Lauren's first day of school is tomorrow. I tried to take her shopping for school clothes this weekend, but I don't think I'll be doing that again. The only things she wanted were summer dresses and tap shoes. Every time I picked out an outfit for her to try on she would say, "I don't like your ideas." Finally I let her pick out a polka-dot dress and pink leggings. She said (with great joy), "Now you have the same idea I have!" She must think I have terrible fashion sense. Here's her four-year-old picture.

Last night I was doing devotions with my kids before bed. It started out with questions for them to answer, and the first question was: What are you afraid of? Jordan answered, "Something bad happening to my parents." Caitlin said, "Fire burning down the house." Then my four-year-old, Lauren said, "My brains falling out of my head." We laughed and laughed, and after that every time any of them answered a question the answer had to do with brains. I'm not sure how much they learned about God, but we had a good time as a family.

My husband grew up with four brothers and they spent their summers at the family cabin in McCall. I'm so glad my kids get to grow up with this tradition, as well. We spent the last two weekends flipping off the dock (Caitlin at right), tubing behind the boat, and watching the meteor shower from the beach.

I'm still not as crazy as the boys, but Dan said he knew I would fit on my first visit up with him before we were married. We'd all made a raft out of crates and Dan's cousin got out a mega watergun to attack. I slid off the raft and took him down. We may be the poor family in the midst of millionaires with vacation homes, but I think we have the most fun up there.

So many stories...where to start? Last night as I was getting ready to go out, my 6-year-old brown-nosing daughter Caitlin said, "Mom, you've never looked so good!" Jordan added, "I've seen you look that good before. But just once." I got a good laugh.

At church every Sunday, my husband always asks me what is wrong. Nothing is ever wrong, I just choose not to laugh at the jokes he makes during the service. So I always respond, "I'm being reverent." Finally, last week, my husband announced, "You're reverent face looks like your pissed face." Then, in the mail yesterday I got a note from a woman at church saying that I've looked sad lately, and she's praying for me. My husband was like, "I TOLD you!" I guess I'll have to start being reverent with a smile on my face.

I also want to add that at the library this week my four-year-old checked out a 200 page book. I tried to put it back, but she got it out again saying she wants to be like Jordan. So now she keeps it in the car and flips through the pages as we drive. She even asked for a bookmark when she had to stop. Being the oldest child in my family, I can't relate, but I think it's absolutely adorable.

Anyway, I'm off to clean out the fridge. My husband is working as a training assistant at the FOCUS seminar this weekend leaving me on my own. So far I've mowed the lawn and washed laundry--usually his thing. Pretty exciting, huh? Well, not really, but next weekend we are going up the the family cabin on Payette lake, so I'm good.

My brother-in-law, Scotty, was eight-years-old (and shorter than me) when I met him. Now he's a 20-year-old Marine headed to Iraq. We went to Portland to say goodbye.

Jordan's teacher's son is also in Iraq, so the class asked Jordan to take in a picture of Scotty to put on a bulletin board for prayer. When my four-year-old Lauren said, "I don't want Uncle Scotty to die," Jordan responded, "He's not going to because we are praying for him. Duh."