Tobin is hear!

Our Baby boy Tobin Earl Johnson has been born. He was born May 1, 2012 @ 6:56am 7lbs. 14.6oz and he was 19 1/2 inches long. I was 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant his estimated due date was May 6,2012.

We were set for induction on May 2, 2012 @ 6am. We Tobin had plans of his own. here is how it happened!

"I started having constant contractions a little after 3:30am I woke Thomas up about 4:30am at that point I didn't want to be alone. he started timing my contraction and knew immediately I was in labor but I was in denial. So he called hospital to see when we should go in. They said when I was 3 to 5 minutes apart for an hour but he reminded them we are an hour away. Their response was I wouldn't wait that long. So about 6am after Thomas continued to time me we left to hospital. The hospital is an hour away. Good faithful 1991 ford explorer made that drive in 45 minutes. We arrived at hospital at 6:45 in time to get me changed his bag of waters bulging and them telling to push I barely pushed three time he was out with great force. I ended up tearing do to how fast it all happened have 4 stitches. He looks alike like Lileigh but some of Jon Jon as well. Tobin is seeming to be a good baby. He is an awesome asset to our family just wish all my children could be here to enjoy him. Tobin and I doing great. The after birth has been little harder on me then others with pain and emotions but we are healthy and I am fat but we are doing wonderful!"

These are his proud sisters they can not seem to get enough about him.

Here are some random pictures of our baby Boy!

                                                        Thank you for pondering with me,

To change ones life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.
- William James

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Little Note on School Work!

Well it has been a while. I kinda think I am getting good at not getting on laptop to remember to post something anything about how the girls are doing with schooling. Well OK saying learning daily! We have a lot of no work days but they are always trying to read or sound out things so at least we know they have knowledge in wanting to learn without knowing it!

I know I have gone over what we had plan on doing but now I can tell ya since the girls have been working what we have decided to use it has turned out to be such a smooth and easy days. Remember when you are homeschooling if your finding lots of crying or yelling you might want to rethink what your doing it just might not be the right home schooling method.I am so glad I tried new things but We seem to always go back to the way we are working now. It just works for them!! It makes for happier kiddo's..

Makenzee leads her sister's in Daily Devotions for Girls There is always a short story she reads. Then there are answers they work on together and give there thoughts. They also have a short prayer and then they have a small little project they can do that goes along with what they read. I am very proud of Makenzee she also leads them in Pledge Allegiance.

Makenzee and Lileigh have been doing Spelling Workout by Modern Curriculum Press They are great books it takes the old way of spelling out and makes it fun to learn the words or associate ways of words that sound the same or lone vowels short  vowels. The books are marked as A,B,C,D,E etc.they go great if you are worried about being grade on. Each lesson has 5 short fun things to do. So we break them up in our five day week. Sometimes Makenzee goes ahead and does hers in one day. She has gotten very good at being an independent worker.Makes life easier when you have many instead of one your teaching!

The girls also are using Learning Language Arts Through Literature.Makenzee is working in the Orange book which is fourth grade. Lileigh is working in the Red Book which is 2nd grade.They are doing so well.I love the books they have the older grades have reading book studies they have to answer questions and look up definitions and get a certificate after each book study for showing they completed it. They have in each lesson 5 days broken down for each week. Makes it so much easier to keep on track. There is always a review if they child needs it after each lesson. Also after you do like 4 or 5 lessons it has assessment for the child to make sure they truly understand what they have been working on with those lessons.

Makenzee and Lileigh also are working with Saxon Math This works great for my girls. Makenzee is working in Saxon home school math 5/4 which is 4th grade level. Lileigh is working in the red book Saxon math which is 2nd grade. They are both doing well. I like it because it isn't hard to follow. Which in my life makes it so much easier!

The girls are doing history/geography with Story of the Worlds We love hearing the stories. They also have an activity book we use to help with asking questions to keep them prompted. They get to make projects with some of the chapters.Over all it is a very nice curriculum to use with your children.

We also are working on Makenzee's Cursive Handwriting. I got a book that Makenzee is working learning the basics of cursive writing. When she completes the book I have daily copy work for her to do that she will have to write it in cursive.She is loving the fact that she is being big like her mom..

Lileigh does daily Daily Copy Work I have a really neat book that helps with manners. So each day she is working her hand writing and manner skills. She is working on being polite at home. We all know it starts at home so we have manners outside of our home.

The girls are also using Exploring Creation with Botany. WE love it. Basically it is a huge nature study.They journal daily.These are great books for science the girls have decided they would like to do Exploring Creation with Astrology. Looks like fun!!

