Oh the places we have gone...

The road to this blog is paved with the best of intentions. I always intend on writing while we're on the road, but I always forget, am too tired, mean to teach a kid to do it, or forget. Mostly, I forget. We get so involved with what we're doing that I always say, "I'll get to it later.", and then...yep...I don't.

Our last post was May 20, 2015, and we've driven, flown, and sailed many miles since then! When combined, our mileage totals are close to 20,000; and since we specialize in road trips, especially those of the EPIC kind, more than half of these miles were on asphalt!! (or a variation of) Let's see. In the last two years we have traveled by car to Arizona, California, West Virginia, and more locally (to Texas, anyway) to San Antonio and Galveston. We've flown to Vegas and Boston, and we've also gone on our first cruise which took us to Key West, Nassau, and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. Dag Nabbit! Now I want to start planning a trip!!

Oh to be a nomad, roaming from place to place. I'd love to be on the road, seeing everything this AMAZING country has to offer. Surely there's a job out there for me. One that would pay me to travel the country, letting my employer know that they should be happy that I'm having such an amazing time doing what I love. That's out there, right?? RIGHT??

One thing that is saving me this summer is that so many of my friends are taking amazing trips. If I can't be traveling, I LOVE IT WHEN MY FRIENDS ARE!! It makes me happy when people get their kids out to see new places and do new things! Right now I have friends in California, Florida, Mexico, all over! It's exciting to see their pictures and hear about all of the fantastic places they've traveled. It always inspires me to start planning the next (EPIC) Hansen family road trip!

Speaking of that...where SHOULD the Hansens on Asphalt travel to next? Let me know some of your favorite places to go!

Dad's been under a lot of pressure at work...

I saw this picture a couple of days ago and it made me giggle. I mean...that's a lot of pressure.

It got me thinking about being a police officer, and how much pressure my husband, and the thousands of men and women in law enforcement must deal with on a daily basis. I know that every second of the job isn't stressful. My husband enjoys his job immensely, and I do, too. It's part of the "asphalt" we travel on. We've been on this particular trip together for over 17 years now, and he was on the journey long before I came along. I'm proud of him and the job that he does for our department, and I'm proud of our department and all that they do in our community. 

 The more I looked at that cute little cartoon, the more I envisioned it with a police hat, badge, and radio. I mean, the pressure that law enforcement has been under lately has been huge. Monumental, even. I see our country's leaders doing very little to help our men and women out, and everything they can do to make their jobs harder. I see people on facebook every day bashing police officers left and right, and while I tend to let it roll off my back most of the time, sometimes it's hard. And, please, don't get me started on our media. I mean, who cares who they hurt in their process of reporting "the news". The officer has a family, friends, and a life outside of law enforcement? So what? If it bleeds, it leads.

 I watch my husband go to work every day, strapping on his vest and his duty belt, and pray to Jesus that at the end of the day he's safe and sound where he belongs...here with me and his three kids. The vast majority of police officers are selfless people. They leave their families daily to go out and serve and protect a public that seems to not care much about what happens to them, that ridicules their every move, and then complains when they don't come running to their rescue in the allotted 26 seconds after they dial 911. These LEOs miss holidays, birthdays, and nights and weekends with their families so that they can go protect the very public that judges their every move because of their badge.

I feel like our town is very blessed. We have a local government that supports our officers, and our citizens seem to be very thankful for them as well. Our guys and gals do a great job getting out in to the community and getting to know the people around town. But, I see my friends with husbands in other departments though that aren't as fortunate,  I see the men and women on the news that have lost their ability to work because of the media and ignorance of the general public, and I see the officers that have paid the ultimate price of serving the people with their lives. It just breaks my heart. Parts of our country are so shattered and sad. I'm amazed at strength that our LEOs have, and their ability to still go on doing this thankless job even with the pressure they are under. I am so very thankful for them though, and I always will be. 

I asked a friend of mine if he could re-work the picture for me. I know that all jobs come with their own type of pressures, but when I see this cute little cartoon with a police theme, I think it speaks volumes. If you're out and about, and you see an officer, please take a second and say thank you. It means so much to them to know that people really do care. 

So, I quit homeschooling today...

