A Back-To-School Haiku Contest, With Smashingly Good Prizes

I feel like celebrating today.  I'm getting back in my bloggy groove after a long break, we're settling into our school routine, and this week is my birthday!  I'll be turning 30.  Again.  For only the 7th time.

Anyway, in honor of all these occasions, I believe it's time for another haiku contest.  I've held these before (if you're new here, you can see older examples here and here).  Here's how it works:

::  Write a haiku commemorating the whole back-to-school thing.  This contest is open to anyone, whether you have kids going back to school or not.  You don't have to have a blog of your own to participate.  (Here are instructions for writing a haiku, but if you click there, I'm totally telling your 4th grade teacher that you weren't paying attention.)

:: Leave your haiku in my comments section, below. 

:: I'll leave the comments section open until 8 pm CST TONIGHT (Monday the 25th).

:: First thing tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, I'll post the five finalists.  Then YOU all will vote for the next couple of days.  I'll announce the winner Thursday morning.

And just wait until you see the prize package the winning haiku-er (haiku-ist?) wins:

Image Case Key Ring by The Fine Art of Family (retail value $170).  If you're going to spend so much time in the car, you might as well have cute keys, right?  This beautiful heirloom piece is made of sterling silver, and it has a spot for the photo of your favorite little people.  All of The Fine Art of Family's pieces are sentimental and lovely--this necklace is my personal favorite.

Medium Bucket Bag by Kimberlee Faith (retail value $45).  I have one of these--it is adorable and unbelievably sturdy (if it can survive the abuse my backseat doles out, it can survive anything).  Kimberlee lets you choose your own combination of fabrics for a personalized design, so the bag is uniquely yours.

Two BizziMom planners, one for finishing out 2008, and a new one for 2009 (combined retail value $45).  These fold-out planners made of heavy-duty paper will get your family organized this school year!  They have spots for menu planning, to-do lists, appointments, menus, websites and more.

Peace Love Mom tee (retail value $38). You will rock the carpool line in one of these snazzy tees, designed especially for moms (and lots of cute kid designs too).  Check out their newest offerings for fall, including this one (my favorite).  Also, use the code ROCKSINMYDRYER for 10% off your order over $20 (expires 9/20).

Lands' End Cordura StudyHaul Backpack (retail value $34.50).  Its slim profile makes it perfect to fit in lockers, and it's covered with handy pockets for storage.  It was the only backpack given a perfect score for performance by Good Housekeeping.  And Lands' End stuff lasts FOREVER, so you'll probably still be using it years from now.  Give it to the kids, or keep it for yourself (I'll never tell).

Perfume Roll-On from Klean Bath and Body (retail value $11.50).  Just look at all the fun scent choices offered (though if you smell like German chocolate cake, how will you ever get the kids out of the car?)

$10 gift certificate to The Girly Girl Bowtique.  Send your daughter off to school in style with one of these cute (and affordable) creations in her hair.  This one is my favorite!

While you're thinking of your best back-to-school haiku, take a few minutes to click through to sites of these generous sponsors--you'll like what you see.

Now, dazzle me with your best haiku.  Remember, you have until 8 pm CST tonight to come up with one, and you can come back here first thing in the morning to see the finalists.

Comments are now closed.

Comments

[Tina]

Four sweet little kids
Hand in hand to the bus stop
Where does the time go?

[Michelle]

lunchbox in small hand
ready to take on the world
or at least preschool

[Laura]

new pencils, new books
phonics, math, art, dirty looks
one more home school day

[Laura]

I used to dream of
her first day of school. Who brought
first grade to our house?

[Rachel]

My sweet baby boy
One day you'll be one of them
Time will fly I fear

[Rachel]

My sweet baby boy
One day you'll be one of them
Time will fly I fear

[erin]

His lunchbox is packed
Backpack too; He grins at me
"Mom! It's time to go!"

[Jamie]

summer is ending
kids are anticipating
mommy cannot wait...

[Ashley]

My Baby's ready
but his proud Momma is not
Maybe I should stay?

