Hello!  I thought I might introduce our family.  We are the Ellis Family and live in Central Missouri on our 32 acre mini-farm of sorts.  Currently we have 1 Appaloosa mare that is too wild and mean to ride (though the previous owners assured us, before moving thousands of miles away, that she was a wonderful horse.  And since we weren't experienced riders, we took them at their word!  Grrrr!), a couple of beef cows, a small herd of Nubian goats that we decided not to breed for kids this spring (though the bucks had broken in a few times last fall), free range chickens and guineas, a couple of egg stealing dogs, a few outside cats (can't classify them as "barn cats" since they just lay around on the front porch all day) and indoors we have a couple of parakeets.  During the warmer weather we house many critters that the kids like to "observe"--and a few come in of their own accord--like the snake we found in one of the bedrooms last year when someone left a window open without a screen on it!  That was pretty exciting!!

     I also enjoy gardening and only wish that I was good at it.   

     I love learning about new homesteading skills though my time is pretty limited to actually doing little more than learning.  Occasionally though, I manage some success on a project that is dear to my heart.   

     Our family consists of Mom (Kris) and Dad (Steve).  We've been married for over 24 years and have 10 living children (plus 3 in heaven) and 1 on the way, due in April.  Our oldest, Steve Jr. (24) is married to Hannah (22).  On down the line...  Scott (22), Sarah (18), Joshua (16), Bethany (13), Lillian (11), Hope (8), Jordan (7), Zane (5), and Eli (2).

     We have been homeschooling since 1986 and love it.  I've tried just about every different method just for fun but always fall back to the basic textbook/workbook format for the essentials.

     We have been blessed to operate a home based family business in the area of construction since 1993 and continue to grow. 

      And that's about it.  I hope to make new homesteading friends here and learn a lot!