Around here, I have been:

surviving a full, somewhat stressful, totally crazy week!  The boys had last Friday off and then Monday, Tuesday and today off this week.  It’s been great to have them home, but it also proved to be the perfect time for half of us to get a (thankfully short-lived) fever and then croup-y cough.  The boys are all better, but – as usual – mine is lingering.  We also filled the days with dentist appointments, parent/teacher conferences, an OB appointment, the Marine Corps birthday and oh yeah, a presidential election.  So many ups and downs.  I am so tired and maybe a tiny bit numb from all of the emotions.  


celebrating another successful Pajama Drive!  (To everyone who helped us, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!) We’re still waiting on a few pairs to arrive in the mail, but hope to drop them all off with Northern Virginia Family Services next weekend.  It has been pretty consistently chilly here at night now, so I’m excited to give a handful of children something cozy to sleep in this winter.   


finishing The Book of Speculation and starting Flight Behavior for book club.


watching The Crown on Netflix.  Took me a little while to get into it, but I like it.


working on a wall collage in our upstairs hallway.  D brought home an art project and casually told me, “The art teacher said to draw our best friend, so I just made me and M.”  I was so touched, I had to immediately frame and hang it!  That started me on the rabbit trail of finding random unused frames around the house and art I haven’t been able to throw away.  I’m still not completely happy with it and not sure if the big red “B” will stay (I’m thinking more frames will make the B less prominent, but I’d have to buy them), but it’s a start.  And free!


checking off presents on my Christmas list like a boss.  Mark and I took one night to nail down our choices and then another to see what deals we could find online.  I’d say we’re about 60% done now?  I spread my Amazon orders among a handful of bloggers’ links (as a blogger, that extra step is SO appreciated, let me tell you!) so we’ll be getting a million boxes on our step soon.  The mailman’s gonna love me…

sobbing while listening to Emily of The Freckled Fox in this podcast.  Her story makes me appreciate Mark so much.  You just never know when it’s your time to go.


trying to keep up with Sophie’s frequent wardrobe changes.  She’s all of a sudden very into “fashion”: “Mama, you like my fashion?”  “Can we hang up all of my dresses and shirts?  They’re such good fashion.”  She also suddenly sings about everything and her stream-of-consciousness songs make me laugh so hard, I think I’m going to go into labor.  This week’s favorite was entitled, “The Dead Squirrel on the Side of the Road.”  


listening to Audrey Assad’s version of my favorite hymn, Be Thou My Vision.  Her reflection was so honest and beautiful too.  I loved this part: “Hymns like this one have come alive for me with fresh and thrilling meaning in this time of my life. Lines like “Thou my best thought, by day or by night” have a new breathtaking significance—the fact that I spend so much of my time dreaming about what God might be like is the best thing I can be doing. It doesn’t matter, really, that I don’t *know* what God is like exactly, or that I don’t comprehend the metaphysics of this whole God with us thing. I’m thinking about God. I’m dreaming about God. That is beautiful. It’s my best thought, by day or by night. If that’s the only way I pray right now, then okay.”


reflecting on the past year and where I want to grow in 2017.  As I get older, with more kids, more responsibilities and less time (funny how that works), I’m learning to be really specific in the direction I’d like to go.  A few thoughts I’ve jotted down this week:
+ More Knowledge: My thirst for knowledge has always been pretty strong and I want to continue even further.  Specifically, I want to dive deep into my faith, read more challenging topics (like the classics? logic and critical thinking?), and learn from perspectives different from my own.  
+ More Kindness: I often struggle with the idea of service while having lots of little ones, because on the hard days, what more do I possibly have to give?!  Yet I feel like my kids are at a critical stage right now: if we create an atmosphere of service now, it will, God-willing, be second nature to them as teens and adults.  I’d like to continue our family traditions of monthly donations to the food pantry and our fall pajama drive.  I’d also like to seek out opportunities that the bigger boys can do with their dad (seeing their father serve others is powerful!).  For me, I want to continue being aware of the subtle nudging of the Holy Spirit and follow through on those.
+ More Contentment: I’ll give myself a small pat on the back in that I’ve made some progress in this department since last year, but I still have so far to go.  I want to strive for continued peace with where I am right now, in my home, my current vocation, etc.  I don’t want to fall into the trap of wishing the time away or to pass quickly, but to enjoy life as it is right this moment.  
+ More Self-Care: With a new baby on the horizon, I need to prioritize my mental health in a big way.  I want to be aware of triggers that may encourage depression and humble myself to ask for help if needed.  I also want to make the effort not to obsess about weight, but come to love the body I have, no matter the current size.  

