Coffee Chat & Back To School 2022

I don’t know about you, but it is hard to believe my kiddos are back to school already, and even harder to believe my baby is in kindergarten.

For some reason, Lily going to kindergarten has hit me harder than the first two. I wasn’t the mom who cried when her first kid went to kindergarten. Gracie was born for school. She came out of the womb ready to socialize and learn.

Caleb I couldn’t wait to send to school and claim temporary relief from the responsibility of keeping the child alive. It is no small miracle he survived the toddler years. It is no small miracle I survived his toddler years.

But Lily felt different. She is nearly a full year younger than the other two were in kindergarten (Grace and Caleb are old for their grades), and she is small for her age although her personality is big enough for all three kids combined.

She seemed too little to send to school like the big kids, but alas, off she went. The odd thing about adoption is that I have no idea how old our son will be. When we are matched he could be anywhere from 2 to 5 years old which feels like a huge age range to this momma.

Who knows when I will watch my last child walk through the doors of elementary school, but until then, Lily is my baby and I choked up more than once.

Unfortunately in the disorganized clutter of our rental house, I couldn’t find their back-to-school signs but as of the latest career report – Gracie wants to study animals, Caleb wants to be a spy, and Lily wants to be a firefighter.

Here’s to a great school year for all four sweet kiddos!

On the blog this week, I shared my easy and delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. They are a crowd favorite and make the perfect sweet treat for any get-together!

On the podcast, I chatted with the founder of Brilliant Balance, Cherylanne Skolnicki, about how to break through the busyness. Learn Cherylanne’s practice of “calendar control” that can change your to-do list to a done list.

These Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs are the perfect go-to for a large crowd and always come out as the favorite!

Ever feel confused about all of the information around protein and weight loss? On the podcast, I also talked all about why protein is important, how much protein you should eat a day, and the nitty gritty truth about protein and weight loss.

Let’s check out more inspiration from this week’s Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

These applesauce oatmeal cookies are the perfect quick snack. Plus, they’re loaded with fiber and antioxidants!

Ease into fall with these 17 ways to say goodbye to summer and transition into the new season.

Love mercury glass but hate the price you have to pay? Learn how to make your own mercury glass pumpkin on the cheap.

If you need an easy back-to-school weeknight dinner, try this lasagna casserole, which is made with rotini noodles and a handful of other pantry ingredients.