"Everything is a phase."

My cousin, Barbara Bisset, said this to me at one of my baby showers when I was pregnant with Evelyn. It has seen me through sleepless nights, a fussy infant, endless attempts at potty training, and times when it feels like I've got all the parenting stuff backwards. EVERYTHING is a phase. This, too, will pass.

But right now that phrase is not so much a sigh of relief as a sigh of nostalgia. I've only been a parent for eight years, but I already know that the things they seem to do/say ALL the time...suddenly go away. EVERYTHING is a phase. Even the things you wish would go on forever. Such as:

The Nature Book Phase from this summer. Totally did it themselves.

 (Projects like these are one of the many reasons SCOTCH TAPE is at such a premium at our house.)

 The Book-Copying Phase. Again, all summer long, they would sit each evening (and sometimes on their own) while I read Laura Ingalls Wilder books and copy books. Yes, word for word. Page after page. Numbered, stapled, treasured.

 Amelia at her desk copying a book.

 (So THAT'S where the magnetic hide-a-key box is! Serving as Amelia's paperweight to keep her book flat as she copies.)

 The Let's Make a Fort Phase. This phase comes and goes, and I will really sigh with nostalgia the day I realize it is gone forever. This was an umbrella fort:

 The ever-popular blanket fort:

 And the Make-Your-Own-Crown Phase. Evelyn had three other hearts on this crown--one each titled "Dad," "Mom," and "Sister." Well if that just doesn't turn me into a puddle.

 Amelia's crown expressed her love for her current teacher, but the flash washed it out. 

Yes, everything is a phase. The rough stuff comes and goes, and so much of everything else does, too. I will REALLY cry when they don't care for me to read aloud to them before bed; and when they feel compelled to do something ELSE on a wintry Friday night besides going to the MD Science Center with their mom; and when they stop yearning and begging to climb the trees in the front yard.

Yes. Everything is a phase.

She's Eight

Yesterday was Evelyn's birthday. We started with presents before breakfast (thank you Grandma Blackman, Aunt Betty, and Aunt Lisa for the cards and gifts you sent--she LOVED opening those!) Then I brought rice krispy treats that she and I had made to her class at the end of the day. Then Mom joined us to go shopping for clothes. While it was fun to pick out some new outfits at JC Penney, I was SO happy to see her fall in love with stuffed animals and sparkly journals at the "Justice" store. It just feels too soon to be focused only on clothes! She and  Amelia have already created a whole world for those stuffed animals. :)

Evelyn's full of life and doesn't like missing anything. She loves people and can give so unselfishly. She's a great eater and will try pretty much anything. And she looks so cute in Alan's glasses and the Laura Ingalls bonnet. I think this was from a day she and Amelia were playing Little House "school," and she was the teacher. She very well might be a teacher someday. I've certainly learned a lot from this kid! We love you, Evelyn. 

This is what it was like...

...on the first day of school this year.  They're a little wired.  A little tired. And a whole lot of wonderful.

 Evelyn is holding metallic star stickers. She wanted to give sheets of them out to her friends. Amelia  has her "rainbow pointer" in her left hand. When we'd had her "summer conversation" with her teacher, Amelia had noticed that the teacher's pointer looked old. Amelia took her pointer to school and traded with her teacher so her teacher could have the newer, prettier, rainbow pointer. My heart just bursts with love.

Look at those girls. My how we love them.