As long as they don't realize...

Shhh! We'll have to keep this a secret. AJ and Sydney do a really good job playing together, just as long as you don't tell them that's what they're doing.

For instance, last night they were pirates. Can you say Aaarrrggghhh!? Okay, one more time - Sydney's eyes were closed. Now I got a glare on AJ's glasses. Don't look away before the flash goes off.

By the fourth try, they really could scowl.

The night before, while Jeff mowed the lawn and I was cooking supper, the two had some odd game going on the front porch. AJ was racing back and forth, pushing a big ball that he'd wedged into one of Sydney's doll buggies. She, meanwhile, happily pretended to take his picture with her small toy camera.

It was adorable, and so, through the window, I told the kids they were doing a really good job playing together, and that made me proud.

Without missing a beat, AJ practically snarled back, "I'm not playing with Sydney. She only wants to play dumb games."

With that, he went back to pushing the buggy as Sydney shouted, "Click! I took your picture AJ."

Well, okay, then.

In contrast, when treats are involved, AJ is happy to show me how well they can work together.

Last night we "baked" cookies. (I use that term loosely since all we had to do was break apart the perforated chunks of ready-made dough, place them on a cookie sheet and pop them in the oven.)

The kids happily shared a stool, and AJ even helped Sydney count to make sure they each had 12 cookies on their tray. Sydney started singing the theme song from Wonder Pets: "What's gonna work? Teamwork!"

There's nothing like the promise of chocolate chips to inspire sibling harmony.