9 x 2 = Happy Birthday Lauren & Mackenzie!

Nine years ago today, I saw these 2 sweet faces for the very first time (Lauren on left, Mackenzie on right). This was just a couple hours after they were born: May 25, 2000.

And this morning I saw these beautiful 9-year-olds! Happy Birthday Lauren and Mackenzie!

Because I see them every day, it's hard to notice the changes as they take place. So I grabbed a picture from every year of their life (most were taken on or around their birthday). So here they are ... Lauren and Mackenzie 2000-2008. (See above for 2009.)

I remember the day they told us it was twins: January 19, 2000. Some of the craziest news I have ever heard. I mean, we had 2 very young children at home (Nick was 2 and Austin was 1) and I was 5 months pregnant and they told us it was twins! I remember clearly when they put the ultrasound wand on my belly. I knew how ultrasounds went and I knew that I usually couldn't tell what was what. But the first image that popped up on that screen was very clearly 2 circles and the nurse smiled and I said that it looked like 2 heads. And she said that was exactly what it was (so either we were having a 2-headed baby ... or it was twins!). Marty was pale as a ghost and then we just laughed. What could you do at that point? We were nervous and we were scared but that was truly one of the best moments of my life! I could not imagine life without them. :)

They have grown up so fast and I am so proud of them. And although they are twins and will always share that bond, they have both developed into unique little people that are so cool as individuals. And now I'm getting all philosophical and teary when all I really wanted to do is wish them the best birthday ever! We're off to the Mexican Inn and Build-A-Bear by request of the birthday kiddos.

Here are some videos of Mackenzie and Lauren 2 days ago at their school luau. They were the coolest kids at the party!

And here is some music for ya! Colin Raye: One Boy, One Girl.

Go #9 ... Soccer Superstar!

So today it starts ... a new chapter in our lives ... we are now soccer parents!! Will it last? Who knows. Lauren has tried just about every sport out there and in the end always decides it is not for her. Let's see ... we have done gymnastics, ballet, cheerleading, basketball and baseball. However, this one is different. She is actually excited about it. I know it was just the first game but I saw something I had never seen in her before. She was into it! She was trying. She was listening. I could just tell that she WANTED to be out there playing. And she's really been trying at all of the practices. She asks every day how long it is until her next practice. So maybe this is it! Maybe this is her thing. And besides ... look how cute she is in that uniform. :)

As you can see in the pictures, Lauren is not the biggest girl on the team. OK ... you could say that she is probably the smallest but she was just as good as everyone out there and she tried her little heart out. Did I already say that I am very, very proud of her?!

Marty and I realized that we know absolutely nothing about soccer. We have some studying to do. We think that she is a middle fielder. Not sure on that. Going to have to ask her coach what position she is playing. Then we need to learn some of the rules of the game so we can help her. It's pretty sad. Anyway, enough with that ... let's bring on the pictures!!! She was a star today!

And here's proof that Marty and the boys and I were at the game. It was like a typhoon at the soccer field. The wind almost blew me over a couple of times. Not sure how Lauren and her 50 pound (fully clothed with wet hair) body didn't get swept away!

Here's out little cutie taking a well-deserved break from the game.

I didn't take any video today because it was really windy and all you would have heard was the wind noise. But if you really, really want to see Lauren playing soccer, I will not disappoint. Here she is at her very first practice. That's Lauren in the black pants and white shirt with red sleeves.

And, in case anyone was wondering where Lauren got those awesome, muscular, well-defined, power legs ... take a look at her Mama when she was the same age as Lauren. Yep, that's me in about 1979.

That's it for now. Here's some music for you. I said Lauren was a star today so here's Will.I.Am: She's A Star.

Happy New Year! ... and a Trip To Terabithia

Today was a great start to 2009. It was a very fun, productive day. Marty and I spent a couple of hours taking down Christmas decorations (that's why I'm not doing a Christmas post today ... I'm all Christmased out ... but I promise the pictures are coming soon.) It was a beautiful, sunny day and about 70°.

We live right by a lake and there is a finger of the lake that comes behind the houses and you can hike around the woods. It's pretty muddy and the kids always come home filthy but they love it. They call the spot Terabithia. (Like the book/movie Bridge to Terabithia.) Lauren came home today with a tadpole. I asked if she would take me to Terabithia and she was so excited so I put on my boots and we headed out the door. We went with one of her friends and the boys all wanted to go with us but I had told Lauren it was just going to be the girls. But while I was putting on my boots, the boys left and I was pretty sure we would be seeing them!

Lauren was so sweet. She kept asking if I wanted to go the long or the short way? ... The easy or the hard way? ... The muddy or the rocky way? (There are many ways to get to Terabithia apparently.) But I told her that I was going to follow her whichever way she wanted to go. So we went through the creek. Here are Lauren and her friend Mackenzie in the creek.

I knew it wouldn't be long before we ran into one of the boys. We heard some rustling in the bushes and out popped my son Mackenzie!

So we asked him to take a picture of the three of us and then we were on our way again. The boys went their separate way.

And then we made it to Terabithia. This is the first picture I took. The sunshine makes it look magical ... just like in the book!

We spent a good hour or more walking around the woods and by the lake. I was really glad I had worn rubber boots. Lauren weighs about 43 pounds and does not sink in the mud. I am a different story! Here are some miscellaneous pictures of Terabithia.

And then we saw them again ... BOYS! I think they were spying on us the whole time. But this time we decided to stay together and head over to the bridge. My son Mackenzie had gone home. Nick told me that Mackenzie had found some trash and said he wanted to clean it up like WALL-E (Mackenzie has a slight WALL-E fascination at the moment). The boys in the picture are Nick in the glasses and our neighbor Jonathan (Lauren's friend Mackenzie's brother).

And we finally made it to the Bridge to Terabithia. Here it is. And the kids wanted to go under it. They are convinced that a "hobo" (Lauren's word) lives under the bridge because there's some carpet under there.

Christmas pictures are coming soon. I promise. But for now we need some music. How about a bridge song? Here's the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Under the Bridge.