New Oven (well kind of)

Purchase of the week… our little Ninja convection oven officially retired itself after five faithful years of service. We originally bought it to use as an oven in the motorhome, and that little thing worked hard for our family. Since we still don’t have propane hooked up for our actual oven, we were pretty motivated to find another option for cooking.

I found a large Farberware countertop convection/broil oven on Facebook Marketplace for $45. It had belonged to someone’s grandmother and had barely been used, so it is in mint condition. We tested it out this week with enchiladas for dinner, and it worked wonderfully. Honestly, it felt like a luxury.

We Officially Have Hot Water

We officially have hot water now!

Jeff wasn’t sure how difficult hooking up the water heater would be, but after our friend Jodi offered to come help, he decided to tackle it. Turns out it was much easier than he expected, and the two of them had it finished within an hour.

So now, after around three weeks living in the house, one week without water, and two weeks with only cold water… we finally have hot water, and we are thoroughly enjoying it.

Hot showers feel amazing. Laundry is finally being done at home again. The dishwasher is hooked up and running too, which has been very exciting for the kids. In fact, they are currently so thrilled about loading the dishwasher that I can easily find volunteers every night. I’m fully aware this excitement may last approximately twelve more minutes, but for now I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

Potty Training Twins Is Not for the Weak

I am currently knee-deep in potty training the twins.

Potty training one child is an adventure all on its own… but potty training two at the same time is a whole different experience. One twin seems highly motivated. The other was excited about the idea until we actually started the process and has since decided diapers may not be so bad after all.

Back when I was only parenting singletons (which, apparently, is what you call having one baby at a time — terminology I didn’t know existed until I had twins), I always had a goal of only having one child in diapers at a time.

That worked wonderfully… until twins entered the picture.

Once I automatically had two in diapers, I basically threw in the towel, and we have had three children in diapers ever since Anne was born. This is the latest I have potty trained any of my children, and I am very much looking forward to hopefully getting back down to only one in diapers soon.

Cleaning Up the Future Garden

We spent a good chunk of last weekend cleaning up what will eventually become our garden area.

It has been so fun shifting some of our attention outside now that we are at a bit of a stopping point with the house build. We will likely pick the house projects back up in the fall or winter, but for now it feels good to work on the property itself.

And this was not your average spring cleanup.

We pulled out six railroad ties, tore down old fencing, removed a partially buried car engine along with various other mysterious car parts scattered throughout the area, cleaned up piles of trash, and hauled away a few more tires we discovered hiding in the weeds.

By the end of the day, it actually looked like a usable space instead of an dump site.

Now the area is ready for the cows to spend a few days grazing it down before we start building raised beds and putting fencing back up. We are all so excited to finally get a garden going this year.

Baby Cow Watch

Speaking of cows… we are officially on baby watch.

Our cow should be having her calf any day now, and everyone is anxiously waiting. We all love having baby calves on the property, but I think the children may be even more excited about the milk.

Raw milk is expensive, so for the past few months we have basically been on a milk fast around here. Occasionally I’ll pick up a gallon here and there, but it disappears quickly in a family this size.

Almost every day, one of the kids asks for a glass of milk, and I keep reminding them that soon we should have milk coming out our ears and they can drink as much as they want.

We will definitely keep you all posted when the baby calf arrives.

A Movie Night Done Differently

One thing we still do not have in the house is a TV… and honestly, we will probably keep it that way.

Years ago, I bought a little projector for Jeff for Christmas, and while cleaning out boxes the other day, I stumbled across it again. We decided it was finally time to put it to use.

So we set it up in the bedroom, made air-popped popcorn, piled everyone onto blankets and pillows, and cozied up to watch Cinderella together.

The kids had never seen it before, and since Emma is dancing in a ballet production of Cinderella in May, we thought it would be especially fun for her to watch.

The kids were completely drawn in, popcorn was everywhere, and Anne spent most of the movie wandering from one sibling to the next or twirling around the room whenever the music started playing — far too little to care much about actually watching the movie. It felt simple and sweet in the very best kind of way.

A New Adventure: Letters from the Front Porch

And one more exciting little adventure around here… I wrote about last week.

I recently launched Letters from the Front Porch — a monthly physical letter subscription that will arrive right in your mailbox with a few extra cozy and thoughtful surprises tucked inside.

There is just something special about slowing down long enough to hold a real letter in your hands, and I am excited to create something that feels personal, meaningful, and a little old-fashioned in the best way.

If you would like to read more about the heart behind it and what I hope it becomes, you can read the blog post linked here.

And if you would like to join me on this new adventure, you can sign up here.

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A Season of Stretching

Jeff started his big job this week, which means he will be pretty tied up for the next six weeks or so. This project is well outside his comfort zone—but if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past ten-plus years of marriage, it’s that stepping into uncomfortable places is often where the most growth happens.

We don’t always choose those moments… but we’ve learned not to avoid them either. I’m already looking forward to seeing how the Lord uses this season to grow both of us in the months ahead.

We’re Finally Living in the House

We are officially living in the house.

I wouldn’t say we’re fully moved in—there are still plenty of things in the motorhome and shop—but we are here, full time, and it feels so good. The house is finished enough to live in, though we’re only using the upstairs for now. The basement will likely become a winter project down the road.

Even in its not-quite-finished state, having more room has been such a gift.

Around the Dinner Table Again

One of the sweetest changes has been sitting around the table together for dinner—something we haven’t been able to do in the past two years.

We’ve been practicing our “manners” again—passing plates, serving one another, taking turns. Each night, we choose someone new to pray over the meal. And I’ll be honest, hearing the kids pray has been one of my favorite parts of this season.

They thank the Lord for this home and property, pray for friends and family, and even lift up people across the world—this week, someone prayed for those in Iran.

We’ve also started pulling out conversation cards at dinner, taking turns reading questions and hearing everyone’s answers. Some are simple, some are thoughtful, and some make us laugh—but all of them have a way of drawing the kids out and turning dinner into more than just a meal.

This mama’s heart has been so full watching them grow.

Running Water… Mostly

We officially have running water in most areas of the house.

Both bathroom faucets still need a little work, and the dishwasher and utility sink in the laundry room aren’t hooked up yet. But the kitchen sink, shower, bathtub, and laundry are all working—and we have a toilet that flushes without dealing with a black tank.

Jeff is especially grateful for that one.

The Hot Water Saga

We had hot water… for about a day and a half.

Our long-term plan is to bring propane onto the property, since we prefer cooking with it and would eventually like a propane water heater as well. But we’re not quite there yet financially.

Thankfully, the previous owners left behind an electric tankless water heater, so we had the plumbers install it. It worked beautifully the first day—everyone enjoyed long, glorious hot showers.

By the next day, it worked for about half the day… and then completely gave up on us.

So now we have water. It’s just… very refreshing.

Jeff did purchase an electric water heater, but with his new job starting, he didn’t have time to get it installed. So for now, we’re embracing the cold and hoping next weekend brings a little more warmth back into our lives—literally.

Church and Growing Faith

We have truly been loving the church we found here in North Idaho. One of the things that first drew us in was how intentionally the pastor engages the congregation during the service (and our children).

Most Sundays we attend the early service, since the timing works best with lunch and naps (tired kids and second service don’t exactly mix well). That means all the littles sit through the entire service—and they’re learning more than I realized.

This week, I saw just how much.

The three older boys decided—completely on their own—to start a morning Bible study together. They’ve been reading through Scripture, each taking turns sharing what stood out to them.

