Late in August, my mom always took my brother and I to Gemco (remember Gemco? Great store) to pick out our backpacks, notebooks and lunchboxes for the new school year. I remember huge displays of metal lunchboxes. I always picked out Holly Hobbie or Strawberry Shortcake. My backpack was always red and I felt really lucky when I got a Trapper Keeper. Those were the days. I loved my metal lunchboxes, there was no such thing as smooshed sandwiches. And it seems that my school supplies got me through from September to June.

Last year, I bought AG a new backpack from Target. A cute pink one in a camoplage pattern. I filled it with new crayons, markers, pencils and paper. She loved it. The backpack was on sale for $8. What a deal! So I thought. The backpack lasted only two months before it got holes and fell apart. And since we homeschool, she is way lighter on that stuff than she would be if she carried back and forth to school.  The one I got for T was also from Target that I got on sale as well. It's still going well almost 6 years later. Go figure.

I am one of those moms who would rather buy better quality  for a bit more $ and have it last then to go back to the store at Christmastime to replace what I bought just a few months earlier. For two years, I've been eyeing the back packs at Lands End and saved up my money this year. DH also gave me some so that I had enough to get  all backpacks and new lunchboxes. I even bought a set for me for the fieldtrips.  Fun!

I also made my Tapestry of Grace order. As soon as it comes in, we're all set.