Alena's Halfway to 18

A dear friend reminded me that Alena is now halfway to adulthood. She is halfway from being able to  vote.  I only have 9 more years of her living at home, (+ possibly a year or two more pending what her college plans are).  I always thought that her turning 10 would be hard.  Hitting double digits is definitely a momentous, emotional time.  I never expected 9 to be this hard on me.

There are so many moments of her birth day that are memorable to me.  I remember the morning I went into the doctor's office for a check up. I had stopped working the Friday before because of concerns of my blood pressure being high.  Monday I had an appointment in the Ankeny office and my blood pressure was still higher than they liked even though I felt fine and had no other symptoms of pre-eclampsia.  The doctor said to me "what do you think about having a baby today?"  Justin and I quickly ran home to pack a bag, (and he ate breakfast-I remember it being toast with peanut butter :)), and then headed to Mercy downtown.

I loved not knowing your gender and my complete surprise when I found out you were a little girl.  I was so convinced you were a boy and tried my hardest to convince everyone else as well.  It was such a proud moment, becoming a parent and holding you for the first time, and you have never disappointed us.

You remain quiet in new situations but are definitely more outgoing as the years go by.  You make friends very easily and are committed to your friendships.  We love your compassion towards others, especially your brother and sister.  You are a fabulous big sister to them and they look up to you more than you realize.  You like to be serious but can be goofy if in the right mood.  You want to be a teacher when you grow up which I can see you excelling in.

I love your drive and determination with everything you do.  You love school and always want to do above and beyond what is expected of you.  You remain our little athlete, and have yet to find a sport you don't excel in.  I'm so thankful that in our small school district you can do any sport you want and we are not committed to having to pick one sport at this time.  This fall you are participating in volleyball, cheerleading, soccer and the running club.  Your long legs help make you one of the fastest on your teams.

Speaking of long legs, I measured you today against the Papa-made growth chart and you have grown more over the last year than you have since the year between age 1 and 2.  You reach my chin now!  It won't be long before I am looking up to you.

Happy 9th Birthday to our sweet Alena Jane.  We love the sister, daughter and friend you have become and are so proud of you!

What is your favorite color? Gold 
What is your favorite toy?  Bow and arrow
What is your favorite fruit?  Strawberries
What is your favorite movie? The Greatest Showman
What is your favorite TV show?  Arthur
What is your favorite thing to wear?  T shirt and shorts
What is your favorite animal?  Penguin
What is your favorite song?  "Rewrite the Stars"
What is your favorite book? Harry Potter
Who is your favorite friend?  Claire
What is your favorite snack?  Popcorn
What is your favorite drink?  Apple juice
What is your favorite breakfast food?  Pancakes
What is your favorite dinner?  Pulled pork sandwich 
What is your favorite place to go?  School
What is your favorite game?  Pieface
What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Trampoline
What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
What do you sleep with?  Eeyore and blanket
What do you want to be when you grow up? An elementary school teacher

For your birthday you had your friends Mady, Claire, Madalyn and Ella over.  After cookie cake and ice cream sundaes, we ventured to the skating rink for roller skating for a couple hours.  After that, Clarie and Mady came to dinner with us, (your choice- IHOP), and then to our house for your first sleepover!  It was a fun night and the friends you have chosen are wonderful people!

Lauren and Caleb Turn 6

Whew we just completed the busiest weekend of our lives!  3 soccer games, 2 friends birthday parties, 2 hours of volleyball, cheering for 2 football games, plus hosting a party for Caleb and Lauren’s birthday party.  We are spent but it was so much fun and most importantly the twins commented many times that their birthday was the “best day ever!”  So I think it was successful.

About a month ago, Lauren was a little sad saying she didn’t want to share her birthday with her brother and asked that I move it to a different day.  I tried to explain the best I could to a 5 year old twin that that just isn’t possible.  Eventually she succumbed to the realization that she will always have to share her special day with her brother.  Being a parent of twin has its own challenges and I often feel bad that they don’t have their own special day, or are always referred to as “the twins,” etc. I am a victim of the latter but am trying to do better.  It’s very difficult to not compare them but I have to keep reminding myself they are two separate 5 year olds.

