Despite the fact that I *swear* the daffodils were just blooming yesterday, we are somehow back to this again.

School.

Already.

Was there a summer? I really don't remember one. Normally I would say that's a sign of a summer done right, but this one wasn't. There's a story there that doesn't belong here, but the long of the short is that Alexis spent the summer not where she wanted to be and not doing the things she wanted to do.

It was beyond my control. Which, it's kind of interesting that a year ago at this time I said that Alexis needed to pick her path to happy because I couldn't do that for her anymore. Hammer, meet nail. I called it. I was right.

Also interesting is the fact that a year ago I was creating drama in my head over the decision of where to send Alexis to school. Hindsight being 20/20 and all of that means I can honestly say we got that one right. She was at the right school last year. She had the right teacher. It wasn't all sunshine and smiley faces, but we were definitely dealt the correct deck of cards. Alexis turned that deck of cards into a full house. I couldn't have asked for more.

With the start of a new year comes all of those unknown things. Alexis only knows one person in her class, which considering she's a social butterfly, is saying something. She did, however, manage to score the exact teacher she wanted. That's good news, but it comes with some trepidation from my point of view because I know things. I'm not entirely certain how that will play out.

We shall see.

That's pretty much what the start of the school year is all about, isn't it? Waiting and seeing what will be ... and perhaps hoping that time will slow down just a tiny bit.

Because, really, HOW ARE THESE PHOTOS ONLY ONE YEAR APART?

(Alexis can still wear those shoes, though. At least I've got that going for me. THANK GOODNESS FOR TINY LEPRECHAUN FEET.)