How do you celebrate the start of summer?
Photo by iQoncept: Fotolia
Last day of school! Do you have customs or traditions you celebrate each year on the last day of school? We usually don't do much on the last day of school. I do let the kids stay up as late as they want, and sleep in as late as the want the next day. But other than that, we keep the last day of school more low key. Mainly because Mom is the one who is beyond exhausted by that point.
We do however, have a first day of summer tradition that started about 6 years ago. My daughter had finished her first year of pre-k and my son was too young for school. I was driving to a now long-gone scrapbook store, (Don't ask me how long it has been since I scrapbooked) when we drove passed Gringo's. I remember my four year old daughter pointed it out as the free ice cream restaurant. I asked if she thought we should stop for lunch and ice cream, and I will never forget her answer. She calmly stated, "That will work." I didn't realize it would become a tradition until the next summer. We woke up on the first day of summer, and my daughter asked what time we were going to the Mexican Food restaurant with free ice cream. I must have looked confused because I got "the look" along with the response, "We always eat Mexican food and ice cream on the first day of summer!" OK, I guess a tradition was born.
Through the years we branched out beyond Gringo's. We have exchanged Mamacitas, Estaban's and Lupe Tortillas at times. Since Mamacitas and Estaban's don't currently have an ice cream machine I was "forced" to follow up with Baskin and Robbins. Lupe Tortillas does have a nice selection of ice cream bars for purchase on the way out. La Brisa has installed an ice cream machine so it's possible that will be on our list. Who knows what it will be? As long as my kids eat lunch at a Mexican Restaurant and eat ice cream on the first day of summer, then I can rest easy knowing I got their summer started off right.
You know the drill. It is your turn, comment below and tell me some of your family traditions.