Rarely do I ever get to the point of such frustration that I want to throw in the towel. Rarely. Today is a rare occasion. I actually decided that I was going to stop homeschooling. I'd had enough. I was done. Finished. After explaining the same thing 9 times to the very child that I'm doing this for the most, and after 9 times of her telling me that she understood the directions but wouldn't work on her assignment, I simply quit. I had a meltdown moment, and quit. Tapped out. Raised a white flag. Threw my hands up. Walked away from. Bowed out of. Quit. The words, "I quit", actually came out of my mouth. I believe it went like this..."That's it. I quit! I'm done. Figure it out yourself. Public school, here we come. I'M QUITTING." And then I stormed down the stairs.

Wow...nice tantrum you threw there right in front of your kids.

I sat in my room and had a nice cry for about three minutes, and then I came back upstairs. You could have heard a pin drop. I think to myself, "Wow...that tantrum really worked! Alright! I got this! I'm not quitting! EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!!"

Wrong.

I'd been hoodwinked.

The instructions for the most simple of tasks had gone in one ear and out the other. No work had been done. I started to get frustrated again, only in a softer voice, and then she says, "Well, I didn't understand." 

Light-bulb

She didn't understand. She told me she understood 9 times. But she really didn't. And that's ok. It's more than ok, because anywhere else, she wouldn't get a 10th time to try and understand. Maybe not even a 4th or 5th. Things would just move on because they had to move on. Here, in our home, she can take the time that she needs. Sometimes, as the person who is one of her biggest advocates and the one that loves her most in this world, it's hard to remember that. Just because she can remember an entire movie, front to back, and answer every trivia question about that move ever asked, doesn't mean that she gets putting long words in alphabetical order. Oh precious girl. If you'd just tell mommy that you don't get it, mommy wouldn't think you're trying to get out of your studies. But, sometimes, she doesn't understand how to communicate that either. And that, too, is ok. 

I don't expect them to "walk up all those stairs" every day and things always be pinterest perfect for any of us. We are all still fairly new to this whole homeschool thing even though it's our second year. We didn't start out doing it from the beginning, and we certainly aren't going to be perfect. I guess that's the beauty of it though. Trial and error. We can try as many times as we need to until our errors are minimum, and if that means spending a little more time on something, then so be it. 

I want all three girls to enjoy this experience and they can't do that if I'm frustrated constantly with what they are or aren't doing. I expect them to complete their work, but I need to remember that we're not homeschooling so we can model ourselves after public schools. We are doing this so they will get one on one time with their teacher, so they don't have to be rushed and feel inadequate if they don't understand something, and so I can enjoy them for as long as possible, by picking up and doing what we want, when we want. 

In closing, I'd like to state that I only quit for a few minutes. Never will I ever quit doing what I feel like we're supposed to be doing for our girls. It's not always going to be easy, as today proved, but the vast majority of the time, I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

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. 

I'm a horrible blogger

It's no secret. I'm a horrible blogger. Last time I posted, we were in the second week of school and nobody had died. I'm happy to report that now, in our 15th (or so) week of school, and we are still (even with Daddy subbing a day) casualty free!

Since my last post, we've been to Disney World for a fantastic five night field trip, Heritage Village for homeschool day, and the State Fair of Texas, and had Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years!

Wanna know what my favorite part of Homeschooling is though? I mean the trips and time off are amazing, but my very favorite thing to see during a school day are the light bulb moments. When one of them gets how to do their times tables or when one of them that HATES to read sits down and reads a whole book (small book, of course) to me and the other two girls. When they're sounding out a word that they've never read before and it just clicks. Those are the best moments ever!

Now, don't get me wrong. Being able to switch our schedule around with the freedom that homeschooling offers is the bomb diggity, but it's those little moments that mean the most!

I'll try to be better. I'm sure I say that with every post. I'm actually thinking I'm going to make a Hansens on Asphalt page on facebook so I can keep my personal page for personal stuff and bombard only those interested in my travel and schooling with the Hansens on Asphalt. (yeah right...it'd probably be both places lol)

Ok...Off to make dinner. Ooo...Maybe a little home ec for homework tonight?

Still hanging in there...

