Enjoying the weather

After what seemed like rain  forever last week, we are really enjoying the sunshine and warm air.We get up early and get our chores done and work on learning. Boy as soon as 11 hits we are out the door to play and work. Cody is in charge of mowing the front yard and weed eating as I do the side and back yard and by the barn. I really like mowing with the sun hitting me and the wind blowing. The husband wants to get a zero turn rider so he has been looking for the right one. Yesterday I picked up 13 more Americana/mix chicks from the farm  store and they are sooo stinking cute. Laurabeth thinks they are her toys so she goes to the deck and hold everyone of them really fast and then runs off. Our baby kittens are doing wonderful. We keep them in a play pen in the living room and they have learned to climb out so ever once in awhile we find a kitty or two walking around the sofa! we are only keeping one or two of them and Ill be looking for homes next week for them.Ill miss them :( If the rain holds off im hoping to get the garden tilled finally this weekend after soccer practice. Id love to do it Friday but we will see after the rain Thursday if I can. Im about tried of this rain. Just wish it would hold off until I get my garden in. My tiller is broken so we have to rent one but I cant until the husband is ready to till the upper field for what he is working on so we don't have to pay more to rent it twice. Man my knock out roses look AMAZING right now. Super bright red. We made Ethan a relaxing water garden I planted some roses and beautiful flowers by it for him. Well now we have to pull the liner of the pond back out and redo the side of it as the boys lay across it and smashed the sides down. Instead of filling it all up with water for safety reasons with the little girls we are going to add all rock and just 10 inches or so of water it. I'm worried that she will get past my eyes and fall in. Everyday the boys add frogs and worms to the pond  :) We are still on the hunt for a turtle. We past a few on the road but I refuse to stop and get them if they are almost to the other side. We have found 2 baby copperheads so far this year, another reason I added more chicks to my already nice size flock. My cat brought me a dead snake and left it on my back deck! The kids thought it was a mouse or a opossum tail. So glad they didn't touch it because the cat must have just killed it as it was still fresh. ekkkk
 Today we have homeschool PE an the kids look forward to that every week. Its nice to get out and talk for a few hours with other mommas. We did have riding lessons for tomorrow but she text me about the rain and said we will move it to next week. The kids SO every much enjoy riding. Val their teacher is old school and teaches them first to ride bareback. So awesome how God has placed her in our life. She ROCKS! The kids spend 6 hours there every Thursday and its all they talk about for the next few days. Another plus to that is we go past my girlfriend Lisa's house and she texts me to stop by and have picnic lunch with her and her kids at her house so the littles can play. Her kiddos also do the riding lessons but on different days.
 I need to get up and start my chores and showers before the day really starts. Most of the kids are still sleeping ( another reason why I like the warm weather, they play so HARD they sleep so well!). Have a blessed day my friends and enjoy those children!

                                            These riding pics are all from the EE bbq over the weekend

                          This is the third or forth arrowhead we have found on our land.

