Happy 16th birthday to my niece and nephew! Emi and Noah are officially driving age, which feels officially impossible, as I don’t know how sixteen years have passed since they first came into the world on that warm, rainy day at the end of March. Did I know then that they would become such wonderful additions to our family, and that as they grew we would become friends? I don’t know… I don’t think so. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and for the first few years I didn’t really know them well. But once they started talking, and spending time with Andy and me, I understood the richness and magnificence of being an Uncle – especially to such a good pair of people.
Today they embark upon their sixteenth year, and in spite of the last year of life rearing its often-ugly head, they’re still holding on to being two of my favorites people in the world by continuing to be good and kind in a time when such virtues are rare.
Our annual look back at the birthdays that came before…
#15 ~ In which the twins continue on their tumultuous teen years.
#14 ~ In which the twins enter one of my favorite ages (and this list was born).
#13 ~ In which a letter to Noah and a letter to Emi marked their entry into the teenage world.
#12 ~ In which a dozen years have flown by like eggs in a carton.
#11 ~ In which a full year of COVID wreaks its sustained havoc but there was still time to celebrate.
#10 ~ In which a decade of the Ilagan twins finds us looking back again.
#9, 8, 7 ~ In which a few years get away from me posting wise (and the best parts of life take place offline).
#6 ~ In which a birthday celebration takes place in a children’s museum.
#5 ~ In which the twins and their friends rounded the half-decade mark.
#4 ~ In which a birthday double-header brings happiness to the family.
#3 ~ In which a ride in the Radio Flyer signifies a Happy Birthday.
#2 and #1 ~ In which the birthday blog posts were part of all those lost in a revamp. We lived then, offline, and in all the glory that being off the grid entails.
