Happy Birthday

Dear Owen and Eli,
We did it! We made it to 4! This is the year when you'll start preschool and learn lots of other "big kid" things (like wiping your own bums?) It's going to be great! But let's remember you now. Right. This. Minute. In honor of your birthday.

Owen: You give the best prayers. The very best. They are basically a narrative for the day past, present, and future. We love to listen to your prayers. You don't ask for anything and you don't say thanks for anything, but we see so clearly what is important to you and what you notice. It's wonderful. You are the bigger twin brother, but you wouldn't think that by what you eat at dinner (which is very little) You have become a bit of a picky eater. You sure love juice, though. And cheese. If we ever have cheese with dinner you want a slice "like this" and when you say "like this," you hold your hand out flat to demonstrate the slice. You use these hand gestures when talking about your pillow pet, too. If you want him closed (like a pet) you hold your hand in a fist. Your language is improving, but we still often have to serve as your interpreters when you are talking to people who don't know you or who don't see you very often. That's okay. You are such a cheese ball for the camera. You do a silly naked dance each night after you get out of the shower. You are stubborn. You are my child who wants to know for himself. If I say, "Don't touch it because it is hot." You touch it anyway. I worry sometimes about what kind of teenager you will be because of this personality trait. I hope you will learn to trust me more when I tell you not to do something. You love to do makeup with me in the mornings. You have chapstick which we call "lippies" and you have your own powder. I used to let you do eyeshadow, too, but one time you made yourself look like you had two black eyes, so we stopped that one :) You love baby Zachy and all children smaller than yourself. Of all the brothers, you love on Zachy the most. Your are a good big brother to him. You really look up to Marcus, too, and often say "When I'm bigger I'll  . . ." whatever Marcus is doing at the time.

Eli: Your hair is famous. It is so long, maybe too long, but I can't quite bring myself to cut it. I have cut it in the past, but when I look at those old pictures I always think to myself, "Who is that kid? Not our Eli." Your dad has given up on asking me to cut it. Those curls are just too wonderful. You are such a curious little fellow. Right now you are obsessed with names. "What's his name? Why is that his name? What is this? Why is it called that?" You also wonder about yourself. "What color are my eyes?" you ask. "Hazel," I reply. "But why are they hazel?" You ask. "Because Heavenly Father wanted you to have hazel eyes and they are beautiful. Daddy has hazel eyes," and on and on we go. You are also the child who still loves to snuggle me and who will ask "Will you hold me?" and say "Mom, I love you," at random moments. You love your thumb. I wonder how long you will suck it. You are an amazing eater. If I try a new recipe for dinner, you will not only try it, but you will eat it all and then ask for seconds. You love choosing a movie each week at the library and then watching that movie 500,000 times during the week. Your memory is amazing. You remember songs and stories. Right now you sing "Call me maybe" with us. I'll say, "Hey, I just met you" and you say, "This is crazy," Me: "But here's my number." You: "So call me maybe." Me: "And all the other boys" You: "Try to chase me" Me: "But here's my number." You: "So call me maybe." It's hilarious.

I love you both so very very much. You are the source of my biggest joys and sometimes my greatest frustrations. My "two for one special" has turned out to be one of my greatest blessings.

Love,
Mom