Triplets are very special. While twins occur once in 250 pregnancies, triplets occur once in 10,000 pregnancies. So if you end up with triplets, you can expect your kids to be very popular.
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This mother made it a tradition to take a picture of her kids from the time they were one year old until they were 33 years old. Every picture showed how the three boys looked alike but as the years passed, it also showed how the boys started to show their different personalities despite looking identical.
Year one
It all started in 1985 when Karin Scholtz snapped a photo of her triplets, Dennis, Peter, and Mark, on their first birthday. Little did she know that this would turn into a yearly thing later on even when the boys grew up to be adults.
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Here, you can see the triplets posing with a birthday sign on the couch. You can see that this picture was not well coordinated as the boys had just finished stuffing themselves with cake.
Year 2
When the triplets turned two, Karin made another birthday sign for the boys. This time, they were all smiles in their matching yellow soccer jerseys. Their blonde curls look so cute and adorable!
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Although Peter, Mark, and Dennis look more coordinated this time, they definitely did not know how to look at the camera just yet. They’re obviously looking at someone who was trying to make them smile for the camera.
Year 3
On their third birthday, the triplets are seen on the couch with their birthday sign and matching Snoopy sweaters. they are now flashing wide, identical smiles but they still could not tell where the camera is.
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It is not until this third birthday that Karin decided to make taking a birthday picture of her triplets together into a tradition. The realization came when the boys were actually waiting for their picture to be taken.
Year 4
During their fourth birthday, the boys were already in their first year of school. Instead of sitting together side by side, the boys started to show off their personalities. Mark and Dennis still wore matching outfits while Peter was wearing another outfit. Instead of sitting beside his brothers, Peter decided to lay down.
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They used another birthday sign this year too as you can see in this picture. This would be the birthday sign that the triplets would be using from that point on for many years to come.
Year 5
The fifth-year was a tough one for the boys. This was the year their mother, Karin, was battling Parkinson’s Disease. You can tell that the kids are not really in the best mood for their birthday that year.
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Despite what she’s going through, Karin made sure that they take their traditional birthday picture. She got matching sweaters for the triplets and made sure to make their yearly birthday sign.
Year 6
You can tell in their sixth birthday picture that the mood in their household is lighter now. The boys are smiling again and they are actually doing well in school. Karin could never be more proud of her boys.
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Karin was also doing better, which probably contributed to the better mood the triplets were in that year. She once again got matching sweaters for her triplets and took their picture with the usual birthday sign.
Year 7
During their 7th birthday, you can notice a change in the boys. They are no longer wearing matching sweaters unlike the years before! Instead, they are wearing overalls and have different sweaters underneath. Although they are not wearing matching outfits anymore, you can still see how much the three look alike.
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The triplets are also in that stage where they are losing their baby teeth and growing out the permanent ones. Even with their toothy grins, you can still tell that they look adorably alike.
Year 8
When the boys turned eight, they got back to their traditional matching sweaters. Only, one of them chose to wear one in a different color. Judging from their positions, it could be Peter once more who decided to stand out.
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Unfortunately, a month after their birthday, their house burned down because of a gas leak. Karin and the boys had lost a lot during the fire. Their eight year was a difficult time for the family.
Year 9
Their ninth birthday photo was a memorable one. This was the first birthday photo that was not taken in their house. Karin and the triplets lived with their neighbor, Wilma, when their house burned down.
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A few months after this photo, Karin and the boys managed to move in to a trailer. The trailer was their temporary home while their house was being rebuilt after the fire. Despite the obvious hardship, the boys were still all smiles that year.
Year 10
It was during their tenth birthday that the boys decided to do this birthday tradition in their own hands. Peter had saved up and bought his own camera and used the timer to take this photo.
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The boys grabbed their traditional birthday sign and gamely posed for the camera by themselves. This time, they were wearing the same polo shirt in different colors.