This all we basically do for now. Life has been very crazy and very on go.We may not do every lesson everyday. We at least do a subject if not all at least a day. Now mind you some days we don't do to appointments and life. As far as girls I am not worried about falling behind. My girls are ahead of the game. But in our eyes they are write where they need to be. Once we have life back to normal well as normal as we are. For example Baby is born and we get use to having him in our home. Life should should slow down some.

Abbigale is doing schooling as well. I have books on basic learning to write for pre-k. As well as cutting books and of coarse gluing. Books on shapes and colors and numbers. She also participates with Makenzee and Lielighs Science and History! Abbi doesn't give us a chance not to make sure she has her school work done. I love it but some days I wish she would be more like a normal 3 year old and go play!

The next time I get to blog might be after our little one is born. As of today I am 37 weeks pregnant I am due May 6. He is measuring at 7# something. I go back to OB Wednesday. I actually get to meet the doctor. I have only been seen by the Nurse practitioners. We really want to have him delayed cord clamping he is not one to practice it. So I am going in with pages for him to read. We did with our last baby who was home birthed. We were not able to home birth this time because there are no midwives in our area. But any who we are getting things ready for when he decides to join our family.

I will post pictures the next time. I just wanted to touch base on whats been going on. Life is crazy and I thank you for stopping by and PONDERING with me! God Bless each and everyone of you!!

                                                            Your friend always,

VERSE:

  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that
God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
    -- 1 Thessalonians 4:14
   
THOUGHT:
   As horrible as the Cross was, it wasn't the final chapter of the
Jesus story. Jesus died and then rose again. We can believe two
things because of Jesus' resurrection: 1) that Jesus will return in
glorious victory for those who have believed in him, and 2) that we
will be with those we love who have fallen asleep in Christ when
Jesus comes again.
PRAYER:
   Holy and Almighty Father, thank you for raising Jesus from the
dead and giving me the assurance of eternal life with you, and with
those I love who have already passed from this life into death. I
look forward to the day Jesus returns in glory, with the angels of
heaven, and brings complete victory over death. Thank you in Jesus'
name. Amen.

Happy Valentines Day

Well today is Valentines day! So Happy Valentines Day everyrone from our home to yours! We are not doing anything special it is way commercial but I did get my hubby a card. He was not Happy with me because we agreed not to get each other anything. But it did make his day:-)..

 

Well I have decided to have girls make a V-day project they will be making Paper Bouquet of Hearts and Flowers but we are making them flat instead of like they are saying to do it.HEART and FLOWER Project. The girls are so excited and can not wait! The website we are getting this idea is from Making Friends. They have tons of craft ideas and if your daughter is a Girl Scout you can order them patches!

 

We are also making these Yummy Valentine Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites.We have decided we will dunk in white chocolate! These were presented from Mommy's Kitchen.I use a lot of her recipes she has tried and knows they are yummy so she shares.I strive to be a yummy cooking mommy like Ms. Tina! Keep up the awesome ideas and yumminess from your home to ours!!

When we finish their master pieces they make we will share! Have lots to do to get things done. Pictures to come!

        Thank you for pondering with me,

                                              

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.

-Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Philippians 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Reading Makes life better!



Lets talk about reading. Reading is important because it makes life much simpler.I have met quit a few people that do not know how to read. They have to rely on someone helping them. Reading helps you to advance in employment as well as schooling heck in life over all.

Families even if you don't home school encourage your children to read daily. If they struggle they will get it. Even if you read to them let them follow your finger so they hear and learn the words. The more we encourage our kids to read and sound out words the better they will get.

When we go to stores or out to eat.We have the children sound out the words on boxes or menu's. Now mind your it sometimes is a struggle, But when they actually get it they are so proud. As parents try not to cave take a minute and give them that chance even if they don't want to.

Lileigh (6) doesn't even want to learn at this point so she thinks. So she will hide or grawl. But what is so neat is when she does do it and or gets it the brightness of her eyes just glow with being proud. But key is consistency!It will pay it's self off even on days you want to ring their neck.

My daughter Makenzee wasn't as bad she strived to get it, but she would get so upset that she couldn't. She went from barely reading to 5 grade level it was like it just happened. Like one day she went I can read and was reading everything. We are talking like night and day.

Most kids don't pick up reading until closer to 9 years old. But if we as parents encourage and help them daily they will get things faster. Now not all kids do catch on as easy as some. But that's OK remember MOM and DAD breath they will get it. I understand how frustrating it can be to have a stubborn child. See I have many maybe not with same issues but nothing amazes me..

I know I am being vague on this topic but the more we focus on trying to encourage our children the better they will be with life. So amaze yourself and your child. Suffering through the tears is worth it when they look at you and so excited and say I CAN READ! Then watch no more spelling things to spouse so the kids don't know what your spelling. But life is good and it is what you make it!

