And now they're four...

Yesterday, our twins turned FOUR YEARS OLD.

 

I know.

 

Came up quick, didn't it?

 

I'm actually not one to say it "flies by", because...well... I don't really feel like it does most the time. But suddenly looking at my Big Kids...no longer babies, no longer toddlers...I'm feeling like it's been an instant.

 

We had their party the Saturday prior to their actual birthday, and perhaps some day I'll get around to posting about it, but today I wanted to show you yesterday. Luke and Abbey's actual 4th birthday ;).

 

Dave and I got up before them and hung streamers and balloons around. They didn't know what to think about that...

 

 

 

 

We let them open their gifts from us...



(Abigail hugging the little white stuffed bunny we got her. Babygirl LOVES stuffed animals these days)

 

 

 



Then the kids helped me make sprinkle pancakes, a birthday tradition around here...

 

 

 

Ab's sportin' her new SuperGirl jammies!

We lit candles and sang Happy Birthday to each birthday kiddo...

 

 

The kids played for a bit and then we got ready to head to lunch at their choice of restaurant. David and I got super lucky, they picked Hopworks. We rarely go out to eat, but when we do it's usually Hopworks. Good food, decent prices, and a kids play area right next to the tables. Everybody wins.

 

I kept trying to get one of my cherubs to take a picture with me. Luke came over to me, but darted back to the train table before the flash even went off. So Dave took one of me alone...ha!

 



 

 



I had also told the kids they could pick where ever they wanted to go that day.

 

I should have specified they needed to agree on the same place.

 

Luke wanted to go the Aquarium, and Abbey to the Zoo.

 

Of course, right?!?

 

And David had a convention he needed to attend that afternoon, so I was solo parenting. In the Spirit of Birthdays, I said we'd do both =). (we have memberships to both, so they were both no cost that day)

 

It was raining a bit at the Zoo, but we had fun!

 



 

Our little Ham ;)...

 



(can you see the tiger in the back there?)

After we'd seen everything we wanted to see at the Zoo, we headed across town to the Aquarium.

The kids loved the touch pool...

Giant eel...

Jellyfish!

 

Both kids touched sting rays, and eventually worked up the nerve to touch the baby sharks and puffer fish...

 

Abbey has never met an animal she doesn't love. She once threw a 7 minute fit because I off handedly told her she could never have a pet squirrel in the house. True story.

So when I asked if she wanted to go in the bird area, she was all over it! 

 

 

Luke was much  more hesitant (me too!), and opted to wait for Sister in the climbing area...

 

 

Abbey made her way over to join him, checking out the boa constrictor on her way...

They climbed and climbed until I finally told them it was time to head home, at which point Luke announced he'd worked up the nerve to go in the bird cage.

 

And so he did...

And he loved it!

 

 

Happy birthday to our amazing, beautiful, hilarious, intelligent, kind-hearted, thoughtful, crazy, strong, AWESOME kids!!

 

We love you all the way to the moon and back.