We made a fire last night and mentioned that it was our “last fire for the Summer”.
James immediately called us out on the fact that “Summer” technically lasts until Sep 20… and then proceeded to announce that he “wasn’t even close to ready for Fall yet.”
It’s true, Summer is still hanging on for a few more weeks… but Fall is right around the corner!
Here are a few of my favorite things as we transition from Summer to Fall!
FAVORITE MOMENT = All Summer!
Can I choose 10 weeks as my favorite moment?
Our summer was busy but relaxing — the perfect mix of activity and rest — and we are grateful for the time we had together (even if we did spend most of it at home.)
This past weekend, Nora told me she can’t think of one other person who had their mom AND dad home with them all summer long. I honestly can’t either!
Over a decade ago, Dave and I decided that once we had kids, he would not work a summer job unless we absolutely couldn’t afford it.
Every summer since, we’ve been thankful for our time together (and secretly hoping we don’t regret this decision once retirement rolls around!)
FAVORITE ROUTINE = Productive Mornings
Back in May, Dave and I decided to scrap our super productive, early morning routines and instead, sleep in until 7 am all summer long. Can you believe it!?
Traditionally, we have a “rule” that kids must stay in their bedrooms and be fairly quiet until 7 am… and this year, we followed the same rule most mornings!
Sleeping in was lovely, especially since we usually stayed up much later than normal. But I’ve been more-than-eager to get back to an earlier and more productive morning routine now that school has started up again.
It’s amazing how much I can accomplish in those early morning hours — they really set my day up for success.
RELATED READING: My Early Morning Routine
PAST FAVORITE = Magnetic Wall Calendar
Way back, 9 years ago, I hosted a giveaway for a magnetic wall calendar… and even though that Etsy shop is no longer in business, it’s still one of my favorite things.
I love that the calendar breaks down by individual weeks, so I can simply remove one week at a time and move it down to the bottom, instead of waiting until the entire month is finished.
This allows me to always look ahead 5-6 weeks at a time!
The kids love it too!
I found something similar on Amazon… although I like mine better!
FAVORITE BOOK = When Your Child is 6 to 12
Not the catchiest title in the history of parenting books… but wow, is this little book packed full of helpful and convicting information for a mom of 4 children who basically fall smack in the middle of this age range!
I was first introduced to When Your Child is 6 to 12 a couple of years ago and I’ve read it once a year ever since.
Each time, I glean new wisdom, new ideas… and a new urgency to make the most of these “middle child years”
You can read more about the book via the back cover.
The Kindle version is currently for only $2.99 on Amazon… otherwise, you can shop other online stores or used bookstores to find a hard copy (which I recommend).
READ THE BOOK: When Your Child is 6 to 12
FAVORITE MEDIA = Little Leauge World Series
I watch almost zero TV, but my parents always have sports playing, so the boys had fun watching a bit of the Little League World Series last month.
If you need a really big smile today… watch this clip.
Fun fact: my childhood All-Star team actually WON the Little League World Series in 2002! (wow, that was 20 years ago already!)
FAVORITE RECIPE = Ham and Potato Soup
The last week has been unseasonably cold — not great for the pool, but perfect soup and stew weather. (Here’s a link to ALL my soup recipes.)
I dusted off my dutch ovens and other casserole dishes for beef roast, chicken pot pie, spaghetti squash casserole, and our kids’ FAVORITE Hearty Ham and Potato Soup.
I’m sure I’ll switch back to summer-time fare if the weather warms up again, but our tastebuds definitely enjoyed a break in the heat!
RELATED READING: Hearty Ham and Potato Soup.
FAVORITE ARCHIVED POST = 3 Questions I Ask Before Saying YES
Dave and I are entering a VERY full season of life… there are times when I feel overwhelmed thinking about how much we are committed to right now.
Dave’s school, the kids’ school, different committees we’re both part of, mountains of responsibilities at church, music and church activities for the kids… and our first-ever experience with organized sports (Simon convinced us to let him play football).
Some days it feels like we are a bit over-extended, but most of the time, I go back to these 3 questions and realize that this is the season of life we’re in right now.
Read the full posts here.
That’s it for me this month.
If you’re interested, you can scroll through ALL my Favorite Things posts HERE!
Donna Marie says
Some times it seems like we lead a “dull” life, but we realize that every time you leave the house, you spend money. So you need to find ways to stay at home and be happy!
