My Brother, My Best Friend

Yesterday was lefty day. A day to celebrate the 10% of the population who are left-handed. Matt is a lefty and I grew up believing the myth that left handed people are smarter than the average jo. I still believe that. I spent all day yesterday thinking about him and how much I love him, but neglected to tell him, so today's post is all about him.

Isn't he just adorable with his bright red curly hair and chubby cheeks? I see his daughter Alexi all over this picture.

Matt has been my best friend for my entire life. We are only fifteen months apart, so I do not remember life without him in it. We are two peas in a pod.

This was at an awards ceremony for band in high school. I'm assuming we were supposed to be quiet, I can't remember what we were laughing about, but it looks good enough to risk it.

Growing up I dragged him along in every exersion I decided to undertake. I specifically remember this picture of us at church: me holding his hand and literally dragging him to an unknown destination. From the picture you could tell his short stubby little legs were having a hard time keeping up, but you know what? He was wearing a smile. That's how it was for Matt's entire life with three sisters. You have to admire him for his patience, but also because our life is full of wonderful memories. He didn't let "hanging out with three girls" stop his fun. See what I mean? Fun times...

And then there's the times I made him play wedding.

When I got married I forced him to reinact our childhood picture (haha, notice how I made him hold my hand?!).

In all of those goofy games you know what stands out to me now? He never once complained! Life hasn't really changed much since. We are still dragging each other around on little exersions, not as many as in our childhood. In fact, not nearly enough. I miss him.

Both of us are married now, with our spouse being #1 and both of us are busy with jobs and kids, so our life of childhood play has changed significantly. The last time I stayed with his family, however, we did dump the Lego's out to reminisce.

That night, just sitting there building a Lego town was one of the most enjoyable evenings I've had in a long time. Let me tell you why...

Matt is not a man of words. So when he says something you better listen - it's either thought provoking or hilarious. When we build Lego's we don't spend much time talking, just building, enjoying the relaxing silence in an all too busy world.

Matt is a builder. He can come up with the most amazing Lego vehicles including his own design of a logging truck, firetruck, sports cars, and the list could go on forever. The intricate details amaze me still. He's no different with a hammer and nails; and once he gets under the hood of a vehicle he's in heaven.

He was so proud of that truck and all the work he put into it!

Matt is a jack of all trades (just like our dad). He's an electrician, expert logger, a fireman who travels all over the United States to fight fires (right now he's in Utah helping fight the fire there - pray for him!), a carpenter, and he has one heck of a work ethic.

He has a HUGE heart. If he writes you a letter - be prepared to bawl your eyes out. If he loves you, he will do the simplest things to make you feel loved.

Like picking flowers for all my friends when we graduated from college.

Or putting his arms around all three of his sisters...

Or in the way he holds his son...

Or hugs his wife.

His huge heart was evident from the beginning, even in the way he dealt with animals.

You can't not love him the moment you meet him. He's a loyal, trustworthy, "what do you need? I'll do it for you" kind of friend.

His shirts says, "Mothers Love Me" and is that ever the truth.

I don't feel like I have to write a lot to give you an idea of the man he's become, because these pictures speak for themselves. I'm proud to know him and I'm proud to call him my brother. I love him so much and I can rest in this one amazing fact: that Matt and I are siblings for an eternity because we can rest in Jesus' saving grace. I can only imagine the time I'll get to spend with the one's I love once I get there. Quite frankly, I can hardly wait.

Matt... do you think God will let us play Lego's and listen to Jars of Clay when we get to heaven? ;) I hope so...

Unruhly Adventures

Last week I wrote about my nephew Braylon who was in the ICU for a few days. He was a very sick baby. And the day Matt and Sam brought him home their daughter Alexi came down with pink eye. Oi. They had a rough week. I seriously think they were/are at their wits end. I had planned on coming down this week for quite some time to help Sam with Matthew and Alexi, meals, and cleaning. I'm so glad it still worked out. I remember how much it meant to me when Matt and Sam came up and cleaned my house and "installed" my new bed, and when my mom and sister Mandy came up for a week to help me after I hemorrhaged. Hopefully I was a blessing rather than a pest.

Holding Braylon for the first time! I was so excited!

He was doing so much better - eating well, sleeping well, becoming more alert as the week went on - thank the Lord!

Mommy Samantha

Daddy Matt and little Braylon cuddling.

 Brielle was so interested in Braylon. She wanted to eat him. Literally.

Other than keeping Brielle from poking Braylon's little eyeballs, or sucking on his face, I took on the task of entertaining Matthew and Alexi. (Talk about a fun undertaking!) I got this idea from my friend Megan (who blogs here) to create a summer to-do list. I couldn't resist doing the same with my niece and nephew. I let Matthew (who's 6 years old) name it. He called it "To Have Fun List" and Alexi (who's 2) also thought it was a fantastic idea.