This was something I had planned to begin with them as part of our May goals, but seeing them step into it on their own has been such an encouragement. It’s a reminder that the seeds we plant often grow in ways we don’t expect.

A Cinderella Moment

Emma had a ballet fundraiser this weekend, and it was one of those moments you just want to freeze in time.

She and Jeff have spent the past four Sundays practicing a father-daughter waltz, and Emma has been counting down the days. She wore her Cinderella ball gown, and Jeff pulled out his wedding suit.

We did have to make a few updates to that suit… he was a little more on the skinny side when we first got married. He has filled out nicely over the years and, if I’m being honest, is much more handsome than the young man I married back in 2012.

Emma was absolutely beaming as they left early for dress rehearsal—and just as radiant watching them dance.

My grandmother was a professional dancer, and there’s something special about seeing that love for dance carry on in Emma. It feels like a thread connecting generations.

Her performance is shared below for paid subscribers.

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Jeff was in Colorado last week for a training on log home restoration. He’s been hired to restore a large log home south of Coeur d’Alene, so it was the perfect opportunity.

Sashco, a stain manufacturer, hosts a two-day, hands-on seminar covering sandblasting, staining, and chinking—everything needed to properly maintain and restore log homes. He learned a ton and came home excited about what’s ahead.

The Kids Couldn’t Wait Any Longer

While Jeff was gone, the kids begged and pleaded daily, asking when they could finally sleep in the house.

We don’t have water up there yet—but everything else is working.

So Thursday night, I gave in.

We loaded up everyone’s mattresses and hauled them from the motorhome up to the house. That night, we all slept there for the first time… and they LOVED it.

The kids piled into the master bedroom—triple bunk beds for the big boys, and Emma and the twins’ beds set up on the floor. They giggled and whispered for hours, running on pure excitement and the magic of something new finally becoming real.

Making It Work (For Now)

Jeff came home Friday, and we decided—we’re staying.

For now, the kids are still in the master bedroom. Anne has settled into her little nook in the pantry—her pack and play fits perfectly there. It’s dark and cozy, and she’s been sleeping great.

As for me… I’ve claimed the couch, with a blanket and a good attitude. Jeff brought up a camping cot to sleep on until we can move our hide-a-bed up in the next couple of weeks.

We’re currently living in two places at once—which feels exactly as chaotic as it sounds.

There’s no water at the house yet, but there is water in the motorhome, so we’ve gotten creative. We sleep at the house, but head back to the motorhome for bathroom trips and most meals. After breakfast, we head back to the house and stay there most of the day until dinner —then back again before heading to bed and doing it all over the next day.

Lunches are usually simple—sandwiches, the kind that don’t require dishes or much cleanup.

It’s not glamorous… but it’s working.

The Joy of Opening Boxes Again

One of our favorite rhythms right now is opening one bin a day.

We dig through it together, find homes for everything, and then move on to the next the following day. It’s slow—but in a good way. Intentional.

The kids recently rediscovered our game bins, and it has been so sweet to watch. They’ve been playing games they haven’t seen in years—and discovering new ones they’re finally old enough to understand.

They gather around the table or sprawl out on the floor, playing game after game. It’s one of those simple things that makes everything feel like home, even if the house isn’t quite finished yet.

Jeff, Back at It

Jeff got home Friday and jumped right back into work—even though he wasn’t feeling great all weekend.

He finished prepping everything for the plumbers, who should be coming out next week. He built plywood shelves for the game closet and tested out a stain we’re considering for our future countertops.

He also made temporary open shelves for the kitchen… though they didn’t quite make it onto the wall yet.

One step at a time.

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So Close to Finished

The house projects are almost finished—at least as finished as they’ll be until next winter. Cabinets are in, plywood countertops and shelving is almost finished in the kitchen, and flooring is down in the main part of the house. The vanities, toilets, showers, and bathtub are all set and ready for the plumber to come hook everything up.

This week felt busy—just constant movement up at the house. We still have a few things to wrap up next week, like adding shelving in the closets and waiting on plumbing. Then we’ll pause for a bit. Jeff has some big business jobs coming up, and we need to pay things off and save for the next stage of the build.

But even with the pause, we’re at a point where we can move in and enjoy what’s done… well, almost everything. We’re still waiting on propane, so no oven just yet. But honestly, after a year and a half without a stove, we can wait a little longer.

When Sickness Finally Hit

This winter, we somehow avoided most of the sickness going around—but this week, it hit us, and it hit hard. What started as a simple cold turned into quite the ordeal. High fevers, one kiddo throwing up, sore throats… it ran the full course.

It honestly felt a bit like the weather outside—one minute winter, the next spring, maybe even summer. We had snow a week or so ago, and now I’m sitting here writing while it’s 65 degrees outside.

At this point, we’re just over a week in from that first snotty nose, and it looks like we’re finally coming out the other side. Just a lingering cough and runny noses left behind.

Starting to Move In

In the middle of it all, I’ve started moving into the house. Once the flooring and counters were in—and after Jeff and his crew cleaned up the construction mess—I went in and gave everything a good, deep clean and started bringing things up.

We’ve slowly been moving in the random furniture we’ve collected over the past year and a half—good deals, free finds, pieces we’ve held onto waiting for this moment.

I brought all of our school things up from the motorhome and started setting up the school room. And on Friday, the kids got to sit at their desks and actually do school in the house. They were so excited.

We’re still sleeping and eating in the motorhome for now, but the rest of our days have been spent up at the house—moving things in, settling in, and finally starting to live in the space we’ve been working toward for so long.

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House projects are moving along quickly now.

Jeff had a full week with no side jobs, so he and our two employees have been all in on the house—and the kids have been right there alongside them.

Last week alone we finished painting, installed cabinets, put in lights, and completed most of the electrical. When you walk in now… it’s starting to feel less like a construction site and more like a home.

We even took an evening off, paused the projects, and sat down to eat dinner up there. That felt special.

Trusting the Vision

A couple of months ago, I spent a few afternoons planning out my house designs, especially in the kitchen—with ChatGPT as my design assistant.

I had some pieces already chosen (flooring, cabinets, bathroom vanities), but I was completely unsure about paint colors. I decided to go with the recommendation… and I’ll be honest, when Jeff first painted it on, I was nervous.

It looked much darker than I expected—definitely not the soft, almost-white tone I had pictured.

But now that the cabinets are in and the lighting is up, it’s coming together beautifully. It’s funny how a space can shift once all the pieces start falling into place.

We’ll see how it all ties in with the flooring… but I’m feeling hopeful.

A Bright (Very Bright) Lesson

One thing that didn’t quite go as planned… the lighting.

We followed the recommendation of ChatGPT to space lights every 4 feet. Whether I prompted it wrong or not—we now have a lot of light.

Like… runway-level lighting.

At this point, there’s not much we can do without tearing into the ceiling, so we’ve decided to laugh about it and call it a learning experience for next time.

And honestly, there are worse problems to have than a well-lit home.

Boys at Work

Speaking of electrical work—this might be one of my favorite parts of the week.

Jeff gave Benjamin and Peter a quick tutorial on wiring light switches and outlets… and then turned them loose. Each boy took a section and wired everything in just one afternoon.

It’s been so fun watching them grow in skill and confidence. They’re getting hands-on experience you just can’t replicate any other way.

I’m so grateful for a husband—and daddy—who takes the time to teach his boys these things.