We agreed to do two separate parties for Caleb and Lauren this year.  I considered doing each party on a different day but that sounded like a lot so we decided to do them on the same day at the same time!  Caleb requested a Lego party and Lauren a slime party.  I couldn’t imagine having to keep track of more than 10 kids so they were each allowed to invite 4 friends, (one of L’s friends wasn’t able to make it).

While the boys assembled LEGO sets we got them, (with help from Papa), the girls made slime outside. Lunch was all had together and then gifts were opened. Every year I’m amazed at how loud and busy it gets with 2 kids opening gifts.  Then cupcakes were decorated and outdoor play finished the party.  It flew by and a great time was had by all.  A big thank you to my parents for helping during the party and the clean up after!

Lauren:

For two years you have been asking if you could get your ears pierced. For the first year, I just pretended I didn’t hear you.  Then over this last year I realized you were actually serious.  So last week we went to a piercing/tattoo place to get this accomplished.  This is such a right of passage for girls. I distinctly remember getting my ears pierced with my cousin at the Claire’s in North Grand Mall.  I also remember having purple plastic earrings in my kindergarten picture.  So ironically Lauren was able to get hers pieced just prior to her kindergarten pictures, and she just happened to pick purple earrings.  I feared she would get one ear done and then be too afraid for the second but she was amazing and barely flinched when it happened.  Although little, she has taught me many times that she is one tough girl.

I have also thought that you were my least athletic child but again you continue to surprise me. You did play soccer last Spring with your brother and were able to hold your own.  You are a decently fast runner and I think you have found your calling in gymnastics which we just started.  This is the perfect sport for someone like you:  Fearless, full of energy, willing to try anything and fiercely determined and independent.

Daily I look at you and smile at the adorable little person you are.  You have such a fun and caring personality to go along with your cute looks.  However, you are often the one to test your parents the most.  Listening goes out the window most of the time, and typically after we ask you not to do something, you do it just one more time, making sure we are watching. 

I love the little person you are becoming and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.


What is your favorite color? Teal
What is your favorite toy?  Shimmer and Shine toys
What is your favorite fruit?   Apples
What is your favorite movie? The Greatest Showman
What is your favorite TV show?  Shimmer and Shine
What is your favorite thing to wear?  T shirt and shorts
What is your favorite animal?  Cheetah
What is your favorite song?  Greatest Showman Soundtrack
What is your favorite book? Llama Llama
Who is your favorite friend?  Avery
What is your favorite snack?  Fruit snacks
What is your favorite drink?  Apple juice
What is your favorite breakfast food?  Pancakes
What is your favorite dinner?  Waffles
What is your favorite place to go?  South Carolina
What is your favorite game?  Life
What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Play with sidewalk chalk
What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
What do you sleep with?  Zebe and penguins/dolphins
What do you want to be when you grow up? A gymnastics teacher

Caleb:

You could spend all day building things out of LEGOS, no matter how challenging the set may be.  You love using your little mind to invent and build things which I think will be important in whatever career you choose down the road.  We love how easy going you remain, (we have enough emotional outbursts from your sisters!). 

I love watching how easily you make friends.  We can take you anywhere and you either know someone there already, or you find a friend and play with him the entire time.  This reminds me so much of Justin.  You also remain the jokester and it's fun watching the friendships you are building.  You are a great friend and I hope this attribute continues throughout your life. 

Very quickly you have picked up on reading and most importantly you are enjoying it!  You completed your first season of soccer last spring and are back at it this fall.  You really enjoy it and like running fast. You are still my best eater and least picky. 

I'm so blessed to have a little boy and love doing "boy" things with you.  Your smile, positive attitude and friendliness will take you far!

What is your favorite color? Red
What is your favorite toy?  Legos
What is your favorite fruit?   Apples
What is your favorite movie? Jumanji
What is your favorite TV show?  Blaze
What is your favorite thing to wear?  T shirt and shorts
What is your favorite animal?  Lion
What is your favorite song?  Greatest Showman Soundtrack
What is your favorite book?Ninja Turtle book
Who is your favorite friend?  Cooper
What is your favorite snack?  A granola bar
What is your favorite drink?  Chocolate milk
What is your favorite breakfast food?  Cinnamon roll
What is your favorite dinner?  French Toast
What is your favorite place to go?  A hotel
What is your favorite game?  Cut the Wire
What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Jump on the trampoline
What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
What do you sleep with?  Black/Red blanket
What do you want to be when you grow up? A scientist

Milo

Wow it’s been quite a while since I have posted. I keep feeling guilty that I have so much to write about but haven’t had time to catch up.  Then I would realize I will never be able to finish all the previous posts I have wanted to write over the last year and a half so I just wouldn’t write at all. Finally, I just decided to start a new.  I’ll catch up eventually...

