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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

RETURN TO SCHOOL TABLE

I haven't hosted my grands for their back-to-school dinner this year, because we have a couple of more weeks before school starts.  Since some schools have already started, I'm posting last year's tablescape for my grands return to school celebration. 
 
Our coffee table in the family room is a “high/low” table.  It raises from coffee table height to dining height and anything in between.  Our grandchildren usually eat at this table.  I’ve had to keep adjusting the height a little higher as they have gotten older.  Coffee table height makes it so much easier to photograph the table, but  I’ll have to raise it before the grandchildren get here.
Back to School-Bargain Hunting with Laurie
Do you remember when I tore a painter’s drop cloth into rectangles to use for placemats in my “burlap-ing the table” post?  Those “placemats” have now become napkins. 
Bargain Hunting Laurie-Back to School Table
In addition to each child’s initials, I stamped some “life lessons” on their napkins.
Bargain Hunting Laurie-Back to School Table
I try to sneak in lessons whenever I can!
Bargain Hunting Laurie-Back to School
A plastic, cafeteria style dish will hold their food.
Bargain Hunting Laurie-back to school tablescape
The placemats (which also serve as place cards)  are small, vintage chalkboards, and a piece of chalk at each place setting gives them permission to write on their placemat.  Every year, they end up playing tic-tac-toe on them.
Bargain Hunting with Laurie-Back to School
Another reason this table is great for serving my grandchildren is that it has a glass top.  Spills are easily cleaned up, AND I can use “glass markers” to write an age-appropriate math problem by each child’s place.
Bargain Hunting Laurie-Back to School
Glass markers in the center of the table will be used for them to write the answer to the math problem, and this is one time when they will be given permission to write on the dinner table.  Tic-tac toe will probably be all over the glass top too.  (Grandmothers can let their grands get away with a lot when the parents aren’t around to see them!)
Bargain Hunting w Laurie-Back to School
Each of our grands will take home a handful of pencils and pens, wrapped in slap bands that reverse to a ruler.Bargain Hunting with Laurie
The school fairy sits on books in the center of the table.  When my grands were younger, I told them that she sprinkles fairy dust all over the table, so that if they eat their meal, they’ll have a good school year.  Now, they all start talking about it when they spot the fairy, and although they are laughing, I get the feeling they hope that the fairy dust is real!
Bargain Hunting w Laurie-Back to School
Back to Schooll Dinner-Bargain Hunting with Laurie
I’m a little sad to see my grandchildren start back to school.  (Hmmm, I don’t recall ever feeling that way when my children were young!)  This Summer has felt soooo short to me. 
Thank you for reading my blog today.  laurie
 

I’m linking to  Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters, and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

9 comments:

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Hi Laurie,
What a fun idea and I am sure your
grandies absolutely love it.
You are a fun grandmother and I think all kids need at least one
fun grandmother. I try to be that to our lil darling as well.
Sweet idea, and like your table for them, so cute.
Blessings for a lovely rest of the week hon, Nellie

Debbie said...

I just love this. If I have seen it before, I'm loving it for the second time. The napkins made from the place mats, which were made from the grain sacks, are wonderful to me. I love the life lessons. That first one is excellent. So simple and so true. (I think we are losing the simple virtue expressed in it in our culture today. Today, it's more: Whatever you WANT to do, be "meh" at it.

I love the tables you set for the grandkids. They have a wonderful grandmother!

(BTW, do you have to run again in November, or is all the campaigning over for good? Hope it's the latter.)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

You make everything so much fun! Love those colorful trays and cute napkins. Enjoy your day my friend! Hugs!

thepaintedapron.com said...

So cute Laurie!! You make me want to go back to school!

The French Hutch said...

Hello dear Laurie, What a wonderful idea for your grandchildren to celebrate BTS! I love how you set up on the coffee table, great for little ones. Love all the positives here.
Enjoy this beautiful summer day.........

Emily
The French Hutch

Beeutiful by Design said...

What a great table! Looks like fun.

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

What a great tradition you started Laurie and I am sure this will be a wonderful memory for them the rest of their lives.
I love all the math problems and sayings you have written for them.
I am looking forward to see what you do this year.
How's that sweet little boy? Hope he is doing well.
Mary

Cranberry Morning said...

Those lucky kids! This is fantastic. I remember being so excited about school supplies and the school year beginning. I love it that you sneak in those little proverbs.

Miss Jane said...

Your table is delightful and so fun for the kids. The 'back to school' dinner at Grandma's seems like wonderful tradition and something they'll remember for the rest of their lives.

I'm new to your blog, are there more details about your amazing coffee table somewhere else in your blog?