Giveaway: Win 0 Worth of Coconut Oil!

Giveaway: Win 0 Worth of Coconut Oil!

Better late then NEVER :)

We are doing well. The Johnson Tribe has been very busy doing everything and not doing anything! We are learning to be a cloth diaper Family! Now let me tell you some days I wonder why I am doing this but then I remember it is helping our family save! So between Church, Schooling, chores, Laundry, cloth diapering and Scentsy we keep forgetting to take pictures. I need to get my stuff straight. :)

Tobin is 6 months holy cow where has time gone?? My baby has changed so much. He is doing more and everyday. But I am proud to announce he is staying a baby little longer. He isn't rolling, no teeth or scooting and he doesn't want food in his mouth he just wants everything else! But over ALL he is so happy and loves his Momma. :)

 

Tobin has always taken showers with Daddy. Well since is on a night schedule due to work makes it hard. Since Tobin is able to sit for little bit by his self we started using kitchen sink he does not like it. But he will get use to it he is a hands on child he expect to be held! But little things can be worked in! And he smells so good! :)



The girls went to Fall Festival at our church! They decided they didn't want to dress up so they choose Halloween shirts and put pig tails in their hair! They said last year when wearing their dress up clothes (Halloween costumes) it was hard to bounce in the bounce house and slide the bounce slide. They had fun and can not wait till next yr!

Makenzee showing her Love! She is such a God's Girl!

Lileigh is trying to find herself. She loves being able to show how cute she is! She is a Gods girl too!

Miss thing her self you see her attitude oh yes it reaches ASIA and back without a beat! She is such a joy and Says God is awesome.. :)

Well we have a friend that has recently moved out of this great state of Texas to Colorado. She is an awesome Women who impacted my girls so positively. She was the First Baptist Church of Hemphill's nursery worker. Tobin adored her. He would be fussy see her and be calm and happy! Well to go on to why I mentioned her she is an artist and now she is teaching art to students in Colorado. We are sad she didn't think to start this here my girls would have been first in line. ;)

So anyways she emails me weekly well not really me my girls get a awesome email weekly from Ms. Robin. Makes them so excited to know she still loves them and thinks of them. Well I have been slacking do to all the extras going on!

The first we The girls traveled to Africa and was able to search and look at many pictures of the way Africa art is done. They are very bold lines colors and some of it is very pretty. The girls made masks and so loved it!

Makenzee took her time to make bold colors but bright and made neat lines that really made the mask stand out. She took her time and I am very proud of her work!

Lileigh did a more soft approach but she nailed the bold lines as well as her BIG sister Makenzee. She said she wanted it to be a work of art well I do believe she nailed it!

Abbigale is a whole class of her own. As she was coloring and making her mask she was explaining to Makenzee and Lileigh that when you scribble it makes it better. Who knew scribbling was a master piece!

They also visited Egypt! They girls had so much fun they used water color paint to make their Pyramid pictures. They did AWESOME. But we need to work on how to make lines stagger little more so when we have a building it wont fall! haha

Makenzee is having fun being creative she really enjoyed looking at the pyramids. She really enjoyed getting the sand and sky perfect in her words!

Lileigh said her favorite was water color the pyramids in the back ground of picture. She said they turned out awesome!

Abbi focused on her Pyramid church she said they had to have church to worship! Who am I to argue we will go over the religion part again when she is older!

Then Ms. Robin had the girls visit Ireland! They got to see all the different ways of family crest can be. They enjoyed trying to figure out what things meant. They are so enjoying these fun weekly adventures!

Makenzee said she really liked the whole idea of a scarf. She said she felt our family was all these colors. See each color meant something that she said we were all like! She said there were so many that she didn't want to cover it up with pictures!

Lileigh said she liked they idea of putting a flag on hers. She said she loves America but felt she needed to make her own! She also loved putting stars around her crest. She also put Johnson on top but after she colored it realized she made her J backwards. But then she said well it gives it personality!

