We decided to go as a family to Jared's annual cardiologist check-up in Florida. Since we were going as a family, we drove. To keep our sanity, we left after Chris finished work on Wednesday and stopped a little over half-way in Savanah, GA. We actually made great time, hit the local Panera for dinner and went to sleep. (BTW I am now addicted to their Iced Green Tea :-P). Day 1 done.
Day Two, we ate at the hotel and headed out early. We stopped about an hour out from our destination to meet with my parents for lunch at Tijuana Flats. There too I found a new favorite dish, the Non-tortia. Yay me! I was two for two. The kids ate but mainly enjoyed conversing with their grandparents. I was enjoying the interaction too, so I completely forgot to take any pictures.
Next, we were off to drop off three kids at the Paray's and head to the Cardiologist with Jared. Going to the cardiologist, is like visiting family for us. This visit we got good and bad news. The good news is that Jared continues to do well. The bad news left us completely crushed, our doc was having to retire early and close his practice. After some tears on all sides, we decided that our best choice for future check-up would be so go to Boston to see the cardiologist we worked with during Jared's surgery. It will be a longer trip but as Chris pointed out there are a lot of neat places we could visit.
We returned to the Paray's a bit contemplative but the house was too busy with kids and friends to be that way for long. Miss Cynthia even came by for a visit. Tia Mae had read "Egg boys" mind and made Adobo and pizza for the rest. Next, it was time to leave Tio Denise to study while we checked into our room at the Fountains.
Day Three was under the guise of if we are going we might as well.....go to Legoland. I had arranged for us to get the homeschool rate and made sure the Paray's had no school that day, not a common combination. This trip was in part for Titus' birthday and in part so that Matthew could finally go before he was no longer considered a kid for admission purposes.
The weather could not have been more perfect for our visit. The girl and I got all turned around on the boat ride (multiple times). The boys enjoyed the cars and the Fireman show. As a bonus I was able to sign everyone up, but Amber, for one of their Mind-storm robotics classes. Chris stayed with the kids, Mae, Amber and enjoyed the peace and quiet found wandering what was left of the Cypress Gardens gardens. We finished the day by Titus and I sneaking a carousal ride on the way out. I think he enjoyed his birthday vacation. By the end of the day everyone was pretty wiped. Mae had wondered why they closed at 5pm, by the end of the day we both agreed it was because they liked the parents. Needless to say no one was really up to cook, so we just ordered pizza, took short walk around resort and went to bed.
Day Four we stayed put at the resort. The kids wandered around, practiced baseball, swam, played basketball and the such. Mae and I took it easy watched them and talked. It was another beautiful day weather wise and company.
Day Five was time for farewells, everyone had to get back to life. Parting is always such sweet sorrow but God willing we will see each other again in only a few months. We had planned on stopping halfway again, but circumstances changed that made it necessary for us to push through. Thankfully, we still managed to get home by 9pm that night, tired but in one piece. On the upside we got to listen to more of our audio books and I was able to finish all the books I had brought to pre-read. More about that later.
Oh, and on an aside I had a wonderful birthday the Thursday we got back. The kids were great during the day and then Chris and slipped off to try a new (to us) restaurant downtown called Sitti. We got a parking lot right out front, and a perfect table to people watch, as we talked and ate dinner. The food was absolutely fabulous. It was Lebanese fare, similar to Turkish restaurant we had eaten at in the past but with a slightly different twist on everything, like crushed pistachio paste in the Baklava. In fact it was so good, Chris said we'll have to come back for his half birthday, his real birthday is too far away and we even know what we are going to try next.
I found an overwhelming type of Nirvana this year; the Wake County Library Book Sale. I should have taken a picture so you could understand the vastness, there were literally millions of books. Jared was a trooper and went with me both days. On Friday, all books were $2 so I put my focus on larger hardbacks. After two hours we had only made it through 10% of the books but we were burned out because they were in no particular order. We bought 17 books that day. Sunday, was a completely different animal. On Sunday, you paid by the box and line was out the door to get in. We made it through another third of the books before burnout this time. We managed to come home with two huge boxes; mainly illustrated children's books but a few other treasures as well. After bringing them home three big boxes of books, I realized I needed to re-arrange the school room to make room. Merry Christmas to us! Now back to the book reviews.
This month, I pre-read a book about the civil war called Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder. This has to be hands down the best book I've found to read about the civil war. Instead of it being all about the politics and the battles, its about the people who have to live in the aftermath of the war. It's written from the perspective of a young boy whose lost his whole family to the war. He is sent to live with distant family that took a different stance on the war, they stayed out of it. The tale weaves the different sides and different tales of different characters to give the reader the whole picture of the war. It is also a story about forgiveness and understanding in the end.
Jared's choice book this month was Amazing Cow: Udder Absurdity for Children by Sandra Boynton. He was quite pleased to find his own copy at the book sale. Therefore, we are now official owners of this silly and comical book. The book is an accumulation of various cow stories, riddles, prose, etc. Jared loves reading it aloud to Titus over and over again. I must admit to cracking a smile or two myself.
Lance had a bit of a casual read this month a well; Capture the Flag by Kate Messner. I picked it up as the monthly suggested reading book at the library. It's the first in what is suppose to be a series of art detective mystery books. It's an easy read but an enjoyable plot. The detectives turn out to e a group of kids who come together by accident, playing against a group of art thieves. The book has a political bent but they do a pretty good job of staying party neutral (SPOILER: The bad guy wears a cowboy hat but he's from Massachusetts). Lance said he enjoyed the read and finished it rather quickly.
The History read aloud this month was Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli. Marguerite is one of my favorite authors due to her style of writing and her gift for story telling. Charlotte Mason would never call her twaddle, yet the boys never have trouble following the story. It's a perfect balance. The book follows a young man dealing with being crippled and temporarily abandoned in London during the time of the Bubonic plague. It is a story of personal growth and over coming challenges in life to come out a better person in the end.
