Story Cube Story 1: Our Trip To West Virginia

We got these cool little story cube sets for Christmas. They're called "Rory's Story Cubes", and they're designed to inspire your stories. We need that. As creative as we might be, when it comes right down to it, when we're in school we have a hard time coming up with things. Our stories were of the small paragraph persuasion and, well, frankly were rather boring. These little do-dads helped us out! We've gone from "drab to fab"...at least in our book we have. Below are the cubes that we used to help tell our story, in order from start to finish.

Our Trip To West Virginia 

by: The Hansen Girls

We decided to road trip to WV. We watched as Mommy told Daddy how the car should be packed and how he was probably doing it the wrong way for her taste. Daddy asked Mommy, "Did you pack the car sick medicine?" To which Mommy replied, "Duh." After we were all packed and on the road, Daddy said, "Did we forget something? I think we forgot something!!" It wasn't something! It was someone! Kevin! We forgot Kevin!! I mean Sydney! We forgot Sydney!! Then, out of nowhere, Batman appeared. "Not to worry! I'll get her and her trusty sidekick, Toto, and bring them to you!"

Just then, Daddy looked in the mirror and saw the flashing lights of the Sheriff's car. Once we pulled over, the Sheriff walked up and said, "Hey...you're a cop, right?" I need you to help me catch that bandit that's crossing the highway with  that bag of money!" Daddy said, "That's not a bag of money! He's running off with the Christmas presents from the orphanage! You don't mess with kids at Christmas!" The Sheriff and Daddy both yelled "STOP" at the same time. The bandit yelled back, "Collaborate and listen!"That's when they found out that the bandit had a rare condition that wouldn't let him continue with what he was doing until he'd spoken all of the words to "Ice, Ice, Baby." It was at that time that Daddy and the Sheriff were able to catch the bandit. 

As we merged back on to the road, Graci looked out her window and yelled, "There's Batman, Sydney, and Toto!! Just in time!!" After everyone was settled, we decided we'd take a detour to Stone Mountain because Daddy had never been. After hours of driving, we arrived and decided to get a good nights sleep. The next morning, we headed for Stone Mountain. Just imagine our surprise when we saw Robert E Lee, chiseled in to the side of the mountain riding an elephant instead of a horse?! "What's going on here? Why is he on an elephant?" Mommy said, "Well they must have done some remodeling since we were here the last time. Why don't we take the tram to the top of the mountain? I hear they have a dinosaur skeleton up there!" While we were walking to the register to pay for our tickets to the top, we realized that the only money we had was monopoly money that Audrey had in her pocket. It was at that moment that Graci had had enough. She got mad and yelled, "OK!!! EVERYONE BACK TO THE CAR!!!!" In stunned silence we all walked back to the car and got back on the road. 

As we passed in to Tennessee from Georgia, we decided to stop at the welcome center. Here, we were met by a local band of gypsies who quickly tried to pick-pocket us. The joke was on them though as all the money they got was the monopoly money that Audrey had in her pockets. After the gypsy episode, Audrey got hungry. Sydney decided to pick her an apple off of one of the trees there. Just as she reached up, the tree smacked her! Sydney looked at mommy and said, "I don't think we're in Tennessee anymore!" We turned around to leave and the tree threw two apples at Audrey hoping to hit her. She fooled that mean old tree by pulling out her baseball bat and hitting one back at him, and then with lightning speed, she pulled out her glove, caught the other apple, and at it in one bite!

We got out of there as quick as we could, but once on the road, Daddy looked down and realized that we were almost out of fuel. It's a good thing the car runs on diamonds! Graci was able to give her daddy back the necklace that he'd gotten for helping catch the bandit the previous day. He pulled out his tomahawk and chopped the huge diamond in to pieces small enough to fit in to the tank. That gave us enough fuel to make it to Wild, Wonderful West Virginia! 

By the time 4 o'clock rolled around, we realized we were super hungry. Audrey suggested going to YES Buffet! Luckily they had one in Tennessee at the exact place we were stopped. We walked up to the doors where we realized they were closed for the Chinese New Year. Suddenly, we were lucky again! The hotel we were staying at had free room service and a fantastic menu of chicken and french fries!! After we gorged ourselves, we turned the TV on and caught the end of Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. 

After another good nights sleep, we got up, got ready and walked to our car...or where our car should have been. Our car had been stolen!! It's a good thing that stage coach was parked outside our hotel! We got in, the driver cracked his whip, and we were gone with the wind! 

It was night time when we reached Harrisville. It wasn't until then that we realized the coach was being pulled by reindeer! Before we knew it, we were up in the air! Santa looked back at us and said, "Here are your chutes! This is where you jump!"

To be continued...or not. :-)

I love a good road trip...don't you?