Peace Love and Unschooling

We have had a busy few weeks of things that Id never dream Id ever deal with. I have high anxiety, which put me in the hospital for a few hours. All is better as I can catch myself when I feel the stress approaching. Its never a dull moment with my wild Indians but my stress doesn't come from them. Its the lack of sleep for 6 years and the outside world that is so ate up that it makes me barf. Then after that week we found a lump om my sweet Ethan's chest. Took him to the doctor the next day. They did a chest xray that day to confirm what the doctor thought. Pectus Carinatum. Friday we went in for a heart echo but with it being Friday we wont hear from the specialist until next week, but the tech said he looked. Praise God! He will go back next week and see the specialist and talk about things we need to do and what not. Ill know more once we see him. This is not life threatening issue so I can breathe. A chest brace for a few years for him looks like the way we are heading. Totally can deal with that :) Prayers though that Ethan is calm about all that lays head and that we Praise God for the healing and protection of all of us. He was so brave and amazing for this. I took him and bought him Alvin and Chipmunks Shipwrecked afterwards as he needs a little down us. I have been struggling with so many things lately. Stuff that is personal and stuff that is minor. Listening is one of those things we all need to do better.Im content being a momma of many wild Indians and I have no desire to add more on my part. The Lord does work in His own way but Im not jumping the husband to make another baby ;) Im pretty happy playing, laughing, actively teaching my Indians with out being being strapped to chair to nurse. YES Laurabeth is still strong at 19 months and we don't plan to stop. But theres a difference of nursing a walking running toddler as to nursing a little time :)
The Lord is great in all He does for one who needs me every second. Those times have been such a blessing to me. But Im also so happy for this season of my life. Yes it was hard to deal with at first and I'm pretty sure that was the cause of my big attack. You just learn to listen.My Indians are so amazing. My relationship with my husband is great. Things are going to be ok with out adding a baby every year ;)
 Our "school" has changed for a more relaxed feel. Another one of those "finding your inner self" things. We live life and learn from life. No homeschool looks the same. EVER. We do things are way and don't tell me I need this and that to make it work. Living books are our thing. Painting is our thing. Baking is our thing. NATURE is a huge thing for us. We have been gone a little to much these last few weeks as we finish piano up next week and EE we are taking a break from the WORLD. we will keep up Riding Lessons because my kids like to feel free when riding bareback out in the middle of nowhere.

 Lets see if blogger will upload some pics!

My Days

My days are blessed with dirty feet from babies, kids that laugh at anything, mud, horses, ducks, chicks and pure country blood running through my veins. I had a very relaxing weekend of basketball celebrations, horse training, laying in the yard with my littles and having my sisters boys over for a sleep over. It was just what I needed after a week of panic attacks wiped me out. I got all my Passover books in the mail along with my new bible. Terri Maxwell wrote another book and its call Sweet Relationships. That came on Saturday and I was so blessed to start reading it while the kids were training horses and I was in the sun with the littles watching and reading.The spring weather has me just aching for the warm weather to come so I can plant and take the kids to the river. Everyday all the kids talk about going to the river. With the husbands job he gets Friday and Saturday off which works great for us. Although theres times were that will change and it will be off Sunday and Monday.
 Learning is going full steam. Im getting my groove with a routine and once I post this I'm sure all hell will break loose because thats what happens when I brag about our routine. I start my day off at 4:15 with my husband. Once he is out the door I snuggle my baby and nurse. I read the bible and drink my coffee. Lately I have had the window cracked so I can hear the wind chimes on the porch. After I get the kids up and fed, I head down stairs to jog/walk on the treadmill for 30 mins and then I do the bow flex for 20 mins. The kids usually come down with me and play or ride scooters. Right now the down stairs is a mess because we are finishing the rooms. SO we have stuff everywhere so there is just a tiny path for them to ride. After that we head up stairs to school. We school until about 11, then we start lunch. they play until almost 1 so I can stuff and focus on the little girls for awhile. They finish up their school and usually outside to play until dinner or they play inside. Routine is a must for me right now. With my panic attacks I feel better with routine. Alot better.
 Im finding media to be my biggest panic. Death is every where and its a scary thing. I check my facebook only for homeschooling reason now and I know longer red peoples posts. I dont care to see it anymore. I do also check it to read the natural parenting blogs/posts. If we are blessed again with another child im really researching different things. There is friends who post horrible things and I know they do it out of kindness and need prayers for the others families but I honestly cant take the sad news every..single...time...I log on. So if we are friends and then find on facebook that we are no longer friends on there please know its just facebook, we are still friends in the real world ;)

