It feels bizarre to be writing “September” on anything. We’ve officially reached the “ber” months – there’s no turning back! – which culminate with literally saying “brrr“. I’m not ready for winter, but I am ready for fall. Bring on the best two months of the year, I say.
This was a transitional week for our family. School started yesterday; it’s nice to only have a few days of early mornings and packed lunchboxes before our first weekend break. It helps us ease into the new normal of getting up and out the door in a narrow sliver of time. I’m glad high school for A will start almost an hour later as it’s getting more challenging to rouse a certain someone. Though this year her independence grows – for the first time an alarm will be waking her up, not a parent. Yet another step toward adulthood, I suppose.
It was a good week. A lot of reconnecting with friends for the kids. When I stop to think about it a return to school after a summer of fun is a pretty harsh shift, so having time with familiar faces before heading back into the academic term seemed like a nice way to ease into the social side of schooling.
After being apart for most of the summer, reunions were sweet. There were lots of outdoor games and for A and one friend a morning of baking. Thankfully, they’re old enough to manage ovens and beaters and aside from asking me for suggestions every thirty seconds or so, they handled it independently.
The rough parts? That A ended up being separated from almost all her friends. It was a big emotional blow and my heart was breaking for her when the class lists were released. She also has a brand-new teacher, so instead of walking in with her head held high for her final year in middle school, she looked dejected. It’s okay. She’ll be okay. We’ll be okay. But it’s still hard and sad and lots of other emotions. I’m committed to hosting plenty of hang-outs and sometimes distance makes friendships grow even stronger!
L is one of only a handful of Grade 4s in a 4/5 split (also with a brand-new teacher) and, for the first time ever, is separated from his best friend since preschool days. Ah well. Such is life!
Aside from those back-to-school jitters, everything else felt pretty happy this week.
HAPPY THINGS
- Coffee twice a day. Yes, please.
- BBQ for supper.
- My go-to breakfast: lactose-free cottage cheese, drippy peanut butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, a handful of raisins, and a generous handful of pumpkin seeds. So good.
- I’m noticing my first three Happy Things involve food. Hmm.
- Starting to use my planner again. It felt good to step back from tracking things in August, but it feels equally good to pick it up again.
- A relaxed re-entry to work. Usually the end of August is nutso. I’m not quite sure why things aren’t as frantic this year, but I’ll take it.
- The Great British Baking Show. I’m re-watching an old season and it is just so delightful. I missed watching it while we were in Portugal and it’s a happy little end to the day.
- Watching the kids play with friends.
- Reminding the kids a dozen times John was on important calls in the office and THEY COULD NOT GO DOWNSTAIRS. They kept forgetting so eventually I stopped talking and made my own caution tape to put across the basement doorway.
- The smell of the grapefruit handsoap Joy brought back from California.
- Surreal Falsies Lash Lift. Before going to Portugal, I bought a different brand of mascara because the Surreal wasn’t on sale and I’m cheap. The new kind was a failure. I handed it down to A after I’d used it twice (she doesn’t care!) and bought a tube of Surreal and it really is the best mascara I’ve ever used, mostly because it does. not. flake. It’s magical. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Nicole.
- Non-drowsy allergy pills. My allergies have been rough lately; seasonal shifts always make them worse. Every other day I take a non-drowsy allergy pill and it really helps. Very thankful for medication to ease discomfort.
- Booking two class-based yoga lessons. ON SALE. Since it’s the start of the school term and we live in a university town, there are always deals in September. I scored a 5-pack class pass for a big discount. I’m not sure if I’ll get back to the 6 am HIIT classes on not, but having two day-time classes already scheduled feels like a win.
- A family movie night last evening.
- A cooking spree on the first day of school – the kid’s favourite soup, biscuits, baked French Toast (for today’s breakfast) and cookies.
- Free haircuts. Wednesday afternoon – mere hours before the start of a new school term – both kids desperately wanted haircuts. So…I gave them haircuts. I’ve cut John’s hair since we got married, but I stopped cutting the kids hair years ago (COVID aside). But things turned out…okay?! They’re both happy with the result, so I’ll take it.
- The low-key return to school. They reused old backpacks and binders and lunchboxes. This is A’s 9th year of school and she’s only on her second backpack. Not bad! We got each of the kids some new-to them (aka: second-hand) clothes before Portugal so there was literally zero back-to-school shopping. They each picked out outfits they liked from clothes they had in their closets. Easy and cheap!
