You guys, Smith, Ashby and Mades (my three Lovejoy ISD kiddos) all went back to school yesterday and today…
…our Miss Kensington goes back for her LAST FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Oh my word, I blinked…
…and here we are.
I am SO excited for Kensington because I know she’s about to have a great year.
My mama heart thinks it’s all so bittersweet but goodness, she’s so excited which makes me so excited.
I’m off to do all the FIRST DAY things we love to do around here. It’s one of my traditions to take the first day of school and enjoy some “me time” after summer break. I didn’t do it yesterday, so I’m going to do it today. I have brunch plans with friends followed by my annual walk through Hobby Lobby to enjoy the pumpkins while sipping my coffee.
If you are a mama out there with young kiddos, let me encourage you to MAKE THE TRADITIONS. Turn this first day of school into a holiday at your house. Do special things, make festive food, be silly, be fun, and enjoy this time of year with your kiddos.
Thirteen years ago, I shared THIS POST…
…with all the photos and details about her FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN, and it feels like I wrote it yesterday. She requested that I make my St. Patrick’s Day Green Pancakes for her first day (a tradition we have continued every single year since!)…and today, thirteen years later, I’m going to make them for her for her last first day of school.
Make the memories, mamas. No matter how silly or small, I promise you, you will not regret it.
Happy (last!) First Day of School, Kensington Kate!
I’ll see you all back here tomorrow. xx
Jami Romano says
🎓🍎📚🍎🎓
Grace Stephens says
I just want back and read your post from her first day of kindergarten. You should ask her the same questions today as you did on her first day of kinder!
Diane Moore says
She was an adorable little girl and she is a beautiful young woman. Wishing her, and you all, a very good school year!
Allison says
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! My oldest just left for his freshman year at Boyd and I am crying! I pray they all have a wonderful time at that school. It’s SO BIG! I prayed over the campus Sunday morning. This is so hard! I can’t believe I have a high schooler and K is a senior! I started following your blog when he was about 8 months old. You were on Good Morning, Dallas and you said to go visit your website. And I had never heard of you yet but I thought, “heh, ok I will!” And here we are. My tiny baby from that morning is off to his freshman year and K is a senior!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh wow, this gave me chills! Thank YOU so much for being here all of these years. I am positive you will love Boyd! I hope he has the best year!
Beth Valenta says
YES! Celebrate those traditions, love that you do this. Side giddy note…have you seen the new Target ad out all things FALL…from protein pumpkin muffins, snickerdoodle creamer, apple pie yogurt…GIDDY.
Lindsey says
I started reading your blog when K went to kindergarten! I had newborn twin girls, and I would wake up early to get a little coffee and MMM time. Ha! Now they’re going to 7th (Lord, help me!) and I truly cannot believe Kensington is a senior. Praying for a great year for all of you! Oh – and funny enough, I looked at our football schedule (we’re at a private school in Fort Worth), and we play Lovejoy for one of our out of conference games! Smallest world! Hope it’s a great school year for all of your babies!
Jessica says
We are been so blessed by you sharing this journey with all of us! Wishing Kensington a fantastic senior year! Wishing your Lovejoy Leopards a fantastic school year as well!
Debbra Weber says
Enjoy this senior year, momma! They are special and go so very quickly.
Paula Hobbs says
Oh my goodness! Sweet baby K is a beautiful young lady! I hope she has the BEST Senior year!! Enjoy your day fellowshipping with friends and frolicking through the pumpkins! 🙂
Kristin Baetz says
This post had me teary! We are sending our youngest off to College this weekend. Hugs to you Momma!
samantha brooks carroll says
Hope she has the best first day!!
Arika says
We read Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes the night before school starts. My teenagers still indulge me!
Erin says
She’s a beauty! Hope she has a great senior year. 🙂
Linda says
Oh I know exactly what you mean. These last first days are hard on the mama heart.
Enjoy every moment of your Senior year Kensington!
She has grown into a beautiful young lady. Savor every moment of this year mama along with her. It will go by so fast.
