Triplets Took The Same Birthday Picture For 36 Years, Not Knowing How Much Life Would Change In That Time
When Karin Scholtz decided to take a picture of her triplet sons on their first birthday, she didn't know how much it would actually mean to them once they got older. It all started in 1985 when Karin decided to take a picture of her three beautiful sons, and for the past 36 years, has been taking a photo of her sons on their birthdays with the same sign they held on their first birthday.
As Peter, Mark, and Dennis got older, they started to look forward to their yearly birthday photo that really showed how much they were growing each year. Karin was happy that she stuck with taking a photo of her sons every year on their birthday, as looking back on these photos really brings up some great memories. So if you are interested in seeing these memorable photos of the Scholtz triplets, be sure to check out this article.
First Birthday
The first photo of the Scholtz triplets was taken in 1985 when Karin decided to take a picture of the boys in front of a poster that said happy birthday in German, as the family is from Germany. At this point, Karin didn't plan to take the same picture of the boys every year but was happy that she could get a photo of them on their first birthday.
Peter, Mark, and Dennis had no clue what was going on, but they would be thanking their mom later on in life as these photos became precious to them.
The Boys' Second Birthday
The Scholtz brothers were a lot more enthusiastic about taking their second birthday picture together, as all three of them were looking in the same direction and smiling big. The boys were outfitted in matching soccer jerseys and were posing in front of a sign for the boys' birthday.
Karin was thrilled that her boys were growing up healthy, but she still wasn't planning on taking a photo of the boys every year on their birthday. It wasn't until their next birthday that the idea came to her mind as the boys started to ask her about the matter as well.
Three Times The Charm
When the Scholtz triplets' birthdays came around the corner again, the boys were actually waiting to take their annual birthday picture together and even decided to dress themselves up to match each other. The three brothers decided to wear their Snoopy sweatshirts and were more than happy to create their birthday poster together.
This was the same year that Karin decided to make this an annual tradition since the boys were really into it, and she thought that it would be pretty cute if the boys did this for the rest of their lives to see how they looked each year.
Birthday Number Four
The boys' fourth birthday came around faster than Karin expected, but she was ready to still keep her promise of taking a photo of her sons every year. This time one of the Scholtz brothers decided not to wear the same thing as the other two, as this was when the boys' personalities were really starting to show.
The brothers were more than happy to add to their birthday poster and probably didn't realize at the time how important this would be to them in the future as these memories were precious to them.
Tough Times For The Boys
The Scholtz brothers' fifth birthday was not that eventful for them as their mother Karin found out that she had Parkinson’s Disease and was struggling with the disease during their birthday. The boys were not that happy to take a photo on their birthday as they really felt bad for their mother, who was going through a lot of pain.
Karin insisted that the boys pose with their birthday poster as she had promised herself and the boys that she would be taking a photo of them every year and didn't want to break the tradition.
The Triplets' Sixth Birthday
When Peter, Mark, and Dennis's sixth birthday came around, they were in much better spirits than the previous year, as their mother, Karin, was not in pain anymore, which made them quite happy. The boys were excited to add to their birthday poster and didn't give Karin any problems when she asked them to put on matching clothes.
The boys looked very similar in their younger years, but as they got older they started to look different from each other. This was another reason why Karin wanted to take a photo of her sons every year as it would show how much they have changed.
The Boys Change It Up A Bit
When Peter, Mark, and Dennis's seventh birthday finally arrived, they decided to wear something different than their ordinary sweatshirts as they decided to go with a pair of overalls. The boys posed with the same birthday poster but only replaced the number in the middle.
Karin was happy that her boys were doing well in school and that they were still enthusiastic about taking a birthday photo together. The boys decided to wear different sweatshirts underneath as they started to like different things. Karin didn't know at the time just how important these photos would mean to the boys once they got older.
One Last Time In The House
The boys' eighth birthday photo was the last one taken in the home they had been living in since they were born, as a short time after their house burnt down to the ground due to a faulty gas line. Luckily, nobody was hurt, and Karin was able to save the photos of her boys that she had previously taken.
The boys decided to wear sweatshirts again in their birthday photo to keep it traditional and this photo had a lot more meaning to them as it was the last photo taken of them in their home before it was burnt down.
The Boys' Ninth Birthday
The Scholtz brothers' ninth birthday was a bit different for them as they were living with their neighbor, Wilma, who offered the Scholtz family to stay with them while their home was rebuilt. The boys were more than happy to take their birthday picture together as they just wanted to forget about losing their home.