Farm Wins: Free Feed

We recently got on a list to pick up spent grain from a local brewery, and it has been such a blessing.

Free feed for the chickens and cows—and soon, the pigs too.

Each week, I load up a water trough in the back of Jeff’s truck, head into town, and bring it back to the farm. We shovel it out into the pasture for the chickens and set some aside for the cows.

Our milk cow is due to calve at the end of the month, so we’ve been especially thankful to have a way to give her some extra nutrients right now.

The New Chess Board

Jeff picked up a chess board recently and taught the three older boys how to play.

All week long, they’ve been playing each other. Peter has managed to beat Jeff once—but he still hasn’t beat me. (I’m holding onto that while I can. Knowing them, it won’t be long before they’re all better than both of us.

They love games and can spend hours playing the same one over and over. It’s one of my favorite things to watch them all gathered around on the floor playing a game.

The Cabinet Snafu

And then… the cabinet situation.

I ordered our cabinets from Home Depot, and they arrived in about four different shipments over a couple of weeks.

When we were finally ready to install them, I started organizing everything and realized:

• We were missing a 30-inch drawer cabinet

• We had an extra trash pull-out we didn’t order

After multiple phone calls (and hours on hold), I thought everything was resolved. They issued a reimbursement… but for the wrong cabinet—the one we already had. Cue more phone calls, more confusion, and eventually being told to “call back next week.”

I won’t lie—I was pretty frustrated. We can’t move forward with plumbing (sinks, toilets, etc.) until cabinets and flooring are in, so this delay would push us back at least another week.

Later that same day, I had to run to Home Depot anyway, so I stopped at the customer service desk to see if someone in person could help.

And they did.

She reordered the missing cabinet on the spot, no cost to us—set to be delivered Tuesday—and then told me something I didn’t expect: The extra cabinet… and the incorrect reimbursement?

“Consider it an early Christmas present.”

What a gift. Truly. One of those little moments that feels like the Lord saying, I see you.

• There are many more photos and videos below. If you’d like a closer, more real-time look at our family and the projects we’re working on, you can join as a paid subscriber.

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Getting these weekly newsletters out on Mondays has been a bit of a struggle lately. Thank you all for your patience—I hope you still enjoy receiving them, even if they arrive a few days late.

A House That’s Starting to Feel Like Home

Drywall and texturing are finally finished at the house—yahoo! It’s amazing how something as simple as texture can make the build feel so much more like a home and less like a construction job site. We are so excited to have this big step behind us and to be moving into the next stage.

Answered Prayers in Work and Provision

Jeff has been able to hire two young men for his business, which has truly been an answer to prayer. Last year, we had Ethan, who was an incredible employee. He recently got engaged and went to work for his fiancée’s father. While we were sad to see him go, we are so excited for this new chapter in his life.

This winter, we didn’t really need extra help—until the Lord provided a large project that will take up a good portion of the spring. Suddenly, Jeff needed help, and we are so thankful that God provided two young men who are green but hardworking and eager to learn. The project starts in three weeks, and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead.

A Slower Week at Home

I flew home from California on Monday, so much of the week was spent catching up—after having family in town, celebrating Peter’s birthday, and then me traveling. We kept things fairly low-key, focusing on catching up on schoolwork, tidying up the property, and simply enjoying time together as a family.

Knowing that this coming week we’ll be jumping back into our normal rhythm of school and work, it felt good to slow down a bit. Jeff was also wrapping up loose ends on a job so he could officially close it out.

Small Joys and Sweet Moments

A few years ago, when we were visiting family in California, Peter needed a shirt to sleep in—his was dirty, or something along those lines. Uncle Larry gave him one of his old work shirts, and it has since become Peter’s absolute favorite. A few weeks ago, I was doing laundry and nearly threw it away—it’s full of holes and very well worn.

While I was in California, I asked my uncle if he might have any extra shirts he could send home for Peter. He went above and beyond and sent one for each of the four older kids, plus a fun one for Jeff. It was such a joy to surprise them—the shouts of excitement were a sweet reminder of how much they love their aunts and uncles.

Dancing Into Spring

Emma’s ballet performance this spring will be Cinderella. The studio asked if any students and their fathers would like to participate in a short waltz as part of a fundraiser to help keep ticket prices low. Jeff and Emma signed up and had their first practice on Sunday. Emma is absolutely thrilled to have this special time with her dad—and, of course, to wear a ballgown.

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Watching Peter Grow

Peter turned 11 years old, and this has been such a sweet season. I love having an eleven-year-old. The questions he asks, the quiet moments curled up together talking about our days—these are the things I don’t ever want to forget. I’ve been trying to slow down and really soak it all in. It reminds me that while the days can feel long, the years are so very fast. He is growing into a young man right before our eyes.

Peter is such a hard-working, detail-oriented young man. He is Jeff’s right-hand man and such a help on construction projects. I see strong leadership qualities in him—not just in the way he leads the younger kids in fun, but in how he sets an example in the way he behaves. Often when people compliment our parenting, I know a big part of that praise belongs to Peter. The kids want to be like him, and he is leading them well—kind, respectful, and thoughtful.

A Change of Plans

Our original plan for the week was to travel down to Oregon, and then Peter, Ben, Anne, and I would fly to California for a little birthday trip and to visit family. The rest of the kids would stay with grandparents, and Jeff would remain in Idaho to keep working on the house. But plans changed. My grandma (the kids’ great-grandma) took a turn and was in the hospital. Hospice was called, and it seemed she might pass soon. So we stayed in Idaho, and I flew down to Los Angeles alone to see her one more time.

Family Showing Up

Before I left for California, Grandma Jeanne, Grandpa Lou, and Grandma Gail made the long seven-hour drive to come celebrate Peter with us. It meant so much. We had such a sweet time celebrating him and enjoying their company. The four older kids even got to spend two nights with Grandpa and Grandma Woodford at their Airbnb—it was such a special treat. Their willingness to come to us after we changed plans was such a gift.

A Trip, A Perspective, and Coming Home

My California trip was good. It’s always special to be with family and catch up, but this trip felt especially meaningful. Being there without the kids allowed for uninterrupted conversations with aunts, uncles, cousins, and especially my grandma. My dad flew down from Oregon as well, and we spent most of our time at the hospital with her. By the end of the weekend, she seemed to be improving, and they are working on getting her home—though she will need 24-hour care. We are all hoping and praying she continues to heal. She turns 96 this April.

While I was away, Jeff held down the fort at home with all seven kids. They had a few movie nights and lots of special time with Dad. Peter and Owen worked on assembling cabinets that had been delivered and managed to complete five out of ten—such hard workers. By the time I got home late Sunday night, everyone was very ready for me to be back… and I was just as ready to be home.

A Little Note From Me

You may have noticed I haven’t been writing twice a week like I had planned. Life has felt a little full lately, and this rhythm hasn’t quite found its place yet. But I’m not letting go of it—I’m working on getting back to that steady pace soon. Writing here is something I truly enjoy, and I’m grateful you’re along for the journey with me, even when it’s a little imperfect.

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Emma brought me a little bouquet of flowers the other day—the first real sign that winter is fading and spring is arriving. This time of year always makes me think of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, when the snow begins to melt and you realize winter will not last forever.

“Every moment the patches of green grew bigger and the patches of snow grew smaller. Every moment more and more of the trees shook off their robes of snow. Soon, wherever you looked, instead of white shapes you saw the dark green of firs or the black prickly branches of bare oaks and beeches and elms. Then the mist turned from white to gold and presently cleared away altogether. Shafts of delicious sunlight struck down on to the forest floor and overhead you could see a blue sky between the tree tops.

