Update

I notice I'm blogging about the boys on here less and less frequently.  Mostly, that's because they are quickly losing the "cute little boy" stage and turning into Tweens.  Tweens are not nearly as fun as little boys, and like to be sassy instead of cute.  Not so bloggable.   

Lots of changes at 10 years old.  The biggest change I've noticed is that the boys are really developing their individuality.  This has been a long time coming - just wish it weren't quite such a painful process physically.  There's a lot of punching and fighting going on, and that's really new for us.  Tussling... yes.  We've lived with that for years.  But this new "I want to be by myself" and "get away from me" and "I don't want to look like my brother" thing.... polar opposite of the "attached at the hip"-edness that we've seen for the past 10 years.

It's good that they're growing up, and finding out who they are as young men.  It's good that they're working hard to establish an individual identity and not just "one of the twins".  Just hope that at the end of the day, they still love each other just as much as they always have.  Because as much as their Dad and I love them, no one will understand them like their own twin brother. 

Twin Juice, Part Deux

Back somewhere about their 4th year, I found two little boys in the kitchen surrounded by a holy mess and the floors sticky.  They had informed me that they had made "twin juice" - the contents of which were far from delectable, but which they proudly drank anyway.

Fast forward six years, and here is my son Colby, still making Twin Juice.  This time, consisting of Capri Sun strawberry juice, sugar, agave syrup and water.  UGH.  He wrote down the recipe in his journal so he could make it again and again and again.

Yum. 

Saturday Night By The Fire

Something about the chilling temps and  a warm fire just invites reading a book aloud from a rocking chair. 

A News Story

For the same newspaper for the 5th grade, Colby had to write a news story about an important event in his life.  This is what he wrote:

"An important thing in my life was when I was born, because it is the beginning of my life.  When I was born I had a bad kidney, so did Quinn.  Mom was really worried.  The doctors couldn't do anything about it so we had to get rid of it, so we took out my kidney and I was fine but Quinn had two bad kidneys but the doctors healed it and all was well.  THE END."

Editorial correction by Mom:  The doctors did NOT heal Quinn's  second kidney.  Not by a long shot.  The doctors monitored Quinn's kidney from the University of Michigan, and waited for such a time that he would be old enough to do surgery.  Quinn's kidney healed miraculously before that second surgery was needed, and the doctors were stunned.  GOD healed Quinn's kidney.  Just thought I should give credit where credit was due, in the official record and all. 

"Meet My Hero"

Colby wrote a newspaper article for school.  He was supposed to write about someone who inspired him.  Here's what he wrote...

"Meet My Hero: My Dad"
My dad is the best dad ever.  He is funny, helpful, and awesome.  My dad is also an engineer, so he is good at engineering.  Another cool fact about my dad is that he built a plane by himself.".

 He also drew a picture of his dad, wearing an orange construction hat and looking very skinny (read: stick figure). 

I can feel Dad beaming from here. 

The Fight

Apparently the bad guy has gotten into my bedroom and ripped it to shreds.  A crime HAS been committed!!  This is what happens when a 10 year old boy gets ahold of Mom's iPhone. 

The Meanest Mom in the World

Colby was really, really, REALLY excited about the championship game of soccer last night.  REALLY.  To the point that, when he got his trophy, he told the entire team that his mom was buying EVERYONE ICE CREAM!!!  (Mom was not buying everyone ice cream).  And to the point that he wanted to shout it to the world that he got a REAL trophy, made of metal, not of plastic.  That's all well and good, but it was a really tough game, and a really tough loss for the competition, and you just don't go around rubbing it in people's faces.  Colby even went up to one girl on the opposite team, and literally shoved his trophy in her face an said "Eat THIS!".  Not cool.  Not cool at all.  I grabbed him away quick with an apologetic look to the girl's dad, and said "Colby, that is NOT okay."

"Yes it is," he said.  "I know her, so it's fine."

Still not fine.

So, today - when most of those same soccer players that played in the game last night turned up for basketball practice - the meanest mom in the world told Colby that he had to go apologize.  Face to face.  He did a half-hearted "I'm sorry" in her general direction when she wasn't looking or paying attention, and I told him that that didn't cut it.  He had to apologize to her face, and if he didn't, he would be grounded for three weeks.  Three. Whole. Weeks.

"Fine.  I choose grounding." He said.  That's how mortified he was.  Nope.  Wrong choice.  I then told him he could go up and do it himself, or I would DRAG him up there and "help" him apologize.  As he was not making a move independently, I carried through on my threat.  I dragged him by the hand until he was face to face with said little girl, and said "Colby would like to say something to you about last night."

"I'm sorry I shoved my trophy in your face." 

Poor girl was nearly as mortified as Colby.  But the deed was done, and that's what I cared about.  Her father, who had witnessed the original infraction and was there for the apology, said "Thanks for that."  Yes. 

Hopefully that was awkward enough all the way around that he will never never NEVER be unsportsmanlike again.