Happy 8th Birthday Taelyn and Mariya!

Simply Amazing! That's all I can say to describe my girls! That's all I can say to describe what the last 8 years of our life has been! That's all I can say when I think about how God has been so gracious to give us these beautiful children, including my only 2 girls!

I remember when you two were just toddlers. I would look at you and try to figure out what you would look like when you got older. I could NOT wrap my mind around the thought of my baby girls actually growing up. It seemed like you would just always be my spunky little redheaded babies! So you two turning eight this past weekend just totally blows me away!

Here are the things I want to remember about you now:

Taelyn

You are my big helper. You are all about business when it comes to managing the household.

You are giving. You almost ALWAYS share your toys.

You like to sleep on the top bunk.

You almost always get up about 3 times every night after lights out. Once to tell me your head/stomach hurts. Once to tell me you can't sleep. Once to go potty.

You don't mind your hair in your face.

You like to go out to run errands with me.

You can put away the food like a grown man! You are usually willing to try new and unusual things.

You love to go down and bang around on Daddy's drums.

Your favorite foods are fruits and vegetables.

You sleep with a big entourage of stuffed animals.

You are shy around strangers.

You are a little thicker around the waist than Mariya and wear 1/2 size bigger shoe than Riya.

Mariya

You are an awesome big sister and you love to make your little guys happy.

You almost always help without complaining.

You love to sleep in whenever you can.

You love to make conversation.

You are very sensative.

You enjoy messing around on your guitar and occassionally Daddy's guitar.

You don't sleep with any stuffed animals.

You have a loud and contagious laugh!

You HAVE to sit with Taelyn at the dinner table. Every night you make sure of that!

You are an awesome eater. You eat just about anything. Sometimes you can be a little picky when it comes to vegetables.

You like a little less drama than Taelyn.

You like to make goofy faces to make people laugh!

Both of You:

Don't mind being called the wrong name. You are VERY used to it. Sometimes you correct people and sometimes you don't.

Love to play with each other. At school, you are not together all the time. At home, you are together 99.9% of the time.

Love music. You like Taylor Swift, Hannah Montana, and just about anything mommy or daddy listens to.

Love to play with your toys! Barbies, Polly Pockets, Dollhouse, GI Joes, Star Wars....

Love to eat salad. At dinner, it's common for you both to eat at least 2 or 3 bowls of salad. Lettuce, cheese, and ranch. Sometimes egg or green pepper.

Are social butterflies. You get along with just about anyone. You make friends lightening fast!

HATE cleaning your room. You girls dread me telling you to clean your room. It usually takes you about 5 times longer than it should because you are playing around.

Like holding hands when we are out and about. Most of the time with each other. You never mind holding Mommy or Daddy's hand either.

Like putting on make-up and dressing up. You have loved doing this your whole life...and still do!

Like to take baths.

Are so rough with each other! You love to wrestle around.

Have so much patience with your little brothers. You play with them and teach them all kinds of things.

Have no idea how lucky you are to have the special bond that you share. To you girls, being twins is "no big deal" and you don't realize how unique it is. I am so glad that you love each other the way you do.

You have brought so much happiness to this family. You are free spirits and very fun-loving little girls. I thank God every day for giving me such little beauties!