Wednesday was St Lucia Day, and although I'd read a bit to Elisabeth about the Scandinavian tradition, we hadn't really focused on it at all. I'd been planning to make the traditional saffron buns with her on Tuesday, but a friend was in town for just a couple of days, and we ended up visiting with her instead. Actually, the entire St Lucia thing basically slipped my mind until Tuesday night's advent stocking when I looked in the bag and realized that the next morning's gift was a St Lucia crown. I put it out anyway, since it's a great dress-up item if nothing else.

The next morning, I was checking my email, and Elisabeth came into the room, wearing red and white, St Lucia crown on her head, and a bowl of granola for me in hand. She had climbed onto the counter to get the bowl and the granola down, and gotten the milk out of the fridge and poured it herself (she apologized when she brought it to me that cow's milk was all she could find -- James & I are allergic to cow's milk -- so I just ate a couple of bites).

This might not seem too terribly impressive to many of you; I mean, the child is 4 1/2! But she's a cautious firstborn, and this was a first for her. She was beaming with her self-sufficience. Sweet wee angel.

Yesterday, everyone in the family (except me) was sick. So, Elisabeth had breakfast in bed. And just to show that, contrary to popular belief, I am not always a perfect earthmama, here is what my daughter had for breakfast on her sick day:

Yes, that's right. Your eyes are not deceiving you. Ice cream. OK, it's sorbet. Maybe slightly better, but just as refined-sugary. Also pancakes and kiwi. Yum.

uncommon grace