Kevin and I home school our boys too; we have been for 3 years now. Before that they were in a small church school that is now not open, so they have never been to a public school, and that is just the way we want it.  I am the one who makes sure the boys do their work each day, David is in 9^th  grade and Joey in 7^th grade.  We use a computer curriculum that is also used by small private schools, Switched On Schoolhouse. It teaches most of it and I have to only tutor and grade some of it, still always checking their work. Also each state has different laws and rules for Home Schooling and we are enrolled or “umbrellaed” under a school that keeps our records and grades and we are then put on their list as teachers, this also keeps the Public School system out of home, and our children do not need to take any standardize testing like FCAT.  I am happy to say both of them are making A’s and B’s in all subjects, including Bible, Math, Language Arts, History & Geography, and Science as well as Consumer Math and Health for the 9^th grade. It dose help that they both like learning even If they may not admit it. 

 We do keep busy with many others who Home School with different activities and church youth groups, this helps to because they still have a social group they keep up with.We have learned that it is quieter to pick Sept – Nov for our vacations as there are fewer children on so our children can have the “run” of the ship more, and do get a little extra attention too. Oh and it also help that this is also the time of the year that has the lowest prices and with booking for 4 that is a big deal right now.  Our boys have also made friends on the last few cruises of other home schoolers too and that is nice for them to compare with other that have the same background.

 With this being such a large subject I will post it at my blog to if any have any questions I would be glad to answer if I can,  

 Heidi-Beth

I posted this as a comment: http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/01/29/schools-out/

 

It is the time of year when everyone is so busy, with shopping, parties, and other seasonal activities. I cannot say I have a favorite time of year but I do enjoy each time as they bring change and new thing to my life. There is something about December I do enjoy more than other times, and it is not what you are thinking. December 2 is our anniversary, I know I let it pass in this blog but I now look on this here, it was 17 years ago, I was only 18 and was not even looking to fall in love, but the summer of 1990 I did, with one of my best friends. I had just graduated High School, and was working at a laundry-mat where I played cribbage with a lot of my friends; he was the only one who I could never beat at the game.

It was his 26^th birthday when we had our first date, if you can call hanging out at his place playing Zelda dating… I helped him beat the game the next day. We sat and talk for hours I know it was those soft brown eyes I fell into. Believe it or not that is what we did most of the time talked, I learned he liked classical music and knew so much about music. Though I had to just about pull anything about him out, as he is very modest especially when it came to things that would make him look good. We only dated a few months and it was watching Casablanca, he is a true old fashion romantic, perfect gentleman I completely fell in love with him (and he knew it). Well it is a much longer story than that. I was soon working as a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) and moved in with him. When I lost my job there he told me he did not care if I ever worked he would take care of me. 

It was in November and as normal I walked down to his work so we could walk home together, when his shift was over we were in the office when some one just asked when are you two going to get married. He did not miss a beat, he did not ever flinch, he just pointed to a date on the calendar and that was that, 3 weeks later we were married.

Now 17 years later I look back I do not know how but love him more now that I did then. Yes, there where some very hard time but through it all we held each other up in love. He is my prince charming, always there when I need him, and I do all I can to be there for him. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband. I still love to get lost in those deep brown eyes, I can see his heart every time he look at me.

I should also add that it was he that decided to a different church Easter Sunday, in 1997. We have never been the same since walking into that apostolic church, Thank God. Now not only do I have a loving, caring, brilliant, handsome husband but I also have a man that is a strong leader in our home, who follows God with all his heart, I could not ask for more, I am so blessed.

I finally uploaded all the good pictures, I only had 1500 to go through. I tried to get as much of the different parts of the ship as I could. I have not tagged them, but I put some info in the description. I hope you all enjoy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11573727@N00/sets/

One of the best things I like about taking a cruise is it is only a few hours from home to several ports, Port Canaveral and Tampa being the easiest for us, with the most to choose from.  The  Carnival Glory is the top of the list of what we wanted to do for over a year and we finally where able to go with a combination of a really good deal and saving (most don’t believe the price we got, but we booked a year in advance) the whole thing for the 4 of us was under $2,000. We are hoping to go on the Eastern soon too, maybe in 2 years especially if WeeJimmy is still Cruise Director, but that is for another time.

It was a nice drive to Port Canaveral, Florida is a beautiful place to live and I always enjoy the drive. That a side, there is nothing like the drive to your vacation, what ever it is. As you get closer the anticipation grows, watching the sings that let you know you are almost there. But the most spectacular site of all is the first glimpse of “your” ship as you head into the port.

First Glimpse Of Glory

 We got to the port at 11:30 and there where already a lot of people there. Port Canaver is well set up and it was very easy to get through it all, the line was always moving and the wait was not long. There was no problems at all in getting to the ship.  As always the first sight (after the photographers) is breathtaking, the Old Glory is one of my favorite places on the ship. It is so friendly and inviting. The mix of colors are amazing, and I love the ceiling! Over the whole cruise Kevin lost count of how many pictures I took of the ceiling. Now you have to see it to believe it, it is panels that change color, and if you have seen the video of the making of the Glory you would understand (Joe Farcus, the designer is brilliant!) http://www.carnival.com/Ship_Detail.aspx?shipCode=GL the link to it is on the right.

With all due respect and I did take many picture of I think every room I could on the ship, this is still a vacation and a cruise at that so…. I leave you with a pick of:

My first stop

 As I have already left a little of the Welcome aboard show on my last blog I end here and will continue my next (hopefully) with our first full day at sea…. will try to make a special entry of food later, but all the pictures will  be on my Flickr (half way there on that too)

We had a great time on the Glory! We ended up going to Key West, Cozumel, Progreso, and Nassau, but the high light was WeeJimmy. He made a point to stop us more than once to talk with us. The boys really liked him, especially Joey who got a fun picture with him pretending to give WeeJimmy a trophy. I would like to thank Heidi, I did ask about Mr. Robinson and he did say he has him, but did not share him, however I do a a picture of the Pursers desk maneger (as he is called) is a Teddy Bear named  Neil, ….maybe a relitive? through out the shows WeeJimmy called our names, in the credits once and even told kevinand I to stand by name too, I was able to talk to another the last night and WeeJimmy had them all wondering who we were. I can not for the life of me remeber his name but he knows John, and has worked with him(think it was the one who worked the Karaoke bar, tall with white hair…. except whe he was playing Cher in the Legends proformance the last night. Have a pictrue of that too but it is blurry ), andyway he was glad to know who WeeJimmy was calling on and was no surprised that knew John (even if only through his Blog Thingy)

WeeJimmy n pipes

Us and WeeJimmy

Joey and WeeJimmy

Neil

I am working on setting up the rest of the picture online, have not decided on were yet, maybe Flickr or set up a geocities site for it either way I will post the link when I am done.