Convention Purchases

Well, from my report about the convention (below), you can probably tell that I don't go to conventions for the shopping, although I realize many people do. I like to look in the vendor hall, but more often than not, it overwhelms me.

I go to seminars for the "experience" - the seminars, the friends, the night out, etc....

That said, I did find some things to buy! Here they are:

• "markerboard" number line marked 0-25
• soda bottle bird feeder adaptor
• Trees of Michigan field guide (our summer "unit" will be tree identification)
• Zeta Math U See complete set (David has already started it)
• Beta Math U See student books (for James when he finishes Alpha)
• Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (to replace the art we are doing now)
• My First Book of Cutting - Kumon (for Suzy so she stops cutting hair, pants, etc...)
• Explode the Code book 2 - for James, since I don't have Alphabet Island 2A right now
• Jonathan Park Volume 1 audio CD's
• Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends: How to Fight the Good Fight at Home! by Sarah, Stephen and Grace Mally
• You Can Paint Watercolors: A Step by Step Guide for Absolute Beginners by Alwyn Crenshaw
• a paint with water book (for Suzy)
• My Book Report Journal - ELP (for Emily next year)
• subscriptions to Hopscotch for Girls, Fun for Kidz, Boys' Quest (bimonthly magazines to replace God's World News, which none of us really find too enthralling)
• a place marker thing for James' reading
  
• a DeVos for Governor bumpersticker :-) (actually free!)
  
• Dover coloring book - Warriors of the Ages
• Dover coloring book - Landmarks of the Ancient World

Stuff I had hoped to find but didn't:

• Analytical Grammar (have to SEE it before spending that kind of money, but after hearing Andrew Pudewa, I am pretty much determined to not do any formal grammar at this point)
• How to Write Book Reports (Resurrection Resources)
• Writing Step-by-Step (Builder Books)
• Greek Alphabetarion (Trivium Pursuit)
• Piano for Quitters
• Scripture Memory Fellowship books
• Fun Projects for Hands-on Character Building - Boyer
• More Rummy Roots card game
• Lyrical Life Science
• Even the Sound Waves Obey Him
• ArtWorks for Kids
• Student's Guide to Keeping an Art Journal
• Jon Gnagy Learn to Draw set
• Teaching History Through Art
• Alphabet Island 2A workbook

I wouldn't have purchased all that, but I wanted to see it before ordering.

Stuff I looked at and decided not to get:

• Wordly Wise
• Considering God's Creation (still plan to get it, but wanted to wait to spend the $$ or see if I can find it used)
• Hittite Warrior/God King and other historical novels (just can't spend the money on that!)
• Diana Waring tapes or CD's (again, still want to get them eventually)
• Homeschool in the Woods timeline figures (too expensive, and I like how we do our timeline just fine right now)
• Come Look with Me: Enjoying Art with Children (beautiful book, but I needed something more in-depth)
• Jensen's Grammar (wasn't impressed)
• Progeny Press and Total Language Plus literature guides (Maryann has a bunch I can borrow! lol)
• Rosetta Stone (just can't spend $200 on it right now!)
• Squire and the Scroll (will get it someday)
• 100 Top Picks - Duffy (will buy it eventually)

So, there you go! My adventures in convention spending. :-)