The End of the Preschool Era

Well, it has officially happened.  The preschool years are over for the Tiny Teen.  Yesterday was her last day.  She played.  She partied at the park with her friends.  Then she watched the video of her graduation from the week before, and the flood gates burst wide open...

The Tiny Teen looked up with her enormous blue eyes and said, "When do I get to go back?"  I said, "To visit, or as a student?"  Once I made it clear, that her "student" days there were over.  I felt her heart split in two.  Which, in turn, smashed mine into a million pieces.  My sweet girl who thinks she is so grown up, balling her eyes out for a place she so loves.  I fought back the tears, because I too was sad she was leaving. 

While I know we both are ready for the next phase of her life, we are not quite there.  First I know, we will mourn the loss of her idyllic years at her preschool.  Really, I think the only thing getting me through, is knowing that the Texas Tornado still has 3 more years there.  If both of my babies were out of preschool, I'm pretty sure I would have bloated eyes this morning after a night of crying.

Instead, we are going to treasure all of the blessings and lessons of the Tiny Teen's preschool years, live it up (and bake it up) this summer, and then wake up in August ready to enter the Tiny Teen's next phase of life.  

Today though, we are going to enjoy that it is Day Numero Uno of summer.  We are going to spend the morning in our pj's, we are going to bake, and we are going to EAT!

Enter Peach Tart...

Since the amazing Asparagus and Goat Cheese Tart a couple of weeks ago, I've kind of been obsessed with puff pastry sheets.  I haven't even shown you all of my "puffy" creations.  In reading the latest issue of the Every Day with Rachael Ray mag, I noticed a yummy recipe for a Plum Tart.  Everything about it drew me in, especially the puff pastry part.  The only problem that I encountered was that the grocery store didn't have any plums.  That's why today's recipe is a Peach Tart, not a plum one.

The recipe, below, is very simple to follow.  I love this tart, because it reminds me of family vacations when we stop into a bakery mid morning for coffee and a treat.  On these trips, I'm always drawn to a fruit tart, so perhaps that's why I find this so appealing.  

With that being said, I plan on remaking this one with apples.  Apple tarts are by far my favorite of all fruit tarts.  My plan is to end a summer evening with a warm apple tart, a pile of vanilla ice cream, and perhaps even a caramel drizzle.  Doesn't that sound dreamy?  

I hope you have a happy start to summer!  Enjoy!!

Link to Rachael Ray's Plum Tart Recipe