the last day.

i sent them off for their last day of school this morning. today, it made me proud to watch them go. this year, more than ever, i think they have grown tremendously. and as they walked across the street and got on the bus, they seemed as if they had grown years since that the very first day last august. they are not so little anymore.  and although there is a part of me that is so sad seeing my babies growing up, i have this strong sense of gratitude and love for who they are becoming.

it hit me more than ever on mother's day. they gave me cards and stories in their own words. they were so grown up, telling me to find beauty in the day, and to shine and be proud. and elle even wrote "i love you so much i want to cry." at that moment i realized, how grown up they really are and they totally get the unconditional love between mother and child. they know that this bond will never diminish wherever life takes us. they know that i love being a mother and i take so much pleasure in being at home with them. i love watching them as they cross the street to get on the school bus each morning and anxiously wait for them as they get off later in the day.

and so, as i watched them get on the bus for the very last day of this school year. i am very proud and full of gratitude as they have grown and excelled during yet another school year.

back to school.

 

this morning slade, elle and sia were all up very early getting ready to go off to school for their first day. i loved their excitement for another school year, as they were all beaming with bright smiles. especially sia, who is riding the school bus this year and going to kindergarten at the elementary school.

i truly tried to hold it all together. i tried to smile as much as i could. i tried not to be nervous. yet seeing all of my children leave me this morning, getting on a school bus (with no seat belts) and leaving home for an entire day was not easy. i know they will all do great and they will have a fantastic day. school is wonderful place to be. but truthfully and honestly, i am sad. they are all growing up so quickly and right before my eyes.

during the past few weeks, so many people have asked me, "what are you going to do now that all of your children are in school?" i do know what i am going to do- i will continue being a mom. the mom i always dreamed about as a little girl. the mom who loves her husband and children immensely. the mom who loves being at home taking care of her family. the mom who loves to bake and cook. the mom who doesn't mind cleaning and laundry and actually enjoys organizing drawers and closets. the mom who has a passion for creativity. the mom who enjoys volunteering at school. this is what i've always dreamed about- being a wife and a mother.  this is what i will continue to do, even now that all of my children are in school all day. perhaps, i will be a little more organized and have a few more quiet moments alone, but truly what i am going to do is not going to change.

and so, although i am a little sad today, i was very happy to see all of their smiles and excitement as they started back to school this morning. i truly do look forward to seeing my children grow and flourish and learn throughout yet another year.  happy first day back to school!!

bento box lunches.

tomorrow marks the very first day of school for us. and, as my children are extremely excited with anticipation of their first day back, i am keeping myself busy prepping and packing lunches. i have found some inspiration here at another lunch and at bentobloggy.

i have one very picky eater heading off to kindergarten this year and i'm trying to find ways to make lunch fun, while hoping she'll try some new things. i love the idea of packing bento box lunches.

 

{images via another lunch}

the weekend.

 

what are you doing this weekend? now that we are settled back in at home from some time away, i am ready to start thinking about heading back to school. my kids go back in just a week and a half. and so, i'd like to spend some time this weekend stocking up on needed school supplies and putting together some back to school outfits. i really don't want the summer to end whatsoever. but, i think my children are anxious and ready to get back. even as i type this i can hear them all playing school together. slade being the teacher and the girls are teenage students. that makes me smile.

whatever your plans are for the weekend, i hope you have a good one. here are some things i have seen recently that i thought i would share with you-

love online shopping here for my girls
cookie dough treats for the kids
love, love, love ikea's new rustic collection
sweet bridesmaid gift
stamps
create lighting from recycled whisks

happy weekend!!

{cute girls' outfits, via garnet hill}

teacher gift + printable tag.

 

originally i posted this "mint to teach" teacher appreciation idea here and it was also featured on tip junkie right here. but in honor of national teacher appreciation week, i thought i would share it again today. 

and because i have had so many requests for a printable of the tags, this time i've included one here too.

  

"mint to teach" printable tag

yes... sure i can.

in the beginning of the week, i gladly obliged when i was asked to prepare an appreciation breakfast for about fifty people for friday!! of course, i said "yes, sure i can." but... friday has come so fast! so, i have spent all morning and afternoon in the kitchen- baking, cooking and prepping!!

however, i did take a little break and enjoyed an ice cream social on the playground with my sweet sia marie. oh, i am really going to miss these preschool days.....

 

 

i will see you back here tomorrow... after breakfast!!

post valentine's day.

i love valentine's day. it seems like such a happy day and a great reason to let those know that you either love or really like them. over the weekend, we completed all of our valentines for classmates and teachers. and yesterday, slade and elle went to school with these valentines in hand-

the tag for the u rock valentine is printable here. we found the packs of pop rocks at our local drugstore. and, this year elle wanted to make the same valentine we made for sia last year. it is such a cute idea and so simple to make.

and my poor sia- she missed her valentine party and handing out valentines to her class as she was at home sick. but, we made these sippy valentines to give to all her preschool friends. and, all of the teachers received these chocolate coin valentines.

i hope that you had a very sweet and happy valentines day.

storybook day.

every year our preschool celebrates storybook day and asks that the children dress up as their favorite character. at the moment, sia's favorite book is lilly's purple plastic purse by kevin henkes. 

the story is about a little mouse named lilly. lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher. But when lilly brings her purple purse to school and cannot wait til sharing time, her teacher confiscates it!  lilly's fury leads to revenge, then remorse and she sets out to make amends.

it is such a cute story about apologizing and resolving a conflict and sia absolutely loves it. so, this year, sia chose to be lilly.

breakfast with daddy.

i was so happy to see the excitement in sia this morning as jeff took her to school. today was the annual breakfast with daddy event at the preschool. for the past few years, jeff has not been able to attend. so, this was a very happy morning for one little girl.

she's got spirit.