The boys' neighbor, Wilma, even helped with their birthday poster and was happy that one of their annual photos would be taken at her home. The boys wore matching sweatshirts and were all smiles when the photo was taken. Although the Scholtz family lost a lot in the fire, they were still optimistic about life.
The Boys Were Getting Older
When Peter, Mark, and Dennis's tenth birthday came around, Karin felt that her sons were growing up too fast, but she was excited for their future and what lay ahead for them. The boys got as excited about taking their annual birthday photo as their mother, as they had become accustomed to the tradition.
Peter saved up all the money that he had received for his birthday and bought a camera with it and he was more than happy to use his camera to take their next birthday photo. The boys decided to wear matching flannel shirts and still sported their homemade birthday poster.
Their Eleventh Birthday
When the boys' eleventh birthday arrived, Karin couldn't believe it and was so proud of her growing boys. The boys were still interested in posing for their birthday photo and didn't mind adding a number to their birthday poster. Peter was having a great year as he was the first brother out of the three to get a girlfriend, even though he was just eleven years old.
You can tell who Peter is as he is the only one smiling in the picture. Peter was the lady's man out of the brothers and it was the first of many girlfriends that he would have throughout his life.
Another Tough Year
The boys' twelfth birthday was fast approaching and was a bit different from the rest as Peter had been diagnosed with epilepsy and occasionally had seizures that would leave him out of school for several days. Mark and Dennis were worried about their brother as they didn't like to see him when he had seizures.
Despite the setbacks, the Scholtz brothers looked forward to their birthday photograph and didn't complain about posing with their annual birthday poster. Since Peter was having seizures, he started to fall behind in school, which led Mark and Dennis to surpass him, which really started to worry Karin.
The Boys' Thirteenth Birthday
The boys' thirteenth birthday was no different from the rest as they sported collared shirts and used the same birthday poster to pose with. Everything was going pretty well for Mark and Dennis, but Peter started to struggle in school as he missed a lot of class time due to his seizures.
This led Peter's parents to hold him back in elementary school while Mark and Dennis went on to high school. This was a big disappointment for Peter as he had always been with his brothers no matter what during school. The boys' parents didn't know how much damage holding Peter back would actually cause.
The Boys Were Reunited
The Scholtz brothers were in much better spirits when their fourteenth birthday rolled around as Peter had finally caught up in school and was able to join Mark and Dennis in high school. Karin noticed that the boys were starting to grow taller and were getting close to being young men.
Despite the boys' age, they still were excited about taking their annual birthday photo and were not too cool to pose with their birthday poster, which was made out of crayons from when they were younger. Peter was happy to finally join his brothers in high school and vowed never to be separated from them again.
Full Blown Teenagers
When the Scholtz brothers celebrated their fifteenth birthday in the late 90s, their styles changed dramatically, which is something that always occurs during the teenage years. This was one of the first years that the brothers looked different despite them wearing similar sweatshirts.
Karin remembers that the boys' teenage years were a difficult time for her and her husband, but she was quite surprised that they were still willing to take a birthday picture with no problem and didn't act like they were too old to pose with their birthday poster. The boys were quite happy that their mother created this tradition.
The Boys' Sixteenth Birthday
Karin's triplets were starting to become more like men with every passing birthday, and their sixteenth birthday was no different as all of them started to grow in height dramatically. The boys decided to all dye their hair this time around as they wanted to have their own look.
The boys also decided to wear different sweatshirts, but that didn't stop them from posing with their birthday poster. Karin remembered that these years were a bit difficult for her and her husband as the boys were going through their rebellion stages, but she always remembers them being good boys in the end.
The Boys Look More Similar
When the boys' seventeenth birthday came around, their appearances changed dramatically as they decided to give up their dyed hair and actually sported the same haircut as one another. Karin and the boys were still looking forward to their birthday picture as they always had.
The boys' birthday also meant that Karin and the boys would look through their pictures that were taken in previous years. Karin decided to make a photo album to keep all the boys' birthday photos in. She knew that one day they would have their own kids that they would want to show.
Almost Done With High School
Peter, Mark, and Dennis were almost done with high school when their eighteenth birthday came around. Karin was surprised at how fast her three sons had grown and was wondering where all the years had gone. Despite the boys being older, they still had a passion for keeping their tradition alive and didn't waste time taking a new birthday picture.