A couple weeks ago Justin and I traveled to Nashville with 4 other couples who have become our dear dear friends. We feel so blessed to have fell into these friendships. It is a bonus that all of our children are friends as well.  To say we had a fabulous time is an understatement!  The kiddos were watched by my parents who, as usual, spoiled them the entire time!

Upon our trip home, I received a message from my mom that our dear kitty, Milo, had passed over the weekend. My dad had fed him on Friday before they left for Ames with the kids and he was found Sunday afternoon in our storage room. We can only assume he got ill suddenly and I hope he passed without any suffering. The kids were devastated!  Lauren and my father found him; L attempted to pet him before my dad realized that Milo was no longer with us.

Milo liked to venture outside in the evening and sometimes stay outside all night and be waiting for us on the deck in the morning.  I assumed that some day he would just not return and we would have to explain to the kids that he wasn’t going to come back.  I never imagined having to deal with him actually passing at home. My parents did an excellent job consoling them and answering their questions.  Big sister reminded her siblings that his spirit was in heaven, (quite impressive for a girl who has never attended church or Sunday school regularly).  We didn’t arrive home that night until after dinner so my parents fed the kids dinner. They asked the kids what would make them happy and they decided to have ice cream for dinner.

When we arrived home the girls were quite sad about Milo.  Caleb also shed a few tears thinking about how Milo won’t lay in his room at night like he used too. Justin and I barely got our suitcases in the house before we got to work on a burial for him. Justin made a box and I started digging, (which is quite challenging after the drought we have had!). We found a special spot for him near our blueberry bushes along the fence line.  Finally at sunset we had a special memorial for him.The kids wrote notes to him and placed them in the box along with a couple toys. Lauren covered him with a special blanket of his.

We all talked about our favorite things about Milo and what we will miss. I told the story about when we got him and how long it took for us to name him.  Tears were shed by all.  Ironically, the last 6 months, Milo has been more “involved” with the family. He would join us every evening upstairs when we were putting the kids to bed.  He would make his announcement he was there in the hallway with a couple meows and almost always went into Caleb’s room unless Caleb wasn’t in there.
He would lay at the foot of his bed on a special blanket and Caleb would often lay next to him, petting him before he would fall asleep.  Once Caleb was asleep, Milo would usually make his way downstairs to the living room to spend time with Justin and I, (mostly Justin).  Occasionally, Milo would fall asleep in Caleb’s room as well.  Poor Lauren always wanted Milo in her room and many times I would put him at the foot of her bed but he always left right away and made his way to Caleb’s room.  Milo also enjoyed spending time on Alena’s bed when we were laying with her but I would say his favorite place was at the bottom of Caleb’s bed.

Milo also became very tolerant to Lauren’s over the top affection. She would smother him with affection throughout the day and really loved him so much.  Recently she started picking him up and attempting to carry him around.  She even crafted a collar and leash for him one day. She also became fascinated with teaching him tricks which is quite difficult for a cat who has lived 10+ years.

No matter how many times that cat drove me nuts and ruined many, many of my things, he will be missed.  It is so quiet around the house now.  We continue to do our normal “Milo” routine each day only to realize it isn’t necessary any more.  No more trips twice a day to the basement to feed him, no more assuring he is in the basement when we leave for the day. No more checking to make sure all flip flops are out of reach.  (This cat had an obsession with chewing on them!).

He will be missed.  We have already made two trips to the ARL.  I am not sure I am ready for another pet at this time.  If a day comes when the kids are begging for another pet, I’ll probably give in but until then I think it will just be the 5 of us.

Twins 5th Birthday

Wow, it's been nearly a year since I last did a post. Quite a bit has happened over the last year and things have been so busy preventing me from blogging.  I don't necessarily blog for others to read. I primarily do this as therapy for myself and as a way to document the lives of the 5 of us.  I hope some day my children will look back at these posts and remember the special memories we have made together.  (And if those memories have been forgotten, at least now they are documented!).

I'll do a year re-cap in a bit but needed to post about two special birthdays that recently happened.

