That's one for the Quotebook!

Kids are true stand up comedians. Come to our house for a free show anytime! Their material is endless. One of Camlon's greatest ideas was to begin a family quote book two years ago. We keep it stashed away in a kitchen drawer and when a magical comment or conversation occurs, we look at each other and shout. "Quotebook!" Or, if a certain somebody is deployed, I would raise my finger and shout to myself!

Usually it is something cute.
Finn: "I don't really like those new crackers you got us."
Mom: "Maybe they'll grow on you."
Finn(panicked): "They will grow on me??!"

Sometimes, they are soooo embarrassing!
From October 14, 2010: At the grocery store. Older lady walks slowly by hunched over her cart. Ally shouts, "That man looks weird!"

Eric is at the age where everything that comes out of his mouth is funny. After a big breakfast, Eric looks uncomfortable. Dad said, "Eric, how are you doing, bud?"
Eric pats his belly and says, "Tight!"

Or, one from yesterday:

Mom: "Finn, your beautiful drawing of Abraham Lincoln kinda looks like Mr. Potato Head."
Finn: "NO! He does not look like tomato man."



Potato Head...........Tomato Man...........yeah, those sound nothing alike!!
Granted I thought it looked like Mr. Potato Head before I realized that what I thought were his arms, were actually his ears. Once I got the perspective right, I realized it was a fantastic portrait!



Sometimes, they truly say the most magical things. After they speak, I look at them in wonder and realize I just learned a lesson.

One day while Camlon was deployed, I had a terrible day with the kids......It was a complete mothering FAIL kind of day. The wicked witch was channeling through me somehow, every little thing was driving me crazy. And with toddlers, if you don't turn off your inner OCD, you will go crazy within the hour. Needless to say, I felt awful about my behavior. After I had tucked every one in and had a moment to reflect, I knew I must go and apologize to Ally.

I sat down on her bed in the dark room and asked her to forgive me. She smiled so calmly and said,
"Mommy, God forgives everybody."



The good, the bad, the funny; they are all recorded. Some we have written down that we won't share with them until they are older!! (Kids would make great stand up comics on HBO ~ they have potty mouth and don't even know it!) But, also, we have the precious words like Ally's above that show how much we will have loved each other over the years.

We've read some of them aloud together a number of times and the kids know some of them now and laugh before we get to the end of a quote!

But, most of them will only be funny to us. Do you have a quote book started for your family?

POST UPDATE: following Liz's brilliant comment, PLEASE leave a family favorite quote of your own!! I'd love to hear them!! Let's make it a giveaway....hmmm....I don't know what the prize is yet, but I'll think of something good! Leave a good one! Winner will be chosen sometime in the near future. I'm on baby time here!! ;)

POST UPDATE #2: The prize will be a copy of Kelle Hampton's book, "Bloom."

Electric Twist

I've had the first three songs on my playlist on repeat for the past couple of days. Birdy has the silkiest voice. Electric Twist just gets me groovin' with Daniel as we dance around the living room.


Today, was destined to be a beach day.... I personally like going at sunset.





We worked out on our new rings. Cam got into this on deployment.





We walked to get Finn from school...





The kids love exploring. Although the same walk every day to and from Finn's school doesn't seem like it would be the best place to explore, it really is. We seem to always find new flowers, spiders, or caterpillars even though we are walking the same path. Today, Ally spotted this grasshopper.





She wasted no time making him jump!





We scrapped our usual pizza and movie night, packed up the kids and drove over the bridge to our favorite spot.












Daniel drinking in the Pacific for the first time.






Ally's shell collection. Our beaches are not the greatest for shells! We've found some great sand dollars, but other than that........you get this! Still, this is a fantastic find for Ally.





Check out the sand up his nose.




This seagull really wanted my Tokyo dirty rice, but he still kept a respectable distance. Very proper Coronado etiquette I'd say.





Cam checking the tides. Smartphones are so cool.




This week, Emily (a friend from AHS) and I discussed the pros and cons of living in Iowa. I miss it a lot and know it was a great place to grow up. She agrees, but wishes the coast was a bit closer!

Here's your virtual evening at the beach, Em!

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After almost a year, I got another chance for a random clicks of kindness! The seagulls attacked the kids dinner as I was snapping away. I caught Cam in the back of this picture running to their rescue!

Week #3

Cam left my side this morning at 3:45am....Daniel whimpered next to me. This is, of course, not his usual time to leave for work, but with special operations going on at the base this week, he has to leave early. Today he has the first watch and couldn't be late.

