Back To School....The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...or Is It?

Where are you going my little one...little one?

Baby Robbie and Me in Dothan

Oh lord..remember that song? Makes me cry every time I hear it! So true, so true! As the Divine Miss M and I were talking this morning, she commented that she was looking back at grandson Luke sitting in his car seat, and he just looked so big. He was chattering away about something, probably a digger, a cherry picker, an excavator or a brush-hog.....that child is obsessed with construction equipment and can describe every machine known to man. That's why he was Bob the Builder last Halloween. Anyway, she said, "Where did my baby go? It seems he was just a baby in his little crib last week, and now he is going to preschool!" Oh yes, my dear...been there, done that! Four times over.

Robbie at Walnut Creek Private School

Pre-K

Back Row far Left with his hat on

The last one to leave the nest was Robbie. I had Robbie at the age of 35. We always said it was like having two families. Robbie hates it when I say that but, we really did start over. Miss Melissa was a senior in high school when Rob started to kindergarten, and "the boys" were in middle school. Can you imagine that? We had all those ages of children under one roof...all of those back to school clothes, shoes, school supplies, sports dues....how did we do it all?

Robbie and Me on Mother and Daddy's Porch in Jackson

So it was probably the hardest to let go of the last...at least I think it was. Maybe it was hard to let all of them go...but yes, I think it seems we had a harder time with the last baby..perhaps we are still holding on! It goes by in a  flash! Enjoy your toddlers, your kindergartners, preteens and even those stinky teenagers. You'll be singing that song, "Where are you going my little one, little one" before you know it! 

Darling and Rob High School Varsity Soccer

Rob Aggie Senior Ring Ceremony Texas A and M

Rob and Me in Kennebunkport

Bake these "Scrumptious Apple Pie Muffins" for your back-to-schoolers!

They always received rave reviews from Robbie!

 Topping

 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Muffins

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2/3 cup vegetable oil

 1 egg
 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

 1 teaspoon baking soda

 1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup plain yogurt

2 cups shredded and peeled Granny Smith apples
1 t.  cinnamon

1/8 t. nutmeg

Walnuts

 Topping: In a small bowl toss together sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon until crumbly; set aside.

Muffins: In a large bowl whisk together brown sugar, oil, egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, soda and salt. Stir oil mixture into flour mixture alternately with buttermilk or yogurt.  Fold in apples, mixing just until combined.  Spoon into greased muffin cups filling 3/4 full. Sprinkle topping over evenly and place walnut half in the center. Bake at 350°F. for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back.

 

"If you bungle raising your children,

 I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much."

Jacqueline Kennedy