I was busy last night requesting books & videos from the library (I love the online system where they pull the books off the shelves and have them waiting for you when you get there!) so that I have a few weeks worth of FIAR books in the house.  Since it's still summertime, we're going to try Night of the Moonjellies, Gramma's Walk, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge & All Those Secrets of the World.  Most of the books have beach related themes so I'm hoping to get a few trips to the beach and/or the aquarium in the months of July & August. 

I'm also getting my 1st grader and Kindergartener's binders set up to put all their work in.  I usually get the kind where you can slide a picture in the front.  The first day of school we have made the front page for the binder.  Last year I also had CJ dictate to me the things she would like to learn in the coming year and draw a self portrait.  It was a lot of fun last month to see how many of those things she was able to learn and accomplish from her list.  We also have had a special breakfast and a picture in the backyard on the first day of school.

I am always looking for ways to make the first day of school special.  I want to get CJ excited about 1st grade as I will be requiring a little more of her than I have in the past and get AK excited that he is in Kindergarten and getting to do some school of his own.  I was thinking of a trip to the library for their own library cards this year.  What are some of the traditions in your home? 

-J