1 // THE STOMACH FLU IS THE WORST.
Enough said.

2 // I AM NOW KNOWLEDGEABLE IN SEA-FARING TERMS.
I read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle this month and got a crash course on ship terms like bowsprit, foresail, forecastle, etc.  So the next time I find myself on a ship, I’ll know what they’re talking about, hah!

3 // I’M ON A TEA KICK.
When I was sick, I found myself rejecting coffee and turning to tea.  I’ve wanted to decrease my caffeine consumption for awhile – like a true addict, if I veered in any way from my normal amounts, I would pay for it the next day with awful headaches.  I’m now down to just one morning cup and I drink non-caffeinated tea the rest of the day.  My current favorite is peach passion with just a teeny bit of honey.  And another bonus: I’m probably more hydrated than ever!

4 // WE HAVE ACIDIC WATER.
When we started finding silt coming out of our faucets, we had someone come look at our well.  He did a test and found that we have acidic water, which I guess isn’t great for the longevity of pipes?  (This was proven when we later discovered a rusted hole in our kitchen sink pipe!)  The repairman installed a soda ash system which should help.

5 // I PREFER TO READ PHYSICAL BOOKS VS. ON MY KINDLE.
Last year, I put myself on a book-buying ban and with the exception of a handful of Goodwill finds, I stuck to it.  Instead, I read a ton of e-books from the library, which was great and free and easy to get without having to make the trip to the library (which is small and not close by).  BUT.  After spending some of my Christmas money on physical books, I’m realizing that I love the physical option so much more.  The smell of a new book (even if it’s used), the way the paper feels in my hand, having to turn the pages…I love it so much more.

1 // THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A STORY OF HOPE.
This month, I worked through the book of Revelation.  I’d heard it described as a story of hope and goodness, isn’t that something we need in today’s day and age?!  I read it along with commentary from Dr. Taylor Marshall and I’m so glad I did – you really need to have a great understanding of the Old Testament to “get it” and I needed that hand-holding as I flipped back and forth.  Anyway, now that I’ve read the last verse, I can also attest that Revelation holds so much hope for us as Christians.  I can’t wait to see heaven someday and I’m more determined than ever to live my life in such a way that I can get there.


2 // WASHING DISHES BY HAND IS NOT SO BAD.
So…our dishwasher is still broken.  We’ve had such a runaround with repairmen and still haven’t decided if we just want to replace it (which means $$$, which means we have to come up with that $$$).  So in the meantime, I’ve been washing dishes by hand.  And once I stopped complaining, I found that I don’t really mind it.  I usually wash the morning and lunch dishes myself, shooing everyone out of the kitchen so I can listen to a podcast or Youtube channel in peace.  It’s my own little self-care oasis in the middle of the day!  (P.S. The kids wash/dry/put away the dinner dishes, which has been good for them too.  Being a team makes for light work!)


3 // THERE IS SOMETHING SO SATISFYING ABOUT SHOVELING.
I’m probably crazy, but I like shoveling.  I’m alone with my own thoughts (#introvertforever), I get some physical exercise, and it’s satisfying to see a job well done.  Sort-of like vacuum lines in the carpet – I love it.


4 // IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LEAVE YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPEN OVERNIGHT, THE PIPES OF YOUR UTILITY SINK MAY BURST AND FLOOD HALF OF YOUR GARAGE.
Ask me how I know…ahem.  That was a fun adventure while Mark was at work.  I was screaming orders to the kids while getting soaked by freezing cold water: “You take the baby inside!  You move these boxes out of the way!  You help hold down the broken nozzle while I try to turn the water off!”  It was crazy town.  Thank goodness for a Shop-Vac and D who heard the commotion before it got a lot worse.


5 // I THINK I FINALLY FOUND A NATURAL DEODORANT THAT WORKS!
I’ve written about my frustration with natural deodorants before.  I found this company (from an Instagram ad!) and really liked that their version didn’t have any baking soda, which makes me break out in an awful rash every time.  I’ve only used it for about a week, but so far so good.  I’m hoping it will make my Five Favorites list next month!