   

i love my sia for all the happiness and love she immensely generates everyday. she is always smiling!! she is my one child that i can honestly says beams of happiness all of the time.

she was so excited today was spirit day at her preschool.  and, in honor of spirit day, we re-fashioned her plain preschool t-shirt with a few cuts and stitches here and there and added some iron-on letters, paint and glitter (which isn't showing in these pictures).

 and, of course, she insisted on wearing preschool logo tattoos too!

sia loves her school and totally thinks it rocks! i think she rocks for showing so much school spirit and being the happiest little girl ever. she can totally brighten any day of mine. i am truly blessed to have such a happy spirited little girl.

 

UPDATE:  Sia came home from school with even more excitement.  She won the Principal's Award for the Most School Spirit... whoo hoo!! Way to go Sia!!

back to school: for the teachers.

we gave these giant calculators to the teachers during the first week of school. this clever idea (via eighteen25) was the perfect gift to give, especially since all three of my children are very happy to be back in school and already loving each of their teachers. we found the giant calculators at the dollar store (yes.. just a dollar!) and the tags are printable here.

do your children like to give their teachers a back to school gift?

good morning monday.

good morning first day back to preschool for sia.

back to school.

two of my three children headed back to school this morning. both slade and elle were anxious, excited and nervous as they waited for the school bus this morning. although, we've done this before, i was still a little sad to see them go off for the day. the house seems strangely quiet and empty. now, i am anxiously waiting for the school bus to arrive again this afternoon. i cannot wait to see their smiling faces and to hear all about their first day back at school.

last day of school = summer.

i mentioned on friday that school was officially out for the summer. and while slade and elle were attending their very last day, sia and i were painting a banner to welcome them home and to celebrate the occasion.

how do you celebrate the ending of the school year? we also had popsicles waiting for them and celebrated into the evening with homemade pizzas, ice cream sandwiches and gifts from grandma.

although, elle was not very happy as she got off the school bus. she ran towards me with tears in her eyes and began to cry as she wrapped her arms around me. she was already missing her teacher, classmates and school. she had a hard time saying goodbye. it had been such a wonderful year for her and i am so happy for that, however, it absolutely broke my heart to see my little kindergartener so sad on her last day of school. goodbyes are never easy, are they?

however, the sadness didn't last long. as we walked home from the bus stop and she saw the banner hanging on our front door, she began to smile. and today, she is very content being at home, swimming in the pool and enjoying the first days of the summer break.

i think it is going to be a very happy summer!!

gratitude (for teachers).

this week we are celebrating teacher appreciation at our elementary school. yesterday, all of the children were asked to bring their teachers a single flower to signify gratitude for all that they do. i thought it would be fun for the teachers to collect their flowers in these cork vases. and so, i made one for each of them.

the supplies.. an empty espresso coffee can, cork place mats purchased at ikea, my very favorite tool- an x-acto knife, colorful yarn, a ruler, hot glue gun and a sweet note.


after measuring the can, i cut the cork place mat into a strip big enough to wrap around the entire can. with hot glue, i glued the cork into place around the can. lastly, i simply wrapped and tied colorful yarn around the can and pinned on a note of gratitude. it was so simple and perfect for a teacher's desk.

(the vases would be fabulous pencil holders for a teacher too!)

giant paper flowers.

happy monday! how was your weekend? the weather was absolutely beautiful as i had hoped and we enjoyed spending lots of time outdoors. just before our weekend began, i spent last friday afternoon decorating the elementary school in honor of teacher appreciation week.

i had seen these do-it-yourself paper flowers by brittany a few weeks ago and was inspired to make my own. you can find the complete tutorial here. i used smaller paper than suggested, but they were still fabulously big and the hallways looked happy and bright adorned with giant pink, orange and purple flowers.

valentines delivered.

since sia will not be in school on valentines day, she proudly delivered valentines to her preschool class today. i really love the way they turned out. i saw this genius idea last year and sia gladly obliged when she knew that all of her friends would get a big lollipop.

she delivered valentines to each of her teachers too. i love quirky little sayings for valentine's day, don't you?

and, here's the gift i put together to give the teachers from the entire preschool class-- a small plant, blooming with hearts. inside the cards are reasons why each student loves their teacher. some of the answers were just so, so sweet. others were completely silly! i loved hearing what all of the children had to say.


thankfully, i now have the whole weekend to work on slade and elle's valentines and treats for their classes. i am loving that valentines day falls on a monday this year!