Yesterday afternoon I asked him, "Babe, why don't you just stay on the ship tonight to avoid the issues of getting on base tomorrow morning?"

He said, "Because I would miss this." And he whipped out his camera.....


















This week, Camlon got promoted to Lieutenant JG:




These pictures are from Cam's phone, his XO and Captain pinning him.






But......at home......Ally won the battle!



Did I already mention it is wonderful to have this guy home!? *winks*

Courage is......

My husband.


Two kinds of courage:
1. Physical courage - the ability to face physical pain, hardship, death or threat of death.
2. Moral courage - the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.

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Camlon takes full responsibility for himself, me and our children.

He loves us, protects us, serves us, and teaches us as the spiritual leader and guide of our home.





Daniel's first smiles were all for Cam! (all videos can be watched w/o stopping the music)




He is faithful to me, he loves and honors me, and he is willing to lay down his life for me, just as Christ did for the church. There are countless ways he has proven himself faithful. In a work environment where certain immoralities are not only accepted, they are expected(!!!), he goes out of his way to fight that culture. I've never felt so loved, honored or cherished, even after 7 years of marriage and 4 kids and (counting fingers) how many moves???




Right after our wedding ceremony, where I pledged to love, honor and obey my husband, a friend of mine passed me a handwritten note. It stated that she was very happy for me, but she could not with good conscience see me enter this marriage in such a traditional role without saying something. I've kept the note as a reminder of what so many people think when they hear the word obey. Or submission. I recognize the fear she had as we both had come from families where the husband/dad had left.

We've had our moments, but I gladly and lovingly submit to this man. I do not submit to any other man or to men in general. I believe women are quite capable in and of themselves. But, it truly is a joy to me to let this man lead me and our family. I practically weep with joy that he is willing to courageously take that responsibility.

He blesses our children tremendously. Just these past two weeks, they have come alive spiritually again. Finn is excited to be a "light" at his school. Camlon teaches them to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to respect their peers and teachers.




















He models how to honor authority and to live responsibly. I remember when we were dating, I saw a definition he had posted on his desk. It was one of many. It said,

Temperance - A virtue defined by control over excess.

He confronts what is wrong, pursues justice and loves mercy.

He prays for others and tries to always treat them with respect, kindness and compassion. His deployment was a very stressful time. He had difficult days and times of frustration with other shipmates. However, he sent home many emails, asking for prayer for this or that sailor who had come to him in moments of need. Also daily, he shared his thoughts and prayers for us and his family during his night watches. We were always on his mind.

He works very diligently to provide for this growing family. I can't believe how much food we go through each week. And our oldest is only six years old!

As Officer of the Deck












He forgives those that have wronged him and tries to reconcile with those he has wronged, admitting mistakes and moving forward.

He seeks God's will.

He does courageously work with the strength given to him by God to fulfill these virtues or resolutions for the rest of his life and for God's glory.

So grateful to have you home, Honey!


The above virtues/resolutions were adopted from the movie, "Courageous."


Here's a new toy for the family:



Camlon is excited to post about his last seven months. He has many photos and videos. I can not wait! I've tried to hold back from posting some of the ship pictures so Cam can use them in his post, but I have to post this one video that Cam's dad took during the tiger cruise. I don't personally know this sailor, but I appreciate his joy and smile. The deployment is hard and stressful for all on board at times. It is nice to see people dealing with stressful situations like this. He could also have been this happy b/c they were ALMOST HOME!!! It's kind of a fun thought to think that a multimillion dollar warship is being steered by this guy!


Until next time!

I'm Coming Home

So.......I wanted to title this post Major Homecoming Fail, but I thought that would over shadow the AMAZING reality that, despite major shortcomings on my end on the special day, we were reunited with our amazing husband and daddy! :) LOVE YOU BABE!

As I got out of the shower on "the day," Cam sent a text saying his ship was coming in the channel already, meaning I had 1 hour to get to the pier! That was not good because there was going to be a lot of traffic. I managed to get the kids in the car in 15 minutes. I did not have the time to make myself beautiful. My friend who was going to meet me was at an appointment and would be a little late. I told her Cam was pulling in already. She said in her sweet southern accent,
"Ok Rachel......don't be reckless, but drive fast!"



Both Cam and I couldn't wait for the moment to come!





Nice picture Grandpa Tiger! Congratulations, Camlon, on earning your SWO pin!






One wrong turn and I was stuck in the slow lane.. I saw his ship pull in from outside the base! Boo!






As I crept forward in my lane, I was practically crawling out of my skin!



