Evangeline has, for months now, turned sw- into f-.

Swing becomes fing. Sweep becomes feep. Switzerland becomes Fitzeryan.

Yesterday, she asked me if I could "s'ing" her. After I confirmed that she meant swing I asked, in dismay, if she could say sweep, could say swallow, could say Switzerland. "S'eep, s'a-yo, S'itzeryan."

I suppose this is a step forward, but I didn't want her to step forward! I wanted her to keep being the cute little kid who cutely asked me to fing her!

I've lately heard her saying "lollipop" instead of "yayipop" and "byoo" or "blue" instead of "b'ue", and - tragedy of tragedies! - "beyieve" instead of "abeev".

She clearly hasn't read and understood the memo: SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO GET ANY OLDER. I tell her that, every day, but she laughs! She seems to think - and has even said as much! - that just because she "can't help it" that's an excuse for growing up! Not on my watch.

Yesterday I headed *all the way* up to my sister's office to get my pay

MOST of my pay - her bank card only lets her take out a little at a time, which is exactly as frustrating as it sounds. We won't complain about it if her card gets stolen one day, though!

I needed my pay because the girls desperately needed new sneakers before school starts. Their existing sneakers are: worn, tattered, dirty, falling apart, a bit small, and - most importantly! - lost.

( The boring shoe-buying part )

( Not so interesting tale of lunch )