Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

No, I am certainly not talking politics for heaven's sake.  We had the kind of tea party with little cakes and tea sandwiches and pots filled with lemonade (since my daughter Sophia correctly assumed that her eight-year-old friends would want nothing to do with proper hot tea).  The last big birthday party we had for Sophie happened when she turned five.  It was a pirate-themed party .  There were lots of boys and girls there, and it was energetic and wonderful.  There was plenty of energy at today's party also, but the guests were all female and slightly older and wiser.  Prior to the party the guest of honor and her big sister were supremely helpful, and that was a very pleasant change! First thing this morning we made two full trays of chocolate-dipped strawberries, and when we sat down to tea, these were devoured almost instantly by the eight little girls sitting round the table.  I managed to snag one of them, and it was perfectly wonderf...

These wonderful people had to go back to school today.  It was a little sad but mostly good.  With too much down time, sisters can really start to aggravate each other.  It will also be good to get my precocious toddler back into some sort of sensible rhythm.  She currently doesn't believe what the fairy godmother teaches about turning into a pumpkin after midnight, but I digress. I always strive to be "Super Fun Mom" on the first day of school.  I like the set the bar high and then backslide for the rest of the school year.  Last night I decided we would have a super girly tea party after school and catch up on all of the day's happenings.  So while they were away (and Miss Toddler Pants was conveniently napping), I set the stage... You realize, of course, that I am still a school teacher trapped in a Mama's body.  This fun new chalkboard that my sweet husband hung in the kitchen allows me to channel my inner Mrs. Griswold.  (The ...