Photo credit: atomicShed / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

I read an article yesterday about a second grader who was in trouble at school because his birthday cupcakes were decorated with little green army men. Shame on him for wanting an army-man-themed birthday party instead of Angry Birds or Spongebob. Shame on his evil parents for supporting and celebrating guns and violence. 

Can you taste my sarcasm?

Since we moved into our home almost twelve years ago, little green army men have graced the windowsill of our kids’ bathroom. Although Tate and Kelsey have moved away to college and beyond, and the bathroom isn’t often visited, the army men still watch over our home. Guarding my memories, they make me smile, reminding me of an earlier time—a time not that long ago when we didn’t take our cupcakes so seriously.

A time not that long ago when the bathroom wasn’t so clean.