Back-to-School Breakfast Party Tradition

The decorations have all been hung in the kitchen with care, in hopes that the school year will … be the best one yet.

Kade and Brod are in middle school ((what?!?!)), Shep is a 4th grader ((and has the shoe-size to prove it)) and Gracie, my little LaLa, is entering 5-day school for the first time in my her life as a fantastic Kindie.

She has literally been counting down the days and I, on the other hand, have been staying up until the wee hours – in hopes of making the days stretch into months ((thereby pushing back the official start of Gracie’s school to 5 weeks from NEVER)).

It will be a great year, I already know, and the fact that she is bursting with excitement helps me get a grip on my breaking heart. It is hard to be a momma.

Ho hum.

Thankfully it isn’t about me – so, it is time to celebrate!

Thanks to some back to school decorations from the local Dollar Tree and a few perfect apples ((oh, and those awesome, gargantuan lollipops!!)), I was totally able to pull off this Back-to-School “B-T-S” party look in under 30 minutes. I kept the menu simple and sure to induce smiles — i.e. donuts and bacon, haha.

We started this tradition a few years ago when I stole the awesome idea from my BF, Laura. I just love the idea of pausing to celebrate previous accomplishments and anticipate the successes to come. Here is a photo of our “B-T-S” party from 4 years ago ((look how precious they are, they are just babies!!)).

And here they are today! Notice the seating arrangement is unchanged, I am quite compulsive – I see.

The kiddos were super excited. I made sure they each got some special neon pens and some mints and gum for their school bags. I also shared a Bible verse with them ((Numbers 6:24-26)) and we had a short devotion, discussing what it means to have God’s Face shine on us and why we want to have His Face turned toward us rather than away.

Speaking of faces, are you wondering what is on Gracie’s face? She wanted to be “Boo Boo Kitty” on her 1st day of Kindies. Aw, Boo Boo Kitty. She is so cute.

Then I grabbed on of my vintage ladies’ handkerchiefs and walked through a morning I didn’t want to come to be. Now, I know… this is what us moms are striving for – we want them to fly. But – oh my heart, how it hurts me to let them fly.

I cried, I mean sobbed myself to sleep when Kade turned 10, I blubbered when Shep entered kindergarten… and the Brod? Well, I celebrate his flying, poor middle child. Kade gets all the firsts, Shep gets the last boy things and Gracie gets the last EVERYTHING — and Brod gets the peanut butter and jelly, you know – the middle ooze.

And yes, I filled this dainty hankie with tears that streamed uncontrolled. By the way, if you have to cry – you need to cry in one of these. It really does make you feel better. It is as though the ladies of years past are saying (just to you) “You’ll have days like this, we get it. Put your tears and snot in this and know we stand in support, you can do this.”

I have some of these lovelies for sale in my shop, for just $5! Check them out HERE.

Well, she had a large support team to drop her off.

((The boys actual first day was Thursday and I school them at home 2-3 days a week depending on the grade, so I don’t really get the chance to miss them. But Gracie is a 5-day a week Kindie, and that is a lot for this momma!!)).

Oh, I am still crying, snapping pics and dripping tears.

Stopping only to be consoled by other friends & family in the same boat.

And then the door closed. She stayed on one side and I reluctantly stayed on the other.

I watched the clock and made sure to be on time to retrieve her at noon. I planned to take her to her favorite spot for lunch and my heart actually leapt when she came back to me. As life goes, nothing lasts forever.

Her little finger asked me to lean my ear towards her lips and gladly I did, then she whispered “Momma, why didn’t you let me stay for lunch?! They are having chicken nuggets and I want chicken nuggets – HERE!” Her eyes filled with angry tears and my heart slid back into it’s everyday altitude.