Well, we are nearing the end of week two, and I must say, so far so good. I'm learning a lot about my children. For instance, my oldest can read WAY better than she wants to let anyone know. She dislikes, can't stand, loathes reading! But if you remind her that mommy is her teacher and has all the power of the school room and will take her tv away, she perks right up and reads just about anything. A-MAZING!! She can also color pretty good when she takes her time! It's something else she has ZERO affection for. Zero. I always loved to color, so it's not something that I can identify with.

I have learned even more that my middle girl LOVES to read. I knew she liked it, but it's becoming apparent that she loves it. She is also a teacher pleaser. She's forever asking if her handwriting is good, if she reads well, and if there is anything she can do for me. She's taken it upon herself to read a devotional to the girls every morning, as well. They're all sweet, but she's proving to be especially sweet in the classroom and it's starting to spill over to the rest of her day.  

Then we have my youngest. She is certainly the stinker of the bunch, but she's so funny. She's also numero-uno at trying my patience. She won't stop talking, and she dislikes can't stand writing, almost as much as my oldest can't stand reading. Like the oldest though, if you bribe her or threaten her (with a visit to the Principal's office with her daddy), then she'll pretty much do anything you want...only very slow, and with out being quiet. Oh, Lord above, please help me teach her the art of being quiet. Even as I'm typing this, she talking about everything. Lucky for her, it's everything having to do with her practice writing. 

We are kind of getting in to a groove of things. We've done this for 8 days now and so far I'm really enjoying it. I'm finding that i want to teach them so much more than what's in their curriculum. I'm sure there will be days when we just 'flush the format'. I'm also sure that those will probably be some of the best days. Which brings me to what I know will be the bestest days of all!! Field trips! Oh, I am so ready for field trips season that it's not even funny! (PS...field trip season means cool weather!) 

Our first science experiment

They love this picnic game. You can use it for learning fractions if you're creative...maybe one day I'll be creative. :-)

Just like the pic says...Homeschool PE Rocks! 

Day One...

Well, today was our first day of homeschool!! Graci was up with the sun and I practically had to drag the other two out of bed. Sydney told me she thought school was boring and that she should be able to stay in her room and watch TV all day because she learned plenty doing that. Uh...negative.

Once everyone was up we got dressed, had breakfast, and waited for Daddy to come home and take pictures. Aside from, "Have you found a co-op yet?", the next most asked question has been, "So...ya gonna let them go to school in the PJ's?" Again...negative. The question did inspire some of our pictures from this morning though.

                                            Yes, yes this will go over nicely, don't you think?

                                 So cute. How could I not want them in their sloppy PJ's and robes?

Yeah...Never mind. We see that we have a faker here. We couldn't get her to shut her eyes to save her life. 

See!! Tricked ya! They even all had shoes on. Seriously? I didn't even have on shoes. Oh...lookie there. There's a flip flop, a small blanket and a skirt on the floor behind them that I asked a certain 8 year old to pick up yesterday. I'm totally shocked that it didn't get done. Totally. 

We actually had a really good first day. I was very pleased by how well they listened and how little trouble they gave me. I know it will be a challenge. I know there will be days when I want to pull their my hair out, but I can honestly say with out a doubt that we are doing the right thing. A gal that I know always says that it's a good homeschool day when the day has come and gone with no crying. Today was a no crying day! 

A month from today....

One month from today we (I mostly) will start homeschooling the girls. We (I) will take the responsibility out of the hands of the women (and a couple of men) that went to school for years to learn how to do this, and bare that load ourselves (myself). We (I) will try and do this with as much grace, dignity, and humility that I (we?) can possibly muster up.

I see me growing in to my grace, dignity, and humility. Possibly very slowly.

I've got two children that are super excited about this new venture, and one, the one that inspired this mission, that can't wait for school to start so she can see her friends. I told her (again) this evening that she wouldn't be going back to her school this year, but that she's already got promises from a couple of people from school to come by on as many Fridays as they can to have breakfast with her. She looked at me, rolled her eyes and said, "Ok." She's hot, then she's cold. I guess we'll know when school starts.

Speaking of school starting...Have I mentioned that it's a month from today?

