Stretching Myself with our New Routine

The past few days I have been stretching myself thin by trying to adjust to our back-to-school routine.  There are parent meetings, sports practices and games, errands to run, work events, and more!  This week will be my boys first full week of school (as we were on vacation part of last week).    My life planner is marked up and color coded for another week of stretching myself and staying on task.

Back to school – This is probably the biggest stretch for our family.  Waking the boys each morning (well, two of my sleepy heads) and rushing them to get dressed, eat breakfast, and to not miss the bus.  Ha!  Then the rest of the day I am watching the clock to make sure I am home when the bus arrives.  Always watching the clock.

Sickness – Yup.  After a few days in school my two younger boys have come home with their first cold (sore throat and a mild fever).  It didn’t knock them out too long as they were up and playing the next day… but enough to remind me to be diligent with the disinfecting of everything and giving them hand sanitizers for their lunch and back packs.

Sports season starting – The boys have been practicing for a few weeks now (football and soccer).  My oldest had his first soccer game of the season.  They graduated to the big field.  It was a fun game to watch (as always).  They were smoking their competition the first half and then ran out of gas the second half.  I guess this gives me permission to run them this evening at practice, eh?  I am their strength and conditioning coach… they have always whined and complained about running at practice.  Not anymore!

Hiking – We had a beautiful weekend with blue skies, full sunshine, and temperatures in the 70s.  It was gorgeous.  Sunday after church my husband enjoyed a solo bike ride and I took the monkeys out on an easy trail.

We saw lots of critters, spiders, sticks, rocks, and spider webs.  I am still amazed at how thick and lush Missouri woods are compared to the wilderness in California.  God made such a beautiful and diverse world.

I attempted to use a tree’s branch to hold my phone to take a photo of me and the boys.  It isn’t the best, but it’ll do.

Packing healthy lunches – Oh hear my cry Mamas!  Why is this such a joy some days and a struggle other days!  I try to fuel my boys with healthy fun foods for their day, and I never know what they will love.

My go to lunch ideas for the boys have been a PB&J sandwich, fruit, Stonyfield yogurt, goldfish crackers, and a sweet treat.

Every day is slightly different, and I never know what they will actually eat.  Some days it seems that all they do at lunch time is chat with their friends… then come home starving! ha!

I was sent a pair of Zion prAna pants to use, wear, explore in, and enjoy for the #7DayStretch.  I have loved wearing them and have received so many compliments from friends.  They are stylish and super comfortable.  I love how versatile they are!  I can wear them around town running errands, dress them up a bit for church, dress them down for a family hike, or even casually wear them at a friend’s sons birthday bash.  Fun!

I am really digging prAna’s fall line of clothing too!  You can check out and shop online and save 15% off your order by using the code: 7DayStretchF15RR.  Your promotion code is good through August 31st.

I love living in a small town back in Missouri.  I ran in to one of my old sorority sisters at a substitute orientation meeting at the school district last week.  Small town! We are going to be having brunch this morning to catch up (she has two little girls… and I have three little boys).  It should be fun.

Alright… off to stretch myself with my schedule, calendar, and comfort zone!

Have a great week friends!