A day with my girls in Portland

Yesterday I took my mom and little sister Autumn to Portland to check out IKEA. My mom had yet to go and I was in need of some things to complete my living room so it doesn't look like an apartment any more! On the way there we had to stop at the Air Base to drop some stuff off for Andrew at the fire station. I had the cutest conversation with Autumn in the car on the way there and while on base. (As an aside to Autumn all military personnel are "Army guys" no matter the branch, Andrew likes to remind her he is Air Force and she just looks at him like he is crazy.)

Autumn: Why do Army guys have guns?

Me: To protect people..

Autumn: Oh, that's right, they use them to get the bad guys. Where do they keep them when they come home?

Me: They keep them locked up so no one can use them who isn't supposed to.

Autumn: Oh yeah, like those cowboy movies dad watches! (After we drive past security at the gate...) Which of these houses do the Army guys get their clothes from?

Me: These aren't houses they are just office buildings. They get their uniforms when they go through training and then when they get assigned to their job. Then they take them home. Andrew keeps all of his uniforms at home.

Autumn: He does? I hope someday when I am married my husband works here and has his clothes at home.

(How cute is that? We are going to have some serious issues with this one if she is already noticing men in uniform and she hasn't even turned 5 yet!)

Autumn: (Upon seeing a retired fighter jet in a field) Is that one of the Army planes?

Me: Yes, but they don't fly that one any more, it is more just like decoration.

Autumn: Oh, I see. The silver ones are for decoration and they only fly ones that are the brown and green colors.

Me: Yeah, sure. But they do fly silver ones too.

At this point we made it to the station and Andrew showed Autumn around the station and she got to see some of the trucks that were in the bay and she got her very own fireman hat and some pins to wear. She announced later that now she really was a "fire truck girl."

My mom and I had a blast wandering around IKEA for an hour while Autumn played in their "Smaland" and I found my coffee table, a rug, and some other odds and ends. If I had the time or energy I could have found and spent a lot more, so I am sure Andrew is glad we stopped when we did:) Sorry dad, I have created an IKEA fan out of mom and I am sure she will be returning soon!