Shawn and I decided to take on a new project this year. We've been working on reorganizing the home school group at our church. Many of our home school families have kids in both "Senior" (7th - 12th grade) and "Junior" (1st-6th grade) groups. We needed to plan activities that met the needs of each age group, while managing time by scheduling them together.
We decided to plan two "classes" per year, that would meet the county requirements for "electives." The kids are taking an Evangelism class with visitation until December. Then in January, the Senior group will be taking Speech, and the Juniors will be taking Music.
With demanding schedules, we only planned a few field trips. The group will be touring the National Cryptologic Museum this semester, and the Spy Museum, next semester, which will include an afternoon touring Washington D.C. museums of choice.
Family activities included a Christmas fellowship, Bowling Night, and Summer Break Fellowship/Field Day in the spring.
Throughout the year our church has some amazing guest speakers, Bible College professors, missionaries, and visitors. We've centered some activities, such as dinners, to get the kids around and interacting with them. These pictures are of our dinner with Dr. Oats from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, WI. He was teaching "Problems in Evangelicalism II," a module Bible class, last week.
Lastly, we set aside one night a month just for the parents. In the past trying to plan a meeting around every ones schedule was an impossible task. Keeping the meeting the same night, time and place every month, such as 7:00pm on the second Monday at Panera Bread, will give everyone the opportunity to plan their schedules around the meeting.
The dads "Iron Sharpening Time" will be working through "Building a Godly Home" by Woodrow Kroll.
The moms will alternate volunteers to give a 5-10 min. devotional/challenge, that center around homeschooling, or being a Godly mother/wife. The "Mom's Night Out" can include sharing praises, update calendars/activities, and spending some time in prayer.
We're pretty excited about the wonderful group of homeschooling families we have in our church this year. We are praying the ABC Homeschool Group gives opportunities of Christ-centered service and fellowship, as well as, aid and encourage families in their efforts to educate their children.
The Breen tradition... Monopoly! Don't cry Simon & Tim!! We still love you... and Julie is no fun to play with - way too nice!!! 
We're having a lot of fun with having Julie around for the holidays... now if we could just persuade her to stay until after the baby is born... :-) I'd love to see my new little cousin! 
They all enjoyed Charles Ross's tour de force solo performance One-Man Star Wars Trilogy.
The performance was a 1 hour recapping of the first three original films in a whirlwind of voices and sounds.
They had refreshments afterwards. Before they left, Charles Ross came out and they were able to talk, take pictures, get autographs... and get strangled by him! (Keep in mind, this was a "Guys Night Out.") 
The boys and Dads all had a great time, and they all LOVED the show! 
It was chilly, but the tent heaters worked well. The time flew by! Of course it helps when your with your best friend! :-)
Who does this remind you of? :-0 !?!?! 
Shawn's parents came too! Audrey checked in as #104, but she made the final morning cut, to #99!!! Very happy camper!
Chic-fil-A fed us, and we enjoyed a lot of games! Here's Dylan and Jeanine, playing the M&M toss.
One of our favorite games, Mexican Train!
Jack, roughing it with his battery operated, black & white, portable TV!
What grand opening can be without the Chic-fil-A Cow?!?!
We got a tour of the kitchen. I have to say, I was amazed at how fresh the food at Chic-fil-A really is. Even their lemonade is made each morning with 3 ingredients! ;-) This is what is used to cut the salads, fruit, cole slaw, etc. each day.
Dylan and some friends constructing their marshmallow tower.
Home sweet home, here we come!
News crews from ABC 2 and Fox 45 were on site at 5:30 am this morning, along with radio stations. Debi and the Smith Family were on live this morning... Cool-e-o!
Dylan learned how to skate this thing in 20 minutes last night. By this morning he was doing tricks on it.
Our Free T-Shirts!
The final line up!
We also met Dan Cathy, President and Chief Operating Officer, and heard some of his and his families testimony. (Yes, those are Chic-Fil-A Jammie's!)
... my Mother-n-law who offered to have Thanksgiving at her house...
... my parents, who spent the day with us ...
... my dear hubby, WITH A MUSTACHE! ...
... our two puppies, (who got table food for the first time!) and their ability to wait for the "take it" command ...
... my very sweet daughter ...
... laughing and being silly ...
... for times and seasons ...
... for Annapolis Power Boat School! ...
... and calm water (for when hubby drives! Hee hee!) =). ...
... for cousins - especially pregnant ones! ...
... for this really good Bay Bridge shot, FINALLY! ...
... and this one too!!! ...
... for living in the beautiful state of Maryland...
... for our country, and military ...
... for my son, who keeps my heart beating on a regular basis ...
... and my gorilla husband, who know just the right way to test the sturdiness of the tree house he's building for Dylan! ...
... for electric fences so border collie puppies can R U N ! 
... And most of all, I am THANKFUL that the Lord SAVED me! 
I'm spending the day cleaning... with a cold. But I am thankful! I got most of the Christmas decorating done yesterday, and a huge weight will be lifted when this day is over! 
We decided to plan two "classes" per year, that would meet the county requirements for "electives." The kids are taking an Evangelism class with visitation until December. Then in January, the Senior group will be taking Speech, and the Juniors will be taking Music.
With demanding schedules, we only planned a few field trips. The group will be touring the National Cryptologic Museum this semester, and the Spy Museum, next semester, which will include an afternoon touring Washington D.C. museums of choice. 
Lastly, we set aside one night a month just for the parents. In the past trying to plan a meeting around every ones schedule was an impossible task. Keeping the meeting the same night, time and place every month, such as 7:00pm on the second Monday at Panera Bread, will give everyone the opportunity to plan their schedules around the meeting. 
