Things I know...

~I know that currently I am wishing I was still on vacation.  Real life isn't as fun!!!  Who invented the idea of jobs, a 5 day work week, school and parental responsibilities that go beyond applying sunscreen and handing out food.  I want to sit on my butt, get a tan and try to ignore my kids splashing around in the pool.  I don't want my Trav or I to have to work anymore so I'm focusing on how we can become independently wealthy or live a simple life on barely anything, yet still take vacations.

~I know that I want new work clothes and I have to internet shop for them.  I am horrible at internet shopping right now and have no idea where the rest of the world buys their clothes from.  I search around different stores online and can not find anything.  Where are people buying all these cute clothes I see them wearing?  How does anyone who obsessively pins outfits on pinterest actually find the clothes they keep pinning. Shopping is supposed to be fun, not a pain in the butt.

They make this look so easy to acquire and throw together.

~I know that my 14th wedding anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks.  I love that man of mine without a doubt.  He was the best decision I ever made.  I also know that many, many people including some in my family doubted our abilities to make it in the big ole' real world.  I am aware that there were discussions behind our backs years ago about our age, how long we would last, would I survive the military life and would my Trav turn out to be a total flop.  I am happy to say I know we have proven them all wrong.  I knew there were skeptics but what I knew even more was that Travis was and is a good man and that is all I needed then and need now. 

~I know that my dad bought my son the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition from the grocery store while we were in Maui.  The last few nights that I have gone upstairs to say goodnight he is in bed reading/staring at the magazine.  He tells me he is reading the articles but then tells me that Kate Upton is his newest "Women Crush Wednesday."  Its only Sunday....

~I know that I am mentally gearing up for our last summer in Sitka and the "shopping list" that will follow at the end of summer.  We will definitely analyze, review, stress over and eventually submit a list of, fingers crossed decent options for our next move.  This years list will likely have the biggest impact as of yet on our family now that the kids are getting older and Travi will be entering high school at our next unit.  Not to mention Trav will only have 5 years left after we are tour complete here and we would love to settled down somewhere and stay a while.  

~I know that my son is about to turn 12 years old and thinks he has the knowledge and life skills of a 35 year old.  He is a professional when it comes to defending himself and currently his work ethic is in the toilet.  Apparently doing the bare minimum to get by is the hottest trend.  I'm about to put our computer and all other electronics in the driveway and run them over.  If I have to hear another word about whatever apps. are entertaining him, I'm going to scream.   I love that kid with every fiber of my being but it is very frustrating to be staring into his eyes, giving him a lecture on responsibility and know that in his mind he thinks I'm a total idiot.  Just a note to all you parents of small, adorable babies and toddlers....the older they get the dumber you get!!  At least that's what your kids will be thinking.  

~I know that this past week was Opening Day for MLB.  The World Series Champs are back at it and Trav and I are looking forward to seeing the Soxs on the field.  

~I know that even though I have griped lately about being in Sitka, this place is a blessing and an opportunity.  While Taylor caught up on her social life after vacation, me and my boys headed down to the local marina where Herring were spawning.  Herring is a bait fish that comes to Sitka Sound for only a couple of weeks each spring.  It is used to troll for King Salmon and catch Halibut.  Its expensive to purchase so to have the opportunity to catch it on our own is wonderful.  We spent about an hour on the rocks with dip nets and rigs catching them.  We then process them into bags and freeze them for use as needed.  Now, a bit of local history.  The Tlinqit and Haida tribes here in Southeast Alaska have used the Herring for subsistence for centuries.  They lay spruce bows into the ocean and allow the Herring eggs to stick to the bows.  They then dry the eggs to eat.  All over the rocks and shorelines of the sound these eggs can be found.  Eventually they will settle into the oceans bottom and hatch for future generations of Herring.  The life cycle in Alaska is unbelievable.  

Herring Eggs on the beach after the spawn

~I know that the older I get the more I see people.  Not as in seeing how they look but seeing who a person is on the inside.  I am getting better at judging character and getting better at deciding who I really want to invest my time in.  There really is no sense in trying to be casually friendly or fake to someone who I see as shallow, exclusive and pompous.  If your a waste of my time then you are just that...a waste of time.  I don't have the luxury right now of giving quality time to someone who does not deserve it.  Our lifestyle requires me to say "goodbye" ALOT.  I realize more and more that time truly flies and its gone in the blink of an eye.  I am choosing to invest my time wisely with those who show that they have the same character standards that I hold myself to.   That's not to say that I can't be casually friendly to anyone, I absolutely can and will.   What I'm saying is...if I can see right through you and I know you a superficial person, well you can stop smiling at me because I'm not giving you the time of day.