On Monday, following swim lessons...

...I popped by my parents with the intention to pick something up real quick, but once the children were out and running around their house, I felt it was quite unnecessary to try and gather them up to leave. Why not stay awhile? It's such pleasant company.

"Awhile" turned out to be all day. Oh well.

My mother was preparing to bake bread. Her classic egg-bread-braid, which is childhood nostalgia in a single phrase for me. She has been baking this delicious bread since I can remember.... it would magically appear in my lunch or for after-school snack on any given day. Taking a bite of it with melting butter atop a thick slice, all warm from the oven and a full glass of milk-- really, it is lingering at the top of my "things i love the best" chart, along with chocolate and the color red.

For the very first time in my life, my mother let me actually braid the bread! I have helped her in every other step of the process, and have watched her do this many a time, but she has never entrusted me with the actual braiding until yesterday. And she was taking this loaf to a friend, so it had to be done perfectly. I guess I'm growing up. Somewhere in birthing two babies, happily running a home of my own for 6 years, graduating from college, etcetera..... I've gained my mother's respect when it comes to bread braiding. How delightful!

And then James came along and wanted a chance to braid the bread. And of course I told him he may watch, but not touch. This time, at least.

This was just barely my first time, after all.

Smile.