Back to School Gift

School is back in session next week, Mom's can I get a woot - woot? I love the new Staples commercial playing the Christmas song "The most wonderful time of year" and you see the Dad frolicking with a shopping cart and two very forlorn looking kids trudging behind... ha, ha - that Dad is ME! Okay, not really, but he embodies the very feeling that is radiating from my weary {this has been the longest summer, ever} self. I love my kiddos but they need structure that I am terrible at administering without an outside force, i.e. school.

This year I am excited to try my hand as the Secretary of our PTO. We have the best little PTO this side of US-31 and I really enjoy the events we are involved in all year long. To kick off the new school year I had the pleasure of putting together 36 "welcome back" gifts. I decided to do a survival theme and in that same vein decided on a reusable Rubbermaid tote to hold all of the treasures.

Inside the tote I supplied a bottle of water, cleverly decorated with a welcoming hanger holding a flavorful snippet. Laying next to it is a note pad, pack of Wet Ones {germs!}, single serve Milano cookies {yummy indulgence!} and a granola bar {for added energy of course!}. Next to those were a pen, pencil and ring tied together with coordinating ribbon. Hand sanitizer {germs, germs, germs!} and a little bundle containing a Shout wipe, a travel pack of Tylenol and a few band-aids {you just never know} sat in the bottom. To the left was a box of Sucrets {for dry/scratchy throats - hee, hee} and a small pack of Ice Breakers gum. Covering the gum is a two-stack of clever little Post-its held to together with a magnetic clip and on top of it all were a few Life Saver candies - need I say more?

Tissue paper matching the lid of the tote was layered in the bottom and then carefully covered the top of the items inside. In my mind it was like getting an awesome boxed lunch at an outing and the excitement when you see what lies behind the lid and the thin bit of tissue underneath. Way over thinking it? Yah, but that is what I do and now have an incredible outlet for it. Ha, ha!
Happy Back to School everyone!

24 of 52

September, lovely September, my most favorite month of all.

I certainly could be considered bias of course because my birthday is in this lovely month but I am sure that is only a small part of it. School is starting, the days are a bit shorter {good for reinforcing reasonable bedtimes with those who insist bedtime exactly correlates to the sun setting and not the time on the clock}, the weather a bit cooler {love my hoodies!} and it begins to usher in my favorite season.

Being that summer in Michigan was unseasonably cool this year, which is putting it nicely as there are many stronger words I would LOVE to describe the weather this summer, most especially after last weeks miserable trip to the beach, but that is neither here nor there at this point... we were talking about September - remember? Ah, yes... so I have made the most of the cool weather and am especially pleased to have devoured so many great books in a few months time.

Yes, my friends, I have been doing a lot of reading! I currently am re-reading the first book of the Harry Potter series as "research" you might say. I am trying to follow the advice of a few wise friends and plunge forward with my own writing dream and have decided to study up on a few of my favorites to see what I want to write about and in what style.

I most definitely enjoy J.K. Rowlings style of writing and think it would be so rewarding to complete a novel that my kids would enjoy reading, something they can be proud of their old Mom for. Not saying that I am old or anything, just that someday I will be and then they can say that... oh, stop - we are all gonna get old so embrace those random gray hairs and enjoy the ride. Though I would really enjoy it if Lilly would quit reminding me that I am going to die someday and it might be because I get sick... geesh already.

I hope you have had a chance to enjoy a good book or two this summer. If you have read any great ones please leave the title and author for me in the comments, I'd love to join the fun!

Speaking of fun - get on over to Forever in Blue Jeans - Carin is gettin' us all in the pics.

******************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!
**************************************

World Traveler: Lilly

Not a world traveler so much as a Michigan traveler, Lilly spent a week with her Grandma Lily in the scenic Upper Peninsula. Normally this is a yearly summer vacation that we all take together but due to budget cuts we had canceled our plans to go. My Mom still kept her plans and wanted my kids to go with, however Lilly was the only one who had the week free and clear in her calendar.

On the road! After work on Friday Grandma Lily arrived in her red chariot to whisk Miss Lilly away for a fun week of summer fun. Little did the girl know she had a 10 hour trip ahead of her...
Pit stop! I see a theme developing... Grandma stopped for gas and the divine miss Lil insisted on getting popcorn from the gas station. I see that she also insisted on carrying her white puppy and if you look closely you can see the bottom end of her pastel bunny - both of which make great outdoor toys, not. It seems she had her way the whole week, we are now going through a "retraining" period. Ask me how that is going, no really, go ahead, I dare you...

10 hours later... she finally feel asleep a few hours before reaching the cottage. This looks so painful, she must have been beyond tired to handle sitting like that. Ouch!

