Just a Spoonful of Sugar

Do you ever have those moments where you finally "get it"? Well, the other day, I was listening to Mary Poppins, which Mylie LOVES, as I cleaned the kitchen. I also loved this show as a kid, but had no idea what the spoonful of sugar thing was all about. I figured it was really about giving them their medicine more easily. She's the babysitter, right? She probably has to do that.

This time, however, I got it. It says, "In every task that's to be done, there is an element of fun." I'm not sure I completely agree with that. There are many tasks that, as a mother, I find little or NO fun in. However, there are some "spoonfuls of sugar" that I use to "help the medicine go down." One is Oprah. Although I don't get to do this very often, if I'm home at 4pm-5pm, I will listen to Oprah while I prepare dinner or dust, or even clean bathrooms--I just turn it up a little louder. But still, I need some more ideas. Do you have any magic "spoonsful of sugar" that help the medicine of being a maid go down a little more smoothly? I love being a mom--hate being a maid. But maybe I'm just missing something? Please share!!

Chocolate Cake and Kindergarten

Like millions of other moms out there, my little boy started school today. I didn't cry. Not today, anyway. But I can't believe all the different emotions I have felt recently as this day has approached all too quickly. As I tried to sort through it all today (in between wondering constantly what Connor is doing RIGHT NOW), I came up with an analogy.

Have you ever had that cake that started out as a chocolate cake, but then somebody poked all over the top with a toothpick and filled it up with caramel, cream, fudge sauce, butterscotch, or some other liquid? It still tastes like a chocolate cake, but not truly. Well, overall, I'm excited about Connor going to kindergarten. He's excited to go, and there are many reasons that I'm excited for this step as well. I can't wait to see the world change for him as he learns to read. I'm excited for him to learn how school works. I can't wait to hear about recess, music, lunch, centers, and PE. I'm also excited about only managing two kids each day instead of three. And that's where the "excited cake" starts to change.

As I think through all the reasons I'm excited, suddenly my excitement starts being infiltrated with an assorment of negative emotions! First of all, there's the guilt I have for being excited. Shouldn't I be crying my eyes out, not wanting my baby to leave me? Then there's the concern--concern about how he might be treated by others, and the type of friends he will choose. I feel worried about what he's going to see and hear out there in the "real world" he's entering. There's regret too. Regret over time misspent or missed opportunities. Inadequacy is there as well. Have I done a good enough job with him? Is he ready for this? Only time will tell.

But even though it's been bombarded with this plethora of emotions, the excitement is still there. It just tastes a little different that the excitement I've always known--a little more interesting, perhaps even richer. And even though it's new and different, tonight, as I listened to Connor tell me the details of his first day, I learned that I like it. I think I want another piece.

Surprise! Indy Visit

Last Thursday, my sister, Tami, and I headed out with our babies to surprise my other sister, Violet, who has been in Indianapolis all summer. Her husband was on board and ready to blindfold her and bring her to the airport to meet us. Our drive to Denver--yes, Denver! (the flight was much cheaper from there)--was fun as we just visited and also drove through Laramie, reminiscing about our fun college days there. We made it to the airport and out to shuttle parking. Then, just as we were unloading our stuff AND BABIES, it started POURING rain! It was so windy and coming down so hard that we were absolutely drenched in no time, and so were the babies, strollers, carseats, and our bags. Luckily, somebody saw us and ran out of the little bus stop shelter to help us. What a saint! We were able to get the babies changed in the airport, but Tami and I were cold the rest of the night as we continued to wear our wet clothing. It was crazy at check-in and security, but eventually, we made it through and even had a little time to grab a bite to eat before we caught our flight. Perfect timing, right? Not quite. As we were eating, we heard the announcement that our flight was delayed by 45 minutes. No big deal. I called Austin, Vi's husband, to let him know that we'd be getting there a little after midnight now, instead of 11:20. We pushed the babies around in their strollers and checked out the terminal, then came back to find that the flight was delayed even further! And then even further! Anyway, we didn't leave the airport until about 40 minutes AFTER we should have been in Indianapolis! Pretty frustrating. So, I called Austin again, and he decided he would have to tell her. He didn't want to scare her by blindfolding her and throwing her into the car at 2am!!! Once we got to their apartment, Mariah decided she didn't want to go to sleep, which was baffling since she didn't sleep a single minute on the flight. Finally, she gave it up at 4:45am. But then she was up bright and early at 7:30. A great start to our vacation, right?

After the rough start, everything else went VERY well, and we had such a fun visit. We slept in every day (after the first one, and excluding the last one, when we had to wake up at 3:30am to go to the airport), visited a TON, went running at low elevation on a beautiful trail lined with trees, and enjoyed only managing one child for 5 days. And that would be vacation enough for me, but there was MORE!! We went sightseeing, of course. Here are the pics:

This War Memorial statue was dedicated to the soldiers from Indiana who fought in various wars and was really cool, located right downtown.

We visited Conseco Fieldhouse, where the Pacers. For those of you who know about my Reggie Miller obsession (back in middle and high school--not now!), you'll appreciate this photo.

We also visited Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Colts play. Do I look like a big Colts fan? Well, I'm not really. Just a big fan of their coach, Tony Dungy. I've read his biography, and will read his second book, which I bought there for my husband, Tony, as soon as he's finished with it. But REALLY, the gift was for him!

