this is one of my (many) favorite times of year. mostly because i'm fairly nostalgic by nature and i've always loved the anticipation of going back to school after a long, hard summer of fun.

it was most fun for me to "go back to school" when i was in college because i actually enjoyed the classes and didn't have to suffer through a math class since i was exempt from college math (really, who needs more than high school calculus when studying theatre and english literature?). and it didn't help my "longing for yesteryear" to get an email from my alma mater showing pictures of students signing up for their fall classes and moving into their dorm rooms.

ahhh. to be young again with worries only of getting a part in a play and wondering how much my semester books will cost?

speaking of books, and in honor of "back to school" we are putting away some of their toys (the ones they don't play with...not their favorites: the tractors, the trains, and the balls) and hauling out the books. just recently we unpacked the boxes of books from our basement and put them in the living room and found a huge box of the boys' books that we hadn't opened since moving in april. yes, i feel guilty for depriving their minds! :) we're finding times to squeeze in readings during our day...at the breakfast/lunch table, while we're getting ready for naps, while we get their shoes on, waiting for dinner to cook, etc...

we have some great books for them. and fortunately their favorites are turning into our favorites - we don't actually mind reading them over and over and over. and over.

PLEASE share with us your favorite books. the ones you're reading to your kids, and the ones you remember reading as kids. i'm starting an amazon wish-list for the boys' christmas and future birthday lists, and if we don't already have it, your favorites might just show up there!