Abbi just loves to be able to do what her sisters do but in her own way! she said the scribbles are all of us being busy! Very interesting how she thinks :)

Now to move on!

Well as you can see this is our schooling HUTCH.. I am so embarrassed that my children refuse to put things away properly. Or is it I forget to check.. Geez I better get my act straight! ;)
That exactly what I did! OK I am a mean MOMMA and made them help me. :) So we worked as a team for two days oh my what a chore! I am so proud of all our hard work. Now to get it to stay this way!

So now on to CLOTH DIAPERING yes it is something new! I have been wanting to be a CD'ing Momma but what to us and how much to spend is the question! Well since starting out is so expensive I found a site because of my friend who bought some called Alva Baby diapers. I have to say these have been very nice but we are learning how to work out the kinks. Over all I am very happy with these diapers. But wish it was cheaper to buy her from MADE IN USA! I am a proud American but with today's economy its hard, saving a buck is good unfortunately!


G.G. with Youngest Great Grandchild

We ended up spending Thanksgiving and Christmas apart. Tobin and I where in California my Grandma June past away from being old and ill. We got to California November 19,2012. My Grandma made it Thanksgiving it was awesome when she realized I was really there. She so enjoyed Tobin. After Grandma realized almost everyone was with her she slept in to a very deep sleep. She past away November 27, 2012. I had to stay the whole Month of December because it was cheaper for ticket. But I am not complaining it was awesome spending time with my family since the last time I was back home it was 1999.


Tobin when he was really sick but he had a good moment here and there. Or this is just good picture you choose!

Medicine

Tobin took to being very ill. We didn't get to leave December 20,2012 to New Mexico where my girls were so I could stay with in California. Tickets are expensive now.  Well we ended up seeing one doctor who thought Tobin had viral RSV. Well she grounded Tobin from Flying, traveling period. She was afraid if he went  into distress no one would be able to help him. So we missed our December 20 flight. We Monday December 24, 2012 he seemed so much better. Praise God for Family because They gave me there DR. who said she felt he was miss diagnosed and in stead had adenoid viral infection. She said we need to get you to your other children. She ungrounded him from flying and traveling. WOOHOO!! We left December 25, 2012 to Belen New Mexico.
                                                  Kenzee with Pottery Wheel!

Lileigh got a Loom for Christmas


Abbi and her Tobi too

So now to move on I got to Belen New Mexico and was with my children. We Thomas my husband was supposed to meet us for Christmas before Tobin got Grounded. Well he gave up is Vacation time because we at the time wasn't sure when Tobin and I would be leaving California. Well after we found out my husband couldn't get time off until January 8, 2013. So he arrived in Belen New Mexico January 8, 2013 at 9pm CST. it is an 16-18 hour ride without stopping. So we had our family CHRISTMAS!! It was sweet BLISS.

Look Momma I can pull up!

Speaking of SWEET BLISS Tobin is crawling and pulling hi self up and walking around furniture, eating as well has two bottom teeth. He is 8.5 months old now. Crazy how fast life is!!
 

Well in closing We are back in Texas! I look forward to share again! Happy New Year from The Johnson Tribe!

Thank you for stopping and Pondering,

May God bless you in this NEW YEAR! :)  

It's Africa time!

 

 

The girls have been looking up and reading about Africa! They found a wonderful website we used a lot!  Here it is Africa for Kids! They have so much information please check it out and add it to your AFRICAN adventures They also have a quiz to help with making sure they are learning what they read and particapate in!!

 

 

 



We have a Giveaway or 2 going on!

