Happy Father's Day

Reasons We Love Our Daddy......

Anastasia- I love my daddy because he plays with us, he teaches me guitar lessons, it takes something special for him to be him and I love him because he loves me.

Joshua- I love my daddy because he plays good guy airplanes with me; he builds castles for me with my blocks; he loves me so much; and he goes to work to make money for us to go places.

Savannah- I love my daddy because I do!

Alexa- I love my daddy because he lets me sit with him at dinner and eat from his plate.  It always tastes better from his plate.

Natasha- I love my daddy because he willingly slept in a very uncomfortable reclining chair at the hospital for 3 nights so he could stay with my mommy and I.  I love when he hold me in his arms it makes me feel safe.

Happy Father's Day from your quiverfull!

Planning for next school year

Having to stay upstairs and rest this past week has given me time to start planning for next school year. A few weeks ago I ordered some History Pockets from Evan Moor and got an awesome deal on them from Amazon.com They have finally come in and I am so excited just like a little kid.

This year Anastasia will be in 5th grade, Joshua will start kindergarten, Savannah will be in preschool and Alexa and Natasha will be along for the ride.

I am trying to combine some things like Bible and some unit studies but it is difficult right now with the age gap. We are going to do some Character lessons together and they will do Science together.

Here is the plan so far for Anastasia:

Math- Horizons math by Alpha Omega Grammer- Daily Grams - Word Study and Phonics by Spectrum

Bible- lap book studies of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronmy, Joshua, Biblical Obedience, Who is Jesus, Biblical Responsibility These are all lapbooks from www.HandsofaChild.com

Social Studies/Science/Reading/Language- These will all be combined with unit studies and notebooking. Social Studies this year will focus on the United States- geography, states and capitals and history. We will use Trail Guide to U.S. Geography and Cantering the Country Anastasia will create a USA Notebook. If you are interested in finding out about notebooking there are a lot of sites you can check out. Here are some for starters: http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/notebooking.htm

http://www.notebookingpages.com/

http://www.notebookingnook.com/

http://highland.hitcho.com.au/notebooking.htm

http://www.com/notebooking.html

http://www.donnayoung.org/forms/planners/notebook.htm

http://www.holdthatthought.com/

History pockets as I mentioned above are a lot of fun to do. It gives hands on activities for the kids to do. You can check them out at Evan-Moor. I have The American Civil War, Colonial America, and The American Revolution.

Lap books we will complete this year are: All About Me, Disneyland, (we are planning a trip in September) Explorers, Story of Jamestown, Plants, Election Notebook, Weather, Planets, American Government, Forces and motions, Simple Machines

Joshua- We will work on handwriting, use Hooked on Phonics, Explode the Code, Horizons math and then we will do Bible story activities and memorization and story units from www.homeschoolshare.com

Now I just need to work on what our daily schedule will look like. I use Manager’s of Their Home to help with this.

I think these are most of the resources we will be using. I have this planned so when the convention comes in July I will be prepared.

This Week's Happenings

Just a side note if you are looking for our baby story and pics- look on the right side and under "recent posts" click on "The Best Laid Plans" or just scroll down.





We are adjusting to our new little blessing and just getting back into the groove of things. Jay took two days off this week and my mom was still here till Tuesday. I am getting around slowly. Please be in prayer of my nursing Tasha we are having issues.

Friends have been bringing meals and I wanted to share about a book my friend Claudia gave to us along with a wonderful meal!!



This is such a great book!! To quote part of the inside cover, it says: "Here's everything you'd like to say to your children about how much you love them; how special they are; how you'll always be there for them; and most of all, how special they are to God." It's a book that each of my children can relate to and have enjoyed me reading to them. It's not just for the "new baby". I am listing it on my shelfari and you can get more info about it there.

Other big news around here is Alexa went poop on the potty today!!!! (I will spare you the pictures) Our next goal this summer is to get her potty trained as soon as I am up and around more. Then we will be back down to just one in diapers!!! Yeah!! Oh it's the little big things we get excited about around here.

The Best Laid Plans...........

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. 

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them .    Psalm 139: 13-16

If you have been wondering where I have been this past week....... Our new baby wanted to pick her own birthday!!! 

Here is her birth story complete with lots and lots of pictures to share with family and friends who live both near and far. 

Tuesday, June 3^rd started out pretty normal.  Anastasia was at a friend’s house for the day and I needed to go to Wal-Mart so I loaded up the other 3 and off we went.  We went to Paradise Bakery first.  They just opened up one near us and we got cookies and muffins..yummy!! Then we went to Wal-Mart. 

 

We came home did things around the house and when Daddy and Anastasia got home we ate dinner quickly and all went to church.  (We have a Tuesday night service like most have a Wednesday night)  At the end of service our pastor takes prayer requests and Jay asked for prayer for me for next Monday being the “big day” and service ended.  I stood up and told Jay I needed to go to the bathroom.  He looked at me funny and asked if everything was ok.  I said I’m not sure.  I went to the bathroom and sure enough my water broke (luckily not gushing or anything).  I came back and told him he told me to go to the car and sit he would get the kids. 