As much as I'd like to fancy myself an ace at elementary education (after all, I passed all those grades all those years ago...with ease, I might add), I fear that the kids know more about how to run a classroom at this point than I do. I see things all over the house that Graci has written when they're playing school. Sometimes I think to myself..."Maybe I should let her teach the first couple of weeks so I can get a handle on how a classroom is supposed to be run." I'm sure they will teach me a lot this year, same as I am hoping to teach them many things. (by the grace of God, and with help from my husband)

In happy homeschool news....

WE GOT DESKS!!! I was fortunate enough that a gal at our church tagged me in a post on facebook of girl that was selling tons of classroom stuff. She had the desks and chairs that I wanted and I got three of each for $45!! We have folding tables that we can do projects on, but I'm so happy that they're going to have their own space. (I'm hoping that that will keep the fighting to a minimum, thus keeping my sanity intact)

Any of my 'paid for teaching' or 'not paid for teaching' friends...Please feel free to let your fountain of experience flow my way. Like for instance, how many weeks of review from the previous year do you do at the beginning of the new school year? I'm counting on at least three. Oh, please let it be at least three. I have no clue about this and would greatly appreciate one of my super smart friends to let me in on what they do or what is standard.

As the year month week progresses, I'm sure I'll have many more questions. I know you'll help me with wonderful and insightful answers.

In all seriousness, please say your prayers for us during this school year. I feel like God has led me to do this, so in it I want him to be praised the whole way! I want my girls to learn and laugh like crazy this year and one day I want them to look back and be thankful for this opportunity that the good Lord has given us!

We're in Texas...I just saw a Cracker Barrel sign, Mommy.

I learned something from this last trip. I can't wait to home-school. I can't. I know it will be tough, but oh the things these kids will learn on their travels. They've already learned how to travel. They are most excellent at it. In fact, they look forward to it. Not only am I looking forward to all that they will learn, I'm looking forward to all that I'm going to learn with them. No longer will we have to just sit and read about the first thanksgiving...we will take them there and show them where it happened. (I think it happened on Turkey Run Road in West Virginia...I'm totally kidding) I fully intend to make them little inspirations to others when they tell tales of their travels many years down the road.

We hit 15 states on this trip alone! The girls get excited (esp Graci) every time we come to a state line. Audrey thinks we've crossed over in to Texas every time she sees a Cracker Barrel sign. And Sydney...Sydney might not want to be gone long, but she's still a great little traveler.

Ok...on to the trip...We hit Texas (of course...we can't NOT mention the mother land), Oklahoma, Kansas (saw the original Mater there), Missouri (went up in the arch...awesome!), Illinois, Indiana (Santa Claus pics in June ROCK!!), Kentucky (Visited some graves of the McCoy clan...a clan in which I am a descendant of), Ohio, West Virginia (visited my family, went swimming, took a night time rail trail walk the night of the super moon, took a grandma via wheelchair for a daytime trail walk, caught lightning bugs, went fishing, took tractor rides...the list is long), Virginia, Tennessee (Lookout Mountain is beautiful), Georgia (just a corner), Alabama (boring), Mississippi, and Louisiana (more boring).

We came home to Hansen sitting out in the front lawn waiting for us to get there. We missed him terribly and were soooo happy to get home to him. Graci wanted to know something the next day though...When could we go on another trip...this time, with Daddy. :-) Makes my heart happy that they love the asphalt, too!

We have many things planned. Lots and lots of learning trips, both big and small.  Trips to the museums and zoos during the week when few are there. Trips to the Grand Canyon. Trips to our Grand parents. From here on out, the Hansen's will tear up the asphalt when we can!

Stay tuned for funnier posts about my kids wanting to learn too much and me having to actually MAKE them watch TV now and then. (I very well could have that backward)

A new journey for the Hansen's on Asphalt

We are embarking on a new adventure come next school year. We will be homeschoolers. I, the very person that feels they couldn't teach ice to melt, will be trying to teach my children. I'm a little scared by this, but strangely at peace. I know that my Jesus wouldn't take me in a direction that I couldn't handle.

This brings me to this blog. Hansen's On Asphalt. We picked the title because of our love for traveling. We'd take a road trip every weekend if we could. Until now, our travels have been limited to the burning months of summer or holidays when prices are hiked up and places are crowded. We are looking forward to being able to take our kids where ever we want, when ever we want. While most homeschooling moms that I've talked to say that they never take (or take very little) school work with them when they got on vacation, if we travel during the school year, we plan on taking some of our studies with us and using the trip as a hands on learning experience for the girls. (and us!) I've traveled all over this country, but haven't, until recent years, stopped to explore any of it. More and more we are enjoying taking the road less traveled. Now...we can enjoy these roads when it isn't so stinking hot outside.

