Roaches in the freezer...the school year begins

Even as young as third grade, kids have first day jitters, wanting everything to be just right on the first day of school.

We use hairspray about twice a year. We call this boing-boing spray.

I have roaches in the freezer. They didn't get there on their own. School is back in session, and the wacky science teacher has assigned an insect collection first thing. The collection will stay in a plastic yogurt container until sent off to class at a later date. It has begun. I have tried to pray not to let stress levels escalate. A girlfriend from the "boo-hoo yahoo" sent this link and we all laughed. I have been to both Target and Starbucks in these first few moments of the new schedule. See if you can relate.

 

http://www.scarymommy.com/back-school-video

 

The other moments have been a whirlwind of crack-of-dawn carpools, meet-the-teacher nights, filling out forms, searching for violin books, youth group, replacing glasses ruined by spray-on sunscreen (beware!), and planning for this year's Singing Christmas Tree (yes, in August!). Two days in and I'm exhausted. Not to mention that my man was away on business and baseball practice begins this Saturday. Can't think about that quite yet.

Our back-to-school tradition is decorating a chocolate chip cookie with the number of the grade they are entering. We did a big cookie to start with, but over time have reduced the portion size to splitting a package of break and bakes by seven to make it more reasonable. Then we had a Just Dance party on the wii. Nothing like shaking your booty with five kids who are jacked up on cookies!

When we are not eating chocolate chip cookies, we are experimenting with green smoothies, and eating miniscule amounts of kale and spinach along with our fruit and yogurt standards. It's a small step, but I'm excited to be taking small steps in a healthy direction.

We call this recipe for 2 "The Aunt Christina" because we learned it from her. We make a blenderfull and split it amongst us for snack in the afternoon, or share it with someone for breakfast.

Handful of kale

Handful of spinach

Half an avocado

Tall glass of crushed ice

Cup of vanilla yogurt or coconut water (guess which one we picked?)

Tsp. honey

Cup of blueberries

Green apple

Banana

Very fruity, and surprisingly very yummy. My kids even asked if I would make them green smoothies for breakfast! Astonishing.

Our artsy moment was to redeem a Groupon at Redbird pottery studio. The kids really enjoyed squishing the clay and attempting to craft a cereal bowl on the wheel. Many thanks to Bree for her patience and repeated instruction.

Being creative like the Creator

Can't help but think of the scriptures that remind me that He is the potter, and I am the clay. He is shaping me as best seems fit to Him for the purposes He desires. Pressure from within, held and guided from without, and a vessel takes shape.

Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:4