Almost 9 and just 15

So what is it is like to have an almost 9 year old named Kaj.  Well he is very opinionated.  He likes to do hard work (for a short period of time).  He can now lift the hay bales but can't walk anywhere with them.  He has mowed all of Auntie Doris' yard once, part of Grandpa Jim's yard, and weed whipped a few places.  He sells eggs to the neighbors for his spending money.  He also talked to the neighbors to see if he could build a club house on their property ("the most magical place for a club house").  He drew a map and everything and they were very happy to let him do that.  He has ventured out of the house even when no one is home so he isn't sitting in front of a screen all day.  He still has a very tender heart.  He also got good at being able to take care of his chores even if Sissy was at work.  He got very tired of putting away clean dishes.  Kaj likes to hang with one kid at a time mostly and he likes to have time to himself.  He goes to bed when the last person in the house goes to bed (about 10) and gets up about 8:30.  The start of school is going to be a tough change.  He has finally gotten to hangout with Russell at the end of the summer here.  Otherwise the biggest thing is that he is not happy when Sissy isn't home and chews her out for never being home.  She does the same to him!  Their relationship is really special and I hope that it continues for life.

Brandi the just turned 15 year old.  She is not into little kids unless it is Kaj.  She has worked really hard this summer at her first job at DQ and her second job delivering food and doing dishes at the brewery.  She has saved up almost $2000 which she wants to use to buy a truck.  Preferably a Chevy pick up short box from the late 70s early 80s.  She had her first boyfriend, broke up with her first boyfriend and has a lot of responsibility put on her shoulders being the child of divorce.  She is very lucky to have her Auntie Karli and we are lucky that she really likes her Auntie Karli.  She is tough.  She has those hormones that she will be fine but then will completely lose it for 5 minutes and then be fine again.  Acupuncture and massage are the ticket for her before she starts the school year so we can send her off as balanced as possible.  She will start driver's ed this fall and plans on working at DQ here and in Hermantown.  She has spend a lot of time home this summer when she isn't working.  She has gotten to hang out with some friends and wanted to stay here for the school year but unfortunately the whole having to convince her Mom stopped her from pursuing that.  When she yells she sounds just like her Mom.  Here is one of the great mysteries of Brandi she is always cleaning her room.  I mean constantly.  She is never in it long enough to make a mess but it must be when she gets ready in the morning she throws all of her stuff on the floor so she will clean it at night again.  I have no idea.

I have to say that they are two  of my favorite people in the world and I am so glad they are part of my family.  I hope that we continue to get to spend time together as a family.  What I love is that we don't even have to be doing something special for it to be special.  We just like doing everything together.  Please God may that not change!