He nervously waves
my baby boy looks too grown up
His big day has come

[Lisa @ put-it-on-the-list]

One in college now
One high school, sophomore hotshot
Mom misty, time flies

[Renee @ It Happens to Be]

Honors await you
A brilliant future leader
Now apply yourself

Happy Happy Birthday Week!! What an awesome giveaway! Hope school settles in nicely!

[Debra]

Where does the time go
Babe I missed while at preschool
Drives self to junior year

[Robin]

Watching my heart walk
Into Kindergarten doors
Being swallowed whole

Sniff sniff

[Becky]

All three leave the nest
Exceeding joy for my chicks
With bittersweet tears

[mary]

The summer was fun
I love being with my guys
adventure awaits!

[Heather]

haiku from the other side of the classroom

Desks freshly Cloroxed
New Kleenex boxes piled high
Calm before the storm

Carpool lane fills up
The school bell begins to chime
Let the year begin

[Wendy G.]

School—one day away
Anticipation surrounds
Boredom fades away

[nicole]

I just wanted to say Happy Birthday! Today is my birthday. I don't have a haiku entry, at least not right now.

[Jill Harriott]

School bus drives away
Round tear rolling down my cheek
three o'clock come soon

[Amy Storms]

School Days: new supplies,
learn the 3 R’s well, for life,
and don’t miss the bus.

[Amy in TN]

With backpack in tow
He enters the classroom door
Never looking back

As she skips to class
I want her teacher to know
She has my sunshine.

School supplies abound
New backpacks and lunch boxes
Where did summer go?

[Teresa Baker]

four children, couch full
mama teaching filling up
very hungry minds

[MrsNehemiah]

smell of fresh crayons
waxy rainbow of color
best? burnt sienna

MrsN

[Rachel]

Bag is packed; ready.
Pictures taken, goodbye hugs.
One more year; begun.

[Headless Mom]

Freedom is here for
Mommy. All day I wait for
The return of boys.

Looking for a pal
To play away the daytime
Blogs will have to do.

Thirty one flavors
await the return of boys
four more hours left.

[Jill Harriott]

School bus drives away
Round tear rolling down my cheek
three o'clock come soon

[Kristen M.]

Finally. Quiet.
Will Club Penguin music ever
get out of my head?

[Molly B]

Armed with new supplies
Lots of shiny new pencils
He WILL DO homework!

Mom, can I have a...
Shiny folder shopping spree
Fresh paper for fall

How do they do it
Grow two inches in summer
Yet today be small

I'm a First Grader!
Little man with chubby hands
Please slow down for me.

Happy Birthday Week!
I look to your blog each day
Daily dose of fun.

Totally didn't mean to haiku the last one, it just happened. : )

[wonder woman]

First year of preschool.
No longer the lone woman
In his little life.

This time already?
Born just yesterday it seems.
Don't know he's ready.

Knows the ABC's.
Can't use scissors or sit still.
Have I done my job?

Need to savor him.
Every moment, something new.
Not get so annoyed.

Life forever changed.
Never again home all day.
Fifteen years - he's gone.

Not ready for that.
Better give loves while I can.
Soon, might not let me.

[Amy]

Summer's still not done
Back to school my son has gone
Oh, how I miss him

[april]

crying. My baby is
a middle schooler now
Childhood is good bye

[Nikki]

summer was so hard
thought I might not make it through
too quiet, miss you

[Kristen M.]

New town. New school too.
They are in God's care each day.
This I know is true.

[shoutingforha]

How quickly flows life
My reluctant hands release
Joy and tears at once

[Tracy]

my heart goes with her
the last first before
she walks into her own life

[Kristen M.]

Not too long ago
He said he would never go
But now he can't wait

[Sweetanlo]

Math is killing me
Geometry confuses
Leaving me so lost

and here's another one

Summer's over now
It's back to school once again
Junior year's begun

[Butterbean]

Second grade so soon?
Can't believe her sweet teacher
Once sat in my class!

[Annie]

frantically searching.
finally found them hiding.
we are off! good-bye.

[Aunt Murry]

As the bus' wheels turn
Mom's coffee is warming in her cup
Wave Bye to another year

[Ryann]

Freedom Sweet Freedom
Only six short days away
Finally, I'll rest

[Julie H]

Back to school today.
Want to dance and shout "Hurray!"
Free all day till 3.

