Back to School

It's official I have a no more babies at home. My monkeys are back to school this week starting second grade and kindergarten. It's always a mixed bag of emotions for me, summer is too short, exited they are growing up, worried for them to make friends and do well, and missing the noise and chaos. Yes I said it, I miss the noise when they aren't here, no matter how much I shh them when they are ;) So now that I have 2 in school full time its also time for me to go back to work full time so in a couple weeks I'll be packing all 3 of us lunch every day.

Inspired by the new season of Doctor Who my green monkey chose the TARDIS and Strax for his back to school lunch.

TARDIS and Strax 

In this lunch : In a Easy Lunch Box

•  TARDIS and Strax - Jelly sandwich 
• Pencil - Colby cheese stick
• Chalk board - Carrots
• Smiley face - Apple slices

Little blue monkey is beginning his elementary school experience, while he may not feel ready, its time to be a big kid.

Welcome to Kindergarten 

In this lunch : In an Easy Lunch box

• Notebook paper - Peanutbutter and jelly sandwich
• Pencil - Colby cheese stick
• Blue crayons - Carrots
• School bus - Cantaloup stars

We like to kick-off the new school year with some special treats for the kids and their teachers, because first days of school are tough on everyone.

Teacher Survival Baskets 

 I found these great crates at our grocery store for $1 each and filled them with supplies every teacher needs.

• Clorox wipes
• Highlighters
• Pens
• Straw cup
• Via coffee
• Via splashers
• Extra gum
• Advil 
• Germy gel for the class and scented ones for her
• Chapstick
• Laffy taffy to remember to laugh
• Smarties for those smartie pants
• Mini Pinwheel just for fun

I also left a little something out for each kid before going to school. The napkin went in their lunchbox the rest stayed home for after school fun.

• Bubbles
• Pop rocks
• Laffy taffy
• Smarties
• Mini pinwheel

 

Where you go I will follow

I would like to thank my friend Alexandra of Lunch with Eyeness for helping me with my blog make-over. I cannot thank her enough for all of the wonderful banners and watermarks and work she has put into helping me. You are an amazing person with a generous spirit.

If you haven't visited my Bento Bloggers & Friends tab above please please go check out these blogs, they are awesome and you can't help but be inspired by their creativity.

Ok on to our lunches. Today was a volunteer and park day for little blue monkey and I, while green monkey was at school.

School Days 

In this lunch :

• School and car (drop off line) - Ham and cheese
• A,B,C - Trader Joe's Cinnamon schoolhouse cookies
• Orange sun
• Carrots

Momables - Homemade Lunchables

For more healthy lunch ideas check out MOMables

 

 In this lunch :

• Ham
• Ritz crackers
• Cotton candy grapes
• Carrots

 I hope you're all back in the swing of things. I never seem to adjust to the lack of sleep, neither do the boys, thank goodness for naps!

Monkey Business

Little Blue Monkey and I had our 1st days of school today! He started the day off all smiles...bless his teachers heart ;). I had a great 1st day of teaching, I love our kids and the staff. 

 Remember he's cute for a reason ;)

Tuesday, It must be Pig  in a Poke!

I know it's only the second week of school, and first day for Blue Monkey and I, but already our routine is... well... routine, so Tuesday made me think of Sam and Dean.

In my lunch : We got a Goodbyn bynto box at Target, but it's huge for my kids appetites so now it's mine :)

• Pig in a Poke - American blend salad, cucumber and ham pigs
• Trader Joe's veggie straws
• Fruit salad - cotton candy grapes, oranges, strawberries

 Back to School

In this lunch :

• Pencil - Carb smart tortilla, Sunbutter, banana, honey, decorated with food coloring
• Carrots, cotton candy grapes, orange slices

On a roll 

In this lunch :

• Banana, sunbutter, and honey roll-up
• Carrots, cotton candy grapes, orange slices, cucumber slices

So this was their first experience with sunbutter, or a banana roll-up. Neither touched it, Green Monkey was afraid it was peanut butter and didn't want to chance his classmate having an allergic reaction. I had told him at breakfast it was sunbutter not peanuts and wrote it on his napkin note, but he's not remotely a morning person. The little blue was having a difficult day adjusting to class rules and refused to try it. So while I can attest it is in fact delicious ( I taste tested last night), mine will have to try it again during more awake hours then I can pack this again. for those with allergies or in a class with food allergy sufferers Sunbutter is yummy for those hooked on PB&J. 

For more allergy friendly, fun, non-sandwich ideas check out Keeley McGuire's round-up.
 

Snoopy and Back to School

Snoopy is one of my most cherished childhood icons. While the monkeys may have only seen the holiday specials, for me, he and Woodstock are mandatory in this house. So when I found these presses/cutters at All Things For Sale I knew I had to have them. Little blue monkey got to try out our new Bus bento box and cutter, which his sitter thought was just too cute!. I had to go to work today but his school won't start until next week, this is where awesome friends come in, I am thankful I have people I can count on.

Snoopy and Woodstock 

A closer look at the presses

In this lunch:

• Snoopy and Woodstock ham sandwiches (3 per regular sandwich)
• String cheese
• Snoopy Watermelon
• Carrots
• Not pictured - Horizon chocolate milk and Puddin' Pouches chocolate pudding

The wheels on the bus

 

The bus all stacked and ready (also has a strap not pictured)

In this lunch : 

• Bus ham sandwiches
• Watermelon buses
• Carrots
• Puddin' Pouches chocolate pudding

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Back to school !

Nothing is quite as exciting as the first day. Green Monkey headed off to his 1st day of 1st grade today, and is starting at a new school so it's his first day! We are very sad to see summer go, no more sleeping in, back to bed times, and homework. Back to school also means back to bento lunches. We had our favorite bedtime discussion...what do you want for lunch tomorrow? This year he's kicking it off with his favorite game of the summer...Minecraft! But don't fear the creepers, just dig in.

Good Luck Green Monkey!

Don't Fear the Creepers

In this lunch :

• Minecraft - Scrabble Cheese-its
• Creeper - Peanut butter and jelly with fruit leather face and food coloring
• Pick  and sword - Carrot and cucumbers
• Steve - Caramel rice crispy treat with nutella, peanut butter, and candy eyes
• Grapes (unseen under Steve)

Teacher Survival Kit

 

T - Tissues to dry the tears

E - Extra sparkle for the smiles

A - Aspirin for the hard days

C - Clorox to wipe away the germs

H - Hersheys to sweeten your day

E - Energy to get through the day

R - Rejuvenate after the day

Hopefully it will be a wonderful year, making new friends, and loving his new school.