When you really think about it, the day before the first day of the new school year is a bit like New Year's Eve, don't you think?
In our house we have one starting back tomorrow and the other two, the day after.
We're spending the last holiday day much like we did the last day of the year; Lots of wistful looking back over the past six weeks and lots of hopeful dreaming of the future. Some organising, some plan making, some resolutions, lots of hoping for the best and a big family meal.
This school year I hope to be a bit (hopefully a lot) more organised, to be tidier, to go to bed earlier and to wake up earlier, and to try and make the routine fun.
I hope to be on top of the newsletters, the readers, the homework, the finger nails, the lice, the laundry, the activites and the other miscellaneous school stuff.
I hope to make creative lunchboxes, to not be overwhelmed with all the 'shoulds and have-to's and to listen to but rise above the stories of school yard bitchiness.
In our house we discuss the question of to school or not to school often. This year our girls will be going to school and so I hope to balance their lives with lots of practical farming lessons and experiences, lots of creativity and crafty stuff and lots and lots of homey fun.
And on a more personal note, I hope to utilise the hours that they are at school productively. I hope to make lots of stuff, grow lots of stuff, cook lots of stuff and still have time left over for friends and fun.
So here we go, happy new school year, let it be awesome!
Now I just have to remember to set the alarm.
And kiss the spunkiest farmer boy at midnight.
xx
I think we could all take something from your school list & your personal list Kate, all very wise thoughts! We launch another year of home school next week and I often wonder if I am up for the challenge?! Good luck & happy school days x
ReplyDeleteGosh I love your crochet projects and photos, stunning! Our first is starting kindy next Monday which makes my stomach churn but I'm excited too for her. We thought about keeping her home but decided on a beautiful Steiner school with focus on creativity, imagination and lots of play and is very flexible on the amount of days they attend for kindy and next year at pre primary. I love the balance you make sure your beautiful girls have with school and home. You inspire me to do the same with my two little ones. Best of luck with the new school year xx
ReplyDeleteFirst day back here today and I was quite productive..... hopefully I can keep it up!
ReplyDeleteIsabelle starts high school on Thursday so tomorrow will be spent hemming up school dresses so she is ready. I think she is a bit nervous but I am sure she will love, being the social butterfly that she is. I have to try and stay on top of things too so I have an everyday planner right beside my computer which I check every night so I know what is happening the next day, and it also helps with her netball stuff too and things I need to do for myself as well. I hope 2014 is fabulous for you and your family Kate!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't really feel like the year starts properly until school goes back. I have all at school this year too. Feels like I've been waiting for it forever and I'm pretty excited, but it is twinged with a little sadness of the end of an era. I'm sincerely hoping we can make it to school on time when it starts as we really went into holiday relaxo mode.
ReplyDeleteOh! I wish I wasn't so tired that I could respond properly. I want to just say "ditto" plus a whole "then some" more! Another time. Lovely to bump into you and your lovely Dad yesterday. Here's to a happy new school year! x
ReplyDeleteUgh! The fingernails & the lice.
ReplyDeleteFirst day back today for mine too, and I have to admit, I did nothing. Deliberately. I took the day off. The last few weeks have been so much fun and so busy, but I am tired. Tomorrow I will look at the chaos, the laundry and the half-painted bedroom, and start to organise. But today was bliss. I love the targets you have set yourself! I wish you all the best with them. Oh, and my Vantastic book has arrived at my bookshop. Finally! Just a shame it's not signed by you! If I ever make it down to the Abbotsford markets I will bring it with me xxx
ReplyDeleteI don't feel like the year really starts until the kids are back at school. We start back next week & I think we're ready. As much as I enjoy the relaxed nature of holidays by the end of the 6-8 weeks I'm ready for a bit of routine.
ReplyDeleteHere's to a great school year for all of us xxx
I think all good mums spend a certain amount of their time thinking how they can do stuff better / differently / more efficiently it goes with the territory.
ReplyDeleteYour blog always inspires me, I love they way your girls are growing up they really are great kids xx
The new school year is always so full of promise. I wish you are wonderful year.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
ahhh happy new school year guys, your plans sound awesome! making routine fun....tips on that 1 please! x
ReplyDeleteI think it's perfect combining school with practical farming aspects!
ReplyDeletei was so sad to say goodbye to our summer break last night as i set my alarm for 5.30am,
ReplyDeletebut in some ways this year is a really big new beginning for me- with all five at school. so i am happy too.
Happy New Year Kate. I hope it brings all the things you wish for.
xx
Happy school days to your girls and you mama xx
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get your gorgeous wool from? It always looks like such a nice one!
