Morris Christmas

After three straight days of celebration, gifts, lots of food, and lots of people we are thankful for some restful days on the horizon! Here’s what we’ve been up to for Christmas:

-Ben and I went on a date night of happy hour appetizers and then watched “The Adventures of Tintin” in 3D. It was a blast and a wonderful movie that we’d highly recommend. It was our first time leaving the boys for a night date with a babysitter (not family). Allie is our fourteen year old next door neighbor whom the boys adore. And we couldn’t we ask for a better set-up: her parents are next door (actually the boys go to her house most of the time when she watches them). And we don’t have to ferry her back and forth. It’s so perfect and we’re looking forward to more night dates in the future.

-We spent Christmas Eve celebrating with Diane’s side of the family in the Portland area. Seth and Sam really bonded with their cousin Jessica (who’s 20) and played and played and played with her. Sammy got a huge laugh from the whole family when he walked up to Uncle Bob, poked him in the stomach and asked, “What’s dat?” To which Bob chuckled and replied, “My belly.” I don’t know who was more embarrassed: me or Bob. Oh, the things kids say.

-All of Ben’s family spent Christmas Eve at our house, which gave us some good visiting and game time. Then we all headed out to Estacada on Christmas morning to celebrate with Jeff’s side of the family. There are always lots of family at these occasions and now tons of great grandkids. I believe at one point we had 10 kids under 7, with two more in the oven. Seth and Sam both got to go out on a tractor ride with their aunt Tani and see a bunch of farm animals, which was pretty special. A highlight for me was having Seth fall asleep in my arms as I was getting him to nap. This happens so rarely now that it was a cherished moment! That evening we put pj’s on the boys and then packed up the car to drive to Dufur.

Me and cousin Judah (he’s a year a day younger than the boys…I think they’ll be great buddies, just like his mom and I!)

Levi, Nate, Holly, and Sam

During the family gift exchanged we initially opened two headlights, which the boys thought were pretty cool (aunt Tani heartlessly stole them from the boys, ha ha). We ended up a laser level.

-The next morning we were so excited to finally be in Dufur with just “us.” Here’s the traditional “kids in front of the Christmas tree” picture. I’m so thankful that Diane does this picture yearly! This is my seventh year celebrating with them—boy does time fly! Sam was insistent on sitting on Uncle Cayub’s lap.

  Grandparents and Grandkids (Sam, Seth)

I don’t know who was more excited for Seth and Sam to open these gifts: Ben and I, or the boys. We bought them really cool Jordan basketball shoes and couldn’t wait to see their reaction. And we were not disappointed! They immediately wanted to put them on, and started running around and jumping giving quite a show. They haven’t taken them off much since and have been talking a lot about “my basketball shoes.”

We bought Levi a remote control helicopter and everyone got hours of fun from it. Levi quickly learned how to fly it. Seth and Sam would laugh as it “chased” them. You would never know when the helicopter might come hover over your head. The above picture was taken right as Levi was learning how to fly the helicopter…and it was coming at him.

-Our crazy Christmas ended perfectly for Ben and I: we were able to leave Seth and Sam with the grandparents and spend a night away at a hotel! As we were explaining to the boys where we were going and giving goodbye hugs, the only thing Sam was concerned about was whether or not Uncle Caleb and Uncle Levi were sticking around. I guess that’s a good thing, right? We headed to Hood River and stayed at a wonderful little room at Columbia Cliff Villas. We had an amazing meal and even got a rare picture of Ben and I dressed up in front of the gigantic Skamania Lodge Christmas tree. I’m thankful we have a picture to help us remember what a wonderful date night we had!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Number One

This past weekend we celebrated our first of many Christmases—this one with the Ruda’s. We spent a relaxing Saturday with just my parents, and then Dad, Mom, and I headed off to Miriam and Aidah’s ballet that evening. It was very sweet to watch the girls on stage and see them dressed up so beautifully. My poor sister had quite the day: her youngest girl, Clara, broke her arm! We all felt so bad for them!

