Preparing for New School Year...

School uniforms have been bought, shoes ordered, and supplies bagged up and ready to go to the classroom. School starts in 4 days!!

One will start Pre-K and the other will start GRADE 1!!! What!! This is just insane. Where did my babies go? Guess there is no turning back now, it is full steam ahead for these two little people. It is now their time to grow and develop and learn, and find their own ways to express themselves. It is such a hard thing to let go, though. I'm sure there will be a few tears, and that anxious, nervous pit in my tummy...but, hopefully just me, not them...praying they will be fearless and excited and happy to be starting school.

This week at home has been a fluster - we just got back from our beach vacation, I have been feeling totally worn out, and now have a cold. So, the motivation to do much has deflated to an all time low. The laundry is very slowly getting done. It has taken me three days to unpack our suitcase. The house is a complete mess! But, thankfully I had all their school stuff done BEFORE we went on vacation.

We have met the teachers - both very nice. Kids meet them tomorrow - they are super excited :)

So what to do now - PREPARE!

1. Iron uniforms and clothes for kids and hang in closet

2. Create Mad Minute Math sheets for Grade 1 kiddo (I know she'll love me for this...one day! hahaha). You are free to print off copies for your own use.




3. Make up sweet little teacher gifts (we love to do this all together - the girls pick out what they want to do and I help put it together).

4. Clean up desk and playroom, ready for homework.

5. Work out breakfast and lunch menus.

6. Type up afternoon schedule and pep talk with the kids.

7. Remind Back-to-School fairy that school starts Monday ;)


I'm thinking that if I'm missing anything we will survive. Just want to spend these last few days enjoying my two babies...for just a few days more.

Hoping your back-to-school frenzy is going along okay, and that your kiddos have an absolutely fantastic year :)

Back to School Frenzy

I am in the back-to-school-frenzy-zone!

I'm like this:

But I really need to channel this Mom:

I'm freaked-out not in the school supply-get uniforms-sign up for extra-curricular activities type frenzy. Nope, I am already all organized in that frenzy department. I'm talking about the last-days-with-my-5yr-old-no-more-little-baby type back-to-school-frenzy! I'm frantically trying to organize the back-to-school teacher gift, the last sweet-baby photo session and choose just the right outfits, organize the last day of freedom fun day (she chose movie and cheesecake - wise, wise child!). Trying to organize the sign for the first-day-of-school photo. Trying to find the perfect devotion for our morning prayer. You know, that kind of frenzy!

It is so strange how it can just hit you all of a sudden, then the panic sets in (I'LL NEVER GET IT ALL DONE AND I'LL BE THE WORST MOM EVER). I know I'm going to cry (because I've already started). I just want it to be special for both my girls (one starts kindergarten, the other 3yr old class) and something we can continue/ evolve into our yearly tradition. Oh, the pressure..it's not too bad - HAHAHAHAHA (you know, that crazy half-mad Mom laugh)!

So, anyway, here is what I have so far:

The first-day-of-school-sign (via http://hilaryishappy.blogspot.com/search/label/Back%20to%20School) - this is just such a great idea and SO SIMPLE to do. This is my version:

Teachers gift is also via http://hilaryishappy.blogspot.com/search/label/Back%20to%20School, but here is my version (it includes color washable markers, cute little paperclips, sticky notes and pretty black pens, a photo holder, holding the note, and, of course, pretty flowers):

The girls picked out their colors and my 3yr old helped me put it all together (what a great helper she is).

Tomorrow morning we will head out for our photo shoot. And here is some inspiration for my photo session:

Maybe a little this?

Source: mypinkcloud.tumblr.com via Kathryn on Pinterest

Definitely this - I know where the perfect wall is :)

Source: flickr.com via Kathryn on Pinterest

Oh, and the Back-to-school fairy! Have you heard of her? What a sweet little idea -BTSF leaves little back-to-school-themed gift at front door/ at bedroom door/ in kid's backpack a day or two (or three) before school starts - just makes the starting school thing a whole lot more sweeter! Our BTSF likes brown paper bags, a little note of "congrats on starting school", and a few little school supplies and cute t-shirt (slightly adjusted with the help of the crafty fairy). (And, just as a side note, do you know how hard it is to shop with your kids and "hide" things in the cart so they don't see it - IT.IS.NOT.EASY!)

Must get off computer now - have a million, zillion things to do...with my kids :)