Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Show and Tell Tuesday - Back to School Traditions

Happy Tuesday, Girls!  Today we're showing and telling about our back to school traditions and I can't wait to glean some ideas from your posts :)

I wish I could say that I made an elaborate dinner the night before and/or a fun breakfast the morning of the first day of school, but let's be real... the night before I'm usually EXHAUSTED from meet the teacher and a weeks worth of meetings and the kids first day of school is a day where I meet my 100+ middle school students and it's super hectic and busy.  So, no apple shaped donuts, themed meals or inspirational/motivational ideas from me today :) hahaha

I will say, that I treat "Back to School" almost as it's own season and I love decorating the house...


... and building anticipation and excitement with my kids by reading books like these.







In the past I've hosted a couple of back to school parties including a Kindergarten Kickoff Dinner that Shay and I hosted last year when LOTS of our friends had kids starting Kindergarten.  This is one of my favorite parties EVER!




   




 


And can we pause for a minute as we take in Baby Griffin the night of our back to school dinner???


This was the first year I made these mini apple spice cupcakes and they're definitely a back to school favorite in my house now.


 I blogged the recipe HERE and you won't be sorry you made them. They'd be cute in a first day lunch or as a little after school treat.  They would be great to leave in a teacher workroom since they're bite size and teachers would LOVE you.  :)

  

Last up, I guess this is kind of a tradition, but every year before school I whip up a big batch of Monster cookies.  They're great for lunches and a cookie in my bag will get my through my 2:00 slump any day.  They're flourless and I put in 1 cup of raisins instead of 1/4 cup... so that totally makes them healthy, right??? :)


The boys and I made a batch last night and I froze half of them to put back for next week.  I pull them out frozen, pop them in the boys lunches, and they're ready by noon.


You can find the recipe for monster cookies HERE.

So, that's it!  We're in countdown mode over here... our first official day is next Wednesday! EEEK!

I can't wait to read all of your fabulous ideas today and hopefully start a few new traditions this year.

See you tomorrow for another installment of our Colorado trip!  It's 100+ degrees here now... I'm ready for a virtual vacation to the mountains, how about you?? :)

Have a fantastic day, friends!


PS - this post contained affiliate links... which means that if you clicked on a link and purchased an item I may receive a small commission.  THANK YOU for supporting my blog!!!

24 comments :

  1. Andrea, the back to school parties are so adorable! What a great idea! I definitely have to try out those spice cupcakes!
    So cute!
    Kim
    kapinney.blogpsot.com

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  2. Those cookies and cupcakes are SO good! I am adding them to my baking list stat!

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  3. My son is my youngest child, and I finally wised up by the time he went to school that I was fed up with having school bags every year that just added to the pile of clutter in my house. Don't get me wrong -- shopping for school bags and schools supplies was my favourite thing to do as a child, but I wanted to do something different after reading reviews on a website where kids actually used the same school bag from kindergarten through year twelve. So, our tradition is a photo with his bag and the same pose on the first day of school. It's kind of an informal yardstick of growth, and the greatest benefit is that if his bag wears out, it will be replaced, free of charge (https://instagram.com/p/5wjIMYKTVM/?taken-by=elizabethcave). We started it a few years late, as he didn't need a bag for kindergarten and his bag in first grade was something I had bought on sale the previous year, but, from second grade on, I love capturing that side face and his bag.

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  4. Those apple spice cupcakes look delicious!!! I can't wait to make them :)

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  5. Your back to school decorations are some of my favorites!!

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  6. I'm pretty sure that I need those Monster cookies in my life. And my boys will thank me;)

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  7. I tried your apple spice cupcakes last summer and they were very yummy! The only thing I found was that the icing was pretty "wet" - have you ever played around with the consistency? I haven't had a chance to make them again, but I'd probably put in more icing sugar next time!

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  8. Fun post! Ever since I was a little kid, I have gotten so giddy at back to school time! :)

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  9. Love these! And oh my goodness I can't even with baby Griffin! She is the SWEETEST! Is it just me or are the other links not showing up? I am dying to check out some more back to school traditions but I can't see them :-(

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    1. Try clicking "an inlinkz link up" at the very bottom of the post!

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    2. Oh my gosh I guess my brain is moving a little slowly today! Thank you! I thought that was just for adding a link...

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  10. We just got back from Michigan last night and I am really missing the cool temps already! It's hot here too in nc!!

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  11. Now I want a monster cookie for breakfast!!!!

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  12. I will definitely be making those monster cookies!! Love this post!

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  13. Erin, try clicking on the "An InLinkz Link-up" link. :)

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  14. I have the book The Night Before Kindergarten. I bought it to save for when my niece is old enough to start school. It's such a cute book!

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  15. What a great link up! My oldest is starting kindergarten in September so I am looking for some fun traditions to begin! I definitely like the idea of reading a special book the night before.

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  16. I do a back to school feast every year with just our family. Love that you do a Back to School dinner with friends! So fun!
    And, can't believe you start up again so soon!!! We have 3 weeks left...I can't believe summer is almost over!

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  17. Writing down those book suggestions. We still have one more year of preschool, I'm going to be a mess when he starts kindergarten. Loving reading about everyone's school traditions. The only one we have so far is that I take him for a treat after school on the first day. But am loving some of the other traditions.

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  18. I love the party!! So cute and what great friends and memories that group will have for years to come!!

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  19. Your monster cookies are a favourite in our family. Thank you for the recipe.

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  20. These are all such cute traditions! That picture of all the kiddos with the Class of 2027 sign is too cute (even though it makes me feel super old). I love that you make these traditions for your kiddos! I'm sure they'll have lots of cute memories :)

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