We Survived the Homeschool Convention!

Yesterday and today were spent at the Oklahoma City Homeschool Convention. This is a time I look forward to each year. It is a time to see old and new friends that we have met through different activities through out our homeschooling years and current friends from church. It's a time to look at plethora of resources and books that can be used in teaching our children. It is also a time to go to workshops to receive encouragement, knowledge and wisdom about homeschooling and parenting, marriage and other topics.

This was the first year that our entire family went for two full days. I knew they would be long days but I was grateful that they were enjoyable and smooth. Cam and Cait did get tired for sure but even tired, they behaved well. I'm a proud mama! Since Bren was in the Entrepreneurial Expo {check out the picture of his booth below}, we were there around 8:30 each morning. We brought sandwiches for lunch each day and ate in the car in the below ground parking garage {No Outside Food Allowed}. Tuesday we went to Falcone's to get pizza for dinner and then hit the Bricktown Candy Co. for dessert before returning to the convention at 7 p.m. to hear the comedian, John Branyan. That was great fun and we got home around 9. Tonight, we closed up Brendan's booth by 5ish and hit the road for some Chicken Express! It was great getting two nights off from kitchen duty. {I do love kitchen duty but on super busy days, it can be tough!}

Brendan did great on selling swords! It was a slow start but he sold most of them in the last couple hours of the second day. I am so proud of his hard work and his great attitude even when he *might have been* disappointed. We hope to sell more swords at our garage sale this weekend and maybe even on Craigslist! Brendan also entered the picture below into the art contest. He didn't place but this is MY favorite picture! It is from our trip to Galveston, TX in 2007. We camped on the beach and the seagulls were everywhere. I'm so glad he recreated it for me (in pastels) and thankful for my Gramma for all Bren's art lessons!

We only heard a couple workshops. Not near as many as we would like to but it is harder for Cam and Cait to sit quietly hour after hour. On Tuesday I heard Cheryl Lange talk on "What's Really so Important About Books, Anyway?". They I heard Mary Ostyn speak on "The Balancing Act: Homeschool, Housework and Activities". JC and Cam listened to John Erickson on "A Lesson in Life with Hank the Cowdog". Today JC, Bren and Cam heard our Pastor's son, Colton Wilson talk on "Rediscovering the Lost Art of Adventure (for boys only)" and they JC & I heard the Ray's speak on "Loving and Leading". All of it was so good!

Here's what we bought:
Great Books You Gotta Read by LodeStar
All Through the Ages by Christine Miller
Write Upon My Heart studies in Wisdom, Respectfulness and Kindness
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by R.J. Maybury {on recommendation}
The Three R's by Ruth Beechick {on recommendation}
Kindergarten writing tablet and 2 fat pencils from Miller Pads
and finally Bren's sophomore science, the 2nd year of Physics and Chemistry by PACWorks

Oh, there was so much more we could have and would have bought but we should have many years of homeschool conventions ahead of us. We are so thankful to OCHEC for putting on such an amazing convention. {I didn't mention the nursing mom's "room" had rocking chairs, snacks, water bottles, a stocked changing table and more! So cush!!} It was a great time for our family. We are happy to be a homeschooling family with many friends and many adventures!