay back so I could pass out without hurting my head.  E did not believe I really fainted ("Mom, I don't believe you.  You're faking it") - in fact she still doesn't ("Because you were faking it") - it's kind of amusing.  After a few minutes laying on the stairs, I got lucid enough to move to the couch and lay there.  I knew I landed on my hand and jarred my elbow, but my arm did not hurt right away.  In fact, it didn't really hurt until the next day, when it was swollen and the muscles stiff and tender.  I did however have my visiting teacher (nurse) come over to look at it the first day.  She told me to ice it and see how it was in the morning, and gave me some recommendations for doctors if I had any of the warning signs (tingling, numbness, sharp pain).

My arm continues to improve every day.  Yesterday, I could ball my hand into a fist and hold light objects.  Last night I changed T's diapers without resorting to waking Benji - although I was tempted to, - it's important to appreciate. ...

Sometimes I look for extra meaning in the "accidents" I have.  This one could be potentially devastating for a pianist.  However, I just know that I am going to be fine.  Yay for yoga for strengthening my muscles in preparation for the fall, and yay for a daughter who can help out, even if it is somewhat grudging aid, while I rest up.  I also took this opportunity to practice my budding energy healing techniques.  It is amazing how the pain just dissipates with a little intention and touch.

Five again

1.  We've had unseasonably beautiful weather!
It's nice not to be too hot and humid.  We enjoyed a trip to the park this week.  T climbed up several slides all by himself, and I enjoyed watching him try to prance around the sidewalk.  He is getting stronger on his feet.  He's been walking for several months now, but he can't step up and down very much yet.  So watching him do that little skip-step was fun for me.  In the last picture, he had crawled into a little tunnel that has circular windows.  Then I played peek-a-boo-you-got-me with him.  :)

2.  Bubble Mania
This was a fun event that we attended.  The Bubble Mania"c" was a really good entertainer - he interacted with the audience and had the stage presence of a circus performer.  He manipulated bubbles, put bubbles inside bubbles, put bubbles outside bubbles, made a square bubble, put fog inside bubbles, and ... put on a good show.  We arrived 30 minutes early, and the line was already out the door and up the stairs (the auditorium is on a lower level).  The show actually started 10 minutes early, because we were seated to capacity by then, and they were turning people away.

3.  Piano Practice
I love to hear/watch my daughter practice piano.  I have given her the "first" piano lesson several times - trying when she was 4, 5, 6. This year, she has shown ready understanding, everything is "clicking" for her, and it has been easy to get her going and watch her take off.  She is at the end of her first book and will start the next level this week.

4.  My eye
I didn't take a lot of pictures this week, and in part, it's because I've been sick!  My eye got an infection - I think related to a headache and congestion (and some vertigo) I also experienced during the timeframe.  It made me a little bit nervous to see my eye swollen half-shut and red, and to wonder if I'd still be able to see well.  I consider my eyesight to be one of the hugest blessings in my life, since I am the only one of my immediate family without glasses.  The jury is still out on the kids.  On Thursday, I decided I was ready to be all better, and by Saturday I didn't have to have tissues on hand.

5.  Homeschooling Workshop
I attended a homeschooling workshop on Saturday to make sure I understand all the laws of Alabama and to meet other homeschooling families and such.  It was good.  I heard some interesting homeschooling stories, and decided which church school we will join.  In Alabama, it's not exactly considered homeschooling - that is there is no offical legislation on homeschooling.  What you do is join a cover school or umbrella school - in particular a church school - because church schools are exempt from having to have their teachers state-certified and lesson plans approved, etc.  This take on things allows a lot of liberty, although with continued increase interest in homeschooling, it will be interesting to watch if new legislation comes out.  This year, in fact, a new law was passed on how to become your own private school - but again it's just a lot of hoops, so most homeschooling families will use a church school.  The workshop also gave me some time to reflect on the reasons we homeschool.  When you know your "why," everything else falls into place.