The Big White Farmhouse

A collection of our ordinary days, recorded every week.  At the end of the year, I’ll publish them into a keepsake to treasure.

Around here, I have been:

refusing to turn on the heat yet.  We had a few cold mornings (like waking up to a 59 degree house) but that’s what sweatshirts and blankets are for, right?


getting used to the idea of having a car payment again.  After his accident this summer (and the shoddy work done to fix it), Mark’s car has been making some weird sounds, to the point where random people are commenting in concern.  I was hoping to have more time to save a significant down payment, but since he commutes so much, we thought it best to replace cars now instead of waiting and having him stranded on the interstate.  That debt though…grrr.  

enjoying the memories Mark and the boys are creating.  All of a sudden, the kids have been all about the idea of Zorro.  I find random Z’s on their schoolwork, there are frequent sword fights and I’ve even gotten requests to sew black masks.  Mark surprised them and let them watch the old black and white version, his favorite as a kid, and they loved every minute.


reading Second Street Station and All the Light We Cannot See.


laughing at the exchange I heard between Sophie and J: 
S: Look at my pretty crown, J.  I marry you.
J: I’m not having a wife because you’re just gonna boss me around.


making the time to be in the kitchen again and it feels good.  I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, raspberry cornmeal crumble bars, and our go-to banana bread.  I also tried rice in the slow cooker for the first time.


trying a new app called GoodBudget and it’s like an envelope system without carrying cash.  I love that Mark and I can both access the account from our phones.  At a single glance, we’ll both know exactly how much money we have left in each category.  I’m hoping the visual reminder will help as we start learning how to save more than we spend.


watching our baby in awe.  TJ is so cute and yet such a stinker.  He waves bye to “dad” every morning, looks adorable in his fleece footie pajamas, and dances (his current favorite is Queen’s “We Will Rock You”).  He also likes to slam toys on the TV, head-butts instead of kisses and gets a lot of pleasure flinging his meals off of his tray.  We sure love this boy…even when he’s naughty.