School Year Traditions

Definition of TRADITION

1
a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)
b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2
: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3
: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4
: characteristic manner, method, or style

I was just thinking the other day how happy I was with "falling" back into our school year routines. As busy as we are...and October will just bring more activities, I actually enjoy the fast paced of the school year. I like knowing exactly what will be planned for the day and exactly what we will be doing. Don't get me wrong, at some point during this school year, I will be longing for the warm summer days with nothing to do, having a whole day in front of us with endless possibilities, but that won't be for a while now.

But I had a thought that what I consider our "routines" of the school year, the girls will look back on and see traditions. I hope I set some good ones! Here are a few of our traditions;

• Going school shopping with Grammy in Michigan
• picking out our new school supplies after receiving our list mailed by our new teacher
• bedtime routine, including picking out clothes for the next day and reading a chapter in our latest book.
• First day pictures, in front of the school's sign and at least one shot from behind showing off their back packs
• sitting at the table having a snack while going through their folders after school. Looking at work that was done in class, their homework, letters from the teacher etc. and talking about their day.
• going through the school lunch calendar each month and highlighting the days they would like to eat "hot" lunch.
• My personal Favorite"
  going out to eat on Fridays! our treat for surviving such a busy weeks, Mom does not cook, and we have a nice family dinner out, where we work on our new spelling words for upcoming week. We do both vocab and spelling while we wait to be served! Sometimes if its cold out, we do delivery in, but same concept.
  
• Low key weekends! After all the get there, be here of the week. Weekends are more relaxed, we do have swimming on Sat and soccer/church on Sunday, but food is loaded up in the crockpot on Sat. morning, and its eaten whenever over the weekend. No set meal times, and no formal dinners at the table, its eat when you want to eat, and the only thing that is planned is a hike or bike ride!

I am sure there are more that I am overlooking. But it will be fun to see which ones last and which one are left behind for one reason or another. And years down the road when they have their own families, which ones they will incorporate as their own.