Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since my last post—things have been pretty hectic here, with the back-to-school madness and some exciting family events that took me away for a bit. But now that life has settled into a new routine, I wanted to check in and share how things have been going, both with the kids starting school and my recent travels.

Back-to-School Progress: Finding Our New Rhythm

Back-to-school season hit us hard, as it usually does with multiple kids in different grades. But now that we're a few weeks in, we’ve finally found a rhythm that works for us (most days, at least!). Getting everyone out the door in the morning and managing after-school activities has taken some trial and error. We started with some ambitious plans, but like anything else in a busy household, flexibility was key.

We’ve set up new routines that are working much better for everyone. Mornings and evenings have structure now, and I’m so relieved to have those in place. We have visual schedules for the kids before school and before bed. These have made all the difference in keeping us on track. The kids are much more independent now that they can see what’s next, and it saves me from constantly having to give reminders.

Another area we’ve been working on is the chores. If you remember, we initially tried switching chores daily to give everyone variety. However, that became way too chaotic! The kids were confused about what they were responsible for each day, and I found myself refereeing chore arguments way more than I’d like to admit. So, we switched things up and decided on a weekly rotation instead. This way, each kid has the same chore for the entire week, which makes it easier to manage and gives them a chance to really get the hang of it. It’s working so much better, and I’ve seen a big improvement in how well (and how willingly) the kids are completing their tasks.

Traveling: A Beautiful Texas Wedding

On top of all the back-to-school craziness, I also traveled to Austin, Texas, recently for my cousin’s wedding. It was such a beautiful and relaxed country wedding, set in a stunning venue surrounded by nature. The weather was perfect, the décor was simple yet elegant, and it had that laid-back Texas charm that made the whole weekend feel extra special.

Arriving at the airport was an adventure in itself. The weekend was a whirlwind of family, celebration, and some much-needed downtime. One of the highlights was sitting down at the dinner table with my siblings, parents, and uncle. It’s rare that we all get to be together like that, and those moments at the table—catching up, laughing, and reminiscing—were priceless.

The bride and groom were glowing with happiness, and everyone in attendance couldn’t stop talking about how excited they were for the couple’s future. It was clear that this wedding was not just a celebration of two people coming together but of the support and love that surrounds them from family and friends. There’s something so special about being part of that, and I left feeling refreshed and full of gratitude.

So, that’s a little snapshot of what life has looked like for me lately. I’m happy to be back and will be sharing more soon! As always, I’d love to hear how back-to-school season and fall have been treating you all. Let’s get back into this journey together!