Happy Moms’ New Year!

School is back in session! Otherwise known as Moms’ New Year. Once again, I am positively giddy with freedom and possibility. But it’s not because summer was long and exhausting as, let’s face it, some of our past summers have been.

We did get off to a very rocky start when my husband was hospitalized for 2 weeks, but he has since recovered and is feeling better than ever. In fact, he ran on the treadmill last night after putting in a full day of work and wrangling the kids to bed, while I sat on the couch watching the E! Fashion Police VMAs show. (2 words: Miley Cyrus. 1 more word: WHY?! Best comment on her least-offensive outfit: “She looks like a gay pride Post-It.”)

Anyway, after that ordeal (the hospital, not the VMAs), we had a fantastic summer full of family togetherness and adventure. Beaches and dinosaurs and Pokemon, oh my!

But the kids were ready to go back to school and actually excited about it, which makes things infinitely easier. Miles (4th grade) got the idea that we should celebrate the first day of school with a special breakfast, like a yogurt parfait. He probably saw it on Pinterest. His dad DID make him a yogurt parfait of sorts – using a Guinness pint glass rather than the pretty glassware *I* suggested – and let’s just say the results were not exactly Pinterest-worthy. But hey, A+ for effort, Dad!

Riley (1st grade) lost a front tooth right before school started and you’ve never in all your life seen anyone so excited to have a big space in his face. Side note: no whole apples in his lunchbox for a while.

Even though the first day of school started with the car NOT starting and the phone STILL not working and a big mess o’ parfaits to clean up, I did not let that ruin my good mood. I launched right into productive projects such as feng-shui-ing my desk. Isn’t it pretty? If you don’t look too closely you can’t even see the green Sharpie that leaked through the paper when SOMEONE was coloring on my desk (with a contraband Sharpie. And no, I still have not hung up my pictures on the wall.)

Speaking of coloring, did you know that coloring books for adults are huge right now? I’m seeing them everywhere. I think it’s a cool trend. I could never really get into knitting, myself. OK, well that’s enough trendspotting and catching up for now. Happy back-to-school, everyone!

LINK O’ THE DAY: I found Belinda Graham on Instagram and I love her photos. Her post today captures my feelings about blogging and online life lately. I believe she’s talking about spring because she’s in Australia, but I’m bad at geography. Also, how adorable is her flower ballerina? She could get together with my acorn man.