12 Years Old!

The boys are 12! It doesn't seem like its been enough time for them to be 12 already, I'm not that old yet am I? They were both really excited to be 12. Beck thinks it makes him a man. I told him he's a young man, not yet a full on man, I'm really not ready for that. Since they had their party already and opened gifts we didn't do that on their actual birthday, but we still wanted them to feel special so we surprised them with lunch. Beck thought we may be going on another trip, I guess we did set ourselves up for them to think that.

Camden

Camden is still tiny and I think he likes but hates it. I would guess it gets old hearing HOW DIFFERENT twins are, but he says he likes being small. We are able to give his old clothes right to Jacks, so its nice for us. Camden is so smart (and he knows it). His math skills always amaze me. I like to give him problems just to see him work them out in his head. I just assume they're right. Have these two boys who love math has made me lazy in math, and I loved math in school too. He excels in piano as well. He's to a very fun point where he can sight read most music, so he is always trying to look up new songs to play. And unlike me, he likes playing for people. He also really likes band and playing that instrument. Its fun to see his love of music forming. Camden still likes to push everyone buttons, he really knows how to get Jacks mad, but then in the next breath they are best friends and he plays so well with Jacks. He can be so helpful with them, making forts and treat, or cause fight after fight. He loves to cook and is getting better with recipes. Camden HAS to have the last word, and so do I, so you can guess how fun some conversations are for us. His allergies are still over the top. We are going to try a new therapy soon and hope in a few months he gets some relief. Camden loves to help people. He tells me all the time of kids he helps at school with homework, especially math. Camden likes origami but doesn't do it as much as he used to, although the other day he made a folded flower that opened up in water. It was so impressive to see it work how he wanted it to. He likes to print out a picture and tap it to the window and trace it on another page. Magic is another thing he is working on. He likes to look up new card tricks to perform. Cam loves Beck. He really has a twin bond with him. He'll order what Beck does, he wants to be where Beck is and wants Beck to always follow him. I think different classes has really helped them both meet people and learn to be without the other, but they still like their brother best. They have majority of the same friends too, which really made inviting friends to the party easy. Camden's favorite food is ham, favorite game or toy is Fortnite, favorite subject is math.

Beckham

Beckham is growing so fast and I'm sure he's like Cam but the opposite side, sick of hearing how big he is. He is like 2 inch off from me, so it is crazy just how fast he is growing. No pants from the beginning of the year fit in length but the waist is getting a little big because he is losing his 'baby fat' and ... well just changing, he's becoming a young man. I think he likes being bigger than Cam a little because there is more he can do and things he can do easier than Cam like mowing the lawn. He loves Camden, maybe won't admit it, but he likes to have his own space more than Cam. He still lets Cam push him around though. No matter what Cam does he just puts up with it even if he hates it. We have tried over and over to tell him to stand up for himself but he won't. He is my helper. He will help me when I need things done, or help doing things. Beck will also come and ask if he can help with anything and he usually does a really good job when he does help. I've been so impressed that he has stuck with piano. I didn't think he really liked it, but he wanted to keep playing and has had fun just learning concert songs. Beckham is in love with acting. He won't do anything in front of us, but really loved doing drama this year and misses not having a play to do right now. He tells me all the time he's going to California to be an actor when he's older. Beckham loves to collect Pops. He will spend his game time looking up new ones to try and save for to buy. They both always have grand plans to save for something then it's thrown off by a cool new pop or other toy. We made a new rule that they have to thing for 24 hours before they can spend over a certain amount. It's worked so far, Beck wanted a big Pop and 24 hours later forgot all about it and saved the money. He also has a new obsession each month. Last month it was basketball card which Brad has a lot of old ones that the boys thought were pretty sweet, but now he's over them. We're just waiting for the next obsession to hit. He is really trying to find out who he is, how to act and how far he can take things. It's not always easy dealing with the way he does things and unless is it rude or not ok we are trying to let him figure that out. We have had a few conversations about how something isn't funny like he thought or what he said or did was actually rude and not ok. I seem to be the tester on all of that, which makes motherhood so much fun. I've been told by a few wise moms that this is normal and to just hold on it's just starting. Yay! He is a really good kid though. Both of them are, their teachers have nothing but good things to say about them. A few weeks ago they had a new friend over and his dad happens to be a teacher at Stuart. He came outside with the boys and his son to meet Brad who picked them up after school. This dad told us later that other teachers saw them and said that the Barnes boys are good kids and his son picked a good friend. Those are the things as parents you love to hear. Beckham's favorite food is BLTs, favorite game/toy is Fortnite, favorite subject is band.

I love so much that we had twins and especially these two wonderful boys. They are so fascinating to watch grow up and especially right now as we watch them develop into young men. This past Sunday they also were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood and they both couldn't have been more excited (and maybe a little nervous). They really watched the boys this week pass the sacrament, knowing they get to next week. It was Mother's Day so the young men pass out the gifts for the moms and they were so excited them the Bishop said that and they got to go and pass them out. While I miss my baby twins who jabbered to each other, I love seeing them grow into the young men that they are. Beck told us this week that only 6 years till he's 18 and we all know how fast that will go.