Soon there were more wonderful things happening. Coming suddenly round a corner into a glade of silver birch trees Edmund saw the ground covered in all directions with little yellow flowers- celandines. The noise of water grew louder. Presently they actually crossed a stream. Beyond it they found snowdrops growing.” - The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Waiting for the House

This past week I ordered all of our kitchen and laundry room cabinets, bathroom toilets, faucets, and shower fixtures. They should all be delivered over the next week or two. The kids get excited every time the FedEx truck pulls into the driveway to see what has arrived.

It honestly feels a bit like we are in the third trimester of pregnancy. You know the baby is coming soon… but “soon” could mean 37 weeks or 42 weeks. So we are just sitting here, trying to be patient while the house slowly moves closer and closer to a move-in date.

Spring Cleanup on the Farm

With the weather feeling more like spring last week, we decided it was time to burn a few more burn piles. All around the property there are extra pieces of wood, broken buildings, and other burnable debris left behind from years past. It actually feels good to slowly start cleaning things up.

This week we worked on cleaning up the winter cow pasture. There are old wooden feeders, broken fencing, and scraps of wood scattered across the half-acre area, so we’ve been gathering everything into one big pile for a future burn.

The Nighttime Ninja Problem and the Out of the Box Solution

All of our kids seem to go through a phase where they sneak into our bed sometime in the middle of the night. It usually starts around age two and works itself out by about four years old.

Well… all except Emma.

She apparently never got the memo and has continued sneaking in for nighttime snuggles—and she’s almost six. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal… except the twins have now entered that same stage too. Having one kid in the bed isn’t too bad. Having three often results in either Jeff or I being slowly pushed out altogether.

After sleeping at the foot of the bed a few too many nights, we decided something needed to change. The tricky part was that neither Jeff nor I ever remembered her climbing into bed. All three of them move like ninjas in the middle of the night.

One morning while laying in bed, I asked the Lord for wisdom—and He gave me an idea. Emma still takes rest time in her bed each afternoon. What if she could earn her freedom from rest time by sleeping in her own bed all night?

Voila.

She has now slept in her own bed every night for the past week. And now she gets to go outside and join her brothers while the littles nap in the motorhome.

Sometimes parenting takes learning what motivates your kids—and being willing to come up with a slightly out-of-the-box solution to help them change a habit.

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We had Jeff home most of last week, which was such a gift. Whenever he’s home, projects naturally follow. We mapped out where the garden will go and started clearing the area—hauling off trash, pulling down old fencing, and digging railroad ties out of the ground. In the process, we unearthed an old red car hood, along with a motor and axles buried beneath the soil. This property never fails to surprise us. Every time we clean up a new section, it feels like uncovering another piece of history.

2. Designing with ChatGPT

I’ve also been having way too much fun using ChatGPT to help me think through the kitchen, laundry room, and schoolroom layouts. I’ve always been a little wary of AI, but I have to admit—I’m impressed. When I explain what I’m hoping for and ask for ideas, it gives me angles I hadn’t considered. Interior design doesn’t come naturally to me, so it’s been helpful to “see” things come together on the screen. On the computer, at least, it looks amazing! We’ll see how it all feels once it’s here in real life.

3. Watching Walls Become a Home

Drywall is cruising along. Josiah (our drywall contractor) finished hanging it last week, and now he’s mudding, taping, and texturing. He thinks he might be finished by the end of this week or early next. It has been so fun to walk through the house and see our vision taking shape. Rooms that once felt like framing and measurements are beginning to feel like a home.

4. A Quiet Afternoon in Sandpoint

On Saturday, I headed into Sandpoint for two purposes: laundry and taxes. Jeff gave me the afternoon to focus on getting our taxes together. Trying to gather paperwork and close out last year’s business books isn’t easy with little ones climbing on you. It felt so good to sit down, put my head down, and make real progress—maybe not finishing everything, but getting most of it done.

5. Pizza & Movie Night

I grabbed pizza on the way home and walked into a house that was cleaned up and ready for family movie night. After watching the Winter Olympics, what better choice than Cool Runnings? It felt like the perfect way to end a full, productive week.

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Winter has come again.

We got more snow and cold weather this past week. The kids had a ball building snowmen and sledding down hills. I know deep down we need this snow, but if I’m honest, I was ready for spring.

In my February book list, I’ve been reading a gardening book that has me itching to start planning our family garden. It’s making me so excited to get my hands in the dirt again. The snow was a good reminder that we aren’t quite there yet. Still, we’ve started deciding where the garden will go and how much space we’ll dedicate to it. I even ordered starts this year from a farm down the road that grows plants suited to our area. It feels like a small act of faith in warmer days ahead.

Progress Behind the Walls

Drywall is moving quickly now. We ended up hiring a gentleman to take over where Jeff had stopped, and it’s amazing how fast things can move when someone knows all the tricks of the trade. He says he should be completely finished with hanging, taping, mudding, and texturing within three weeks. After so many slow and steady months, it feels good to see real momentum.

Olympics Finished

The Olympics wrapped up at the end of the week… and I’m ready. I’m always so excited at the beginning and always ready to be done by the end. It was fun to watch people compete, and the kids loved it. But staying up until 9:00 p.m. every night has left us all extra tired—and we probably need a little TV detox.

My mom texted to ask if we were going through withdrawals now that it’s over. The kids might be. But I’m happy to turn the TV off for another two years.

Spa Emma

Emma has become quite the little hairdresser. She’s mastered braiding the mane on her toy horse and often comes out of her room with the most creative hairstyles—ponytails going in every direction. Lately Elizabeth has been heading to “Spa Emma” for her own hair creations. Watching them reminds me of all the hours I spent doing my dolls’ hair growing up. There’s something sweet about seeing that same imagination carry on.

Replacing Scroll Time with Real Pages

I have some big books I’m trying to finish this month, and during the Olympics I found myself spending much of the kids’ rest time reading instead of scrolling. It’s funny how when you fill your time with a good habit, the less helpful ones start to fade. I rarely get sucked into my phone these days. That was something I was intentionally trying to change, and bringing reading back into my life has quietly replaced it.

I’ll admit, it took a bit of self-talk to write this blog post instead of grabbing a cup of coffee and reading a few more chapters while the kids napped.

Turning Memories into Something We Can Hold

One hope I have this year is to sift through the thousands of photos on my phone and turn them into actual photo books instead of letting them live in the cloud forever. A friend shared a simple idea: search your photos by the current date and go through just that day—delete duplicates and anything you don’t want to keep. In one year, you’ll have gone through your entire camera roll.

I’ve been doing this every few days, sometimes catching up or even working a little ahead, and it’s been surprisingly manageable. I’m only keeping the photos I truly want and moving them into albums with the hope of creating printed photo books next winter. It’s been so fun to revisit different seasons of the kids’ lives. I’ve enjoyed it more than I expected.

Quote from a recent book:

Both faith and doubt are a choice. Chose faith. Courage cannot exist without fear. - Chris Wark

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Last week felt much like the weeks before it. School lessons at the table, laundry piles that never quite disappear, meals to cook, kids in and out of the motorhome, Jeff working hard here at home continuing to hang drywall and on business construction projects as well—the steady rhythm of ordinary life.

