Celebrate with Easy Hot Fudge Sauce

* This post has been compensated through the AE Dairy Blog Ambassador program.  All views and opinions shared are my own. *

Yesterday was a big day for our family, our oldest son, LP, headed off to Pre-K!  And one fun fact for you, LP's Pre-K teacher is the same Pre-K teacher that his Dad, My Farmer, had twenty-six years ago!

He will have school every afternoon.  A school van picks him up at our house before noon and then one of his favorite parts - he gets to ride the school bus on the way home.  One of his friends, who is in an older grade, rides the same bus, so it sounds like they had a lot of fun playing together on the way home from school.

LP coming home from his first day of school on the bus
and our dog Bailey waiting patiently

Growing up I was always excited for the first day of school and I was happy that LP had the same feeling that I always did.  The one first day of school tradition I always remember was taking a first day of school photo, so we did a few of those.  LP even had fun taking some photos with our dog and striking some super hero poses.

Other than first day of school photos before hopping on the bus, I don't remember too much more for first day traditions.  But for our little guy I thought it'd be fun to let him to choose supper for the evening (which he chose pancakes and eggs) and to whip up some Easy Hot Fudge Sauce so we could have some ice cream sundaes for dessert.  (I know, what a meal - pancakes, eggs and ice cream...)

Easy Hot Fudge Sauce

1 cup AE Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream
1 cup Sugar
2/3 cup Cocoa Powder, unsweetened
1 pinch Salt

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.  Boil for 3 minutes, stirring, then remove from heat.  Let sauce cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 1 cup of sauce.

This is such a simple treat to make the next time you celebrate a special occasion, like the first day of school.  It is creamy, rich, and tastes o' so good.  Warning - once you start making homemade hot fudge sauce, you're family will always ask for it when you have ice cream ;)

What first day of school traditions did you have growing up or that you celebrate with your family?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Repeat: I will not cry, I will not cry...

Ok, so it wasn't that scary or that sad, but my family did reach a new milestone yesterday - LP went to Preschool Roundup.  I know what you're thinking, she's getting emotional about Preschool roundup!  Well, for this stay at home Mom this is a huge milestone.  Starting next fall I won't have all my kids with me all day, every day.  My kids are like my little posse or sidekicks.  We go everywhere together and do everything together.  LP will leave every weekday before noon to head to Preschool and then gets to ride the school bus home in the afternoon.

LP standing in front the school sign where
he will not only go to preschool at,
but throughput his senior year in high school

I thought yesterday's roundup might make me sad, because of the realization that come this fall I won't have my posse with me all day.  Also, on the first day of school I will have two little girls who are probably going to be confused and sad that their big brother will be away from us for a few hours.  But in the end, the Preschool roundup made me really happy!  Both LP and I (and the girls too, because like I said, we go everywhere together) got to learn about the Preschool "stations", share and tell, field trips, birthday celebrations, holiday parties, Grandfriend's Day, and snack time - to name a few.  How fun!  We also got a chance to meet his teachers and explore his room.

When I was a child my Mom stayed at home with my sisters and I too.  I loved being at home with my Mom and sisters and always aspired to do the same some day.  But I also loved school.  I had so much fun with my friends and some of the same activities we talked about yesterday at roundup, were some of my highlights of the school year.

I asked my Facebook fans for advice or words of wisdom for sending your child to school and this is some of what was shared:

• It is great to see how much fun they have at school and with their friends.
• It is hard not getting to be or seeing every part of their day, but if feels good when they are excited to tell you about their time in school when they get home.
• The hardest part about kids going to school means they are growing up.  Read the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn!

What advice or words of wisdom do you have this Mom sending her oldest off to school for the first time in the fall?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!