Saying Goodbye to Summer and Hello to Fall!

Is it just me or does it seem really impossible that

Summer is over and Fall starts today???

Wasn't it just last week that Mads and I were

out taking these 4th of July photos???

We did have a fun summer even though I

didn't really blog much or get any of those

organizational/clean-out-the-closet chores accomplished.

There's always winter for those tasks, am I right???

I suppose if we were enjoying cooler temps,

it would seem time for Fall.

However, humid 90s does not feel like the start

of Fall!

Pumpkin fever

No worries though, a cold front 

(those words almost make me shiver!)

 is headed our way on Sunday!

Yummy S'mores!

We're looking forward to pumpkins and s'mores and sweaters

and ponchos!

Ahhhh Fall -- we love ya - 

welcome back!

Mads with Plaid

A Cheer Report

My apologies - I have been derelict in my duties!

I have not been updating/overwhelming you all

with photos of my JV cheerleader!

BAAAAD Cheer Mom!

It's time to remedy that and post a bit about JV cheer!

This year is way busier than last and I thought last year was hectic!

The JV squad cheers at JV and Reserve games

 (football, volleyball, etc., whatever sport is going on)

and some Varsity games too! 

The JV squad also makes posters "GO TEAM WIN,"

hosts fundraisers and has a 6 AM practice weekly.

I kind of hate that 6 AM practice!

Aren't they so adorable!

Volleyball is my and Maddy's favorite sport!

It's so much fun to watch the girls (both the volleyball and the cheerleaders) -

 they are all so awesome.

And volleyball only takes about an hour -- very important

when there is homework to be done, and . . . 

there is always homework.

The JV squad is really the cutest and best of all 3 squads.

I am not kidding and am not in the least bit biased!

These girls and their adorable smiles and ponytails

get me every time I see them together! 

GOOOO BOLTS!

Have You Met the MathElf?

Quick post before the weekend hits - and

we are definitely ready for a couple days off of 

school and work!

But, before we get started on all things fun . . . 

Have you met the MathElf?

I heard about it from a neighbor whose daughter in 

Houston is one of the Elves!

MathElf is an app where students can talk with real-life math tutors

to help them understand and solve difficult math problems.

Miss M was skeptical about an on-line tutor on the iPad --

in fact, she thought I was a little crazy when I told her about it.

But, we tried it and we liked it . . . a lot!

In fact, we love it!

Find it on the iTunes store to set it up and get going.

We have already used it numerous times.

People -- it has saved my sanity!

I don't know about you, but it's been a really long

time since I've done high school sophomore level geometry.

I've tried assisting in math issues previously and it hasn't been pretty.

In fact, it's been a real struggle for me.

So, imagine my delight when I listened to Maddy speaking over the

iPad with a math tutor who used a white board to totally and

fully explain how to do the math problems she was couldn't quite figure out.

It's such a great system and app!

I highly recommend it if you or your student have any

questions about math.  

Topics covered are Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus,

 Statistics, SAT/ACT/ASVAB, as well as earlier stage math levels 

that are not among the ones that are listed.

They can work on elementary, high school and beyond math

and they are available 24/7!

Since I am such a fan of MathElf, they

provided me with a special discount code for any 

readers who may wish to try them out.

Enter this referral code when you sign up and you will

 receive 45 minutes of free tutoring!

Use the code  AQ5OVD

  If you have any questions about our experience, leave me

a comment or shoot me an email!  

We Love the MathElf!

P.S.  MathElf did not ask me to post about their service. 
I reached out to them for permission -- I love it that much! :)

Chicken Taco Salad!

I rarely post about our meals and my cooking because . . . 

I'm awful at meal planning, prep and meals in general.

Not kidding - I'd rather drive-thru or bake than cook a real meal.

But, Maddy and I are attempting to 

plan a few meals here and there.

We've found our favorite!

Chicken Taco Salad

It's the Pioneer Woman's Chicken Taco Salad!

It is so delish and so easy -- I really

have to have easy and fast and

this dish meets both of those requirements!

We make a few adjustments to the 

recipe as we don't always like

tomatoes and don't have avocados on 

hand.  We do use fresh corn on the cob!
 I don't think I could figure out avocados anyway!  
Isn't there a secret key or way to open avocados?
And then what do you do???

Chicken Taco Nachos

We even went a little further and

made Chicken Taco Nachos!

Wooo hoo - call us crazy!

 This is on the menu every single week!
And every time we prepare it,
Mr. Tennis says
BEST MEAL EVER!  
Go me!  :)

And Now She's a Sophomore!

So, now she's a sophomore!

Maddy's first day of school was last month -- 

of course, I'm still trying to catch up!

Rainy on the first day of school this year

so couldn't get our typical outdoor photo!

She was excited to get back to school --

not really!

Truth be told, we both felt like it was way too 

early for school to start on August 16!

But, no one from school asked for my opinion!  :)

The start of sophomore year seemed a bit easier 

in some ways.  At least, she didn't have to struggle with that

locker combination lock this year - it was a breeze!

And just after school started was the solar eclipse!

Here in Lincoln, we were in the totality area so 

it was a huge, huge thing.  We'd been

hearing about it for months!

I bought my special glasses ages ago.

School planned a special outing for 

some students and others had hotdogs and chips

on the football field! 

 How fun was that!
Bill  Nye, the Science Guy, was in Beatrice --
very close to Lincoln!  If only I didn't have
to work, I would have been there!

Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy that day, but

still very cool how it got all dark and nightime-ish and

then it was like morning again!

The next day was totally clear and 

would have been a better day;

but like the start of school, we can't

pick and choose the date when a total solar eclipse 

will happen!

No matter, it was seriously cool and 

as they said on the Pius t-shirts . . .

Totality Awesome!