The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

March 2, 2015

{thrive goals} February Review, March Goals & a Free Printable!

Like many people, I really struggled through February. A lot. I was in some sort of funk and I just couldn’t seem to find my groove! I definitely didn’t feel like I was thriving; I was barely above surviving. Some months are like that, I guess. Thank goodness for new months and new chances to try again.

February Is For Organization Challenge.
I don’t quite know how to categorize this month’s challenge. On one hand, I failed miserably, falling quickly behind on the assignments and never really able to catch up. On the other hand, though, the mentality of “What will work best for my family?’ has really filled my thoughts this month. This has led to an overflowing donation pile and plans to make our spaces work better. So final verdict: my home may not be totally deep-cleaned and clutter free, but the foundation has been laid and we’re slowly working toward an organized home.

February Goals:
1. Try something new creatively.
Done. I tried arm-knitting for the first time and it was really good for me to stretch in a new way. I loved the knitting process and even though my finished product was a bit um, interesting, I can’t wait to try again.

2. Drink 6+ glasses of water daily.
This was my biggest struggle this month. I found that I could easily drink five cups, but that sixth one just rarely happened. I’m blaming it on that second cup of coffee I nurse all afternoon. Oh well…baby steps.

3. Floss every day. Or every other day.
Even though I flossed pretty sporadically (ie. remembering 3 days in a row, then promptly forgetting the next two), I’m calling this a success. Do I dare admit this was probably a personal monthly best?

4. Read two books, one fiction and one non.
Done. I read The Boxcar Children #1, Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting, and It Was Me All Along. A full book report to come soon.

5. Make a Valentine’s memory with the kids.
Valentine’s Day was pretty low-key for us this year, but we did surprise the kids with a trip to Sweet Frog and they were so excited. We looked like crazy people going into an ice cream shop when it was 20 degrees outside, but the kids didn’t seem to mind.

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March’s Goals:

1. Read three books.

2. Workout goal: Complete what you set out to do. // No more mind games! I want to complete each workout as I have planned without psyching myself out. Obviously, fussy babies or kids who need me may change the plan, but I’m not letting myself be an excuse too.

3. Try making a bib for TJ. // I need a reason to take out the sewing machine again and with solid foods in TJ’s future, I think this is perfect time to try a new project.

4. Start working on Sophie’s big girl room. // The first steps in making our home work better for our family right now. I’m excited to finally spend some time in there.

5. Complete the lesson plans for the last nine weeks of school. // Since we started school during the summer, we are way ahead of the public school schedule and only have about nine weeks to go! I want to end the year strong with fun activities and maybe a field trip.

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN GOAL PLANNER FOR MARCH HERE.

What five things do you want to accomplish this month? Share in the comments!

February 27, 2015

{around here} Week 08/52: Week of 2.23.15

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 more and more snow fall. It seems we keep getting an inch or two every couple of days! I surprised the kids with snow cream and they thought it was the coolest thing ever.

organizing all of the kids’ treasured drawings into a new binder system. They each got a different colored 1″ binder and all of their favorite pictures have been three-hole punched and placed inside. At the end of everyday, we’ll go through what they’ve created (because they are always drawing around here!), keep the favorites and trash the rest.

enjoying a play date with friends at our house. They also brought over a Jumperoo for TJ to borrow and it’s quickly become a hit for all five kids!

reading Overcoming Dyslexia.

thinking about this quote from Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting: “The question is not about how to get good at parenting–or marriage, or any other relationship under the family roof. The question is how to grow in love. Of course we’re going to keep hurting each other: unintentionally and intentionally, mildly and deeply, once and over again. This is sin’s truth, and we’re smack-dab in it. But grace and forgiveness can soften our hearts, even slowly help them to heal.”

recovering from a random stomach bug. Sophie and D had it the worst and gosh, it kills me to see them feel so miserable. Fortunately, it seems to be a 24-hour thing and everyone is back to normal.

homeschool notes:
+ Thursday was “Q” day in kindergarten. We made paper quilts.
+ M’s history was all about the Phoenicians. He learned how they used snails to create a purple dye, the “color of kings”. We replicated the process by making a dye with frozen blueberries. M used the dye to color pasta and then made a necklace. So fun!

February 25, 2015

{currently} Mamma’s Journal // February

a letter to my children, every month in 2015

M // We recently went to Target and you found a beautiful, hardcover notebook. While I usually just buy you cheap composition books, we splurged this time and you have been writing away ever since. You sometimes let me peek inside and I love what you are writing. My favorite entries are the ones where you include cartoon drawings of our family.

D // You made great leaps in school this month and I’m so excited for you, I could cry. On one particular day, I was so excited that I started cheering and jumping up and down! You gave me that “Mama, you are so crazy!” look, but I think you’re pleased too. I just introduced you to card games and you are hooked. Your favorite is Crazy Eights, but Old Maid is a close second.

J // My sweetheart boy. Daddy and I want to bottle you up and never let you grow any bigger. We love how much you love our family. You are extra protective of Sophia and you two are quickly becoming best friends. When we were at Target, you were constantly saying, “Come on, Sophie! Hold my hand.” or “Guys! We can’t forget Sophia!”

S // Like I say about all of you at two years, you are equal parts sweet and rotten. Full of opinion and “I do it myself” and tantrums. But at the same time, you are so loving and funny and absolutely precious. My favorite memory from this month was one particularly hard night while Daddy was away. TJ was extra fussy, so I was pushing him around the house in the stroller, praying it would help him go to sleep. Next thing I know, you are following behind, pushing your baby doll in your baby stroller, copying my every move. When our babies were finally asleep, we “parked” our strollers side by side and then cuddled together on the couch.

TJ // You didn’t make it into the monthly picture, but that’s because we stayed warm inside while the big kids played in the snow. You just turned five months and I can’t believe how fast time is going. You are almost sitting up by yourself and you love when we stand you up. You give big slobbery kisses and like to “high five”, which is what we call you slapping our outstretched hand again and again. I think I’m still your favorite (for now!), but nobody gets bigger smiles out of you than your Daddy.

Love all of you to the moon and back again, Mamma

February 24, 2015

{100 beautiful things} No.004: A First Attempt at Arm Knitting

If you had been in my house this weekend, you would have heard me crazily exclaim, “I knit! I’m a knitter! Guess what, guys? I knit!” (Obviously a spin on one of my favorite movies.)

In reality, that is SO far from the truth. Until last Saturday, I have never touched a skein of yarn. Ever! I am left-handed and have baffled almost every knitter I’ve asked to teach me. Still, the knitting process has always been intriguing, so after watching a tutorial online, I thought I’d give arm-knitting a shot. Because using your arms has to be so much easier than using needles, right?

Um. Not so sure.

The tutorial claims that once you get the hang of it, you can knock out a scarf in about half an hour. It took me probably double that time. Looking back, I was so thrilled to be actually knitting something that I may have miscounted a bit too. Maybe a lot. My final result doesn’t look anything like the one shown in the video, but gosh darn it, I am so proud! First tries don’t have to be perfect and obviously, this is far from it. But I’m proud of myself for going out on a limb and trying something new. I can’t wait to try again. Hopefully next time, I’ll pay attention and get the stitch count right.

I knit! I’m a knitter!

{The yarn I used was Lion Brand Yarn in the color, Dallas Grey}

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