We were there during the Indiana state fair, so we went and checked it out. It was HUGE, and Vi and I enjoyed a corndog. Haha!

I LOVED the acrobat show at the fair. These "bendable girls," as Mylie calls them, were incredible! Great entertainment!

The three of us haven't spent that much time together in who knows how long! Probably not since we all lived at home. Here we are standing in front of a beautiful fountain next to a canal downtown. We went on a nice, leisurely walk by the canal on Sunday afternoon.

We took advantage of the pool at Violet's apartment complex. The babies loved the water.

Of course, we had to check out the Indianapolis motor speedway and museum. It was really interesting. And no, I don't normally drive with a baby on my lap. Only in a racecar!

I'll end the post with a video that was one of my favorite things there--seeing Mariah's excitement at the pig races at the fair. Of course, you won't enjoy this as much as I do since you're not her mom, but it's stinkin' cute!

Images of July

July is over already. There is so much I wanted to blog about, but so little time at the computer, so here is a somewhat LONG string of photos showing you what's been keeping me away from my blogging.

4th of July festivities, including kids' races

Riding on the Micheli family float in the parade

Running (and winning!) the 5k race

Meeting up with my two best friends from college, Beth and Annie, at the splash park (of course no picture of the three of us--kids only!

Tony and Connor went on a backpack camping trip to Alligator Lake in the Uintas--Connor LOVED his first big hike (3 miles!)

Mylie, Mariah, and I had a girls' day at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden, where Mylie got to be a princess,

AND a rodeo queen, as well as many other things that I didn't take pictures of.

We did come home long enough for a bath here and there. Mariah is LOVING these lately! And she's SO beautiful, I had to post this picture!

A Salt Lake Bees game--our first, but NOT our last! It was a blast!

A visit to the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple open house.

Our Eternal Family

County Fair

Things we also enjoyed this month, but don't have pictures of: cookouts, climbing at the clay hills, a visit from Olivia, a visit to Cokeville, two volleyball camps, my 10-year class reunion, a trip to Bear Lake, LOTS of softball, a local triathlon (I won again! and Tony took 3rd in the men!), watching the Pioneer Day parade, and a trip to Lagoon for Tony's 30th birthday--just the two of us! What a fun month!

Note(s) to Self

In high school and college, I learned that I learn best when I write things down. So I'm going to attempt to LEARN from 4 situations I've encountered in the past 17 hours.

Note to self #1: When you're in McDonald's trying to carry a tray of food and a baby car seat (she was sleeping!), and someone offers you a hand, ask him to carry the tray, not just open the door to the playplace. Maybe you can avoid spilling your milkshake all over the floor while he sits there just holding the door open for you. You can also avoid the awful guilt you feel when you tell the busy workers that there is a huge mess for them to clean up. Being a mom, you know that there just isn't time in the schedule for unscheduled messes like this!

Note to self #2: When shopping for baby food in Walmart, don't get in a hurry with glass jars. If you slow down a little, you can avoid breaking one and having the guilty feeling (see note to self #1) all over again.

Note to self #3: When you're late getting somewhere (for example, picking up kids from swim lessons), don't speed. Getting pulled over and issued a big fat ticket will not get you there any quicker or ease your conscience about being a bad mom--the kind that is late picking her kids up from swim lessons. You may also avoid a one minute cry, a call to your mother-in-law asking her to call the swimming pool and inform them that you'll be late, and feeling stupid when your 5-year-old asks, "Why didn't you read the speed limit sign?"

Note to self #4: When gassing up the van, when it's full, IT'S FULL! Don't try to put more in. This way, you can avoid splashing gas all over yourself and having your 5-year-old say, "Mom, you stink!"

I'm ready to take a break from learning for a day or two, I think.

Micheli for Governor

My father-in-law, Ron Micheli, is running for governor of Wyoming in 2010. Obviously that is coming quickly, and lots of work has already been done on the campaign. This is very exciting, and will be a major part of all our lives for the next year and a half (and at least 4 years after that, we hope)! I think he will make an excellent governor, as I agree with his politics and KNOW that he has moral integrity. He will do the right thing all the time, and our state needs a leader like Ron!

The latest excitement on the campaign trail is our new website. Check it out at http://www.micheliforgovernor.com/ There you can learn more about Ron, read about his views, sign up to volunteer, and donate money to help with the campaign. Also, if you're a UW football fan, with every $25 you donate, your name will go in a drawing for 2 tickets to the UW/Texas football game this fall!

This is a huge undertaking, and your support will be greatly appreciated! We all know how important it is to have good leaders in all levels of government. Supporting Ron Micheli for governor is a way you can help achieve that.

Growing up WAY too fast!

Mariah is already 7 months old. CRAZY! There are both good things and bad things about this stage, like any stage, I suppose. The pluses: She can entertain herself quite well with toys, she is VERY responsive to people, there is a lot less messy liquid coming out of both ends of her (less scrubbing for me), she is getting into a good eating schedule which includes a bottle (!), and her sleep is pretty predictable. The downsides: She is scooting everywhere and getting into everything, she is a little whinier with the beginning stages of the weaning process, and she KNOWS what she wants now. One thing is for sure, though: She is stinkin' cute! I tried in my very amatuer way today to capture some of that cuteness. Here are the pics. I can't decide which one is my favorite. A little input, please?