Hope you have a great birthday. I turned 30 for my 7th time too this past May!
Take care,
Julie

[Tamera]

Read "The Kissing Hand"
Made the cookies with the kiss
Gross it looked like poop

[Dawn]

Packed full of new hope
The journey begins again.
My heart is with them.

[Amy]

My baby starts school
I hope she is not too young
Look out here we come

[Missy]

We have become they
They that arise so early
To beat the school bell

I am strongly opposed to getting up before the sun; 6:00 am is the earliest I have ever been willing to set the alarm. I'll eat in the car, skip drying my hair, whatever I need to do to get ready without getting up earlier than 6:00.

Today the alarm went off at 5:36, and there is no getting around it.

[Mrs. Sprinkles]

The house is quiet
Cats sleeping: not chased by kids
Mama's sleeping too

***

Fresh pencils and books
Love the smell of school in fall
Backpacks and apples

***

Rush: get the shopping
done. Pens, paper, kleenex, the
list goes on and on.

***

All the stores have sales.
You need what for school this year?
Broke before they start.

[Elaine]

Pencils with sharp points,
four black dry erase markers,
One large box of Puffs.

On the night before,
walking sounds like such a good
idea. Not now.

"Mom, my tummy hurts."
(I will miss you when I'm gone).
What's a mom to do?

Fluffer nutter sand-
wich, pretzels, and a pudding.
Better than hot lunch.

No long socks at gym.
Teacher demands perfect jump-
ing jacks. I'm tired, Mom.

[Kim]

All packed up, long drive
On his own, new chapter starts
Hugs goodbye, heart breaks

[Dawn]

Full of hope again,
I watch them skip to the bus.
My heart goes with them.

[Beth/Mom2TwoVikings]

Pencils, pen, paper
Folders, erasers, staples
Supplies they cost what?!

[Chrysa]

School begins again
Are all your pencils sharpened?
Pick them up and go!

[Allie]

He steps on the bus
Second grade awaits him today
Don’t blink it goes fast

[seussgirl]

no school yet: too soon,
my boys will have grown too fast.
i'll wish for more time.

[Beth/Mom2TwoVikings]

Attempt #2

Curriculum guides
Overwhelmed the choices
I'm homeschooling why?

[Lady S]

fresh start with new kids
another chance to start again
back to school again
~*~
not ready for school
stay up late and then sleep in
not ready to teach
~*~
still seems like summer
the sun is shining so bright
too soon to go back
~*~
pencils to sharpen
folders and books to label
ready for my kids
~*~
projector and screen
twenty-five lab computers
will i learn or teach

[Scott]

Cost of school supplies
Rivals our mortgage.
Must play lottery.

With four kids in school for the first time, we've had to choose between school supplies or eating. I hope they like their stinkin' three-ring binders.

[Jenn]

Brothers holding hands,
Blonde heads bobbing up and down,
Together inside.

[Cassie]

Holding on to me
You ask me not to leave you
This is your first day

[April]

kids are off to school
'rocks in my dryer' is back
exhilarating

[Kristen]

First born goes to school
Excited and full of wonder
Where is my baby?

My first if off to Kindergarten. Will it be as hard when the other two go?

[Shannon (ShadesofShannon)]

Please don't tell my teacher, but I had to check out the link ( : Here goes:

My heart swells to see
The smallest chick fly the coop
No more chicks at home

I would've said leave the nest. . . but we're more like a coop!

~Shannon

[Sarah- Waking Sophie]

She's ready for school
I brush her pretty long hair
Where's my baby gone?

[Miss Mommy]

Leave the beach behind
Grab your paper and pencils
It's off to start class

[Renata]

Off they go to school
Pencils, smiles, glue, and lunch
I'm free until 3!

[Carrie]

Where has summer gone?
Precious moments flown away
It's school time once more

[Laura]

Clearly confused
Summer went by way to fast
Where did the time go?

[shawna]

Beach sand still clinging
Summer sun high in the air
flip flops and swimsuits

days not as long
there's a chill in the night sky
leaves changing colors

trade flip flops for shoes
popsicles for apples
who's the teacher? me. {no fair!}

What a great contest. Looks like the first assignment of the year was give to us mom's. How fun.

