In 2006, my All-American family of 5 went from average to insane when my parents announced that my mom was expecting twins. If I remember correctly (and I do), when we told my Grandma the news her response was, "Oh, no! Another one?" Of course, she didn't mean for it to sound as negative as it did nor did she mean to exclude one of the twins. Fortunately for us, my Grandma's moment of uncensored surprise will forever be one of the funniest family memories I have.
As the oldest sibling, I was beyond excited to welcome two new babies into my family's home. Little did I know that twin boys were made up of mischief and pure evil. However, being the "excellent" older sister that I still am I was beyond excited to tell everyone I knew. I was going to be a big sister again! I was so excited to teach my new baby brothers, Camden and Cooper, everything I knew. Little did I know that they would be the ones teaching. Even though I'm ten years older than Cooper and Camden I have realized that they have been teaching me things from the moment they were born.
So, here are just a few things I've learned from the smartest 9-year-old boys I know.
Lesson #1: My twins are made of mischief and pure evil.
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Little Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice"? Well, twins are made of mischief and pure evil. More often than not you'll find Cooper and Camden looking as cute as can be but sometimes if you're lucky you'll capture a picture of them being extremely mischievous.
Lesson #2: My twins offer support x2.
Bad days happen for everyone, life gets hard. From learning to ride a bike to struggling with adulting, Cooper and Camden have got not only my back but everyone else too. It takes nothing more than a Snapchat of their adorable faces for my mood to instantly brighten. And, the best part about their support? More often than not, they don't even realize how helpful they really are.
Lesson #3: My twins are as different as Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
By no means did I expect Camden and Cooper to be identical down to every aspect of their personalities, however, I will admit, they are more unique than I realized they could be. Don't misunderstand me, they both enjoy sports and have played on the same baseball and football teams since they were old enough to sign up.
Cooper enjoys puzzles, movies, Karate, and watching Netflix (he's A LOT like his older sister). Camden enjoys fishing, baseball, and the only thing he watches on TV is sports (he's A LOT like his older brother). Watching Cooper and Camden grow into their own personalities has been one of the most incredible things.
Lesson #4: My twins are completely loyal (to one another at least).
For good or for evil these boys are a team. Once, when they were much younger Cooper wanted to use the automatic water dispenser on our refrigerator. Unfortunately, at the time he was too short to reach the button. Employing the help of his twin, Cooper and Camden developed what they believed to be a fool proof plan. Camden got on all fours and allowed Cooper to crawl on top of him, then using a ruler, Cooper proceeded to push the lever on the front of the refrigerator. As you can imagine this let out a stream of freezing water, drowning both twins and the floor. I could hardly contain my laughter when I ran into the kitchen to find two soaking wet little boys grinning at one another. The point is, Cooper and Camden have been a team since the moment they were born. Regardless, of the consequences for their actions these boys are 100% loyal to one another 100% of the time.
While, I am uncertain of what new adventures Cooper and Camden will find themselves wrapped up in. There is one thing I am completely certain of, I know that since January 17, 2007 my life has been twice as exciting. Within 9 years my 'genius boys' have taught me so much, not only about twins but also about myself. During these past 9 years Cooper and Camden have helped shaped my life in a way I never imagined two little boys could. I can only imagine what they'll be able to teach me in the years to come. I can assure you, this is only the beginning of what will definitely become a much longer list.
