I don't know whether it was just DD1's distractibility but omg she lost so many jumpers and jackets. That hurts when they are $35 at the public school but even more when they are the $80 ones for the private school!! I checked lost property boxes religiously & approximately 25% of them came home months later - a couple of times they were filthy & smelly like someone had been wearing them without washing that whole time. In the end I started ironing a label inside the front seam (along the edge where the zip is) because it might flap open sometimes, making it harder to conceal that you're wearing a jumper that wasn't yours. Seemed to work as the disappearance rate dropped way down after that. Part of me is still shocked at the rate at which stuff gets stolen @ school. Kids really are very opportunistic and probably morally underdeveloped as well.

Arte, I presume if the school hasn't said anything about books, maybe they supply everything? Half your luck! Good call re not leaving the kids, I wouldn't either. Sounds like you've been having at least a little bit of enjoyable r&r.

So, trill, have you got your outfit all picked out for your hot date with Sam?