Modesty and Purity

These 2 things are on our families TOP most important list to teach our children. In today's world we are ran off of sex and more sex. Seeing a 12 year old year in skin tight jeans and her lady gadgets hanging out of the shirt makes me sick. For more reasons than one. I don't enjoy going out with my family and seeing young girls dressing like a hooker for the fact I have not  only a husband who sees that but I also have 3 boys, one who is at the age of eyes wondering. Modesty and PURITY is not just for the young girls to learn. We teach our boys the same. They will respect a woman. We are doing a bible study right now on Modesty from Queens Homeschool Supplies and so far I'm so impressed by it. Hannah is this one in golfed in it and it amazes me how fast she can flip through the bible and learn. Hannah has always been my child of modesty. She in no way likes to show off her body and she respects herself. By not showing off her curves she is honoring God. Rubs ALOT of people wrong when we say we like to please the Lord and honor His words. They don't like to be held to someone like that. Thats ok with us, this is our walk and they are MY children. With saying this I know theres afew people reading and saying in their heads " Oh my goodness shes going to the long skirts and what not." Cracks me up. Thats not what I'm saying here. The Lord will call you to do what He wants you to do. For us it doesn't mean wearing long skirts. Yes I love me some long skirts and I feel pretty in them and I kinda feel like Little House in them so I wear them often because of that. My daughters can wear what they please. My oldest daughter is a huge fan of blue jeans, go for it. Modesty isn't about wearing skirts, its about covering the skin that shouldn't be exposed to the public. Even as a kid I hated to have certain skin exposed. I did fall into a time and short time of skin but it didn't last long. Modesty jumps right into purity. How is a young boy to act when he sees a woman on TV or in a magazine almost naked and I mean only thing covered is her nips, eating a hamburger and in bed with it? For us, my husband finds this a horrid thing for  TV to allow, so we choose to not have cable. Public TV is also so bad with playing this crap. I don't want my son at 11 thinking that all woman should be having sex with a hamburger and seeing her body and then thinking well, shoot, other kids are doing this and that I might as well too. I think not. Its our job as parents to teach our kids respect for bodies. Its NOT normal for a 13 year old to be having sex. Its not normal for a 13 year to be in a "relationship" . Its not normal for a 16 year old girl to have sex with every boy she "dates". In our world today, that is normal. We choose to homeschool our kids for many reasons, but this is right up there in the top reasons. we choose to shelter them for the middle school/high school drama that is all around us. Think what you will but my kids deserve better than that, as do yours. Start teaching them respect for bodies. I have so many regrets as a child from the age 12 on up. I was doing things with boys that would frighten the crap out me if I EVER heard even the thought of my kids doing that. I don't regret having my first 2 children at 16 and 18. I was meant to be a mother and knew that from a very very early age. I do regret alot, just not that. Theres reason for all and I got 2 very special children from that. My mind is a cirus and I don't want to write my whole life on my blog as it is personal and only spilled to my husband. When I think of my past I usually have a few days of panic attacks and the feeling of me not being good enough. I didn't have a bad life, not at all, but as an adult things are different and they play a huge role in life. My life with my husband is effected by this. My children have to see me panic and what not and thats hard. We are all human and thats life. I leave it to the Lord. But again this is a reason we teach Modesty and purity to are children. Its pleasing to the Lord and will make their marriage alot easier.I could go on and on but you get the point. Im a complicated woman, not asking for you to understand me, just letting you know of a great bible study you can do with your kids. The Standard of Modesty: A Bible-Based Study for Young Ladies by Sandi Queen and The Standard of Purity - A Bible Based Study for Young Adults by Sandi Queen.

Life has been busy here as always. Jeff started his new job, which in turn has made for some SUPER unsettled kids. Ethan has been crying at night and acting out during the day. Yesterday was a bit better for him. The littles are so LOUD and have been pushing the limits with me and dad. With Jeff working we now have 4 yes 4 littles in our bed at night. A king size bed should make for lots of room, but with littles who sleep with legs on my head and elbows in my butt I find that I really look forward to nursing the baby after midnight in my recliner :) Today we are working on quiet time and listening to people to they they speak. they seem to think yeller over each other is the way to be heard. Im a loud person by nature but my indians are super duper LOUD. Dad will be working night shift come next week so our routine is going to totally change. He is works 4 days then is off 3 days.  think He said he is off Sunday, Monday and Tuesday but again that will change once they finally get there stuff together. He is working today but day shift. Its going to be sooo very nice to have him off those days because we plan to do ALOT of family outings and camping/river fun and having him off Sunday thro Tuesday not alot people will be at the river and places.Ethan has his summer planned out and hidden in his dresser. Its really pretty cute.

