Elcie has left "Fly Away Home" for something worse. I don't recognize it but I'm sure by this time next week, I will. Be careful of what you ask for, youmay get it. Actually, I think it's a cd I burned for her the other night. She was begging for Kelly Clarkson. Nope, it's Music Choice - soft rock. I've made copies of Journey, Eagles, Foreigner for her as well as much of my 60's folk music and some New Age things. I learned the hard way not to let her near my originals.

This is summer to winter clothing week at my house. Mornings are cool, afternoons warm. I don't have enough closet space for both seasons at once so little by little I'm transferring, sorting, giving away. The girls grew at least two sizes between last winter and this so Rebecca is receiving a bonanza in hand me downs and the older two are out of luck. She's not that much younger but she's tiny yet. Most of her size is in her mouth. I bought some too large things last year so they're not naked yet but I guess I have to start scouring the second hand stores again. I used to pass Elcie stuff to Rochelle but Rochelle caught Elcie on height. Now it all goes to Rebecca.

Elcie up and dressed with 15 minutes to spare. She needs help dressing unless I want to get her up about 30 minutes earlier. She wants to look like the other girls and I agree so it means help with the jeans and socks. She can do the rest. One of the things I have to start planning for is Elcie's eventual independence. My son Tim has agreed to continue raising the girls, if necessary, and in California, that won't be a problem. In Florida or Texas, I'm not so sure. I don't think she'll be able to be completely on her own but I could be wrong. We never thought she'd walk and some experts weren't sure she'd read. Wrong.

After Rochelle started walking, Elcie, who was using crutches and a walker, evidently decided her little sister wasn't going to get away with it. She started, first a step, then another, with a few falls in between. She walks unaided now. She uses crutches outside the house to prevent eventual damage because of the unevenness of her gait but by God she walks. I don't cry a lot but when she took the first steps from one of us to the other, I was standing there weeping.

How did I get started on this? Just signed a permission slip for safety patrol for Rochelle. 5th graders are the role models, the Principal tells us. The little kids should probably emulate Rochelle rather than Rebecca but Rebecca seems to have the larger following.

I think I just saw Rochelle wearing a Christmas design sweater over a Halloween shirt. I must go nip it in the bud. They decide on their daily clothing within the dress code but Christmas and Halloween in September?

I'll be back. I know you can hardly wait.