Yearly Family News Magazine!!!! Awesome!

 I saw this yearly tradition at Landee See, Landee Do and wished that my family had something cool like this.  What an amazing thing to look back on and treasure!   You just have to go read about what is in their yearly family magazine and start one for your own.  It would make a great Christmas present to the whole family.

See the yearly family news magazine!

First Day of School Traditions

With the first day of school quickly closing upon us, you may want to read about 9 different first day of school traditions Happy Home Fairy has compiled! I love the school year's eve banner! What a fun way to get the kids excited about that first day!

(My oldest daughter is starting Kindergarten. I got teary eyed about that today! Is that normal? I can't believe I have a Kindergartner!!!!! I better pay close attention to these traditions and start some.)

See the first day of school traditions!

Don't forget to check out the Back To School linky party for more ideas!

Back 2 School Fashion Show (and 2 Printables)

Eighteen 25 is the genius behind this Back 2 School tradition. I LOVE THIS ONE! This will be a new tradition in my house starting this year!!!

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i kinda have a thing for traditions.
no scratch that.

i really have a thing for traditions.
i'm always looking for a new one to start. not sure why? i guess i just enjoy them.

they give me something to look forward to.

sometimes we'll try a new tradition and it doesn't stick.
but we have many that we do year after year that keep getting better.

today i'm sharing one of my favorites!!

we've only done this for 2 years now... but i foresee many more years to come.

about a week before school starts the family gathers together. each child brings 2-3 outfits.

we have a yummy dinner of sub sandwiches and chips.
(yes. even the meal gets repeated year after year. just makes it easier.
then i don't have to decide what to cook each time)

then once everyone's bellies are full....

the kids head back to the "dressing rooms" and the adults find a seat along the "runway".
and our back to school fashion show officially begins. :)

there ends up being all types of models...

ones who think they are too cool to participate... but are still forced to. :)
...

ones who know how to work the cat walk.

...

ones who have to be bribed with 2 green gumballs.
...

ones who tend to be a little silly.
...

ones who enjoy every second of it.
...

ones who ask 163 times when the fashion show will start.

...

ones who are starting preschool and need a little coaxing.
...

and ones who are not even starting school yet, but still want to be part of the fun!!
...
i'm really looking forward to our 3rd annual fashion show in just a few short weeks...

it's a great time and so fun to see everyone's new school clothes.

so gather your family, friends or neighbors and have your very own

back to school fashion show!!

Letting a teacher know you care about them (and bringing some humor on the first day) is a great way to start a new year. This printable created by Eighteen25 is adorable. Download this "Calculations" printable HERE.

This "fortune" printable from Eighteen25 is hosted at How Does She? Wouldn't this be fun with a few fortune cookies in it? I would have loved this when I was teaching! Download it HERE.

If you haven't been to Eighteen25 before, go visit now! It's a great resource!

Pumpkin Walk

I don't usually blog about me on here, but this is a personal post (including pictures of my cute kids!) Here in Northern Utah/Cache Valley, we have what is called a Pumpkin Walk. People make scenes out of pumpkins at a park with a theme. The theme this year was advertisements. Here are some of my favorites scenes this year.

M&M's. There was a hidden M&M pumpkin in every scene. It was fun to find it!!!

Star Wars!

Love these sheep. The heads were pumpkins. The bodies were tumbleweeds.

Michael Jackson and Co. dancing in a Pepsi commercial.

Where the Wild Things Are.

Isn't Max (my daughter) so scary?

This veggie garden was adorable. The peas, corn, cabbage, radishes! I loved them all! Plus, some of the mountains with no snow yet!!!

I dressed my son dressed in his gorilla outfit to keep him warm! Such a cute gorilla! My daughter was snacking on cheese from a local cheese plant and gingerbread cookie from the Pepperidge Farm plant while getting their picture with the witch who felt like she was Santa. Yummy!

At the end of the walk, there are a whole bunch of these "put your head in these peoples/characters face" things. Anybody know what you call them? Cooper as a runny-nosed Yoda!

Cadence is a princess. She looked beautiful as Cinderella!

What does your community do for Halloween? Do you have any pumpkin traditions?