Forty Looks Different Than I Planned

When I was in my early twenties and imagined turning forty, I had all kinds of plans. I pictured myself traveling overseas with friends, exploring new places and living freely. Children and family weren’t really part of that vision… and if they were, it was only with the thought that by forty my kids would be old enough for me to leave them for a few weeks while I traveled abroad.

Last week that day came.

I wasn’t boarding a plane or packing a suitcase. Instead, I was home with seven little voices singing “Happy Birthday to Mama,” trying their very hardest not to argue, looking for ways to help without being asked. It was a quiet birthday—no big celebration or hurrah—but it was better than anything I could have dreamed up twenty years ago.

My life is so much fuller than I ever imagined it would be. Fuller in ways no passport stamp or overseas adventure could provide. It’s funny how the dreams we once held so tightly sometimes pale in comparison to what God gently places in our hands instead. He has given me something far better than I knew to ask for.

Jeff came home a little early from work and took our family out to one of my favorite restaurants in Sandpoint—Spuds. After dinner, we came home for ice cream and watched the Olympics together. A simple ending to a beautiful day.

Olympics at Home

The Olympics continue in our home as well. Each evening we gather together to watch Primetime and catch bits and pieces of the games. The kids are especially inspired. During commercial breaks they jump up to do “workouts,” determined to get stronger so they can hit the slopes and improve their skiing while watching the USA athletes compete. You can see the video below.

The first day, one of the boys slightly overdid his commercial-break workout and walked around like an old man for the next few days until his muscles weren’t sore anymore. Since then, they’ve slowed down their routine—but not their excitement. There’s a new energy around getting stronger and skiing better.

Too bad our mountain has had very little snow this year… but we are making the best of the days we get.

A Praise Report

And one more praise report…

Our dear friend who was facing cancer had her major surgery this week. The surgery went well—and after testing, the 17-pound tumor they removed was found to be non-cancerous. She went from a possible five-year life expectancy to the gift of a long and healthy life.

Praise the Lord.

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Sometimes I love to simply stand back and watch my kids interact with one another. The other day I stood at the kitchen sink and watched Benjamin sit on the couch, helping Emma spell random words and teaching her how to connect her cursive letters. Peter was playing with Elizabeth, who kept running out of the back room squealing with delight as he roared and chased her on his hands and knees. Owen played his guitar and sang while Isaac found a stick to drum with, and Anne sang and danced beside them both.

Jeff and I often talk about whether we’re supposed to be done having kids or not. We’re still not sure where we land between doing nothing to prevent another child and making a permanent decision to stop having kids. But it’s moments like these that remind me how grateful I am for each and every one of our children. I get to watch them love, teach, and care for one another—and realize what a gift they are to each other and to me. Life feels full of both chaos and blessing. And in moments like this, I think that if the Lord ever blessed us with an eighth, I’d be happy to watch the gang grow a little larger.

Growing Up Without Cable TV

Growing up, my family didn’t have cable TV. We only had the local channels, and if we wanted to watch something, we had to get the antenna just right for the picture to come in clearly—except PBS, which somehow always came in perfectly. Do you remember those days? You’d finally get the antenna positioned just right, walk away to sit down… and somehow the picture would turn fuzzy again.

More than once, one of us kids would be assigned to stand by the antenna—or even hold it—so the rest of us could somewhat make out what was happening on the TV after school, before our parents got home. And by “clearly,” I mean mostly clear. It was the ’90s—HDTV wasn’t exactly an option.

Our family only had cable one single time, and all of us remember that month vividly. Saturday morning cartoons were no longer fuzzy through an antenna but perfectly clear, with so many new shows to choose from.

The reason we got cable that year was because the local network wasn’t airing the Olympics. You could only watch them with cable, so my mom scraped together the money and we signed up—for one month only.

The Olympics were always a big deal in my childhood home. And poor Jeff didn’t quite know what he was marrying into until the first Olympics of our marriage rolled around. He tried buying an antenna, and when that didn’t work and I was probably in tears, he phoned a friends and we ended up borrowing a their house to watch the games while they were out of town. Now he knows—when the Olympics come around every two years, I’m all in.

Two Weeks of the Olympics

Because we didn’t grow up watching much TV I’m not a big TV watcher—except when the Olympics are on. Then all my “we don’t watch TV” rules go out the window. And for two weeks, we turn the TV on for primetime nightly for Olympic coverage and soak it all in.

If you’re going to binge-watch something as a family, I suppose doing it for two weeks every two years is probably okay.

So here we are, ready to enjoy every moment of this year’s Winter Olympics. The kids are especially excited to watch the skiing. I’m looking forward to hearing (not seeing) the wild ideas it inspires them to try on the mountain in the days that follow.

Since we watch as a family, I’m not counting this toward my 90 days of no extra TV—though I may tack on an extra two weeks afterward just to even things out.

Cleaning Up the Land We Love

There were a few beautiful days last week, and on one of them the kids and I tackled a property clean-up afternoon. We spent about an hour picking up trash, rocks, and large sticks from one of the pasture paddocks. We pulled out extra electric fence posts and hauled away a few old tires that have been there since we bought the place.

It felt so good to see one area of the property cleaned up and ready—beautiful and prepared to grow grass so we can put the cows out there in a few months.

When the Boys Step Up

Peter went to work with Jeff this week since Jeff’s usual helper wasn’t coming in on Friday. Peter wanted to earn some money while the rest of us headed up to the mountain to ski. He’s becoming quite the little construction worker—making cuts and helping secure wood flooring alongside Jeff.

The night before, he asked if he could stay up later than usual. When I asked why, he explained that he wanted to finish his schoolwork so he wouldn’t have extra to do when he got home or over the weekend. So while Jeff worked on a bid or a client and I read a book, Peter sat at the table writing a paper and doing math. One of those quiet moments when you realize just how quickly your firstborn is growing up.

I also loved watching Benjamin blossom on the day Peter was gone. He’s usually Peter’s little shadow, but this time he stepped confidently into the role of “man of the house.” He helped get everyone ready, made sure the van was warm and the ski gear was loaded, and once we were on the mountain, he and Owen took Emma down the main run and up the chairlift. Each time they got on, he radioed me to let me know everyone was safe and doing great.

It was such a gift to see him rise to the occasion—steady, responsible, and proud—while his dad and older brother were away.

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The house is moving forward steadily now. Insulation is done, and Jeff has been working hard hanging all the drywall. Sunday afternoon the whole family was up there working together. Peter has become quite skilled with the chop saw, cutting blocking for Owen to pound into place, while Ben followed behind screwing the pieces into the wall. The blocking is for our open shelves and cabinets to attach to later. It was so fun to see the whole crew working together.

Emma danced around to the music with Elizabeth and Anne, while Isaac appointed himself foreman of the day—making sure everyone was working and staying on track, and double-checking the progress with his trusty hammer.

If you are a paid subscriber, you’ll find a whole collection of photos at the bottom of this post from our house build.

Open Hands and Open Hearts

This week we received news that a dear friend is facing serious health issues. She has a long road ahead of her, including a significant surgery in the coming weeks, a sobering reminder of how finite we are. And yet, as I’ve prayed for her this week, I’ve found rest in remembering that none of this is a surprise to the Lord. Our days are in His hands and He knows the number already. There is deep hope and quiet peace in trusting His care.

We talked with the kids about it, and without hesitation they all chimed in to say that if she needs someone to care for her after surgery, she could move in with us. Emma immediately offered her bedroom—and her “nursing skills.” It was sweet to witness the kindness and compassion of the children. I assured them that no one would need to give up a bed, but that our home will always be open to our friend in whatever way she needs.

