Must Haves for Back to School

July 16, 2018July 15, 2018Amber 1 Comment

As far as consumable school supplies, I have it relatively easy. The kids’ school sells classroom supply kits, which I order online and have delivered directly to the classrooms. The supply packs aren’t overpriced and it saves me the hassle of searching all over town for specific items like red pocket folders with brads. However, in addition to school supplies, last year we invested in well made personal supplies. Everything I bought last summer for kindergarten lasted all year and will be used for first grade if not longer. If you’re on the hunt for school supplies, check out our list:

Pottery Barn Fairfax Back Pack & Lunch Bag

During a 60% off sale, I snagged each child a Fairfax backpack and lunch bag for about $30, which rivaled even Target’s prices. Pottery Barn is currently running the same sale with different patterns. I ordered the kids size small backpacks and they were big enough for their daily folder, library books, and lunch bags to fit inside. Anything bigger would’ve been too large for their tiny bodies. Mid way through the year, I learned that both backpacks and lunch bags are machine washable and they came out of the wash looking new.

2. Ty Clip on Mini Beanie Baby

The kids loved choosing their own mini beanie baby to clip onto their backpacks to personalize them. These are all the rage in elementary school! Throughout the year, the kids collected a few more of these little cuties.

3. Easy Lunchboxes, 3 compartment container

While the kids thought it was really cool to buy tray lunches, and it was sure easy, it was also costly for us. I packed lunches most of the time and found easy lunchboxes were perfect for dividing food, not wasting baggies, and for the kids to quickly/ easily open during their short lunch break. Silicone baking cups helped further divide the larger compartment, and made everything look festive.

4. Thermos Funtainer water bottle and food jar

It’s H-O-T in Texas most of the year, especially when school starts in August. I knew our old favorite Contigo water bottles wouldn’t keep water cold so I replaced them with Thermos stainless steel water bottles. The kids were allowed to keep them in the classroom for hydration and refill from the water fountain, which was great. They kept ice cold during the school day and were sturdy. A few times, the kids chewed the silicone straw too much, but I was able to easily replace them. The kids also liked an occasional hot lunch (e.g. macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, fried rice) in the Thermos food jar.

5. Bentgo Ice Packs

To keep lunches cold, we used Bentgo ice packs, which fit right under the easy lunchboxes. These were still cool even at dismissal.

6. Mabel’s Labels Mabel’s Labels

Before the kids were born, I ordered each of them a set of skinny labels from Mabel’s labels to keep bottles sorted. Guess what- We still have them! These labels were perfect for labeling water bottles, lunchboxes, containers, etc. as they are waterproof, dishwasher, and microwave safe. The kids’ school has a massive lost and found, which is often stocked with Thermos water bottles among other items. If students or parents don’t find their own things, the student council returns labeled items to classrooms at the end of every six weeks (cool service project!!)

Happy back to school shopping!

Amber

Back to School

September 17, 2017September 21, 2017Amber 1 Comment

When I was growing up, back to school shopping always helped ease the sting of summer’s end. As I prepared to send my own kids off to school for the first time, back to school shopping helped spark enthusiasm for all of us. Of course, things are different than when I was a kid. We did very little traditional shopping and instead went online for almost everything, including school supplies. In fact, the kids’ school supplies were delivered directly to their school. It was a cinch!

Shopping for back to school clothes in Texas can be a bit tricky given our weather. It can still be rather hot until Halloween, but classrooms can be chilly and school dress codes aren’t conducive to summer clothing. The girls and I had fun perusing the DollBaby Back to School collection at La Bella Flora Children’s Boutique. Considering a transition to fall, we chose the Back to School Floral Top with Leggings for Girls in Navy. These pieces are ideal for fall weather in Texas. The 3/4 length sleeves are perfect for a crisp walk to school, but aren’t too warm for the afternoon or during recess.

Both pieces are available in sizes 2T to 10 girls. I love that the entire Back to School line features the same on trend floral pattern with pops of burgundy and olive. The pieces within the collection are easy to coordinate for different looks or for multiples who don’t want to be matchy matchy.

Whenever I buy new clothes for Sydney, I hold my breath, hoping and praying she will approve of the fabric texture and fit. She’s extremely sensitive to anything she deems “not right”, which typically means slightly scratchy or too stiff. Despite having lace embellishments and buttons, the fabric is extremely soft and comfortable, which earned Sydney’s stamp of approval even prior to washing. Speaking of washing, these outfits are no fuss. I washed them with the kids’ normal laundry and tumble dried them on medium. The dark hues did not bleed onto other light colored clothing. They came out looking exactly the way they did beforehand. There was no fading, pilling, and they were wrinkle free.