Around here, I have been:


receiving nerve-wracking news at my latest OB appointment.  My blood pressure is still pretty high (apparently, I have been consistantly on the high side of normal the entire time) and this reading was even a teeny bit higher than my “normal”.  The doctor said that it’s enough to raise eyebrows and would consider the trend a higher risk, but not to worry too much for now.  (This kid and his trust lessons….)  I’ll be back in a week to check again and am seeing my favorite OB of the bunch, so that’s encouraging.  We’ll see what happens.  Good news of the appointment: baby boy is head down, measuring on target, and his heartbeat is perfect.


celebrating Halloween!  This year, we had Batman, Batgirl, a mini Batman (who last minute, refused to wear his costume and instead insisted on his skeleton pajamas), the Flash, and a Marine.  We’re pretty low-key around here and only do one medium-sized neighborhood loop, but the kids love it anyway.  Just enough candy to feel like kings and gone quickly enough that mama’s not always tempted by it.  Oh sugar, I just can’t quit you…  


loving the boys’ new closet system.  There is SO much storage space!  So far, I’ve transferred all of their clothing in and now I’m thinking about toys (specifically: Lego), out-of-season clothing and miscellaneous “stuff” of theirs that’s been scattered around the house.  


finishing My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry for book club and starting The Book of Speculation.


making my way through my “Baby Countdown To-Do List” and while it’s still not complete yet, I feel like it’s finally okay for the baby to arrive, hah!  
+ I washed all of the newborn-sized baby clothes (SO teeny!!) and organized the dresser.  
+ Also, finally bit the bullet and invested in some better quality nursing bras and a Bellefit postpartum girdle.  Both were pricey purchases, so fingers crossed they’re as awesome as everyone claims.  
+ I used some of my Kidbucks to snag Christmas Eve outfits for baby P and TJ on Kidizen (have I mentioned how much I love that app?!) – now to find something for the three big boys.


preparing for Big White Farmhouse‘s Early Bird Free Shipping event tomorrow.  (If you haven’t checked out my post from yesterday, be sure to click over for the coupon code.  My blog readers get a head start!)  Andrea and I are big fans of shopping before the rush and we wanted to encourage our customers to do the same.  And who doesn’t appreciate avoiding the dreaded shipping costs? 🙂

Around here, I have been:


experiencing Braxton Hicks for the first time ever, which is catching me off guard! Typically only around dinner time and once or twice a day, but definitely crampy enough to make me stop and notice.  Six weeks to go – the end is near!    


getting started on Christmas shopping.  We’ve decided to make things SUPER easy for us this year.  We typically only do three presents and stockings for each child, but this year, we’re doing two individual gifts each and then a gift for all of the kids collectively (and simple stockings too, of course).  The idea of shopping after giving birth really stresses me out, so I’m hoping to get most of it accomplished in the next few weeks.  And the extended family may all be getting IOUs!  Apologies ahead of time, family.

laughing at Sophie and her 4-year-old shenanigans. Almost every morning, she brings a lunchbox and flower girl basket full of random stuff to drop off the boys at school.  She’s suddenly really into makeup and has been “painting” her nails with pink crayons.  She’s declared M to be her favorite brother because “he is just so nice to me and he keeps me safe.”  Three words she says incorrectly and I don’t want to forget: “brabo” (bravo), “pla-nano” (piano) and “syr-ee-up” (syrup). 


watching The Chase, a game show we found on Netflix.  Mark and I try to keep up with the trivia until our heads start spinning, hah.


collecting non-perishables for the St. Lucy Project at church.  I’m so grateful for projects like these because they are so easy and family-friendly.  We talk a lot to the kids about taking care of our friends who may be going through a hard time and it’s so beautiful to hear their innocent reactions.  It typically starts with a sad “I can’t believe that…” which quickly turns to “Well, we have more than enough!  Let’s give them this and this and this…”  The kids each picked a few things to include in our bag (which I ordered on Jet, along with our other groceries) and they are so excited to lug it back to church next week.

finding a few postpartum items on ThredUp (as part of 100 Little Things #85).  I also picked up these dishcloths and love them.  They reminded me so much of the one’s my Gram used to make and I know they’ll get tons of use.  (I was also tempted by Theresa’s storage baskets and doughnuts for Sophie’s kitchen…be sure to check out all she offers!)  


(finally) figuring out the dresser dilemma!  Poor Mark…he’s heard me talk about this dresser for months now!  In the end, after months of thrift store browsing, Craigslist and FB group searching and coming up empty, we decided to go in a totally different direction.  The three big boys had been sharing (and quickly outgrowing) one dresser, so we took that for TJ and the new baby and are creating a closet system for the boys’ room instead.  Surprisingly, in the end, it was actually cheaper too.


reading My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry.

mailing gratitude postcards to our Big White Farmhouse 2016 customers.  With a million different stores to choose from, we are just so thankful for everyone who supports ours and we really wanted to tell our customers how much we appreciate their role in making 2016 our best year in business yet!  

listening to the boys share about their fun-filled days at school.  D had a field trip and is working on a pumpkin book report project (Batman, of course).  J had a community helper parade and chose to be a firefighter.  M is in a classroom book club and is reading a book where he found a cuss word.  He was shocked and definitely not expecting that in a fourth grade novel (“and recommended by a teacher even, Mom!” he said, hahaha), but it was a good opportunity to chat about not-so-nice words that we probably should avoid saying.  Life lessons.


