Back to School Time Capsule

Last year, we started a new tradition at our house.  We made a "Back to School" Time Capsule.  The kids had a great time coloring a picture of what they hoped the year would be like on a piece of cardstock.  I then downloaded some free printables that we filled out together.  When we were done, each child rolled the printables up like a tube and tied a ribbon around it.  We then stored them away for the year.  This morning we had a lot of fun opening these time capsules and reading what each child wrote last year.  Before we looked at last years time capsule, I brought each child down and completed a new one to be stored until next year.  Last year, we all did it together. But because I have kids who can't or don't like to write, I decided to just interview each child this year.  (Also, we were short on time and it helped shorten this activity!) Here are some pictures of this activity.

Sample of Julianna Marie's 2013 Time Capsule Interview

 Johnna Katherine writing her name. I hate I missed videotaping the part where she said, "mom, do you think it will fit?"

 Sample of Johnna Katherine's 2013 Time Capsule Interview

JohnMark opening last year's time capsule

 He couldn't believe how much had changed!

 Well, except the wanting MORE LEGOS!

I am sure this tradition will stick with our family.  It was fun to listen to them read the old time capsules.  I am going to store them away so that each year they can look back at them.  I am thinking I might even let them decorate a shoe box to store all of them in.  I think they would really like that!

Here is a link to the interview I used.  

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8Y6_N0OuGteNE80NGZIZmkwNVE/edit?usp=sharing

I would love to hear other Time Capsule ideas you might have.

Weekly Bible Verse #2: Colossians 3:23

Sort of "Back to School"

It's been awhile since I have sent a child "Back to School" so my traditions are a little different! Since we do year around school, I wanted to try to come up with a few back to school traditions of my own to help set us into the next year. 

The first thing we do is take a two week break (which we are currently in!)  This gives me time to get lesson plans together and allows the kids time for a few fun events and playdates.  We have crammed alot into this past week and have one more to go!

First, we had Dad's 35th birthday celebration!  The kids thought he needed new Lego's.  Here he is putting them together with them.

The birthday celebrations continued with Johnna Katherine turning 5!  We had an awesome celebration that lasted for DAYS!  I am sure I will blog more about it on my own blog so I won't go into too many details now! (http://thiswaytothepoolhouse.blogspot.com/)  Here are just a few of my favorite shots!

 She had her party at Build A Bear Workshop.  All of her TX cousins joined us for the celebration.

Another fun treat for the kids was a "Back To School" Skating Party sponsored by my church's librarian.  She is AMAZING!  She did a month long reading contest. The kids could get prizes for reading 10 books.  My kids went to town.  Total they ready well over 120 books!  THANK YOU, Mrs. Ruthe!!!!! Besides the weekly prizes, they got to go to a fun skating party.

 We had a rare treat - Dad took us to see a movie!  It was super fun.

 We also got a lot of Cartee cousin time in.  We knew they would be heading back to school soon so we wanted to squeeze in some fun things. What is more fun than taking 9 kids to Costco on a Saturday!?  (This was Jane Madelynn's first buggy ride!  She didn't make it sitting up long but she sure did have fun.)

 Because of Jane Madelynn's G tube, she has not been able to swim all summer long.  Since the summers are sooooo hot in Texas, I haven't even taken the other kids. It was just too hot for her to be on the side of the pool.  However, we got one quick trip over to the pool this week since she can sit in a bumbo seat now.  We just splashed her with water and kept her covered!

 Lottie did a good job distracting her with food!

 We ended this first week off with the final birthday celebration for Johnna Katherine Mae.  Since she is 5, she got to get her ear's pierced.  She took cousin Isla for support. 

 What is better to numb the pain than fried mushrooms and cheese fries.  It was the Cartee's first trip to Snuffer's. Yum!

Oh! Wait I am suppose to be talking about Back to School Traditions.  But I have another week off!

1st Day of School Eve Traditions

We have had only one "1st Day of School Eve"

 so far but I did do a couple of things that I hope to 

make traditions at the Cartee House. 

