Sibs Not Kids

It's not often that all of the schedules line up in this household and we are able to do something together as a family. Sure, we go to each other's things together--S will tag along to P's swim class or we may all catch a movie if we've got a few hours to spare and we've been waiting for the Incredibles sequel to come out for like 20 years or something. But otherwise, it takes a lot of planning to make a big excursion happen. Going to Disneyland during winter break was an experience unlike any other and really cemented together our identity as a family. This weekend, just a few days after an article I wrote for a parenting magazine about teaching your children not to stare was published, we went to the big zoo up in Seattle. A huge surprise to me-- apparently no one in that park read my little article. Truthfully, there's a lot I wish I could have said in that article. I went for the more polite version of things because people waiting in their children...

To P and S (or Hash Brown 1 and Hash Brown 2, as you like to be called)-- I know this is not the life we thought we'd have, but what a wonderful life it is. July came and went, as did the anniversary of us becoming a family, in all its weird and messy and laughter-filled glory. In some ways it feels like the year has flown by. In both the best and worst of times, days quickly became nights which quickly became days. And still we stand together. In this tumultuous year you both have grown in ways that I could never have imagined. Your sister and I are so, so proud of who you are, and constantly think about how lucky we are that this is our life. I don't say this much because I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, but I want to let you know that I love you more than I knew I could love. I look at both of you and all I feel is warmth. I cherish even the small moments, like when I get to drive you to work or a dance, and we just talk about your day or your favorit...