The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{family} Our 2013 Family Vacation + Two Tips that Worked for Us

Our summer vacation this year was magical.  Maine is always a magical place for me, but this year was something else.  My four children experienced so much of what I remember as a child: days spent swimming in the lake, BBQs at our little camp, playing on the front porch of the farmhouse, exploring the sites.  It was surreal and amazing.  I will remember this summer forever.   


Highlights of time in Maine:
+ Sunsets on the water that leave you breathless
+ Watching my boys go from timid swimmers to confident ones
+ Watching J love on my aunt and uncle’s cat, Little Miss (he LOVES animals!)
+ Foggy mornings on the lake
+ Teaching the big boys how to play the card game, War
+ Iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts when the heat reached into the 90’s (!!)
+ Seeing all of the renovations done at the real big white farmhouse
+ After dinner fishin’
+ Watching S devour her first blueberry pancake
+ Kayak rides at sunset
+ Running my very first 6.1 miles and living to tell the tale!
+ Mickey Mouse pancakes in the morning (a BIG favorite with the boys)
+ Getting tan (and sometimes burnt)
+ Running 2 miles in my leg of the family triathlon in record time (7:30/mi!)
+ Picnic lunches and flying kites at Portland Headlight
+ Morning hike with some of the fam
+ Seeing “the big boot” at LL Bean
+ Lobster night
+ Seeing the relationships grow between my children and my grandmothers, aunt, uncle, and cousins


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Two Traveling Tips that Worked for Us
Our road trip to Maine took about ten hours.  That could be a recipe for disaster with four children!  I thought I would share two things that made our vacation run a little smoother…maybe it can help you with your next adventure! 

No. 1: Individual Backpacks.  We were so blessed to receive these personalized backpacks from Personal Creations awhile back.  I can’t believe it has taken me this long to share about them!  They are the small size, which make them perfect for road trips.  I spent two or three weeks before the trip finding surprises to tuck inside: coloring books and crayons, little readers, and action figures all were huge hits.  The front pocket held snacks in resealable baggies.  Huge money saver and we avoided both fast food and unnecessary pit stops! 🙂

No. 2: Individual Toy Tubs.  Since we were going to be gone for 2+ weeks, I knew we would need to pack some toys for the boys to play with.  I decided to use these plastic tubs (with their names written in scrapbook letters!) and then they had free reign to choose what they’d like to bring.  Any item could come as long as it fit in the bin!

{guest post} Five Ways to Make Your Next Family Vacation a Success

Hello friends!  My family has recently returned from a wonderful two-week vacation in Maine and I can’t wait to share with you some of the photos.  That post is coming soon. Until then, please enjoy this guest post from a traveling extraordinaire, Kendra Thornton!  

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Summer may be well on its way, but it’s not quite time to pack the
kids off to school. This can be a great time to plan a family vacation and make
sure you get the most out of the season—before it ends! The key to a fun family
vacation is proper preparation. This may sound obvious, but it’s something too
many families overlook before taking off for their destination. Most problems
that occur on family trips are predictable, so make sure you avoid them and
soak up the fun this summer! Here are 5 tips to help you do so:

1. Plan Ahead –Way Ahead

One of the worst mistakes you can make is waiting until the last
minute to pack and plan the trip. Create an ongoing list for weeks leading up
to your departure; this will save you from numerous headaches while you’re on
vacation. If something like a list is sure to be lost in your purse or under a
car-seat, try
out an app like Packing Pro, which lets you create a list right on your
mobile phone.

2. Choose a Place That Will be Fun For All
When choosing your accommodations, try to find a place that is
both fun and family friendly. This will allow everyone, the kids and adults,
something to do. Look for places that have a pool or are in close proximity to
a water park, and even a spa for mom and dad! Kids clubs are also a great
feature, as they supervise the kids and provide you and your spouse some alone
time. I used Gogobot to look through a great
list of Orlando hotels, and was able to find an affordable family friendly
hotel.

3. More Fun Than Flying

Flying nowadays can be a hassle, not to mention expensive. That’s
why it can be a good idea to plan an old-fashioned road trip instead. To make
this as interesting as possible, have the whole family help plan the itinerary.
Having the kids involved in the decision-making process will give them more reason
to enjoy the trip as well. Plan
to stop somewhere fun during the drive, and also remember that comfort is
key for long rides. Bring a pillow and blanket for your kids as well as
yourself, and consider car
window shades to help block the sunlight and help the little ones get rest.
4. Mobile Devices for Educational Purposes

Kids often get lost in their electronic devices when they are
bored. On your next trip, provide them with something interesting and
educational to play on their iPod or MP3 player. Audiobooks will give kids
something to concentrate on for long periods of time. These can be downloaded
from various sites and even public libraries. Since they’ll be listening with
headphones, they won’t be disturbing anyone else while “reading” the book.

5. Have Your Diapers Shipped

If you have a baby and you’re tight on space, it can be a hassle
to bring along lots of diapers. One way around this is to order them and have
them sent to your vacation destination. Diapers.com has next day shipping, so
you can have diapers waiting for you at your vacation home or beach house upon
arrival.
I hope these tips are pertinent to you and your family as you
prepare for a summer vacation! Be safe, and enjoy your trip!
Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I’ve found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

{friendship} An Update to the Penpal Project

When I started The Penpal Project back in March, I had absolutely no idea how it would be received.  In my heart, I hoped it would possibly reach a handful of women…but wow!  I have been humbled and awed by the response.  Since March 1 when the post went live, I have carefully and prayerfully created over two dozen packages for Mammas around the country.  Almost four months later and I am reaching the last handful of women on the list.  Colleen, Heather, Ashley, Dixie, Robin and Janet: you haven’t been forgotten!  You’ll have surprises headed your way soon 🙂  


The Penpal Project and its response has solidified my thinking that we Mammas are seeking the same things: friendship and support. In a world where we feel undervalued and often alone, an act as simple as a package in the mail can make all the difference in a woman’s life.  And how beautiful and easy is that!  


So that leads me to the next question: What’s next?  I have many ideas swirling in my head, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on how this outreach can grow.  Please, please share in the comments!  


Finally, to my Penpal Project mammas: Thank you for allowing me to bring a little joy to your day. 

{i want to remember} – 6/5/13



I can’t believe the last time I wrote one of these posts was last September!  Jotting down a few of the little things in my life right now…


I WANT TO REMEMBER… how our Little Miss gets a twinkle in her eye when she gives you a “kiss” and then proceeds to chomp down on your lip with her two little teeth.  

I WANT TO REMEMBER… the utterly exhausting adventure that is raising brothers.  They bicker often and sometimes there are tears, from them and sometimes even from me.  But that moment where M declares that D is his “best friend in the whole world”?  Or I hear J say, “Good job, Mi-mol!” while they play a computer game?  Or I find the three of them in bed together reading books?  Those make it all worthwhile.     

I WANT TO REMEMBER… “bacon date nights” with my husband.  You mean you don’t watch movies with a half pound of bacon to share?  đź™‚

I WANT TO REMEMBER… this time in my life as I have begun to LOVE exercise.  I am alternating days with running and weight training, six days a week.  My diet is mostly clean, but also realistic.  I feel strong and like I can take on the world.  Dreaming big dreams and planning to run a half marathon next spring.  

I WANT TO REMEMBER… what a blessing the Penpal Project has been in my life.  Since March, I have sent out almost two dozen packages to sweet Mammas around the country.  And more to go!  I feel so honored to have the opportunity to spread joy to these amazing ladies.    

Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

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