While we will enjoy traveling any time the opportunity presents itself, the homeschooling journey will be a journey all of it's own. Whether we're on the road or at home, I feel like it's an adventure worth documenting. While Hansen's On Asphalt started as a travel blog that would go with us on our journeys across the country, I'm hoping it evolves in to blog that helps me keep up with this new journey of ours. I can picture it now...We're sitting upstairs, me at my desk, the girls at theirs, and they're diligently working on their assignments that I taught to the effortlessly as though I'd been teaching for years and years. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to kick back and let the world know about what a breeze homeschooling is. Mozart will be playing quietly in the background, butterflies will flit about outside the window, assignments will be completed in a timely manner with perfect spelling and grammar. And I'm certain there will be no frustration in my little school room upstairs at all!

(Insert that sound of a needle being drug across a record and everything coming to a screeching halt *HERE*)

Wow...I didn't know I could type and dream all at the same time.

You get the gist of it. We will do the very best we can with our children with help from Jesus, family and friends. We will take the time to learn things that otherwise wouldn't be touched in school, AND the Hansen's will hit the asphalt every chance they get!

Going home...sad day

Well, we've had a successful week at Disney World. We rode practically everything that we could ride, ate almost everything we could eat, and walked further on a daily basis than any of us thought we could walk. We even made it the entire week with out a stroller for Audrey. I thought sure we'd have to get one for her a couple evenings ago when she said, "Mommy...I am so tired. My widdle wegs hurt." (we have trouble with the letter L) But, she was a trooper!

I've learned a few things this week about me and my kids. The first being that my kids aren't half as bad as I think they are. I had a good look around one day after a small breakdown (on my part) and discovered that my girls were acting tons better than the vast majority of the children that we saw. Sydney Ellen had her moments, but it was always when she was overstimulated. All in all, I have good children. Another thing...I knew Sydney was a home body, but she's more of one than I thought. She was actually more excited about going back to Texas this morning than she was about being at Disney World. Hang on Mamaw, you're going on our next trip...like it or not. We'll need someone to stay at the cabin when Sydney would rather watch movies than explore all the wonders that Disney has to offer. I also discovered that I have a child (mind you, I have all girls) that will actually cry when you don't buy her a Light Saber at the end of the Star Tours ride. It irritated me and made me proud all at the same time. Graci Lou has asked for a pirate sword, a light saber, and all of the Star Wars movies for Christmas.

We took and took pictures 'til Sydney was blue in the face. The girl HATES taking pictures unless Snow White is standing beside her or unless it's her idea. The two youngest girls are already ready to plan another trip. Sydney is planning on staying home with Mamaw (that's what she thinks anyway...like I said...mamaw is going to have to come with us) and letting the four of us go with out her. At times during the trip, I, too thought that would be a good idea. :-)

Here are just a couple pics. They'll all be on facebook. Oh...and one the girls and I took with our Ears on should be our christmas card...wonder if I can photoshop Eric in to it?!

We told them...

Well, the big surprise was this morning. Yeah...it was pretty anticlimactic. Well, according to my standards anyway. I expected to there to be tears of joy, numerous thank yous and hugs o'plenty. What I got was disbelief and a bit of 'lacklusterness'. What I wanted was Romeo & Juliet music and slow motion running to us thanking us from the bottom of their itty bitty hearts and what I got was a field full of crickets. I think I psyched myself out by watching too many of those videos on YouTube that showed sobbing and overreacting. This is also coming from a girl that imagined the birth of her first child to go kind of like the video from Mark Wills' "Loving Every Minute". (view it here -> ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMrEBR0WrU  to have a good laugh at me. we all know how sydney's birth turned out) My expectations were just a tad bit high. Once it sunk in, they were very excited and bouncing off the walls. Sydney is fighting a wide range of emotions. The Snow White ride is no longer there and that is her very favorite. The devastation of this news was eclipsed by the revelation that we'd be eating at Tony's Restaurant (from lady and the tramp) at the end of the week. She was a mess for 30 seconds, but she got over it quickly. Now she just wants to get there as fast as she can. Graci, who woke up croupy this morning, wrote me and Eric two sweet little notes expressing her gratitude and told us later that she was bursting on the inside, but didn't want to get too excited because she didn't want to start coughing. Then there's Audrey, the perpetual baby. She did a lot of hollering, whining cause we weren't there yet and and well, just being Audrey. If you know her, I know you need no explanation. They are all very excited though and I can finally let out a sigh of relief. We pulled it off. Just because they didn't have a reaction that we (or I) wanted, doesn't mean they aren't grateful. It just means they aren't me and that's fine. :-)