6 // GIVING UP SUGAR FOR 90 DAYS ISN’T AS HARD AS I MADE IT OUT TO BE.
Full disclosure: I’m only two weeks in BUT I have managed to watch my children eat donuts – DONUTS, my favorite! – in front of me and I didn’t break.  Feeling pretty proud of myself right now.  Just seventy-something days to go.


7 // I NOW KNOW WHAT A SNOWSQUALL IS.
In case you were clueless like me (or maybe live in CA or FL), a snowsquall is “a sudden moderately heavy snow fall with blowing snow and strong, gusty surface winds.”  We experienced one yesterday afternoon!

1 // WE MADE IT TO NOVEMBER 12th BEFORE TURNING THE HEAT ON.
I’m a little bit of a crazy person about this, but there’s just this tiny sweet spot in Virginia where you don’t need the A/C or the heat.  I take advantage of that electric bill savings for all its worth!

2 // WE HAD OUR FIRST SNOWFALL (AND FIRST POWER OUTAGE) ON NOVEMBER 15TH.
Don’t laugh, northern states, but this is pretty early for us!  We probably got around four inches of snow and Mark and I had to shovel our long driveway in freezing rain.  Fun.  We were without power for 18 hours, but were thankfully more prepared than the last time. 

3 // KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL.  EVEN IN CHURCH.
We had an incident before mass at our church involving an unstable individual causing a disturbance.  Police were called and it left me very shaken.  (He was less than five feet away from my family.)  Mark and I have since had hushed conversations about worse case scenario plans.  It makes me so angry that you have to even think about these things in a place of worship.

4 // BEST MARRIAGE TIP AFTER 13 YEARS: LEARN EACH OTHER’S LOVE LANGUAGE.
We went probably seven years into our marriage before attacking this head-on and it’s been life-changing for us.


5 // NEVER JUDGE A RUN BY THE FIRST MILE.
I tend to hate running during that first mile.  I come up with all the excuses – I’m tired, it’s cold, I’m needed in the house, etc etc.  But if I manage to shut that voice off and get to mile two?  I’m golden!  My legs are loose, I feel great and I’m ready to finish the mileage I set out to do.  Funny how that works.


6 // “FRAGRANCE” IS A WORD USED ON PRODUCTS TO AVOID DISCLOSING CHEMICALS.
I’m still slowly working my way through Estrogeneration and coincidentally came across a documentary on Netflix called Stink! that touches on the same topics.  It really is mind-blowing to discover what exactly we’re putting on or in our bodies.  The secrecy is astounding.

7 // YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW DEPENDENT YOU ARE ON AN APPLIANCE UNTIL IT BREAKS.
After the power outage, we discovered that our cooktop wouldn’t turn on.  And shortly after that, our dishwasher died!  I’ve scrambled to find recipes that can be 100% cooked in the oven (did I mention a certain toddler shattered the lid to my slow cooker as well?!) and it’s definitely helped me see all the things I take for granted.  I’ll be so thankful to have my kitchen up and running again soon.

1 // THERE ARE SEASONS OF PRODUCTION AND THERE ARE SEASONS OF REST.
I am definitely a do-er.  I like being productive and feel most like myself when I’m juggling multiple balls in the air.  (#crazylady)  But for whatever reason, I’m in a season of rest, of just trying to keep my head above water.  I’m fighting for my physical and mental health.  I’m in a season of quiet.  It’s not my favorite, but I know it’s necessary.


2 // MAGNESIUM IS AMAZING.
Magnesium was recommended to me to help with my hormonal issues, so I bought this stuff.  My new evening routine is a teaspoon of magnesium with a Nuun tablet (which helps with hydration and electrolytes), mixed in cold water.  I can feel a huge difference already!  I’m less agitated, my heart races less and it’s made PMS symptoms almost non-existent.  Incredible.


3 // PICKING OUT CHRISTMAS PHOTO CARDS IS FUN.
It’s that time of year again!  I had so much fun choosing photo cards for my Basic Invite post and I’m anxious to pin one down once we get our family photos back from the photographer.

4 // BIRTHING SIX BABIES HAS GIVEN ME WEAK HIPS.
As I have improved in my running and picked up speed, I’ve also noticed an occasional ache in my groin/thigh/bum muscles.  After a little research, I believe the issue stems from my hips, which is crazy because who gets a runner’s injury in their hips?!  Apparently this gal.  I need to be better about adding specific exercises to my routine every week.