This is what we plan on doing this week. (I got there Monday afternoon and a whole 24 hours later, I was pooped. Haha!)

• Bake Cookies
• Jump on trampoline
• Make our own bubbles
• Backyard alphabet hunt
• Build a fort
• Blow up diet coke and zip lock bags
• Picnic in the park
• Mail a letter
• Color your own plate
• Make a pet rock
• Build a Lego town
• Hotwheels race track

After creating the list I told them they could pick one to do in the afternoon. OH. MY. GOODNESS. It was a difficult decision. They wanted to do it all, at once. I had to remind them that if we did all of them in one day we wouldn't have anything to do at the end of the week. It wasn't an easy concept to understand. I got a good giggle out of it. Before dinner Matthew chose to bake strawberry cookies. I was racking my brain to try and figure that one out. Thank goodness for strawberry cake mix turned cookie (it's so easy, check it out)!

They were yummy and were gone within two days.

Once everyone was showered, teeth brushed and Brielle in bed we dumped the Lego's on the living room floor and began building a Lego town. We had so much fun. It brought back a lot of memories for my brother Matt and I. I love having kids in my life, hehe, I get to play again. I built Alexi a house and after about ten minutes it was destroyed, so I asked her, "Alexi, where is your house?"

"I don't know! Where is my door?" It was the most random comment, said in the most adorable way that made Matt and I giggle for quite some time.

Our Lego adventure...

When the Lego's were dumped on the floor, they thought it was the COOLEST thing ever!

I built an ice cream shoppe, every town needs one of those!

Little Matthew insisted I take a picture of his Lego man and his pet alligator visiting the ice cream shoppe (cause every one needs a pet alligator).

Little Matthews house that we built (he wanted those pink stairs in his house soooooo bad)!

Matthew driving the truck Matt built him, it was an awesome truck.

These pile of Lego's were the same pile of Lego's that we played with growing up (Matt has kept them all these 20 some odd years) and in the pile I found a little Barbie shoe and a visor. LOL.

Although the Lego night was a long one (we stayed up too late) it was one of my favorite nights with them. It was a blast and brought back so many childhood memories.

The next morning Matthew and Alexi decided to color their own plate and cup set. I LOVED how they turned out, however, the directions I found on Pinterest weren't entirely accurate, because even after baking them in the oven the permanent marker washed off in the dishwasher. (Dang it.) Still, it was a fun activity.

Her tongue was out with every activity she did!

Brielle loved sitting with them!

I told Alexi to pose with her dishes... and this is what I got. Haha.

Baking in the oven.

Matthew was such a big help!

Feeding Brielle...

Kneading bread...

Holding his little brother Braylon...

On the day we checked off "blowing things up" we tried the ziplock bag, vinegar and baking soda concoction, but it failed. I think my ziplock bags were too big (get the smaller sized ones). The mentos and the diet coke was a hit, the kids loved making soda fountains.

They decided to do four at a time... ready... 1...2...3!

Yes, this was a common occurance.

Alexi was cracking me up with all the goofy things she said, like this conversation:

Samantha to little Braylon: "I think you're going to be a little blondie like your sister Alexi."
Matthew: "I have blonde hair!"
Samantha: "You're kind of a dirty blonde."
Me: "Brielle's hair is strawberry blonde."
Alexi: "No, she's a yucky blonde."

Or...

Me: "Alexi, you're so smart and pretty!"
Alexi: "I know."

Or...

Alexi: "Aunt Ducky" (Yes, when she says Becky it comes out Ducky.) "Can I have Lucky Charms for breakfast? Please?"
Me: "Yes!" (I pour her a bowl of Lucky Charms.)
Alexi: (Pouting.) "No! I wanted Fruit Loops!"
Me: "You said Lucky Charms!"
Alexi: "Yes. Aunt Ducky. Fruit Loops!" (I was so confused.)

Oh, and she wore her bike helmet all the time, every where she went. She loves that thing and every second of the day she wanted to ride her bike in the driveway, to the park, at Poppy's.... she loves it.

She even wore it while painting her "pet rock."

Meet Ralph the Rock (I couldn't resist creating one myself). I kept asking Alexi what she named her pet rock, but she'd just answer "mmm hmmm" whatever that means.

The week flew by and I finally have time to sit down and tell you about my week in the Unruh household. It was quite the adventure and I love them so very, very much. I'm beyond thankful that Braylon is on the mend and that mommy caught up on some much needed sleep. I'm sure they were happy to get their house back (without me in it) but I'd go back in a heart beat and make more Unruhly memories.

Hopefully someday we'll get a "normal" picture where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera, haha.