Well, we are rolling east on I-20 on our way to Florida! Right now we're passing through the Kilgore/Longview area, and I must say, I could live out here in the trees. I'm pretty sure I say that everywhere I go in Texas, but I just love it out here. The treees are starting to change color and it's just beautiful.

We've been in the car a couple of hours now and I feel so relaxed. Some people loathe long road trips and I'd be perfectly happy on a perpetual road trip. There's something about seeing where you're going that I can't get enough of! There's not a lot better than content kids in the back of the car, good music on the radio, and a long stretch of road out in front of us! 

We are about 9 hours from our destination for the evening, and along the way Hansen has picked out a place called The Shed for us to eat at this evening. It's a BBQ joint in Vancleave, Mississippi, that he saw on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. I think it goes with out saying that he enjoys planning our trips around that show. If there's a DDD place within 20 miles of our route, and it looks appealing in the least bit, we're stopping at it. 

As an aside...I'm amazed at how quickly time passes. The older I get, the quicker it flies by. I feel like we just started planning this trip, but we started planning it February. Now the trip is here and it'll be over before we know it! I fully intend on being too tired at the end of every night, my feet to hurt like crazy, and to cram as much fun in to the next 8 days as we can! If you've never taken a Disney trip, you need to. Kids or no kids, young or old. It doesn't matter. It's the most magical place on earth! 

Most excellent!

That's how I would describe our first day...Most Excellent!

The day started out with making muffins and having coffee. Once I was awake, I got the girls up and they started their day. Graci asked if they could wear uniforms the first day, so she picked out their clothes and got all of them dressed. (yes, I thought it would be funny to have uniform shirts and children's place had them on sale.) She's such a great big and little sister. (middle child). After breakfast, we trudged upstairs and I only heard Sydney mumble quietly about "walking up all those nasty stairs." The kid is not a fan of the stairs when it is time for school, BUT she seems to not have a problem when it's her idea to go up and down them when she needs or wants something. "Yes mommy! It would be lovely of me to go help Graci bring up the snacks!" or "Um, I forgot Toto (her stuffed dog), may I please go downstairs and get him?" If it's her idea, she's all for it. 

Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. Ahhhhh, Pictures. Another thing my oldest really doesn't like to do. She suffered through it though and I ended up with this...not too bad. :-)

Sixth Grade...how is that even possible? I mean seriously? Wasn't it just yesterday that she came in to this world with a bang? My little 1lb, 12oz, baby girl is now TWELVE and in the SIXTH GRADE! 

Up next...My little G-Lou. (that's her street name lol)

She's just about the sweetest kid in the world. And funny...boy is she funny. I have it on good authority that she gets that from her mother. She's also the best big-little sister that Sydney could ask for. She helps her out so much. She is a gem! 

And finally...our little Rosie Toes.

This kid is a character. She marches to her own drum, and when I say marches, I mean stomps, swings, and talks. She is never quiet. She can segway in to another topic of conversation like nobody I've ever known. The child would be great during a filibuster...but, she has such a big heart, and one of the sweetest kids when you get to know her. 

Graci and Sydney doing some fraction work.

And...all three of my babies together. 

When we got back in the "classroom" yesterday, it just felt peaceful. I knew that we were right where we were supposed to be. Not that I had any doubt, but that feeling you get when you know you're doing what you're supposed to be doing is a great feeling. I know in my heart that this is what I'm supposed to be doing right now, and that's something, considering I said that it was something I'd NEVER do. Never say never. (which is funny, because I used "Never" to say Don't Ever say Never) I thought at one time in my life that homeschooling my kids would be just about the worst thing that I could ever do TO them, when in reality, it's not something you do TO them, but FOR them. I love these little monkeys, and there's nothing that I wouldn't do FOR them. :-) 

The first day of school...is in two weeks.

This time last year I was watching everyone post their first day of school pictures on Facebook and feeling a little sad. We were no longer going to be in public school, therefore missing all of the 'fun' first day of school things. First pic, first pic in the car, first pic in front of the school, first pic of the little one crying when someone walked too close to her, first pic with the teachers, first pic of the first drink of the day for mom...(ok, that was a joke)...you get the picture. A lot of firsts.

Today, looking back at our first year of homeschooling, and looking at everyone's first day pictures again, I am not sad in the least little bit. We had a lot of firsts of our own. Our own first day pics, our first field trip, our first doctors appointment with out worrying about what time I take the kids out of school, first science experiment, first pajama day, first time making real butter, first time my oldest sat and read SEVENTY-ONE PAGES OF A BOOK, and so many more firsts. 