Karla says
I have been reading your blog since before Nora was born. My kids are a few years older (12, 15 and 16) and I always wondered how you’d manage the “simple” lifestyle when your kids got a bit older and wanted to do more activities. As much as I always wanted quiet evenings and early bedtimes, it’s pretty hard to say “no” when you have two boys who LOVE hockey. (We live in Canada and all their friends play hockey.) Glad to see you’re embracing this season of busyness! It won’t last forever!
Andrea says
haha — our evenings are more “full” than in past years but yes, for the most part, we are embracing it. Things will get much more calm in 2 weeks when Football is finished (I won’t be sad about that!)
Chris says
Welcome back! It looks like you had a wonderful summer. I just love your blog. 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks Chris 🙂
It’s good to be back into a routine again!
JJ says
What an awesome pic of the kids jumping in the pool!
I will definitely have to get that book. My four are in those age ranges, too. I feel like time is going too fast. Trying to soak up the time!
You are so good at finding gems!
Favorite Book: Psalm 23 The Shepherd with Me by Jennifer Rothschild. You can go to her website and see some of the video portions that go along with it. YouVersion also has a condensed version. Oh my word, it is just packed with neat facts and really unpacks the verses well. I never knew that sheep wouldn’t drink from water if it was moving fast. So when it says, “He leads me beside still waters…” that has a whole new perspective! Jennifer is blind, and you would never know it. Her personal stories are very encouraging.
We have also been enjoying Lego Club(free!) at our library. It ran during the summer and was so popular, they brought it back for fall. She has it organized so well and laid out rules that she enforces(love this!). For fall she has specific things for them to build(this week was a pumpkin patch and apple orchard). It’s so neat to see how each kid can take random Legos and make something so different from each other yet so creative. They are also having competitions and other fun things. They each get to build their own “person” to go in the scenes they build. That’s probably their favorite part.
Epcot! We enjoyed a field trip during the Food and Wine Festival. They have extra booths set up, so we were able to try dishes from Brazil(feijoada…so good!), Morocco(falafel), UK(fish and chips), and Japan(spicy salmon and Teriyaki Chicken Bun). We ordered a little bit at each place and shared it to keep costs lower. There are stations throughout the park that give free water cups(often hidden or you just have to ask). So it inspired me to bring back International Day at home. Once a week I am going to plan to make an international dish and learn/teach some facts about the country to the kids. My husband really enjoyed International Day before we had kids. I kind of fell off that wagon for awhile.
Andrea, I have said it before but your blog is also my favorite! Your presence is missed online when you’re offline, but I am so so glad you can soak up that time with your family!!! We had company this week, so this morning I realized I hadn’t read your post yet. It felt like Christmas! Have a great week!
Andrea says
Thanks so much 🙂
I love that you are embracing all the fun Florida things now! The kids keep asking to “go to Florida” just because they know lots of their friends go… maybe we’ll need to look you up if we ever head down for a vacation! You can give us the scoop on all the frugal family fun!
Oh, and yes, you should read that book!
Shelly says
I was the lucky winner of that magnetic calendar giveaway nine years ago! And my calendar is one of MY favorite things too, and still going strong! 🙂
Andrea says
oh my goodness — that’s fantastic!
I’m thrilled that you won the giveaway, that you still enjoy the calendar now, that it has helped to simplify your life, AND that you are still a faithful reader all these years later!
Thanks so much, Shelly!
Ann says
I purchased that calendar & still use it for my husband & myself! We can BOTH see what’s on the schedule @@
Thanks to you!!
Andrea says
that’s awesome — I’m so glad you still love that calendar too!
Lisa says
My father and mother-in-law were both teachers and also did not work during the summer. My husband and his brother remember many road trips, camping trips and learning about US history by traveling by car. It was really a gift. I’m positive your children will also realize what a gift it is/was and it sounds like Nora already does!
Kimberly Beaty says
Goodness! Nora is definitely your child!
Andrea says
yes, yes… in more ways than one! It’s almost scary sometimes!
Julie Hales says
I bought that calendar years ago after not winning the giveaway. I love it! It’s been displaced during a kitchen remodel but I am anxious to get it back on the wall!
Andrea says
oh that’s great! I’m thrilled you have enjoyed this calendar over the years too!
also, yay for kitchen renovations! I hope you finish up soon and can find your calendar again!