And that’s a wrap on the first week of September. Happy weekending, friends.
Your turn. If you have kids (and live in North America) how has the transition back to school gone for your family? What’s your favourite scent for cleaner/handsoap? I love anything citrus, especially grapefruit (Joy knows me too well).
Coree
That looks like a fantastic return to school, although I’m sorry for A. We have a Wednesday start (and it’s week 3? 4? there was a postviral rash in there that screwed up my sense of time) and I think it really helps. T’s best friends are a year older and between year 3 and 4, they split campuses, so he was a bit sad but has largely rolled with it.
I spent 4 days in Stockholm last week with my bestie, and it was so, so refreshing to have that time. My husband is headed to Canada next week, but I’ve got grandparent reinforcements, so I’m looking forward to some post-bedtime chats with my mom. Work is very very busy, but I’m not teaching so I’m trying not to complain. They’ve made a major tech + attendance policy change and it’s causing all sorts of problems, but hopefully it’ll be ironed out before I teach next term.
Elisabeth
I think the stewing is worse than the doing. Anticipating a class without most of her friends was rough, but after a few days the upset has calmed down a bit. I’m sure there will still be hard moments, but I think there will be silver linings, too.
I really, really want to get to Stockholm. I’ve heard such great things. Definitely on my “to visit” list. And how fun you got to go with your bestie.
Lindsay
I love that your list started with food AND had GBBO on it! That is my comfort show and I’ve been rewatching the first season before bed this week; Mary Berry is such a comfort during stressful times.
We are in a bit of a messy transition back to school ourselves; not the entrance to middle school I would have wanted for my girl, but we’ll figure it all out. I love a lemon scented hand soap! (but am not a fan of orange, strangely….)
Elisabeth
It is my comfort show, too. Really, it’s like a security blanket of sorts. It’s just 100% positive and I love that respite from how harsh the real world can seem. And I usually love most of the contestants too and feel warm fuzzies for them. I haven’t watched a Mary Berry season in a while I’m excited to get back to those.
I’m with you on preferring lemon to orange (it can be sickly sweet sometimes). Lemon is so fresh and clean. Would you believe it? My daughter stole my grapefruit soap and has claimed it for the “kids” bathroom. After her rough start to Grade 8 I let it slide, but I might quietly move it to my bathroom soon. Think she’ll notice?
Steph
I love the Mrs. Meyers lemon verbana hand soap. It is a bright and clean scent to me!
When I was 22 I nannied for a family that used this soap. I had never seen the brand before working at their house, and the smell felt distinctly “theirs”. I assumed that it was very fancy because their house was fancy. Fast forward a decade and a half and I, too, have this soap. (I occasionally still get transported back to that house via memories when I smell the soap.) And note to younger me: life gets better and you can buy “fancy” hand soap at…the normal grocery store. 🙂
Elisabeth
Okay, Steph, I have added this to an online cart because I love lemon and I love Mrs. Meyer’s but I haven’t had this soap yet. I will report back, but I’m excited!!!
I love how scents can transport us back in time. Scents and flavours are HUGE memory triggers for me.
Rachel
Grapefruit hand soap sounds amazing.
So you are like 8 years ahead of me in parenting and 2 years behind me in life age (I think…?) and I love seeing your stages and ages! Your back to school seems so much logistically easier but also emotionally complex in a way mine certainly isn’t. I love reading bits about it. And two backpacks for 9 years is amazing! Also, I love DIY kid hair cuts and think yours looks great.
I am also excited for your in person yoga classses and getting discount yoga. yay!
I am always here for happy food things. I hope the -Ber (I never noticed that before!!) months have lots more happy things for you.
Elisabeth
I love grapefruit Method spray and my absolute favourite flavour of sparkling water is grapefruit. Ironically enough, I HATE eating grapefruit, though.
It’s interesting how many things change with the different stages of parenting. I definitely “prefer” this more independent stage, but the stakes definitely seem bigger and the emotions are more legit (i.e. kids at this age can have very real things to worry about, it’s not just a tantrum over not getting the last cookie, though we could still have that happen too!).
