So - I get that there are people who use Q-tips and
people who don't.  Personally, I love cleaning my ears with Q-tips.  I don't know why, I just do.  I don't really think that you're supposed to use them to clean the inside of your ears, but for some reason, it feels so good.
    My graduate work was done in Speech Language Pathology.  In this field, you have to take Audiology courses as well.  Why do I mention this?  Because there was one Audiology professor who would go crazy at the thought of putting a Q-tip in your ear.  He even told us about a man who was cleaning his ear while standing in his bathroom when his wife came flying in and slammed the door right into his elbow...you can imagine the rest.  It makes me cringe to this day. 
    Despite the risk of injury or pushing wax into my ear, I just love using them...that is until now.  When I use Q-tips, they're dry...when Adam uses them, he wets them down.  Over the past few days, the Q-tips in our bathroom have all been wet.  I wondered why Adam was doing this - but figured he had some reason.  It wasn't until he asked ME why the Q-tips were wet that we both looked at each other...the kids.  
     When we asked them all why they were putting the Q-tips in the sink, they innocently shrugged their shoulders.  The one thing we've learned about having children, is that sometimes it's best not to ask a specific question.  What we should have asked was a more general, "What are you guys doing with the Q-tips?" type of question instead. 
       It wasn't until a few days later that I watched as our three year old little girl went into our bathroom and climbed up to the sink.  She pulled the Q-tips out and one by one, stuck each of them up her nose.  WHY would she do this?  Who knows.  I began screaming and totally freaked out telling her how she couldn't do that and how dangerous it was...not to mention...gross.
    Yes, it's going to be a long time before I'll be able to use a Q-tip again.  Come to think of it, please excuse me while I go scrub my head.

    My parents left for vacation back in October and asked us to keep their dog, Abby.  It was a great chance for us to see what it would be like to have a family dog.
    Everyone in our house seemed to enjoy it (minus the cat) but our five year old in particular grew to be the most attached.  Preston would run outside and play with "his dog" and then bring Abby back in for her snack.  He would rest his head on her when he watched TV and then take her back out to play again. 
    Early yesterday morning, I heard Preston "talking" to Abby downstairs so I went to see what was going on.  As I peeked over the top of the stairs, there they were, together at the bottom.  I swear it looked like Abby was listening to every word he said.  It was such an image of how wonderful and pure the bond between a boy and his dog can be.  
     Mom and Dad came back from their trip and we're so glad they're finally home.  They had to take Abby home with them today and Preston has been so sad without her.  He keeps asking when we'll get to keep her again.  The house truly does feel different with her gone.      
    It makes us realize how much a family dog can add to  warm a home.  They bring happiness to the people who love them...and joy to the heart of a child.