Lauren:

You can go from making us smile and laugh to us wanting to pull our hair out in 5 seconds flat.  I've said many, many times, it is a good thing you are so darn cute.  You continue to be quite emotional and recently your listening skills have been nonexistent.  You are at this stage where you like to test mom and dad.

You remain our little peanut but you are sprouting up in height.  You are a decent eater and would snack all day long if I let you.  You have a unique palate and love cheese, pickles, olives, steak and anything sweet.

You remain our dare devil.  You went back and forth about wanting to participate in any activities this fall and in the end we decided not to do anything.  I still think you would make a great gymnast or dancer-maybe next year.  You love to practice flips on the trampoline and are constantly flipping off the couches.

My favorite time of day with you is at night when you are getting ready to go to sleep.  You love to tell me about your day and I love the specific details you disclose.  Our bedtime routine ends with a big hug, a kiss and Eskimo kisses.

What is your favorite color? Sparkly pink and sparkly purple
What is your favorite toy?  Barbies
What is your favorite fruit?  Grapes
What is your favorite movie? My Little Pony
What is your favorite TV show?  Shimmer and Shine
What is your favorite thing to wear?  Skirt
What is your favorite animal?  Giraffe
What is your favorite song?  ABCs
What is your favorite book?  Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Who is your favorite friend?  Mady and Molly
What is your favorite snack?  Squeezy applesauce
What is your favorite drink?  Soda
What is your favorite breakfast food?  Chocolate Chip Muffin
What is your favorite dinner?  Chili
What is your favorite place to go?  To a hotel
What is your favorite game?  Tenzi
What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Ride the easy roller
What is your favorite holiday?  Thanksgiving
What do you sleep with?  Zebe (Zebra blanket), emoji pillow and lots of other random things
What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher

Caleb:

I am constantly analyzing what it is like having the experience of raising boy/girl twins. It is definitely something unique and I often have to remind myself that I cannot compare the two of you.  I find it so interesting how you are all boy and Lauren remains all girl.  With identical environments, it is obvious much of that is inborn.

Caleb, you are a typical brother.  You love to torment your sisters, (mostly your twin sister), knowing it's easy to get a rise out of her.  You are such a jokester and love to make others laugh.  I love watching you meet new friends wherever you go although you remain quite shy around other adults still.  Papa and you continue to have a very special relationship and I love watching this relationship grow.

As many boys, you are so messy!  I try not to bring it up often as I think it hurts your feelings but I'm hoping this is something you will continue to outgrow.  You love to eat and eat fast which makes meal time messy.

You continue to love to build things and are so bright.  You love to learn and catch on very quickly.  Hopefully your need to be the class clown won't prevent you from continuing to learn as you grow up.

What is your favorite color? Red
What is your favorite toy?  Transformers
What is your favorite fruit?   Applesauce
What is your favorite movie? Star Wars
What is your favorite TV show?  Blaze
What is your favorite thing to wear?  T shirt and shorts
What is your favorite animal?  Tiger
What is your favorite song?  Wheels On The Bus
What is your favorite book?  A Dinosaur book
Who is your favorite friend?  Daddy
What is your favorite snack?  A granola bar
What is your favorite drink?  Chocolate milk
What is your favorite breakfast food?  Cereal
What is your favorite dinner?  Chicken nuggets
What is your favorite place to go?  A hotel
What is your favorite game?  Candyland
What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Ride a scooter
What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
What do you sleep with?  Black/Red blanket and Monkey Boo
What do you want to be when you grow up? A policeman

You two had your first friend's birthday party this year. We did it at The Playground in Ankeny. It was a fabulous time!  I know I have said this countless times but we are so blessed to be in the neighborhood we are.  There are three families we have gotten very close with and between the 4 families there are 11 kids, ages 3-9.  These kids have become some of your best friends and I think through the years you guys will become like cousins.  They were all at your party to help you celebrate.

On your actual birthday we had a family wedding. Caleb you hate wearing "picture clothes" but didn't argue too much when you found out you had to wear nice clothes all evening on your special day.  You both love to dance, (especially Lauren), and we had a fabulous day!  

Twins 4th Birthday

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY

Where did this last year go. It seems like we just celebrated your 3rd birthday and now you two are 4.  What a fun year we have had with you guys. You are no longer toddlers but are little people with big personalities.  

