love of local in Utah
Back to School Dinner 2014–Speak Softly and Listen
My girls are too cute, they request the same thing every year for our Back to School Dinner. Prosciutto alfredo, breads with dipping sauces, brussel sprouts, a fancy drink, and a treat. I like to spend my time on the creating our new family theme and decorating. So for the dinner I head down to an italian market, pick up the nice pasta, alfredo sauce, baked cake, bread, and fancy drink. So there is very little cooking involved.
This year I made the decor represent last year’s theme and this year’s theme. In 2011 it was Jesus said love everyone, in 2012 Be strong and of good courage, in 2013 Let your light so shine, and this year Speak softly and listen. I told the girls that they did such a beautiful job of letting their lights shine this past year that I bought them their own star. (Yes! These are the same ones that Nie uses in her dinners, I’m a copy cat). What is with my girls stealing my favorite color, blue is MY favorite color! They all have different shades that they love the most, and sweet Cameron’s is YELLOW!
Alright so this is how I taught, “Speak softly and listen…” Which I should have entitled, “Speak softly and listen TO EACH OTHER.” I didn’t mean that I want soft-spoken girls, I like how they speak their mind, and loudly. I meant as a family, to each other, that we need to STOP, speak softly, and really listen to each other. I played a soundtrack of the ocean really loud and tried to yell what I was teaching over the waves. Then I walked around the table to each of them and whispered it softly in their ears. I asked them which one they heard better and they all responded with the whisper. I taught them that our house really is a busy loud beautiful ocean. So when we feel frustrated with each other, or tired, or annoyed that we need to do this. To be loving, stop, speak softly, and really listen to each other. I need to do this as a mother more as well. I always get this as a print to display in the busiest part of our home. I also like to bring it up during breakfast time and ask them how they are doing with the theme.
It was such a sweet, peaceful dinner. Which never happens in our home!! Someone is always screaming!! So it really was a special night.
We ended the night with back to school blessing from their Daddy. Oh man you should have seen their faces! They were all just beaming as he gave them a blessing, with the biggest smiles. These four girls are strong, important girls. We are lucky parents I tell you. Even on the nights that everyone is screaming at the dinner table.
You are amazing and I wish I was your kid. I’m so far off the speak softly OR the listening track right now, this is a great reminder to me. I feel next week’s FHE happening…minus the soothing table scape. Ours will look more like packing paper and 5 dollar pizza thrown on top.
You do the best tables. So pretty!
Did you get the stars at Swiss Days? I bought some up there over the weekend…I love them!
I absolutely LOVE your back-to-school dinners. I’m going to invite myself over one of these days…as long as you promise to get me a star too. I adore those wire hearts. Where did you get them? So cute! You’re a rockin’ mom, you know that right?
What a great tradition. I love how hard you work to teach your girls.