Summer is here....

Well maybe not actually SUMMER, but vacation! We have just finished our 7th year of homeschooling. I can't believe it! You know, I am convinced that homeschooling is not for sissy's, or undisciplined, or weak..it is hard work! It is an everyday job, that you don't get "paid" for. It is 4-6 hours, 5 days a week, for 160-180 days a year! Do I love homeschooling??? Some days. Some days it is hard and like pulling teeth! Do I think I am doing what is best for my family??? Absolutely! Wouldn't have it any other way! People ask "Do you take a summer break?" My answer, "YES! Mommy needs a break!" So now that text-book schooling is over for a few months, I wonder what will I do with my time?!?! Sew, Read, Clean, Swim and Teach! Children are always learning and wanting to learn! So I guess technically I do "school" all year, but from May through mid-August we don't open a text book! =)  I just enjoy my children, and teach them the love of learning and the many aspects of doing so! I think I will go have a cup of coffee now...oh wait, I think I will have one of my children make it since they LOVE making my cup of coffee!!!

 A typical evening sight here at the Bailey house!

 Shiloh is making a facial mask

 Shiloh and Jacob with the mask on...it kept sliding off so they laid on the floor!

 Moriah and Bethany...2 more brave persons!  =)  

All 5 of my beautiful children!!! 

Baby Chicks...

 This spring we are in our "baby chick phase of life". Let me start by saying we already have 11 chickens. 10 hens and 1 rooster.  We ordered about 6 baby chicks when a friend was wanting to order some. The minimum you have to order is 25 for the safety of the chicks. In the mean time, Steve borrowed an incubator from a friend. He wanted to try to incubate our own eggs. We were doubtful, and I even told the children several times that they probably won't hatch. The temp. has to stay between 99-101 degrees. They need humidity and to be turned 2-3 times a day. We did our best, and low and behold 21 days later they started hatching!!! I couldn't believe it!

Here we are with 19 eggs. The "o"s on them let us know which side we put up. There are "x"s on the other side.

 Here is a little crack where the chick is trying to poke it's way out. It takes about 15 minutes to an hour from this point for the little thing to fully emerge.

 Here they are hatching. Funny looking little things! They actually have an "umbilical" cord! There is a thing that attaches to the shell that the chicks get nutrients from. Crazy!

 Here they are as they are starting to dry. They look cuter when they aren't so wet and newborn!

They are sitting under a heat lamp, finishing the drying process. Then they went down to the shop buy the others.

Out of 19 eggs, 15 hatched and are doing real well. We actually had one die last night, so we are down to 20 now.

We know that some will be roosters and end up in the freezer, but we are so excited to be able to hatch our own chicks now!!!

Come on by and see them sometime!!!  And in about 20 weeks we will have more eggs than we know what to do with!

Breastfeeding...

I never thought anything other than I would breastfeed. I never had problems with it and the babies all did well taking to it. I can't complain about anything! I loved every minute of it and I miss it more than anything else about babyhood! I think it is the BEST thing for baby and Mommy! Did you know you burn up to 600 calories a day breastfeeding full time??? That is huge! Not to mention the benefits that have to do with lowing your chance of cancer. I am a full supporter of breastfeeding!!!
Having said that I think it is inappropriate to have a baby doll that sucks on the breast (they don't even have them yet) of a 5 year old! I think it is odd to have note cards with babies nursing on them. Bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc...really??? Come on!  I was never ridiculed, made fun of, told to leave a place, (I even breast fed right in the middle of Neiman Marcus in downtown Chicago) or made to feel uncomfortable. I never breast fed in the bathroom either! I would go to the shoe dept. (they have benches) or a sitting area (most malls and shopping centers have them) and just do my business. No big deal!!! I  honestly don't see the push to make breastfeeding illegal or wrong. Most M.D's still suggest it as the best choice for most people.
That is my 2 cents! If you have had a bad experience I am sorry...I had a wonderful experience with all 5 of mine, wouldn't trade it for a second but I also will not be getting a baby doll that breast feeds to my daughters. They can just wait until they have their own babies (and boobs for that matter) and then I will be their biggest fan!  =)

Sara's Blog for the day.....

This week we are experiencing near 70 degree weather!!! After we had 2 degrees last week this is WONDERFUL!!!! When we have lovely spring time weather in Feb. I am again reminded why we live in this beautiful state of Tennessee!!! Yesterday while I was at work someone asked me where I live. I answered that I live in Lobelville...They proceeded to say "I'm sorry" and I then said I'M NOT!!!! I told them we live there by choice! We have lived other places and DECIDED to raise our family here! I love the creeks, the hills, the snow, and the 70 degree weather in Feb! I love that my 13 year old daughter can go to a study on how to be a better wife someday with ladies I trust. I love that my husband can go to work with men that are wholesome and uplifting. I love that my children can go outside and play for hours and I don't worry about them. I love that I live about 4 miles from my children's grandparents who are an important part of their life. I love that I live where I can home-school my children and others do so as well....That is all I have to say about that!   :-)

Christmas 2010!!!

Well here is it...the end of 2010!!! Where did this year go? Here is an overview of what our year was like...

January: We brought in the New Year’s with several couples and had a great time. I turned 32 and continue to work part-time for Perry County EMS as an EMT. I enjoy the work and serving my county in this way.

February: Jacob turned 6 and Isaac turned 11. We celebrated with a  party with family and friends.

