I've Always Called It Gingerbread

It was some time ago, among my earliest Christmas memories, really. Each year, gingerbread house-making occupied a prized slot in our busy December calendar. I say "gingerbread", though I have never actually made such a treat. Instead, for the annual candy-encrusted confection, we would use boxes upon boxes of graham crackers. Notwithstanding, I've always called it gingerbread, and will likely continue to do so all the rest of my days.

Rimington Creations 2011

For the Rimington boys, planning for gingerbread houses often started days or weeks in advance. I must have been six years old when the eagerness finally settled into me; old enough to envy John's precision and Justin's sense of scope. John had crafted a superb igloo made, not of graham crackers, but of marshmallows. Justin responded by crafting a large fort or castle.

The Compound, by Delores

So, when I decided to make a castle AND an igloo, I was met by an emphatic, "Come up with your own ideas."

The Temple, by Abigail

Year after year, the creations became more and more elaborate. We seemed to loose sense of the time-honored PURPOSE of gingerbread houses; that is, to pile on as much candy as possible to sustain yourself through the oncoming winter months. Our last chance at candy until the Easter Bunny rears its furry head, and we focused only on doing what we thought hadn't been done--at least at our table--before.

The House, by Lillian

Well, here we are, 2011, and the tradition lives on. With foil wrapped boards in hand, the girls each went to town, standing up four walls and piling on the candy. My vision was of a lighthouse on a craggy precipice, and Delores envisioned a cozy neighborhood. The gingerbread men in Delores's compound started a snowball fight, and I paved the tree-lined path to the lighthouse with the bodies of fallen gummy bears. Abigail's house had two trees and armed guards for a while, but eventually evolved into a temple. Lillian loaded the yard up with candy corns without delay, proving she had a better grasp of the true purpose of gingerbread houses than us all.

The Lighthouse, by Keith

Time to start planning for next year.

Beans

Both of our girls have nick names. Abigail we call Rag Doll (Abigail to Ragapail to Rag Doll). Lillian we call the Bean (Lillian to Lilly Bean to Little Bean to Bean).

Getting out of the van yesterday:

Keith: I'll just hold my hand out for you to take if you want help out. I'm being a gentleman for my princess.

Lillian: I not a princess. I a girl.

Keith: Well, if you want help, here is my hand, my lady.

Lillian: I not a lady. I a girl.

Delores: Are you a Bean?

Lillian: Yeah! I a Bean! I a girl! I a Bean!

Sisters....Friends

Abigail and Lillian are sharing cookies...a favorite past time for children. Abigail tells Lillian she is a good sister for handing her cookies and they are laughing and yummy-ing together.

Then Lillian says: Abigail, you my best fwend.

Abigail: Oh, that is so nice.


Later that week in the carpool to preschool...

Abigail: Kaleb, Lillian is my best friend.

Musical Engineering

Mom: Lillian Janell! Eat your dinner!

Abigail: What does Janell mean?

Mom: It's Lillian's middle name.

Abigail: What is Grandma Rimington's middle name?

Mom: I don't know.

Abigail: What is Grandma Barker's middle name?

Mom: I don't know.

Abigail: What was Grandpa Barker?

Mom: He was an engineer (not knowing what else to call him).

Abigail: I know that word....(singing) The engineer sang as they walked and walked and walked, the engineers sang as they walked and walked and walked....

Best Friends

A conversation yesterday:

A Friend: Abigail, I am your very best friend!

Abigail: No. My pet unicorn, Rainbowlicious, is my very best friend. You are my very good friend.

Another conversation:

Abigail: Oh my! I am all hot and sweaty... I mean... glow-y. I'm all hot and glow-y.

Rapunzel's Gown

Hi! I'm Rapunzel. You might remember me from a small video production that came from a small animation shop last year. I spent a week with my very best friend, Abigail, to celebrate her fourth birthday. It was the best day EVER!!!!

While I was there, I got a brand new dress, and I'm here to tell you all about it. Oh, if only Flynn were there to see it!

Abigail did most of the work...

But she did get some help from her dad...

The dress was arranged in layers. The inner skirt sparkled and glowed.

After the skirt was finished, we started working on the bodice...

Complete with every ruffle and lace...

At last I was ready for for Abigail's birthday party, which had been my dream for weeks.

And I lived happily ever after... Until they ate my dress.

Old Age From Young Eyes

Yesterday, as is our tradition, we sat together in the girls' room to read scriptures together. Delores and Lillian rocked in the corner, while Abigail snuggled up against me where she could see the pictures in the illustrated Doctrine and Covenants.

I read to her the account of Joseph Smith's first vision, which happened when he was only fourteen. This conversation follows:

Dad: Abigail, how old are you?

Abigail: Three!

Dad: Almost. You had a birthday, so now you are FOUR! (Of course, "four" was infused with all the excitement that a transition from three to four deserves.)

Dad: Joseph was FOURTEEN. That's four plus TEN MORE. (Ok, ok. Perhaps I was having too much fun demonstrating that I could speak such large numbers, but she looked so absolutely in awe at the illustration of this young man that was so obviously older than her, that I couldn't help myself.)

Abigail: Wow. He was OLD. So OLD he was almost going to DIE!

I suppose I shouldn't tell her that I've been fourteen twice. She might not believe me.

--

Today, Abigail joined Delores on a visit to a doctor. The Doc is an amiable fellow, perhaps a handful of years older than me, who we've seen off and on for years. My folks see him too, so he sometimes mixes up the relationships, asking Delores how my dad was doing when he meant to ask about me.

While they were talking in the office, he asks Abigail, who was wearing her new Rapunzel princess dress, if she was married. The conversation went something like this:

Doc: Abigail, are you married?

Abigail: NOOooooOOO. I'm too little to get married.

Doc: How old to you have to be to get married?

Abigail: I think six or seven... Yeah, six or seven.

Doc: Oh, ok. Do you drive.

Abigail: No, I'm too little to drive.

Doc: Oh. How old to you have to be to drive?

Abigail: Six or seven, too.

Doc: Ok.

And later...

Doc: Abigail, how old is your grandma?

Abigail: I have TWO grandmas! Grandma Dorton and Grandma Rimington. And my name is Abigail!

Doc: Wow! So how old is your grandma Rimington?

Abigail: She's very...

Abigail: very...

Abigail: very...

Abigail: Rimington-y!

And there you have it.

Squirrels!

The girls and I are on a walk one fine morning. At the first acorn sighting they both get out of the stroller to explore. Not one, or even two, but at least a dozen acorns all around the bottom of - you guessed it - an acorn tree. After each child had five or so nuts in their hands we continued our walk.

Abigail then explained to me her plan...

Abigail: Mom, squirrels eat acorns, and I'm going to feed my nuts to the squirrels when I see them. Then they will say 'thank you' and I'll say 'you're welcome' and they'll give me a big hug!

Later as we walk...

Abigail: Squirrels! Squirrels! I have some nuts for you! Come and get your nuts! They're yummy! Squirrels! Come get some nuts!

We never saw any squirrels and decided we'd take the acorns with us the next time that we go camping, because there are lots of squirrels in the mountains.

Dinner

We're at a restaurant last night to celebrate our anniversary. I stopped by the bathroom and Abigail and Lillian came with me. They waited in the outer room while I went into the 'toilet room'.

I'd been in there 5 seconds where Abigail popped her head into the toilet room and said, "Mom, I'm going to give you your privacy."

"Thank you"

Ten seconds later, my door opens again, and Abigail states, "Mom, I'm not going to bug you."

"Great, thanks."

About 8 seconds later I hear, "Mom?! Do you have a sink in there?"

"no"

"Oh, then, you can use the one out here!"

Thankfully, I was done by this time and the "non-interruptions" could stop.

We had a lovely dinner.

Bruce and Emmett (Part 3)

A new copy of Bruce's and Emmett's Drummer's and Fifer's Guide is now available for download at http://www.notesoncode.com/sheetmusic/DrummersAndFifersGuide.pdf.

The latest copy adds the cover page, title page, preface, letters of approval, and the beginning of the drum instructor.

Bruce and Emmett (Part 2)

The latest version of the newly-typeset Drummers' and Fifers' guide by George Bruce and Dan Emmett is now available.

I added pages 60 and 61, which include one drum beat and ten quicksteps, including:

• The Corkonian
• Owl Creek
• Katty's Rambles
• Wyman's Quickstep
• The House o' Duncan
• No Party
• Colonel Robertson's Welcome
• Circus Rider
• Mississippi Quickstep
• Boston Quickstep

Anyone interested can download the latest draft from http://www.notesoncode.com/sheetmusic/DrummersAndFifersGuide.pdf.

Bruce and Emmett

It never fails, when Independence day follows on the heels of Memorial day, that I remember with fondness time spent with the Utah Fife and Drum Corps, reenacting Utah's small corner of Civil War history in Fairfield and Salt Lake.

I sat on my back deck, playing old march tunes on my fife; something I hadn't done in some time, and something I'm not permitted to do indoors. "Old 1812", "Hell on the Wabash", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", and still others. The tunes washed over me, carrying with it sands of memory I had long since thought were lost at sea.

There on my deck, overlooking the local desert mountains, I thought how great it is to be free. And it is.