Overall, though, I really struggled with the little years and always feeling touched out and like I had to be doing something at all times because a child just…always needed me. They can do almost everything that isn’t dangerous alone now which is amazing. And even things like having A be able to back a batch of cookies start to finish solo feels like such a great stage of life to be in. They’re also VERY helpful running errands. I send them off on little missions to find things and it legitimately makes shopping more enjoyable and streamlined. I could never have imagined that in the little years when schlepping kids to the grocery store was SUCH AN ORDEAL!
Jenny
Aw, poor A. I can imagine the angst when class lists came out. And- high school will start later next year? That’s awesome. Our high school starts TWO HOURS EARLIER than middle school (7:30 as opposed to 9:30) which is rough! There are plans to switch things around, but it won’t go into effect until my daughter’s senior year.
Anyway, yes, the “ber” months! I’m here for it. Glad you got through the first week of school and it was low-key. Our return to school was also low-key this year. Much better than when the kids were younger, when they would need all new clothes and have a huge school supply list.
I love grapefruit soap! I also have a grapefruit candle from Trader Joes that I love.
Elisabeth
Yes, our high school is almost an hour later than middle school (as it should be! Why do schools make teens get up so early, there is so much science to prove this is not good for learning objectives?). It does mean we’ll have a staggered start to the day since L will still have an 8:20 start. (I think A starts at 9, but her bus is 45 minutes after L’s bus would be).
I love, love, love that our school does a $40 school supplies fee and it covers almost everything. I am a huge fan. Saves me so much time and also saves kids from having to feel “less” than if they have different supplies. In high school we’ll have to buy them, but apparently there isn’t a list and you just bring what you think you want/need.
I would looove a grapefruit candle. That is one thing I don’t own and now I will be keeping my eyes peeled for one.
Jan Coates
Your kids are getting so tall! And they’re very blonde – wonder how long that will last. Ada started Waldorf nursery school this week – it’s actually called a forest school, so lots of outside time, which she’ll love. Really starting to look at Portugal – will need to pick your brain once I’m back in NS. Enjoy having the house to yourself sometimes!
Elisabeth
So tall! So blonde after the sunshine. They really should end up with brown hair since it’s dominant and John is fully brown and mine has darkened a lot with age (I was very blonde as a kid, though).
That’s exciting for Ada and I’m sure it will be a rewarding and stimulating program. How time flies!
I hope you end up going to Portugal and will happily sit down and compare notes about what you’re thinking of doing.
Nicole MacPherson
Once you go Surreal you CANNOT go back! I’m so glad you like it. It’s my go-to, of course, and I love that I can buy it while grocery shopping!
As for A’s class – been there, my friend. I forget what grade it was, but it was junior high, and Jake was also not in class with any friends. Yes, he did make friends in class, of course, BUT I remember what a sad day that was, when he found out literally none of his buddies were in class. And he had/ has quite a large group – like there were ten of them – and not one was in his class. It was really hard. Like I said, he made new friends and so will A but IT REALLY SUCKS FOR A WHILE.
Those cookies look SO good. I’m the only one who bakes in this house, I can only imagine how fun that must be to just have cookies appear!
Elisabeth
It really is the best. Like you don’t know how amazing it is until you try something else. Of course as soon as I got back to Canada and went to Shoppers, guess what was now on sale for $14. I’ll have to keep my eyes open and stock up when I know it’s getting close to replacement time.
It really does make me feel better to know something similar happened to a friend’s child and that they SURVIVED it. I mean…I know it will be okay, but still – it’s hard. I get why it feels hard and if I was in her shoes I would be devastated. The good news? We’re hosting a big Back to School party so she can host all her friends and hopefully ease some of the pain. It is six hours long. I repeat, six hours. And I’m only slightly dreading it. Which means my kids really are getting older because a one-hour birthday party used to make me want to hide for a week. I am banished from planning things and she told me other than eating they will entertain themselves in the basement. I don’t hate the independence!!!
Having someone else cook is amazing. Maybe a future in-law??? Sigh. I wish you didn’t have to cook so much, though I’m glad you enjoy it. But there is something so special about eating something you didn’t cook!
sustainablemum
Hello. I found you again, I am sorry to hear about your old blog. I am also sorry to hear about the new classes for your children and the changes that are not in their favour. We are slowly transitioning back to a more usual routine as our groups and classes start back up again, still home educating (16th year which is ever so slightly unbelievable).
Love your happy list, what a lovely idea and of course it should include food. Grapefruit soap is my daughters’ favourite, I prefer a non-scented one after years of not being able to use anything scented they all smell far to strong for me now.