We finally got to see Jon Jon he is doing so well! I am so proud how he is turning in to a young man. Jon Jon will becoming home November 19. Two days after his 17th birthday. While we were visiting it was rainy and cool. We were not able to do much do to weather. And well we have been sick in The Johnson Tribe household since then. Being SICK is not fun specially when I end up sick! Well we are finally getting on track. Spraying the COOTIES be gone with essential oil spray around house. Well School Week 7 will start Monday Oct. 1, 2012. In my family I am not allowed to be sick, grumpy or even hungry some days! But that's my career my family! Even though we do not use cribs this sums up my whole family. "GOTTA LOVE THEM"



I started selling Scentsy to help with giving even more to family or for me to be selfish and get my nails done or hair cut or just maybe extra stuff for family clothes, school books etc. Not taking from the household money. Well really to support my Scentsy habit! Wick less candles are the bomb no BURNS or FIRES yay!! :-) We named our business Simply Smelly Good thought is so fitting because Scentsy products are Smelly Good!! ;-) Please check out our personal Website Simply Smelly Good and feel free to order if you need help please ask!

A friend of mine is doing a wonderful thing she is donating to fight the cure. October is BREAST CANCER awareness month. So I am also doing my own Promotion for October awareness month! So For every bar of Happy Birthday and or Cupcake Warmer Bought. I will donate a $1.00 to Susan G. Komen Foundation. All you need to do is go to my personal website Simply Smelly Good and place an order or contact me I can help!

****To my awesome friend Momma Pam Holloway and to others who are trying to keep fighting as well who have lost their fight!***

So since I am just starting I want to build up and be able to give this awesome product to my faithful customers. So we decided to give a Mandarin Moon Scentsy Bar October scent of month giveaway through Rafflecopter. But if we can get faithful customers who keep coming back we will give things all the way up to large warmers. So for the next 2 weeks starting on October 1-12 we will have this give away follow the Rafflecopter and see if you win! Once we know who the winner is I will need to get mailing address from you. oh and we will want to know what you think about Mandarin Moon scent of the Month for October. A good place to do this is in our Face Book group as well as here. Please let your friends and family know so they can have a chance to win! :-)

 

Scentsy has also started Wednesday September 26, 2012 B1G1 free of their Scentsy Buddies and 2 scent paks for each Buddy. This is a huge awesome deal. These make awesome Stocking stuffers. The kids absolutely will love them. My girls have one picked out and made sure to let me know what scent they like! So go check them out at Simply Smelly Good  at our website. Now Scentsy only ordered a curtain amount of buddies for this promotion so once there gone there gone!!
Participating Buddies include:
Lenny the Lamb
Penny the Pig
Roarbert the Lion
Ribbert the Frog
Ollie the Elephant
Mollie the Monkey
Patch the Dog
Scratch the Cat
Barnabus the Bear
Wellington the Duck
*Offer does not apply to Pooki the Polar Bear or Baby Buddies.
The Promotion includes 2 Scent Paks- 1 for each Buddy:
Scent Pak #1: choose any scent pak fragrance in the scentsy fragrance fall/winter catalog.
Scent Pak #2: Scentsy is going to choose the second scent pak for you so they can manage inventory and not create a backorder situtation with the scent paks.

 

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8e18441/

                                               Thank you for stopping and Pondering,

                                             

"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope." — Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's. — Exodus 9:29

 

Happy Labor Day and some History

The History of Labor Day
Check out our Labor Day 2012 page, complete with videos, photo, resources, and more.
Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

By: U.S. Department of Labor

 

Here is a the History Channel website with some videos enjoy!

 

                                                 Thank you for Pondering with me,

                                   

"Some people work to give their kids a car so they can get away. I'd rather work to give my kids a home that they'd like to stick around so their friends have a place to hang out with their new cars." — Rich Melheim

 

Proverbs 15:17A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate. 

Good Morning Routine

 

 

 

Well we are rocking on we survived our Week 3. Yay Schooling is going smoothly. We finished our goals and no we move on to Week 4... OK so lets see we are learning staying constant makes life so much easier and kids get school work done quicker. Now that is something. =)

 



My kiddos at first were very resistant on getting up at 7am and doing morning routine to start schooling at 8am. But now when i don't get them up it why didn't you get me up. I have found they are actually getting up on their own. Yay but the reason is because they say oh Momma we love the Good Morning Song but do you have to have it playing when you wake us up! My word no but you wake up so nice and ready to get our day going. Or do you want me to come in and do it like your Daddy (loud stern like military voice)"WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP TIME TO RISE AND SHINE WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP"

 

 



We wake up get dressed, make beds and set table. Then we Pray, eat (while listening to our fun songs) and clean table rinse dishes and brush teeth. We the listen to Keys 4 Kids. They have awesome daily devotional stories and scripture for that day. Awesome not having to think of something. Kids love it they also have bible game as well as other story times.