The Egg Strike Is Over

Our chickens have started laying again, and I couldn’t be more relieved. Spending money on eggs and milk is hard for me when we have chickens and a milk cow—except when the cow is dried up until April and the chickens decide to go on strike. In those moments, I dig deep and do the right thing, buying eggs and milk from our neighbors.

Thankfully, the strike seems to be over, and we’re now getting over a dozen eggs a day—almost enough to keep up with seven hungry, egg-loving kids.

Planning the Garden, One Step at a Time

We’re in the planning stages for this year’s garden. I’ve been reading books and buying plants from a local farm we do a CSA through. Our plan is to continue the CSA but supplement it with our own garden.

Last year we relied solely on the CSA and needed two memberships. This year we’re scaling back to one and hoping our garden can help fill the gap. Little by little, my hope is to buy less and less from the store. Right now, we don’t buy eggs or milk (unless we have to), and we don’t buy meat since we raise our own pork, chicken, and beef. Someday I’d love to lower our grocery bill even more with an abundant garden—but for now, we’re taking small, faithful steps.

When History Repeats Itself (With Scissors)

Years ago, when Emma was just over two years old, Owen found a pair of scissors and gave his sister a very short haircut on one side. This week, history repeated itself when Isaac—being somewhat of a mini-Owen—decided to try his hand at hair styling.

I came back down to the motorhome after chatting with Jeff at the house to find Elizabeth proudly announcing that Isaac had given her a haircut. Thankfully, he only cut three to five inches off a few chunks and trimmed a portion of her bangs very short.

Elizabeth has the longest hair of all the kids, nearly reaching her lower back. I’ve never cut her hair before—her stick-straight hair makes me nervous, and I fear my lines would be crooked. But since Isaac had already started the job, I decided it was time to even things out. She didn’t end up with quite as short a haircut as Emma did at two, but I did take off a good three inches or more—and it turned out just right.

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Ski Days and First Chairlifts

There were no ski lessons on Monday since it was a holiday, so Jeff took the four big kids up to the mountain. He also took Emma on her very first chairlift, and they stayed on the easy Creekside run together for the day. Emma is really taking off in her skiing.

Burn Piles and Smoky Afternoons

It was a burn-pile kind of week—smoky kids and all. The weather has been cold but sunny, and the kids have spent most afternoons burning brush and extra construction wood, cooking snacks over the fire. Potatoes and apples kept disappearing from the kitchen, only to reappear roasting on sticks around a burn pile. It’s nice to see the kids enjoying themselves, and even better that the property is getting cleaned up at the same time.

Forward Motion at the House

The electrical inspection passed for the main area of the house this week. On Friday, the insulation company came in and got started, and they’ll finish next week. Drywall was also delivered over the weekend—YAY! After so many months of feeling like nothing was moving forward, things are finally starting to happen.

Homeschool System Pause

I shared a post on Friday about our school system, and ironically, that system didn’t work at all this week. Having Jeff home and tackling projects around the house made it harder to keep everyone focused on schoolwork. But that’s the beauty of homeschooling and having a system—we can adjust. We’ll pick back up next week where we left off and try again.

Sunday Spent with Good Friends

Sundays sometimes feel like the start of the week, and sometimes like the end. This week, it felt like the end. We wrapped it up by spending Sunday south of Coeur d’Alene with good friends. When we first moved to the area, Josh and Merrie let us stay with them while we looked for rentals. We later rented a house for a year on the same gravel road they live on, and our families grew close during that time.

Since moving an hour north, we don’t see them nearly as often. So when the boys needed help fixing a dirt bike, it was the perfect excuse to visit friends who also know how to fix dirt bikes. The kids barely waited for the van doors to open before piling out. We mostly caught glimpses of them running past us—up the stairs, outside, or coming in for food. While the kids played, the adults chatted and played games. It had been since we put siding on our house that we’d last seen them, and it was so good to catch up.

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Skiing on Mondays and Fridays is starting to feel like a routine. On Mondays, the three boys have lessons, so Jeff and the boys load up early and spend the day on the mountain. On Fridays, I take all seven kids up on my own… if everyone finishes their schoolwork. And the last two Fridays, they did—leaving us enough time to head up right before lunchtime.

This week the sun was shining, and it was almost sweatshirt weather. We had our walkie-talkies back (Jeff accidentally took them to work the week before), so I could hear from the boys each time they got off a lift to tell me which run they were taking. Once they were cold enough, they met Anne, the twins, and me at the top of the bunny hill, where we were playing in the snow and watching Emma confidently ride up and down on her own.

Big Kids Stepping Up

Going into last week—and this one—I wasn’t sure how handling seven kids at the mountain by myself would go, especially with four of them being five and under. But I have been pleasantly surprised by how incredible the three big boys (ages 7–10) have been. They’ve helped load, unload, and reload everyone and all the gear, and they’ve been so attentive to the little ones.

At one point, Peter got cold and decided to head to the lodge. Elizabeth (one of the three-year-old twins) was cold too, so he offered to take her with him so Emma could keep skiing and I could stay to watch. A few runs later, Isaac and Anne were ready to be done, and Ben and Owen stepped in to hang out with Emma on the bunny hill while I grabbed Elizabeth and headed to the car. Peter rounded up the rest of the big kids, and they all skied down to meet me. As long as things keep going this smoothly, Friday ski days will definitely continue.

House Progress (and a Small Setback)

Friday also brought the electrical inspection for the house! We didn’t pass, but the list of fixes is short. Jeff is tackling those this weekend, and we’ll schedule another inspection next week.

Even with the hiccup, it feels so exciting to be this close to finishing the upstairs electrical. We’ll work on the basement after we move in, but this is still a major step toward finally getting into the house.

Back to Full School Mode

We are officially back in full school mode this week. From mid-November until now, we were doing a lighter version of school, but we’ve jumped back into all subjects: math, writing, Latin, piano, guitar, keyboarding, spelling, grammar, and penmanship.

One of the blessings of setting our own schedule and schooling year-round is the flexibility. When we take a couple of months of lighter work, we can make it up at another time. I think I’ve finally found a system that works for us, and I’ll share more about that in an upcoming post for any homeschool mamas who want ideas.

Sun, Decluttering, and Cozy Evenings

With the sun shining this week, the kids have been spending lots of time outside. After rest time, I send everyone out and ask the big kids to keep an eye on Annie and the twins. That’s given me space to go into full declutter-and-clean mode. I’ve slowly been tackling the extras that have accumulated in the motorhome—throwing things out, bagging clothes that no longer fit, and putting away summer items that were hastily stuffed into cupboards. It feels so good to make progress.

Evenings have been filled with family games. Our favorite since Christmas is still Spy Alley. The kids love it, the twins love rolling the dice for Jeff or me, and Anne happily crawls around at everyone’s feet. The best winters really are made of board games, good books, and puzzles.

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Jeff and the electrician have been working hard this week to finally wrap things up. It has been a long road with this part of the project. Through it all, I am learning—more and more—to trust God in His timing and His provision.

Each time I want to rush the work, it seems like we simply can’t. No matter how hard we try. I’m learning to be at rest and trust Him, even if it means being “uncomfortable” longer than I want. The Lord is using this season in the motorhome to teach me a new kind of patience—one that calls me to be joyful in all circumstances, creative in how we do things, and trusting Him in a deeper way.