I was wondering the same thing about the wool. The colours are always beautiful and the finished product always looks like good quality? Please do share with us Kate ;)
Deletecheers Kate
this blanket started it's life a stash buster. a way to clear all the left over scraps out of my life. but then i used the good colours first and had to buy a couple of balls from a shop i passed by in malvern (cannot remember the name). so i am afraid the answer is a vague one. the white border is from pear tree yarn. i bought two cones at a fair a few years ago and am planning to finishe the blanket when i run out.
DeleteThanks for putting it in perspective Kate. I saw my "baby" off to kindy this morning so have been sooking about being home by myself. It is funny how when you are amidst the nappies and crumbs it feels like it will go on forever and then before you know it you are home alone. I know there will be lots of fun and making in the days ahead but today I am taking it hard.
ReplyDeleteOh School! My first year and I'm still processing how I feel about it all at the moment.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I hear you kate! I have both at school this year! They both start tomorrow and today I'm doing a lot of reflection and wondering where the time went and then looking forward thinking of all the things I hope to achieve this year….wishing your girls the very best at school. xx
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, I have never thought about it like this, but a new school year is bigger than the new calendar year, yes! My oldest girl is getting older so quickly, the second one is starting Kindy, and I really can't pretend the baby is all that little any more :-) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI feel similarly about school, I think. Have you home-schooled in the past? I am vaguely considering it as my daughter approaches school age. I am just not sure what the answer is! I love your words and your images. Zanni http://mylittlesunshinehouse.com
ReplyDeleteFantastic 2014 school year to your whole family. Schooling seems to be so overwhelming to me - so many rules, so much paperwork, so much time spent somewhere else. I'll need to do my own little School Eve celebration.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and fun blanket! I don't plan on sending my little babe to school, and hearing people talk about all of the preparations to send their little ones off, just makes me feel even more secure in my decision. Plus, to seal the deal - LICE - yuck! I remember in elementary school, the nurse would come to the room once a year and check our heads. How embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteOh I so get you- I make all those plans too but somehow by the end of the year my house is still not tidy, I have not finished the list of things I need to do while the kids are at school etc etc. I too am trying to start right. We will see how long it lasts!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope its a wonderful year for you all Kate x
ReplyDeleteI love the photo's of your rugs, wool and cottons - the colours are amazing. I recall the feeling of preparing for the first day of school. I always saw it as an awesome opportunity to review my own goals as a student and my desires. 25 years after finishing uni, i still see feb, july and sept as critical reflection moments - Im sure that is a left over from my school and uni days. Good luck with your ambitions - they're all very worthy.
ReplyDeleteyou have the happiest space on the internet, I'm sure! xx
ReplyDeleteWe have that same conversation, too. But for now, it's school for us and we'll make the most of it. Keeping up with newsletters, attending P&Cs, creative lunches and all. X
ReplyDeleteHello Kate! I don't think I have commented on your blog before, but I have on your instagram (got your book in my little yellow caravan in NZ) ..this REALLY works for headlice..a few drops each of lavender oil and tea tree oil in a spray bottle of water with a squirt of conditioner use like a detangling spray when the girls do their hair before school.(you can just put the oils in their shampoo and mix but I reckon its better to use every day so the spray is easier)they don't need to pong of lavender and tea tree, but you should be able to smell it if you sniff their heads!!Did this for my three girls and now my three grandgirls and they just don't seem to catch them..until the spray runs out,or we forget to do it. Won't kill the little beggars(as in lice, not children!) but its a brilliant deterrent...and the kids don't even need to know it's got anything to do with headlice..it's just home made detangling spray to make the brushing easier! all the best!
ReplyDeleteLesley.
brilliant! thanks so much for this grannysquare x
DeleteHope it's a great year for you... we have the same conversations too about school... it is certainly a busy time with school age children and the pack lunch ideas too... it is difficult to think of something healthy, yummy and different each day for them. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletebeautiful colourful crochet!
ReplyDeleteto school or not..if my girls had to be dragged to school, maybe I'd think about home schooling...but they were up at 6.30am itching to go far too early last Thursday...so off they must go, as depressing as aspects of institutionalisation is, as bitchy as it does get when you stuff an unnatural amount of children the very same age alone together for too long, as offensive as state testing on children gets...they go and mostly love it...
hope you get lots of things done!
oh you have put my hopes for this new school year into words! i'm with you and holding it all with a sense of grace for the mess of life>
ReplyDeleteI love your coloures and the granny are beautiful. Have a good start in the week ahead, Inge
ReplyDeleteGorgeous crochet Kate!
ReplyDelete