Back to School

It's that time of year again....the time when we are all getting ready to head back to school/work and get our lives back into a good routine so that things can run smoothly around the Smith household. Myah and Maysen are starting Preschool this fall, and they couldn't be more excited. We are very lucky that the Ames Schools offer their Preschool right at the center that M&M attend so we don't have to worry about bussing. They went back to Formative Years yesterday so that we could have a few days to practice getting up early again and getting out the door by 7:30 (at the latest!!--with 3 kids and two drop offs!!). They were SOOOOO excited to go back to school and see their friends, which makes it easier on this mama when I have to drop them off. I LOVE having them home with me in the summer and we love going to the pool, park, library, and, of course, OKOBOJI! But there comes a time when summer has to wind down and we have to go back to work/school, and it just makes it easier to take them when they love their center, their teachers, and their friends!
Here are the girls getting ready to head out the door on their first day back to school (Preschool doesn't officially start until the 29th):



And with a new school year, comes new tennis shoes!! Some year, they will get to have different shoes, but there is such a limited number of velcro shoes that they got the same ones this year....it's very important with our time crunch and rushing around in the morning that they are able to put on their own shoes.


I've been a bit of a copycat lately in the cooking and crafts department. A few weeks ago, my sister and her husband posted this recipe for chicken spaghetti. I made it and LOVED it....as did my whole family. It will surely be making it's way into our routine meals. They aren't kidding when they say that 1 pan served 8 people. We had it for dinner and each reheated some for lunches multiple times during the next few days. It's a definite must-try if you are looking for something new. I would definitely classify this as a go-to comfort food!!

I saw this craft on Pinterest and knew that my girls would love making them. They are clothespin butterflies and super easy to make!!


Here are a few fun pictures to leave you with today. A few years ago, we took this picture of Myah:


M&M remembered seeing that picture in an album, so they wanted to give Mylie a turn.


My three girls hanging out in the living room.


And stylish Mylie....I can only imagine what her older sisters will dress her up in as she gets older.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone! We are off to Lake Mills this weekend to wish my brother farewell as he moves to Washington DC at the end of this month.