Wow, has it been a super duper long time since Blake and I attended a homeschool convention!

I know it has been at least ten years, but probably longer.

I asked Blake about going this year as I round out my homeschooling career with our double caboose who start high school this fall.

He agreed that it would be a good idea!

I needed a different plan for Tate and Eliza than I did for Lane, or even Chad, who were my last two graduates.

And I wanted to see and touch some books!

Talk to some professional homeschool book vendors!

And get some inspiration from some speaking sessions.

We signed up for MACHE – Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators – convention at the end of May.

We were going to be gone two days for it, but ended up missing the first day and just attending the second one.

I am still so glad we went!

Jazzy saw the suitcases out and would not leave my side before we left.

Sweet girl thought she would be going along!

That Friday, since we got a very late start, we stopped in Rochester to stay the night and drive the rest of the way the next day.

I took some reading material for the drive, but, as usual, could not focus enough to read it.

We decided to go for dinner at Twigs, a gluten-free restaurant that we had been to once before.

The weather was warm enough to sit outside!

I will say that this place was struggling that night, BIG TIME, but we ended up getting most of our meal free because of it, and still enjoyed being there!

Boy, do we look tired.

We were tired!

Our hotel stay was short and sweet, but at least we were that much closer to the convention the next morning!

We headed the rest of the way and got there shortly after it started.

I wanted to start in the vendor areas, and skip the speaking sessions unless we had time to get to one later, since we were only going to be there that one day.

I am very glad we did this!

It was a lot of money to pay to drive there, have a hotel, and the pay entrance fee just to look at curriculum, but it is what it is, my hubby says!

We came home with a list of possibilities to pray and think over.

I have since then ordered what we decided would be best for our 9th grade year starting this fall!

After we left the convention, we headed back through Rochester and stopped at the Costco there to stock up on grocery.

We also bought a pool floating thing, that would not fit in the cart!

Blake said I was embarrassing him walking around shopping with that thing over my neck – but it was the easiest way to carry it, ha, ha!!

Please notice my face at the check out as the total is growing and growing, sigh.

Grocery is SO expensive these days!!!!

We stopped at Qdoba for some dinner after Costco, because we had not eaten all day and we were starving!!

Looking back on this trip makes me smile.

It was rushed and during a very busy time at home, but worth it.

I am so glad we got to look at curriculum in person!

As usual, my hubby makes it all happen.

Thanks, babe, for doing this for me!!

You are one in a billion!!