After church on Sunday we all celebrated Christmas together at Katie’s house starting with a delicious brunch, a kid’s rest time (equals adult game time), and then gifts. It’s always a little crazy with 5 kids under 5…especially opening presents! But we all had lots of fun and capped off the evening with a dinner out at Olive Garden. It was a nice break to have a restaurant cook us a meal than doing it ourselves!

Proud Daddy with his girls

No pictures can be taken during the ballet, so I had to settle for taking pictures of the girls dancing with their flowers afterwards.

The whole group after the ballet

The BEST picture of my mom with her four oldest grandkids. Grandparents opening gifts: Katie’s kids made them homemade coasters.

Aidah was SO excited about her pink sweater from uncle Tom and aunt Julie

As you can see, my boys got too hot in their sweaters and quickly pulled off their shirts (keeping it classy). The above picture is Seth and Sam opening their gift from Ben and I: sleeping bags. (I love that with kids you can buy them something that they NEED, and that you would buy them anyways and call it a gift.) They thought that they were the coolest and have been toting them around the house since. We’re hoping to say adios to pack-n-plays when traveling and just have the boys sleep with their sleeping bags (we’ll see if that actually happens).

Sam, Seth

My Dad got Seth and Sam kid sized golf clubs at an auction. He was very excited to give them, and all three boys (Ben included) were very excited about receiving them!

Katie’s girls got princess dresses from my parents from Disney Land. Miriam is Belle and Clara Snow White (note the broken arm). Aidah got a Cinderella dress, but I failed to get a picture of her (it’s pretty hard to keep her still).

Dad, Mom and I with Katie’s girls.

Daddy and his boys sporting their new clothing.

Here’s the boys wearing their new HAND SEWN pajama’s from my mom. Aren’t they amazing! She’s seriously so talented!

Things That Make Me Laugh

Although the daily endless chatter sometimes drives me a little bonkers, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s some things that the kids have said that have really made me giggle:

-They are really into encouraging and congratulating me. Example: as I was finishing off my soup, Sam told me, “Good job scrappin sides, mama!” Oh thanks Sam :)

-They now think that they have to listen to warm-up music EVERYTIME they play basketball. Seth informed me, “Cuz, cuz it makes me play better.”

-I told Sam that I found his blanket in the corner in the playroom. “Oh,” he replied, “By the basketball court heater.” Of course, Sam.

-Thanks to tons of our friends being pregnant, and talk of Mary and baby Jesus, the boys have been pretending that they have “babies in their tummies.” They don’t seem to believe me that only mommies get pregnant, or that they will only be daddies someday. Trust me boys, you don’t want to be pregnant.

-Along the line of babies, they have both named their favorite stuffed animals. Sam’s white bear is “Charlie.” Seth’s poppel (which is my old stuffed animal…a yellow, pink, and purple bear) is now dubbed, “Nana” (I think from Peter Pan?)

-When asked his favorite color in front of my parents this weekend, Seth proudly proclaimed, “PINK!”

-When they play basketball they are now “Uncle Caleb and Uncle Levi.” I am the cheerleader sitting in the bleachers. I must cheer, “Go Seth and Sam.” Very important for the caliber of their game (almost as important as the warm up music).

-Their bath time is spend dumping water into various containers “making cookies.” Last night the ingredients were sugar and sour cream. Yum. They also make “rain cookies” i.e. meringue cookies.

-I told Sam that he was handsome. He retorted: “No, daddies handsome. I cute and fart.” (smart)

-Sam very seriously told me three very important facts the other day in the car: 1. Don’t touch rockets’ fire 2. Don’t touch dragons’ fire 3. Don’t touch dragons boogies. Scary world out there people.

-We went to the Christian Book Store today, which has a great kid section with a movie running and some stuffed animals for kids to look at. I left the boys there, assuming they were old enough to be left alone for a couple minutes. I returned to find a toy ripped out the box, and another being ripped (yes, double trouble). Yikes. My bad. Guess I should have explained which toys they could have played with. It was an honest mistake on their part.

-Trying to differentiate between being “potty training” and “potty trained”. Daddy is potty trained. You are potty training.

-As Ben is doing is duty in the bathroom, hearing yells from the boys, “Daddy pooped! He gets a sucker!” 

-Learning the tenses of the English language (tough!). We hear a lot of, “I is.” “They am.”

