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Birthdays today mark milestones

FOOTVILLE — Today’s date of 11-11-11 is the 11th birthday of several area kids, including Damon Terpstra of Janesville.

Damon is proud that he was born on Veterans Day, and his family is inviting veterans to stop in at his birthday party at 5 p.m. today at the Footville American Legion, 406 Old Highway 11.

Guests will be wearing red, white and blue to honor veterans.

Damon, son of Roger and Sara Terpstra, is a fifth-grader at Van Buren Elementary in Janesville.

Damon loves to honor the veteran members of his family and all other veterans, his grandmother Linda Terpstra-Cole wrote to the Gazette.

In Beloit Township and Madison, two sets of twins are marking their 11th birthdays today.

In Beloit Township, Tyler and Kyra Schuman will be eating their birthday cake and preparing for a celebratory trip to Mexico.

The twins are the children of Lynsie Schuman and Brad Viens and attend Townview Elementary School. The family will be celebrating 11 years of bliss and their love for grandpa Philip Schuman, a Vietnam veteran. With Veterans Day coinciding with the special birthday, Lynsie said she wanted to take time thank her dad for everything he does.

Lynsie Schuman said she hasn’t researched the meaning or numerology of the unique date of their birth, but she has been celebrating her children ever since her 70-plus hours of labor to deliver them. She always will remember the day the ultrasound technician found an extra baby in her womb.

“I was terrified,” she said.

Lynsie fondly recalled toting two diaper bags and tending to the two who took turns crying. As she told her stories and pulled out the occasional love poem on twins, the siblings beamed with excitement as they sopped up the affection.

“It’s been wonderful. I can’t imagine having just one,” Lynsie said.

In Madison, Betsy and Katie Overman bounced and squirmed on their grandmother’s couch as they made plans: Maybe they’ll go to school and stay for just 11 minutes. Perhaps they’ll mark 11 minutes after 11 o’clock with a countdown.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported that an aunt already has given them 11 bags, each containing 11 little presents.

Katie is hoping to be given guinea pigs—but just two. Betsy wants a Kindle. They plan to go shopping at the Mall of America in Minnesota.