Back to School and a schedule!!

What a crazy few weeks it has been! We finished up Ben's study room. Granted it is just a corner of our storage/laundry room but it works for him. His classes started on Monday and he seems to be getting into a groove.

In the mean time April came for a visit and we went to Wichita and did the Glow Run which is a 5k that you run at night and wear all kinds of fun funky glow things. We had a great time and ended up with these wonderful medals that glow in the dark.

The boys started school last Monday. Carter in kindergarten and Gage in 6th grade. We made Carter's teacher a school supply cake as a back to school gift. I have pictures of Carter in his classroom but apparently it is frowned upon for mom to walk you into middle school and take your picture and give you a hug and a kiss before your first day! So no pictures of Gage.

April came back this last weekend for another visit and we went to Zoo Brew where Joe's Pet Project was playing. We had a fantastic time and it is always great to see good friends and listen to good music. If you don't know who Joe's Pet Project is you need to look them up on Facebook and Google them and find their website. They are fantastic fun!!

So with back to school came the inevitable mess behind my front door. In that corner the book bags get dropped and jackets and everything else tend to be left there. So tonight I figured out a solution. I hung a bulletin board that the kids can hang anything that needs to be signed or any important notes on. Then under that we put in two hat and coat hooks. This made my whole living room feel so much better!! Here is the finished result.

So as we all fall into our back to school routine I am one happy mama to finally have the schedule back. I have a monthly calendar full of the things we are doing this month and all of our meals. Perhaps when I update the calendar for September I will share my system with everyone else. What are your favorite things about back to school time??

Homeward Journey

Our family finally completely reunites today after almost a month of one of us missing. Gage left for vacation on July 11th and didn't get home until after Ben had left for Omaha. So this morning at 7:30am my mom and Gage left to pick up Ben. After a wrong turn at Salina...(Yes I guess it is possible to make a wrong turn somewhere you have lived for a million years) they made it to Junction City where they headed north.

They made it to Omaha and I received a text that said "We have the package". They went across Omaha and stopped at Cracker Barrel for a late lunch. Then they hit the road. They hadn't gone too far on the highway when it sounded like a helicopter was landing on their roof. Now no one thought that might be strange and worth pulling over for. Finally a truck pulled up next to them and got their attention to pull over. The driver's side back tire had blown. Not just blown but shredded completely. So they unloaded the trunk and Ben put on the spare. Just as he finished the police pulled up and let them know where to go. So they had to stop and have four new tires put on the car before they could continue home.

Here it is 9:40pm and they haven't made it back yet but I know they are somewhere between Concordia and here. Ben of course has to work tomorrow morning so I think it will be a quick hello and hugs and then bed for him.

So while Carter and I waited for them to make it home we did something I used to do as a child. Christy, who I work with, gave me Shrinky Dinks for my birthday. Well Carter and I had a wonderful time coloring them, cutting them out and putting them in the oven. He brought his stool over and sat down in front to watch through the window. He was amazed at how they worked. As they finished flattening out in the oven he turned to me and simply said "Thank you mom". That was such a great moment.

We had terryaki noodles for dinner tonight. I did get my menu done for the month of August. Lots of new recipes on it that I am sure I will share on here. I can't wait to see how they all turn out! What recipes do you like to make for your family?

Perhaps tomorrow night we will get Ben's take on the two weeks he has been gone.