"Our Chother"

Lukas and Jasper turned 6.5 last week, and not only did I fail to take any pictures or blog about it; I barely even remembered to celebrate it. I've just been so busy and scattered lately that it slipped my mind (there are several other blog posts that I've begun and yet not finished in the last couple weeks; still hoping to finish them before September). Lena and my mom did take the kids out to lunch, but that was the extent of the half-birthday hoopla. Which, granted, may be MORE than what most families do in honor of half-birthdays, but I'm kind of crazy about half-birthdays . . . usually. I have not, however, failed to recognize that the age of 6.5 is about as good as it gets, so far. I am so very much enjoying this current developmental stage and if the kids choose to get stuck here for a while, I would be beyond thrilled.

Not only are Lena and I really digging our six-and-a-half-year-olds these days, but they are (likely not coincidentally) really digging each other (or "our chother" as they say, their last remaining bit of "baby talk," and one of my most favorite of their say-isms, used only in reference to each other). For the first time in about five years, I am feeling lucky about the fact that Luke and Jaz are twins, rather than wishing they had been born separately. It really does seem like a blessing that they came into this world together. Earlier today, I interviewed them about how they're feeling about being twins, and found out that they think it's pretty lucky too.



Zeben, as you may have noticed, was feeling rather left-out of the "twin talk" (one of the reasons why "twins" is not a household term in our family), I think realizing for the first time that Luke and Jaz share something that he does not. Thank goodness these sweet, sweet six-and-a-half-year-olds are so loving and inclusive with their little brother. Seriously, could this please not be a phase and rather be a whole new normal? I hope, I hope.