Like always, the boys were more than willing to pose with their birthday poster and were making their mother proud as they were all doing extremely well in school. Karin was looking forward to what her sons would be doing in the future.
Peter Suffered From A Seizure Before His Birthday
The boys' nineteenth birthday was the most memorable as Peter suffered from a seizure a couple of weeks before their birthday. The seizure was one of the most alarming in Peter's life and really changed the way Peter thought about life.
Despite Peter going through a dramatic episode, he was still willing to take his annual picture with his two brothers on their birthday. Peter was thankful that he had Dennis and Mark by his side, as they helped him tremendously through these rough times. The brothers were hoping that they would be taking this photo for many more years to come.
The Boys Moved To Berlin
Since the Scholtz brothers were all studying in different fields around the country, they decided to move to Berlin so that they could all be close together again since Peter's episodes had started to get worse. When the boys' twentieth birthday came around, they were already living together for a couple of months.
Karin was happy to see all her sons together once again and was even more thrilled that they wanted to keep their birthday picture tradition going. They even surprised Karin by adding the number twenty to the poster they had been using their whole lives.
The Boys Are Not Kids Anymore
When the Scholtz brothers' twenty-first birthday arrived, Karin realized that her sons were not kids anymore but were now young men. Peter, Mark, and Dennis were more than happy to celebrate their birthday together as they really loved spending time with each other.
The brothers were more than happy to take their annual photo on their birthday and still sported the same poster they had been using for years. Karin knew that she had created something special when she decided to take a picture of her sons every year. The boys always thanked their mother for starting the tradition that had been going on since their first birthday.
The Brothers' Twenty-Second Birthday
When the brothers' twenty-second birthday came rolling around, they were ready to keep the tradition going and celebrated their birthday in Berlin. The boys had been living in Berlin for a couple of years and studying at the local colleges earning their degrees in different subjects.
Dennis and Mark promised Peter that they would live with him as long as he wanted them to and would take care of him if his episodes occurred. Karin was more than happy to celebrate the boys' birthday and was proud that her boys were finally becoming the men she knew they would be.
The Brothers' Twenty-Third Birthday
When the Scholtz brothers turned twenty-three, they had already graduated from college and earned their degrees in various subjects. Not long after, they got the news that their mother, Karin, had developed a tumor in her intestines and they immediately moved back home to take care of their mother.
Despite there being some bad news lingering in the air, the boys and Karin decided to celebrate the boys' birthday and wanted to keep the tradition going no matter what. The brothers, as always, sported similar clothes and the poster they had been using in every photo shoot since they were one year old.
Taking Care Of Their Mother
When the boys' twenty-fourth birthday came rolling around, they were excited to celebrate their birthday as it made their mother happy. The boys at this time were all helping with taking care of Karin and dedicated a lot of their time to keeping their mother happy.
The boys' birthday photo was no different from the rest as they posed with the poster their mother had created for them when they were younger. The brothers wanted to keep the tradition alive as they knew it made their mother happy.
The Brothers Are Getting Older
The Scholtz brothers were getting older and older with each year passing, but one thing that remained the same was the love that they had for each other and the love they had for their mother. The boys helped each other out whenever one was down and always looked to each other for advice.
When the boys' twenty-fifth birthday came around, it was no different from the others as they wanted to keep the tradition alive. The boys' birthday made Karin happy all the time and was one of the highlights of the year for her as she loved her sons dearly.
The Brothers Turn Twenty Six
When Peter, Mark, and Dennis turned twenty-six years old, they didn't want to end their tradition and decided to take another birthday photo together while posing with their birthday poster from the past. Mark and Peter decided to grow their hair out while Dennis rocked the short hair.
The boys' mother was just as excited about keeping the tradition alive as they had been taking the same birthday photo for twenty-six years. The boys never knew that they would keep this tradition going for so long and promised themselves to make it last as long as they could.
The Boys Lose Their Mother
By the time Peter, Mark, and Dennis turned twenty-seven years old, Karin had already passed away from colon cancer which was devastating for the triplets as their mother meant everything to them. The boys promised Karin that they would keep the tradition alive for as long as they could and couldn't believe that she was gone.
Despite losing their mother, the brothers took their annual birthday picture with huge smiles as they knew that their mother was looking down on them. The boys inherited the home they had been growing up in their whole lives and decided to stay together.