When we get there, we're going to check in and either go straight to the Magic Kingdom or to Downtown Disney to look for princess dresses. We have meals with the princess twice during our visit, so we want them to be able to dress up.

Right now, we are about 2 1/2 hours away and the excitement is starting to build, especially with Audrey. She won't shut her sweet little mouth...but then again she never does.

Say a little prayer for us, if you don't mind. Three of us are coughing, one woke up croupy and the other is good...I'd love for him to stay that way.

More later from the happiest place on Earth!

Shhhhhh...it's a secret...well, 'til tomorrow!

Well, we are officially on the road again!! And, now I can finally say where we are going...

There is excitement running through me like crazy. We're on a road trip, which I love AND we are nearing the climax of the biggest secret we've ever kept from our kids. People have asked me numerous times how it is that we've kept this trip a secret for almost a year and a half. We're those parents that irritated 90% of people by not finding out the sex of our babies before they were born...let's face it, this is a cake walk. In fact, it's becoming more and more fun. Sydney keeps saying, "Awwwww poor Snow White...She needs me!! I wanna go to Disney World!!" And Graci and Audrey, every time they turn around they're asking me when we can go back. Well, girls...hold on to your Mickey Ears...We are headed to Disney World!!! The most happiest (yes, I said most happiest) place on the planet!! As Eric says, "The grass is greener, The sky is clearer!"

We are going to tell them in the morning after we get ready for our second day on the road. Hopefully that second day will only be about 4 hours of driving. I know once they find out they'll ask us about every ten minutes if we're there yet. That'll be ok though. If they're a fraction as excited as I am, then they'll hardly be able to contain themselves.

After we check in tomorrow we will go straight to the Magic Kingdom! I can't wait to see Cinderella's Castle from the boat as we round the Contemporary Resort. I'll probably get all teary eyed. I expect to do that a lot on this trip. Seeing the castle for the first time, watching the Beauty and the Beast show at Hollywood Studios, seeing the girls with their favorite princesses, taking the girls to the potty for the 90th time. (hey, I didn't say it would all be good stuff that makes me teary eyed)  Our last trip I found myself choked up on more that one occasion. I'm a crier, we all know this, but when you add Disney Magic to the mix, I'm liable to cry a lot simply from sheer joy. We are so very blessed to be able to do this trip again and we get to share it with another family this time too! Last time we went with Elayna (one of my friends from college) and her family and this time Leigh Ann and her family are going with us!!

If you think about it, say a prayer for safe travels for us!! I'll keep you updated here and of course, on facebook.

Such a slacker, I am...

Wow. The last time I blogged for Hansen's on Asphalt was almost a year ago. I didn't read that one before I started this entry; I'm guessing it's about our Thanksgiving trip to WV last year.

I could have blogged a half a dozen times about various trips since then. I don't know what's wrong with me. I LOVE the reason behind this blog...why don't I keep up with it better? I've often thought about just making it the family blog. It doesn't have to be an epic trip that I blog about. We are, after all, on some type of surface driving somewhere most every day. Trust me...the stories that come just from driving the girls a mile to school could sometimes fill an "Asphalt" entry. Maybe that's just what I'll do. I can start with this, move on to our big Thanksgiving trip and then just keep up with it. Yeah...I'm laughing too. You never know. It could happen. Maybe some of you regular bloggers can keep me accountable?!

What ever happens, I WILL be blogging on our way out of town in a couple of weeks. It promises to be a very exciting trip and I will fill you in once we're on the road!