Jodie M

I'm pretty much constantly on the go, but we fit in family time like it's our job. So much time gets lost looking at screens, I often wonder if people realize that if they put their phone down, they would find something else to do. Now kids are on screens all the time, with never-ending access to people and information. Over the years I've made an effort to make family time the most important time in our house.

I prefer to bake these bars for special because if they are in my kitchen I'll take one every time I pass by the plate. 2 sticks salted butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 cups quick oats 2 cups chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and baking powder.

It was clear what was happening as the tape sped through the film, but almost every scene could be deciphered if you had fast forward on only one or two arrows. I look back on my oldest playing trains, my middle two giggling and watching the same movies over and over and my baby waiting at just about every event we dragged her to because the older kids had practice. I remember realizing by child #3 diaper bags are just a glorified purse and I was just as good to toss a diaper, wipes and a bottle in my current bag. My house is still a mess, and although every few days I have a mini meltdown about shoes by the door and cups on counters, I know I'll miss that too.

To ward off any major breakdowns I try and get as much done as possible in the weeks leading up to school starting again. Since my flooded basement I have really taken to purging unnecessary garbage I've saved over the years. This weather is making me feel as if summer was stolen, without any hopes of it returning this year. Some of my kids have been stuck indoors for the start of their fall seasons and my oldest is outside catching footballs in the rain.