Going back

Proof that this is the first day of school:

There's a little nip in the air,

people are wearing new clothes and smiles as they head off (or, in the case of this photo, as they come home), Louie is looking out the window waiting for friends to come home (see above),

the smell of cookies is in the air (oh, I love this recipe sooo much; it never fails),

and shoes and backpacks are strewn hither and yon.  Yep, we're back.

(Maddy changed out of her new school clothes so fast this afternoon [no way I was taking a photo at 5:30 this morning when I drove her to seminary] that I didn't have a chance to get a photo. Second-day-of-school photo will have to do...)

Closing another chapter

It's book parade season around here, baby!

Brace yourself for the cuteness

I mean, seriously?

Don't you think this boy wanted to actually

wear his underpants but his mom/dad

came up with this solution?

oh, cute Harry.

There's a special place in heaven for this 1st grade teacher.

Right next to middle school band directors.

May I introduce Percy Jackson

of the Lightning Thief series?

He made his shirt and beads.

His watch figures in somehow.

I can't remember why.

I love the school's annual book parade.

The book parade and I,

we had a good ride 

but after eight years

(with the three kids and 13 costumes, 

all I can remember is

Harry Potter

Tacky the Penguin

Nancy Drew

Laura Ingalls

Madeline &

Madlenka.)

...

it's my last one.

I'm going to miss it.

Growing up is hard.

For the mom, at least.

The Last Derby

^making last minute adjustments & weight addition

{G flew in from a work trip to Arizona just for this...

driving straight from the airport to the derby.}

^don't you love the one with the skier?

It didn't fare so well in the race but I think

it deserves a quirkiness award

^The first of many heats (Sam's is far left)

I'm a little sad that this phase of our life is over!

Like every other year,

Greg and Sam have spent many nights over the last few months

designing, cutting, sanding, measuring, painting, adjusting.

There's a lot wrapped up in that little car.

;)

Thank you for Flying Summer Airlines

Bye.

6:50 a.m.

Buh-bye.

7:15 a.m.

Bye now.

               8:15 a.m.                                

Enjoy your stay in school land.

Come fly with us again next year.

{wink}

{wave}

St. Lucia morning

^
Carl Larsson's Lucia, 1908

Today is St. Lucia Day, a Scandinavian Christmas/winter solsticey celebration of the light returning to Scandinavia (before the switch to the Gregorian calendar, apparently St. Lucia Day fell on Winter Solstice). My mother's family did it, I did it growing up, and now my own family does it every December 13th; I love preserving that chain. Traditionally the oldest daughter in the family (my two daughters take turns and I help them get everything ready) gets up before dawn and prepares breakfast in bed for the family. Wearing a crown of candles, she goes from bed to bed, singing "Santa Lucia" and giving pastries and hot chocolate. It's one of our favorite traditions, pretty much a non-negotiable part of our Christmas season.

We don't have the girls wear the candle crowns anymore; they carry a wreath of candles on a tray. (Although, growing up I would find candle wax in my hair and scalp all day after the candle crown dripped on me on St. Lucia morning.) Now there are new-fangled battery operated St. Lucia crowns. Not as authentic or exciting but a little safer, I suppose.

This year was Maddy's turn
A little Carl Larsson-ish herself
One of these years I'll make a white robe with a red sash
for more authenticity and better photos