These two turned fourteen. It's a funny age as they have elements of little boy and elements of man all mixed in with deep voices and sweat and smelly boots and huge appetites. Strangely there has been a rather delightful return to some very affectionate gestures for their Mum.
Miraculously, they are even showing each other a shaving of affection but I think that's only permissible when one is in rugby gear so one is clear that it is "rough" affectionate.
These are the drawings I made them for their birthdays. It was a last minute thought as I had no idea what I was getting them and they actually liked them and have put them up in their room. The transformer is the left hand twin as he was always into being a warrior/ explorer/ space dude. The other one had more of the lego knight about him. He was a little more shy and timid as a wee un but no longer.
How did those big swarthy boys grow out of such poppets. This is one of my favorite photos of them just sitting on the floor in their overalls. They make me laugh, cry, rant, chuckle and tap dance on the front lawn. My first borns. They were never twinny at all just brother's born at the same time. They are each others' greatest opponents and staunchest supporters. As the boyness dwindles away, the idea of having tall men who are my babies is becoming less weird and more interesting.
When we were getting to know each other in the maternity ward, this song kept coming into my head. It always pops back into my consciousness around their birthday although I no longer sing them to sleep with my lullaby version of it.
Fishy scored a drawing today too as there is more time and space here to make some bigger art than there is at home. The Michelin Man toy appeared on the footpath a few days ago and, as drawing toys is working for me right now, I'm going to follow it for a while. Maybe there could be one for each child like the quilts. Still working on those.
Now for Easter. Bonnets on!
Love this age, mine boy is nearly 13, I wish I could bottle it. x
ReplyDeleteThere is something about there earnest, loud simplicity that is truly worth bottling.
DeleteHello Annie! How are you? Happy Birthday to your gorgeous boys! Look at them there all grown up. Glad to hear of the return of affectionate gestures. I love that photo of them when they were babies - too cute and I bet it feels like yesterday they were that small. Love the artwork you did for them too - clever thing! The kids are making their own bonnets these days are they - love it! We actually don't have Easter Hat parade down here, does take some pressure off. Mel x
ReplyDeleteMan! You girls are QUICK! The bonnets all happened at our rather lovely kindy. They make all the celebrations very special there. We realized today that we had been attending that kindy for eleven years! This is most definitely (probably) the last though!
Deleteprobably? Do i detect some room for negotiation there :-D
DeleteOMG I can see what Connor will look like as a MAN! That's the first time for me. Wowee. We're on our way, Lady, to being mothers of super tall boys! Happy Easter to you - we don't seem to have needed bonnets this year. :(
ReplyDeleteThey were wearing rugby pad shirt things that make them look much buffer than they are. Thus the poses. You should hear the voice!!!
DeleteI love your Michelin man Annie, and your birthday boy-men are very cute.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday boys - love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. They are very rough and ready- like the boys!
DeleteGood lord, look at those big boys Annie: Congrats!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your handsome young men.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Sharon
Two fine gentlemen.
ReplyDeleteSome days!
DeleteHappy Birthday boys :D
ReplyDeleteAnnie my youngest, who is also the tallest, is already pushing 6 ft 2 ... it's nice and weird to have my baby so big, both at the same time.
Exactly! Nice but very weird!
DeleteOops, that last is totally ungrammatical ... short version, my boy 2 is very tall!
ReplyDeleteYour boys are looking like manly men. ;) How do you just whip up a painting like that! Genius.
ReplyDeleteIt happens when you have a space, lots of media and just a little time. Bliss!
DeleteI like the Michelin Man. He has lost weight since I saw him the last time, hasn't he? ;-) Happy birthday to your boys.
ReplyDeleteoh, I know the feeling! sometimes I look at the teen and remind myself that he really was that shy little boy with the golden curls -- I can still see that small person in him (just).
ReplyDeletelucky fellas to be getting drawings from their ma, I can see they loved them :) happy birthday to you all. x