Who Doesn't Like Icecream?

Ben and I took the boys to Dairy Queen for their birthday. We thought it would be fun to give them their first sugar rush, i.e. icecream cone. Seth and Sam, however, wouldn't eat it. Really, a kid not eating icecream, really? Maybe it was just too cold...but it's so good. We tried everything, but in the end, we just shared our cone. Happy First Birthday Seth and Sam (party to come this weekend!)

Being a Homemaker

I've been struck the last couple of weeks with how blessed I am to be a stay at home mom/wife...and moreover, how much I enjoy it! Maybe it just took me this long (about a year) to really adjust and get into the "groove" of things. At first, I always felt like I needed to show my husband a long list of things I accomplished during the day, beyond taking care of the kids, that is. (This is by no means Ben's fault!) I think coming off a job, where I was earning money and accomplishing tasks, I wasn't sure how to measure success at home. Slowly and surely, though, I've changed. I now know it's okay to stop and read a book for awhile, or to take an afternoon nap. More importantly, I now know that it's not just okay, but imperative that I stop DOING, and just spend quality time with my kiddos! While "playing with the boys" is not on my check-list, it really is the MOST important part of me being a homemaker. I want my kids and husband to remember me for the FUN that we had together, not because our house was in impeccable order. So, with all the said, we're having a lot  more fun these days. Posted below are some silly things we've done recently, including playing in the dryer and helping mommy cook in the kitchen. I even heard myself say to Ben the other day, "Maybe we should have the boys go play in puddles." Thank you Lord for helping me grow-up and realize that I should be having more fun!

(Seth, Sam)

The Good Ol' Smurf Train

Seth and Sam inherited my sister and I's toy growing up, the Smurf train. It's been a HUGE hit in our house, and it's so fun to have a nostalgic toy around. The boys toot around on the train all day and it's helped them make huge strides in learning how to walk (they are SO close). This particular night we were having them push each other around; they weren't big fans of having the extra weight on their train. The only problem with the train is that the boys don't know how to turn corners, so they basically push it until they run into a wall, and then scream out of frustration. We're working on this! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Ruda for passing the smurf train on to us!

Getting Twins to Sleep

Is it sad when you're proud of outsmarting your 11 month twins? Regardless, Ben and I scored big time the other night by finally getting the boys to sleep in the same room. Our solution: a sheet in between their cribs so that they can't see each other. For some reason, when they can see each other, it takes them over an hour to fall alseep, because they are playing. However, with the sheet (or seperate rooms) it takes them 10 minutes. Apparently just hearing each other isn't worth staying up about. Woo hoo for having our office/sewing/scrapbooking room back...now to get to work!

(Sam on left mad that I haven't picked him up yet...not appreciating the picture taking moment)

Proud Auntie

Last Tuesday I finally got to hold my new niece Clara! She's so beautiful and has a sweet little personality. She'll fit in perfectly in the Plato family with her two older sisters, Miriam and Aidah to dote on her. It was wonderful to hold a newborn again, and crazy to think that Seth and Sam were half her weight when they were born (she was 8 lbs)...how could they be more tiny than her? I love newborns; it helps me to remember what a miracle new life is! Praise be to God our Heavenly Father!

My First Mother's Day

I had a wonderful first Mother's Day! Ben was very thoughtful and came home on Friday with a beautiful bouquet of roses and a card. Then Saturday we went together and picked out some awesome hanging baskets for our deck....the gift that keeps on giving! We then got to spend the afternoon with my parents and meeting my new niece Clara (see pics below, she's perfect!) Finally, on Sunday we spent the day in Estacada with the extended Morris family, around 40 in fact. They wanted to honor Grandma Morrris (Grandma Great to her 39 great grandkids). It was a good time of food and family. What a wonderful weekend!

The Jeff Morris Clan with Grandma Great in the middle

The Whole Group: lots of Morris'

Clara May Plato

My new niece Clara May arrived on Friday, May 7, 8 lbs 2 oz, 19.5 inches. Both she and mommy are doing wonderful! Isn't she beautiful? I can't wait to take more pictures of her, and some with big sisters Miriam and Aidah!