 Learning has been great, just not this past week as I was GONE every single day of the week either with dentist appts for the kids, hospital visits, doctor appts and lessons outside of the house. I told he kids we are home cranking out the lessons until May then we can slow down some. Our weekends will be filled with 3 doing soccer, Horse riding lessons, Morgan Horse club on Saturdays and family outings. Im glad all that is on the weekends because schooling 5 children is now a FULL TIME job. As before the littles would do "school" as they pleased but I have really eager littles and love doing "school" now. School looks different everyday for us. Some days we do lapbooks, others a full of crafts for all kids. Others its kitchen help and helping dad build the rooms downstairs. The building of the room and bathroom does go alot slower with kids helping but they are learning. The husband has had a few moments of yelling and Im right there to knock that crap off. My dad was a yeller like that and Jeff knows thats the first way to boil my blood when it comes to my kids. I'm a yeller and I kick myself every time I do it. Ahhhhh.  Hannah has showed a HUGE jump in responsibility. I had her take the month off of volunteering at EE until she got caught up in school and showed me she was serious about her education. Well the child has busted her rear and even through the babysitting and chores and LIFE she has managed to get caught up and even better..... STAY THAT WAY. She is doing amazing!! She has gift for sure. She starts back at EE Monday and she cant wait! They have emailed and called and are so excited to have her back!
 Im ready for spring. Yes I said that. We have had snow after snow and Im ready to be outside in the garden. All my seedlings have sprouted in the window and it just makes me want it more! Not to mention I have 3 boys who NEED to burn the energy. BADLY. Well I most go and make the morning meal and insert that coffee I.V. :)

Such a brat I am :)

We don't have cable and only have like 3 channels on TV. BY CHOICE. I hate TV more than anyone I know, my husband and kids will tell you this. Although my kids like to watch TV on some nights after a long day, not everyday but sometimes. My older kids and my husband are REALLY into the Heroes series. So we bought the kids the first season and they finished that in a month. So my daughter asked and asked if she could the next season. Daddy searched all targets to find and found it. That target also had the next 2 season for a great price. A nice mom would just hand out the seasons all together and make them happy, right? Well I'm not like that ;) I took season 3 and placed in  a cabinet, took a picture, downloaded the picture and made it my background on my PC. Hannah sees the background and looks in every spot known to man in this house to find it. Its hidden well :) We will see where the DVD pops up next!!!!

Sweet moments

Happy Valentines dear friends. We have a had a great day of fellowship with my friend Lisa and her 3 wild children :) I love having them over because her children play just like mine, wild and sweet. I love talking with Lisa because we can open our bibles are get right to the good stuff. God is good! The kids played, we talked, they left, we played outside and now my kiddos are having down time. Much needed. Jeff is at the library studying for a few things. He is taking a Solar power class and I'm so excited to see what we can do with that. He got the job we have been praying for and he starts in a week and half. Our routine here has been off with having him home all day but he has been building rooms downstairs and getting things finished. I'm waiting for spring now so I can garden. I started all my indoor seeds the other day and have them in the sun :) This year I'm hoping that ill be able to stay on the weeds as I don't have a newborn this year. I'm pretty excited about this season of life of teaching the kids to have a garden and help.
 In homeschool news the wheels are spinning like always. So the only thing that changed was Hannahs work. She was doing AHL from MFW but she didn't really like it. It was alot of boring reading and nothing grabbed her. I don't believe a children should ever be bored with learning and if its not getting them excited we don't waste our time. So we sold her MFW and ordered from Queens Homeschool Supplies. If you haven't looked at there stuff you should. Its the Charlotte Mason style which is how we roll :) She got to pick all the books and studies she wanted for her subjects. I cant not say enough how awesome their stuff is. She picked 3 bible studies for this year and I'm pretty excited about the ones she picked.We are still using MFW with Cody but very relaxed with it. We like lapbooking and notebooking right now. The littles are still using MFW K but again I had to tweak the heck out of it to make it work. For the new school year I'm not wasting my money on anything for the littles but just doing the things we already do. Again very relaxed about it all. Our focus is laying the foundation of Christ down for them first. We have feast days coming up and we put all school stuff aside for those times. Another reason we school year round.