Starting the 8th of September, we will start our new year and a have an entire year to have a whole new set of firsts. I'm looking forward to this year. I feel like I have a much better handle on what should be going on in "school" now. It's not all about sitting at a desk and pushing through a curriculum in a certain amount of time. It's about having the freedom to get out and see how things are made, how they work, and how they're used. It's about piling you and your friends and kids in the car and setting out for the museum, only to find yourself on an adventure that ends in a picnic at the airport watching the planes land and getting to listen to the air traffic controllers. But most of all, I think it's about us keeping our kids "kids" for as long as we can. We don't want to shield them from the world, but we want to keep their hearts and minds as innocent as we can for as long as we can. For now, homeschooling is the way for us! For us it is about getting as many new firsts with them as we can, while we can! 

Santa!! Santa??

On our way to West Virginia, we were visited by who may quite possibly be the REAL Santa Claus. It was a lovely visit, special for the girls, as well as for Eric and me. Today, as we leave West Virginia, we are headed to Santa Claus, Indiana, for what has become a yearly trip for us. We will see Santa for a second time on our trip, and our kids are thrilled about that. (and frankly, so am I)

Right now we are in Chillicothe, OH. We started out our trip from WV on US HWY 50 and are taking it in to Cincinnati. It's not a huge two or three lane (both sides) Hwy that we are on right now. It's two lanes, one each way, and it's the way we would rather travel any time we can. 

Oh...and it's raining. :-) 

Oh...and now it's not. (like 45 seconds in between pictures)

Aww...Hansen just pulled over for me so I could get a "WEST 50" pic for y'all. He's so sweet. 

Oh...and on 50 today we've seen probably 20 vans and several bike riders that are part of the "Race Across America". For my friends that bike, you can look them up here... http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/raamfp.php?N_webcat_id=1. They bike from Oceanside, CA, to Annapolis, MD. 

We had a lovely visit with our family. We fished, took fire truck pics (ok, Eric did that), played in the Hughes River, cooked out, caught lightning bugs, went to the doctor (I got sick), took 4 wheeler and tractor rides, and relaxed when we could. 

Oh look...I've typed so long that we've hit another town. Bainbridge, OH. :-)

Tonight we are staying with a friend of mine just outside of St. Louis, MO. I plan on staying up entirely too late chatting the evening away while our men and kids blissfully sleep. 

Ok.I'm missing lots as I type. I'll try for another post tomorrow. (which probably won't happen lol)

On our way...

Well, we are on the road and on our way to West Virginia. I started out driving...that's something that I never do unless it's me and mom going somewhere. By 11am, I'd already driven three hours, which is three hours longer than I had planned to drive all day. I feel as if I have done my good deed for the week. 

We started out as a car load of 5, with one Mamaw traveling along either in front or behind us. However, we quickly learned upon passing said Mamaw, that the oldest child in our car would much rather be traveling with her. So, when we stopped, we took some oatmeal creme pie cookies from Mamaw, and gave her a child in exchange. I think that worked out well. We passed them at one point and Sydney looked happy as she could be, singing what I am quite sure was "Over the Rainbow". The Wizard of Oz is her current favorite movie and I'm positive she'll do a great job at keeping Mamaw awake during the drive with her singing and movie quoting. 

Currently we have one child being very cute while she watches the Nightmare Before Christmas 

and another that has herself tucked away in her fort she has made.

If she were wicked smart like she says, she'd have part of the blanket tucked under the head rests in front of and behind her. She's still learning, I suppose. 

Right now we are currently 98 miles from Little Rock. From there we go to Memphis. Instead of going north from West Memphis and bypassing Tennessee altogether, we are going to torture ourselves with the most boing ride in the United States. Memphis to Nashville. It's brutal, y'all. I know I've said it before, bypassing Tennessee on the way to West Virginia from Texas, is like trying to get to Mexico from Oklahoma with out going through Texas. I think this is the first time in at least four years that we've taken the drive between the two cities. This may force me to talk instead of napping after I turn the iPad off. I'd hate for Hansen to sit through that drive alone. 

I somehow made it out of the house, with the help of the girls, with some school work. I figured while we were in West Virginia, I'd take advantage of the fact that one of my aunts is a teacher...and, said aunt used to be a MATH teacher.

This just in. One has fallen asleep in what appears to be the most uncomfortable position she could possibly fall asleep in. She's got a pillow and blanket, but maybe the door offers her support she can't get from the fluffy things. 

More later...hopefully. I always seem to say that and then before I know it two months has gone by. 

 

Mommy and the Cruddy, Miserable, Lousy, Ghastly Day

I think it is important to start this by saying that my Great Days FAR outweigh my Bad Days. I am super blessed to be able to stay home with my children and teach them...even though I thought that would be something that I'd never do. God has a unique way of taking something you swore you'd never ever do, and having you do it. You know...like driving a mini van and homeschooling your children. Both things I said I would NEVER EVER DO!! Now, I do them both happily. Some days are just more happy than others, especially when it comes to school. The greatest part though, is that we woke up today and had an EXCELLENT DAY TODAY!!

