Back To School Dinner

Back in 2010, we started a new tradition in our family (that I totally copied from my friend Jenn). A day or two before school startes, we have a big back to school dinner for the kids. The kids get to pick what they want to eat (dinner and dessert), there's sparkling grape juice in fancy glasses, and we decorate the table up nicely. Not only is this dinner a time of celebration, but we take time to set goals, pray for the new school year and our teachers, and choose a special verse for the year. The kids love it and are already looking forward to the next one. (Is it really just around the corner?!)

I'm sure you can find tons of wonderful ways to decorate and make this your own. Here are some pics from our 2011 dinner.

I made placemats out of colored paper.

Saw a similar centerpiece idea on Pinterest and put my own spin on it.

The kids requested (for the second year in a row) that we have spaghetti and meatballs.

The kids write down things they want to accomplish this year...

and the things/people they'd like to pray for.

This has been a great new tradition that our family really enjoys. What does your family do to prepare for the new school year?