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:

loving the snow that fell on Tuesday.  There’s something so magical about waking up to a blanket of snow, don’t you think?  The big kids played in the yard for over an hour, then came in to warm blankets and cocoa.  TJ and Mamma stayed inside and watched from the window.      

watching Blue Blood on Netflix at night with Mark.  We love a good cop drama and I can’t get enough of the strong, multi-generational family dynamic too.  Important to note: Before we turn on the TV, we each have to read a chapter in our books.  January’s learning challenge is still going strong!

laughing about Sophie’s first makeup experiment.  I figured she was playing happily in her room upstairs.  When she came down, I thought something looked off about her, but couldn’t place it.  I kept asking myself, “Is she getting sick?  Why doesn’t she have any color in her lips?”  Upon further inspection, I realized that she had covered herself with my concealer stick!  After we cleaned her up, we had a fun lesson on Chapstick and she’s been carrying around her own ever since.    

surviving TJ’s apparent sleep regression.  I’ve been so spoiled with his long stretches at night!  He’s currently waking up 3-4 times a night now.  Bring on the coffee.

thankful that I didn’t do any real damage to myself while running on the treadmill.  I’m not sure exactly, but I must have twisted in such a way that I got a shooting pain in my thigh/groin.  I was terrified that I had maybe pulled the muscle, but after icing and a few days of rest, I think I’m good to go.  Lesson: no distractions on the treadmill!

listening to lots of podcasts and Ted talks while folding the laundry and loading the dishwasher, two chores that never, ever seem to end.

reading Joy to the World: How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (and Still Does).  I wanted to read it during Christmas, but better late than never.

preparing for Big White Farmhouse‘s first birthday next week.  We are going to have two exciting giveaways on Facebook and Instagram, so I’ve been busy with the behind-the-scenes work.  

homeschool notes:

• We eased back into schoolwork on Monday with a Ninja Turtle craft.  The big boys stayed true to character, but J decided his turtle would look best in tie-dye colors.  
• I changed up D’s math program during the break and he started his new book this week.  He is flying through the lessons and is even asking to “do a little more school” close to bedtime.  
• After about a month of frustration, math is really clicking with M again.  We started doing speed drills and he loves trying to beat his best time.   
• In science, the boys are learning about senses.  We had a blind taste test and let’s just say, some participants were more adventurous than others!