Here is my original message just before delivery (in my moment of freaking out
): "My package will be here today and I am so nervous!! I hope it is everything I hoped it would be. Our last program was a disappointment (cheap copies of bland student sheets, poor books for science, too many Usborne/DK books for my liking, high school level book for a 9 year old, not enough substance or skill building, vague directions, too many trips to the store, etc.). That experience has me nervous about receiving our first complete HOD order!"
Here is my reply after I ripped open the box like a mad woman
:"Oh My Gosh!! It [CTC] is beautiful!!!!!!!! The books are amazing! The student pages are wonderful! It's not a bunch of coloring pages and maps from google! The tm is fantastic! I love the detailed directions for narrations and prepared dictation. It doesnt just say "narrate" in the preface and that is it. There is research, geography, poetry, and timeline work every week! There are history projects each week and I am not just reading aloud for every subject and having the kids look at me like "okay, now what are WE suppose to do?" I cant wait to look through it some more. We will start half speed since my kiddos have not had much instruction (in the way they were use to) with the other program. They have pretty much been on a long break from true learning using the other program. They complained it was too easy. Now I wonder what they will think since they have been skating by for the last three months . I am so glad to have found HOD!
Ps. Please no tomato throwing by those that love the other program. This is my opinion and it reflects our experience. Many people love it. We didn't. Different strokes...."
My husband and children had a nice laugh as I literally hugged my big, white, dirty box
! Dh says my Christmas present will be a box full of books. I said as long as I got to choose them, that's fine 
. I am soooo ready and wanting to buy Beyond for my upcoming 1st grader!
.