Only a few grains remain in the upper globe of the hourglass. Soon, the boys will be out of school and my long mornings with Mary will drift into the past.
Yes, there will always be summers and vacations, 4 o’clock tea parties after a long day of first grade next fall, but never again will we have so many hours alone.
I’ve been greedy with my Mary-time this year, unwilling to make plans that exclude her in the mornings and frustrated with events that steal her away from me. As we walked down the mall today a passerby crooned, “Look how happy she is to be with her mama!”
With brighter weather this week we’ve taken to the front porch for tea/gardening parties. Admiring her perfectly set table, I convinced her to change into her bee skirt (because it matches the tea set) and she agreed to photos on the conditions that 1. Nesquik could be added to her milk and 2. she didn’t have to look at the camera.
“You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.” she warned.
smelling the roses– “these are very Grandma Zoeish”
pouring tea is serious stuff
“It’s extremely bad manners to drink out of the teapot!”
but moments later she broke her own rule
Who could resist?
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1/4 cup milk
1 1/4 cups flower
2 cups chocolate chips
325° until cracks form on the surface.
martha corinna
I do. And Mary is darling in her bee outfit.
Tifani says...
Precious!!
Denise
I have 4 daughters (this you already know) and yet I feel certain there are more photos of Mary than all my girls combined for their entire lives! That said, the first photo is, in my opinion, the best photo of capturing Mary you’ve ever taken. Also, I think more $$ has been spent on Mary’s clothing than my 4 girls combined. I guess your subtitle warns of all that! 🙂
k hansen
ha ha ha, you must have gardening on your mind, love the 1 1/4 cups of “flower” for your brownies! ☺ they look delish!
mary is as cute as ever, love the bee tea party! (and her matching skirt, of course!)
Tracy
Wow, those sound very low fat = awesome! 😉
You made me tear up – my 1/2 days with Miss Esther end next week and she will be gone all day oh so soon. I am going to miss my baking partner.
xoxo,t
seven smiles
I felt exactly the same way 2 years ago…
I miss those days! And I still love it when people make that comment: “look how happy she is to be with her mama.”
Melts my heart and I say a little prayer that it will be that way forever.
I am all in favor of learning and school, don’t get me wrong, but my favorite advice regarding the school stealing away my children? “Don’t ever let school get in the way of their education.”
{We are known to skip occasionally when a different sort of education is necessary…}
😉
Christie
It broke my heart when my baby girl was in first grade and I no longer got to play with her in the mornings. Sigh.
Gorgeous photos, as always, my friend. 🙂
crissy
Beyond beautiful. Little girls are so fun! I’m excited for future tea parties 🙂
Selwyn
Gorgeous!
Cath
Eliza has the exact same tea set! You’re so good to make the most of every tea party. You’re right. This alone time will be gone too soon. Loved seeing you running this morning. And your Memorial post? Touching. Especially your photo of the man alone in the cemetery. Your grief, is, of course, legitimate. And we are strengthened as you share. Thank you!
Sue
That skirt is perfect!
=)
PS. That daughter is, too.
Linkous
we gave my mom that exact tea set for mother’s day last year. what a great party and wonderful time in your lives–she will always know how much you love her by the way you treasure every moment together.
Michelle
Oh Michelle! I absolutely adore Mary! What an incredibly vivacious daughter you have, so full of life.
How in the world do you not burst out laughing with every single sentence that comes out of her mouth?!?
Now there’s a girl who knows exactly what she wants!
Jan Russell
Oh, I am laughing so hard at the bad manners shot – you owe me a laugh since I’m always crying my eyes out over at this here blog 😉
Love ALL the recent pictures — what treasures!