our first lucia morning

I knew I couldn't wake Elsie up to be Santa Lucia. Waking Elsie never, ever goes well. So I was waiting in the hall when I heard Ivar say to her in a grumpy voice, "Elsie! You have to get out of here so you can give me cookies for breakfast!"

I made Rory get back into our bed, even though he had already fed the chickens, made his coffee and was reading downstairs. Elsie did finally come out of her room, but did not want to put the candles on her head or put the gown on. I thought this year was possibly going to be a wash until I heard Rory's gruff morning voice, "Elsie. You don't get to eat a cookie if you don't put the candles on your head."

Cookies won.

It wasn't quite the hallmark moment I had imagined, but it still turned out okay. Ivar pretended that he was sleeping and in the end Elsie rose to the occasion.

I told Rory, "I'd give our first Lucia Day four out of five candles."

And then we went to church and they had Lucia Buns from the really yummy bakery in town that is only open on Saturday and Sundays! They were so good and I was pleased to have my first Lucia Bun.