My Daisies are no more; they've become Brownies. I love the flexibility of having older girls, but I will miss those little girls. Oh, they aren't quitting, but over the past year, their cherubic faces have filled out as they've slowly aged before my eyes into first-grade Brownies.

We held a Court of Awards to celebrate their achievements and to bridge them to Brownies. My older troop planned the event and diligently arrived to set up an hour before the ceremony was to begin. The older girls proved to me that I have underestimated them. From setting up the bridge, to putting out treats, to showing the Daisies how to do a flag ceremony, they did it all. Oh there were bumps, but that's the only way they are going to learn. My favorite moment was when three of them wiggled under the bridge to put the braces in place. That was not something that their mom-leaders would have done or at least if they had, it would have been a sight to see.

The older girls stood on the other side of the bridge to greet the Daisies one by one as they arrived, stepping first on five stones to symbolize the five worlds of exploration in Girl Scouting and then crossing over the flower-draped bridge. The older girls solemnly shook their hands and, after they themselves bridged to Juniors, they scurried around like elves, removing the bridge and setting up two magical ponds.

While the older girls did the "magic," the daisies were supposed to keep their eyes closed. When the transformation was complete, we reviewed the Brownie story and each girl was twisted and turned by and older girl. The older girls then presented them with their pins, pinned upside down to remain that way until three good deeds had been done.

To mark the end of their Daisy year, they sang their Daisy song (really loud) in an encore of their presentation at their investiture. It was a bittersweet moment. All too soon they will be the girls welcoming Daisies as they cross over the bridge to Brownies.