A Much More Successful Adventure

Well, despite our last (slightly) disastrous outing, we tried again! The results were wonderful:

We started out on a perfectly clear Saturday, all with naps under our belts. Our destination: the airport to watch planes take off and land. Check out our view of Mt. Hood:

Like all good white trash, we parked our car on the side of the road, pulled out our lawn chairs, and set up camp. Here's the first plane we saw come in. It was so fun to see it as a tiny speck in the sky, and then watch it touch down right in front of us!



One coming in, one getting ready to take off.

Ben did such a great job teaching the boys all about the airport, the planes, the control tower, etc. This was a special activity for him to share with the boys because it's something he did with his Grandpa Morris (who passed away in 2001). It was special for me, as well, because I had never done it!

Sam in a rare picture with mama.

After scarfing down our delicious picnic dinner, we crossed the road to check out the Columbia River. The boys played and played in the wheat field surrounding the paths. They were little baby lions, stumbling around in the grass, pawing their way through the blades...it was so cute! (And a great opportunity for photo ops if I do say so myself).

The boys ran and ran and ran, thus burning out lots of energy for a good bedtime. Can you believe this view of the mountain? We couldn't have asked for a better day!

Then, if we hadn't had enough fun, Ben noticed 2 planes coming in on the horizon...and fast. We barely got up from the river to see two fighter jets zoom by and land. It was exhilarating!

Watching a plane touch down one final time.

I'm so thankful for this perfect family outing God gave us! A wonderful day and memory!

A Sunday Outing

Seriously, how could we NOT go out with the boys looking this cute:

Sam, Seth

They love each other!

We call those shoes their "preppy" shoes. So cute! I love that they are at the age now where they'll participate in pictures. 

Anyways, about our Sunday outing. We decided to venture to downtown Portland and look at the Rose parade floats and people watch. We wanted to eat lunch at the food carts, which I was really excited about, because we lived here for 6 years and never done it! After church, we drove downtown, only to discover most the food carts are not open on Sunday. Bummer #1. So we got mediocre food and drove to what we thought was a parking place close to the waterfront to eat. Bummer #2. Not close. Too many blocks with bags of food and two 2 year olds. By the time we reach the waterfront we're starved and tired.   

The boys LOVED their hot dogs. I hated my Thai food. I think they forgot some spices. Bummer #3. Trying to be nice, I offer to give our leftovers to a homeless man. He's really nasty to me. Bummer #4. 

The boys get to watch a bridge lift with daddy and I get to take some good pictures. Sadly, the highlight of our big outing. We decide to walk along the waterfront to look at the big ships.

Unfortunately, we have to walk what seems like miles to get around the carnival in order to get back to a street near our car. Then, we have to walk back to car. Bummer #5.

You would think this entire outing would have totally tuckered out the boys and they would immediately fall asleep and take a great nap. Nope. They spend a lot of the car ride home screaming, finally fall asleep right before we get home, and don't transfer into their cribs. So they are now awake when all Ben and I want to do is nap. Bummer #6.

We don't go on many adventures. Maybe this is why. Or maybe we're just out of practice because we don't do it often enough.

"Going to play basketball..."

Mama's reply: "Not dressed like that!" (yes, they were taking turns wearing the heels because they are so cool). I can't wait to show these pictures in their senior slideshow.

Sam

Seth

I Two!

"I Two." That is what Seth and Sam will tell you if you ask them how old they are. Well, sometimes. More often than not, they are too shy to say it to anyone but us. I realized that the boys have been two for a couple weeks now, and I haven't blogged about what they are up to. Maybe it's so much that I don't even know how to put it into words. Well, here's a try:

-We are very amazed by their language abilities. They do a lot of their talking now in sentences, and have a limitless vocabulary. I think a lot of this has to do with them being twins, and constantly talking to each other. An example of a conversation the boys had with each other yesterday as Seth was throwing a fit on the ground. Sam says, "Seth, no throw fit. Stand up." Seth replies, "Sammy, no boss." Ha ha. This happens all the time. Or, "Seth, come inside. Sam shut door." reply, "No Sam shut door, Seth shut door."

-Independence is the name of the game at the Morris household now. "No, Sammy do it." or "Seth, no help." This is what this mama hears all day. So, I've had to STOP, slow down, take a deep breath, and teach them how to do it themselves. Sam does not like to be shown how to do anything. He's tough to teach! I've told many of you this story, but it needs to be blogged as well: after about 10 minutes of Sam struggling to put on his own socks, and I told him, "Mama help." His reply, "No mama help. Go play," (with a finger point as well.) Oh, funny boy. Part of me wanted to say, "Newsflash, mama doesn't play all day." :)

-One of the areas that their independence is being manifested most in is clothing. Daily, they pick out their own clothing, which has resulted in some doozy outfits. Last week, they both decided to wear 2 shirts...so they had their football jersey's on as "undershirts" and small t-shirts on top of them. Top it off with red sweats and striped socks, and we were off for the day!

-We're starting a little pre-potty training, but haven't gone full-board yet. Sam is really good about telling us when he poops. Seth doesn't seem to care. Truthfully, I'm not as stressed about potty-training as I was about getting rid of binkies. I think we'll give it a whirl, and if they're not ready, try again in a month. At least is doesn't affect my sleep, so I'm okay with trying :)

-They continue to be quite reserved in social settings. They stand back, check out the situation, assess, and then, they may or may not jump in. They are not "big group" people, and are very shy when they don't know someone.