That’s all I can remember for tonight. Funny little boys I have! How I love them so!

All Things Christmas

I love Christmas. And now that Seth and Sam are older and have more understanding, it has been even more precious. I have felt the excitement of teaching my children of God sending His son to earth as a baby, and watched as they soak up the details of Jesus’ birth. We’ve delighted in counting down to Christmas with three different advent calendars (one Ben bought the boys in Germany, one my mom made me in college, and then a fun house ones where they get treats). December is packed full with traveling, visitors, decorating, activities, shopping, baking, wrapping. The pace of life is different—busier, but I’m trying to just embrace it with joy and the remembrance of the real reason for Christmas: our Savior has come!

Here’s some of what we’ve been up to:

We got our Christmas tree up decorated. It is actually a terribly tactful tree, not our usual enormous, over-the-top style. Darn. The lot didn’t have any HUGE trees (except for ones that cost $45 and were designated for hotel lobbies), so we had to tone it down a bit. Overall, it is beautiful. Notice the “clump” of ornaments at the bottom of the tree; it was so fun to have the boys help by putting ornaments on. I was torn between rearranging when they went to bed, and leaving as be. I left them, because every time I look at them, it makes me smile to think of the sincerity of Seth and Sam as they decorated.

  

I’ve been trying to do a few Christmas crafts with the boys. I braved finger painting last week and the boys had a blast. We added in glitter and made a complete mess. But it was lots of fun, and who doesn’t love have glitter strewn into every corner of their house?

  

Ben’s Grandma Luscombe lives in an assisted living home close to our house. The home had a breakfast with Santa that she invited us to. I was pretty leery of how Sam and Seth would react to a strange old man in a red suit who wanted them to sit on his lap (especially because the first time we read a book about Santa this year they keep calling him Noah). Overall, they did pretty good. Perhaps it was the candy and teddy bear that Santa gave them. There was NO WAY they were going to sit on his lap, but they did stand next to him long enough for us to get a picture. Good enough. And let’s be honest, all the people at the home think the boys are adorable regardless. The next day my sister Katie and her clan came up to our house and we decorated sugar cookies with the four oldest (Clara was taking a nap, which was probably best for all!) The kids did wonderful. Seth and Miriam were especially particular and careful on how they decorated their cookies. Every time Sam finished decorating a cookie, he’d ask, “Now I eat?” It’s always fun to do things with all the cousins—a little crazy, but fun!

Before the BIG mess was made (which I failed to get a picture of)

Aidah and Sam

 

Miriam and Seth

I’m so proud of myself: all my shopping and wrapping is done! Our house is decorated and now I can just sit back, listen to Christmas tunes and enjoy. I plan lots of visiting and visitors; doing lots of crafts and reading Christmas books with the boys; and baking lots, in order to give plates to people and do more visiting.

And our Christmas adventures are about to begin: this weekend my parents come to celebrate Ruda Christmas. Then Christmas Eve we’ll celebrate with Diane’s family, then Jeff’s family on Christmas day, then travel to Dufur to celebrate just our immediate Morris family on the day after Christmas. Whew. Busy huh?

A sunny afternoon lit up our living room quite nicely to show off decorations

Wordless Wednesday

Dubbed the “green hot tub” by Seth and Sam. “See the steam, mama?”

Stay-at-home-mom’s in the Willamette Valley: how happy have we been with this lack of rain lately? Awesome. Cold doesn’t matter…my kids go outside!

   P.S. How identical are my children? Very.

Sam, Seth. Yep. Identical Twins.

Two and a Half

Where does time go? How is it that my little four pound baby boys are “little men” now? I’ve been wanting to write this update for awhile, and time hasn’t permitted—which is sad, because I’ve forgotten so many funny antidotes, sayings, and stories by now. Alas, at least I’m getting something written.

Let’s start with their relationship as brothers: it’s absolutely precious! They spend their days imagining various things with each other, bossing, chattering, laughing, and always side by side. Truth be told, they do a fair amount of arguing as well.