Trusting God

Last week when everything that was a necessity started working again, it felt like a moment of hurrah! Yet, last week’s woes carried right into this one— I took a day to go into town for laundry and came home to our motorhome water pump died, followed by the hot water heater.

As the week has gone on, though, I’ve realized that we can still choose creativity and attitude. Showers—while nice—aren’t a daily necessity. I have a new outdoor camping water heater arriving next Friday, and we’ll all enjoy a good shower then. For now, I can heat hot water in the InstaPot and the three littlest ones fit nicely in the sink as well as I can wash my hair in there too.

As for everyone else… there is deodorant for Jeff and I and grace.

Each day I hook up cold water so we can heat water in the InstaPot for dishes and fill buckets for toilet water at night. It’s definitely one of those seasons we’ll laugh about years from now—remember those months in the motorhome…

Ski Season Starts

Ski season is here, and the boys are loving it. Last Sunday, Jeff took all four big kids up to pick up their passes and test the slopes. Our local mountain has a great program where kids get eight lessons (including rentals, if needed) and a season pass for a very reasonable price. All three big boys are signed up for Monday lessons over the next eight weeks, and they can use their passes anytime.

The mountain also offers free skiing for kids under seven, and the bunny hill is always free. While the boys tackled the slopes, Jeff stayed with Emma for her first unofficial ski lessons—and she is hooked.

On Mondays, Jeff chaperones after lessons (and helps out), which earns him a free pass for the day. They start early and finish late. And at the beginning of the week I gave the kids the option to finish their schoolwork and head up skiing on Friday. Most of it was done by Thursday, and the rest was completed early Friday morning—before it was even light—binders and book lights in hand.

They tidied the house, packed lunches, and all eight of us (Jeff was working) headed up the mountain for the afternoon.

I couldn’t take Emma down the bunny hill because I was juggling the twins and Anne, but her three brothers stayed with her until she felt confident enough to go on her own. While the twins and Anne played in the snow at the top of the bunny hill, Emma made run after run—down the hill and back up the magic carpet. Her brothers would swing by between lifts to check in on her.

I was honestly skeptical about taking all seven kids skiing by myself, but it went so well that we’ll probably do it again next week.

Giving Our Kids a 90’s Childhood

Smartphones and kids just aren’t my thing. I don’t love FaceTime—it often becomes more about watching themselves than talking—and I don’t love kids having access to my smartphone.

That said, we do want our kids to be able to talk to grandparents, aunts, and uncles anytime they want (between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.). The big kids are also old enough that I trust them to be home if I run to the store ten minutes away—but I want them to have a way to reach me.

So we decided to get a landline.

While researching whether those even exist anymore, I found Ooma—a sort of landline hybrid. It connects to Wi-Fi (or you can get a plan with its own signal), and then you plug in a regular old phone. Voilà—a “landline.”

For $20 a month, we now have a home phone… and a cute red one at that. The kids love it. It’s always a race to answer when it rings, and they’ve been having the best time calling family. I love knowing they’ll have memories of long conversations with loved ones over a good old-fashioned phone—and it’s been so sweet hearing real conversations, not just silly faces on a screen.

So far we have been really impressed with it! So if you're looking to head back to the 90’s and get yourself a landline. Check them out here.

Book of the Week

I’m going to start sharing a post each time I finish a book (hopefully close to weekly). That may mean you receive up to three posts from me in a given week. These book posts will have their own subscription option, so if you’re not interested in book reviews, you can simply uncheck “Book Review” in your preferences.

I’ll be sending last week’s book review out on Wednesday for the book I finished last week.

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Work & Growing Responsibility

Last week Jeff built a set of custom bunk beds for a client, and he took Peter with him for two of the days. Peter was able to earn some money, and Jeff shared how much more of an asset Peter is becoming as he learns new skills. Both days he worked, Peter came home completely exhausted—one day was a six hour day, and the other stretched to nine. Hard work, real experience, and well-earned tiredness.

Motorhome Survival Mode

Our motorhome issues began on Monday and came to a head on Thursday. That day we lived mostly by sunlight, and once the sun set, by flashlight. Despite the cold temperatures, both the family and the motorhome survived the week. We’re thankful for slightly warmer weather coming next week—hopefully making the motorhome a little happier. And we did manage to get hot water running for three days last week, which meant everyone showered at least three times. A definite win.

Small Victories on the Property

The last leftover car was finally removed—yay! We no longer look like a junkyard… well, not entirely. There are still piles of rubble left behind by previous owners and a large semi-trailer sitting near the house. But we’re celebrating the small victories. The only cars on our property now officially belong to us.

New Year’s Eve & Day

We rang in New Year’s Eve with a feast—ribs, shrimp, and fruit topped with homemade whipped cream. We all snuggled in to watch the movie The Apple Dumpling Gang and an episode of The Andy Griffith Show while counting down to celebrate with the East Coast. We briefly tuned into the New York celebration, then switched over to Dubai’s fireworks ceremony to welcome the New Year. It was incredible.

By about 9:30, everyone was sound asleep. Jeff and I woke briefly to the sound of fireworks, rolled over to wish each other a happy New Year, and promptly fell back asleep.

On New Year’s Day, Jeff and the kids headed out for a walk to clean up trash along our street while I made a big waffle breakfast. Later, we enjoyed a bonfire, a lantern-lit dinner, and a performance by the kids in the dark—simple, cozy, and memorable.

New Year, New Books

I officially started my reading goal this week, and Jeff and I spent the first nights of the New Year snuggled into bed with books. He’s joining me in the challenge—aiming for one book a week for the first 90 days.

Book One of Fifty-Two: This week’s book was Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. I needed an quick read since I was still finishing The Way Home: Beyond Feminism Back to Reality at the beginning of the week—and I decided that one wouldn’t count toward my 2026 goal.

So I grabbed one of Peter’s books, one I remembered reading as a kid, and breezed right through it. It was a great, easy read, and if you have kids around 10 years old, I would highly recommend it.

When Jeff finishes a book I will add it here as well. But I won’t share any thoughts about the book as I didn’t read it.

Jeff Book 1: The Giver by Lois Lowry

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Last week slipped by, and I never got our weekly newsletter out to you. I’m sorry about that. Life moved fast, and before I knew it, another week had passed. So this post is a little combination of the last two weeks—wrapped together like a slightly oversized Christmas package.

House Progress (At a Snail’s Pace)

On the house front, we’re still working on finishing the electrical. The electrician we hired to help us wrap things up came down with the flu, and then Christmas happened. We’re hopeful it will be finished in the next week or so.

This part of the process has felt so slow—like watching a snail crawl across a sheet of paper. It looks like it should be done quickly, but somehow it just inches along.

A Fire Before Christmas

One big win, though: we ordered our wood stove and were able to install it the day before Christmas! That means we can finally make fires in the house—and we have been thoroughly enjoying that.

Even though we still sleep in the motorhome, we spent Christmas Day and several days after up at the house from sunup to sundown, soaking in the warmth of the fire and enjoying the extra space. It felt like a glimpse of what’s coming.

A Windstorm & an Unexpected Movie Day

The week before Christmas, we had some big windstorms that knocked the power out in the motorhome for the day. One of the local theaters in Coeur d’Alene offered a free movie since they still had power and heat.

So we put school away and headed into town to watch Elf and eat popcorn. Afterward, we drove around while the littles napped in the car and the older kids read or worked on school.

Thankfully, the power came back on before dinner, and we headed home to a warm motorhome.

