I'm serious.
But I had a pretty steep requirement list.
Which comes with a pretty price tag.
So we kept putting it off.
Then we got a nice tax return this year.
And we decided the time had come.
So one day, we took the kids to the showroom for the playsets we'd coveted.
And they played and played, (and we did too.)
And fell in love with a castle.
(The manufacturer calls all of their sets either a castle or a clubhouse.)
And so we bought a trimmed down version that fit within our budget.
Then the wait began.
Finally, after much questioning from the kids, the day arrived.
Our big yard was about to become a little more occupied.
And then we watched our castle start to grow.
Ephram was beside himself as he pressed up close to the windows.
I could feel him willing himself outside.
(Charlie probably would have gone outside had he not been at school.)
So, I took Ephram on an errand with me to the grocery store.
He was reluctant but complied when I told him how much I needed a helper by my side.
When we returned, he ran to the house, carrying the balloon and water bottle I'd bought him.
And by the time I got to the house, this is what was sitting on the stairs.
His shoes sat below his coat on the floor.
And where was Ephram?
You guessed it...
Finally, we took pity on him and decided to let him go take a look.
Andy carried him outside at the perfect time.
Our castle had just been completed.
"Go take a look!" We told an incredulous Ephram.
He looked as though he thought we might not be serious.
And then, realizing we were, glee visited his face.
And he was off.
Macie quickly joined him.
She is a lover of all things that swing.
And Ephram is a lover of all things that slide.
And climb.
Especially slides that you can climb.
Before long, Charlie was home.
Ephram led him outside for his surprise.
Charlie was a blur of excitement.
And then the brothers played,
As only brothers can.
They ran and jumped,
Climbed and slid,
Steered the pirate ship and looked out for approaching boats,
Swung and spun,
And started all over again.
Their energy built and built and built and then
They sat at the top of this ladder.
And together,
At once,
They roared.
And then Charlie roared some more, with vigor.
And Ephram was a little surprised.
But he seemingly decided not to care.
And they roared some more.
And they thought they were silly.
They were.
The silliest ever.
And then, they crashed.
And quietly slunk down the steps.
Into our house,
At our kitchen table they drank cup s of water and milk.
The best tired grins on their faces.
And we knew that we'd made the best decision.
