Wyoming Trip

I love Wyoming in the summertime. We took a 10 day trip up there to go to the fair in Afton, the Box Y family reunion, Teton Village, and Yellowstone. I wasn't ready to come home.

The Combo Package

Today I gave someone the combo package. I have never done this in my entire life, that I can recall, nor with such strong emotion behind it. On the road. From the driver's seat of my car. Usually, I make excuses for people on the road like "oh they're going slow because they're 85 years old" or "they cut me off because they have something important to get to." But today this driver was trying to impress his buddies, show off, and play chicken or something and it. pissed. me. off. Obey the rules like everyone else buddy!

So, I gave him the combo package. This came to me so effortlessly that it seems I have been observing others do this exact maneuver and it was just waiting inside of me for the appropriate moment when I would bare my teeth, bristle my fur, and attack with it. And yes, my children were in the car with me.

The combo package consists of: swear words (bad ones, really bad ones + name calling- both 'no-nos' in the mommy book) + honking (long and drawn out to get their attention on you in their rearview mirror) + 'the finger' (as close to the windshield as you can get it so they can really see what you are intentionally gesturing). I was so proud of myself.

Summer Bucket List

• Parades- we saw one and were in one in Afton
• Afton Town Hall of Fame- Danny spoke for his grandpa's induction
• Days of 47 Parade Float Preview
• Go to a Bees baseball game
• Seven Peaks
• Rodeo
• Fireworks (which Shayne actually was scared of. She thought it was going to burn her.)
• Evergreen Pool
• Heber Valley Railroad ride
• Hiking (Doughnut Falls)
• Wyoming fun- drive in, Granny Frome's house, Granny & Grandpa's
• Swim Lessons for the kids
• Running with friends in the morning
• Tennis clinic for me
• Alpine slide/ Snowbird Tram
• Box Y Week
• Teton Village- tram & pool
• Yellowstone
• Summer out door concert (Jason Aldean)
• Gardening- had some great strawberries and herbs so far, hoping for some good tomatoes, zucchini, and pumpkins
• Justesen Reunion in Vernal- so fun to see my cousins
• My sister's yearly visit for a week

Most of these we have done or are planning to do in the next month. Summer is hot, but it sure is fun. 

The Rant.

This is a rant. No pictures, just a rant. I have realized that I can't enjoy a meal anymore. This is a sad new truth to my life. And I realized it today as I was eating lunch at Rumbi (not the most delicious meal ever, but still a meal I didn't have to cook) with my 2-year-old. Maybe it was the lack of adult conversation that allowed my mind to go into deep, dark thoughts.

I know too much. I've seen too much. I've read too much. As I looked at my noodle bowl, all I could see was the not-free-range-chickens in the cut up cream colored cubes that had ended their life cycle of laying quality eggs and now ended up on my plate. Then I saw the noodles, oh the noodles. Made from enriched, bleached, white flour as I calculated the grams of carbs I was consuming. And let's not forget the sauce. Streaming in a thick rivulet from the condiment cup into my bowl, full of high fructose corn syrup.

It's over. I can't enjoy a refined carbohydrate, sugar laden, non organic, processed meal again, can I?

Funny Things

Today, Shayne said a couple of funny things to me:
1. "Mom, when I was born did it hurt as much as: your brains coming out of your ears? pulling your eyeballs out? a dinosaur biting your head? a thing hitting you in the forehead?"

My answer to all of these was: worse, my dear. Hope she keeps that in her memory bank for later in life.

2. "I don't want you to get burned and die cause then we'd just have a daddy to take care of another baby."

I'm pretty sure that daddy won't be raising another baby if I have already burned up and died. I love the innocent logic of a 4-year-old.

Here is a conversation I had with Brooklyn tonight when she didn't want her dad to put her to bed:
Me: You need to be nice to daddy because if we're not nice to him then he might go to another house and find someone else to be his kid.
B: I want daddy to go to another house and have another kid.

Well, that didn't work. Sorry, honey.

Another anecdote of her eternal mother-love is that lately when she gets mad about something her comeback is "Then I won't be nice to Shaney (or daddy or Ally. Or sometimes all three)." The funny thing is she says this to me when she's actually upset with ME....... and she NEVER says I won't be nice to you (me). Even when Danny questions her "Are you gonna be nice to mommy?" The answer is always 'yes.' Although sometimes a bit exasperating, I'll enjoy the complete and utter devotion while I can get it!

A Reckoning. . . .

Lately Brooklyn goes ballistic if she thinks Danny is going to put her to bed instead of her beloved mother. So he's started telling her the following:

"One day, little girl, there will be a reckoning. You are going to want something from me one day and I will remember this."

Hahaha!

Sweet Words

How this conversation just happened with my just-2-year old, I don't know, but it did. I'm tucking her in at night and

I say: I love you, I love you.
B: Do you love me mom?
Me: I do love you.
B: I love you. You're a good mom.
Me: What? (Did I just hear that? And I take her binkie out for clarification.)
B: You're a good mom.

Sweet words to me after I've been cleaning up throw up all afternoon. She's got a stomach bug today-- hoping for just a 24 hour one--please. It's hard when they don't understand that if I give you milk, juice,  cereal, or chicken nuggets as you have been requesting, they will be out in a very unpleasant manner within the hour. What a very sweet girl I have.

One day.....

One day....
My house will be decorated how it is in my mind.
I won't have baskets of laundry hanging around everywhere.
I will play on a tennis league every week.
I'll get to take piano lessons again.
I'll remember my friend's birthdays.
I'll reply to emails every morning when I'm alert and at my wittiest, instead of when I'm half asleep on the couch at night.
I'll organize and label things better.
I'll read more of the classics, prominent biographies, and my scriptures without falling asleep.
I'll return phone calls.

And I know everyone tells me just to enjoy this space in my life.... but it's hard not to look to the future when I may have more free time for myself.

One day......
I will miss a toddler falling asleep in my arms while I rock her ("Mommy, rock you me" is her request).
Kisses from my girls.
My row of little ducklings following me around the store/ house.
Chubby little hands seeking mine.