Back to School

It was a busy week at Camp Rustown with Back to School and all.  I got so much done, that as Friday dawns and I get ready for work, I have to stop and remind myself that I do okay sometimes  :)

Pat, pat

 I wrangled a massive pile of paperwork that came home from school; posted some important things, noted some stuff on calendars, wrote some checks, signed some forms, and recycled the rest!

 I cleaned up the fridge, re-stocked it with lunch-friendly items, made a menu for this week and next, and posted helpful tips for the boys to start packing their own lunches.  I also made dinner every night as well as clean out the freezer and add some new freezer meals.  I even made an apple pie last night!

 I made several trips to buy school supplies as the lists trickled in...  Some of which I labeled and will take to school myself - who could carry all this in their backpack??  No one, and I hate hounding them to take it in, so I will just do it myself!

Did umpteen loads of laundry and after hauling it all in, cleaned up the patio so we can relax this Labor Day weekend and grill some Cilantro Lime Chicken breasts...yum.  Somewhere along the way I also managed to make one and cancel another doctor appointment, re-check my library books, wash all the couch cushion covers, iron, back up my computer files, do some minor landscaping, log receipts, pay bills, and get a mammo.  I feel like I am ready to take on the weekend and so look forward to no school on Monday!

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So, how was your week?

Happy Feet

I saw the world feet first this summer:

I pranced in my pink Docs every chance I could!

 Trekking through Bull Creek Park on a very hot day, I dunked my tennies into the water...aaahhhh

In our neighborhood parks I wore padded socks and walking shoes to climb rocks and dodge cacti....and keep up with the boys...

At Zilker Botanical Garden  I rested them while waiting for Scout to take some awesome photos.

 And, at Port A I had them in the sand most of the time... well, whenever they weren't in my flip flops...

...or propped on a table.

"Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our heads"

Henry David Thoreau

Mealplan Monday #23 and my recipe files

After I did some cleaning and re-organizing in my kitchen this summer, I was able to put my recipe box on the counter close to where I cook.  I really love this box I got from The Container Store years ago.  It has a clear lid and a nifty clip at the top to hold a recipe card while you cook.

I made some new dividers for it using some bright card stock and laminated them to make them sturdier.  I also re-wrote about 2 dozen of the most splattered and tattered cards.  Some of those recipes are well-loved!
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Monday - Crockpot Italian Beef Sammies, chips, cantalope
Tuesday - Baked chicken, scalloped potatoes, broccoli
Wednesday - Skillet Pork Chops, cabbage and carrots, Oatmeal Bars for dessert
Thursday - Tater Tot Hotdish, Salad
Friday - Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken, rice
Saturday - Dad grill
Sunday - Leftovers from the freezer, salad, to Sonic for shakes?

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It's the first week of Back to School for the boys and I want to fill their tummies after a long day of school, but I also don't want to be chained to the kitchen...

Brothers and Friends

It warmed my heart to see my three "boys" playing together at the beach this week, and made me feel more than a little sentimental...

A brother is a friend given by Nature.

  ~Jean Baptiste Legouve

Tourist in our own town - Zilker park

On a recent summer's day, Scout and I headed out to play with his new camera at the botanical gardens at Zilker.  We were only there an hour or so, but you could spend two or three just walking around and looking at everything.  You could hear the distant roar of morning traffic, but it was cool and calm under all the trees.

 

 This is one of the most serene and beautiful places to go relax and enjoy the beauty of Austin...

 There are winding paths and gorgeous plant life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the city I live in, and I love finding new places and re-visiting favorite ones!

Mealplan Monday #22 and getting Bubbie's room back in order

It had to happen: The Girl needed to get back to school and the rest of us needed to get ready for Back to School.  We miss having her around, but the room was a disaster after packing her up.  A little organization was in order for Bubbie's room:

It was nice of him to have his sister as a roomie for the summer - and necessary.  But it's also nice for him to re-claim his space and get ready for 8th grade (!), even as he misses his Big Sis.

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Monday - Freezer casserole, green beans
Tuesday - Chicken strips, fries, salad, one-bite brownies
Wednesday - OUT for dinner
Thursday - Chicken Taco Salads
Friday - no idea yet - pizza again? Blerg.
Saturday - Dad grills
Sunday - Another freezer meal to finish clearing it out!

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 The addition of a new dish chair for Bubbie to relax in was also nice.

Desk ready, room clean, clothes and backpack purchased...not much else to do but enjoy the last of our Summer...

Can you have it both ways?

All of May I think "I can't wait until Summer!"  

Then in August I think, "When will they go back!?"

And always there is the conflicting emotion of summer ending (boo!) and the new school year starting (yay!)...

Rustown Art

When they're safe at home, you wish they were off having an adventure; when they're having an adventure, you wish they were safe at home.

And always you hope they take a little piece of home in their hearts, wherever they go...

Packing it in

This week I moved The Girl back to Waco and it was not without its challenges.  The Girl had worked full-time right up to and including the very day she was scheduled to drive back, leaving all her stuff in the garage in dire need of massive organizing.  Somehow, working to arrange all of the stuff in 100 degree heat managed to remind me that I am no longer a spring chicken...

And as it always happens, I begin one task (cleaning, sorting, organizing, packing) and discover another to be done and get a little sidetracked....  I came across the bulletin board I had painted and stenciled the first year she went to college and decided to update it for her apartment.

 

 It came out nicely, I think.

 Detouring to Joann's for burlap and tacks wasn't on my list of things I had to get done, but it was quick and easy to re-do the board and add it to the growing pile of gear in my living room.

 And this is just the stuff she didn't cram into her car as she was leaving on Monday...Oh, my...I was praying this would all fit into my car as the van is not exactly trustworthy for long trips.  I had to make it work.

I made it to her new apartments in Waco at exactly the time we agreed on and it took us 30 minutes to unpack this and get it up three flights of stairs:

 

 By the time we were done, the two of us were red-faced and soaked in sweat!  What a pretty picture, huh?  But she has all that she needs from home now, and the garage has gone back to it's pre-apartment storage state.  Not as empty as I would like, but there is space to move around in.

 And I am paying the price today of not taking it easy this week...but there was sooo much to do 

and Summer is winding down so quickly now...especially with The Girl gone...you know?