Change-your-life Honey Wheat Bread

This honey wheat bread has changed my life. Not only is it pretty dang easy to make, it's homemade and all-natural (and therefore one more thing to be proud of as a wife), the most delicious bread to ever exist for sandwiches and toast, and will save us money since I will never again (hopefully) buy store-bought bread! I usually make this on Sunday, but today being a holiday allowed me some more time. Today was try #3 and I think it turned out the best it ever has:

3 cups warm water

2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast

1/3 cup honey

2 cups white bread flour

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1/3 cup honey

1 tablespoon salt

5 cups whole wheat flour, divided, plus more for kneading

2 tablespoons butter, melted

	1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 2 cups white bread flour and 3 cups of the wheat flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
	2. Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in remaining 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 1 to 2 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.
	3. Punch down, and divide into 2 loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
	4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Edit: I have given up the butter baste because I figured out that I like the hard crust. It also makes it easier to slice. Cool completely

I like to mix in some old-fashioned oats and flax. When packaged correctly, this bread lasts us a week... and ONLY a week :). Enjoy!

P.S. I love this time of year when every bird song, every little bud on a tree, and every morning that I wake up and don't need a big coat hints toward Spring coming. I can't wait!