I hear you on the younger years being such hard work, I am most definitely preferring being a parent to older children.
Elisabeth
It’s hard to believe it has been almost a full year of blogging at this new site. Wow – time flies in retrospect. I’m so glad we are able to reconnect!
16 years – that is such a huge achievement (one of my sister’s is about to that stage of home schooling and it boggles my mind – my nieces and nephew are still so little in my mind).
Kyria @ Travel Spot
So many good things! I love that your first few things are food related; I love food too! My favorite foods from the last few days have been pumpkin ice cream (of course!), a vegan Mac n Cheese (so good!) and a taco salad with tri tip and chili!
I feel bad that the kids aren’t in the classes with their good friends but as others have stated, I am sure they will make new friends. However, it’s hard to start off on that foot!! I was lucky to go to a Jr/Sr high that was 7th-12th grade and was the only school around and so even if all my friends were not in my classes I would still see them a lot every day!
I like the smell of both peppermint and lavender and like to have a diffuser with those oils going in my house. They are both so calming! I do like citrus too though!
Elisabeth
I’ve never had pumpkin ice cream but I want to! I’m getting excited for peppermint flavoured coffee creamer this winter!
Birchie
Woof to allergies! I got a pretty bad spell last week – it’s just like “tell me it’s fall without telling me it’s fall”.
Those cookies tho…yum!
Elisabeth
The allergy thing is bumming me out. It has been so intense the last week, but thankfully I can help ease the discomfort. I know some people are almost housebound at certain times of the year because of bad allergy attacks/asthma, so I’m very fortunate I can still function!
Those cookies are SO GOOD. They’re a bit fiddly with various steps, so I’m happy to have someone else make them.
Michelle G.
Those cookies look amazing!!! I love your homemade caution tape! Grapefruit soap sounds wonderful!
Elisabeth
The cookies are really good. Funnily enough, I have never made this recipe myself. A has made it 3 times over the years and always independently. I’m happy to let her carve it out as her recipe 🙂
Cynthia
Wow … School just started? My grandsons have been back in school since August 8th! Prior to that my oldest grandson had tw full weeks of band camp and another week of afternoon practices.
I lov your happy list!
Elisabeth
Schools always start after Labour Day where we live in Canada, but we also go to the very end (often literally the last day) of June.
coco
I feel for A, not having any friends at new school. That was source of anxiety for Sofia too as she started a new campus for middle school. Fortunately she has some friends that overlap some classes and they still sit together for lunch with her old group of friends. I never needed as much friends as she does and I try to support her in every way possible, hosting playdates, say yes to sleepovers even if inconvenience etc. But I know kids will be fine, it’s probably more the worry from parents that is more intense. WE all go through break ups, new starts, that’s a skill to develop as they enter into adulthood. And yeah for not having to wake up kids. Sofia has been waking up with her alarm for a while now since I go out for run before their wake up time. She sets an alarm, and then wake up Lizzy and sometimes daddy after she gets up. Sometimes we need to let it go (the control) for them to take on.
Elisabeth
It’s so hard to be at this age when friendships are SO important, but she is going to have a big Back to School party this Friday and I know that will be a big boost as most of her friends will be coming to that.
I really appreciate your perspective that this is “real” life, though! So true. I’d never considered that, but it is an important life skill to adapt when things don’t go the way we hoped. And we’re also looking to give her plenty of opportunities to spend time outside of school with those friends, so I think it might even end up being a net positive in her life??
Daria
Oh the back to school process… I love the fact that you bought nothing for back to school. I am in the same boat: they are reusing their backpacks, lunch boxes and supplies from last year. I mean, a pencil lasts for a long time! I gathered all of the supplies from the books and crannies of our house and that was that. We did not do a required trip to Target to avoid temptation. Oh and we also were not given a list from teachers- I wonder if teachers have enough, too… The haircuts look great!
Elisabeth
We used to have to buy supplies, but I really prefer the “send in money and everything will be provided” option. In elementary school we were usually asked, in addition to sending in the fees for supplies, to each send in one box of Kleenex and one box of Ziploc bags (for wet clothes) that got shared as needed in the class. I thought that was so smart because it was something easy for parents to send in and brand didn’t matter etc. Now my kids are kinda past the runny nose stage, so I don’t have to send in Kleenex any more!
Lisa’s Yarns
That is tough that A is not with her friends. Hopefully she adjusts and it will help to get together with them outside of school when possible!
