I got up at the crack of dawn this morning (a slight exaggeration since the silly sun rises so early right now), shlumped on downstairs, made french toast, woke the family and made The Boy's lunch for school.

I then proceeded to play "where did you hide your lunch box today?" which is a game that I often lose. Normally I have to resort to the "asking a family member" option and today was no different.

(As a side note, The Boy's lunch box started the school year blue. Apparently, he and his "nerd herd" discovered that they can peel the blue off and reveal a pristine cotton white landscape. The poor lunchbox is now completely without any covering whatsoever. I'm guessing he'll be needing a new lunchbox next year.)

Anyhow, I sweetly asked (insert "bellowed" for "sweetly asked") where his lunchbox was. To which he replied, "I don't need lunch anymore. We get out at noon the rest of the year."

And I promptly threw my hands up towards the heavens and danced a jig!

Tis the end of the lunchbox season! No more peanut butter sandwiches and trying to come up with creative combinations that a finicky eater will eat! No more worrying about food poisoning (does that box really keep things cool enough) or the "squishable" factor!

How could I have missed this?

I might have packed yesterday's lunch with more care had I only known that it would be the last one of his sophomore year.

And to be perfectly truthful, even though I am happy that the end of the lunchbox season is here, I do mourn the end of another school year. Because it brings my baby that much closer to adulthood. The realistic, practical side of me knows that this is the way things are intended to be and I truly do want him to be everything God created him to be. But the sentimental mommy side misses her baby already. The days pass so quickly. Each day brings me closer to an empty nest. And although a part of me rejoices, a part of me mourns.

But not today. Because today is the official end of lunchbox season!