HAPPY BIRTHDAY Little Girls!

So I've been really bad with my Happy Birthday posts. Sorry everyone. But I HAVE to do one for these cute little girls...even if it is belated.

Xoe & Xanthe turned 10 years old on February 4th. Here's a tribute just for them.



How could you not just totally miss these cute little girls who are totally growing up into wonderful little ladies. And I've posted some old pictures of them, because I had a walk down memory lane when my SIL, Johanna, asked me for some old pictures of them to see what they looked like. Wow, it was so weird. It felt like just yesterday (I sound like an old mom now). I can't believe these stages are gone. So, for many of you who knew them back then, you can have a walk down the same lane with me. And for those of you didn't, you can get to know how cute they were back then.

Well, I started to do a post about how... "even though they are twins they're SO different." But as I was writing the different characteristics I couldn't help but realize that they are so similar, but at different times. So, I'm sorry for those of you who think I should give them their own "identity" and stop lumping them together....what I have to say to you is...you don't have twins so butt out! (hehe...) Identical twins are bound to have differences and similarities. Hellooo! Every strand of 365 MILLION strands of their DNA are exactly the same. So ya, they're kinda similar.
Okay, so here are some of their similarities...and they are some of the many things I love about them...


-They are so wild and crazy, as will be attested by how many pictures I found of them being wild and crazy. They're just crazy silly.



-They are so very fashionable...even if they have on the most mismatched outfit...my thoughts have always been that they are experimenting with their style (if that's what you want to call it) and I really don't want to hinder it (or it could be the fact that their mom, me, has no sense of style so she just lets them go with it). I've never really forced them to change when they wanted to wear my black sequined 20's hat with an oversized t-shirt and leggings (or Spiderman...see old post) to school . I let them be. I'm sure I've been secretly criticized. But guess what? Now they are so stylish and "cool" that I don't even know where it came from. They certainly didn't learn it from me. I KNOW I don't have much in the way of style so thanks to my sisters for passing that onto them.

-They're very caring to each other. It's only been recently (probably cuz we've been traveling so much with each other) that they have been "kinda" fighting. They hardly ever pick on each other, duel it out over friends and clothes, and they are so caring towards each other's feelings and emotions. Xanthe is the best help for Xoe's "medical stuff" and Xoe is always taking care of Xanthe and giving Xanthe credit for things she's done. (Anyone remember the art show?)


-They're both shy, and not shy, at different times. They both do very well assimilating into new situations and making new friends (hence the hotel staff giving them full reign of the hotel because they are their best friends now).

-They're both very artistic and creative. They draw ALL the time, create games to play (without relying so much on the TV), and are always dreaming up ways to photograph, paint, perform or redecorate.

-They both stress a lot, but then are very stress-free at other times. It's a bit unpredictable, but they're pretty "go with the flow" girls. But then sometimes they can be super obsessed about something and stress until it works out.

-They are both so very smart, and astute. They catch on really fast and are very ahead in their schooling (except when they have a horrible teacher).

-They are so independent. They WANT to cook dinner sometimes, they WANT to plan their own functions, and they WANT to just do things on their own. They know how to make spaghetti (boiling the noodles and everything), make scrambled eggs (Xanthe's specialty is Spanish Eggs...they are both Colombian you know...with tomatoes and long onions) and a few other simple dishes. It's very nice to be able to tell them they can cook their own food for that meal.


-They are so nurturing to other people, friends, kids and their little brother Spencer. Most of the time, and on an occasional basis, I find them feeding him cereal in the high chair, playing dress-up with him, or giving him a bath. I can't tell you how many times they have sent me back to bed when he wakes up in the morning, only to change his diaper, change his clothes and totally entertain him so I can get some more rest. Xanthe prides herself in bathing him (I'm right nearby) and Xoe prides herself in getting him to sleep. They are truly amazing. I couln't have asked for better kids....(well except for kids who enjoyed cleaning up, didn't whine about doing their homework or feeding the bunny, and were a little more grateful for what they have. But are ANY kids like that? I'm thinking not. So I am grateful for what I have.)

I let the girls sleep in my bed a couple times while Brian was gone. One time they insisted they wanted to take the baby to bed with them. The picture below this one is of the full set up they had on the end of the platform bed. Nice, huh? I almost took them up on the offer.

-I love how much they love me, their Mommy, and forgive me for how "unperfect" I can be most of the time. I'm not really a FUN mom and I don't do things super consistently. But I'm there for them, I cherish them and everything I do is for them (of course WITH Brian and Spencer now that I have them in my life too). We had a rough few years, but we made it through, and the only reason I did was because of their beautiful little cherub faces and bright blue eyes.

I love you girls and I can't believe you have grown up so much. (It's very weird to have 10 year olds. I've had children for a decade.)

I told you girls not to grow up! But you went ahead and did it anyway! :) Oh well. I love you anyway and am enjoying all the time we have with each other. This is for you!

Love, Mommy