Our re-entry has been so so. Ours started on Tuesday so we had 4 days to adjust which I prefer as I would rather just rip the bandaid off! But it was a rough week for both kids. Bedtime and morning have been terrible.
Elisabeth
It is such a big transition (maybe a bit less since your kids kept going to things during the summer) but STILL. The routine, the structure, and how everything is a bit less relaxed (Paul is going to be back to academics which has a different vibe than summer care). All that to say, I totally understand why it’s upsetting to kids, but that doesn’t make it any easier on the parents who have to weather that transition.
I was a BIG fan of only having two days, and admit I feel a bit daunted to start a full week. Already our schedule is getting busier and I’m not quite sure I’m ready to play planner tetris (and we have things easy since I only work part-time from home!).
Ally Bean
Grapefruit scented anything makes me swoon with happiness. It’s the small things, right? I bet your daughter will make the best of it in her new school situation, but it is a bummer— especially at that age. Maybe old friends can get together on the weekends? Or maybe moving on will be what is meant to be?
Elisabeth
The small things end up, in a way, being the big things though, don’t they?!
What sage advice – maybe moving on is what’s meant to be. This could end up being a GOOD thing. Also, I appreciated what Coco said about how these are skills our kids have to learn as they grow up. It’s the cold, hard reality of life that we often have to make the most out of a bad situation. Thankfully, we can buffer the pain by having friends come over regularly and she has her 8 closest friends invited to a Back to School party (6 hours…Lord help me) next week!
Ernie
Oh nuts. That is rough to go back to school and be separated from friends. Here’s hoping new friendships are made and the other friendships remain intact. We switched the two foster girls to new schools this year – very last minute, so that was a little chaotic. We are getting into a routine, like when to wash uniforms, etc. They’ve made nice new friends, which has been wonderful.
I don’t buy fancy soap and I’m always so delighted to use the fragrant soaps at friends houses. One of these days, I’ll splurge.
Good luck getting back into the swing of the school year. I cut my kids hair forever. I still cut most of the boys’ hair, including Coach. The girls – nope. They go to a curly girl specialist and I go to here too. I’m getting my haircut on Friday. Makes sense, because Curly told me today that my hair looks great. Never fails.
Elisabeth
I buy one generic kind of soap that is inexpensive, doesn’t have much scent, but does the job just fine. So it’s a real treat to have a nice soap. It’s not something I think about buying in anything other than bulk!
Girls hair is HARD and it’s not ideal for me to cut it, but she wanted a cut and it was 6 pm (and our hairdresser usually has a 2-week wait), so none of the math worked out for it to be anything but me giving her a cut.
Ha! I had to laugh about the hair comment – isn’t that always the way…
Melissa
I’m sorry A did not have the best start to the new school year. Hopefully, she will make some friends in her class or at least have some people to hang out with. Is it easy for A to catch up with her friends during lunch breaks? I can imagine it will be quite tough though to start.
How lucky to have a relatively chill reentry into work, especially as the kids are settling into school at the same time. I like citrusy scents for hand soap. At the moment we have lemon myrtle scented shampoo and conditioner as well, but usually I just go with what I can get at the bulk shop because I take me own container in for refills.
Elisabeth
They do eat lunch together; I think it’s just the feeling of being “excluded” and probably a lot of FOMO. But it will all work out and we already have a big party planned for this Friday.
Ohhh, that shampoo sounds lovely. We currently have a “mens” shampoo that John and L use and I just love how it smells. I find myself taking extra long breaths when I tuck L into bed because it’s such a nice smelling shampoo. Those little things are nice little joy makers in our days.
Mary
Too bad for A. It happened to one of my kids during a Covid bubble year so he couldn’t even play with his friends at recess as they kept the classes separate. It was a ROUGH year for sure, with many tears etc. But we all survived.
Unfortunately the way our kids elementary school does it, you only find out the morning of on the school play ground which class you will be in by getting a coloured paper from your previous teacher. Then it is a mad dash around the school yard to see who else is in your class. Such a high if you end up with your bestie but such a low if you don’t. And no time to process since they head into their classrooms 5 mins after finding out. I really wish we knew a couple days in advance so could prepare the kids emotionally.
Elisabeth
That is so rough! The bubble really would have made class divisions rock solid. I am sure there were tears. School in general is such an emotionally fraught venture, it seems.
