Back to School - Grade 7 Edition



Alice was excited about back to school shopping. She has grown a ton and knew she needed a lot of things - which meant she would get to buy a lot of things. Alice like to shop, but Alice does NOT like to pose for pictures. I said that a back to school photo shoot is my right as a mother, my payment for spending all that money on clothes ( that don't fit me at all). Alice refused so I said I would just take a picture of her everyday the first week of school. Problem solved. 

 

 

 

This was her favourite outfit. She wore this on her first day and for picture day. The peter pan top was from the Gap factory store ( and was only 4 dollars!) The cool paisley jeans were from XX21 ( first time Alice could shop there - size 24) And the leather oxfords from Globo were only 30$. The back pack is from sport check and the faux leather jacket from Suzy Sheer.

Since Alice hates getting pictures taken she has developed some strategies. One strategy is to try not to look in the camera - she is often looking away. The other strategy is to get one of her sisters to pose in the picture with her. Luckily, her sisters are always happy to oblige. Here Jackie helps Alice Out.

 The polka-dot sweater and leggings below are from H&M. The belt was from Australia. ( Whenever any one wears something we bought in Australia it makes me nostalgic).

 I promise she wasn't as sad as she looks in the picture below.  She is tired. The mornings are early - The bus comes at 7:15. The coral sweater is from Gap. The black skinny jeans from XX21.

 That concludes are back to school posts!! Hooray for school. Hooray for me the girls! Hooray for me for actually posting it!! ( I have the proposal I am have trouble with to thank for that).

I Have Created A Monster - Elementary Hair Styles

 I have created a monster. For years I have lamented that my girls would not let me braid their hair. Eve is my only daughter who will let me do whatever I want in her hair. Well, she used to let me do whatever I wanted. Now - her standards a higher.

The other day, she was having waffles for breakfast, and she asked me to put her hair in a pony tail so she didn't get syrup in it. I did " a nice pony tail straight out the back." Later that morning she freaked out because I hadn't done her hair for school. I said,

Me: I did your hair already, it is in a cute pony tail
Eve: Mom, anyone can wear their hair in a pony tail. I wear mine in braids.

Apparently she likes the compliments she gets on her hair styles.

I am glad she likes her hair and that she gets compliments - though I don't know how I feel about her feeling like she needs braids - like her hair style is important to her self image. She is only 7!  But then I tell myself not to over think it. The fact of the matter is I like to braid and we have 20 minute after the big girls leave in the morning, so what else are we going to do? ( Ok we could read, or clean her room, or any number of things - but what we do it sit on my bed and watch Clifford or Daily Planet and braid her hair. The braids keep her hair out of her eyes and hopefully safe from lice ( then neighbour kid she plays with had lice but Eve's hair was safe - dodged a bullet).  I think I am getting better at braiding but then I my braids to the pictures on instagram that I try to copy - like the one below of sheerbraidedbliss (who we know) and I am humbled. Also, it wasn't a good idea to show Eve the instagram hair accounts - because many of those hair styles are way out of our reach.

What to wear to Grade 2

 

This year Eve is in Grade 2 - her little body doesn't always show it, but she is one of the big kids now. Eve loves back to school shopping a lot more than she likes actually going to school . She does well in school but does not get excited about pleasing the teacher or learning new things the way her sisters do. She lives for recess and loves seeing all her friends. This is Eve's back to school photo shoot. 



This outfit came from the Gap Factory Store. She  wanted the leopard jeans so badly but I wouldn't buy them for her until she proved she could move in them ( because otherwise I knew they would not get worn).  She did this by doing the splits in the store. I also didn't approve of the shirt -  the graphics on the shirt are articles of clothing. I explained to her that shopping isn't really the thing that most describes her and wouldn't she rather have a different picture - one that doesn't glamourize materialism?  She retorted that she just cared about the colour and the comfort and it was on sale - so I relented.  Eve's biggest win are the twinkle toe shoes. I was completely against these -  I think they are hideous AND over priced.  But - again I relented. (Did I mention eve was persistent.) She pointed out that these shoes will be her but they are her inside shoes at school so I never have to see them, all the bright colours mean they match EVERYTHING, and they were on sale ( which she means they were only twice as much as shoes at Wal-Mart instead of three times as much. She made up the price difference by forfeiting a new back pack. She is using one of Alice's old back packs instead.

 Jeggins from Gap Factory Store, T-shirt and cardigan from H&M. Unlike the first outfit, this one was totally mom approved. The jeggings have been worn a lot.

 The yay shirt and leggings from Joe Fresh. A few days after we bought this, we watched Cityline fashion Friday and Joe Fresh was high lighted and they modeled this shirt. Proves we have great taste.

 Here is Eve on the first day of school. Bow shirt from Gap factory store. Cardigan, runners ( that she can tie herself) and giant bag are all hand me downs. Head band was a party favor from a birthday party. Incidentally, she used this shoulder bag for a few days then opted for a back pack that is easier to carry.

And this is how Eve looked when she found out the these three great friends are in her glass. It is the old crew from kindergarten. She was so happy she had to do the angry squinty eyes for this picture.


 It is sure to be an awesome year.

How to start middle school - Jackie style

A Haiku for Back to School by Jackie Rasmussen

 

School is starting too fast

My paper cuts are plenty

And homework means DOOM!

 

 

Her haiku sounds negative, but in actuality, Jackie was super excited about starting school this year. Even more excited than she normally is. Something about starting at a great big middle school where she would have her own locker, with her own combination lock - and so many new teachers to impress that made her extra keen this year. The early dismissal on Fridays doesn't hurt either. 

 

Now - three weeks in, she is still loving it - though in her opinion her teachers give a little too much homework.  Her haiku was foreshadowing. Jackie looks great every - here is her back to school photo shoot.  

 Tunic - Gap Factory Store, Jeans - hand me downs already in her closet, and the most exciting item - boots from Target. Jackie had enough money for fancy boots in her back to school shopping budget because she used so many hand me downs this year ( from Alice and one of Alice's friends)

Denim button-up - Joe Fresh, Coloured Jeans - Australia Target ( yes, she has been wearing them for 1 year and a half - they used to be baggy long pants and now they are skinny capris.

 

This butterfly shirt from the gap factory store was Jackie's biggest bargain.  it was only 4 dollars and we love how long it is.

 

On the first day of school we waved her hair and she opted for the denim shirt. Her Dad took her to school and took the official picture, I had to make due with this paparazzi shot as she walked to the car.

 



 

 

 Here she is after completing the first week of school. She is wearing my favourite hand me down sweatshirt from Alice, and she is holding her cool school  white board binder and new backpack . She is also wearing the sun glasses all the grade 5 were given on the first day - little did we know then what terrible weather was coming the very next week.