Thank You for reading my Pondering Thoughts,

 “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

We proclaim him [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with
all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
    -- Colossians 1:28                                 



On a Positive Note!

As a home schooling parent this is the biggest part of homeschooling our children. We give our children knowledge they will keep seeking new things without realizing they are actually learning. Homeschooling doesn't have to be like a public school setting. One thing that is really cool is everything we do can be turned into a learning lesson.

When we keep our kids interested in finding new facts on a topic even if previously ventured it last a life time. I love that fact that every minute of everyday they are being inquisitive about different things.Makes you realize you are helping your children grow and become functioning future adults.

So just remember no matter what other people say as lone as you make sure your kids are getting something new out of your day then you have accomplished something.

There are to many people that think if you are not cramming down text books or all the subjects down there throats everyday they are not learning. When time for homeschooling remember relax and enjoy your learning time with your kids. The more positive and less stressed you make them the more they get out of a day then when we parents cram education down their throats..

 So sit back and look at how your kids are growing and becoming bright shinning stars. They are our future. Make sure you make learning fun.That helps with gaining knowledge!

                      Thank you for Pondering with me,

                                         



"There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning."
- Christopher Morley

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

 



It's all about Math..



Well my daughters really don't enjoy math. They don't understand why they have to do math. Well math is important because it is the most used subject in the world and some times only subject used. You use math weather to hang something or build something.Math is an important part of our lives. I personally am not a fan of math either but I do know it is important and it is a must to have in life.

Math is used in every career in some sort of way. Math also helps the mind reason with complicated situations or helps make problems in to clear simple logical steps. So when people learn more math their minds will rationale eventually develop  in to logical ways to resolve any difficult situation. You want a good paying job better know your math skills.
 

Well the girls are working on making there math learning better. Makenzee is mastering her multiplication tables. Lileigh is mastering counting and learning numbers to 100.They both are striving to do their best.

As for Makenzee she strives to do things on her own. She has become quit the independent worker. We can not spell in front of her because she knows what we are saying. Darn it.. But over all being she can read she is able to do her math on her own mostly without help. It is awesome seeing them grow and become little people.

Lileigh is one of those children who wants you to do her work for her. But she is learning when you apply yourself.But it is convincing her to do it first with tear shed or getting mad. But I have found that once she actually does succeed she is so proud of herself. But every time she starts I have to convince her she can do it. She will reap the rewards.But boy it is trying at times. But it isn't just this subject it is reading sounding out etc. But I know once she masters the basics she will be wanting to do more because when we succeed at things we want more.

Abbigale well she is 3 and she is catching on. She loves to color, draw and count. She even will get a book and read it to you of coarse in her own words. She is a trooper but hey we all learn in different ways. She is also mastering counting to 10.oh and putting things away where they go not where she would like them to go. She a very proud little girl who is not afraid to let you know she is not happy as well as she loves to play and be with her sisters.

Over all we are getting things down pat. The girls are really starting to see that are making progress.So I know that in long run we are getting things done. I am proud of how the girls are becoming self motivated little people.
 Thank you for stopping by and Pondering with me,

Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.

Albert Einstein 

1 Kings 7:23     
Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.

Life's Strifes will be Conqured!

Well lets see We are kinda getting a rut do to Daddy's schedule but. I am going to crack the whip per say.. My husbands schedule is supposed to be 24 hours for 4 days and 2 days off. But when he works is it sporadic not even schedule. So girls sometimes see him and other times don't. So when he is home they are wanting to be up his behind. Well I am thinking about how to keep on task with this strange schedule. Besides praying he gets something more organized.

Yes I know homeschooling is supposed to be able to adjust to any situation right. Well that means I have to get more creative. HHMMM still trying to rack my brains. So still thinking of ways.

I have been pushing MATH everyday regardless because I am a true believer that without math your in trouble in our world. I also push reading. My daughters have to read everyday weather it is a short story or a book they have chosen. It helps with learning new words and making knowledge for them to use later. We push living books so it tends to be a little harder but they appreciate how they story is really supposed to be.

Yes we have other studies of coarse but we can not always get to them. But we figure ways weather it is looking up things that they see on tv, read or heard from someone. We look further into whatever it is to find the discovery of the questions. So in turn we are getting the other stuff as well!

So in doing this they are getting history, science, literature and natural learning skills. So what we don't use from our text books that we have. Because we don't learn just from text books anyway.

Well guess this is an example of why we home school we are hands on. Makes since now don't it. Homeschooling is gaining knowledge in or with anything we do. I am proud to be a home schooling mom and having diverse in my life. Oh we would be so in trouble if we had to rely on just textbooks.

So with life striking us as we go we make do but do not take away from schooling.Which in turn helps me to keep going.
Thanks for pondering,

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.William James

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 28:7