School is Starting

I have seen so many good ideas on blogs on celebrating the beginning of each new school year.  My favorite is NieNie and her "Back to School Feast" each year with decorations, superb food, and a family theme for the year.  My friend Mel also does an incredible job with her themes and activities through out the day.  I have wanted and wanted each year to do the same.  The only thing is, I don't get excited about preparing feasts or activities.   But we could still welcome a new school year with a fun theme, right!?

Now where to display it?

More ideas for blog land: 

71toes and their chalkboard quotes and Lil Blue Boo's new chalkboard wall.

I am such a copycat.

And the night before school started, after our now traditional run around town finishing up school shopping for shoes and haircuts, and after our unfeast-like meal of Costco pizza, I got to present our "theme" to the girls.  I had a completely different one in mind ealier in the day about "trying new things and being brave" but after our busy afternoon with much too much grumbling and quarrelling I decided we needed to focus on more than just US this year, we need to learn to SERVE.

And the best quote for service is found in the Book of Mormon, of course.

We practiced repeating our theme a few times, we talked about King Benjamin who was speaking to the people of the Book of Mormon and how he was urging them to be righteous and happy, and we talked about how we wanted those same things.

And now they are armed with new goals and are ready to head on off to school.

And a new chalkboard to write lovenotes and after school chores on;)