Colorful

Lillian’s favorite color is blue. She wants all of her things to be blue.

Lillian: Mom, blue my favorite color! I wove blue! I no want dis bowl, I want a blue bowl.

Mom: What should we do?

Lillian: Put dis pink bowl away and get a blue bowl.

or...

Lillian: I get all da blue toys. You no have blue toys, day not you color. Blue my color. I get da blue. Pink Abigail’s color and blue my color. You can have da yellow. I get all da blue.

So we have to be careful or Lillian thinks we have taken her things because they are blue.

Today Keith, Abigail and Lillian were painting. When Abigail said, "Dad, I need another color," Lillian continued with, "Dad, I need another blue color."

Her finished work consisted of several shades of blue.

I recall Abigail going through a similar favorite color episode – only her color was pink.

Sibling Love

The respite today on my bed was short-lived as Lillian and Abigail came to visit me. While they climbed on me and the bed and the pillows, Lillian asked the location of the baby in my belly. I stated that it was still there and pointed.

Abigail and Lillian then proceeded to hug and kiss my belly. Abigail began talking to the baby. It went like this:

Abigail: Don't cry little baby. You have two girls here who will take care of you, and you have a mom who will take care of you. Don't worry. You will be okay. (singing) Rock a by baby on the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, and then the baby comes down cradle and all.

More hugs and kisses on my belly from both girls, then the girls proceeded to wrestle with each other.

They are excited for their new baby to come.

New Friends

Driving to the store discussing making new friends in a new town. Abigail then states:

Mom, I need some new friends. My old friends are too old to make new friends out of them.

The Ladybug

Lillian and Abigail dump out a puzzle on the floor and begin organizing the pieces.

Mom: Abigail, look by your knee, there is a ladybug.

Abigail: Ooooh, how cute. I love ladybugs. Hello little ladybug! I heard that you eat aphids. Mom, can we get some aphids for the ladybug?

Mom: The ladybug is very good at finding its own food.

As Abigail scoots closer to the bug and it opens its wings as if to fly away.

Abigail: Ahhhhh! It’s going to get me!

Abigail quickly backs away. Lillian begins picking up her beloved stuffed animals and holding them to her chest in a very protective manner.

Lillian: Ooooh! I get all da stuff. Get it safe from da dadybug. I have all da amals.

Abigail still cautiously watches the ladybug as it walks toward the wall.

Abigail: Oooh. I wonder if it’s going to fly again.

Lillian: Da amals are safe. Day safe from da dadybug. I get dem safe.

Eventually the ladybug disappears under furniture and all is safely returned to the puzzle. All of the stuffed animals were safe from bug invasion and we all survived.

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.