We moved from FL to WA this summer, via NY. My favorite spot on I-90 was Badlands. Otherwise, if I were you, I'd spend all my time in WA. It's amazing out here, and the Olympic Penn is my favorite! And you'll be way out there- Enjoy!! (And yes, I figure I earned my road trip warrior shirt for going 6000 miles with three kids, ha!)

Thank you! Just what I needed to be reminded of! We are going to be ok ha!!

First, I have to say I've been reading here for 10 years and I wouldn't be able to teach my kids the way I can, without all the advice found here. What a treasure! My story- I'm teaching a 4th and 2nd grader. In June we moved 4000 miles across the country. It's taken several months to get our family settled and on track and figure out a new school routine. Just as we are getting things back into routine, we find out we are moving 3000 miles BACK across the country (southeast to northwest and now the northeast), because the job we came for isn't actually legit (long story). You can feel sorry for me later- 10, 8 and 4 year old and a dog and a husband. We are moving in the beginning of January- so December is holiday and packing month, January will pretty much be travel for 3/4 weeks. Help me out with keeping kids on track. They are using Horizons math, so we will continue that- it's easy and light to just pack their workbooks, I don't need the teacher's manuals. We read lots, so I think we can just continue with reading out loud and having 2nd grader read me books on Kindle as necessary. I need something we can use for Language arts- keeping 2nd grader practicing handwriting and both of them sort of moving forward in those areas. I can stop worrying about history and science for the next two months right? I know my kids will be ok, but I need another pat on the back please :) Basically I'm asking- is there a workbook that anyone suggests I can use? Open and go, something that maybe isn't the "world's best" but will help in the short-term? Something we can sit down with for an hour each day and do math/language, just so we don't feel stupid? Thanks everyone!

I think it involves a fair amount of insanity, ha! We just moved Orlando to Washington State. We had about 4 weeks to pack and wrap up work. Then drove FL-NY to visit family, then NY-WA. Three kids under 9. We've now been here almost 6 weeks and I feel like I'm slowly breathing more normal again. Keep repeating to yourself that it's a season . . . . At least that's what I keep telling myself!

Following because this was our case this year! Another family who helped us with driving.

I work at a home for kids with behavior issues, we use them here. My amazing boss has also made and sold some. If you want, I can share a link to his Instagram, and you can check them out, very well made. PM me if you want his info. Erika

Just a simple tip- I tend to want to wait until I've figured out systems all the way, before implementing them. I'm finally learning that sometimes you just have to DO IT. For example, tomorrow morning, when kids are done eating, tell them to stack their dishes in the sink. When lunch is over, remind them to clear their place. Then give everyone a simple job- one wash, one sweep, etc. everyone works for 10-15 min and its clean. This "just do it" has changed my house- before I waited until some fancy system was in place and it was paralyzing. Hugs! This too shall pass . . .

Listening here . . . I grew up in NY so Florida history is a foreign concept to me. Love Strawberry Girl though!

Thanks for this thread. We have the ebook for year one and I found myself avoiding it because it wasn't appealing. Good to know the book is worth it and attractive.

We live in Orlando and fly one or twice a year into the Syracuse area. I've done it alone with a baby and two year old (during which the two year old got a virus and puked every 20 minutes for three hours, while the baby cried because he got woken every 20 minutes . . . ). Every flight is easy after that one! Seriously! Last year they were 6 and 4 and I couldnt believe how easy it was! You can survive a 3 hour flight. For the car trip, pre-print yourself maps and stopping points along the way. That will take some of the stress of a drive out of the way. Don't let the fear of a couple travel hours stop you from fun . . . If the trip sounds like fun! My best friend just flew from Indonesia with SIX kids under 11, by herself! 36 travel hours, 24 of them flying, I always tell myself that if she can do that, I can certainly handle three hours with my kids!

We go to one of the Discovery Church campuses (Southwest), but they have one more toward downtown. Casual, friendly and all types of people here! http://www.discoverychurch.org/. They are very welcoming of our boys (children's home kids). Another similar church is Grace, and they have been very welcoming of our boys, and people from all walks of life. http://discovergrace.com/orlando/ Pm me if she wants to go and wants to have someone to meet her and sit with, I always hate going to a new church alone. Erika

Okay, thanks ladies! We'll just go with that then :) Erika

We are getting ready to start this with DD, for K. As I looked through the books, I just can't figure out how to plan it out, over the year. Should my goal be to do books A and B over the year and then divide them up? Just do a couple of pages a day . . . Or do more a day, until they get harder? I want to be flexible for areas that may be hard, but at the same time I want some kind of plan to keep us going. Are there pre-written plans out there somewhere? Tried and true mammas with advice? Thanks! Erika