 

 



How do you get your kiddos up before school are there adjustments you make or are you content and kids happy with your routine? Please share looking forward to hearing and learning other ways!

 

                        Thank you for stopping by and Pondering with me!

 

"Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon." — Martin Luther

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. — Romans 8:28

                                          

 

Woohoo going Smoothly

We have had another successful week. I am really liking how things are flowing with kids learning goals. The way I have put what they do together makes it so easy and they are not just staying on one subject for hours because they don't want to get it done. They actually are striving to finish it so we can be done for week. I love the way things flow in Charlotte Mason Method.

I know I am not doing it to a T. But I am using what I am doing to my children's advantages. I am going to try to touch basis on what they have learned this week in Week 2.

 We pray because it helps us stay focused and knowing God is there makes the whining not as bad. We try to remember prayer when we get up, before we eat, before we work ect. Prayer is powerful when put in right use. We are working on not praying prayers are basic. We are making sure the prayers are of what God wants to hear. Kinda hard when the kids are young but we are working on it together. I am reading a book called " The Power of a Praying Parent" by: Stormie Omartian. She has written several books on power of prayer. Wonderful books and not hard to follow.

1. We have a morning routine it is something to get my children's minds in gear for school. As we are getting breakfast done we listen to a song called Good Morning Son, Days of the Week Song, Months of the Year Song and then We say which to me is very important The three Pledges.

2. We listen to CBH ministries because they have wholesome Daily Devotionals Keys for Kids please a nice scripture we look up after each one. We talk about the morals and how we can use them in our daily lives. We are always remember the The ABC's of Salvation so we never forget.

3.We do a weekly memory scripture verse. This is important because it helps get Gods word deep in their brains and fun to know you are learning Gods word. We use the Scripture Memory System by: Simply Charlotte Mason. Love it what a genius idea! :-) Humility is what we are working on.

4. Math: Saxon

 Makenzee is in book 5/4 homeschooling math. It is 4th grade if you go by grades. Which most homeschoolers do not. We go by what our children can do and if they need help we take time and help them grow so they can succeed. Makenzee is working on Word problems with missing addends as well as missing numbers in subtraction.

 Lileigh is Saxon homeschooling math 2. Lileigh is working on getting her addition and subtraction down packed. She is also learning how to do word problems, money, some fractions and time. We are talking basics to help her to grow and learn for whats to come.

 I love Saxon math because it rolls so well. You are reviewing as well as learning a new concept. It is wonderful when using CMM. Knowing my kids are reviewing as well as learning something new makes an awesome thing.

5. Language Arts: Learning Language Arts Through Literature

Makenzee is in the Orange Book which is again considered 4th grade. Makenzee has been working on Journal writing. Taking notes to putting it together. She had to write something about an event like step by step. She choose to make a sandwich. To be precise the sandwiches we make for Daddy's lunch so he can eat while at work. She had to do the First, Next, Then and Now. Daddy was home so he took time to help her. She loved it and did very well.

Lileigh is in the Red Book Reading Program. She worked on Long O sounds She had to read the "Hard Short Hay" from her phonics book All Around the Farm by: Yuuriko Nichols. She learned that not doing what Momma says makes for not always pleasant living. Love the whole Morals thing helps a lot.

6. Spelling: Spelling Workout

Makenzee is in Book C. She worked on Long vowel sounds O and U. Lileigh is in book B. She worked on Long Vowel O. I really like how this not a typical type of spelling like when we were in school and you had huge list of words to memorize. Well these are broke down to a very small tid bit to do a day. just enough to say wow that was fun and move on. They are learning without knowing they are. What I really love is that they flow well with LLATL.