Year 11
As you can see from this photo, the boys were not all smiles on their 11th birthday. Two of them had straight faces while the one in the middle is smirking. The boys were not even wearing matching clothes.
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This year, Peter stood out among the triplets. He was the first among the three to have a girlfriend. Her name was Eva and they would meet after school while the other two preferred to run around and stir up some mischief.
Year 12
When the triplets were 12 years old, Mark and Dennis were preparing for high school. Unfortunately, Peter had been left behind in his studies because he was going in and out of the clinic.
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This year, Peter was diagnosed with epilepsy. He had been having random seizures and that kept him out of school for days. Despite another trial in their life, the brothers still continued taking their traditional birthday picture.
Year 13
This year was a memorable one for the triplets. For the first time, they would not be going to school together. Because of all the times Peter missed school due to his seizures, Karin and her husband decided that it would be best if Peter retook his last grade.
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Karin and her husband felt that Peter’s new experiences with epilepsy and moving to a new school may be too overwhelming for Peter to handle. Mark and Dennis continued on their way to high school.
Year 14
As fourteen-year-olds, the triplets were now living the full-pledged teenage lives – angst and all. You can see from this picture that they now have different hairstyles and they seemed to have different heights now.
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By this time, Peter has joined his other brothers in high school. Peter was actually one of the smartest kids so the transition was very smooth for him. The fact that he was now with his brothers also helped.
Year 15
The 15th birthday picture of the triplets reek of the 90s. The boys still had their own preferred hairstyles and as for their fashion sense, beaded necklaces were put in the mix, except for Dennis.
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This year also marked the year that the boys were now in the same grade in high school. Peter was so smart that he was able to catch up and skip a year. He was able to join his brothers and life was normal again.
Year 16
When the triplets turned 16, their individualities shined in their traditional birthday photo. All of them were already sporting ear piercings and for the first time, the brothers actually looked different from each other.
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Peter had dyed his hair red while Mark had dyed his hair a dark black. Dennis kept his natural hair color. This must be the first time their friends were able to easily tell who is who.
Year 17
Looks like Peter and Mark thought that coloring their hair was a bad idea because, in their 17th birthday picture, they all rocked the same hairstyle and color. It looked like their hair had gone darker.
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Once again, the boys looked very much the same. And they were emitting a more casual vibe with less angst. This could be a confusing time for their friends now that they looked the same again.
Year 18
The triplets have graduated from high school when they turned 18. This time, they had more serious faces in their birthday picture as this was also the time they were deciding about their future.
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The triplets decided to pursue higher learning. Peter wanted to become an architect, Mark wanted to be a teacher, and Dennis wanted to be a sports masseur. They decided to go on different schools in the country to pursue their dreams.
Year 19
The triplets still rocked their curls during their 19th birthday. Sadly, during this year, Peter’s epileptic episodes came back. The episode he heard that year was one of the worst in his life.
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Fortunately, somebody was around to help Peter while he had his seizure for the first time in years. Peter shared that having to go through it again after years of not having a single episode was traumatizing.
Year 20
The triplets were studying in different cities at this point, pursuing their own respective courses. Without his brothers around and with his epileptic episodes back, Peter developed anxiety about being alone.
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His brothers, Mark and Dennis, decided to continue their studies in Berlin so they can be with Peter. The fact that they did not hesitate to be there for him was a very touching movie.
Year 21
Turning twenty-one marked adulthood but the triplets were still game for keeping up with their traditional birthday photo with the birthday sign they’ve had since they were little boys.
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Here, you can see Peter is committed to growing out his hair. Mark and Dennis seemed to prefer keeping their short curls intact. The matching smiles are still there even if they prefer not to wear matching clothes anymore.
Year 22
The triplets seemed to have darker hair during their 22nd birthday photo. We can see that Peter had his hair trimmed this year, although his hair is still longer compared to the hair of his brothers.
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The boys are still studying their college courses in Berlin during this time. Despite their busy schedules, they were able to stop what they were doing to gather and continue their tradition.