5 // IT’S FUN TO DREAM, BUT LIFE HAS A WAY OF BRINGING YOU BACK TO REALITY.
I’ve been in homemaking mode around here, dreaming about decor and improvement projects, making mood boards and wishlists.  And then reality sets in – we had our septic tank serviced ($$$), we got a quote for the generator repair ($$$) and we have some dental work ($$$).  Throw in six birthdays and Christmas and all those home decor dreams went up in flames, hah!  Oh well.

6 // CHALK PAINT IS FOOLPROOF.
The little boys have my childhood headboards in their room, but they were looking pretty beat up.  I bought this chalk paint and have been slowly working on them (I just have the sealing left to do!) all month.  I’m hooked!  The paint is so easy to apply, washes off with soap and water and doesn’t stink.  If a coat looks streaky, you just add another layer.  So easy!


7 // TWEEN BOYS EAT A LOT.  AND IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.
Enough said.  I’m afraid for my grocery budget.

Your turn!  What did you learn this month?

1 // I’M (STILL!) NOT VERY GOOD WITH CHANGE.
September was a total blur of new activities and routines.  Mark also started his new job, which brought its own changes.  You’d think at this point in my life, I’d roll with the punches when things like this happen…but I don’t, hah!  It’s been a constant battle to take care of myself with everything going on.  Thankfully, each week gets a little easier.


2 // ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.
We read Abraham Lincoln in school and it may be my favorite d’Aulaire book yet!  We all enjoyed learning more about him beyond the typical presidential facts.  The kids loved that he had such a jovial sense of humor! 


3 // I’M BACK TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND IT FEELS SO GOOD. 
I’ve been having so much fun with Poshmark that I’m dipping my toes in creating a “real” business again!   I’ve been setting aside a little time each day to work on “my closet” and in really fires me up creatively.  I’m learning so much about clothing: brands, fabrics, quality, etc etc etc.  In some ways I feel like I did years ago when I launched Big White Farmhouse – learning a brand new industry is fascinating.
P.S. If you sign up on Poshmark with the code BWFARMHOUSE, you get $5 off your first purchase!


4 // MY GRAY HAIRS ARE REALLY COMING IN.
I was brushing my teeth one night when I did a double take – what is happening on the top of my head?!  I’m not necessarily dreading getting older, but it really is surreal to watch it happen.


5 // I FINALLY HAVE A LITTLE BOY WHO LOVES TRAINS.
I’ve been nudging my boys toward trains for years and years and none of them have ever really caught on.  BUT!  P (at almost 22 months) is obsessed!  He watches Thomas the Train on repeat and looks at all of our train books.  He’ll play with the trains and tracks on and off all day!  So fun to watch.

Your turn: what did you learn this month?

1 // I’M OVER SUMMER AND READY FOR FALL.
I know that I’m the odd man out here, but I am just over summer.  We have had a crazy season: so.much.rain followed by sticky hot humidity.  Especially with the beginning of the school year, I’m ready for crisp mornings and cute sweaters.

2 // FALSE CONFESSIONS ARE REAL AND THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE SCARY.  
I’ve been on a bit of a true crime kick this summer.  Many aspects of this genre interest me, but my latest fascination has been false confessions.  Two things that address this issue: the Netflix documentary “The Confession Tapes” and the book The Innocent Man.  It’s scary to think that under great duress, you can be broken enough to say anything and that action could result in life in prison – or worse!  I’m not anti-police department by any means, but I do think that with great power comes great responsibility.  We can do better.

3 // INTROVERTS ARE SO MISUNDERSTOOD,
Have you ever had a conversation with someone and then left feeling like you just weren’t seen or heard?  I had one this month and it wrecked me.  As an introvert, I’m somewhat used to the flippant comments people make about me and how my behavior is perceived, but this one stung. 

4 // I SHOULDN’T BE WASHING THE KIDS’ PLASTIC DISHES IN THE DISHWASHER.
According to this article, they’re recommending that plastic cups and plates not go in the dishwasher.
I knew that microwaving plastic containers was a no-no, but never thought about this.  The kids use plastic plates all the time!  I think we’ll just start slowly transitioning to regular (breakable) plates because the idea of hand-washing everything after every meal sounds exhausting. #firstworldproblems

5 // TEACHERS ARE INCREDIBLY SELFLESS.
I already knew this, but this month brought a bigger realization.  Whether you teach in a public school, private school or even in your own home, the amount of love, time, and resources you pour into your students is astronomical.  What a gift it is for children to learn from such dedicated educators.

