Future jobs

I forgot to add another fun moment today on our way back from school. Ian was talking about what he wants to be when he grows up. He said, "I've decided what I'm going to do. When I grow up, I'll be a scientist at the time when I have classes right now, then when I'm not doing that, I'll be a secret agent. I can use the days I normally have PE and Spanish to be a singer and then I'll be an animal doctor on the weekends." I can't wait to see his time management skills :).

Tough Love

So I had an "Ian" moment putting him to bed tonight. He wanted to sleep on his fuzzy decorative fake fur pillow. Since it's not really washable, I told him we would put it next to him instead of sleeping on it. Of course, he had to ask why he couldn't sleep on it. When I explained that we drool in our sleep and I didn't want a bunch of drool on it, he told me HE doesn't drool when he sleeps. I said maybe he's right (I don't really remember finding a bunch of drool spots on his big pillow), but his daddy and I both drool really bad and it might be in the genes. He thought on this for a bit and then gave me his parting words for the night..."I love you anyway, even though you drool." Isn't that what real love is about?

How do people do it?

I've thought a lot about this, this summer. How do we, as human beings, live with ourselves? :-)

We say we believe in and value something and then we ACT in direct contradiction to that fact. It's not just believing in God and then acting as if we don't...that's a pretty big thing and it confuses me every time. It's also small things. Things like, "I think that being healthy is important" and then we eat chocolate chip cookies until we're sick. Or a boss who says, "As a company, we value (you fill in the blank)" and then, when a staff member begins to act as if he/she values that, the boss expresses disappointment.

I'm thankful for a God who understands that people are trapped in sin and is quick to forgive and help. I'm not so patient with people, or even myself, for that matter...but He is.

Say what?

We had lunch at "The Club" after church this morning (aka Sam's club).

While there I noticed that, in the seasonal section, they were putting CHRISTMAS stuff out!

Now, I like Christmas more than most people, and will often listen to Christmas music throughout the year...but to have Christmas decorations out in September?!!?!

That's just ridiculous...

Goodbye...

Well, last night the boys and I made the trek over to my folks' house to say goodbye to a friend.

Just over a week and a half ago, we listed our camper on Craigslist. There was a lot of interest which, we knew, meant that it would soon sell. It seemed like everyday last week and even over the holiday weekend, we were trekking over to mom and dads to set up the trailer for another potential buyer (why couldn't they have gotten together and come together so we only had to set it up once? - ha!).

The first time Kiley and I set it up, some cotton fell out of the seems from the cotton trees at the campground we loved in Buffalo, WA. Sand poured out from the beaches of Oregon. We could smell the salty beach air mixed with the fresh scent of Redwood trees. It was a little overwhelming as the memories flooded back so fresh and I had to stop for a moment and, again, thank my heavenly Father for so many incredible moments with my family.

Finally, on Saturday, a couple came and offered us full price. At the time, I had two other families who were rushing over wanting to buy it as well.

So last night they came and picked up their new camper that I pray will be full of blessings and memories for their family. The boys and I stood and watched it leave, probably not as sad as we expected to be, but still somewhat sentimental.

It does help that we sold it for several hundred dollars than we paid for it. :-)

Typical Ian

Ian woke up and crawled in our bed over the weekend. He gave Kiley a huge hug and proceeded to crawl out and go on with whatever he wanted to do.

Feeling slighted, I said, "Hey! What about Dad?! Don't I get hugs and kisses too?"

He sighed...then gave me a quick hug and kiss and I whispered in his ear, "I love you!"

He grinned, jumped off the bed and said, "OK"

Children

I remember being very concerned as a teenager that I would have children and then discover I didn't really like them (I always loved babies, but could take or leave toddlers and older), then I had my own children. I know it's trite, but nothing could have prepared me for how much I love my boys. With my own children, the baby stage was fun, but the real fun times started during the toddler years. I realize I'm barely out of that stage with Ian and, granted, Brendon is in a bit of an obnoxious stage at the moment with his new found hypochondria, but if the next 10 to 15 years are as joyous (and frustrating...oddly enough the frustrations are almost as wonderful as the fun stuff) as the past 9 have been, I will be a happy woman indeed. These musings are brought on by a couple of quotes (or "Ian"isms as they have come to be known as in our house) from Ian this weekend. The first happened yesterday as he and Brendon were talking about where they want to live in the future and what they want to do. They've both decided to be scientists when they grow up and lately Brendon has decided he wants to live in Alaska. When Michael and I pointed out there aren't many scientists in Alaska, so it could be challenging to find a job there, the boys quickly changed their minds and said they would just live in Nebraska instead. Michael and I snorted and said it would probably be easier to find a job as a scientist in Alaska than in Nebraska. Ian immediately and excitedly said, "Yay, we get to be the first scientists to live in Nebraska!" You've got to love a positive attitude like that. The other quote came from "Miss Melinda" who teaches Ian's class in church. They were talking about how you can tell where people are from by the words they use, such as "pop" or "soda," etc. Ian piped up asking, "Where am I from?" Melinda said, "Ian, you're a Californian." He responded, "Oh goody, and I didn't even have to move here from anywhere!" Have I mentioned how much I love my children?