baking Oatmeal Toffee Cookies (minus the coconut).  They looked pretty terrible (like flat hockey pucks), but were still delicious.  I also brought out the bread machine again and timed it for an “as fresh from the oven as it’s going to get” after-school snack.    

identifying with these words from Elizabeth Foss that describe me to a T: “This journey to silence the voice has been an arduous uphill climb. Through the perfect storm of nature and nurture, perfectionism and self-recrimination are hardwired into my psyche. I’ve been one to try too hard, move too fast, produce too much and reach too high for as long as I can remember. All my life, I have lived with the exhaustion and utter despair of never measuring up to my own perfectionistic standards.”  The past few weeks have been difficult because I feel like I physically can’t keep up with my brain!  There are so many things I want to accomplish, but the exhaustion is unreal.  I’ll wake up in the morning ready to take on the world, but will have to lay down a bit on the couch by 11am.  I’ve been trying to be okay with a little more clutter than usual, a little more television watching than usual and a lot less checked off my to-do list.  To everything there is a season and this is the season to start slowing down, no guilt allowed.  God always uses pregnancy to work on my heart…how quickly I forget every time.         

Around here, I have been:


loving this cooler fall weather!  It’s finally staying consistently brisk, although the extended forecast predicts temperatures back up in the 70’s soon. WHY?!  In the meantime, we’ve been pulling out our “comfy pants” and all the quilts and blankets.  The challenge is on to see how long we can go before putting on the heat!

celebrating my birthday – 32!  What is it about your 30’s that makes you think about your own mortality?  Life is truly so fleeting and more than ever, I just feel so thankful for my health and the life Mark and I have created.  My birthday has become just one big day of gratitude.  
    
feeling the nesting urge again.  I’m 32 weeks pregnant this week, so only 56 days (or less) to go!  For whatever reason, 8 weeks sounds like forever, but 56 days?!  That will be here in no time!  This week, I took out all of the newborn clothes, took inventory and starting purchasing the missing pieces.  As baby boy #5, most of our clothes have had it, so it’s been kind-of fun to start over.  I’m finding I’m much more picky than the first few times around.  Also!  The baby seems to have moved a bit, so the debilitating sciatica has lessened.  Thank you Jesus.   


wearing lots of striped shirts.  I’ve been picking up a few pieces (like these from Gap Maternity and a few lucky finds on Kidizen!) and poor Mark can’t keep up with what’s new or not.  But they’re all different!   Black with white stripes, navy with light blue stripes, black with grey stripes…hah!  I have a problem.  Feeling whale-like probably isn’t the best time to wear horizontal lines across your body, but I’m going with it anyway.  A few of my other favorite pieces to note: My chambray shirt is getting a lot of use (with a striped shirt underneath of course) and looks semi-pulled together with leggings.  I also pulled out my old Minnetonka moccs and love how easy they are to put on and take off.  ‘Cause Mama only bends over when absolutely necessary these days.

dealing with Sophie and some sudden fears about having bad dreams.  She’s been coming in our bed every night, so we set up a cot on the floor as a compromise.  It was meant to be a temporary, last ditch effort, but she seems to think she’s moving in.  I found her “bed” made and decorated with all the essentials! (I had a big laugh about the wiffle bat! #preparedforanything)


listening to Fountain of Carrots’ podcast with Anna of In Honor of Design.  Such wise advice about juggling motherhood and business.


thinking a lot about the upcoming postpartum time and how to keep my PPD in check.  Having had a history of varying degrees with each of my kids (with the exception of TJ), it’s part of the whole “having a baby” business that really takes the most of my focus.  I did the same with TJ and the change was really significant.  Hoping I can follow the same path with this new baby too.

laughing with the kids as we read Those Darn Squirrels!  The grumpy man reminds me of Ove (from A Man Called Ove): crusty exterior with a sweet spot deep inside.  A good reminder to all of us not to judge a book by its cover.  J also borrowed The Pigeon Needs a Bath from the school library and I could barely read over the belly laughs.  On a different note, I read Angel in the Waters to Sophie and TJ and starting crying about halfway through.  They kept looking at me like I was crazy as I tried to make my way through the last half, hah.


reading Father Elijah and getting ready to start My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry for book club.


doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work for Big White Farmhouse: SEO, descriptions and titles, etc.  Pretty boring stuff, but I’m hoping it will help us a little in the search engines.  I also launched a new Christmas section and started adding some product (ornaments, cards, and tags).  I know some people are extra on the ball and I don’t want to miss out on those possible sales like I did last year.

getting so excited about the support for our Pajama Drive.  At last count, we have 6 donations!  New pajamas seem so insignificant, but can be life-changing for a child in foster care or at the homeless shelter.  I often put myself in their mamas’ shoes and get all choked up.  (Here’s the link again to the Amazon wishlist – we’d love your help too!) 


reflecting on an interesting tidbit I heard on the radio this week about listening.  The guest made the observation that today more than ever, people don’t really know the art of active listening.  Instead of really hearing what the other person is saying, they’re just waiting for that person to finish talking so they can make their own arguments.  This behavior is so clearly seen on Facebook statuses and even presidential debates, but aren’t I also sometimes guilty in my marriage and with my children?  We all belong to each other.  Maybe respectful, active listening is the first tiny step toward more peace and kindness in this world. 

Around here, I have been:


feeling all the lovey-dovey emotions that come with a wedding and even more so because the groom was my brother!  I cry at everything lately, but got emotional at least 10 times that day.  There is something so incredibly beautiful about watching my brother so happy and to witness how much his wife truly knows and adores him.  I am excited for them and their future together and SO excited to not be the only married sibling anymore!


wearing this dress from Asos Maternity.  I needed something semi-fancy but comfortable, and this dress was perfect.  My decision to wear heels at 30 weeks pregnant, though?  Still paying for that one, hah!  At least I looked put together in the pictures 🙂   


reflecting on a prayer from the wedding Mass that really stood out to me: “May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may He fulfill His blessings in you, that you may see your children’s children even to the third and fourth generation, and thereafter may have life everlasting, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth forever. Amen.” (emphasis mine)  Mark and I talk all the time about growing old and seeing our children grow and start families of their own.  We imagine our huge, noisy crowd and how big of a table we’re going to need to build for Sunday dinners.  I think of my own family and how my great-grandmother (the beloved matriarch and inspiration for both this blog and the shop) lived to see four generations before her death.  What a privilege!  Because at the end of the day, our children are our greatest gift and what truly is more important than family?  

finishing The Gap of Time and moving on to Father Elijah.  


smiling at Sophia as she chatted non-stop on our drive home from bringing the boys to school one day: “Mama, the sun is so bright.  The sun is shining in my eyes.  I think the sun is following me ‘cuz it likes me.”

loving the Our Lady of Grace felt doll we ordered for Sophie.  She has such a special love for Mary.    

entering Q4 with Big White Farmhouse and I’m so pumped!  I keep reading and researching and my to-do list keeps growing, but at the end of the day, I’m just going to finish what I can and call it good.  This business is a marathon, not a sprint!  (As much as I wish we would have become a huge, overnight success, I think our growth rate is a much better fit for my current lifestyle anyway)  A few other notes:
+ We’re working on a Customer Appreciation surprise for our 2016 customers and are really excited about it!  Working behind the computer screen can sometimes feel impersonal and one-sided and we really want to thank our BWF family for their part in shopping small and supporting small artisans.  
+ Starting prep for the holidays with a few fun gift ideas!  This week, I ordered new garden markers for the Christmas season and some hand-stamped forks perfect for Thanksgiving.  Should arrive in the next few weeks.
+ We’re having a little candle sale this weekend with all of our fall scents being 15% off: Cozy Cabin, Sweater Weather, Mulled Cider and Pumpkin Caramel Latte.     


hobbling around after Tick-Tock Croc attacked me!  Okay, so not exactly true, but that’s the story I told the kids.  Before going to bed one night, I stepped on TJ’s little plastic toy and it was so unexpected and painful, I saw stars!  My inner foot bruised and swelled and I’ve been walking funny (even more so than usual, if that’s possible) in the days since.  Lesson learned to have all the toys picked up before dark!  

baking chocolate chip cookie in a cup, which isn’t really the same thing, but gets the job done.  I have been so good with sugar consumption (my finicky taste buds just haven’t craved it), but this last week has been bad – I want it all!  That and cheddar popcorn…pregnancy is weird.  

watching Madam Secretary, Longmire, and The Mysteries of Laura.

celebrating Sophia.  How is she four already?  She started her special day with a date with her dad to get breakfast bagels and donuts (a tradition!), and opened her gifts to the oohs and ahhs of her brothers.  Her big gift was a pink scooter and she is a pro already, flying around the house!  She requested rotisserie chicken and homemade mac & cheese for dinner and a carrot cake for dessert.  She is so smart, funny, kind, beautiful and just a little bit sassy – we love her so.  


wearing long sleeves for the first time this season!  The weather has settled into the 70s and it’s awesome.  Being able to turn off the AC and feel the cool breeze through the open windows…there really isn’t anything better.  


dealing with TJ and a random case of Hand, Foot and Mouth – we can’t catch a break!  He looked horrible, but was still his happy self most of the time.  Unfortunately, he also passed it on to two of his brothers, which resulted in a couple days home from school.  Hoping October is better health-wise for these kids!


taking Tums all.the.time.  My heartburn is unreal!  What’s the old wives tale?  Heartburn means a baby with lots of hair?  At this point, I’m thinking this boy has enough for a ponytail, hah.  


reading The Gap of Time, but not sure how I feel about it.  It was another chance to read outside of my comfort zone, but way more graphic than I’m comfortable with.  I’ll be happy to finish and move on.

researching for Big White Farmhouse.  The holidays are right around the corner, so I’ve been reading everything I can to prepare.  It’s exciting and nerve-wracking, especially with having a baby in the midst of it all, but I’m ready for the challenge.  Other things to note:
+ Our big news this week: we’ve added beautiful wooden toys to the Children’s Room section!  The craftmanship is unbelievable and they are definitely a toy that could be in a family for generations.  I purchased an airplane for a Christmas present for TJ and was so impressed that I quickly ordered a bunch for the shop!  We are carrying five vehicles: an airplane, a firetruck, a police car, a blue jeep and a pink coupe.  I also love that each vehicle comes in a fun drawstring bag – so easy for gift-giving.
+ I reordered the popular Love Grows Best signs in both black and gold.  Available for presale and should be ready to ship around October 10.
+ I also added eGift Cards, which can be sent directly to the recipient via email.   


making White Chicken Chili aaaand that’s about it.  We ate a lot of random leftovers and cereal for dinner.  Not my best culinary week, but life is sometimes like that.  Better culinary endeavors next week!  


preparing for an exciting weekend: my brother’s wedding!  

celebrating our “baby” turning two!  His birthday was such a crazy day and nothing seemed to be going to plan: a stomach bug went through two of the big boys, he refused to eat his special dinner and the cupcakes were store-bought from Wegmans with the only candles left in the house (pink!).  It was a good lesson for me in what matters most.  We were all together and his siblings were so excited to give him his Batmobile.  They played with him all afternoon!  It wasn’t Pinterest worthy or exciting, but it was good.


cleaning the entire house in an attempt to rid it of all these nasty germs.  After the big boys got sick, it quickly passed to Mark, TJ and me.  And we seem to take triple the time to get better!  I’ve been washing all of our sheets and wiping down every surface.  

loving our new couch, even though it was the cause of so much indecision! What to get, where to get, fabric choice to get and on and on…  We finally decided to just expand our exisiting Ikea sofa and purchase new slipcovers.  In the end, it was way cheaper and with TJ constantly making messes (and another brother coming right behind him!), we thought it’s probably best to wait until the kids are a little older to invest in a “nice” couch.   

welcoming the third trimester and feeling like this baby is going to literally break me, hah.  It must be the fact that this is baby #6, or maybe I’m just old, but this pregnancy seems to be the hardest yet.  My pregnancy pros and cons list:
Con: painful sciatica and lower back pain, making me waddle something fierce // Pro: blood pressure back to normal!  
Con: baby is moving and pushing all over the place (also considered a pro) but the midwife at my appointment said it could be until close to 38 weeks before he engages head down “because there is just SO much room in there” (insert grimace emoji here) // Pro: I’ve only gained 15 pounds so far (way less than typical) and she also mentioned that the baby “didn’t feel very big at all”, so that’s encouraging!    
I also took my glucose test this week.  I’ve been dreading it, but on Monday morning, I felt drawn to offer my fears and anxiety for sweet baby Regina.  So far, no phone call, so hopefully no news is good news?


looking into Trim Healthy Mama.  As much as the name makes me roll my eyes, I think it’s worth exploring.  As I get older, I can feel the effects of sugar in a whole new way: I love the initial “high” but then typically feel awful after!  I know the carefree sugarholic days of my youth are gone and it’s probably time to start taking better care of myself.  THM is a little overwhelming, but I’m taking notes (I bought both the book and the cookbook) and hoping to start small before ramping it up after the baby is born.     


watching Madam Secretary.


reflecting on a passage from my devotional: “Beg God to grant you true love of others and you will be rewarded with more than you know how to desire.”

watching the boys thrive at school.  The transition has been so natural and I know God’s hand is definitely on every piece.  There really is no “perfect” schooling option, but for right now, this is working and I’m so thankful.  
+ J is having an ABC Bootcamp in Kindergarten and every child was assigned a day and letter.  He lucked out with the letter “J” and brought in a Jack-o-Lantern, jam and a jump rope. 
+ D is doing wonderfully and his teacher says that he is right on target with the rest of the class.  (No extra help needed for dyslexia/dysgraphia!)  It’s been so nice to watch him want to read books, something I’d have to force on him when he was at home.  He is also suddenly very interested in writing and illustrating his own stories – so exciting!     
+ M’s first big school project was to create a salt dough version of the state of Virginia, along with major rivers and landmarks.  I’m thankful that he is being able to expand his knowledge in that way – he’s such a creative learner.    

(not) working on Big White Farmhouse much.  The yuck spreading through our house took most of my attention.  Just a couple notes for this week:
+ I’m watching the ebb and flow of business and trying not to freak out during the slower moments.  It’s so hard to be in the valley and not panic, wondering why the heck I’m doing this in the first place.  But then there’s a wonderfully strong week and I remember again why I love this job. Small business is not for the weak!
+ We’re celebrating the offical start of fall with a Free Ship Weekend!  Coupon code is FALLFREESHIP and good until Sunday night.

having a hard time coming up with ideas to write in this space.  I’ve been blogging for over five years now, so the idea of “ending” sounds so final, but maybe?  Struggling to find my voice here.

dealing with the first colds of the school year.  It’s not enough to keep them home from school, but definitely a sign that we need to beef up our immune systems!  I dug through Kelly‘s archives to find her post about keeping her girls healthy during winter and quickly bought the elderberry gummies and Immune C.  Hoping to stay on the offensive before cold weather and new baby comes!


feeling a little like the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.  TJ broke our television over the weekend and that simple (unfortunate!) action caused a whole upheaval of my house!  We decided to mount a new TV above our fireplace, which led us to rearrange the living room furniture.  Rearranging the furniture sealed the deal that we should probably order that bigger sectional we’ve been saving for…but we’d have to move out the existing cabinets…which led us to totally redo the sitting room and turn it into a family library/homework area!  Ahh!  After living here for four years now, it’s fun to switch things around, but my brain is working overtime with all of these newly half-finished rooms.

starting a new devotional, Let Nothing Disturb You: 30 Days with St. Teresa of Avila.  The little blurb on the back, essentially a list of everything I’d like to work on, is what sold me: “Let nothing disturb you.  Let nothing make you afraid.  All things are passing.  God alone never changes.  Patience gains all things.  If you have God you will want for nothing.  God alone suffices.”  Praying for a fruitful 30 days.  I’ve also been slowly making my way through the latest Soul Gardening Journal.


searching for an appropriate top to wear to my brother’s rehearsal dinner in a few weeks.  I also need to start looking for cooler weather clothing as my current wardrobe is seriously lacking.  With 12 weeks still to go, I’m already feeling pretty whale-like and clothes are a bit depressing.  All for a good cause…

starting to feel “normal” with the kids in school, if that makes any sense.  The after-school crankiness has mostly died off and friendships are starting to form.  They all really like their teachers and we have been pleased with the communication we’ve had with them.  So far, so good.  The big two also started CCD this week.  This is a big year for D, his First Communion year!  They both have have nice teachers and even know a couple kids in their classes (and even some from school, what a blessing!).  I’ve had so much anxiety about everything changing this year, but really feel so much peace.  God is faithful. 

working a bit on Big White Farmhouse:
– I’m having so much fun creating content for the blog each week.  For this week’s Monday Morning Coffee Chat, we looked at incorporating copper pieces into farmhouse decor.
– Our latest order arrived!  We got these amazing cursive canvas banners (would be such a statement piece for a homeschool room!) and a meal planner/recipe notebook duo that I’m seriously considering snatching for myself!
– I also reordered more soaps.  Chai Spice, Fir Needle & Orange and Rosemary Mint are back in stock, along with three brand new scents.


dying over the three littles in their matching skeleton pajamas!  I originally got a pair for J during a big Carter’s sale and then lucked out finding Sophie (in purple!) and TJ’s on Kidizen.  


baking Apple Pie Bread and more blueberry muffins.

wrapping presents for TJ’s second birthday!  I can hardly believe it – we are so lucky to have this cuddly, smiley, fearless little boy in our family.  He sure keeps us on our toes!

enjoying a lazy Labor Day weekend.  We purposefully kept our schedule clear and spent the time hanging out as a family.  It was wonderful.  I have a new appreciation for a loud, messy house.  


watching the boys start to find their groove.  At dropoff, they confidently leave the car with a “Bye, Mama.  Love you!”  They look out for each other, cheer each other on and can’t wait to share stories at the end of the day (like the silly girl who loves to hug all the boys and chases them around the playground!).  One of my fears with sending them to school was that they would lose their special bond and I’m so encouraged to see that it hasn’t happened.  Family comes first.      


(slowly) finding a new routine with the little ones.  I’ve been so used to a self-imposed strict daily schedule: wake up, coffee on, dishwasher unloaded, check BWF email, laundry started, breakfast…and on and on and on.  Every moment of my day was scheduled to “fit it all in” but now with the boys in school, I’m realizing that I don’t need to be nearly so rigid.  And it’s so weird!  Learning to just “be” with my little ones again – playing on the floor, reading story after story …those are sadly things that got tossed to big brothers or on the back burner.  I’m feeling so lucky to be able to give the little ones some of the same focus I was able to give the big ones at this age.  I’m really enjoying “just” being a mom.

thinking about hosting another Pajama Drive for Northern Virginia Family Services in October.  I totally forgot about it last year (I blame it on the Write 31 Days challenge!), but it’s something I’m really passionate about and would love to have others join in too.       