6 // MANY OAT PRODUCTS THAT WE EAT CONTAIN UNSAFE AMOUNTS OF WEED KILLER.
And another article about how I’m endangering myself and my family: a large number of cereals, granola bars and instant oats were found to contain potentially dangerous amounts of the main ingredient in weed killer.  WHAT?!  Thanks a lot, Cheerios and Quaker oats.

7 // IT’S A HARD TIME TO BE CATHOLIC.
My heart hurts for the victims and the church I love so much.
P.S. Years ago, I signed up to spiritually adopt a priest.  Every year, you receive the name of a different priest to pray for and shamefully, I would only sporadically remember to include him in my prayers.  As scandal after scandal came to light this month, I felt a sudden urgency to resurrect that prayer card I had carelessly tucked away.  I haven’t missed a day since.  As a mother, this part of the prayer is especially powerful to me:

“Mother of all priests, intercede also for those endangered and straying priests who no longer clearly see the path and the goal, and seek another direction according to their personal biases.  No mother abandons her child when it is in danger.  Oh that you, too, would send your holy Angels with such a sharp warning that they cannot fail to hear it.” (emphasis mine)

Mamas don’t mess around.

Your turn!  What did you learn this month?

1 // RE-BALANCING YOUR HORMONES AFTER WEANING IS CRAZY.
I’ve been either pregnant or nursing since 2006 and this is the first time I’ve ever been neither.  Nobody warned me that there would be so many physical symptoms post-weaning!  Oh man, it’s been crazy: I had headaches, tiredness, mood swings, ridiculous acne, minor anxiety…I’ve been at the mercy of my hormones and had to hold on tight to the ride!  It took a little over three weeks, but I’ve finally started to feel more like myself again.

2 // I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND A NATURAL DEODORANT THAT WORKS FOR ME.
Last year, I tried Primal Pit Paste and it made my underarms raw and red.  I kept using it for awhile, hoping it was just a “detox” period, but never saw an improvement.  I chalked it up to the fact that maybe I was sensitive to the baking soda?  Fast forward to this month when I was in the market for a new deodorant and thought maybe I’d try a natural version again.  This time, I went with Tom’s of Maine and while I didn’t get any itchy redness, I stunk.  Like high school locker room gross.  So I’m back to the drawing board!  Frustrating.


3 // THERE IS A DIFFERENT NAME FOR THE MOON EVERY MONTH.
Seeing June’s Strawberry Moon on the calendar sent me on a Googling rabbit trail that led to the Farmer’s Almanac.  According to the website,

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their full moon names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the full Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names.

Fun fact: July’s full moon is known as Full Buck Moon because this is normally when a buck’s new antlers push out of their foreheads  It is also sometimes called Full Thunder Moon because of the frequent thunderstorms around this time of year.


4 // I NOW KNOW WHAT RIP CURRENTS LOOK LIKE.
I have lived on the East Coast for most of my life and been to the ocean many times, but shamefully never knew what a rip current looked like!  This photo made its way around Facebook and I’m so thankful it did.  The more you know…


5 // I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AND I’D LIKE TO CHANGE THAT.
I read Killers of the Flower Moon about the Osage Tribe early in July and regretfully realized that my knowledge in this area is lacking.  I want to change this!  I’ve just added Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and Empire of the Summer Moon to my hold list at the library. 


6 // YOU AREN’T SUPPOSED TO PUT PLASTIC BAGS IN THE RECYCLING.
I’ve never actually done this, but apparently they clog up the sorting machines and employees then have to physically get up there and pull them out.

7 //  I MAY WANT TO BE A POSTPARTUM DOULA WHEN I GROW UP.
The first few months postpartum are such an exhausting, fragile, and emotionally raw time.  Because of my personal experiences with my own babies, I am especially passionate about this, although I’ve never really known what to do with that passion.  Helping my cousin with her new baby sparked something unexpected in me.  It was an honor to give her an extra hand, a few tips and tricks, and a little extra sleep.  Maybe being a postpartum doula is in my future someday?

