This past weekend the boys attended their 3rd Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. It sounds weird to say that because they aren't even three years old, but their attended their very first festival at 11 months so they're one ahead in the count! It also sounds weird to say that we saw so many of our "old" friends... the boys aren't even three, yet they have dozens of sets of twins they have hung out with for three festivals now so they truly seem like old friends. When we walked out to the pool at our hotel to swim on Friday afternoon, which was our very first activity of our very first festival three years ago, we were swarmed with old friends... and what an amazing feeling that was! I'm not sure the boys recognize these friends yet, though it sure felt like somehow they did. They seemed so comfortable when these people grabbed them for hugs and pictures, to take them for a swim, or to see other friends on the far side of the pool. Our boys are generally very outgoing as is, but it seemed that they knew this was a special place and these friends were special people whom they had met before. I know someday they will truly remember and look forward to seeing these friends each year, which as a mother and technical outsider is my absolute favorite part about Twins Days. I also love that no one makes Jon and I feel like outsiders. Although we are both singletons looking in on this wonderful world simply by virtue of being the parents of twins, everyone is so warm and welcoming. It just feels like we all belong... and judging by the fact that we hang out with the parents of the 23 year old twins who have attended 23 festivals, I think its safe to say we'll still be welcome long after the boys are old enough to attend on their own!
So on Friday we spent the afternoon swimming at the hotel and then we headed over to the Weinie Roast. The boys still do not know what a "weinie" is, nor have they ever consumed one... but that never stops us from having a great time! The boys danced their little hearts out on the gym floor, so close to the speakers that the vibrations of the music gave them a little extra bounce in their step. They danced with 4 year old twin girls and 14 year old twin girls :) Jon likes to think that in a few years they'll find their twin wives on that very same dance floor! We visited with more old friends and took dozens of pictures. This year was the first time the boys seemed to understand that everyone there had a twin! But I wonder if they truly get it. They know they are twins and that there are two of them, but I wonder if they realize that when other people look at them they see two of the exact same people just like they see when they look at everyone else!
Saturday morning we had to wake the boys up super early to get ready for the parade. Floats had to be assembled, chests had to be painted, and costumes had to be pieced together! The boys were champs through it all, despite our 6:00am start time. Before long, my adorable little boys had transformed into the world's cutest Clark Kent and Superman!!! Daddy spent most of the week constructing the infamous phone booth that he precariously perched on top of a rickety old wagon and voila! The Paddock twins were ready to steal the show again :)
After winning the coveted Mayor's Trophy for our human cannonball entry last year, we truly had no expectations going into this years parade but to have a good time. Even Jon knew that the human cannonballs were un-toppable. It was a stroke of creative genius that just doesn't happen twice! But sure enough, the boys were a HUGE hit and we were surprise once again- even more surprised than we were last year- when they won the Mayor's Trophy for the second year in a row! They also won second place in the 12 and under costume contest. We were perfectly happy to take second behind the 7 year old girls who won first place... their costumes were absolutely amazing!!!! I wish I had a picture to share because I can't even explain it!!! And the poor mom :) She said everyone simply assumed that the Dad had made the costumes, but she had done it ALL! Never underestimate the powers of a mother of twins!!! I was quite impressed, because I can only take credit for the boys outfits... the phone booth was all Jon!! LOL!
By 2:00pm it was 95 degrees and the boys were a few hours past naptime so we headed home. We're hoping that as the boys get a bit older we can stay Saturday night too... it will be fun to be able to go back to the hotel and spend more time with friends. We're also hoping that maybe next year some of our 2009 BBC Twins friends will join us. I know they are scattered all over the country, but the kids are all getting old enough to make the trip worth its while... so fingers crossed that maybe some of them can join us soon.
So until next time... thank you Twinsburg for another amazingly special weekend of fun and friends!! We can't wait to see you all again next year!!!
Caleb enjoying the pool
Matthew "swimming" all by himself!
Our Derborn twin friends Emma and Ella
The very first friends we ever made in Twinsburg- Denise and Dianne
Dancing the night away
Lots of little twins!
Triplets!
My three Super Men
The boys with their big brothers Matt and Mike
Superman getting ready for the parade
We're ready!!
The boys on their float
Our Super Crew
Super Twins
Cute as a button!
The boys giving their first television interview- it will air in China! LOL!
More twin friends we have seen for the last 3 festivals
The boys showing off their trophy and silver medals :)
UPDATE!!!!!My friend Jenn had a picture of the girls who beat us in the 12 and under costume contest :) They are 7 years old and from Howell, MI. Their legs were real, and their heads IN the cages were real... but the rest was all part of the costume. SO creative!!! Congrats girls (and mom!!)
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