Living Like Sardines (With Grandpa)

My dad came into town the weekend before Christmas week and stayed with us in the motorhome. Things get a little tight when that happens.

Jeff and I gave up our bed in the front and squeezed back with the kids. All nine of us slept in the back room of the motorhome—four in bunk beds, Anne in her pack-and-play, and four more crammed into the king bed on the platform. Anne’s pack-and-play just fits, and we have to move it like a slide puzzle every time we need to get into the kids’ closet for clothes.

Even though we were packed in like sardines, it was completely worth it to have Grandpa with us for the week.

The Christmas Play

The Sunday before Christmas, the kids participated in our church’s Christmas play. Peter and Benjamin were narrators and had quite a few speaking lines. Owen was a shepherd and also had to memorize a short line. Emma was a sheep—and made everyone smile.

All of the kids did an amazing job acting out the nativity and singing carols. Several people from the congregation came up afterward to praise the boys for memorizing their lines and speaking so confidently. It was such a gift for them to receive encouragement from the older generation.

Simple Traditions, Meaningful Ornaments

Christmas traditions have been pretty sparse the last couple of years since we don’t have much space. One tradition we’ve kept, though, is giving each child an ornament every year—something that reflects them and the year they’ve had.

Jeff carved two ornaments this year: a falcon for Peter and a tiger for Benjamin, their favorite animals. Owen received a gingerbread man with a cast on his arm for his broken wrist. Emma got a ballerina. Isaac received a tractor—he’s always pointing out “dumps,” which can mean dump trucks, tractors, excavators, or anything that moves dirt. Anne’s ornament said “Her First Steps.”

As for Elizabeth… I had a couple picked out and thought I bought one, but apparently I didn’t. So this year she received one of my old childhood ornaments instead.

When Christmas Comes Twice

Speaking of forgetting things—I also forgot to buy Peter and Benjamin their main Christmas gift. Oops.

I realized something was off when Emma and Owen each had an extra present to open. Suddenly it dawned on me: we were missing two gifts. After hopping on my computer later, I discovered I had put them in the cart… but never actually checked out.

So Peter and Benjamin will be having Christmas again once those gifts arrive.

New Favorite Family Games

We added a few new family games this Christmas, and one has quickly become a favorite: Spy Alley. It is a game where players race around the board collecting clues, bluffing their way past opponents, and trying to be the first to correctly identify everyone else’s secret spy identity. The kids have been playing it daily, and Jeff and I jump in whenever we can.

We’ve also been enjoying Survivor Game, Exploding Kittens, Bears and Bees, and Shashibo Battle Shapes.

We haven’t actually played the Shashibo game yet, but the kids love figuring out how to transform the magnetic pieces into different shapes. If you’re looking for new family games, I’d recommend any of these.

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Owen’s Follow-Up Appointment

It’s been three months since Owen broke his arm and wrist across his growth plate, and this week he had his follow-up appointment to make sure everything is healing and growing correctly.

Good news: everything looks great. Both arms are the same length, and the doctor isn’t concerned. He’ll go back in the spring for one last check just to confirm everything continues on track.

Birthday Week Madness

December brings us two birthdays, but three kids celebrating!

The twins turned three, and Benjamin turned nine. The twins serenaded themselves (and anyone else nearby) with Happy Birthday all week. Isaac kept reporting which parts of his body were now officially three years old. At one point I asked if maybe his toes were still two… he studied them carefully, looked back at me, and proudly declared, “Nope, they’re three!”

We wrapped up the celebrations on Sunday with cake, ice cream, presents, and a full day of fun.

Our Birthday Cereal Tradition

One of our favorite birthday traditions is letting the birthday kid choose a box of cereal—something we don’t buy often with a family of nine. A box disappears in a single breakfast around here, so it feels like a special treat.

This week’s birthday cereal haul: Corn Pops, Fruity Pebbles with marshmallows, and Cocoa Pebbles with marshmallows. Most of the kids take after their daddy and mix all three… because why not?

Grandma Comes to Visit

Grandma drove up from Oregon to celebrate with us, which was such a gift. The kids soaked up every minute—playing games, watching The Santa Clause 2, and proudly showing her all the changes happening around the property. She also surprised the twins with two spinning chairs, which had everyone laughing and more than a few of us dizzy (myself included). If you’re a paid subscriber, I’ve shared one of the videos below.

Emma’s Nutcracker Recital

Grandma also came for a big moment: Emma’s Nutcracker performance!

Emma has been loving ballet, and this weekend she performed on stage as a Dew Drop Fairy in front of a couple hundred people. She was absolutely in her element—twirling in costume, smiling through her makeup, taking in the applause and flowers. She can’t wait for her next recital, though I let her know she’ll have to wait until spring. Thankfully, her church performance next weekend will hold her over. Again, if you’re a paid subscriber you can watch her ballet performance below.

Christmas Cards

I believe I wrapped up getting our Christmas cards out this week. If you haven’t received yours yet—or if you never sent me your address—there’s still time!

Click the link (message Kelsie) below to share your mailing address and I’ll get a Woodford family Christmas card sent your way. I have a few extras available, and we would truly love to send you one.

Looking Ahead

The next couple of weeks are going to stay busy for us. I’ll still be sending out our weekly From the Porch Swing newsletter, but don’t expect an additional blog post until the new year—unless I surprise you.

Right now, I’m just keeping my head above water with birthdays, ballet, homeschool activities, Christmas prep, visitors, and everything else December brings.

I hope you have a wonderful week, and I’ll see you next week!

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Snow!

We arrived home just in time for the snow. It started falling as we drove through Spokane and continued all week. We now have about four inches, and the kids have been in heaven. They’ve rolled multiple snowmen, made snowballs big enough to carve caves into, and even created a few snow “chairs.” They pulled out their skis and built a little ski hill, too.

Next week’s forecast looks like rain and sleet, so I’m extra glad they’re squeezing every ounce of joy out of the snow while they can.

House Update

Coming home, we were able to see everything Jeff finished while we were gone. He framed more rooms in the basement and completed most of the electrical. He’s been stuck on the last little bit since he’s self-taught and not an electrician. With his schedule filling up and this not being his favorite task, we decided it may be time to bring in a professional. An electrician is coming out next week to check everything over, fix anything that needs attention, and finish it up.

Emma’s Dress Rehearsal

It has been so sweet to watch this new side of my five-year-old unfold. Emma loves to dance, and she loves having girl friends—a whole new experience for a child who has grown up surrounded mostly by brothers (and now two younger sisters). Each week she looks forward to her time with “the girls.”

This week was her dress rehearsal for The Nutcracker, where she gets to be one of the three Dew Drops alongside the Dew Drop Fairy (her teacher). She was absolutely thrilled to try on her costume and finally step onto the stage.

Tea Time

On Saturday, Emma and I snuck away for a little girls’ tea time hosted by her dance studio. They served a delicious meal, treats, and tea, and even performed a few of the dances from the upcoming show. It was such a fun reason to dress up and head out on the town together for an afternoon—just the two of us.

Christmas Play

Emma and the boys have been singing and practicing their lines for their Christmas play all week. There hasn’t been much time during the day when someone isn’t belting out Go Tell It on the Mountain or rehearsing verses. They learned this afternoon that they don’t actually have to memorize their lines—but I encouraged them to do it anyway. The lines are straight Scripture, and I love that they’ll soon have the story of Christ’s birth written on their hearts.

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