The girls were comfortable for a day at the Cowgirl Museum, which included plenty of walking and exploration. The clothes fit true to size when compared to other high end children’s clothing and boutique brands. Rylin is wearing a 4T (she’s about 39″ tall and 32 pounds) and Sydney is wearing a 3T (she’s 38″ tall and 26 pounds). Both girls have some growing room, but the waist band still fit comfortably.

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Does back to school shopping help you bid summer farewell?

Disclaimer: I would like extend a special thanks to La Bella Flora Children’s Boutique for providing product samples for us to try for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts/ opinions are 100% my own.

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A New Normal

September 1, 2017September 9, 2017Amber 2 Comments

It’s been two weeks since we dropped our babies off in kindergarten. Overall, we are doing well with it, but it’s certainly a new normal. It seems that every time we settle into a new routine, the season changes and we find ourselves adjusting. Such is quad life!

We started a tradition of obligatory first day photos with a framed sign. Snag your own set for free at Paper Trail Design.

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On the first day of school, the kids excitedly followed our chalk drawings down the street toward school.

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Nisey and Poppa joined us for the big first day drop off. I was really proud of all of us, not a single tear was shed. At least not on the first day. Parents take their children to the classroom door on the first two days of school. The third day is “Independence Day”, which means the kids are dropped off at the front door and navigate to their classrooms (older students help the littles for a few days). All four kids hopped out of the car without a fuss (whew!). As I watched them walk away, the waterworks started…I sobbed all the way to work. I was totally unprepared to watch them walk away. Our sweet teachers sent class photos later in the morning entitled “They all made it!!” I flipped out a little when I couldn’t find Mason in the sea of kids, but was relieved when the teacher responded, “Someone jumped in front of him, you can see his little thumb.”

Drop offs have since gotten better, and pick ups are always the highlight of my day. I can’t wait to see these little faces running towards me. After the first day I learned to do a bag check- folder, lunch box, water bottle, and jackets. We only made it home with 75% of the lunch boxes on the first day of school. Sydney’s was left on her locker, but thankfully was still there the next morning.

Rylin and Harper are in the same class and share a locker. Sydney and Mason are in another class, and also share a locker. This is fantastic because my type A personalities are supporting their Type B siblings as they learn organization and responsibility.

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I’ve been impressed with the kids teachers and really appreciate the time they’ve taken to share photos of what happens. One of the hardest things about sending the kids to school is not knowing what they do all day. Of course, they share their own accounts of things, but it can be cryptic and discombobulated. Rylin knows every single rule and every child in her class, but she is also very literal. For example, after going to P. E., she reported, “We just walk in circles. We do not run, and our teacher doesn’t know because she’s in a meeting.” From working in schools, I knew this wasn’t the whole story. I happen to know the coach so I jokingly asked him why he was having the kids walk monotonous circles. He explained they were learning whistle commands and basic rules of the gym. Since that lesson, they’ve learned several games, and I believe do run.

The kids’ school is large, but has a warm, welcoming culture rich with tradition. One such tradition is the first Friday of school is “Western Day” where the kids and staff all wear western attire. We talked about it all week and sifted through closets to pull together combinations of denim, bandanas, and plaid. However, Mason was the ONLY child who actually wore his ensemble to school. I don’t think the kids realized what special attire meant. Hopefully next time they’ll participate.

The kids completed their first homework assignments for a “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” unit. Each child brought home an enlarged initial, which they cut out and covered in items beginning with their initials. Despite my urges to help them cut everything pretty and design them according to my vision, I let the kids do everything with limited guidance. We had fun sifting through piles of stickers and brainstorming lists of items, which we tried to procure or create. They were so proud of themselves, and I was too. Unfortunately, Harper learned a hard lesson. Just doing the homework isn’t enough. You also have to turn it into the teacher. I’m not sure what happened, but Harper’s folder came back home with his project and no teacher note. I suspect he left his folder in his backpack all day.

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The kids also went to the library and each chose a book to take home. As soon as they got home, the four of them sat right outside the mudroom to peruse their finds.

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Much to everyone’s excitement, last Friday was Grandparent’s Day. Nisey, Granddaddy, and Carol were able to join the kids for lunch. I can’t wait to join them myself! Speaking of me….people have been asking just what I’m doing with all my time. I increased my hours at work, but I was able to work out a schedule with my director that allows me to drop the kids off, and pick them up from school. I don’t have loads of free time, but I’ve had just enough to do the grocery shopping SOLO, and I’m finding time to take better care of myself (hello, doctor and dentist appointments). I’m also finding that since we are apart all day, the kids and I are savoring our time together. Oh, and it’s much easier to keep the house clean since the kids are constantly creating tornadoes around themselves AND kids go to bed much more quickly since kindergarten is exhausting work.

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Stay tuned for more kindergarten adventures!

hugs,

Amber

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