I can’t believe I am sitting here writing for the first week in September. Not only was this the fastest and most busiest summer I have ever lived, but this whole year just has seemed to sail by. These next four months are my absolute favorite. Septem-BER, Octo-BER, Novem-BER, and of course, Decem-BER! I love everything about fall. The crispness of the air is just divine — goodbye sticky yucky heat. Hello, finally being able to wear my hair down and feel like a lady again. Hello, makeup that won’t melt off my face. Hello to darker evenings, school routine, and leaves falling from the sky that remind me of snowfall.

I honestly think it’s the pace of the summer that makes fall seem so welcoming. Summer is nuts, and I think everyone would agree. From sunup to sundown, it seems we all don’t stop. From vacations, camping, pool days, and work, it’s GO GO GO.

My kids go back to school this coming Monday, August 30. I am excited to say that they both got the exact teacher they wanted. It’s going to be a fantastic school year. I always get a little sad when my kids go back, and this year we had such a fun and wild summer. But it’s always nice to get back into a routine. You know how I mentioned darker evenings above? Well, kids won’t go to bed as easily if it’s daylight out still. But, when it’s dark by 8 p.m., they don’t ask questions unless they are a twelve-year-old boy. Which, in this case, will argue with you that his new bedtime should be 10 p.m. now because he is in 6th grade and not a baby anymore.

“Mom, no one else has an 8 p.m. bedtime at my age. They all go to bed when they want to.”

My response, “Ba-hahahaha! Do you really think because you are twelve now that you won’t have a bedtime? Ty, you still have to get up at 7:15 a.m. I can’t, in my right mind, let you stay up late. I’ll give you till 8:30 this year, but that’s as far as I am going. I can’t have you falling asleep in class. As a mother, I need to make sure you have a good night’s rest and a filling breakfast so when you go to school, you are sharp, alert, full belly, and ready to learn. Oh, and I don’t care if the whole school is up till 2 a.m. You are my kid, not everyone else’s, so you will have a bedtime on school nights.” (Insert a twelve-year-old eye roll here.) Can I also add that I just sounded like my mother with the ‘well you are my kid, not anyone else’s’ speech?

“Why do you have to care so much, Mom? I swear I won’t be tired. You never believe me. Ughhhh.”

Ahh, yes, the pre-teenage years. Tyler is very respectful and does what he is asked MOST of the time, but of course, he will push us to see how far he can go. Hey, if my child didn’t do this, I’d be a little concerned! And what is it with getting boys at these ages to shower!? It’s 96 degrees, and this kid wears a hoodie.

“Tyler John McElroy! It is 96 degrees out today! Take your sweatshirt off!”

This is as he is getting ready to leave our air-conditioned home and go out into the heat of the summer to mow the grass.

This kid is a cozy kid like his mother. He loves to dress cozy, wrap in a fuzzy blanket, and loves a good rainy day.
After a day of mowing, in the evening, I’ll tell him to shower.

“Mommmmmm, I don’t even need one.”

“Seriously, Ty? You didn’t sweat at all today?”

“Nope. I took my sweatshirt off, so I was cooler,” I never sweat when I mowed; I just sat on a tractor.

“Go get your butt in that shower right now! You need a shower every day in the summer, don’t argue with me; just go do it. You’ll feel better.”

Off he goes to the shower, then thanks me when he gets out because he knows mom was right and feels better. My friends with boys this age say they have the same issue! I don’t get it. A shower is my favorite part of the day besides breakfast, lunch, and din din!

But fall just helps with the routine again, and darker nights mean Mom and Dad can get into bed before 10 p.m.

Kids are heading back to school, and I am looking forward to our fall schedule. I love talking about school days around our dinner table. I literally just went grocery shopping, and Momma is all prepared for school lunches. My kids hate to buy. They like maybe two things on the calendar a month. I have things ready to make chicken salad, fun snacks to go with it, and I had to stock up on the after-school treats. They come home starving, and the first thing they want is a snack. Sometimes I’ll have fresh baked cookies, but I am not as good at that as my mother was. My kids love Goldfish in a Pyrex dish with a side of yogurt or Oreos and milk. I try to switch it up each week for them. At the end of the school year, I surprised them and made this special treat. It’s so fun because you can create anything you want. Surprise the kids in your life with this simple, special treat that will make the ending to any school or workday that much better.

Crazy Yogurt Bark

Place wax paper on a cookie sheet and spread with yogurt.

I used 3 Greek Raspberry Yogurts – Feel free to use any kind of yogurt and any flavor.
Then I topped with :

Granola, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, gummy bears, M&M’s and mini chocolate chips.

Use anything you like. Fresh fruit is always great too topped with granola!

Freeze about 2 hours until frozen solid. Break into bark size pieces and place into a Ziplock freezer bag. Will keep in the freezer for weeks to come.