Homeschooling 101 and American Girl Doll Heaven

We decided to take the plunge and just do it. I have wanted to for YEARS but the timing wasn't right, or blah blah blah.....it just never worked out. But the particular school district we are in now isn't the most pro-smart kid district. If you get my drift. They very much cater to the slowest kid in the class, and subsequently, my children, who are at the other end, are bored to tears. Dillon and Arlee's test scores are off the charts, but it's not for anything they've done for them at school. And besides that, being in a rural/redneck/deepbluecollar area that doesn't value education and does value various inappropriate things was starting to become evident in my children. So, we made a pros and cons list, and the cons were little and the pros were HUGE, so we took the plunge. We are using a mix of cirriculi, not just one brand or avenue, and I've researched it a ton, and figured out my kids' learning styles and grade levels, etc. In the state of Illinois, there are NO homeschooling rules, no tests or attendance records or anything, but I will do those things in case we move again someday (which is getting to be more and more normal around here LOL) I have the "things the kids are supposed to learn in X grade" and for the most part, both kids' teachers said they are already done with those things. Also, in IL, kids can still participate in non-classroom activities, such as sports, band, newspaper, etc....even when being homeschooled, so Dillon will still be doing band, and possibly the newspaper next year, if he chooses. We are doing Homeschool PE at the YMCA, it's a great program, and it's 3x a week, so that is super for us! Plus, our whole trip to Hawaii is going to be a big Field Trip, so that should be fun for all!!! Our first few weeks will be getting used to the whole thing, going to Hawaii and then coming back and getting right into it....Trent keeps telling the kids there is a new sherriff in town...lookout. We'll see. We are just both excited to be able to really challenge the kids and teach them things that they'd never ever get (because of time & political constraints) at school.

As for the American Girl place....if you have girls, and they are into Dolls, TAKE THEM. Arlene just recently became interested in GIRLY things, and I couldn't be more thrilled! We had the best time there. We had afternoon tea with the doll and Arlene paid for her doll to get her hair done at the doll hair salon!! it was so fun! My recommendation, though, is that you charge your cell phone BEFORE you go IN, so that when you are ready to leave, your phone isn't dead, and you DON'T have to borrow a complete strangers phone in order to call your husband and son to come get you. Also, don't leave your said husband and son to have to drive around crazy chicago/michigan avenue traffic for over an hour, having cops and cab-drivers yelling at them. It's not fun to get into THAT van. Haha. Here are some pictures of the trip to the doll place.