crossing off a few projects from my to-do list and it’s so good for my nesting heart.  Still can’t find that elusive solid-wood dresser though!
+ I’ve been slowly adding some of Sophie’s outgrown clothing to sell on Kidizen (on my to-do list for months!).  Happy to clear some room in her closet, while making some money to buy more clothing that we need for fall.  
+ My shower is my cleaning nemesis and I can never keep it as nice as I’d like.  So I stopped being cheap, bit the $9 bullet and bought a shower squeegee (affiliate link!) on Jet.  I love it!  Why does every seemingly common sense purchase take me so long?  Mark also swapped out our old, half-functioning shower head and what a difference!  It’s the little things.


feeling nervous about my upcoming glucose test.  I had gestational diabetes when pregnant with J and while it’s certainly not the end of the world, it’s a time consuming (and expensive) process I’d rather not repeat.  Not to mention the 3-hour fasting glucose test is brutal for me (I had it done as a preventative measure with Sophia too and…bluh.)

reaching a big milestone with Big White Farmhouse, which has me dreaming and scheming for the future.  A few other notes:
+ New fall candles are arriving today!  I chose four scents perfect for the cooler months ahead and love their names: Cozy Cabin, Mulled Cider, Pumpkin Caramel Latte and Sweater Weather. 
+ We had a successful Labor Day sale and sold out of a lot of products.  I’ve spent the rest of the week working on reorders, including the To Market totes and Gather Around the Table towels.  Hoping to keep the shop fully stocked through the Christmas season!  
+ I’m trying Later.com to help me visualize and schedule my Instagram posts better.  A beautiful, curated collection is such an underappreciated art and I’m continually learning and tweaking…hopefully I’ll get it down by 2017, hah.


baking blueberry muffins (J’s favorite from last week), Strawberry Crumble Cake (SO good for breakfast the next day too) and cupcakes to celebrate Mary’s birthday.


reflecting on how quickly this time of my life is going.  I’ve never been one to wish time away and have always tried to just dig deep into the trenches, but even I can’t believe how fast it’s all happening.  My oldest turns 10 this fall and for whatever reason, that feels like a huge milestone for the both of us.  This sweet boy, who for so long adored the tackiest, most superheroed clothing available, recently told me that he’d really like just plain colored shirts for school this year, if that’s okay.  I grinned and added it to the list, but choked that lump back in my throat.  It feels like the end of one era and the beginning of a whole new one.  Bittersweet.  

Around here, I have been:


starting a new adventure with the three biggest boys going to our neighborhood public school.  It’s a big change, but one that feels right and we’re excited to see what’s to come.  A few thoughts from this week:


– Surprisingly, I don’t really miss the teaching part of homeschooling.  I wasn’t aware of the incredible mind space it required of me: books and lesson plans and extra-curriculars and the pressure to give my children a worthwhile education.  It feels nice to take a breather.  That said, I definitely miss their presence throughout the day.  We are used to being together, all day every day, and it’s quite the transition away from that.  I think for the best – but still strange and surreal.  
– It’s quieter at the house, but definitely not quiet.  Sophia is enjoying having my undivided attention.  So.much.talking.  TJ is full-on terrible two’s already, so his tantrums and mess-making definitely keep the house lively too. 
– My sweet J was the most nervous of the bunch and I am so proud of his bravery.  On the first day, he confidently got out of the car, held the nice helper’s hand and didn’t even look back.  It still gets me all choked up to think about it.  Much to my surprise, he seems to be adapting to school even better than I could have imagined.    
– We couldn’t have asked for a better teacher for D.  After sharing with her his assessment, we found out that she has extensive experience with dyslexia and dysgraphia!  She will be helping us navigate the best route to take to get the extra help he needs.  He is enjoying school, but much like his mama, has been observing the new kids and slowly finding his place.  Praying he finds a buddy soon.
– M actually knew a few of his classmates from his previous school and soccer, so has had little problems socially and is excited to return everyday.  His perfectionist tendencies (also courtesy of his mama) make him nervous about what’s to come academically, but I’ve been encouraging him just to take it one day at a time.  
– There have been a few out-of-the-blue emotions from the boys, but I knew they were coming.  They all are internalizers like me, so I knew at some point, they’d need to release all of that pent up stress and nervousness.  One day at a time and lots of listening, hugs, and going to bed at a reasonable time. 

figuring out my new role in our new adventure.  For months, I have been mentally preparing for this week: for the boys’ worries or fears, for the new routine we’d begin, for the logistics of dropping off and picking up.  I never really thought much about myself and how all of this change would affect me.  While homeschooling a big family is physically and emotionally exhausting, the blessing is being able to be with your kids through all of the good and bad, happy and sad moments.  And I think that’s the part I’m struggling with the most.  I miss that more than I expected.  Having my big kids home for only a few hours everyday is both a relief and a terribly lonely feeling – I know it will get better, but whew.  So many emotions.


holding Sophie as she cried after hearing that J met a few new friends.  “But he’s my best friend, mama!”  After having your siblings as your best friends for all of her (almost) four years, it’s hard to hear about the competition.    