                                    
March: Spring started showing her face here in Tennessee and Isaac started his 3rd season of baseball. He was part of a great team this year and finished 1st place and undefeated!
April: Steve’s brother, Kevin, and his family came for a visit! Bethany turned 8, we had a potluck at church so we celebrated with church family. Steve and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary!
May: FLOOD!!!! Tennessee had a 200+ year flood. Nashville was covered and our little Perry County had water everywhere! The creeks and rivers rose to unbelievable levels as people were forced from their homes. Fortunately. we did not get any water in our house, but our driveway was destroyed again. We had an older couple from KS stranded in our little community so we had guests for a couple nights. We were without electricity for 5 days! Tennessee is recovering nicely and you really got to see neighbors helping neighbors and the blessings that comes with that! Steve had a birthday and turned 48. We made a trip to WI for Steve’s niece’s graduation from high school. It was a good trip and wonderful to see family and Wisconsin when it wasn’t covered with snow! J
June: School is out and Summer is here!!! Our 7th year of home schooling is complete! The addition to our “farm” is 30 baby chicks!  Creek Time!!! We headed to the creek to cool off just about every afternoon!
July: After 15+ years working construction Steve decided to start a different job. He started working for an online business. That job didn’t work out after just a few weeks, but another door was opened and he is learning the art of computering! J He is also doing odd type jobs for friends and family.
August: We had some friends from Papua New Guinea visit us for the weekend. It was a wonderful time of catching up and fellowship!
We started school again! This year we have a 7th, 6th, 5th, 3rd, and 1st grader.
They are doing wonderfully! Since I work Wednesdays Steve is learning the art of home schooling as well!
September: Shiloh turned 10! We celebrated by taking her to Nashville! We ate out and she finally got her ears pierced! Steve and I went with some friends of ours on a last minute trip to Charleston, SC!
October: Autumn has arrived and it is LOVELY! We took a long weekend and went camping with my sister and her family. The colors that God paints during this season is truly a wonderful sight!

Moriah got a baby-sitting job! She loves watching little Konrad, and his sister Riley as well!

November: Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for all the blessings that God has blessed us with. Our parents are all healthy and doing well. Our siblings are all blessed and our children are growing…both physically and spiritually. Another big event this month is our oldest daughter turned 13! Yes, we have a teenager! Seems so unreal that she has grown so quickly. She is a beautiful girl both inside and out! She is truly growing into a fine young lady and we are extremely proud of her.

December: Steve and I got the chance to go to a Garth Brooks concert. It was a benefit for the flood victims of TN! We then traveled to Wisconsin to spend the Holiday with Steve's family. It was a lovely time! We were there for 7 nights and had parties 5 of them, so it was busy but FUN!!! We thank God for traveling mercies! When we returned to TN, we partied some more with Sara's family. =)  Good Times!!!!

Remember during this Christmas time to give Thanks for the blessings we all enjoy daily. Give thanks for a God who cared enough to send His Son on our behalf. Give thanks that God in his mercy and grace accepted His Son as our substitute.

ALL THE BAILEY COUSINS!!!!!

The Wisconsin Cousins!

Pops turned 64!!! We love every minute he is with us and we thank God for his health!!!

Flood of TENNESSEE May 2010

The weekend started by Steve and I going to Nashville Friday night to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. We walked around downtown Franklin, ate a nice little restaurant called The Red Pony and spent the night at a nice hotel suite. We woke up Saturday morning to heavy rains, tornado warnings, and the sound of sirens. We hung around the hotel to see if it was going to let up, which it did NOT. We then headed to the downtown area and went to the Farmers Market. We then went to Kroger and stocked up on groceries and headed home. We were about 3 miles from our exit when the traffic was stopped. Assuming there was an accident we waited for over 2 hours. Come to find out there was flash flood and there was water on the Interstate...AFTER our exit. So we got on the shoulder and got off at the next exit and headed home. The water was indeed over the interstate, crazy enough! We got home unloaded the groceries...all the while it was pouring...and went and picked up our children. The next morning Cane Creek was HIGH and the Buffalo River was blocking the highway as well. At about 8 in the morning the electricity went out too! It was at until Tuesday evening! Meanwhile because the INterstate was closed the HP was sending people down our way to get back on I-40. They didn't know that our road was closed. Well several semi-trucks made it though, or then turned around and headed back towards Centerville, but. . .2 passenger cars and about Semi's were stuck here between high water and a washed out Highway. The local people (who were also w/o electricity, water, etc...) made food for them and we had the older couple from Kansas stay with us. It was quite an experience needless to say!

Our Neighbor across the road from us had water going all around his house...it never got inside though!

Our neighbors to the west..See their Mailbox?!?!?!

Our children playing in the driveway. They wanted to play in the water and being the paranoid Mom that I am this is the only place I let them play...and I was nervous at that!

Our local lumber yard, Quality Metals, had water running right through their buildings. It did not however get in the office area.

So, that is it in a nut-shell...something we will remember forever and tell our grandchildren about!

Spring...

Spring has come quickly here in the beautiful middle Tennessee region! This week has been up into the 80's most everyday. The trees are all green, the dog woods and red buds are bloomed, the daffodils have come and gone. I love Tennessee in the SPRING!

We are putting in a garden this year. We haven't had one in several years and this was the year! We planted 18 tomato plants and 6 flower plants last night. I can't want to have some fresh tomatoes!!! We are also planting okra, peppers, corn, melons, pumpkins, and beans...Most of which are heirloom seeds and can be used again and again!!!

I will post some pictures soon!