Reason #1 I joined the military: Travel!
One of the first times I contemplated the military scholarship for med school was during my first year at BYU. I took a "premed prep" class that basically introduced various aspects of medicine and how to go about preparing for medical school. It was a 7 AM class and I honestly slept through most lectures. They had all kinds of specialists come tell us about their careers. One morning they invited a doctor who spent 20+ years in the military. He had pictures from all over the world, not just traveling but actually practicing medicine! The military offers all kinds of opportunities to practice international medicine and I can't wait to see more of the country and hopefully other countries as well.

The other day Ike would not be consoled. He was trying desperately to get something in the kitchen and Leisy and I had no idea what he wanted. Leisy insists I'm better at translating Ike's jibber-jabber, but together we couldn't make sense of his words. His words quickly melted into frustrated screaming and tears so I picked him up and had him show me what he was after. He opened the freezer and rummaged in the crowded top shelf until he found one of these:I had no idea we even had any of these left - they were from last summer. When I opened it the thing was covered in ice frost and looked disgusting, but he started laughing through tears and declared "popsicle - Yay!" which sounded NOTHING like "popsicle".

The red, white, and blue reminded me about posting the reasons I joined the military. Maybe my desire to serve the country started from a young age when my parents bought me this:
Does anybody else remember this book and tape?!? I thought of this the other day and how much I loved listening to it. I wish I still had it so I could start indoctrinating Zeb and Ike! I really have tried to find some of these songs online but haven't had much success. Anybody out there have access to these songs?

My little helpers

These boys want to help me do everything - especially when I make cookies. They are so interested in what I'm doing from the second I walk in the door. They are so much fun right now. They can be so demanding and so frustrating at times but they really are the best little kids in the world. They are also the best of friends. Tonight Zeb said our family prayer and Ike knelt next to him with his arms folded and eyes squeezed shut and repeated everything that Zeb said - it was adorable. I love these little cookie monsters.