It is eerily quiet around here.

My boys have gone to camp. I miss them terribly. Having said that first, I must say it has been very quiet around here. I haven't heard " I hate you" "stupid idiot" or any of the other lovely phrases older brothers say to their younger sisters just to make them mad. There has been little if any fighting, screaming and toy throwing. The girls and I have had a very nice time together. We needed this time. We still miss the boys . Even though they fight and pretend not to like each other (their biggest insult to each other is "you can't come to my birthday party"), I know deep down they really care about each other. Today when we were at the store, the girls made sure we bought presents for the boys for when they come home. If the girls go out with their grandmother, the boys complain that they can't play their games because they don't have enough people. The theory of " I can make fun of my sister all I want but someone outside the family better never do anything to hurt her" definitely applies to our house. They make fun of the girls, but any time they think their sisters have been wronged by an outside party, they get mad. I hope this feeling continues when they get older, well at least the second part. They will be very well protected teenage girls. In theory anyway.

Why do boys/men feel the need to protect? I think it is one of those traits God gives them. I have had the role of protector this week. My husband went to camp also. I must say I am much more comfortable being the protected. I haven't been able to sleep very well. My husband gets frustrated because when he is home I fall asleep sometimes before the kids. I think he believes it is because I think he is boring or I don't want to spend time with him. After this week I am pretty sure it is because I just feel safe. When the protector is home, all is well.

We were discussing with friends the other day that using a Lord of the Rings character analogy we all know more Sams than Aragorns. We all know people who are dependable and supportive, who will stick by you through it all. We all need these people in our lives. I even told these friends that I thought my husband was like Sam. He said he wished he were more like Aragorn. I think a lot of people probably wish they were more like Aragorn, not realizing how much they really are like him. This week has sort of changed my mind on some things. I think in order to be a dad and a husband you are like Aragorn. You must have a sense of adventure to take on these roles. You never know what might happen next. You must be prepared for anything. You must be a leader. You must be willing to fight for what you believe in, especially if you believe in your family. But most important of all, you must be the protector. Don't you think Frodo and Sam felt safer on their journey when Aragorn was there? I think there is more of Aragorn in some people than we give them credit for. I don't know, maybe I missed the point of these characters. Maybe I am just rambling because I haven't slept in a week. All I do know is that, as annoying as he may be, I will be glad when the king in our house comes back, the little princes too. So, to all of the Aragorns disguised as Sams that I know, thanks for taking such good care of your kingdoms.

To quote Dash from The Incredibles," I love this family."