7. Copy/Dictation: As of know they are both working on ABC's to help make writing better and to have them down packed.

 Makenzee is learning Cursive writing. As soon as she finishes doing her basic cursive we will go to a cursive copy work book. She has good days and bad days but she is learning and thinks she is so cool.

Lileigh is learning to read so she needs to know her ABC's much better. We are making sure we know each letter very well and the sound. When she finishes we will continue lessons in Manners for Copy work. by: Sandi Queen

8. Science: Exploring Creation with Botany

We do Science all together makes life much easier. We only do science on Mondays and Wednesdays. Spliting it up with History and Geography helps them to retain more without over doing their little brains. We are learning about Botany. There is so much to them and we are only still on the outer layer. We love how God has put them together and the proof he is our creator is abundant in everything we see and learn. God is good!

9.History/Geography:Story of the Worlds Ancient Times

Again we do history and Geography together we do it on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The girls love learning of their culture how life was nothing like today or was it?! We learned about Ancient Africa. The sahara dessert use to be plush full of vegitation and animals at one time. Then the rains stopped and everything dried up and moved South to where there was more accept way of living. amazing how life has gone and keeps going through cycles.

10. Comper Study: Sergie Prokofiev 1891-1953

Prokofiev was a master at using music to tell a story. One of his most famous musical stories is Peter and the Wolf, which was written for Russia's Central Children's Theatre. You may have seen it performed in school, or on the concert stage.

11. Artist Apperication: Edgar Degas 
Edgar Degas, born on July 19, 1834 in Paris, France, went on to study at the École des Beaux-Arts and became renowned as a stellar portraitist, fusing Impressionistic sensibilities with traditional approaches. Both a painter and sculptor, he enjoyed capturing female dancers and played with unusual angles and ideas around centering. His work influenced major modern artists like Picasso.

12. Foreign Language: American Sign Language & Spanish
We have 2 Foreign Languages we are working on. ASL is very nice to learn. We enjoy learning it and it is easy to talk to each other when others are around if you need to get a point across or the kids have something they dont want others to know. Spanish is not their favorite. Actually the really don't want to learn it. But I feel Spanish is probably an important language to learn because we have a lot of Spanish speaking people. As they grow they will learn others but as for now they will focuse on these two!

13. Nature Study: Hearts and Trees Bubbles and Lavender Kit
We havent started this kit yet but we are so excited when we can. We have used their kits before awesome is only word I can say. Very creative and so very helpful and fun to do.

14. Art: drawing a Ballerina
We are having the girls learn to draw. They drew a Ballerina. I plan on having them draw ballerinas while we study Edgar Degas. They will then in last 12 weeks of school Paint their own Ballerina art on canvas as water color like degas in their own eye. Very exciting to see them grow and get better!


15. Recipe Friday:
We have added a special day that Makenzee is going to be cooking or baking something from a recipe. Well this week we choose Ham and Cheese Crescent snadwich but we have decided to make it a whole casserole dish instead of 4 sandwiches. Very yummy and nice I am proud she is learning to put food together. One day I will be able to ask her to make dinner on her own. Oh ya BABY thats my goal! :-)

16. Memory Poem: Autumn Song by Katherine Mansfield
We love memorizing Poems. Helps keep our heads on straight and brains on top of being active. We learn a new one every 12 weeks. Try to stay with what the season is. Since school is back in session and it is almost Fall we choose. Autumn Song! It is fun we like to say as a song..Kids are creative in how they learn gotta give them props!

We stay on a subject periods of no more then 30 minutes. We have decided what the kids have not finished for daily goals we will do them as homwwork. Meaning after school day and a time or rest they will resume what was not completed. It has worked very well. The girls have completed their work on time and are finishing their weekly goals every week so far. Very Exciting! Makes this Momma very happy...

                                   Thank you for stopping by and pondering,

“There is no respect for others without humility in one's self.”

Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-1881);

Proverbs 18:12. This proverb is connected with the preceding of the rich man who trusts in his mammon. Before destruction the heat of man is haughty