 Well I better get to looking for things while baby is napping :)

The Ramblings

My goal for this new year was to keep my blog updated twice a week, ummmm I'm slacking! We have been dealing with a nasty nasty cold and now it has spend to Hannah, Cody and ME! Laurabeth is having no luck what so ever with this. She has a second ear infection in a month and the cold is just hanging on to her. I took her to the Urgent care yesterday after noon after we spent the day at the Magic House. Her lungs are clear but  she has so much fluid draining she is just coughing so hard. She falls alseep faster than ever and in weird spots. Ill be walking with her and all of a sudden she is out! Like that! She plays hard and then it comes back and she is out and coughing.Its back and forth all day. I wouldnt have taken her yesterday if Id known she was going to bad again. They gave her another round of antibiotics but I'm treating it with breast milk and lemon juice right now. Prayers this leaves my house soon please.
 On the school note we are doing bird watching and scripture writing. The bird watching has been so fun. We have 2 redheaded woodpeckers that comes every morning for their food and then we had the sweetest chickadee come eat all the time. The kids wouldn't even scare her. Well my dang cat decided she would make herself some lunch with that bird! Not something we liked to watch. We had our break and then even a longer break with the sickness. So much is changing here and as always God lead. We are laying out our plan the homestead come this spring and getting excited to plant some seeds! The kids cant wait. we moved my garden over by my daughters volleyball court were there is more sand and more sun and I can keep on eye on the wildlife. I learned last year that living a cornfield and prairies deer and turkeys like to eat my stuff EVERY NIGHT! So things moved and we will be putting a fence around it. I'm thinking of doing raised beds this year.Just a thought though. The ground over there is so nice but I do want to keep it kind medium sized as I don't want to be overwhelmed. Last year I had a little baby and a toddler and this I have no baby:(( So I know we can keep up much better.If the Lord blesses us with one I'm sure I will keep up if its a smaller size. My sister and mom are doing gardens and e plan on doing canning days and giving each other the cans of what we have. That way we all have plenty and different things for the fall winter. I'm getting another flock of chickens this springs and pretty darn excited about that. I gave my flock to my sister as mine were getting on the porch and pooing and my husband was going to shoot them. So off they went and now we have build another fence for the coop. I kept my ducks because they are my favorite of all. My dang dog killed my momma duck a few months right after she laid herself a bunch of eggs and was nesting. Bella has been causing more problems than helping here. So she is looking for a new family with no livestock. She is awesome for hiking and playing but she has alot of hound in her and my birds seem to be on her list of things that are so good to eat!
 The kiddos are doing good. Chase and Hannah are doing amazing at their piano lessons. Violin is next and we plan to have them do bluegrass. Laurabeth is now climbing and being a toddler with her sister now. So sad how fast they grow. She still isn't talking but Ethan was a really late talker so I know she has alot to sat just waiting fot the moment when I'm not watching. Jolene has turned into a little momma and loves helping right along in the kitchen. She pulls up a chair and is my helper for every mel it seems. She does like to have thing her way so I do spend alot of my correcting her that this momma is the RIGHT one not her! Chase is still my little guy. Loves to snuggle and have his binkie. Yes I said his binkie. Only at night though. He will be  5 in less than 2 weeks, my goodness. Ethan is turning into such a great little man. Loves books and coloring and singing us opera. That boy has a voice like no other. He loves putting on puppet plays with his siblings. Cody is my outdoors men. He got a new shotgun for Christmas that is his pride and joy. He also got another go cart so this child is doing everything right so he can "play" outside. Hannah is still my right hand man. She is amazing. School is always easy for her. She still volunteers at Exceptional Equestrians and takes piano. She also babysits for people. She is my crafty child who doesn't get any of that from me. The husband has working around the house trying to avoid the wife as much as possible because I have a list a mile long for him. I'm good like that :)
 Id like to write about all the changes here on the Ownby Homestead but I think that will be another post. Dinner is going and my right hand man is holding my sick baby while she let me blog. Good girl she is.
 PS id love to post pics but again blogger is being MEAN!