make lunch not war

I opened the fridge last night to find this: 

And then this morning to find this: 

Ella helped Lauren study for Spanish in exchange for a packed lunch, and then, just to be nice, Lauren helped Ella memorize the introduction to Romeo and Juliet for English class by setting it to the tune of an Ed Sheeran song. Sometimes they fight, but mostly, these two are best friends. 

awkward

Kate was having a play date here with one of her little besties, Eliza. I heard the girls in Kate's room, plotting a late over. When they came to ask me about it, I had my answer ready. "It's Wednesday girls. We can't have a late over tonight." There was some begging, some pleading, and then a quick retreat and whispers about "asking your mom." As the time for Eliza to be picked up approached, Kate appeared wearing her pink striped backpack, so full she hadn't been able to zip it closed.
"Where are you going?" I asked her. She looked up at me and said, flatly, "Look. I've already packed my things. I'm ready to go. Let's not make this awkward."

on target

As I pushed Kate in the cart at Target today, she coaxed me toward the toy section. It became a little bit of a fun back-and-forth between us, until I made a U-turn in what Kate thought was the wrong direction. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"I have to get some things in the home section," I told her. She sighed.

"I just don't understand women."

wistful

Ella's friend, Grace, had spent the afternoon at the house with Ella. Kate followed her out to the street and watched as she rode her bike around the corner and out of sight. She sighed as she turned back to the house, "They grow up so fast."