What did you learn this month? 

Running makes me want to eat better – I can tell a huge difference in my endurance when I eat well vs. when I eat crap.  And now eating better is leading me to give up sugar again (!!) which is huge for a stress-eating, sugarholic like me.  In full disclosure, I will also admit that the opposite of this lesson is totally true for me too.  Skipping workouts leads to sad justifications about why I’m throwing back handfuls of chocolate chips at 10am.  I’m a work in progress.

2 // IT’S BETTER FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH IF I PUT THE SCALE AWAY.
This was hard for me but liberating too.  I am data-driven and like to see my progress (give me all the charts and graphs!) but the mental frustration and fatigue it created was too much.  Mark and I are going to do “check-ins” once a month, but otherwise, that scale is staying in the closet!

3 // THERE IS SO MUCH SUGAR IN BAKED BEANS!
I picked up a can of Grillin’ Beans for dinner and they were so delicious.  I was declaring my love for them when Mark glanced at the nutrition facts and said, “Well yeah, they’re delicious!  There’s over 20 grams of sugar in it!”  Guess those beans won’t be going back into my cart anytime soon. Yikes.

4 // CARPENTER BEES ARE TROUBLE.
Carpenter bees are huge and seem to be hanging around our porches this spring.  Mike, our Orkin man, said that they can make nests in the wood and eventually cause a lot of damage.  He found one hole and treated it, but we have to be really vigilant.  There’s always something when you’re a homeowner! 

5 // WEANING IS HARD.
So we’ve made a little progress: we’ve deleted most of the daytime “I’m just bored so how ’bout I nurse?” feedings and just have bedtime and naptime to go.  I’ve been using the Ergo a lot for naptime, so he can still be close to me.  Mark helps with bedtime but we haven’t been consistent.  I’m hoping June is the month where we can make the final break. 

6 // HOMESCHOOLING IS ALSO HARD, BUT IT’S BEEN A GREAT FIT FOR OUR FAMILY THIS YEAR.
For the first time in many years, my kids ended a school year without me questioning everything.  We really found a sweet spot and we’re all excited to continue on.  Schooling is always a discernment process and I’m really thankful to have found what works for us right now.

7 // I DON’T MISS MY HOME DECOR SHOP AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT I WOULD.
I recently listened to a podcast episode about “living more with less” and the guest’s story was similar to my own: she had a thriving small business that she loved, but stepped away for something better.  It’s been about seven months since we closed Big White Farmhouse’s virtual doors.  While I loved working with my cousin and supporting American artisans, there are so many things I definitely don’t miss: the unconscious stress of constantly changing social media, unrelenting marketing (an area I’m very weak in) and being unable to execute a business in a way I thought I should.  To everything there is a season and while I’m so thankful I dove into retail, I’m also excited to see what’s next.

1 // GOD USES LENT TO REMIND ME THAT HIS WAYS ARE BETTER.  
I thought I had the best plans for Lent this year.  It was going to be difficult, but the perfect way to sacrifice and grow closer to Christ.  And like the true perfectionist I am, I failed and quit within the first five days.  This happens every.single.time, but it never fails to surprise me, hah!  I imagine God just shakes His head, smirks a bit, and thinks, “Oh you silly girl.  When will you get it?”  It turns out He had other sacrifices for me, ones harder and more sanctifying than I would have chosen on my own.  A good lesson that if I get out of my own way, positive things can happen.

2 // LIBRARY BOOKS STRESS ME OUT.
Slight exaggeration, but I always tend to put a bunch on hold and they always come all at the same time!  And then I panic that I won’t be able to read them before I have to return them, so I drop all the physical books I’m currently reading (even if they’re good!) and dive into the library books, one after the other.

3 // POSTPARTUM HAIR GROWTH BE CRAZY.
16 months later, I’m finally growing new hair (gotta love that postpartum shedding!), but it’s coming in all around my scalp in the craziest way.  They’re like wispy things with a slight curl that you can’t slick back and make me look like I’ve got a weird Farrah Fawcett thing going on.  Pulling my hair back in a ponytail or bun makes it more noticeable, and let’s be honest – that’s my go-to look 99% of the time.  Pretty much a total babe over here right now. 