Year 23
When the triplets turned 23, Peter had his hair all grown out. Dennis seemed to be growing out his hair too while Mark stayed loyal to the usual hairstyle. By this time, the boys have already finished their studies.
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Unfortunately, the boys received bad news this year. Karin had a malignant tumor in her intestines. Instead of roaming the world, the boys decided to move back home so that they can take care of their mother.
Year 24
When the triplets turned 24, it was easier to tell them apart once more. Peter had long hair, Mark had his hair colored lighter, while Dennis had dark curls. You can see them all smiles as they gamely posed for their birthday picture.
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By this time, the boys were taking care of their mother. Peter’s girlfriend, Suzan, also helped them out. Together, the four of them worked together to take care of Karin. And Karin felt blessed to have four kids looking after her.
Year 25
While Mark had been the one holding the triplets’ birthday sign for the past years, this time, he had his arms around his brothers’ shoulders while Peter and Dennis held on to the birthday sign.
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Even with Karin’s illness, they remain to be a close-knit family. Karin, the triplets, and Suzane were now living together in the house and were making sure to make the best out of any situation.
Year 26
When the triplets turned 26, two of them were now rocking long hair. Peter had his blonde hair held back with a headband and a ponytail while Mark grew out his curls down to his chin.
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The triplets now looked very different with Dennis in his clean cut. Still, they were all smiles when they posed for their birthday picture. There is no doubt that people could easily tell them apart this year.
Year 27
The triplets went through a tragedy when they turned 27. Karin had passed away because of colon cancer. The triplets inherited the house and have decided to continue living together in it since it was big enough for all of them.
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Despite their mother’s passing, the triplets were able to find a reason to smile and celebrate later when they found out that Suzan was pregnant. The brothers were happy that Peter was going to be a father!
Year 28
This year, Peter and Suzan’s son, Noah, was born. Peter was very happy and excited to be a first-time father and Mark and Dennis were very thrilled to be first-time uncles. A baby in the house just brought them closer.
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You can easily tell that Noah would be very loved and spoiled by these three men. And although the baby is surely getting all the attention this year, they still manage to find time to pose for their birthday picture.
Year 29
By the time the triplets were 29 years old, they were all working full-time jobs while still living together at the house they grew up in. They were starting to live life in a routine now.
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Peter still had his long hair, which he held back in a ponytail now. Mark was now sporting a beard and looking rugged. Dennis seemed to hold on to his youthful looks with the original hairstyle that the triplets used to rock.
Year 30
When the triplets turned 30, they celebrated by throwing a huge party to celebrate their third decade in the world. They invited their closest friends over. Of course, they never forgot about their birthday tradition.
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This year was not only a milestone for the brothers because they turned 30. It was also the year that Peter and Suzan finally tied the knot. It was definitely a year to remember for the whole family.
Year 31
When the triplets turned 31, they were already working hard toward their future. It was the time to be more responsible adults. They still lived in the same house and they made sure they doted on Noah.
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We see that Peter finally cut off his long hair this year although he still rocked a different hairstyle. Mark and Dennis now have facial hair. And this year, all three men had the same dark hair color.
Year 32
When the triplets turned 32, we see that their faces have matured now although they still rock in casual wear. Who would have thought these were the three babies who could not tell where the camera was? Among the three, Peter seemed to have matured the most.
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Of course, they never failed to forget their birthday tradition. Isn’t it amazing how the birthday sign they used since they were kids is still intact and in good shape? The boys must have stored it somewhere special when it is not in use.
Year 33
The latest picture the triplets took together was on their 33rd birthday. It looks like Peter is growing back his hair again as he has it now on a man bun. Mark got rid of his curls while Dennis still rocked them.
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We have no doubt that the brothers will still keep up this tradition until their hair turned white. This just shows you how taking an annual picture can document how much you have grown for the years. This should be a tradition that you should do when you have kids!