Thank you to Crocs for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Crocs’ new Back to School line. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Yes, that time has come. Yet again. And yet again too soon. Back to school time is creeping up to our door and ready to ring the doorbell to remind us that we have only a few more short days to enjoy sleeping in, swimming in the middle of the day, and weekly day trips and outings.

Oh how I dread waking up at 6:30 in the morning and sending my kids off to school all day long. This year I’ll have a 2nd grader and a Kindergartner. Not sure how this sorta just crept up on me. Two kids in school? It all seems to be going by way too fast! I wish summer would last year-round.

My kids’ school offers the option for parents to purchase prepackaged back-to-school supplies, but frankly, I’ve never done it. Nor will I. Not only is it more expensive (trust me, I’ve done the math now 2 years in a row) but my kids and I LOVE the tradition that we’ve started of going back-to-school shopping and picking out fresh boxes of crayons, new pencils, sharpeners, and other school-time goodies.

And, of course, we have our tradition of grabbing some popcorn as we prepare for our strenuous shopping battle!

Looks like we got a lotta loot!

My favorite part of back to school shopping this year, has been using my new Motorola Xoom tablet from Verizon Wireless to keep my supply checklists and info easily accessible.  I love not having to tote around a bunch of paper throughout all the shopping.  Plus, it takes great pics (like the ones in this blog post) for me to easily share with peeps and on Facebook.

Not to mention that I am not exactly in the mood to purchase prepackaged supplies during the month of APRIL, which is when you usually have to turn in your orders for them. Waaaaay too early to think about that!

Another part of back-to-school shopping my kids are really into is getting their new shoes, socks, undies, and uniform essentials.  Why is this something that most other parents dread?  I actually LOVE it!  The kids get all excited about trying on new clothes and tennis shoes.  Speaking of shoes, have you seen these cute school-approved ones now offered by Crocs?

 

In our house our kids have always referred to their Crocs as “gups”.  I know, I know….it’s odd, but it works for us.  You know how you just kind of develop nicknames for certain things in your family?  Well, we do that with shoes quite often.  Flip-flops are referred to as flippies.  Crocs are referred to as gups.  Laughable, yes. 

So how about in your family?  Do you dread or enjoy back-to-school shopping?  Do you do most of it with the kids or without them?  Do you do it ahead of time or wait for those last minute “20 cent” sales?  And, does your school offer prepackaged school supplies?  Do you ever go that route or prefer to bargain hunt for glue sticks on your own?

{Disclosure:  Verizon Wireless has provided me with a Motorola Xoom tablet as part of #MidwestMoms blogger program, but my opinions on the item are that of my own!}