4 // YOU CAN GET SEASONAL ALLERGIES AS AN ADULT.
After sniffling for a few weeks, I did some investigative Googling and apparently this is true for many people.  A common cause is moving to a new location (check) as well as having a big hormonal change like post-pregnancy (check).  Thankfully, it’s not unbearable, just annoying.

5 // WE HAVE PURPLE DEAD-NETTLES IN OUR YARD.
I found these cool Christmas tree-shaped things with tiny purple flowers in my yard.  I had no idea what they were called, so I downloaded a new app called PictureThis, which helped me identify it as a purple dead-nettle.  Apparently, they’re actually weeds and depending on the website you read, it’s considered a yard pest or a foraging favorite.

6 // SYBIL, THE FIRST LADY KNOWN TO HAVE MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES, WAS A FRAUD.
Did you ever see Sybil, the 70’s movie based on the woman with multiple personalities?  It was casually mentioned in Brain on Fire that her entire story was fake, so I did a little digging and it’s true!  This article was fascinating – I want to read that book now too.

7 // I READ SIMILARLY TO WHAT I ENJOY WATCHING ON TELEVISION.
I no longer watch television on weeknights, but I just realized that I’ve replaced my favorite TV genres for similar ones in books!  I love a good whodunit/police procedural and mystery books are often on my nightstand.  I also read and enjoyed my first medical memoir, which should come as no surprise since I love a good medical show too.  (Find all the details on this month’s reads here.)

What did you learn this month!

1 // KOMBUCHA ISN’T ALL THAT BAD.
After a month of almost daily consumption, I’ve gone from taking shots of kombucha (with my eyes stinging from the taste!) to drinking it directly from the bottle, no problem. Not sure if it’s doing anything for my gut health yet, but fingers crossed.  My current favorites are Gingerberry and Pink Lady Apple.


2 // MANY METHODS OF COOKING ARE UNIVERSAL.
We’ve been cooking African food each week as part of our geography studies and I often find myself saying to the kids, “It’s like a pancake, but with different spices” or “It’s like taco meat, but spiced with this” or “It’s like a pumpkin cookie but made with sweet potato instead”.  For whatever reason, the universality of cooking really stopped me in my tracks this month.  Food, regardless of geography, is the same but different.  Just like people.  And that is so cool.

3 // I LOVE THE HUNT FOR ORIGINAL PIECES OF ART.
I’m not talking about the pieces that are thousands of dollars (our single income doesn’t stretch that far!) but searching the little etsy shops and Instagram accounts has been so fun. My latest purchase is an original hand-painted monotype from Paper Monastery.  It is absolutely gorgeous.

4 // CLIMBING TODDLERS ARE GOING TO DRIVE ME CRAZY.
My memory’s a bit foggy, but I’m pretty sure that I have never had a climber like I have with P.  He is everywhere, always on the table and getting into mischief.  We’ll often hear him saying, “Uh oh, uh oh!” as he dangles from the dining room table, waiting for someone to save him.  I’m holding onto my hat for the “terrible twos” because it looks like we’re getting started early!


5 // ARIZONA AND HAWAII DON’T PARTICIPATE IN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS.
Daylight savings time was rough for me this year.  I could not get my act together for almost a week!  And then I discovered that two states don’t even participate.  Who knew?  (And if you live in Arizona or Hawaii, lucky you!)


6 // YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN’T SAVE ALL YOUR STUFF ON YOUR DESKTOP. #SOGUILTY
It took us three months, but we finally had my fried hard drive looked at and he was able to recover all of my photos and files – praise God!  When he returned with the new drive, he casually mentioned that the owner of the computer (cough cough…me) seemed to have a habit of saving everything on the desktop and that was a really bad idea.  Oops.  I’m trying to be better this time around.


7 // SHOVELING SNOW IS A GREAT WORKOUT.
Right before last week’s snow storm, Mark tweaked his back, so I volunteered to shovel with two of the boys.  Our driveway is loooong but we figured out a good system (J dug straight through the middle all the way to the street.  M took one side and I took the other, shoveling in rows sideways.) and laughed and chatted.  By the time we finished, we were exhausted, hungry and I could barely feel my arms, hah!  Signs of a good workout.