The following is partly fiction, partly non-fiction, but all 100% possible. Most of the things that happened in the following story have happened to us...I just embellished a little.

I hope you enjoy my spin on "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day". If you haven't read that story and you can get your hand on a copy, read it. It's super cute!


  Mommy and the Cruddy, Miserable, Lousy, Ghastly Day                              

I went to sleep without a crick in my neck and woke up with one. And then, on the way to the freezer to get my ice pack, I stubbed my toe, woke up the dog, had to let the dog out, and then had to wait on the dog for 20 minutes to finish her business outside. It was only 4:30 in the morning, but I could already tell it was going to be a cruddy, miserable, lousy, ghastly day.

At breakfast Syd found a pretty blue marker in her pop-tart box, and G-Lou found a sparkly pink flash light in her cereal box, and Rosie found a new pencil and paper to draw her funny pictures that she draws so well in her cereal box. All I found in the fridge for me was that I was out of coffee creamer and my favorite yogurt.

I think I’ll move to the coast.

In the line at the post office I saw three mommies that were there without their children. I had all three of mine with me. They were hanging off the hand rails, chasing each other and being way too loud. I told them to stop hanging off the hand rails, chasing each other and to stop being so loud. None of them even acknowledged that I spoke to them.

I could tell it was going to be a cruddy, miserable, lousy, ghastly day.

During school I tried over and over to explain to Syd and Rosie that a quarter was worth 25 cents and that there were four of them in a dollar. Only G-Lou got it.

During our grammar lesson, Syd was grouchy because she thought the antonym game we were playing was actually a race, but it wasn't. I tried to explain what opposite meant and Rosie kept giving me words that were the same. Why do we have to do opposites, anyway? G-Lou was just irritated because the other two were irritated. Tablets were taken away. Children were grounded. I could tell that it was going to be a cruddy, miserable, lousy, ghastly day.

I could tell because Syd said I wasn't her favorite best mommy any more. She said she didn't need one right now. She said she just needed her daddy.

I'm sorry honey, but your tablet is mine until further notice. I hope that the next time you start to be nasty to your mommy, you’ll please try and think about things before you speak them out loud. And I also hope that I wake up at the coast.

At lunch there was a PB&N (peanut butter & Nutella) sandwich for Syd, a chicken sandwich for Rosie, and a ham sandwich on a hamburger bun (G-Lou’s favorite way to eat a sandwich) for G-Lou.  The leftovers that I had decided I would eat had gone bad. And I couldn't even drink any coffee. Because someone forgot to get creamer at the grocery store.

It was a cruddy, miserable, lousy, ghastly day.

That’s what this day was, because after school, when I had had about as much crapola from the kids as I could take, my neck started hurting even more. I went to the chiropractor and she told me that my neck was so out of whack that she’d need to see me 5 more times next week, at least.

Next week, I’m moving to the coast.

On the way out the door, I tripped, and the girls laughed, and I’d had enough, so I started to cry, and after I started to cry, one of them called me a cry baby. And, while I was getting on to them for being not very nice I realized that I wasn't being very nice either.

I said, “I am having a cruddy, miserable, lousy, ghastly day."  Then one of them said, “I’m sorry, Mommy.”

So…I thought maybe a milkshake would make everyone’s day a little better. We pulled up to the milkshake place and they told us that the ice cream machine was broken. Who doesn't have at least two ice cream machines at a place known for ice cream treats?

When we got home we went upstairs to work on an art project, part of that project had to be ironed, and while using the iron, I burned my finger, and then I discovered that someone had left some of the new dry erase markers un-capped, and then someone spilled glitter all over the floor and someone was caught playing with my phone.

I think they called the coast.

It was a cruddy, miserable, lousy, ghastly day.

I was supposed to put a roast in the slow cooker for dinner when I got up this morning.  I forgot. My husband called to remind me. The same husband that forgot my coffee creamer.

When it was shower time, the girls forgot to put the curtain IN the bath tub while taking a shower so there was water everywhere, they left toothpaste in the sink after they brushed their teeth, and none of them would stop complaining about having to go to bed. I really don’t like it when they complain about something that I’d love nothing more than to do.

When it was finally my bed time, over twenty hours after I’d gotten up, my neck hurt so bad that I had trouble getting comfortable. Then, two kids came in to my room because THEY couldn't sleep, and my husband was snoring so loud that a man using a chain saw would have asked him to be quiet.

It has been a cruddy, miserable, lousy, ghastly day.

Some days are just like that, I suppose.

Even at the coast.