September's Favorite Things

1. another tooth lost (at which point he took a self to send to his dad)

2. fresh tint for my honey on his birthday

3. tiny tigers fans and special dog treats

4. this princess

5. going hard before my 8-weeks with out alcohol (more about that tomorrow)

6. sunbaths

7. dramatic narls strikes again

8. the start of soccer session

9. celebrating a very special engagement of two dear friends

10. the last campfire of the season

11. puppysitting this sweet boy

and everything about this ♥

Homecoming!

 

Amazing friends, amazing weather, amazing community, and we won.

Yay, Dragons!

3rd Annual Color Run

 

It was actually the Color Vibe this year, but whatevs.

 

Our first year without a wagon! The kids walked/ran the entire 5k and we stilled managed less than 20-min miles.

 

#fitfam ♥

Ren Fest Overload

 

So we usually hit up the renaissance festival each year.

This year? We went three times.

THREE.

 

Once a year is like the perfect amount; two is pushing it and three is almost painful.

 

Clay and I went once, then another time with family, and then another time with my friends. That's how much we love our family and friends - enough to engage in the Ren Fest Trifecta.

School Is In Session

 

One full week of school has passed and we're getting into the swing of things here.   I'm not gonna lie, it's been tough getting two kids and myself up, dressed, fed, and out the door by 8am (I still have my personal pledge to Narls of no tardies - he had over a dozen his first year of kindergarten but only two in first grade; shooting for zero in second). So far so good and a routine is slowly forming.

 

We had an open house at their elementary school where the kids proudly showed us their best ever self-portraits and some of the work they completed. Clay and I met their teachers and signed up for parent teacher conferences and walked through the book fair. It's crazy having them both at the same school.

 

On the calendar are pto meetings, girl scout training (there is currently no daisy troop at the school so my bestfriend and I stepped up to be troop leaders and get things started), planning the Fall Festival (I'm homeroom mom for Narls' class), a field trip to an orchard for Em, and a field trip to a YMCA camp for Narls.

 

 

It's going to be hectic and busy but good. So very good.

We're looking forward to a great year.

Easy & Amazing Uses for Melaleuca Essential Oil

 

Melaleuca, also know as tree tea oil, is truly an essential essential oil, especially at back to school time. The main ways I use this oil all involve its medicinal properties.

 

Of all the essential oils, this one gives the strongest boost to one's immune system. I diffuse it daily after school to keep my kids healthy despite all the germs they're picking up at school.

 

It kills fungi, bacteria, and viruses so it's wonderful for cuts and wounds. Apply a few drops to a cotton swap undiluted and then rub where you need to.  

 

To treat:

cold/flu/viral infections -  Diffuse, diffuse, diffuse! Or massage into feet and/or over the chest.   

 

coughs - add 2-5 drops of oil to a teaspoon of honey, then stir into 8oz of warm water or tea; drink as needed.

 

sore throat - gargle with warm salt water and 1 drop of melaleuca.

 

tonsillitis - mix with coconut oil and massage into neck.

 

When diluted with water, melaleuca oil can be used as a mouthwash for gum infections, canker sores, and throat infections.

One Last Summer Fling

Before school started, my little family took a road trip slash vacation to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for some much needed R&R.

 

 

We spent a day at Mackinac Island, rented bicycles and explored the island, hiked to Arch Rock and other super cool landmarks. We ate mackinaw island fudge ice cream and bought sea salt caramel fudge & salt water taffy to take home.   

 

We took a ship ride to explore the breathtaking Pictured Rocks.

 

 

We took a glass bottom boat ride to see some famous Lake Superior ship wrecks, which Clay and I completely geeked out over. The captains were awesome and knowledgeable and entertaining and answered our children's many questions. 

 

an anchor!!!

 

We climbed down a 500-foot sand dune to find a Lake Superior beach that we had entirely to ourselves.  We hunted rocks, and skipped stones, and left our footprints in the sand.  We spent an hour climbing back up the dune, with the kids pretending to be bear cubs, and felt exhilarated when we finished.

 

 

We hiked through a forest to find a waterfall that we dipped our feet into.

 

 

We walked through quaint small towns. We found a winery and had a wine tasting where we picked up three bottles of wine- blackberry, raspberry, and honey peach. We went antiquing. We found this book store/ice cream shoppe/cafe, which we spent a lot of time in- playing chess, perusing books (I found 20 mint-condition Sweet Valley High books for only a dollar each that I'm still losing my mind over) and drinking double shot mochas. Well Clay and I did, the kids got double scoop ice creams.

 

We stayed in hotel with a water slide, swimming and sliding way past the kids' bedtimes then going to our room for a night of pizza, spotify playlists, and Old Maid. Another night we stayed in a hotel that was as close to a roughin'-it-cabin as one could get without actually staying in a roughin'-it-cabin.  

 

We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast, fresh Lake Superior perch and homemade pasties for lunch, and ice cream for dinner. Clay and I found a brewery with this incredible blueberry beer and a diner with "world famous" blueberry muffins.

 

We took our time driving home, visited a bear park where we got to feed & pet a cub, stopped at a Mystery Spot (Gravity Falls, anyone?), played some putt putt, sang songs and had car dance parties.

 

We came home happy.

♥ ♥ ♥