A recent Seth and Sam conversation in the car: Seth says, “Trust me Sam.” Sam replies, “No! You trust me Seth.” Seth’s comeback: “NO! Trust ME!” And Sam ends with, “No, Seth, you trust me. Nay Nay and Holly trust me.” Ben and I dissolved into laughter. Where in the world would he get the concept to persuade his brother to trust him because his aunt and uncle do? Silly boy. One of my favorite things the boys told me the other day, “Mommy, your earrings are farkly” (aka sparkly). The “sp” sound still alludes us.

They love playing music with pretend instruments. Recently we’ve been teaching them about worship music, so now when they sing, they tell me that they are singing to God. I’m sure He loves their joyful noise. They continue to love books and are sponges with language, characters, and plot lines. Reading has helped their imagination expand to great levels. They love sports and are obsessed with their jerseys; however, we only have three jerseys in their wardrobe rotation, which causes quite the stir when they aren’t clean. They love their family: especially their uncles and aunts, grandparents and cousins. They LOVE their daddy and greet him at the door each evening with a sweet knocking, hugging, and laughing routine. They love to pretend to drive cars and planes. They think all planes go to Germany. They love to color—but only color “fire.” I told Ben that this concerns me with the possibility of them being obsessed with fire in their later years :). They can spell Sam’s name, but are quite concerned that Seth doesn’t have a “m” in his name. They can also spell “stop.” They love puzzles, especially big floor ones. They love blocks and build vehicles with them. They love reading their kids’ atlas nightly with Ben, with their favorite countries being Italy and Germany…this thrills Ben because he is loves maps so much and they are following in his footsteps.I know a lot of parents with two year olds will hate me for saying this, but they love sleeping in. They get up around 8:30 or 9, and then head to bed between 7 and 8, depending on if they take a good afternoon nap or not. They eat HUGE amounts of food and recently have told us that their favorites are pizza and french fries.

  “Say ‘cheese’ Seth.”

Seth and Sam: cowboys in Lakeview.

Seth, Sam

Such buddies

Seth: This boy has recently became our stinker. (If you’ll remember, Sam has been the more difficult of the two for about a year now. Seth was our “squeaky wheel” as a baby. We were told that twins will periodically do this “switch” regarding who’s most difficult…and it sure has come true in our household!) Seth has really taken a liking to arguing and correcting. Whatever we say, he responds with, “No, its…” It doesn’t matter if he knows the truth, he’d rather just argue. Especially with Sam, because it always bothers Sam. It drives me crazy. He responds to any instructions or reproofs with, “Cuz, cuz…” and an explanation of why he needs to do that particular thing. He’s gotten a bit more aggressive and we’ve caught him snatching toys from Sam quite a bit bringing on another favorite phrase: “I not doing anyting.”

Even through his stinkyness, he’s such a wonderful and loving child. Seth loves to laugh and tease. He does well sitting at an activity for a long time, and is really good at puzzles (he can do a 12 piece all by himself!) He is less social than Sam, and a bit more shy; although he does have a coy, flirty smile he gives the ladies every once and awhile. He LOVES sleeping in and lingering in bed, and hates falling asleep at night (wonder if this will continue in life?) Seth told me today that his favorite animals are “coseroses” (rhinoceros) and peacocks.

Sam: Sam’s emotions have seemed to settle down a bit the past couple of months. It’s no longer such a struggle of wills every evening at bedtime over little things like what blanket he wants, or how many extra kisses, etc. We made a great effort on potty training him these past two weeks, but finally aborted the mission yesterday, as he was still have 2-3 accidents (#2 yucky ones) a day, and I just couldn’t handle that anymore. However, he is fairly competent, but currently unwilling. Maybe try again after Christmas.

Sam’s our boy who you’ll usually find playing with friends first. He still LOVES basketball and is always shooting hoops and having pretend games. And sports are all about the gear and the presentation. He notices the teams’ uniforms, helmets, etc. Which means that each sport he plays must have the proper attire as well. Very intense. Sam loves his stuffed animals and sleeps with about 10 of them. He also sleeps with four different blankets in his crib and changes daily to which is his favorite. He loves to sing and do songs with motions. His recent favorite: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star.” He thrives off special alone time with Ben or I, and usually wakes up in the morning before Seth making this possible. My favorite word that he misspeaks, “Blown” instead of brown. His favorite animal: the lion.