Today…

Excitement and anticipation filled every inch of our home.

For the first time in months, I rolled out of bed before 7:30am. Because I wanted to.

Three children brushed their teeth without being told!

Eyelashes were coated with mascara; lips slathered in lip gloss.

Fly-aways were tamed and bouncy brown curls were smoothed into a ponytail. No hairspray required.

Clothes were mixed and matched, paired with shoes and finished off with accessories.

Backpacks, binders and lunch bags were pulled out and used for the very first time.

And today I cried as a big yellow bus carried my children off on their first day of school.

Goodbye summer. Goodbye kids. Goodbye carefree days.

Have your children already returned to school?

In case you’re wondering, these photos were edited with the “Peace Man” action from the Hippy Dippy Trippy collection at My Four Hens Photography - one of our fabulous sponsors in the upcoming Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge Sweet Summer Finale. The super cool Save the Date frame can be found at Jessica Sprague and the diptych frame is just one of several fabulous freebies offered to folks who “like” Florabella’s Facebook fan page.