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Two of my most treasured possessions are little art projects I got from my stepdaughters when they were little. One of them is a drawing Hannah made of me that says "Patty - you will always be the coolest person." And if that isn't enough, she made me skinny. The other is a construction-paper flower Emily crafted in school for Mothers Day that has attributes she liked about me on each petal (as she was still quite  young, I had her believing I was "smart" and  "pretty" and "funny." Clearly she's clued in to the fallacy of that now). After she finished the one for her mom, she asked her teacher if she could make one for me.

And since I got these wonderful tributes oh, about 15 minutes ago, it doesn't seem possible that in a couple of days we're going to move the girls into their dorm rooms at college. The reasonble, level-headed part of me is thrilled for them - they accomplished so much in their high school careers, I can't even imagine what they'll do with the opportunities presented them over the next few years. And they're even going to my alma mater! (Go, 'Dogs!!!)

But the emotional part of me isn't ready to see them leave, even though they're technically not mine to let go. My irrational head says wait a minute, I didn't meet them until they were 5 - doesn't that mean they owe me 5 more years?

As for Nicholas, he doesn't really get it. And since the girls don't live with us all the time, anyway, the adjustment won't be that big. But he knows something's up - I asked him the other day if he is going to go to school when he gets older, and he said "I'm goin' to school wiff my sistows!'

On Thursday, when we leave them to embark on this new adventure, I'm sure all of their parents will be a little teary. But we're also going to be so proud, and excited to see what happens next. I'm just going to have to double back and make sure their brother isn't trying to hide in the closet. Come to think of it, I may just squeeze in there with him.