lucky lilacs...better late than never...

josh and his "reading"
he was too big for Grandma's lap this year, so she sat on HIS lap.


Grace awaiting her clue.

Grandma in DEEP concentration

Olivia listening closely

The clue is coming....(note Laura with her cell phone stationed nearby)

Eliza's turn

the clue! the clue! (laura we need the clue!)

flowers galore

the cake, oh the cake!

A few Sundays back, it was time for the annual Nielson tradition of "LUCKY LILACS". It is a holiday to be celebrated by all. Now if you have never heard of it--be not dismayed!! You are not alone. It was started a few generations back in the Nielson clan, and apparently has not caught on (YET!) with the rest of mankind. Each May when the lilacs are in full bloom, the "Lilac Fairy" makes her appearance.

The children line up and wait patiently for their turn on the "Lilac Fairy's" lap. (AKA "Grandma".) Grandma Regular dons her "magic glasses" and peers into a "lucky lilac petal" (which must be an ODD NUMBERED BLOOM, preferable 3 or 5 petals, no 4 petal blooms will do!) Are you thoroughly confused yet? (As was I the first few years into it.) But make no doubt, the magic glasses will see you through! (excuse my poor pun...it was intended.)

Anyhoo, after peering into the petals and chanting a sufficient amount of "mumbo jumbo" Grandma gets a hint (in her mind--via Laura's cell phone this year) as to where each grandchild can find the "present" the "Lilac Fairy" has left them.

The word "present" is to be used in the loosest of terms, as it is usually something ranging from nail polish to socks. Nothing to hold your breath for, but (in my humble opinion) a VERY fun "holiday" for the kids. It is a tradition, I believe, that will continue to work its way down through the Nielson chain for many years to come. And who knows? Maybe it will be picked up by the mainstream public at some point in the future! Stranger things have happened.

There is always an abundance of food and lilacs. This year Laura's "Lucky Lilac Cake" took top honors. (Followed closely by some homemade chips and salsa, which were good enough to crush up and snort...if you like that sort of thing.)

HAPPY (LATE) LUCKY LILACS!