Lauren

You make me laugh every day.  Some of the things that come out of your mouth just make me gasp.  The other day I was driving you and Alena to the library and we were talking about something and I heard you say "you betcha."  I often look at you and wonder where my little 4 year old is because you sometimes act much older.  You have this adorable, spunky personality that makes people want to be around you.  

I wondered if you were ever going to grow but over the last couple months you have finally sprouted.  You are still shorter than your brother but are only 4 pounds lighter.  Sometimes you eat so well and other days you pick at your meals.  You would be content with snacking all day long. 

You love playing with your sister and will go along with whatever she wants you to do.  You do have moments when you want to play alone and if Alena is busy, you and Caleb play so well together when it is just the two of you.  

Your brother antagonizes you as often as he can. You remain a little bit whiny and emotional and I just keep hoping it is going to be something you out grow.  

You are my girlie girl and I love it. If you could wear dresses every day you would. Your favorite color is "sparkle" and you love anything pink.  You have already mentioned you have a boyfriend at school-Logan, (lord help me!).  

Birthday Questions:

What is your favorite color? Purple, sparkly pink
What is your favorite toy?  Babies
What is your favorite fruit?  Oranges
What is your favorite movie? Ninja Turtles
What is your favorite TV show?  Paw Patrol  
What is your favorite thing to wear?  Dresses
What is your favorite animal?  Giraffe
What is your favorite song?  Ezekial Saw The Wheel
What is your favorite book?  A Long Book
Who is your favorite friend?  Nora
What is your favorite snack?  Granola Bar
What is your favorite drink?  Lemonade
What is your favorite breakfast food? Donuts
What is your favorite dinner?  Rice
What is your favorite place to go?  McDonalds
What is your favorite game?  Trouble
What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Ride scooters
What is your favorite holiday?  Halloween
What do you sleep with?  Go Go, random things...(a harmonica, ice pack, a hair clip, etc)
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Teacher

Caleb

Our little, easy going guy has probably become our most challenging recently.  You have learned that as a brother with two sisters it is your job to bother your sisters as much as possible.  Of course, you enjoy getting them worked up. Some days it is a constant battle acting as a referee.

We've always known that you were pretty smart and just hope that when you are in school, you will apply yourself.  You love building with anything, driving trucks, putting puzzles together...Your mind is constantly going and you are so inquisitive.  I still love your fascination with large trackers and trucks and was so glad that you and daddy got to spend some time at the Culbertson farm this Fall.  

You remain my messy eater and you eat faster than anyone in our family. I have no idea where you got that from because everyone knows your mom and dad are the slowest eaters around.  When I ask what meals you want me to make each week, you usually reply with meatloaf or meatballs.  

The jury is still out whether you will be an athlete or not. You do have interest in soccer so will probably start that this spring.  You are a good runner with quick little feet so I think you could do whatever your heart desires.  

As much as you love to antagonize your twin sister, you are a really good brother.  I've mentioned it before, but I love when the two of you are playing together.  It really is a special relationship you have and I hope you will remain good friends throughout your life.  

You have many friends at school, mostly boys but you hang out with a few of Lauren's girlfriends as well.  You can go from playing farm with your tractors, to playing Barbie's or kitchen with your sisters.  

Birthday Questions:

What is your favorite color? Red
What is your favorite toy?  Bad Guys
What is your favorite fruit?  Mandarin oranges
What is your favorite movie?  Star Wars
What is your favorite TV show?  Paw Patrol  
What is your favorite thing to wear?  Star Wars Clothes
What is your favorite animal?  Tigers
What is your favorite song?  Sugar-Maroon 5
What is your favorite book?  Bob The Builder
Who is your favorite friend?  Mady
What is your favorite snack?  Cereal
What is your favorite drink?  Chocolate Milk
What is your favorite breakfast food? Donuts
What is your favorite dinner?  Spaghetti
What is your favorite place to go?  The Donut Store
What is your favorite game?  Sports
What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Work With Daddy
What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
What do you sleep with?  Red and Black blanket, blue blanket, lion
What do you want to be when you grow up? "I just want to be a kid. I don't want to be nothing."

I am really looking forward to this next year with you.  Everything continues to get easier and easier, yet different things become challenging as well.  We are so thankful for the two of you, your individuality, and the special connection that only twins can share.  

PARTY PICS

water balloons