Seth and Sam turned seven a couple months ago and that's how long I've been working on this post. It's hard to write these in depth personality descriptions...I always feel like I leave important things out; however, I've got to publish something, so I'm determined to finish this tonight!
I'm not sure how to adequately describe my seven year old twins. They are so full of life: always talking, always laughing, always thinking of something to do or make. My dad was here last week, and he looked out the window at them laughing on the tree swing together and said, "Those two enjoy life!" And that was a great description of them. I know I'm biased, they are really special kids. Their joy is infectious.
When I think back on this past year for Seth and Sam, I think of some major steps in maturity. This has been the first year where they have developed some friendships beyond cousins and Wesley (who is like family because he spent time at our house while I did childcare for him). It has been really special to watch the boys become friends with the neighbor boys as well as some kids from baseball. They seem to be pretty easy kids to be around. They don't have to be the leader of the pack; however, I wouldn't describe them as followers. They are not afraid to march to the beat of their own drum...it probably helps that they're twins and aren't usually "alone" if they decide to play something different than the group. Another maturity step for Sam and Seth this year was general confidence when talking with strangers or people that they didn't know very well. We've been proud to watch them address adults with eye contact and confident answers.
In general, Sam is more easy going and fun loving. He lets loose and plays with Josh well, going with the flow and not insisting that Josh does only his ideas. He LOVES to speculate and be curious. He always wants to know all the details: what will it look like, how long will we be there, who will be there, etc. Even if he's a little more easy going, his emotions also fluctuate more, as is visible by very pronounced facial expressions. If he doesn't agree with an instruction, then his brow furrows deep and one can see him contemplating rebellion; if he has came up with an idea, his face lights up and a huge smile ensues. Sam loves the country and wide open spaces and has been continuously lamenting the new housing developments that have taken away some beautiful fields in our area.
Sleeping without his teddy bear, Charlie. Sad.
Buddies with his baby brother
Silly in the bathtub
Seth loves to be the leader of the group and control the details of the situation. He tries so hard to play with Josh, but because he often has a specific idea of what he wants Josh to do with him, it doesn't always go so well. He has a harder time adjusting and going with the flow. Seth loves to estimate numbers. He's always telling me that he shot an arrow (this amount) of yards, or the deer was (such and such) distance away. I have no idea if he's good at it or not, because I can't even begin to estimate anything with numbers. Seth is also very nostalgic: he never wants me to change anything or throw anything away. He loves remembering things and always hopes that a second time of something is just like it was before.
Ninja!
Ready to celebrate the Fourth of July
With Winnie the puppy
Bath time with Joshy
There's a sentimental blog post that has circled around about the "last time" you watch your kids doing something, and how one never knows when it will be that final time. We've recently had a "last time" in realizing that the boys are no longer sleeping with their stuffed animals. I think back on all those nights of searching the playroom in the dark, trying to find Charlie the teddy bear for Sam to nestle under his arm, and now it's gone. Charlie spends the night around the house and not safely in Sam's bed. A sad last time indeed.
The boys continue to love to read. Sam reads a bit faster and more furious. Seth likes to have multiple books going at the same time. Their favorite series by far has been the Wizard of Oz series, which has about 14 books in it...all of which both boys completed this spring. They also loved the "My Father's Dragon," series and any of the Little House on the Prairie books. They are participating in a summer reading program through Exodus books and they both read almost 1500 pages in June alone! So fun!
They love being outside, playing basketball, baseball and football. They like to be dirty and play in the mud, dirt, rocks and sand. They LOVE building and creating anything. They love to fish and be by water. They like to ride bikes and scooters. They like to climb trees and read books in them. They hate taking showers and want to run around with only shorts on all day every day. They like to play games such as Scattagories, Battle Ship, Monopoly, and Castle Panic; we (well Ben--because he has more patience) has introduced them to some of our favorite adult level games like Puerto Rico and Settlers of Catan...and they LOVE those. We're looking forward to lots of game playing in the future!
In the car today I listened to them both talk about how they are going to be farmers when they grow up. They want to have cows, horses, and chickens. They want to grow things. They will often ask me if I want to work at their farm when they grow up; my reply is always, "Yes! I'll work in your flower garden." Sam said that he wants to live in a log cabin and Seth said he wants to live in a huge house. To which Sam replied, "Well, then you'll have to be rich. Do you want to be rich?" Sam also wants to be a cowboy and ride horses a lot. I'm so curious what they really will be when they grow up. I think it will be something where they create...engineers maybe?
For the first time in their lives, they have different weight and height. Sam is a couple pounds heavier at 55 pounds, and 3/4 an inch taller at 49 inches. Seth is 53 pounds and 48 and 1/4 inches. The difference is kind of noticeable, especially the weight. Sam also has a wider gap in his front two teeth setting their looks further apart.
Also for the first time in their life, sleep is not an issue. Bad dreams are rare and sleep terrors are even more rare. Isn't it crazy that I'm celebrating my SEVEN year olds not waking me up a ton at night? Thank goodness!
Their favorite food is pad thai or pizza. They also like good ol' teriyaki chicken and rice a lot. Or pork chops...they love those! They've been wanting to do some cooking, so they make a lot of their own breakfasts now. They can make pancakes and puffy German pancakes (gluten free of, course!)
Here is a story that really illustrates their kind hearts. When my dad was up here last week, he brought Josh an old tackle box so that he could have one like the big boys. When Sam and Seth found out they absolutely gushed in excitement for Josh. They immediately took him outside to hunt for treasures to put in it: feathers, rocks, etc. Then they brought him back inside and pulled out their tackle boxes and proceeded to share with him some things from their boxes. It was so sweet. (I've got to document these kinds of things to help remind me on those days where it seems all the boys do is bicker and look out for their own interest, right?)
Sam, Seth at the Rice Rock Museum this spring
Sam, Seth at a basketball game
Seth, Sam this June by the Deschutes River (photo credit Uncle Nathan)
There is always some sort of dress up going on at the house. I'm pretty sure these are army outfits.
With our neighbor's new puppy (Sam, Seth)
Seth and Sam did a couple weeks of swim lessons again this summer and are SOOOO close to swimming. Well, actually, they can swim, just not for long periods of time. I'm very proud of the progress that they have made!
With swim instructor Mary Beth
This is a great picture of Seth (on the left)
Ben made me take this one; he said, "It's been a long time since I've seen them sitting on a chair together reading. All too true, my love. This growing up business happens so fast!
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