The Big White Farmhouse

surviving a week with Mark away on business. Long days, but we did okay.  We had movie night with pizza delivery (AND breadsticks because I’m the “best mom ever”, hah!) and a playdate with friends.  I surprised them with ice cream cones and a new playground to discover.  But the biggest event of the week was a huge thunderstorm (with hail and everything!) that blew out our power.  As I panicked a bit trying to round up all the flashlights while making sleeping arrangements in my room for the kids while trying to remember how long a refrigerator can go before everything spoils, the power miraculously returned after about three hours!  


completing a little bookshelf project in the upstairs hallway.  I wanted a space to display books and these Ikea shelves were cheap and perfect.  Hopefully, the kids will be inspired to read more of our collection by seeing them out and available.  


trying to get into a routine of regular work on Big White Farmhouse.  I know I will see the most return of my time if I invest consistent hours, but finding those pockets of time is so tricky!  Aiming for an hour a day, most often broken into twenty minute chunks.  This week, I got new vintage sewing drawers ready and listed and worked on our monthly newsletter to go out Saturday.  Not much, but baby steps in the right direction.  


reading Chateau of Secrets (just finished!) and starting The American Way of Eating.


watching documentaries to finish up #6 on my 100 Little Things list.  I’m reaching the end date to that goal soon!  Currently, the list is only about 40% completed, but I’m hoping to knock out a few more before August 1.  Time to start thinking about round three…


feeling the baby kick for the first time.  Is there really any more amazing feeling?  So surreal and it just never gets old.  What a privilege it is to carry another baby into this world.


diffusing Lavender and Jade Lemon almost everyday.  I’m kind-of obsessed with Jade Lemon right now.


laughing at my sweet Sophie: instead of saying “all aboard”, she says “on the board!”  All of a sudden, she is really into playing with rocks: stacking, organizing, creating stories.  She also is really interested in ice skating and loves to “skate” around the house in her socks.  She’s a sassy little thing, but I sure love this age.  

Around here, I have been:

starting again, a bit hesitantly, on this little series of mine.  My camera has been sitting unused for months and it’s funny how quickly you can fall out of a habit.  Seeing my children and my home through that lens, though, is so helpful to me in terms of acknowledging everyday beauty and having gratitude. It’s a habit I want to continue, both for posterity’s sake and (selfishly) for my own.


drinking sparkling water (lime or orange are the current favorites) with frozen blueberries as “ice” – so good and refreshing.

watching Leverage at night with Mark.


working on my Christmas prep to-do list for Big White Farmhouse.  Summer is notoriously slow for retail, so I’m taking advantage and getting things to prepare for the Christmas rush.  This week, I got in a new order of burlap market totes, tea towel sets and cloth napkins.  Love them all!


introducing the kids to Bob Ross.  They were skeptical at first, but soon grew to love him as much as their mama.  J was especially cute in the days after: “Mama, I was inspired by Bob.  I’m going to make a happy little tree.  And it’s okay if I get a little messy.  I bet Bob gets messy painting too.”   


reading Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend.  Also slowly making my way through The Fulfillment of All Desire…so much food for thought there.  I only read 4-5 pages at a time.


watching D start to really enjoy reading.  I bought this book for him at an Usborne book party and he devoured it in one day!  He’s now started in on the Flat Stanley series.  Another update on D: we received the results of his assessment and he showed signs of mild dyslexia (which is great news!) as well as more significant dysgraphia.  It’s encouraging to know the problem, so we can work to find the solution.  Lots of fun writing practice is in our future this summer! 

nesting like a crazy woman already.  I have a list of home projects a mile long!  This week’s highlights: we finally got a bench for our dining room and can now all fit at the table.  I also found a new welcome mat.