A birthday to remember: Poland twins turning 11 on 11/11/11

Staff report

Poland

Secret birthday wishes remain a sacred tradition among four kids who are celebrating their 11th birthdays today — 11/11/11.

Luke and Lexie Tsudis and Alex Rapp, fifth-graders at Poland McKinley Elementary; and Mikaela McKenzie, a fifth-grader at Lakeview Middle School in Cortland, are 11 today.

Lexie and Mikaela seemed a bit superstitious about revealing their birthday wishes.

“If I tell, it won’t come true,” Lexie said.

Luke said the twins plan to spend this evening celebrating with family.

“We’re going to see a movie, then we’re going to have dinner and cake together,” Lexie said.

The twins’ mother, Athena Tsudis, said she’ll have a few surprises in store for the twins throughout the weekend.

Lexie said she’s been looking forward to this particular birthday for a few years.

“When I was about 8, I noticed that when we turn 11, it will be [Nov. 11, 2011],” she said. “It’s cool.”

The twins aren’t the only Poland McKinley students celebrating No. 11 today.

Alex said he and Luke are friends through school and baseball, and it’s fun to share a birthday.

“It’s really cool actually ... that one of my friends has his birthday on this day, too,” Alex said.

Alex said he’ll celebrate with family this weekend, and he hopes to get a stereo system for his Apple iPod and the Madden ’12 video game.

Mikaela said she’s already gotten some gifts, but her mother, Melissa Corle, said she’ll receive a bigger gift next week.

“Every year, for her birthday, we take a trip to Florida,” Corle said.

Corle said the timing of Mikaela’s 11th birthday didn’t dawn on her until this year. “It being on [Nov. 11, 2011] — it’s really pretty neat.”