I cannot believe it's Monday! School started today and I'm officially depressed! Veggie Boy is starting 3rd grade at a new school and didn't have much good to say this afternoon. My heart breaks for him, but I know he'll be okay. Saucy Girl started Kindergarten!! Oh, my heart is breaking...My baby is in school now. There were some tears this morning (hers & mine) but after a few minutes she was ok and enjoying her day. She was full of stories this afternoon. I'm so glad she is happy...now if only Mommy can adjust to the quiet house!

This weeks menu will include a few things that never got made last week...things got a little crazy in preparation for school. The Coach has his first game of the season this Friday night, so dinner will probably be concession stand nacho's and hot dogs! Enjoy your week and check out the other menu's at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Monday - Pasta takeout from local Italian Restaurant - YUM!

Tuesday - Skillet Steak w/Mashed Potatoes & Veggies

Wednesday - Sour Cream & Onion Chicken Strips w/Onion Straws

Thursday - Lasagne Rolls

Friday - First Game!! Concession Stand Dinner!! Go Team!!

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

Dear World,

I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

And I trust you'll treat her well.

Author...Victor Buono

Who Made This List??

We've been shopping all week for school supplies...Veggie Boy is entering 3rd grade and Saucy Girl is starting Kindergarten. Maybe I'm frugal (read...cheap) or maybe I'm getting older, but I don't know when teachers started adding their school supplies to my child's list. My husband has been a public educator for 10 yrs and we've always had to buy his chalk, dry erase markers, red pens, etc., etc. Now it seems the students provide this stuff for the teachers. On Veggie Boy's list we had to pick up 4 dry erase markers and Ziploc bags. I can't quite think of a time when he has brought home something in a Ziploc? (Oh, did I mention that they specified Ziploc brand??) Saucy Girls Kinder list actually specified, "2 Black Chisel Tip Dry Erase Markers" in addition to the, apparently standard, Ziploc brand bags.

I know elementary schools still have a clinic, right? Yet we are providing band-aids from our school "supply" list. Surely, the school can afford band-aids in the budget?

I must be getting old because I remember going to school with the little cardboard "pencil box" with the flap lid. You would bring your box full of pencils, crayons, scissors & a bottle of glue, some construction paper and kleenex. Geesh, times have changed! Saucy Girls list is sooo big that her stuff wouldn't fit in my little cardboard pencil box. What 5 yr old needs 4 boxes of crayons, 2 packs of 10-count markers, 8 glue sticks and 2 bottles of glue - oh yea, and 6, yes six, packages of manilla/construction paper. I know she's not coming home with 6 pkgs of art by the time the year is up. It all seems a bit much to me.

Am I off-track on this one? Please set me straight if I am, but this seems to get more excessive each year.

I am soooo excited to contribute to my very first FRUGAL FRIDAY post! I have been reading Crystal's blog for a while now and have enjoyed it thoroughly. She has challenged my thinking, inspired a deeper spirituality, given great tips and recipes and more importantly she has served as an example of a Godly wife. I'm blessed since finding this blog! Check it out for more "Frugal Friday" posts.

My Frugal Friday tip? I love free stuff. How 'bout you? Did you know that you can get free samples from Wal-Mart.com? Click here for the latest offerings. Last time I requested Tampax Pearl tampons & I receieved a box of 4! You can request one of each sample they offer, but I'm not sure how many times you can do that. Check the website periodically to find the newest products! Enjoy.

Ok. Confession time. I LOVE planning things...parties, vacations, menu's, and really just about anything. Plain & simple...organization makes me happy. I know it's very strange on a whole other level and I'm willing to accept that. So, in honor of my love of all things organizational, here's what on our plates this week at The Coachs' house.

Monday - BBQ Smoked Sausage, Over-The-Rainbow Mac & Cheese, & Mixed Veggies
Tuesday - Lasagne Rolls & Salad
Wednesday - Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Thursday - Skillet Steak, Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans
Friday - Pizza

Be sure to check out everyone else's menus over at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

And We're Off...

5am is really. early. I roll from the bed and make my way to the bathroom. I try to stay as quiet as possible. I do not want to wake the kids. With a clean face I wake The Coach and he heads to the shower. After his clothes are laid out I groggily make my way to the kitchen to whip up some kind of breakfast for him. I make pancakes in the light of the hallway lamp (again, I do not want to wake the kids.) and serve him in our room. By 5:40am I'm standing in the garage kissing him goodbye.

This is our life. At least for the next two weeks while we finish Fall Ball (you may know it as 2-a-days). The kids and I will immerse ourselves into The Coachs' life - we will be at every scrimmage and game and we will pop-in at practice occasionally. This year we are doing Popsicle Thursday's - we'll deliver popsicles to the players at the end of practice each Thursday. This keeps us involved with The Coach and helps to keep the family bond strong.

When school starts The Coach will be home just in time for bedtime prayers. Veggie Boy & Saucy Girl have had their Daddy home and available for most of the summer and these first few weeks will be hard on them. I have to admit that it is hard on me too! After 10 years of having my life interrupted by football season you'd think I'd be used to it. I think the only thing that is different from the first year is that I now know what to expect - but it doesn't make it any easier. There is always an adjustment period.

'tis but a season, right?


Graphic from Art.com

I've Caught the Bug

Well, I've officially caught the blogging bug, but I'm still working on setting it all up. Please give me some time and check back periodically. I so enjoy your blog and hope that mine will be a blessing of equal measure to you.

Pax Christi,
Christie