a new year. a new tradition.

I was up late at night, complaining to myself about my tooth woes, while watching the Food Network (which is silly and torturous when you can't chew), reading blogs and checking in on Twitter.
That is when I came across this beautiful post from Bringing Up Burns.
At one in the morning.  Hungry.  Grumpy.  In pain. Mind reeling with ideas.
Why can't I be normal?  Why can't I plan ahead?
That question will most likely never be answered, but a new family tradition was born.

Back to School Eve


Erin's Back to School Eve?  Ridiculous.  Gorgeous.  Inspiring.  Thoughtful.
The ruffled streamers?  Those will haunt me until I have some of my very own.
In every single color.

It is something that I can aspire to, even perhaps pull off next year.

Next year when I don't decide the night beforehand, or have a two hour drill fest at the dentist during naptime the day of said party.
So what is a girl to do?
Beg Erin to borrow the crowns.
Go get the crowns.
Then go to the dentist to get working on a whole different type of crown.  A way less cute, and much more expensive type of crown.
Afterwards, rush to Target straight from the torturist, I mean dentist, fill another prescription, hoping that this will be the one that doesn't make me puke and want to die.  Wander aimlessly through the aisles in a novocaine stupor, while they fill it (why does it take 30 minutes to put twenty pills in a bottle anyway?) trying to gather supplies for the "feast".

What was the feast you ask?
Simple chicken and rice.  On the nice dishes. With nice glasses.  Outside.  Right after the girls had a little Back to School Eve swim.
For dessert?  Zingers.  Yes.  Zingers.  With candles.  The same Zingers that I deny my kids the other 364 days of the year.  The same Zingers that they pleaded for the other day at Target.  Zingers that made both of them say that they were the best dessert ever.  (Tell me why I bake again?)
We talked about their new teachers.  Their new classrooms.  Their new friends.  We talked about what they were looking forward to.  We laughed.  We encouraged.  We celebrated.  We got excited for what the new school year will bring.  But best of all, we started a new tradition.

Let's see if the Zingers make it to next years feast.


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30 Comments

  1. SarahSeptember 8, 2010 at 5:24 PM

    Completely awesome.
    Most put in mental file for the future .. which I hope will come slowly. I'm not really ready for my baby to go to school.

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  2. IleanaSeptember 8, 2010 at 5:26 PM

    So cute and a great idea! Your girls are adorable :)

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  3. Heather @ Glitter and GlossSeptember 8, 2010 at 5:37 PM

    I am so doing this Monday night, for back to preschool eve! I had tears in my eyes reading your's and Erin's posts. So beautiful and sweet, as are those gorgeous girls of yours!! XOXOXO!

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  4. Erin BurnsSeptember 8, 2010 at 5:57 PM

    YAY!
    love the Zingers.
    My kids feel that way about Twinkies. Why do we bake? =)
    So happy the (felt) crowns took away a little bit of the ick the (dentist) crowns made!
    Love you, friend.
    XO

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  5. mel @ the larson lingoSeptember 8, 2010 at 6:03 PM

    We had our back to school feast last night also. I have been waiting all summer for it! Hope your girls had good first day back to school!
    P.S. What is a Zinger?

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  6. CherylSeptember 8, 2010 at 6:15 PM

    OK .. . that is so funny, because just yesterday I was thinking about Zingers. My mom got them for us once or twice in our childhood years and I LOVED them!! I was wondering if they still made them and lo and behold, they have them at Target?? Your girls are beautiful. :)
    cheryl

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2010 at 6:20 PM

    I LOVE LOVE this idea!

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  8. UnknownSeptember 8, 2010 at 6:26 PM

    Thank you for this idea. My son will be starting preschool next week & is not looking forward to; sooo hopefully something like this might help.

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  9. Tai BenderSeptember 8, 2010 at 6:48 PM

    How adorable! My little on starts kinder next year. We might have to take up this kind of tradition! I wanted to tell you I am SO inspired by your blog! I have just started my own creative blog and I linked to you here:

    http://taidyeoriginal.blogspot.com/2010/09/beginning.html

    Thanks SO much for the inspiration!!

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  10. meg duerksenSeptember 8, 2010 at 7:28 PM

    who cares WHEN you planned it. it is THAT you did it!!!
    way to go.
    awesome.
    you rock.

    so...if i brought zingers in my suitcase....certain girlies would love me forever? done.

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  11. Heather @ Life Made LovelySeptember 8, 2010 at 7:29 PM

    you guys are so inspiring! i did the crown thing last year for henry and then flaked on it this year. bad mom. i think i just needed more inspiration, and you and erin definitely delivered.