[Ruth Ann]

marching band practice
changing leaves and football games
back to school we go

these are my memories of 'back to school' - from the days when school started after Labor Day! :)

[Tricia Hicks]

My son is all grown
No more pencils and paper
The Walmarts hate me

[Emily]

When homeschool begins
Our lives do not change too much.
Learning never ends.

[Coralie Cowan]

unsharpened pencils
clean white paper lined in blue
a new beginning

[Happy Mommy]

Summer is almost gone
Homeschool has just begun
Winter is soon to come

[Jennie]

Now that books are BACK,
No more free summer time TO
Play, instead busy SCHOOL.

[Angie]

Up the stairs he runs
Then turns to sign "I love you"
When did he grow up?

[Heidi]

Schoolyard seems to wait
Children running to play tag
Best Friends Forever

[allene]

The children are gone
They left just before seven
What am I to do?

The house is a mess
laundry, dishes, toilets, sinks
must be completed

time to celebrate
say a prayer for their teachers
One more hour to sleep!

Fun, fun fun!!! Thanks for doing this contest. I'll be anxiously awaiting tomorrow. :)

[Coralie Cowan]

desks all in their rows
brand new faces look to me
Opportunity

****I'd better quit, or I won't get my own homework done. Nope, here comes another one****

true school tradition
wait until the last minute
procrastination

***okay, that's it for me.*****

[allene]

The children are gone
They left just before seven
What am I to do?

The house is a mess
laundry, dishes, toilets, sinks
must be completed

time to celebrate
say a prayer for their teachers
One more hour to sleep!

Fun, fun fun!!! Thanks for doing this contest. I'll be anxiously awaiting tomorrow. :)

[Annabelle@Christian Momma]

Back to school is cool
Mom tried to convince the boys
Off they went to school

[Kim]

All packed up, long drive
On his own, new chapter starts
Hugs goodbye; Heart breaks

[Muskie Mom]

Back to school not fun.
Husband is the principal,
Stressful times now start.

My daughter isn't in school yet, she's two. We'll miss daddy who is now back working long days and crabby!

[Alicia]

New year beginning
Moms trusting me with their joys
God grant me wisdom

A prayer for every teacher...

[Racer]

Spazzy 1st grader
Is it wrong to drop kick her
into her classroom?

Non Verbal in May
Now jabbering preschooler
Can't wait to show off

[Lynette]

Our small world changes
Five years are gone in a blink
She's ready for school

[Tara]

Haikus are silly
I can't think of anything
But want the prizes

*********
taraleeashley@hotmail.com

[Kara]

School supplies galore
No longer do I need them
Sadly I moved on

[Queen of the Click]

I’m so bored he cried
Headaches from daily squabbles
Hooray the school bell!

[Melinda]

This is my first year
Three kids head to school all day...
The day is mine, right?

[Milehimama]

When is school? Oh, when?
Out of the house, monkey child
Home, when? Lonely now.

[Hillary - The Queen I Am Not]

It's back to school daze.
No hubs home to wrangle kids.
Help! Mom? Anyone?

[Connie]

Mom waving goodbye
With many tears as she prays
"Lord, Protect, keep safe"

[Teri]

The first day's looming...
Can't they just start without me?
I am the teacher

[Rachelle]

Mommy is gleaming
Her little boy is growing
Let go and he'll fly

[therapydoc]

You try not to
Lie about age
Ha ha ha ha ha

[Jackie Sue]

In the carpool line
I see her huddling with friends
She yells, there's my mom!

[Doris]

New crayons, new dress.
Love the smell of my backpack.
Oh, where is that bus?

[Nicole]

Back to school again
Rushing and crazy mornings
Calm and peace till three.

Have a great birthday, mine was last week. Same age also!

[Homeschoolmama]

The school year begins
Excited little faces
Ready for learning

I love the beginning of the new school year. I love the beautiful and clean workbook pages. I'm so thankful I can curl up and read, sneaking a kiss and that's all part of our school day.

[Jackie Sue]

New clothes, new shoes, new
friends to celebrate life with,
School is amazing!