Letters to Santa... Kinda

They might be 10 years old and worldly-wise, but that doesn't keep them from writing out letters to Santa.  Well, maybe not ADDRESSED to Santa.  Just vaguely written out, and subtly folded and placed in our "Santa's Mail" decoration on the fridge.  Just in case, you know. 

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.