An incredible year!!

Well, this is it....our last week of school! Yep, we made it through another school year. I have to say this has been the toughest one yet. Sure it's hard to homeschool when you're pregnant, with an infant around, with a toddler everywhere(that's really hard!), but moving to a new house and a new city has made for the hardest one yet. I realized at the beginning of the year that I had never homeschooled the boys anywhere but in our house in Bartlett and with people in Bartlett. It really threw off MY momentum to be in a new house. But we all rose the the challenge and though it's later than in years past...we made it to the end!!! And to celebrate we went to one of our favorite places, Incredible Pizza!!!!

We only go to IP on Wednesday's because on that day (Wacky Wednesday)you can buy a ticket for an hour of unlimited games which saves us an "incredible" amount of money, 'cuz the games aren't cheap! So our M.O. is to eat, play games for an hour and come back and eat some more. That's one lovely thing about IP...it's a buffet! And in my opinion, the food is quite yummy.

So, today I surprised the boys with our end of the year trip to IP. I wanted to go before all the "school" kids got out for the summer 'cuz, let's face it, it's just WAY more fun when the place isn't crowded. And we weren't disappointed today. I think in the entire game area there were about 10 or 15 people other than us. LOVE IT!!

Food first......
Then fun!!!

Jeremy doing mini-bowling. Another awesome thing about IP is that they play Christian music videos at the bowling alley. We didn't realize how great this is until we went bowling for something at Michael's work last weekend and saw the MAJORLY RAUNCHY(!!!) videos they show at normal bowling alleys.

Jonathan and Jeffrey on a game together.

One of Josiah's favorites, a hunting game.

Jeremy stayed at this electronic jump-rope game for a REALLY long time. He was DETERMINED to beat it. After about 15 or 20 tries (this is why you do unlimited play!), he did it! He was dripping sweat..and beaming with pride. "I BEAT IT!!" he ran over to tell me! Think he's a little competitive??!!

Jonathan and Jeremy going "head to head" basketball. They both set high scores on the machines.

Josiah set the high score on the little basketball goal.

Jeffrey bowling.

Not to be beat by his brother, Jonathan give the jump-rope game a try. His card ran out of time before he had a chance to beat it, though. But, hey Jonathan, way to get some serious air there, buddy!

Jeremy trying his hand at the hunting game. **Notice his shirt ringing with sweat in the back. This was shortly after his jump-rope dominance!

Josiah horseback riding!

Hmmmm, bowling, basketball, jumprope, horseback riding....I think this should count as a PE class!! Ok, maybe not the horseback riding...

Then, it had to happen....the worst part of all.....

This scenario is almost enough to keep me away from IP, Chuck E Cheese, Putt Putt, and all ticket-spewing venues...the dreaded redemption center. They really shouldn't call it "redemption". "Redemption" sounds so positive. Like you're so much better off for having been there. However, I think it's more like...let me think of a "G" rated word here....a true picture of how well you've trained your children! Do they break down and cry because they don't have enough for the hillbillie teeth or glow in the dark sticky hand that walks down walls? Do they meltdown because they want the foam "We're #1" finger that costs 9000 tickets and all they can get with the 35 you have is Hanna Montana lipgloss? Or worse, if you ask them to share or give away their tickets, do they look at you like you've just shot their puppy and then told them they can't eat for the rest of their lives? Believe me, I've seen it all....and not from other kiddos, from my "angels"! Well, thankfully sanity prevailed today. Jonathan and Jeremy decided to save their tickets . Wow, they must be growing up! Jeffrey got the spiky bouncy ball and Josiah got a small football. Whew, our ball count was getting dangerously close to falling below 100! But at least there were smiles all around this time!

Really, it was a great time! It's been a good year and I'm so thankful for the honor of homeschooling!!