Slapdash Sunday Topic: Nostalgia (2 of 3)

SUNDAY

Hosted by Kayla at The Eclectic Element

Slapdash Sunday is a day for your proverbial week 'leftovers.' Is there something you wanted to say, but just forgot? Is there something you want to write about, but isn't worth a whole page? Do you have a random thought, funny or otherwise that needs to be written down?
That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!
Today's Topic:  Nostalgia
   I hope you don't mind that this week is not a book/blog topic but will explain why this came to mind and wanted to share with you!!
   The past few weeks, I have mentioned that hubby and I will soon be empty nesters.  Our youngest (24 yrs old) moved out of state (5 hr drive away) this past November.  This week, our oldest (26 yrs old) will be closing on a house he bought, which is also out of state (90min drive) and will be moving out within the next few weeks.  We are so very proud of both of them especially seeing the "men" they have become.
   Friday night, I started reading The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.  The first chapter began with 9 year old Rose arriving home from school finding her mom starting to bake a lemon cake for Rose's birthday.
   And it got me thinking to when my boys were that age and their birthdays.  To this day, their friends from when they were in elementary school, will tell me how they couldn't wait for the boys to open their lunch boxes.  Their friends, knowing of this tradition would wait to start on their own lunches until the boys opened their lunch box to see if I had done it again!!!!
   On their birthdays, from kindergarten to high school...yes high school, I would pack their lunches in a certain way.  You would think, when you hear what I did, that they would be embarrassed, especially in high school but they have told me since it wouldn't have been their bday if I hadn't done it.  They have also told me that they will be passing on this tradition when they have children.
   I would make their sandwich, wrap it in wax paper, and then placed in a baggie.  But it didn't end there.  I would then wrap that sandwich package in birthday paper and attach a bow.  The same with their snack, which was always a cupcake, wrapped in birthday paper with a bow and same with their drink, which was always a soda, the only day they were allowed a soda for their lunchbox drink, wrapped in birthday gift wrap and another bow.
   So today's topic/question is this.  Did you have a special tradition with your kids?  Or maybe even a tradition that your mom started and has been a pleasant memory for you.  Would love to hear your nostalgic story!!!  So today is not a slapdash discussion but a slapdash memory and/or story !!!