enjoying the boys and their new interest in survival tactics.  We’ve been watching Bear Grylls’ Man vs. Wild together and while parts of it totally gross me out, they are all entranced.  M is also newly interested in military history, so he borrowed a World War II book from the school library and I bought him the first book of a new series to try out too.


baking after-school snacks every afternoon with Sophia.  She is so happy to be in the kitchen and the boys love having something delicious to come home to.  This week, we were on a muffin kick, so we picked up a mega-pack of cupcake liners and made lemon blueberry muffins (minus the lemon and added a splash more milk), cinnamon apple muffins (and almost burnt them – next time, only 25-26 minutes to bake), and banana muffins with a homemade strusel topping.


reaching 26 weeks, but had to look it up on my phone to figure it out.  Time marches on and I sometimes forget there’s a baby in there!  Poor sixth baby.  I’ve been taking my blood pressure twice a day and having really good readings, so I’m anxious to discuss at my next appointment…maybe I just have general anxiety at the doctor’s office?  

working a lot on Big White Farmhouse.  The little two are so used to playing on their own that I’m finding I have tons of time now to work on the business.  This week, I’ve been sitting in the living room with my laptop while they’re playing and it’s been working well.  A few notes:
+ I ordered new products to add to our Children’s Room – this time, for the toddler/preschool crowd.  I am SO excited about these and can’t wait to share.
+ I’ve also been researching ideas for marketing this fall and it’s all a little overwhelming.  Do I collaborate with Instagram ladies?  Find a few farmhouse decor blogs to buy ad space?  Go the Facebook Ads route?  Hoping for some better direction in the upcoming weeks.
  

soaking up the last week of summer vacation.  Bittersweet.


reaching 25 weeks with Baby #6.  I had an appointment on Monday and again had slightly higher than normal blood pressure.  My doctor didn’t seem too concerned yet, but recommended buying a monitor and frequently checking.  I’m praying that it’s only gestational hypertension and not something more serious.  For now, I’m going to watch my salt intake, try to lower my stress and slow way down. 

laughing at Sophia’s one-liners.  I’m big on manners and am frequently on my kids with their please and thank-yous.  Sophia has been asking for things very politely and then adding, “Don’t you love my manners, mama?”  Another funny: Mark recently made Rice Krispie Treats and the poor girl could not get the name right!  She kept saying, “Rice Christmas Treats…uhh, you know what I’m talkin’ about!”


hitting the jackpot on deals for my to-do list.  This time of year, with a new season of clothes, birthdays and school to buy for, it feels like money is just blowing out of our pockets!  Any way I can stretch our pennies is welcome.  A few of my finds:
+ I wanted a new nursing cover and was interested in one similar to Shelly’s. (I think hers was from Covered Goods?)  I found a similar one on Kidizen, like new, for $10!
+ I’ve had a postpartum nursing-friendly top in my Amazon cart for months but couldn’t bring myself to pay the $40 yet.  Found the exact same shirt, in my size, on Kidizen for $15 less!


taking out a few fall decorations.  The temperatures have fallen into the 80’s, which has been awesome.  We definitely won’t feel a chill until closer to October, but the coming school year has me ready to switch things around anyway.


diffusing a blend of Lime, Lemon and Geranium, which smells like Skittles.  Such a weirdly pleasant scent…or maybe I’m just pregnant.  I got the Geranium in this month’s Young Living order along with a Thieves Foaming Hand Soap.  


loving our new bed!  After four years on an Ikea mattress (not our best financial decision) and feeling like we were 80 with back pain every morning, we bit the bullet and purchased one from Tuft & Needle.  The price is right, the customer service is amazing (Mark has been raving to everyone who will listen about how impressed he’s been with them!) and we have had awesome sleep ever since.  Highly recommend.


listening to Sophia talk about her upcoming role in my brother’s wedding: “I’m going to be a princess and J will be a bear.”

having a more “normal” working week with Big White Farmhouse.
+ Our new wooden signs arrived and I’m so impressed!  We got a few mini options perfect for fall, but I especially love the bigger “Love Grows Best in Little Houses”.  
+ I put in a new order with a papergood artisan from Texas and should hopefully receive them in a couple of weeks.  I’m most excited about a notebook combo featuring a meal planner and DIY recipe book.  I may need to get them for myself!
+ I also ordered new candles from a new artisan after discovering that our current candlemaker went out of business.  To make room for the new, all remaining candles (Honeysuckle Jasmine, Vanilla Cream and Strudel & Spice) have been reduced to 30% off!
+ Still loving spending time on our Instagram account.  I’m finding so much inspiration there – from women who can decorate like a boss to amazing artisans I’ve never come across before to small brick-and-mortar stores that have me dreaming about the future!   


discovering a few boxes that were meant for Goodwill a year ago and forgotten in the garage – FULL of Playmobil.  You would have thought it was Christmas with the excited shrieks coming from the boys!  They have played with them everyday since, creating battles and setting up scenes.  Who woulda thought?!