Twinagers

 I don't know how this happened... but the twins are now TEENAGERS!!!  But for ease in typing, I shall from here forward call them TWINAGERS.

Tanner spent the week of his birthday at scout camp, so Ashlyn took advantage of the boys being out of the house and had a party with some friends.  They played in the water, played games, and watched a movie.  It was a lot of fun.

Ashlyn helped me shop for the ingredients for her birthday cake and came up with this grasshopper/ cookies and cream ice cream cake.  I'm not gonna lie, it was delicious.

This girl has some fun friends.  We are getting excited for school to start so that we can hang out more often.

When Tanner got back from camp, a present fest ensued.  With twins, birthdays start looking like Christmas around here!

Tanner got a very special present from mom and dad this year, his very own .22 rifle!!

And Ashlyn got a special present too, a mountain bike (ugh, no picture!)  They both LOVED their gifts.  The twins also got a lot of very thoughtful gifts from their siblings.  Ashlyn got Tanner a shirt that said, "Not Fishing every day probably won't kill me, but why take the chance?"  He loved it.  Tanner, along with Charlotte got Ashlyn a lava lamp that matched her room.  It is mesmerizing.  Tanner also got a leatherman from Ian, a Steve Young book from Bronson, and a movie from Charlotte.  Ashlyn got a mermaid tail blanket from Bronson, scuba gear from Whitlee, and some sandals from Ian.

Because Tanner was at scout camp on his birthday, he had his party a week later.  He invited a few friends to come play laser tag and watch a movie with some brownies and ice cream.  My kids aren't much for cake and ice cream anymore :(

I had to buy him these Happy Birthday candles because there were exactly 13 letters!!

Look at that cute photo bomber in the back!

10 Things to know about Ashlyn:

1. She got braces this year!  She might not be so thrilled about them now, but surely she will thank us later... right?

2.  She is an artist!  This kid loves art and is very good at it.  All of her spare time is spent drawing, sketching, and painting something.  She has been taking art lessons this summer and she is remarkable.  My favorite is when she creates her own cross stitches.  They are so amazing.

3. She is becoming quite the cook.  She is such an asset to her mother because I can just tell her to go bake something and she does a great job.  (There may have been more than one occasion when she gets to playing though and forgets the timer and has burned a few things... but she is learning).

4. She is the best journal writer I have ever met.  She never (OK rarely) misses a day writing in her journal.

5.  She thrives on checklists.  If you give this girl a checklist of things to do, she won't rest until it's to done.  That is why she will have her Young Women's Personal Progress complete before she turns 14.  She works hard on it.

6. She is turning into a great babysitter and has started babysitting for a few of our neighbors this year.  Her dad and I take great advantage of her skills and go on more date nights now that her and Tanner are old enough to be so responsible.

7. Her favorite sport is basketball and she is getting really great at her outside shots.

8.  She is still sticking with her music and is becoming quite accomplished on the violin and piano.

9. Her favorite food is spaghetti and she picks it every time she gets to plan a dinner.

10.  She has a very strong testimony of the gospel and because of that is a very good girl.  She always strives to be very modest, very appropriate in what she watches, listens to, and says.  Treats others with complete kindness, and really tries to do what is right all of the time.  This girl has the most integrity of any girl I have ever known.  All of these skills are being put to good use right now in her calling as Beehive class president.

Love you to the moon Ashy.

10 Things about Tanner

1.  Tanner also got braces this year.  They have been painful and a huge pain, but his teeth are straightening out and he is turning into quite the handsome young man.

2. Tanner is extremely passionate about fishing.  His favorite shirts are his fishing shirts.  He is starting to acquire his own fishing gear and poles.  He took a fly fishing class at school this past year and quite enjoyed it.  The highlight of his life was catching a monster fish during the winter and getting it mounted for Christmas.

3. Tanner is a peacemaker.  This kid doesn't fight with anyone period.  He is always solving conflicts between his siblings and reminding everyone to be kind and get along.  He has been a very easy kid to raise and is well loved by all his siblings.

4. This kid is a hard worker and super loyal.  If he notices that mom or dad is working on a project, he is there working right along our sides.  He can't bear to watch someone working without jumping in to help.  It kills him.  His work ethic translates to his benefit in his school work, scouting, church, and sports.

5.  Tanner is a great scout.  He loves camping and earning merit badges.  He can't wait to be an Eagle Scout and has worked very hard towards that rank.  He is so close, only missing three merit badges and an Eagle project.  He most certainly will have it before he turns 14.

6. Tanner is amazing at trying new things.  He decided to do a golf junior PGA league this year.  It was so out of his comfort zone as golf can be intimidating and he had never tried it before, but he was persistent with his request that mom and dad let him try and he gave it his best shot.  He learned so much and improved so much at golf, he even won one of his matches.  I am always so amazed that he is open to trying new things and going out of his comfort zone.

7. This kid loves to read.  He will stay up to all hours of the night when he has a good book to read.  He recently finished the Work and the Glory series and devoured a book about Steve Young that he got for his birthday.  If he ever has downtime, he can often be found with a book in his hands.

8.  Tanner is my dare devil.  He is always the kid in our family that pushes the boundaries with his tricks on the trampoline, on his bike, skiing, and on the high dive at the swimming pool.  He is so fun to watch.

9.  Tanner has a very soft spot for animals.  He loves his pets and continues to accumulate fish in his aquarium.  He is always the one to make sure that all of the pets have been fed and taken care of.

10.  Tanner has a very strong testimony of the church.  He is 100% faithful in his calling as a Deacon's class president.  He calls each member of his quorum of 13 boys every week to tell them of activities and announcements.  He is always early to church to set up chairs and be prepared to pass the sacrament.  He very faithfully collects fast offerings.  And he is especially an amazing example to the boys in his group of respecting leaders and doing those things to increase his testimony.

We love you Tanner-Man!