Well, as it turns out, I've cherished a tiny goal for the last many years to give some meaningful contribution to the reenacting community. Popular among fife and drum corps nationwide for its healthy repertoire is the Drummer's and Fifer's guide by George Bruce and Dan Emmett. I've started an effort to update the fifer's guide using modern sheet music software. I would hope that by making the guide more readily available that interest in the area could be rekindled.

The first two pages of music (pages 24 and 25 of the guide) are available on my website at http://www.notesoncode.com/sheetmusic/DrummersAndFifersGuide.pdf. It is all public domain, so feel free to download and share. I'll make note of progress on the guide from time to time on this site.

Pages 24 and 25 include scales and introductory exercises for the fife. Unlabeled tunes include:

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Annie Laurie
• The Star-Spangled Banner
• and others.

I Am Seriously Impressed!

Lillian's birthday is Sunday. In preparation for said event, Lillian received a Winnie the Pooh birthday balloon. While I was outside weeding the garden, Lillian brought this most-loved floaty device outside.

There was some disagreement about whether to tie the balloon to her wrist, or allow her to hold it most carefully in her fist. At length, Lillian got her desire and held the balloon tightly in her fist for some time.

At length, I hear, "boon, tee, sky, high, boon! boon!" Yep. She let it go, but instead of going up into the atmosphere never to be seen again, it got caught in the neighbor's tree ~ about 30 feet above the ground.

In walks hero of the house. Keith lashes together four broom handles, rakes, and broken tree limbs - FOUR - using nylon cub scout ropes and boy scout knots. He put duct tape at the end with the sticky side out. While balanced a few rungs up a ladder, with me holding it steady, he managed to wrap the string of the balloon around the duct tape and pole. Christopher Robin would have been proud.

Down came the balloon, cheers where heard all around the family - the loudest ones from the Littlest Rimington. As Lillian took her balloon inside, she agreed to keep it inside. She even said, "day doo!" (thank you).

A Few Chuckles

Last night at dinner, I'm dishing up some noodles on my plate when from across the table Abigail says: "Don't eat too much or you'll get fat. That's enough food."


Today in during sacrament meeting Abigail was coloring in a Veggie Tales coloring book. As she walked to sunbeams, she showed her recently colored page to all we passed exclaiming, "These are the pirates who don't do anything!"

When we got to her class she proclaimed, "These are the pirates who don't do anything. They just sit around all day long. If you ask them to do anything, they'll tell you they don't do anything!"


Last but not least, we have sharing time.
The primary president asked, "What is faith?"
When called on Abigail responded, "Heavenly Father and Jesus created the Earth."
Primary President: That's right
Abigail: And if you don't drink water, you'll die!

oops

I forgot the cinnamon -

add 3/4 tsp cinnamon to the dry ingredients part of the muffin recipe :)

Magic Muffins

Here is the recipe for:

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Dry:
1 cup sugar
1 ½ cup flour (I use wheat)
1 ¾ cup oats
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
¾ tsp baking soda
½ cup chopped nuts

Wet:
¾ cup oil (can use half applesauce)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 mashed bananas

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir together and pour batter into muffin tin.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Makes 12-15 muffins

Teenager Already?

Keith and I are discussing Abigail's future educational plans with the girls in the back seat of the car. It ends like this:

Mom: I just want Abigail to want to learn. Abigail, do you want to learn?

Abigail: Uh, I already know everything.

I didn't realize that teenager-hood started at 3 1/2.

Come on Mom!

I can't whistle. Never have, probably never will.

So when I call our dog, Jasmine, I say, "Here, Jasmine!" and I click my tongue twice (click, click). I'll also sometimes hold out my hand to her. Lillian and Abigail will call here in similar ways, clicking their tongues as well.

Last night, Lillian wanted me to come to the kitchen with her to get her a snack. She called, "Mom!" then I hear, "click, click" as she held out her hand.

I obediently followed her to the kitchen. Good Mom!

What do You Say to Dad?

Abigail poured herself a cup of chocolate milk, and spilled some on the table. Without a word, I stepped in with paper towels to clean it up. As I walked away, Delores said to Abigail, "What do you say to dad?"

After barely a moment, Abigail exclaimed, "You missed some!"

Keith's Puppy

This is Keith's golden retriever, Luke.

Lillian loves Luke. She calls him "puppy, mine!" whenever she sees him. Abigail has claimed Jasmine as her own, and Lillian loves Luke. She still wants to play with him (with help) even after his loving kisses have pushed her over.

The New Puppy

We have a pug named Jasmine. I here this coming from the living room where Abigail and Jasmine are "playing."

Jasmine, here is your bone. Give me the bone. Jasmine, give me the bone, I'll throw it to you again. Give me the bone. Give me the bone. Give me the bone. Give me the bone. I want to play a game with you. Give me the bone. Give me the bone. (then with anger and frustration in her voice) GIVE ME THE BONE!! I WANT TO PLAY A GAME WITH YOU! GIVE ME THE BONE!

