My boys started school today---2nd and 5th grades. I can't believe it!! They looked so cute and mature heading out in their uniforms with backpacks and lunchboxes in tow. We always make a bog deal about the first day of school. We have a sit down breakfast all together as a family. We drink sparkling grape juice out of goblets, have a special toast and back to school prayer, and the meal is served on the red plate. We take pictures and DH and I both take them to school and walk them to their new classes. I anticipate that we'll still do this in highschool with the teenaged "Aww mom, this is so dumb" response, but I think inwardly they'll appreciate it b/c we are big on traditions. We won't walk them to class though b/c we are aware of how *uncool* that it past elementary.

Do you have any special ways to start the new school year?

P.S. I LOVE buying and organizing new school supplies too!

By Pamt on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 09:31 am:

"bIg deal"

But...I did learn to do a link for the first time

By Debbie on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:09 am:

We do the same thing. Dh always goes in to work late, so we can both take them to school. We also have a big breakfast together. This is the first year that both my boys will be starting on the same day. My oldest ds is going into 1st grade and my youngest will be starting his 2nd year of preschool at the same school. I can't believe school is starting in just 2 weeks. Gosh, summer has just flown by this year. I am actually sad about them starting back to school. We have had such a fun summer.

By Melanie on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:25 am:

We also do a big breakfast for the first day. Before we leave I take pictures in their new clothes and backpacks. I drive them to school and walk them to their classes. They usually are only in the classroom for about 30 seconds before they run out to play with their friends. LOL. (There are only 7 teachers in the school so they don't feel a need to meet their teacher-just a brief hello. LOL).

By Momoffour on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 11:18 am:

Mine went back to school also today. kindergarten and 4th. We don't do a whole lot for there first day morning. but we have a special dinner and desert. they were ready to go. Grace she has to repeat kindergarten and she was pretty excited about it. I also walk them in in the morning and get them settled.

By Mommmie on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:02 pm:

We go out to dinner the night before. We take pictures in the morning with him holding up the number of fingers of the grade he is going into (this morning it was 4!). I walk him in to take pictures every year. This morning was tricky as this private school does not want parents in the building, but I went anyway! Played dumb. Took my pictures and did the "I'm leaving, I'm leaving." chuckle, chuckle, aren't I silly thing. My son looked so handsome in his uniform!

By Eve on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:19 pm:

That sounds wonderful, Pam! We have the red plate too!!

We are a family that loves breakfast and loves going out to breakfast, so I imagine when the time comes that will be a part of our tradition.

By Kate on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:44 pm:

Pam, is there a cheaper way of obtaining the red plate? It sounds like such a great idea, but it sure is pricey, especially if you need two, like it sounds like you have since both boys must have needed one today. I realize I could buy any red plate, but I liked the saying on it.

We don't start school until September 9th, thank goodness!

By Pamt on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:54 pm:

Kate, you can sometimes find the red plate on Ebay for a little less. We bought it as a souvenir on our honeymoon, so we have used it alot over the years---birthdays, awards, good report cards, and "just because." Sometimes I'll just set the table and randomly put it at someone's place at the table and it has become quite a big deal to eat on the red plate. It hangs on the wall in the kitchen when not in use. I just have one since it generally just gets used by one person at a time. On the rare occasion we have a double celebration like today I use it to serve the food instead of it being eaten off of.

By Kate on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:57 pm:

Yes, ebay has three right now. One is at $13, but it seems pretty used. The other two are at twenty, with no bids. With the 20% coupon you can get from the place you linked us to, it almost seems to make more sense to buy it new....hmmm....thanks for the info!!

By Kate on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 01:04 pm:

Ohhhhh, they have a matching red MUG, too!!!!

By Amyj on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 02:16 pm:

I let the kids choose the dinner menue for their first day of school. Last year my son chose fried chicken, french fries, fruit and cake! I actually made a cake that looked like a school bus. He invited his grandparents over and told all about day 1! My daughter also got to choose the menue on her first day of pre-school.

By Colette on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 03:03 pm:

I've seen the red plate at TJ Maxx, so check there too.

By Janet on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 03:34 pm:

I always take pics of the girls in their first day of school clothes and new backpacks! I have them pose individually and then together, next to our yard gate, so we have a record of how big they are getting! I used to wait at home for them on the front porch, but I'm not at home anymore, so I'll probably just talk to them on the phone.

By Paulas on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 03:51 pm:

I know Pampered Chef once sold the "Red Plate"...only it was blue but the saying around the edges was the same.

By Kay on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 04:54 pm:

After seeing the price on the red plate, the first thought that crossed my mind was "Gee, why couldn't *I* have thought of such a simple idea that parents would spend money on?"

The second thought was that my grandmother (who raised my mother during the Depression) would be aghast at what sells big these days.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 06:56 pm:

We usually took a picture by the sunflowers. I don't walk anyone to class anymore. They are too big for that!(7th and 10th grades). I could try making pancakes. They usually eat those. My kids aren't big breakfast eaters. I should ask them if they want a special breakfast. I don't work until 5pm that day, so the special breakfast would work better than the special supper.