My favorite tradition that I plan to 

continue is a visit from the

Back to School Fairy. I know there

will be a lot of nerves this year just as last so she will

bring Jitter Glitter again! I took this poem off of

Pinterest and changed it a bit to make it our own. 

I set it out the night before school with a new bottle

of pink glittery nail polish. 

I painted Nixon's toes and fingers  for

the 1st day. Anytime she got scared or

nervous all she had to do was wiggle her toes

and think of mommy! 

Nixon LOVED the Back to School Fairy
 and I know Isla will too! 

We also like to read special 

books the night before. 

A friend of mine sent me 

"Mommy in my Pocket"

and we LOVE it!

It's the perfect night before

Kindergarten book! 

This year we have a 1st grader too 

and friends have recommended

this book! Nixon and I 

look forward to reading it!

We love tradition here at 

the Cartee house. 

What are some of your Back to 

School Traditions? 

Looking forward to hearing

new creative ideas! 

Blessing #2: Teachers! (or Tutors!)

It's not just the kids who are heading back to school. Teachers, administrators, and support staff are heading back too!  One of the best things we parents can do is show our support of the many people who help make our kids school year successful.  Here is an example of an easy and affordable back to school gift you can give to the adults in your child's life.  Julia bought these bottles of lotion at The Dollar Tree (yes, just $1!).  She then took the labels off and used her cricut to make a vinyl monogram for each bottle.  (All she had to do was call the school to find out the letters of the staff!) 

On the card, she wrote, "Hope you have a smooth year!" 

Super easy and super cute!  As a homeschool mom, I am my kids teacher. (although I may make myself one!)  However, my kids have a tutor at Classical Conversations.  I can't wait to make each one of them one of these too!

Another great idea is to give your teachers (or tutors) an interview sheet at the beginning of the year. This not only helps your kids get to know the teacher, but also helps you with gift ideas by learning the teacher’s favorite things!  As a former teacher, I loved it when my kids brought me little surprises!  Here is a free download to a teacher interview.

All About You - Teacher Interview

Friendship is Like a Box of Crayons

Blessing #1

School Friends

We have one week

before the 1st day of school!

I will have kindergartner 

and a 1st grader! 

Where has the time

gone?!?

I wanted to send a 

little "happy" to school 

for all the students in the girl's classes. 

I saw this idea on Pinterest

and decided to change it up

a bit and make it our own. 

I LOVE how it turned out!

It was super easy 

& super cheap! 

.25 cents  per box of crayons

I made the card on photoshop

and printed them as pictures 

at Walgreens. 

It's really important to me

that I get to 

know the students

 and parents 

at school. 

I think this is the perfect little

gift to introduce ourselves.

Also, you never know 

which kids do not 

have crayons at home

to work on homework. 

We look forward to meeting 

new friends this year 

and building relationships

with families in our community! 

Back to School Blessings

Here in TX, we only have one more week of summer! Thus, we thought this would be a great opportunity to start blogging daily (or at least to aim for a daily post). Each day this week, we are going to share how we are getting ready for school with our families. 

So if you are trying to figure out what to put in lunch boxes and busy packing backpacks in an effort to send your kids back to school (like Julia) OR if you are a homeschooling mom frantically trying to get your lesson plans ready for the new year (like Jessica), we hope you enjoy a few of our Back to School Blessings  this week! 

Every Sunday we plan to post a verse of the week. I (Julia) made these printable verse cards when I led college and high school small groups. I love them because I can upload them to Walgreens (or any photolab you prefer) and print them into 4x6 photos. Then, I stick them in a picture frame for display. They are a great way to have God's Word around your home. Also, they really help me with scripture memory. 

This week, we chose Jeremiah 29:11.  It is a great verse for to learn as school begins. 

So download this free file below, print it as 4x6, buy a cute frame at Hobby Lobby, and enjoy this last week of summer with us! (I also like to print one for my car!)

Blessings!