Well the day finally arrived that my kids started school and since we started later than pretty much every other school out there, it seemed like a long time coming!! This summer has been so fun and exhausting with three kids at home that I have been looking forward to getting back into a regular routine and a little bit of a break for a few days while Liam is at preschool and Capri has kindergarten everyday. However, when the first day arrived I was so sad dropping Capri off because I'm going to miss her so much! She is the best helper and so sweet with her brothers, I love having her around. I can't believe it's the end of an era for me having her at home as my buddy all the time and going out on adventures everyday, but she loves school so much that I'm excited to watch her learn and grow. Being a parent is the hardest thing I tell ya because there are so many mixed emotions involved. There are so many stages that are just bitter sweet because you are heart broken that your baby is growing up too fast, but also so excited to see them flourish and turn into these wonderful little people with all of their own thoughts and ideas.

With this being our first year of having a child at an Elementary School, I feel like we are getting into the big leagues now and can really start some fun Back-To-School traditions. I have always taken Capri on a little mommy/daughter date to do some shopping before school starts but I wanted to start some more things like taking the kids to get a treat after their first day at their favorite spot, or having a special family dinner the night before so I gathered up a list of my favorites below. I love sharing new ideas for our family and also hearing what fun traditions you have of your own so I'm hoping that putting these all together will help when you want to come back and remember them for the next year.

| BACK TO SCHOOL TRADITIONS |

SHOPPING DATE - plan a one-on-one date with your child to go shopping for some back to school outfits and spend some quality time together. I took Capri on our date where she picked her favorite spot for lunch, then we got her first day of school outfit and some dessert then we finished it off by going to get our nails done at the salon.

LAST SUMMER HURRAH - pick your last full day of summer to make extra special with all of the kids favorite things packed in from sun up to sun down. The kids can plan out what they want to do but it could be things like going to get donuts for breakfast in pjs and hitting up all their favorite places in your city then doing a backyard movie night

BACK TO SCHOOL DINNER - make your family dinner the night before school starts a little extra special to get them excited about the next day. I got some school decorations from the dollar store and then put each of their new backpacks on their chairs filled with a couple surprises. I tried to make something that would be really fun for them that we don't normally have for dinner. We also introduced a family theme for the year "have courage and be kind".

FATHERS BLESSINGS - this tradition is something my parents did with us growing up and I love continuing it on in our own family. After our family dinner the night before school starts, Adam gives each of our kids a blessing to help them with starting the new school year. Sometimes there will be specific things you can have them ask for help with, but it's really special to pray together as a family and to receive that divine help throughout the coming year.

BACK TO SCHOOL BREAKFAST - make the breakfast before they go to school extra special with something you don't always have time to make like french toast or waffles and have signs for each of the kids to take pictures with

ICE CREAM DATE - I started this tradition this year where I let the kids pick their favorite dessert place to go after I pick them up on the first day of school to celebrate. They get to pick out whatever ice cream they want while I get to sit and hear all about their first day back