The Boys Welcome Another Scholtz To The Family
When the Scholtz brothers turned twenty-eight years old, they also welcomed Noah to the world, which was Peter's son. Dennis and Mark were excited to be uncles as it was something that they always wanted to be called. They were even more proud of Peter as he was the first of them to have a kid.
The boys were more than happy to celebrate their twenty-eighth birthday as it would mark yet another year that the brothers were together and they wanted to keep the tradition that their mother started alive. Peter was thrilled that he was a new father and wanted to show his son what he and his brothers had been doing for so many years.
The Boys' Twenty-Ninth Birthday
When the Scholtz brothers turned twenty-nine years old, everything was looking good for all of them as Peter was a new father, and Dennis and Mark were more than happy that they were now uncles. The boys all had full-time jobs and were making good money while still living in the house they grew up in.
When it came to their birthday photo tradition, it was no different from previous years as they were adamant about keeping the tradition going, as their mother would have been proud of them for doing so. The boys were grateful that they were able to spend every birthday together.
The Boys Hit A Milestone
When Peter, Dennis, and Mark turned thirty years old, they knew that they were going to be spending every birthday together for the rest of their lives as it had become just part of the yearly routine. The boys were pretty happy to take another picture for their birthday as they had been keeping the tradition alive for some time.
The brothers took their annual birthday photo together while posing with their first birthday poster and decided to throw a huge party to celebrate the milestone they had just hit. They knew that their mother was right there by their side while they were taking their birthday photo.
The Brothers' Thrity-First Birthday
When the triplets turned thirty-one years old, they were doing quite well in life as all of them were happy with their jobs and were still living together under the same roof. The boys knew that they were fortunate to have a good life as they were surrounded by great people.
The boys were more than happy to take their annual birthday picture as it was another wonderful year that they spent together. The boys just really wished that their mother was still around but they knew that she would always be with them in their hearts.
Celebrating Their Thirty-Second Birthday
The Scholtz brothers were looking forward to their thirty-second birthday as they always had a great time and wanted to keep their mother's tradition alive. The boys never knew that their birthday photos would become such a big part of their lives and were thankful that their mother introduced them to this tradition.
The boys' thirty-second birthday was no different than the rest, other than that they were getting older. The boys were quite happy with their lives and kept the poster that their mother made in good condition, as their birthday photos meant so much to them.
The Boys' Thirty-Third Birthday
The Scholtz brothers were looking better than ever when their thirty-third birthday came around, and they knew that it was time to keep the tradition going as they were ready to take their birthday photo together. The boys never missed a birthday together and wanted to keep it that way.
When it came to traveling, the boys would never travel during the month of their birthday as they never wanted to risk being apart on their birthday. The boys were all smiles when they took their birthday picture for the thirty-third time.
The Scholtz Brothers' Thirty-Fourth Birthday
When the Scholtz triplets turned thirty-four years old, they knew that they couldn't miss taking a birthday photo with the birthday poster that their mother made for them. The boys were thrilled that they were spending yet another birthday together and were happy to still be living with one another as well.
The boys were surprised to find out that their story became pretty popular worldwide, which led many other families to start a similar tradition. The brothers were happy to spend another year together and were looking forward to many more years together.
Celebrating Their Thirty-Fifth Birthday
When Peter, Dennis, and Mark turned thirty-five years old, they knew that they were destined to be together forever as they were still living together and didn't have any problems with each other. The boys were excited to take their annual birthday picture together and thought about their mother who started the tradition.
The boys were getting older and all in relationships, so their future was looking pretty bright. They just couldn't believe that they had done this tradition for thirty-five years and were glad to have each other. The boys started to look even more alike as they got older.
Celebrating Their Thirty-Sixth Birthday Together
The Scholtz triplets have been through a lot together and have been by each other's sides for several years, creating a bond that is unbreakable. When Peter, Mark, and Dennis turned thirty-six years old in 2021, they didn't hesitate to take their annual birthday photo together with the same poster that their mom had made in the 80s.
There haven't been any other photos that have surfaced on the internet since the brothers' thirty-sixth birthday, but it looks like they want to keep things private from here on out. The good thing is that the Scholtz brothers are still most likely living together and keeping the tradition going, as it was something that they promised their mother. Let us hope that these triplets are still taking their annual photos, as their tradition has inspired thousands of people.