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:

watching American Sniper on Memorial Day.  A good reminder of the cost of freedom.  I am humbled and thankful for the sacrifices of many who didn’t make it home.


working behind the scenes on our new book club!  All the details will go live on Monday.


devastated (only a slight exaggeration) to discover our bird eggs missing from the nest.  After two weeks of watching “our” birds, we woke up one morning to find the nest unattended.  I waited about two hours (which was very strange, since they had always taken turns being in the nest) before checking in on the eggs…and was shocked to find an empty nest.  We were so sad and disappointed!  According to all the research we had done, the babies would have hatched this week and I had it on the calendar like a proud grandmother.  So bummed that the kids and I won’t be able to watch the hatching.  Mark just laughs at my crazy. 


eating all the foods of summer: lots of BBQ (Mark made racks of ribs, pork shoulder for pulled pork sandwiches, and brats this week), watermelon, corn on the cob and ice cream cones.  I love this time of year.    


starting a brand new exercise program: Jamie Eason’s LiveFit.  Weight lifting is totally foreign to me, but I know it is the fastest way to lose fat and gain muscle, both of which I need to become a better runner.  My husband used to be a personal trainer, so he has helped me learn the exercises and adapt them to our home gym.  I am sore in muscles I never knew I had!  Although it is hard to begin something I know nothing about (and have little muscle strength to boot), I’m excited to push myself and see what I can do.  Like Mark said, “Remember when you thought you’d never be able to run 13.1 miles?  Boom.  You’ll be lifting the heavy weights in no time.”  


watching the kids’ creativity with one of my childhood favorites, Perler beads!  The boys have been good about keeping them in the tray (Sophie’s another story, ahem…) and the beads keep them occupied forever!  D even said, “These are better than Legos!” which is high praise in this household.


celebrating the results from M’s testing!  Although it mostly confirmed what I already knew, it’s nice to see he’s going in the right direction.  On to third grade we go! 
    
thankful that TJ’s first top tooth has poked through!  Also thankful for the Ergo…that child is attached to me all day long and having him on my back has been a lifesaver.  I wouldn’t get anything accomplished without it! 


introducing the big kids to Mad Libs.  They think they are the funniest thing!  

working on a new “Celebrations” section for Big White Farmhouse.  I put in the purchase orders this week, so we’ll hopefully be able to launch the new products in the next few weeks!  


P.S. Big White Farmhouse is having a big sale on our seed bombs this week!  25% off all three varieties with the coupon code “GARDEN25“.  Sale lasts until Sunday, May 31.