Christy says
Wow I have been reading since that post from 13 years ago. Doesn’t feel like that long ago at all!! Now I have a 1 & 3 year old and I have gotten a lot of inspiration for traditions/recipes/etc from reading your blog all of these years. Happy last first day of school 🥲
Hope says
Hey Shay!!
You should ask Kensington the same questions you asked her on her first day of kindergarten. Its always fun to see what changes and what stays the same. Hope everyone has a wonderful school year. We still have a few weeks left but are trying to enjoy every last bit.
Laura Holmes says
Congrats on the first day of senior year! It is a year of roller coaster emotions, but so wonderful for the whole family. Hug her tight and savor every minute of it!
Courtney says
OOOOH, this made me a little misty! Praying for a great school year for all the Shulls – but esp. you, Kensington!
Erin H says
We have adopted your pancakes tradition for our first day of school, but I make them blue because of our school colors. Now I just need to put a post-it note on my head so I don’t forget tomorrow. #menopause. ha.
Angela says
These “last” moments are really wrecking me. Our baby will be a senior and he is so excited! (This mama needs to get on board with the same excitement, but it’s so hard for me! I’m so happy for him yet torn with a tinge of sadness knowing life is changing.) Happy (last) First Day Kensington and to you, Shay!! A big day for K and you! Big hugs!!
Julie Carrell says
You should ask her the same questions now from kindergarten. Take it all in, senior year goes by so fast!
Cara says
You should ask her the same questions you asked her on her first day of kindergarten! 🙂
K.K. says
Congratulations, Kensington!!!! How special is that, and I love your traditions!!!
sandi says
Those “last firsts” are hard, fun and certainly come at you quickly. Wishing Kensington a wonderful senior year! We now have two out of college and two in college… getting the first day of school pics from afar is not quite the same, but I love that they will text them to the family group chat. The grocery bill is going to drop since I don’t need 4 dozen eggs a week, and I’m back to figuring out how to not cook big batches. Counting down the days to fall break and thanksgiving! Our newly married daughter wants to host thanksgiving this year, so even that is changing!
Elspeth Mizner says
I’ve been following your blog for years! Thank you for sharing moments with your kids with us all! Wishing you and your kids an incredible first day of school!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Mix and Match Mama says
Elspeth, I certainly would love to meet you in person one day. I am just so grateful for you! xx
Bren says
I remember a time thinking, wondering if you would still be blogging when this day arrived and here we are! I’ve shared this on your page before, but I so enjoy seeing other areas of the country, different schools’ traditions and events and I’m excited to follow along with your first senior. What a great time for you to start what may become new traditions, just like those green pancakes did, as you have your first senior and all the fun times that follow this year.
Mix and Match Mama says
AND HERE WE ARE! Bren, I’m always so so grateful for you! Thank YOU for being here with me!
Nikki says
I remember that post too! I started following you because I had horrible hyperemesis vomiting with my pregnancy and I was searching online and your posts about it came up. My son is now going into 7th grade. Crazy how fast time goes!
Mix and Match Mama says
No way?! I am so happy you found me (even if it wasn’t for great reasons!). I hope he has the BEST year in 7th grade!
Christen says
What did you do with your birthday signs? Do you still make them?
Mix and Match Mama says
You can sometimes catch them in the background of photos, but here is one post where I show them in detail. I don’t make them! My friend Amy has made every single one of them 🙂 . https://mixandmatchmama.com/2024/10/shays-friday-faves-43rd-birthday-edition/
Kelly Bonner says
Love this! I’ve been around here since that first kindergarten photo. 💕 I just sent my oldest off for her first day of high school.I know I’ll blink & 4 years will fly by.
Mix and Match Mama says
I hope she has the BEST day!!!
Beth Knecht says
Aw, how absolute precious with the curlers in her hair!
Thanks to you and Andrea I started Back to School Brinner and do blue pancakes since that’s my son’s favorite color! He looks forward to that night before school meal so much!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh I love this, Beth! Thank you for sharing. xx