Foot Stool

There are moments in a marriage when you just know that you are with the completely right person.

Moments that define themselves through words, actions, or just simple feelings.

Lately I have been getting slightly nostalgic.
The way you do when your "baby" just turns four (in like 3 seconds) and you have time to think. Like many mothers I am wrapped up and entrenched in my children's lives.
Between homework, sports, arts, cleaning, cooking, etc...Life gets crazy!
Date nights are often spent discussing the children or vacations or worst finances...ugh.
Anyways, I was sitting thinking about all the things August has outgrown  and one of these things he is quickly outgrowing stopped me in my tracks.
It was my foot stool.
It's funny how a few slabs of wood and nails can speak volumes about a man, but they do.

You see Brent is amazing at always giving me anything I want.
I learned early on in our marriage I had to watch what I say around him, because in a whim if I said "Oh I'd like that" soon enough it would be waiting for me in my car, or under my pillow. He spoils me.
Our first Christmas together he did just that. When we first started dating I had told him how I always wanted a huge canopy bed when I was a little girl and so he surprised me with a gorgeous cherry oak bedroom set that year. (set the bar pretty high...not necessarily for present giving, but thoughtfulness).

During my pregnancy with Brayden getting up in that big canopy bed got a little difficult.
You see I turn into a hippo when I am pregnant. I gained about 80lbs with each sweet bundle of joy. Mobility gets hard when you are that humongous.

Brent, being the observant and thoughtful husband he is noticed my struggle and decided to surprise me with a foot stool. It was  a  simple enough project he undertook with Mitch.
It was a huge help for getting into bed.

It was also so much more to me.

A testimony to how much he really honors me. Whereas I have a hard time remembering his favorite candy bar he notices things and takes the time to do something about it...I am not the most observant. Brent's example to me has helped define the kind of person I want to be.
I love how it feels to know someone really listens to me.
I want to be that person for him, and pretty much all the people in my life.

For a small piece of furniture around our house it sure has a lot to teach a person.
It has meant a lot for many reasons especially since at the time he built it he was working so much, and looking for a second job, so I could take extended maternity leave.

The foot stool has rotated its way around our various houses used for various things.
Most recently August uses it in the bathroom to reach the sink....but our little boy is growing and soon it will find another use.

 I am very grateful for that foot stool.

Abe and Ellie come to play

This past weekend we had three house guests Abram, Elysia, and Lilah Sage. Carleen was taking Eric to Sunriver for his birthday so we babysat the kids and the dog. They arrived Thursday night and stayed through Sunday. My boys always love to see their cousins. Mitchel and Brayden have a great time with Abe. Elysia and August keep each other entertained. Cosmo got to visit with his sister Lilah.

Our first day together you guys stayed inside and just played together. You made balloons and played games with just a few balloons for hours. Ely and Aug decided they wanted a small amount of water in their balloons, and then drew faces on them. Abram popped his balloon and Mitch and Bray weren't too far behind...

 Elysia drew a great picture for Grandpa in honor of his birthday!

Elysia and August went through activities much quicker than the other three. Abram, Mitchel, and 

 Brayden were outside playing basketball and inside with video games and building legos.

Elysia and August played with trains, then playdough, then coloring, kind of helped me make lunch....

 Cooking for five kids oddly enough is not much more than cooking for three...but it definitely required more counter space!

For dinner that night Grandma bought stuff for the kids to make their own pizzas. It was enjoyable listening to the kids narrate their pizza making and what it takes to make a "good" pizza.

 Elysia really wanted to show August how she can make a happy face pizza. Note the eyebrows!

 Lilah watched the kids...helping keep the kitchen clean...

 Abram is ridiculously tall, I was laughing at how much he had to bend over to make his pizza, and how having him there made my stepladder unnecessary.

 Lilah and Cosmo enjoyed each others company. They play very well together and sometimes get vocal. It looks much worse than it is. They really just try to dominate one another, as they have since they were puppies. They turned one this month.

 We started our "dance party" and there was slight disagreement on the songs we chose. August decided to throw a little fit instead of having fun...

 The next day we decided to go to the park after breakfast. The kids had a blast. Quite a few of Mitchel middle school class mates were there and they played an elaborate game of tag, where they could only touch the wood of the play structure. No touching the bark chips, this playground is huge. Watching the kids jump and climb and swing around was hilarious.

 After tag Mitchel, Abram, Brayden and five other kids went to play baseball while Elysia, August and I remained at the park. We found some piles of leaves to throw at each other and Ely showed us some cartwheels and flippies.

 The older kids went with Grandma to the Madras swim center and then Pappy's pizzeria for some indoor play time. The swim center in Madras has a lazy river, rope swing, bball, spray park, etc...The boys have been wanting to check it out for awhile now.

August and I stayed in watched a movie, took a nap :)

The next day we were hosting a birthday dinner for Grandpa. I made a roast from the deer meat. I've been cooking a bunch of different meals with it, but this time we used our "new" crock pot.

I also baked my first real loaf of banana bread ever! I was so excited that it actually came out okay, because baking has not always been my forte. However, as quick as i pulled it out of the oven and admired my handy work the kids swarmed each grabbed a piece and it was GONE...

We had another "dance party" and then some lip syncing battles. (one of my new favorite things to do)

 I got to wear the dress I sewed! It was nice to get dolled up for a change...

 All the kids and Grandpa played outside for a few hours. Brayden ended up crashing his bike and deciding he was done for the day. Abram had fun schooling Mitch in basketball. Mitch ended up jamming his finger with the basketball, and it slowly swelled up for the rest of the night.

The kids got the idea of burying each other in leaves. It became the newest game. It was cute watching them play so well together and get so creative.

 Finally we made our way inside and while I dished up dinner the kids had another "dance party" this time they got grandma involved! We ate our dinner then enjoyed some banana splits. Then Carleen and Eric took their crew back to the cabin in Sunriver to enjoy a night there with the kids. 

Always great to have a houseful! Can't wait to have more cousins visit soon...