back to school brunch

The Back to School brunch this year was a success, in more ways than one. First, every one who attended had a good time, enjoyed the food and talking with other moms. Secondly, it provided a great distraction leading up to and on Audrey's first day of K for me. I still gave her plenty of attention and gave great detail to her supplies, first day outfit, new shoes, how her lunch was going to work, what she would take in her lunch, what she would take for a snack every day. We labeled her school supplies with care and ordered her a new backpack, talked about how the school day works and even timed how long it would take us to get there on foot/bike and scooter. When I dropped her off in that huge gym this morning with like a thousand other kids, and I felt my lip begin to quiver, I nearly lost it as I bent down to hug her, and  fought HARD not to let those tears actually escape my eyes, I was glad that people were coming to my house in less than an hour. If I was going to all out cry, I wouldn't have long to do it. And I didn't by the way. The walk home with Jeremy was quiet. I knew if I started to talk, I'd speak and then I'd lose it. The walk home was also quite hot and sticky so part of my brain was pretty preoccupied with the sweat dripping down my back. 

My sister in law Hannah, was a great help in prepping last minute details this year as I was up at the school instead of being here, as in years past. She also helped me decide on journals for the favors instead of the five other ideas I had and just couldn't decide.

On the Menu this year: Sage sausage, egg and hash brown casserole, egg and bacon cups (from I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson), Mini Blueberry Muffins, my Pumpkin Bars, cheese truffles with fruit and crackers, Apple Cake (adapted from Cooking with Isaiah), Banana Bread and fresh apples. Orange juice, coffee, sweet tea and water to drink in mason jars of course with coordinating colored straws--not the paper ones, because although cute, no one likes to drink out of them. I always have a last minute, morning of recipe that I decide to make. This year it was banana bread and I think it turned out great, considering you're playing a risky game making anything gluten free with the word bread in the title. I used the recipe from an ABC cookbook I got in the 5th grade and changed a few ingredients to make it gluten free.

I got the subway art from Sweet Coconut Lime as a back to school freebie and
the invitation I created using Birthday Wishes and Cupcake Dreams back to school digital package. The food tent cards and tags also came from there.
The circle tags tied on to the journals came from TomKat Studio and I created the 5x5 journal tag that attached to each one.

Sarah