Okay, this makes me feel a bit better. I was so upset that this year we only found out the day before (most schools locally announce your next teacher on your previous year’s report card so you have all summer to come to terms with the news + consult with other friends + approach the school admin if you need something to change). BUT THE MORNING OF? By getting a coloured slip of paper! That just sounds…absurd. How disruptive to everyone. And why? I know schools are really buckling under all the challenges of modern education though, so maybe there is a good reason they’re increasingly leaving these announcements to the last minute? Maybe parents tend to harass them if the news gets out early?
I hope your kids are in “favourable” arrangements this year. It really can make a huge difference in how the year progresses (and, of course, the teacher selection can be make-or-break, too).
Stephany
Oh, my heart that viscerally remembers being a tween broke when I read that A’s not in any classes with her friends. That’s so hard! I remember that happening one year and experiencing so much FOMO. But I got through it, somehow.
I love trying new scents when it’s time to replace my handsoap! Sometimes it doesn’t go well, though. I tried the “birchwood” scent from Mrs. Meyers and it smelled like men’s cologne. Which can smell very good but it’s not necessarily how I want my hands to smell all day long! Ha.
Elisabeth
Yes! She will get through it and I think the FOMO will slowly ease as they year goes on and everyone settles in to routines.
San
Oof, that must have been a harsh transition back to reality after the dreaminess of a Portugal vacation. But I am sure A and L were also looking forward to seeing their friends (what a bummer whey were split up from their friends in class – why is that? Don’t they stay together in middle school? They do in Germany, they only split for certain classes sometimes depending on what the electives were.)
I chuckled about the caution tape that you put up but I am sure it was effective! 😉
My favorite soap scents are also citrus-y… I currently have a grapefruit handsoap, and another one I love it “snow drop”. So good!
Elisabeth
They have homerooms and that is who you cycle between classes with. So in Grade 8, there are three classes with three homerooms. Each homeroom will move around during the day: Social Studies, Health, Gym, Music, Science, Math, English etc, but they move as that subgroup. So she can see her other friends at lunch and recess but will never overlap in a classroom setting. That will change in high school when you’ll have classmates based on the specific class.
Snow drop! I’m intrigued by the name alone 🙂
Kate
Such good happy things! Those cookies look absolutely delicious. A and her friend could go into business! I only ever bake around Christmas time, and I usually stick to simple bar type cookies or of course cutouts for the kids. *confession* I don’t actually bake WITH the kids usually and as the older girls get more interested in the kitchen, we’ve been exclusively cooking dinners. It is definitely a cool feeling when they start to get more independent with food prep! Yesterday before school Greta made herself a grilled cheese sandwich and cut it up to put in her thermos to stay warm until lunch time. In the chaos of getting ready to walk down to the bus stop and my own getting ready for work, if she had asked me to do it for her, I would have said no, but … she just did it! (Probably knowing I would say I didn’t have time, ha!).
I love seasonal scents for soap. I wait until Bath & Bodyworks has a sale where the soaps are under $4 and stock up for the upcoming season. That little luxury was one of the most surprising things I missed when we were living in Rome!
Elisabeth
The cookies really are sooo delicious (albeit very sweet). I don’t bake much throughout the year, either. I grew up with perpetual home baking (my mom still bakes all the time), but I don’t love baking and I don’t need to eat sweet things more than I already do (somehow, even though I don’t bake, I seem to get lots of opportunity to EAT baking) and I cannot resist things if I make them/they’re in the house.
I don’t like baking with kids, either. I did it some when they were younger but, in general, I try to do most of it solo. It’s actually a nice mix now – I let A bake independently and do things her own way and I bake independently and do things MY way, and we both stay happy <3
Awww. Love that Greta made her own sandwich. It's amazing what kids can do when a parent isn't available! Maybe she'll take over lunchboxes completely!
Grateful Kae
Love the back to school pics! They’re both so cute. A so grown up and pretty. L still so young and innocent looking. 🙂 I love the idea of having a cooking extravaganza on the first day of school. If I didn’t have to work all day, I could totally see enjoying a quiet house (finally!) and doing that!
Elisabeth
SO GROWN UP, right? I am dreading the day L’s picture is of this towering boy with peach fuzz on his upper lip because I feel like he is still a little kid and Abby is…not. Wow, the years go fast in retrospect.
I haven’t had a cooking extravaganza since, but it was a nice way to kick off the new term.