Rebecca says
I’m very glad to see your calendar looks a lot like mine! We have two elementary-age children in sports right now but I’m very careful not to let us get over-extended, especially since have a 3 and 1 year old that need to get to bed early! I acknowledge that we’re entering a busier season but I’m so glad I didn’t force my children into sports/activities too early like many parents. There’s no need for 2-3 year olds to play sports but it happens all the time in my area.
Andrea says
haha — yeah, this will be a very FULL fall season for our family. All with great activities and groups, but definitely the most we’ve committed to in a very long time.
So far, there aren’t any nights that we can’t all eat dinner together (so I’m thankful for that) and the business is usually just weeknights, not Fri/Sat/Sun so that’s nice too.
JoDi says
I’m with James – I’m not ready for fall yet either! It always feels like fall to me when September starts, but the hot weather here reminds me that it’s still summer. Going to cling to that for the next few weeks although I am looking forward to it being cooler, so I can make chili!
m says
Just wondering if your kids are still going to the school where Dave teaches. Thinking not, which is no big deal, but I must have missed that “announcement”. I am old enough to be a grandma, but still patiently waiting, and I still glean lots of information, recipes, fun family ideas, and on and on from your lovely blog. Glad you had a wonderful summer but super glad read your weekly posts once again.
Andrea says
Hey there!
Our kids have actually never been in the same school system as Dave – obviously not in the same school building either since he’s high school 🙂
We send our kids where they can get bussing — which is just about 2 miles down the road. Eventually, we would be open to them going to Dave’s high school as he could bring them to and from school (we wouldn’t get bussing), but we have a few years to think about that yet!
m says
Thanks, was just wondering.
stacie says
I always look forward to your My Favorites posts! Have to say we are sad to see summer go, but love Fall too! Fall is busy for us, lots of sports activities to attend and chores to get ready for winter. My husband’s all time favorite meal is one I got off your blog and have been making it for years now….tortellini sausage soup! whenever I’m in a slump I go to your meal lists! ❤️
Andrea says
Thanks Stacie 🙂
Yes, that sausage and cheese tortellini soup is one of Dave and my all-time favorites too. I first stumbled upon that recipe way back in 2007 when I was making soup to bring to school for Dave’s birthday treat. I sort of combined 2 or 3 different soup recipes and the results were amazing. I brought 3 different soups to school for his lunch and everyone raved about that specific soup. It’s been a winner ever since 🙂
Glad your family enjoys it too — you can easily make it in a slower cooker for busy week nights (FYI!)
s says
No one ever reaches retirement and says well I wish I had spent less time with my kids / worked more. No one. You are making a great choice!!!
Andrea says
yes, I assume you’re right 🙂
I doubt we’ll regret our decision to be home all summer either! Thanks for the encouragement 🙂
Holly S says
My “kids” are now 23 and 25 but my youngest played sports from 2nd grade on and once he got to high school, he even did travel teams for lacrosse. I remember the crazy schedules between work and all the games but I promise you that you will miss the craziness when it ends, lol. I was looking forward to all the free time I’d have when that season of life was over and instead I’ve become a workaholic. I need to re-focus on your blog/tips and correct that immediately!
Andrea says
I think my parents would also agree with you that we’ll “miss the craziness”.
Dave and I are a lot different than my parents, but I can see how it will be fun to follow our kids around as they use their gifts and grow their abilities.
And yes, it’s a new month… make one choice that will help to slow your schedule down in some small way. Then next month, do the same!
Kathy says
I’ve been making your Hearty Ham and Potato Soup recipe for several years and it is a favorite at our house, too. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Andrea says
oh good, glad you are enjoying this soup too!
Christina says
Cute photo of the big win for you in little league! And thanks for making me tear up and smile! Happy end of the summer everything!
Andrea says
isn’t that baseball video the BEST!?
Jody says
Just ordered the book from ebay. Thanks for the suggestion! My youngest is in this age and I feel like am missing this stage with the busyness of life.
Andrea says
oh good — you’ll love it! (and good call searching eBay!)
Julie spady says
I love your posts so much! Have been following you for years!
Andrea says
Thanks so much Julie!
Ann Y says
Thanks for the great recipe…looking forward to soup weather !
Andrea says
we love soup weather — especially when I can throw it in the slower cooker for busy weeknights!