Prior to NDIV in 1999, Matt Dowd created the first web page that the workshops had ever had. As a little surprise for the curious and observant, he inserted pictures of his young, twin boys, labelling them the "unofficial mascots" of the workshop. After the workshop was successfully concluded, the "powers that be" suggested that he drop the pretense to humility and name the boys the official mascots of the workshop.

And so, here are Benjamin and Michael Dowd, the now-official mascots of the Biennial History of Astronomy Workshops:

The boys at Easter (hence the ties) in 2009. Notice Mike's size 13 clown feet at the age of 11. They are both just a bit under 5'6" at this point (Ben has on the black shirt):

On the first day of second grade, in the fall of 2005 (Ben is in blue):

Soon after finishing a kids' triathalon in the summer of 2004. Ben, on the left without shoes, won the trophy for a third place finish. Mike, doing his best to stake his claim on Ben's trophy, missed a fifth-place trophy by eight seconds.

From their Pre-K graduation (the robes seemed a little much for the occassion, but they seemed to like dressing up for it), in June of 2003. Mike is on the left.

From the summer of 2002 (we've moved to buzzcuts, just to make it harder to tell them apart):

A picture from January of 2002:

A picture from NDV, lunch with Mom outside the CCE:

A picture from campus, in April, 2001:

A picture from shortly before their third birthday:

A picture from our 2000 summer vacation. The boys are playing with their cousin, Lexi:

At about age 2, down at Walt Disney World:

Michael expresses his opinion of having his picture taken (or perhaps his opinion of hearing about the history of astronomy all the time):

A picture at age one:

Almost our Christmas card from 1998 (so the boys are about nine months old). We didn't use it because we didn't want to send out a picture of Ben eating a leaf:

An early picture. Michael, the younger by two minutes, is on the left: