Hi friends! Today we're celebrating our twins' fifth birthday! (That's code for 'today I'm celebrating having raised these two people for five years and they seem alright to me and our pediatrician').

Since I've been writing a blog for over half of their life, it's become a small tradition of mine to write a few words every year on October 29. It's a completely self indulgent habit, so I don't blame you at all if you skip it. :) A couple years ago I laid out their entire birth story, (starting here). I saved those posts to always remember the crazy roller-coaster of a time we had leading up to their birth and the difficult, lonely month after. Today I just want to give thanks. So much thanks. These guys are no longer even toddlers, they're people. They ask, they teach, they encourage, they joke, they pray. They're comfortable with who they are and are starting to tap into the unique gifts the Lord has equipped them with. I couldn't ask for more and my heart overflows.

Our twins' birthday always brings forth a flood of memories!

The beginning was just nuts.

For being all up in each other's business for 7.5 months, they definitely took some time getting acquainted.

After we all got to know each other better things got weird. We realized that what we considered normal looked anything but.

**Colin could. not. sit up by himself for a while. But he figured out a way.**

Though our early days were long, my love for these two grew by the hour. As did my biceps.

Never in a million years would I have guessed I'd have boy-girl twins, (especially since I was given boy-girl twin baby dolls when I was 6, and that would just be too ironic...). But, the Lord had these little sweeties planned just for Matt and me. They're our dreams and prayers come true.

Off to party with a couple 5 year olds today. :)

Hi All, I had a way more interesting and DIY relevant post for today, but it's getting bumped. All that's on my mind today is this new beginning:

Our twins started preschool today! Indeed, the next generation of StyleMutt is out in the world becoming their own people. In a way, leaving them at school today was a bit of a DIY task in and of itself. I could hear my voice quiver a little when I said I loved them and to have fun. It was one of the most bittersweet moments of my life, but far heavier on the sweet than the bitter, (although, it was quite sad for little brother, Mason, who cried on our way back to the car after saying our goodbye).

While their world got a bit bigger today, and will continue growing, I relish in their youngness; their ridiculous little-kid jokes that make no sense, their quirks and habits, their cute little clothes and shoes, their high little voices, and especially their still-new smell. Oh yes, even after almost 5 years they still smell delicious to me.

So even though today was a big step forward for our family, we'll take our time growing up.

On a kid related note, I'll be posting on how to hang heavy duty toy shelves directly into drywall tomorrow, (no studs needed, although they're nice to have around... ;) Thank you so much for stopping by and bearing with today's sap!