Back to School Feast {2014}

We are a week into school and so far, so good.
It was a little rough for Claire the first few days, but since then, it has been all good!

 Ever since Kate started preschool, we have done a Back to School Feast to kick off the school year.
This is one of my favorite traditions!
Back to School Feast {2010}
Back to School Feast {2011}
Back to School Feast {2012}

Back to School Feast {2013}

  Each year we pick a theme for the year for the kids to focus on.

This year, our family theme is:

BE BRAVE

I found a ton of prints on Google Images and printed some of them out and put them in frames.

Garland hanging from the window:

Love all these prints & so did the girls:

 

 

I went with bright, bold colors for our Back to School Feast. Brave girls like bright colors :)

 We always have our Back to School Feast Dinner outside.

Bright garland for the outside:

I always get the girls a little Back to School "gift".

They needed water bottles for their school lunches, and they love Frozen, so these were perfect!

One side of the water bottle has Anna & Elsa, the other side has Olaf. We even talked about how their gift went along with our "Be Brave" theme. We talked about how Anna, Elsa & Olaf were all brave throughout the movie.

For our Back to School Feast, I always let the girls pick our menu. This meal is all about them & getting them excited about the new school year. 

For the 4th year in a row, they picked Breakfast for dinner!

The Menu:

Homemade Waffles

Scrambled Eggs

Bacon & Maple Sausage

Breakfast Potatoes

Blueberries

Orange Juice

 Delicious!

The girls also wear crowns during our Back to School Feast since it is a special dinner all about them!

{This crown was made by my friend Becky & it was a favor at her daughter's birthday party a few years ago, the girls still love them}

Our Back to School Feast is one of my favorite traditions.
My hope & prayer for my girls this school year is that they are Brave.

During our dinner, we talk about our theme and discuss ways they can "Be Brave" this school year.

Claire said she can be brave this year by not being scared to go to school.

She can be brave this year by befriending the new girls in her class.

Claire wants to be brave this year when learning how to read even if it is hard.

 Kate said she could be brave this year by saying hi to people even when she is shy.

She can be be brave by playing with new friends at recess.

And, would you believe this....we couldn't believe Kate's homework folder cover that was sent home last week....her class has the same theme that our family has! What are the chances?!?! Kevin, Kate & I couldn't believe it!

So, this year, I pray that my girls are Brave.

 I pray that they re Brave and show love to fellow classmates.
I pray they are Brave and go to to school without being afraid or anxious.

 I pray they are Brave when learning new things, even when it's hard.

I pray they show kindness & goodness to their classmates & teachers and that they are brave and stand up to bullies or kids who are being mean to other kids.

 I pray they are brave even if they don't feel like they have anyone to play with.....and that they are brave if they see someone playing by themself, I pray they are brave enough to be a friend to those in need.

 I pray they are brave in class and stay on task and not be distracted even if other students around them are.

My hope is that I am also brave this school year....with my students, with my students parents, with my co-workers.

This is a big school year....Common Core has officially launched into our schools.

I pray that I can be brave with the new curriculum.

I pray that I can be brave with my classroom management and with disciplining my students (my least favorite part of teaching...why can't kids just obey the rules?!?!)

I pray that I can be brave and try out new activities and lessons to better engage my students.

I also pray I can be brave with my Rodan + Fields business. 

I earned an all expense paid trip to the Rodan + Fields Convention in Atlanta. 

It is next week and I am feeling anxious about leaving my family for 4 days. I know that it is a no-brainer for me to go since it it is a free trip.

I am so excited I earned it & so excited to go, and I know it will be a blast, but I would appreciate prayers to calm my heart,  I have never been gone from my family for that long.

And, pray for Kevin....he will be by himself with all 3 kids for 4 days!

He is Brave!

Happy Back to School, Friends!

Do you have a Back to School Theme or goal for your kids?

Hope your new school year is going smoothly!