-Seth and Sam played their first one-on-one basketball game against each other last night. It was hilarious. Sam is all about shooting (and is quite accurate at it!) Seth is our little hustler, who tries to steal the ball and loves to chase after it. The crazy thing was, they weren't really all that upset about the other playing defense or stealing the ball. It was almost like they have watched enough basketball to understand that this is part of the game, and it's okay.

-They can ride their trikes all by themselves now...I can't believe it! This is one of those things that make them feel like really "big boys" to me :(

-Favorite things to do: dig in the dirt or rocks, ride bikes, play basketball, color on their easel, climb in and out of their pack n' play, transfer books all over the house, play with cars down their ramp, play with their tools, pretend to do anything that daddy does, splash (or as they say, "fash") or throw rocks in water, jump with "two feet."

-They both can count to "10". Wow! Well, nine gets left out most the time. And more often than not, it sound like, "Won, two, free, five, high five (their own hand of course), six, seven, eight, ten."

-We love the way they say each other's names, "Sath," and "Semmy,". They sure do love each other and are the best of friends. They may fight over toys, but really aren't very physical with each other. They rarely play any distance from each other, and are usually doing similar things next to one another. It is very sweet.

-Speaking of love, I told Sam that I loved him last night. He looked right back at me, and said, "I love YOU mama." Ah, melts the heart.

I'm sure there is so much more to share, and if I blink, I'm going to miss this time of life. I love these little twins of mine and can't imagine life without them. The twos may be a bit "terrible", but they are so precious. I'll take the fits, Independence, and struggling for the love, affection, humor, learning, and touches any day!

Sam, Seth

Bye Bye Binkies!

I can barely believe it myself, but yes, we have said "Adios" to those cursed binkies!

It's funny the reactions that I get from people with weaning from binkies. Some think that we waited way too long, some wonder why I was so adamant to get it done so early. I know, with my motherly intuition of course, that we did it just in time.

Most kids quietly suck their binkies as they fall asleep. Not my boys. Nope. Seth and Sam's binky usage went along with a very, very, VERY loud "mmmmmmmmm" sound; so loud, in fact, that if Ben and I were sleeping in the same room with them (traveling), we could have ear plugs in, pillows over the head, and still be able to hear it. The week before we weaned, Seth was waking up from 4-5 and sucking so loudly I was sleeping on the couch. I had had it!

People had described all the techniques to weaning. I kept discussing this with Ben. He didn't understand why so much "to do" about getting rid of the dang things. So we went with his technique...we just pulled the plug, literally. Cold turkey.

Night 1, a fair amount of crying for the binkies. Fell asleep only 15 minutes later than usual. Sam sleeps through night, Seth 1 wake up. Crying in the morning, but not too bad. Nap 1...no sleep.

Night 2, still some crying before going to sleep. Asleep 30 minutes later than usual, but mostly because the boys are talking to each other without having something to suck. Sam sleeps through the night again. Seth wakes up frequently with the cold that throws a wrench into weaning. It's hard to comfort a stuffed-up, coughing child multiple times in the night without the binky they are used to. Nap 2...tire the kids out at zoo all morning resulting in a short nap.

Night 3, supposed to be the "best" and final night of trying to wean. Our worst. Both boys have a cold now and want their binkies when they wake up sick. Ugh. Nap 3, decent.

Night 4, try "warm sock treatment" as recommended by friend on facebook. Miracle worker. Seriously, look this up as a natural treatment to congestion. Kids sleep wonderful and wake up without runny noses.

Night 5, same treatment, same result.

Currently, 2 weeks weaned off of the binky and we've never looked back. The weaning process was not as bad as I assumed. It still takes Seth and Sam longer to go to sleep than it used to, merely because they are in the same room and they yap and play without something to plug them up. About half the time we split them up so that they will fall asleep better. Overall, I'm thrilled with the peace and quiet of no loud binky sucking!

Bye, Bye Binky!

The Twins are Two! (part 1)

Turning 2 is quite the big deal...at least I thought it was. The boys' first birthday didn't really emotionally affect me, but two? Two? That means they are no longer babies! Seth and Sam are growing up SO fast, way too fast. Before I get too nostalgic, here's some of the birthday festivities.

Part 1 of Seth and Sam turning 2, including a fun day at Auntie Alicia's house on May 25 (the day before their bday). May 25 happens to be cousin Judah's birthday...he turned 1. We played with cousins and aunts, and Alicia made spectacular cupcakes. Everyone, including cousin Harlee, got a candle to blow out.

We left from Auntie Alicia's house to meet Ben and the Plato family at Red Robin for dinner. Having dinner at a restaruant with 5 kids and only 4 adults is always interesting, but fun none-the-less. At the end of dinner, the boys each shared their sundae's with Miriam and Aidah, and it was hilarious to watch all the kids scarf it down. We ended the night playing at the park. What a fun day, and it wasn't even their birthday! Part 2 coming soon!

Sammy getting attention from the girls

Sam and Aidah

Seth and Mimi