I think: She's not a retriever, Abigail.

Pull-Apart Bread

Pillsbury Grands (8-count) biscuits
3 Tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Quarter biscuits and place into bowl. Add melted butter, garlic, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Stir together until biscuits are well coated.

Place in a pie pan and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Good accent to pasta dishes, also good alone with marinara sauce.

Encounter with a Wolf

A story Abigail told last night:

Once upon a time, a boy named Thomas walked into the woods. In the woods, he saw a wolf. The wolf bit him on the side of his toe. His toe had a lot of blood, and he lived happily ever after.

The End!

Valentine Surprise

I went to Utah County for a couple of days: visit the family, go to Jessica's shower, let the girls go to my mom's Valentine's Day party, get the oil changed.

Keith told me he had a valentine surprise for me that he'd give me Sunday. I come home Sunday around noon. Keith's still walking home from church. What do I find in my basement family room??? You'll never guess, so I'll tell you.

A treadmill! Yep. The room is all rearranged so it actually fits and looks kind of nice.

We'd talked about purchasing one, but it seemed months down the road to me.

Thanks Keith, you're the bomb!

Carrot Cake Goodness

Someone wanted this - so here it is. Happy baking!

Carrot Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 ¼ cups canola oil
4 eggs
4 cups peeled and grated carrots (4 or 5 large carrots)
1 cup coconut
Almond-Scented Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below)
Coconut, for sprinkling on the cake (optional)
Chopped walnuts, for sprinkling on the cake (optional)


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two 9-inch-round cake pans. Cut two 9-inch-diameter circles out of parchment paper or wax paper and place in the bottom of each pan. Spray again and dust with flour. Shake out the excess.
2. Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt onto a square of wax paper (or mix in a bowl) and set aside.
3. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar, oil, and eggs on low speed until well-blended. Mix in the dry ingredients just until blended. Fold in the carrots and coconut. The batter will be thick. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake 35 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
4. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen the layers around the edges with a knife. Carefully invert each layer by placing another rack directly over the layer and turning all upside down. Tap on the pan to loosen the layer. Carefully peel off the paper. Cool completely on the racks. Meanwhile, make the frosting, below.
5. To frost the cake, place one layer top side down on a cake plate. Spread with half the frosting. Place the second layer top side up on the frosting. Spread the remainder of the frosting on top of the cake. (No need to frost the side of the cake.) Sprinkle with coconut and walnuts, if desired.

Variation: Bake mini-cupcakes in mini-muffin tins and then frost the minis – fabulous! Bake minis about 15 minutes.

Almond-Scented Cream Cheese Frosting

3 cups powered sugar
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
5 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

1. Sift the powdered sugar into a small bowl of an electric mixer. Add the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and almond.
2. Beat until well-blended and smooth enough to spread. Avoid overbeating, with may make the frosting too soft.


from: The Food Nanny by Liz Edmunds

Abigail Meets Ariel

Abigail attended a friend's birthday party where there was a special visitor. She was enthralled!

Never a Dull Moment

At the beginning of sharing time today Abigail comes to sit with me. She then asks me to take her to the bathroom. In an attempt to leave surreptitiously, I choose to walk between my chair and the wall. In the process I knock a huge painting off the wall. I managed to catch it and put it back on, but not before I was viewed by all in the room. So much for not drawing attention.

After coming back from the restroom, all of the primary children are sitting on the floor around Sister Johnson doing sharing time. Abigail walks in among them and announces: "Sorry, I had to go potty."

Later in the lesson, Abigail walks up to Sister Johnson, stands by her for a minute, leans down and kisses her hand, then sits back down.

I received many smiles from leaders today.

Never a dull moment.

Sharing Time

Today in primary Abigail was a bit tired. She sat with her sunbeam class for a bit, than came and sat with me. During music time we sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes." Abigail was standing by me and she attempted to sing, but they sang it really fast. She then walked up to the music director at the front of the primary room and said,

Abigail: Shallen, I have another song.

Shallen: okay...

Agigail: (to the tune of "head, shoulders, knees and toes) Hat, white beard, belt and boots, belt and boots, belt and boots, hat, white beard, belt and boots, a big round belly and a little cherry nose.

She was complete with actions. The entire primary was quiet as they watched her and listened to her sing her solo. Everyone laughed after she was done, and she just smiled and sat in her seat.

At times she frighteningly reminds me of myself.

Bottles and Spoons

Fun way to use old plastic bottles



Abigail showing off our new craft

So much fun!!

Pillows

Keith laying on Abigail

Keith: Abigail is my pillow

Abigail: I'm not a pillowcase because I have a mouth

Big Ends

Playing with dolls

Abigail: Mom, you sit here (where there is more room) because you have a big bum