Almost Five



Gma, Paige and Lane on Thanksgiving, 2012

Our twins are almost five.......but first a story...

January, 1978....the moving van has left our Michigan lake house and we're not far behind as we head to our new home in Owensboro, Kentucky. The falling snow is pretty as we drive south.....but soon the hours and miles grow longer as pretty turns to heavy....then to whiteouts and icy roads. But on we drive, Michiganders that we are! Fiiiinaaallllly we arrive and check into a hotel for the night.
Eight year old Treg and Tracy who is almost five only have eyes for the heated indoor pool all the next day! Nice little treat....but then the call comes; the moving van and movers will not/cannot work in the snow covered streets of this southern town experiencing it's first heavy blizzard! Our hotel visit will become a total of 15 days!
Tracianna's coming birthday jumps to the top of my 'what to do' list. I called relatives back home to give them the hotel's mailing address...alerting the front desk of the possible flury of cards and gifts arriving soon! With a pocket full of dollar bills, Treg goes off to the gift shop over the next few days to buy presents (and trinkets he himself will enjoy!) Boxes and envelopes start to arrive, but the front desk folks agree to keep them out of sight in the office.
Tracy's Big Day arrives and we go down to breakfast with a few cards and Treg's gift bags behind his back. She is delighted to be five.....but asks "can we go swimming now?"
Mid afternoon, the staff calls to say we're invited to a special Birthday dinner in the dining room! YES! they have balloons, a cake and the presents and cards that have piled up in the "hotel hiding place!" A few of the wait staff sit and sing Happy Birthday to our sweet, five year old daughter...."It's a party" she squeals.......her eyes dancing with delight! 
No photos that night, but a picture has been sweetly buried in my heart until now.........her twins are  almost five and they love hearing this story about Mommy's "hotel birthday party!"














 
I retired the summer before they were born to help my daughter prepare; and have been part of the adventure ever since.
 I've spent the last few weeks gathering photos for my blog....Oh, what a walk down memory lane! First there was the ARRIVAL...three weeks before Christmas...making them the most unique holiday gift we'd ever received! Our own little Prancer and Dancer!   And although I've been in the other kids' lives from day one.....
something about caring for dos babies makes it more amazing. The cuteness times two.......(often times three as big brother helped out/loved on them.....and somedays became one of them!)

      They DO share a special bond, speak twin talk, and have each others back....most of the time.

They've gone from toddling partners-in-crime to savvy little tattlers who can say "he did it/she did it" faster than a speeding car! From dressed alike babies to gender friendly boy/girl outfits; from being called The Babies/The Twins/The Littles to becoming the kids or kiddos and whom we call by name now!

We've all watched young personalities emerge and blossom.....but watching it all unfold in 2D is awesome.......especially when the two peas in a pod are delightfully different! She can be  stubborn and mischievious like her mama was; he is our moral compass, making sure rules are followed and everyone gets a turn. Paige, my sweet valentine, is quick and eager to try anything.
 Lane is easy going and cautious....my smiling sunshine boy!






Cheering them on as they learned to crawl, walk and talk, praising the Lord when they learned to buckle themselves into their car seats, clapping excitedly as they ride bikes and scooters, climb the rock wall and run in the right direction during flag football! And now....as they're unlocking the keys to reading......I'm smiling with the bittersweet pride that comes with the words "growing up."



These little munchkins are "almost five" and looking forward to their upcoming party; inviting all their classmates to a rented jumping place and of course... two cakes! Their 8 yo brother will be joining in the fun as well........just like long ago when Mommy's big brother helped her celebrate!



"It's double the giggles and double the grins......and double the trouble when you're blessed with twins!"



           HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Prancer and Dancer!