WARNING: Long Blog Ahead! (and lots of pictures)

So I guess I have not been as good at this blog thing as I had hoped when I started it. What did I say once.... that I would post a couple times a week??? HA! My apologies. I have been informed by my Mother though that I need to post more often. LOL :) I really am so busy that I don't have much time to sit at the computer and write. I am lucky if I get to check my email on a daily basis. My poor Grandma Carol too - I used to write to her almost everyday and now she is lucky to get an email from me once a month. Sorry Grandma!! I love you!

Anyway, I finally have time tonight to sit and write - and I better warn you, I have A LOT to write about!! So grab your tea or coffee or wine (depending on the time of day I guess) or whatever and be prepared to be here a while. LOL :)

I guess I will start with the Homeschool Co-op that we have been doing for the past month. Today was actually our last co-op day (for now). We have been going every Friday for the past four weeks. Brenna had a wonderful time and really enjoyed everything that we did. I ended up helping in Brenna's class (Kinder-1st) and all the things that they did revolved around Indians. They made books, head dresses, jewelry and practiced the "Ten Little Indians" song that they will do for Report Day next week. This was the first time that the Homeschool group has done this and it was a HUGE success and so much FUN. We will do it again starting in February but this time it will be for 8 weeks instead of 4 (with a one week break during Spring Break) and will go till noon instead of 11am. I never did get any pictures because, of course, I forgot to take my camera but I will snap some during Report Day next week when Brenna's group gets up and does their song and will post some. Tim Smith (our local weather man) will be there next week talking to the kids about the weather so we are excited about that. I have a few things that we are going to do Monday and Tuesday pertaining to weather to get ready for that. I will also have Brenna watch the news those days as well so she can see "the man on TV" that she's going to get to meet (maybe she'll pay attention more if she thinks he's a real 'TV star'? LOL)

Anyway, Brendon, Brenna and I went to a really cool place last Saturday (Oct. 27th). It was the corn maze that they do here every Fall and we had a BLAST!! I guess they have been doing it for a few years now but we have never gone, which I really regret now! I thought it was just the maze but when we got there they had a playground, hay stacks for the kids to play in, a pumpkin patch, hay ride, train ride, corn box (like a sand box but full of corn!), a farm animal petting place, and loads of great food (my favorite! hahaha!). The maze was so much fun! We were in it for about an hour and yes, we did get lost a couple times but thanks to Brendon's great directional skills we did just fine. I tell you what, if I had to get us through there we might STILL be there! :) This place is open until the end of December so we are planning to go back a couple more times. I have quite a few pictures......

So on to Halloween!!! Brenna was the cutest little witch that I have ever seen! Technically, I guess, she was a witch FAIRY but she was darn cute! We went to one of the church festivals that we go to every year with Nan and like always, we had a wonderful time. Brenna was all about trick-or-treating this year though so we did not stay as long as we usually do. After the festival we went on our hunt for candy with Nan and Kastine (Grandma and cousin) and went in Kastine's neighborhood and our neighborhood. Of course we went to see Grandma Dawn and Grandpa Kim too. Brenna got loads of candy and has been so generous to share it with Brendon and I. I have been having some chocolate for breakfast every morning. YUM! Here are some pictures of Brenna in her costume...........

Anyway, as you can see, we have been having such a wonderful time. I really do feel so blessed to be able to homeschool my wonderful, sweet, funny little girl. :) I just love being able to spend all day with her and to be the one who answers all of her questions and see the 'light bulb' click when she learns something. Besides all of the 'fun stuff' that I have posted about, she is learning how to write, is getting to be a FANTASTIC reader, doing so many fun crafts (we had a BLAST doing Halloween stuff!), mastering addition and subtraction as well as starting to understand the concept of fractions, and she has recently learned how to count to 100 by 10's and 5's. I try to incorporate learning in everything that we do - it is so hard to describe it all. She learns so much just by doing 'real life' things too - like cooking, helping me with yard work, going grocery shopping, ect. I guess I just really love being a Mom. To me it is the best job in the world (if only I got PAID for it!! LOL!!:)