A Very Long Over-Do Hello!

Hello. My name is Brandi and I am a Facebook addict.

LOL Yes, that is why I have not written anything on my blog in a very long while! I created a Facebook account a few months ago and it has been consuming my computer life. 90% of the time that I spend on the computer is on that stinkin' website. For those of you who have an account, you might understand where I am coming from. For those who do not, my apologies. I will try to start keeping up a little better with my blog.

Wow! So much has happened since I last posted! I don't even know where to begin.....

First I have to brag about my smart, sweet daughter. She is absolutely amazing! She blows me away everyday with things that she learns and figures out. For those who say you need forced learning and that children need to learn things at a certain age -- I say "Phooey"!! lol Yeah, blogger is totally going to get me on the spelling of THAT word! hehehe But seriously, she's one smart cookie. Not just book smart either - she can really figure things out and she is very sharp. The things that she retains is awesome too. Spelling for example.... I pretty much just have to tell her how to spell a word one time and she remembers it. Her writing is getting so much better too. That was one thing that I was concerned about for a while but it has been improving drastically. Everything that I have worried about in the past, she has proved me wrong with and I am getting so much more comfortable in letting her go at her own pace. This whole unschooling thing is a very long journey. And yes, it's a tad bit scary and unfamiliar. It's definitely not easy and takes a lot of patience and tons of trust, but it gets easier as the weeks and months (and years!) go by. Right now I am a little concerned with her learning how to tell time but I am just being patient and waiting for it to "click" (and it will - I have learned that!!). I know that it will come in time and that she doesn't need to follow MY time-line and learn it when I think she needs to learn it. When it becomes relevant to her life, it will take about 5 minutes for her comprehend it. I'm not saying that she has no clue at all about time - that's not the case at all! She knows the hours and knows that a half hour is 30 minutes, AM vs. PM, ect... but if you ask her to look at a clock when it's 4:20 and tell you what time it is, then she'll have somewhat of a hard time. But that's okay. She'll get it eventually - I have absolutely no doubt about that. Just like everything else I have ever worried about. She ALWAYS comes through and always eases my fears. I'm actually getting better at not worrying so much. It's hard though when you are so used to the "school schedule" and with kids learning things at certain ages. It is in the back of my mind but as time goes on it doesn't bother me as much. Like I said earlier, it's all about trust and I trust my daughter to learn the things that she needs to learn.

So one funny thing that I want to share about the whole homeschooling thing --- I was talking to her Girl Scout leader the other night. Brenna had a sleep over last Friday for Girl Scouts and her leader was asking me if she had a good time. Brenna raved about it and loved it and I was telling her that, yes, she had a blast. Her leader then told me that she has had a few homeschoolers in her troop before and they have always been very shy and mousy and not very outspoken, but not Brenna!! Oh no! She was extremely surprised at how out-spoken and fun she was. I just laughed and said yes, Brenna is definitely NOT the quiet type. When people ask me about the whole "socialization" thing I have to chuckle a bit (and secretly roll my eyes). It's funny how people stereotype homeschoolers. LOL

So on to other big news!! I have a new nephew!! OMG, he is sooo cute and I am such a proud Aunt! He was born on Monday (1/11/10) and is the most perfect little boy you have ever seen! Very, very cute and such a good baby. It will be interesting having a little boy in the family, especially since we've just had Brenna and Keira thus far. I will have to take pictures and post them on my blog very soon.

Well hopefully I will post again soon -- with me, you never know! LOL

Happy New Year to everyone!