Backpack Shopping - Vera - We Love You!

So, I was the only one who got
new shoes in back-to-school shopping! :)



But we also shopped for a new backpack!
Maddie's last backpack was hammered -- due to carrying
around 60+ pounds of books every single day!
 It held up well for last year, but there's no way it can take
that load again.

The go-to backpacks for high school girls

in these parts are Vera Bradley!

Happily, there's a Vera Bradley shop at the outlet

not too far away!

I love these colorful backpacks and so does M!
In addition, she needed a matching lanyard for ID purposes and
a small money-holder/driver's license whatchamacallit.
So, we had a very successful day at the outlet
and she's mostly ready for
back to school.




Plus, her plaid uniform skirt that has been on back
order for months just arrived!

She was thrilled! Ha Ha HA!


Hello Junior Year - starting August 16!

Back to School - 8th Grade!

Oh my word -- how did that happen?

I blinked and it was time to get out the uniforms, round up the

 pens, pencils and notebooks

and get back to school! 

1st grade!

We had such a great summer and so much fun hitting the 

pool nearly every evening!

Bonus -- Maddy took a shower and washed her 

hair there before we headed home, so no 

need to do that at home!

A few other fun activities included visiting and working at our sweet little zoo,

learning how to do a back handspring, shopping at Target, walking the dog

and trying (not always successfully) to declutter.

That's a story for another day!

And all of sudden, Maddy is an 8th grader!

She has been at the same elementary school

with almost all the same kids since 

kindergarten!

Not so sure if she is quite ready to give up the

10 am wake-ups, but the first few mornings have gone very well!

Fingers crossed for a fabulous 8th grade year!

Back To School Shopping!

When you go to a Catholic school

that has uniforms,

back to school shopping is easy-peasy!

Yay -- green polos available this year!

Pick up a few new polos 

(white, navy or green only),

some khaki shorts, the uniform skirt from

the designated uniform store 

and loads of pens, pencils, notebooks,

kleenex and other supplies!

Khaki pants have to come from the uniform store too -- don't ask me why??

7th Grade  - ready or not! :)

Can you tell? She wasn't a fan of this raincoat!

BacK to SchooL!

 

 

Back to school for Miss M -- who is now a 6th grader!

Whoa -- really 6th grade?!!

 

 

I'm so happy that she attends our parish Catholic school and

it goes all the way through 8th grade.

Middle school can be a little intimidating, can't it! 

Is it just me or any other Moms out there feel the same way??? 

Yes, I'm a worrier and being in elementary school with the same friends

 she's been with since kindergarten means

 less worry for me (her too, of course).

 

Getting a little bored with picture-taking! Funny girl!

 

She was ready to get back and

so excited to see her friends again!

 

Back to school haircut a few ago, new backpack and supplies and

some brand new glasses too!

 

Plus --something different for the girls in 6th through 8th grades!

No more jumpers.  The girls can wear now 

uniform skirts or skorts and shorts (for a couple months)

with the usual polos.

  Back to school shopping is easy-peasy when

all you have to do is buy white, navy,

yellow and maybe green polo shirts!

 

Muffy was sad she isn't going back to school with Maddy!

 

She was a little nervous last night - but

bright-eyed and happy as a clam this morning!

That's what I like --

a great start to the school year!

 

2nd Graders Are Sweet!

Back to school has been so much fun for Miss Maddy! Even though her answer to everyone who asked her if she was ready for school to start, was an emphatic NO, she has really been enjoying it. Since the school year has just started (and my memory is so lame), I wanted to be sure and remember all the things that make 2nd grade and my 2nd grader so special.

• 2nd grade girlfriends hold hands with each other -- so sweet!


• And 2nd grade girls hold hands with their Moms too!


• Having a cool eraser is very important.


• 2nd graders love their teachers!


• Flowery book covers are a necessary part of school supplies!


• 2nd grade girls like to coordinate the color of their polo shirts with their friends.


• 2nd graders are very social and excited to see their friends in the morning and have to arrive a little early to chat before school.


• 2nd grade girls still like to snuggle with their Moms; and


• 2nd graders want to do what is right, and above all, avoid the principal's office! :)

Back to School!

School started last Thursday -- only 3 hours worth on Thursday and Friday, but very exciting for a certain 2nd grader! Oh my, the crowd of parents around the entrance on Thursday morning was something to see and so very sweet -- such happy faces . . . and most of the students looked happy too!

A glowing report that evening from Maddy about her teacher! Mrs. T is SO NICE she said over and over again! And no homework -- just yet anyway! She is off to a very good start to a busy year. She is already a teensy bit nervous about math. She has it in her head that she's not very good at math, so we are going to practice a bit more and build up that confidence! Math is easy, math is fun, right!

Now, the big question this evening is . . . what color polo shirt to wear under her uniform jumper?? :) Yellow? White? Navy?

A New Do for School

Along with all you other moms (come on, raise your hand if you took your kid in too!), I took Maddy in for a "back-to-school" haircut.

I wasn't sure exactly what to do with her hair. She has perfectly beautiful thick and straight black hair that I love -- the straightness that I have envied and wished for my entire life!

It was getting long and often tangled. She doesn't like to have it pulled back in a pony or piggies. And so much pool time in the last few weeks made it feel rough and clumpy and resulted in tears and screeches of "OW OW OW" at my attempts to brush it in the mornings.

I gave my hairdresser an indication of how much to cut off -- like an inch and a half or

two inches sounded good. Turned out that she took off about 3 inches,

a bit shorter than I really thought it would be, but it's so cute!

Maddy loves it and says it is so easy to comb -- which is so nice, esp. with the busy mornings of getting out the door for school coming up Thursday, Aug. 20.

Watch for first day of school pictures and the school report soon!