This is the Story of Two Sisters...

One of my favorite books to read the girls is one called, "Sisters" by David McPhail. It starts with "This is the story of two sisters who, in many ways, were different." It then lists the many ways they were different. One was big (Lydia), one was little (Audrey.) One liked to wear two different colored socks (not really Audrey), one didn't like to wear socks (or shoes) at all (definitely Lydia.) One liked baseball (Audrey seems to be the one more interested in sports), the other found it boring (Lydia has very little interest in sports and during soccer practice has been known to hide behind trees and eat grass.) It then goes on to say, "The two sisters were alike in many ways, too." They both like sugar-snap peas fresh from the garden, both like to help bake cookies, both like to play in puddles and piles of leaves, both like to draw and dance. At the end, it says, "But the way they were most alike was the most special way o fall. Because, you see, they loved each other so very much," which will on occasion make me tear up just a little bit if I'm feeling particularly emo that night.

The book came to mind yesterday. Grandma Deb came to visit and watch the girls last night. As usual, she brought a surprise for them. As usual, Lydia begged to see what it was and we told her to stop being rude. Grandma Deb finally went out to her car to bring the surprise in and unveiled two new baby dolls. Audrey got a huge smile on her face and her eyes widened and she gasped, "Thank you!" Lydia looked at it in disgust and started crying. Lydia hates dolls. Audrey loves dolls. Audrey has always loved to cuddle things (see previous blog entry.) She often carries dolls around the house and feeds them, tucks them into bed, reads to them, rocks them, etc. She even has one doll that she always brings to church.

She was pretty excited when Charlie was born and she got a real live baby doll.

Lydia, on the other hand, would much rather play games, do art projects, or play dress-up. She has a large collection of dolls she has gotten as gifts and really has no interest in them at all. Every once in a while, if Audrey is playing with a doll, Lydia will too, but never really does it on her own. I once found one of Lydia's dolls shoved into a corner behind a box and I asked her why her doll was there and she said, "Oh. That's its home." She does like to pretend Audrey is her daughter and will pretend to put her down for a nap and drop her off at school, but she has no interest at all in her dolls.

And of course, they love each other so very much.