So..... believe me, taking pictures was the last thing on my mind!!! Just get me on that pier!!


We did miss him seeing us on the pier while he pulled in, something Cam had been looking forward to for a long time!! But, we did make it for this.....

Eric just wanted to be in Cam's arms! You can see it in his face and Cam saw this and picked him right up! (the related videos are some from the tiger cruise. We will post more about that soon!)




Welcome Home, Camlon!!






More pictures from Hawaii and the tiger cruise soon!

Tolstoy's Riddle

Tolstoy asks this question in the title of his short story, "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" You can read the story online HERE. If you think you know the answer, let me know in the comments. This story is one of the few I remember reading in high school. I remember it because I absolutely loved it.


As we continue to count down the days until Cam's return, an early Spring has emerged in our backyard.






I've never really been one to "wear" my babies. However, with numero 4, I'm a true convert and wished I'd done this sooner! I used to lug my babies around in the convertible carseat until they were almost one year old. I'd perfected the proper carrying technique although, I'm sure my back is permanently curved now!

This bond between mother and child is amazing. My SIL, Shannon, just sent me this Moby wrap and I'm so in love with it! Daniel is always soothed when close to me. I can even breastfeed while wearing him and I have two hands free to help with the other kids when I need to multitask. *Ahem* That is all day long.






After I thought that I had killed our lemon tree, look what has grown again!





The kids often pretend wonderful things out in our yard. It must be one of their favorite places to play. Here is where Cam wishes we had more land. However, our kids are so young..this size yard still suits them just fine.....except when the tetherball hits the master sliding doors or gets tangled in a nearby tree branch every few minutes of Finn's play!





Camlon is coming home to signs of life after a relatively cool winter here. I can't even use the word cold, but I did have to scrape frost off my windshield two times. I believe the locals would consider this an unusually cold winter.




I mean, what would someone from San Diego do in Iowa? If they saw snow for the first time? I used to skate in the morning before school. My poor parents had to drive me before I got my license. One morning, dad and I were coming back from the rink. It was freezing raining out, but since that happens a bit across most of the country during winter, it doesn't always keep you home. Sometimes, you don't realize how bad the storm is until you are in it. Anyway, we made it home from the rink fine. But, after parking the van in our driveway (which is an incline) and shutting the car doors, the van began sliding backwards and went all the way into the street...... After that, we had a feeling school might be cancelled that day. Luckily no one was hurt or coming down our street at the time.



In winter here, you still spot strange insects in your trees. And......you don't necessarily need a coat after 10am.





I've needed to take it easy for awhile after this last birth. On this day, Finn decided he was going to make a picnic lunch for everyone. He was so proud to do this all by himself.













Look what I caught on film....






Grandma's visit: I've never had 10 days go by SO FAST! Thanks so much for coming!






I've NEVER, EVER spent so much on groceries. My mom stocked me up as a gift before she left! We tried to think through some of Cam's favorite things!




Ok, I've posted about this game before. BUT, really, if you have toddlers, it is the best board game. Eric always wants to get out games. I shudder every time he mentions the game closet. He's successfully broken key pieces of the mouse trap game, thrown all the Hi-Ho-Cheerio cherries around a room like confetti, and forget about ever having all the pieces and money and cards to play Sherk Operation. Somehow, he convinced Finn to get out Camlon's really nice wooden chest board and I'm crossing my fingers that we have all the pieces. SPLAT is the answer to all those problems!






My mom was able to be with us for Valentine's this year. She helped me make it really special for my kids. So did Aunt Linda, MomMom and Grandpa Eric and Tatyana. Thanks guys!





the night before....










I've never let them eat so much junk in one day.





He still does his wink!





I don't know why...........I just love these pictures.






And I love these, but who wouldn't! Daniel is snuggled with someone every day, all day long!




Lucky number 4!





So why did I post Tolstoy's riddle today. I don't really know. I've just been thinking through a lot of things lately. I'm amazed at how much our ways change as we grow. Points of view that used to be gospel give way in the face of new challenges that require a different approach. Especially when it comes to the kids. We have certain values that we want to instill in each child...but the way they learn and internalize these is completely different. Respecting these differences is foundational to keeping our bond strong with each one of them!


Small things can really get in the way of enjoying the day: money worries, fighting kids, strained relationships with friends or family, health issues, etc. Here's to finding contentment in the day I have today. I think of Job 1:21 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."


So, how much land does a man need? Tolstoy's answer is in his final sentence. But, the gold you'll glean is from the rest of the story. Hope you have time to read it soon!