The first few days were gorgeous, much to my chagrin. I had rationalized my disappointment in canceling our own trip by the assumption that if the weather down state was so cold this summer that it must be even worse in the U.P. Looks like I was wrong on dat one, 'eh. It was all fine in da U.P. 'eh.

The first weekend Lilly played non-stop...

She had two swim suit changes the first day alone. According to my Mom she was in the water by 8am the first day, despite arriving at 2am the night before. It looks so nice and sunny!

Chalk's away! This brings back memories of drawing on the same exact sidewalk with chalk when I was her age. My Mom and Bumpa said it was like having me around as a little girl again. That is until Lilly opened her mouth... I was not such an oppositional young thing as she insists on being. No really, I wasn't - I swear.

My Uncle Ron - Lilly's new favorite uncle. Sorry Uncle Ryan, you have been dethroned!

Slowly the weather turned and the sun disappeared for days on end. Every one still found ways to pass the time, such as a new game that I would call "scare Lilly by pretending to through her overboard."

Uncle Ryan, unable to unplug even on vacation. Guess it is a good thing or else I wouldn't have had daily picture updates to tide me over while my baby girl was gone.

This also brings back memories because Michigan weather is so unpredictable, especially the farther north you go. Many days were spent inside but thankfully Lil is awesome at self entertaining. Poker chips can be people too!

The night before leaving my Uncle Ron started a little bonfire, pretty cool looking isn't it?

To pass the cold days Lilly was introduced to some new games. She enjoyed Botche Ball and soon learned that if you walked your balls to the white ball and surrounded it you could avoid the hassle of tossing them and taking a chance on not winning.

Hi Ya! I am the winner and I'll prove it, come a little closer!

Lilly spent 9 days away from home, spending incredible quality time with her Grandma Lily, Great-Grandpa {my Bumpa}, Great Uncle Ron, Uncle Ryan and her new Aunt Claudia. She had a great time and did not get home sick once. She was so sad to leave the Cottage and declared, upon arriving home, that she is going to take all of us with her next year. I certainly hope she does.

23 of 52

Feeling so lucky! This week I won a prize package from ABC and 123 courtesy of Carolina Pad company. The big 'ol box arrived on my door step via Fed Ex this morning and it was chocked full of awesome stuff. Sasquatch was the theme for the multiple pads of paper, folders and binder I received. I was feelin' like a kid in a candy store and you can bet it is mine-all-mine - no sharing in this house today.

Go visit Carin at Forever in Blue Jeans, she deserves the love for getting the word out that Mom needs to be seen and not just heard.

******************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!
**************************************

22 of 52

Beach Babes...

tryin' to make the most of a very not-so-hot summer at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon.

Forever in Blue Jeans, party at Carin's place!

******************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!
**************************************

I want to thank you

Lilly would like to thank all of the people who voted for her Mini Pizza Cups during the July Iron Chef: Kids Challenge. Exerting her culinary prowess she took away the title despite a fierce competition among 6 other kids, of which she was the youngest and had to battle her brother.

She would especially like to thank Heidi at Sacred and Profane for sending a prize of.... A MEEEELYON DOLLARS {picture Dr. Evil, finger to the corner of his mouth}, cleverly disguised as a Target gift card!
She received a private escort and personal body guard in to the store. Someone with her status of blogger infamy should not be stressed out with such every day tasks such as, gasp, walking or looking out for speeding cars in a parking lot full of children {I will get off my soapbox, ahem}.

Her personal assistant quickly turned down each requested aisle after aisle. "Pivot, Piv-ot!"

In order to appeal to the regular people who voted for her and to be a bit incognito in midst of paparazzi {me, with the camera...} she decided it would be wise to be seen paying for her treasure under her own power.

Despite her attempts to be one of the little people in this world it was quickly dashed when her awesomeness caused the door to open at her mere presence - reinforcing the fact that she is far superior to the common man.

Let us have a collective *sigh* and feel bad for her future husband, shall we?

21 of 52

As Wednesday rolled along it dawned on me that I had not made time to be in any photos so far this week... old habits are hard to break I suppose. Last night I grabbed my camera and the child nearest me for a few candid shots - imagine this to be a strip of photos from a booth, if you will. This is our "funny" face

This is our "surprised" face

This is Lilly not hearing me say "make a nice smile" and sticking with the "surprised" face

This is me tickling Lilly out of her constant state of frozen "surprised" face

This is us tumbling after the stinker pushed off and took us both backwards, smack on the floor. I'll tumble for ya!

Lovin' the challenge, show some love at Forever in Blue Jeans!

******************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!
**************************************