We made it home fine and I had to pack my bag nothing was ready yet.  As soon as I got home I checked the doctor’s on call schedule and thank you Lord my doctor was on call.  We have a “deal” and he has delivered all of my babies!!!  So that reassured me. Jay’s Dad and Donna came over to stay with the kids and off to the hospital we went.  The younger kids were a bit confused as we had been preparing them for Monday.

It's time!

On the way to the hospital I was having contractions and I told Jay I kept having a strange feeling of jabbing or punching down low.  We made it to the hospital and they got me all set up and Jay got his scrubs on.  We welcomed Natasha (Tasha) Grace into this world at 11:16pm.  Everything went well no complications or anything.  When Dr. Linnerson pulled her out she had her arm above her head down in towards the birth canal. So that is what I was feeling!!!  She was trying to make her way out.  LOL!  I later found out that would have been cause for a c-section itself because she could not have been delivered that way. 

In triage getting ready

Love those scrubs!!!

Jay made calls and we stayed in the recovery room for a couple of hours then they moved me to my room.  It was a long night but Tasha was so calm and peaceful.  She laid in the little bassinet wide awake just calm as could be. 

I had wonderful nurses and they were amazed when they found out it was our 5^th baby and my 4^th c-section!  Wednesday morning my mom and sister came up to the hospital and then Wednesday afternoon the kids came up to see us.  They were so excited and it was love at first sight!! Of course they say the best things to make you feel better!  I was telling them “see the baby isn’t in my tummy anymore that is her over there” and Joshua and Savannah both asked if the baby was out why was my tummy so big still!!!!  Gotta love them.  We had several vistors at the hospital and I was just glad when all the monitors and stuff came off. 

The happy Grandma!

A great big brother!

Excited kids!

Big Sisters!

I'm a big sister now!!

I just want to sit and hold her for hours!

Our Family!!

Another proud Grandma!

Proud Papa!

Auntie Jutem

Kissin' cousins (Jocelyn)

Aunt Soo-Lin

Aunt Brandy and cousins Mikaela and Tyler (They were willing to sit outside and watch their mom teach 2 hrs. of swim lessons so they could come with and see their new cousin.  That is love.)

Our Pastor

We stayed till Friday afternoon and then Jay brought us home.  The kids came running out the door when we got there.  I have not left them for that long before and they were excited to have daddy and I back home.

She was so tiny it was hard to fit her in the straps.

 

Greeted at the front door by her big sisters

Savannah missed mommy terribly!

The baby is home!!!

Uncle Ben and Aunt Nicole

Great- Nana Carson

Another proud Papa

Cousins

God is awesome with his timing because Jay’s sister was coming out for the birth of the baby and this way she was also able to help with the kids Thursday night and Friday.  Then my mom was coming to originally stay with the kids while we were in the hospital and now she is able to stay just to help out for a few days while I am home because Jay’s vacation time is limited.  So all is working out well.  I am only able to do the stairs once a day so I stay in my room with the baby and the kids come in to hold her and pat her and I get to rest which is very nice.

We hope you enjoy the pictures of our new little blessing.

  

 

 

 

 

 

Lo, Children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.     Psalm 127:2-5

 

The Red, White and Blue

We were treated this evening to a super performance from our church's children's choir.  Anastasia and the choir have been working on this since January I think.  It was a 4th of July musical and the kids did a fantastic job.  There was acting, dancing and singing.  It was a great tribute to the Lord, our country and servicemen.

I have gained perfect freedom by following your teachings.  Psalm 119:45

The Dashing Duo

About a week ago Jay took Joshua for them to both get hair cuts. They came home and were both practically shaved bald. I was stunned and not very pleased. They usually cut it short on sides and back and leave it a bit longer on top to spike it. I am sure the expression on my face said it all. But later Jay took me aside and explained what happend. He had Joshua go first and the lady scalped him. Joshua looked in the mirror and his lip started quivering and he almost started crying. He loves to put gel in his hair and spike it so he looks "handsome". Daddy knew what Joshua was thinking and stepped right in and said he thought it looked cool and wanted to cut his hair the same way. What a great Dad!!!!!

Mondays On Mothering

One things I love about mothering is hearing the insightful and down right funny things that my kids say.  I love getting a glimpse into their world and how they think. 

Yesterday we had my last dr. appt before the big day comes next Monday and we brought all four kids with.  We eneded up having to wait for quite awhile in the room before the doctor came in so we were trying to entertain the kids.  We played simon says, Eye Spy, etc.  Then I held my arms out in a tree like shape and told the kids "act like a tree".  My husband looked at me as to say that's a good one lets see how long it will last.  As everyone knows the kids should stay quite a few minutes anyways.  Well my darling 3 year old, Savannah holds her arms up smiles and says "look at me I am a talking tree".  We just busted out laughing because that is so her personality.  If she was to be a tree it would definetly be a talking tree!!!!  She can talk non-stop!  

 I try to write down the funny things they say because my sister-in-law is convinced I need to write a book one day with all of them!! 

If you would like to participate in Mondays on Mothering please visit:

 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bowofbronze/