A Little Drama For Their Momma (& Daddy)

Life is never dull in our household, especially with two little girls...two very different little girls. I wake up each morning wondering what surprises will come our way. Will it be imagination overload, a temper tantrum to beat all, a quirky act that brings many laughs, hurt feelings, sisterly love, brain developing, or all of the above. Either way I know that God will prepare us for our blessings.
A few things that the girls have been filling our time with

• Abigail's personality is blooming like an entire field of flowers. She has a very different way of getting our attention than her big sister. She is our family clown...funny faces, conversations with us in complete gibberish (complete with hand gestures), crazy walking, and much more.
• Dinner time with Abigail has been interesting this week. Sunday evening we were having fresh veggies with dip. I put Abby in her chair, ran to get something else and then when Brian & I sat down at the table we took a look at Abby who had veggie dip all over her face. Yep, she took the spoon and just started eating it out of the container. A little later during the same meal she decided to eat her popcorn out of her bowl like a dog. When we started laughing and saying she was eating like a dog she proceeded to look up and bark. Oh my...we are in for it!
• Both girls have imaginations that can create big adventures. The other day they were helping me with laundry and made a train out of the three laundry baskets. They had such a good time. Abby now refers to her laundry basket as a choo choo. This afternoon they created a car out of their small folding chairs and took turns driving their babies around. School is a daily activity around here as is "coming to visit" at meal time. Our refrigerator serves as the front door at which they knock.
• Word World is a new favorite for the girls. It is an outstanding show on PBS that teaches reading skills. I hate to let them watch a lot of TV but Aubrey thoroughly enjoys her chance to watch it once or twice a day and has learned so much! When they get to watch it they both jump up and down shouting Word World or "Woo Woo" in Abby's case.
• Teaching moments are occuring on a regular basis within these walls and they are mostly when Abby does what her sister does. The things she mimics are both good (concern for others, looking out for her big sister when it is snack time to be sure she gets one too, etc.) and bad (standing up on the kitchen counter, slithering under the bed with the risk of getting stuck, and using the word no). So, Aubrey is also having to learn that she needs to be aware of what she does because Abby will soon try it as well.
• Aubrey is definitely 5 and that means that she is once again challenging us, her parents, and the limits/rules/boundaries that we have set. She seems to go through these phases about every 6 to 9 months so hopefully this one will soon be over?!
• Aubrey has learned her phone number and is always eager to share it with us. Now it is time to work on her address.
• This morning Aubrey came up with a wonderful concept/similarity. Poppa Art was recently diagnosed with diabetes and we have been trying to explain to Aubrey what that means. This morning I was telling Aubrey that Poppa was working on staying away from sugar and that he was going to be changing what he eats. She looked at me and said "Kind of like how I am allergic to cats". At first I looked at her like "What?!?" but then I realized she is completely right. Poppa Art is kind of allergic to sugar! Poppa Art has reassured Aubrey that the only sweets that he can be around is his three grandchildren.