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  12. ZSeptember 8, 2010 at 7:55 PM

    That is an awesome idea and I will definitely make it a tradition once my girls start going to school.

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  13. Four FlightsSeptember 8, 2010 at 8:13 PM

    what are zingers?

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  14. TKSeptember 8, 2010 at 8:57 PM

    what a truly magical idea.....I too am wondering what are 'zingers'....is this another new "American only" thing us Aussies are missing out on (check marshmallow fluff IN A JAR, manwiches & much much more that I learn about from my dear American friend Beth)

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  15. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2010 at 8:59 PM

    Oh, this is so sweet! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!

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  16. JeannettSeptember 8, 2010 at 9:51 PM

    don't let me forget to do this in a few years.

    but i'll serve ding dongs.

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  17. kellySeptember 8, 2010 at 10:23 PM

    yaaaay! what a fun tradition!! & such a good reminder that things don't have to always be hand made & perfect!! thoughtfulness = love
    hope you feel better soon!
    Ps: i'm a lurker. coming out from the shadows! love your blog :)

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  18. susan@tickledpaisleySeptember 9, 2010 at 4:28 AM

    what a cute tradition! why don't I ever think of these things?

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  19. StephanieSeptember 9, 2010 at 6:03 AM

    I'll tell ya why I love this post. Because this year I had the great idea of having Back to School Eve. My visions were like that of a Christmas Eve dinner and then putting the kids to bed and setting up the school area(we homeschool)downstairs. Well, it all worked out up until my husband and I attempted to assemble the new desks we had bought. It turned out I had purchased a completely different desk than I had planned. After my not-so-pretty tantrum I made do with what I had until I could get back to the store. The kids were completely surprised on First Day of School morning and all was well in the end. I was so glad to read your post and see that others do this as well. All the more encouragement for me to start planning big for next school year!!!! Love your blog.

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  20. shellybellylarsonSeptember 9, 2010 at 6:19 AM

    awww...can I be one of your lil girls ? Adopt me, please !

    Zingers rock !

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  21. JenniferSeptember 9, 2010 at 7:49 AM

    Sometimes those last minute, pull it together in a hurry events are the best. And thank goodness kids don't read blogs to see what all the other mommies are doing for their kids! :)

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  22. TashaSeptember 9, 2010 at 10:54 AM

    Darling, darling, darling. I love it. I hope your mouth starts feeling better soon. That is NOT fun. But that Back to school eve...FUN!

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  23. Tegan | Celebrate Twelve13September 9, 2010 at 10:55 AM

    Awww!!! I heart this idea. :)

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  24. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2010 at 12:06 PM

    I have always loved this tradition when I saw other people do it-I know that each year, you will make it so special for your girls.

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  25. KelliSeptember 9, 2010 at 12:40 PM

    I don't see the Zingers making the cut! I love the you did a celebration...what a sweet tradition to begin. I really hope your tooth is feeling better.

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  26. HeatherSeptember 9, 2010 at 1:31 PM

    They look so cute!!
    We do the "first day of school" ice cream celebration every year but the party the night before sounds great too!! Love those crowns too!

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  27. CrystalSeptember 9, 2010 at 2:35 PM

    I think this is why I love blog reading. The inspiration you get from watching other "regular mom" doing special things and making memories. We had a back-to-school fashion show/bbq/thank you party. We celebrated with the grandparents and a special aunt. The girls made special treats to say thank you for all the summer fun that their AWESOME family gave to them. It was such a great day.

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  28. kristineSeptember 9, 2010 at 9:31 PM

    you could buy zingers this year and they would still be fresh for next year :) and then you would feel like you planned ahead!

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  29. BethanySeptember 10, 2010 at 11:42 AM

    What a FUN idea! I may have to have a Back to School Eve party for my kids next year!

    Okay...that last pic of the girls is DARLING! And I mean SUPER DARLING!! Love it!!

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  30. queen bee tracySeptember 10, 2010 at 5:46 PM

    I haven't been online in over a week, so I've been playing catch-up. I'm so sorry you're struggling with tooth issues-how is it that something so (relatively) small can make every cell in your body hurt? Sending some prayers up that it gets resolved quickly and as inexpensively as possible. I also share in your pain of keeping my little girl (who is definitely pushing out of 5t much to my dismay) looking like a little girl and not a Bratz doll. I HIGHLY recommend Lands End (catalog and online) for very cute, very appropriate and pretty reasonably priced girls' clothes. Plus they are all color coordinated for lots of mixin' and matchin'.
    One last thing-Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. They were the best then. Woudn't eat them with my dog's mouth now, laugh. Have a fabulous weekend!

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