back to school

Back to Routine

As we start our second week of school and the routine I crave I must admit I do miss the children.  However, I do relish the routine.  Don’t get me wrong, I do like the freedom and being together (all day every day) of the summer but it’s hard to keep things fresh for 8-9 weeks! That’s a lot of pressure on a parent. It’s nice when they are little and go wherever you want to go or have input into the schedule but once they get old enough to not like any ideas or, worse, shrug indifference at your

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Back to School Crochet Dress

In the nick of time (last Friday) I finished the final stitches on this adorable back to school dress for my daughter’s first day of grade 3.I used a variegated cotton yarn to keep it cool. Can you tell the part where I started a new ball on the dress? (hint it’s where the zigs really zag!). The fun of variegated yarn is that you have no control over how it will work up. I do like the sass it adds to the skirt. More importantly, my daughter loves it and wore it Saturday as well as the first day!

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Back to School 2014

This weekend is the last long weekend of the summer and then it’s back to school on Tuesday! A few weeks ago I started to panic about it. I have no idea why but for some reason I think I must declutter and get things out of the house to make room for all the papers and such that come home each day. It doesn’t help that I still have to sort through all the items they brought home at the beginning of the summer! I also feel that a clean home will make it easier to do homework in.

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Cleaning Lunch Containers and School Bags

Every year I get a little “back to school freak out” going on. I have no idea why. It’s a mix of excitement, anxiousness, and what do I need to do all racing around my brain. Earlier this month I went through the children’s drawers to clean out the too-small items. I stocked up on what we were low on and hubby bought them new indoor and outdoor shoes at a back-to-school BOGO sale. To avoid full-out panic I’m trying to do one thing a day. Today it’s laundering the lunch bags and back packs. Somehow we have a ton

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Organizing Homework Station and Art Supplies

It’s been driving me crazy all summer. In preparation for the summer I gathered all the kid arts and crafts supplies and put them in one space – on the dining room buffet. Then came all the homework and art papers from school. Then the kids came home and summer pulled us ahead and we made new crafts to add to the pile and then it was just a big hot mess. These photos are taken after I had pulled a lot of it off of the buffet and floor to organize like-with-like but it gives you a sense of

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My Back to School List

I checked out a bunch of back to school lists. Great shopping lists but I find that none of them are really applicable to junior kindergarten and the teachers where we attend school provide their own supply list on the first day of school. What I really wanted was a “what do I do to get ready for school” list. So I created my own. A fall-cleaning/figure out the needs list for clothing, shoes, jackets, boots, school bags, etc. Sort through dress shoes, sandals/water shoes/crocs, running shoes, rain boots, winter boots. Sort through jackets by season spring/fall, winter, rain plus

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Back to School – How to Get Ready?

Are you getting your little ones ready for school? My two are both entering full-day school this September so it’s a first for me to have full-day every day. I’m grateful to all the bloggers out there sharing tips for healthy school meal plans, freezer lunches, checklists, what to buy and homework stations. Here are some of my favourite sites so far. Please feel free to link up any links you have written and/or come across that you think would help in organizing getting ready for school. I will continue to add more as I find interesting links. 30 Days

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Tips to Help Your Child with Homework

Last year in junior kindergarten, our daughter got homework. Our school has full day every other day for kindergarten (e.g. Tuesday, Thursday, alternating Fridays). The teacher found that the kids needed to keep their letter writing and sounding going on the days they were not in school to keep up their skills. It seemed like a lot but Ava shot to the top of her class for letter recognition and sound identification. We couldn’t argue too much! This year as a senior kindergarten, Ava is learning to read. She gets a home reading bag sent every week and we are

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Teacher Appreciation Gifts

This is my first year having a child in school. I am so grateful to other blog posters for inspiring me to consider what we will make for our teacher (who will also teach my daughter next year in senior kindergarten). Here is some fabulous inspiration if you need some. Crayon Teacher’s Gift by I Should Be Mopping The Floor Teacher Treats by Sweetheart Moments Anybody else come across some easy, inexpensive yet thoughtful ideas?

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Homework and the Kindergartener

My daughter is in junior kindergarten. She just turned 5 this month. She has full-day school Tuesday and Thursdays with the occasional Fridays. The teacher has assigned homework since this schedule is consistently inconsistent. I don’t know how the other parents fare but it is a struggle for us to get it done with her on a weekly basis. It seems a little much also as it is 3 full pages of the letter of the week and colouring. Don’t tell anyone but sometimes I agree to colour one picture while she colours in the other six. It’s so boring sitting

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About Elizabeth

Hi! I'm Elizabeth

Welcome to More Than A Mom, a space for daydreamers and creative thinkers who are obsessed with improving yourself, your home, and loving your family.

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