At the Convention

For those of you who have never attended a political convention, here's the rundown of what I saw and learned today as a delegate at the Republican County Convention.

Arrive early. The best snacks (ie fresh fruit, breads, and pastries) will be gone within the first hour. I arrived just before 9am and went straight to the registration tables clear at the back, afraid that I might miss out on registering and thus miss the opportunity to cast my votes as a delegate which is why I wanted to be there in the first place. By the time I made it back to the booths at the front, which were handing out the "best snacks," the tables were empty.

Speaking of snacks. There are a LOT of snacks. Mostly candy, but also bottled water, popcorn, apples, brownies, and cookies.

It's okay to bring a baby, but be prepared for difficulties maneuvering through crowded walkways.

Watch for celebrities. I didn't bring my camera, otherwise I might have snagged a photo of myself with SUPERDELL looking quite uncharacteristically serious. I can't wait to see how serious he is about his run for Governor.

Watch for friends. I saw so many people I knew. I spent nearly all of the convention with another stroller-pushing mom/delegate, who happened to have a son in Jade's kindergarten class last year... and her baby is also 9 months old. That was fun!

Some candidates don't even show up. The only real ballots I cast today were for our district's remaining state delegates and for Salt Lake County Mayor. There were two names on the ballot for county mayor but only one of the candidates was even there. Gee, it was pretty tough to figure out who was going to win that one.

It's hard to get rid of the old guys. Chris Butters... does the name ring a bell? He's the politician famous for sticking his foot in his mouth. He managed to stay in the race, winning with 60.2%.

It's worth it to be involved. The majority of the crowd today was men... most of them older. As a mom, it's hard to make the time to read up on politics and attend meetings, but having done so, I am much more informed about issues that concern my family... education, public safety, roads, immigration, etc. Education is a hot topic for me right now, and I'm not just going to sit back and let others make the decisions when I have three little people at my house who will spend a lot of time at school in this state. I encourage all of you to do the same.

Sometimes you miss things. Jade scored the only goal at her soccer game today. Which I missed. They won the game 1-0. Congratulations Orange Cheetahs!

Dear Aeris

You are 9 months old! This is hard to believe for so many reasons. For one, you're still so little. At the pediatrician's office yesterday you weighed in at an astounding 13 lbs 6 oz (a loss of 5 oz from your 6-mo check-up). You must know I am a penny pincher and can't stand getting rid of things before they've been properly used, because you are still wearing your 3-6 mo size clothes. I have brought out the 9-mo size because the calendar says they should fit, but truth be told, you drown in them. But now it's time to grow. I'm giving you my permission. In fact, I'm going to help you along in any way I can. The doctor told me to add as many calories to your diet as possible. You are about to find out about one of the true pleasures of this world... fatty foods!

Rolling is still your favorite way to move. This method doesn't take you around objects though, so you quickly get frustrated and even angry when something is in your way. I admit that I'm glad for those obstacles. It means I can actually leave the room and know you can't go too far. I know someday it will take a lot more than a couch to keep you in one place.

Your voice is the most beautiful sound. I keep working on mama, but for now your favorite is nanana, dadad, and ssssss. When we're in the van together I turn the radio off so I can hear every word you try to get out. Your brother and sister love to tell me what you're trying to say.

You love the camera. When I got it out to capture you at nine months, you couldn't help but smile. You were upset with me at first, probably because I'd already tucked you into bed with a kiss good night when I remembered I'd forgotten to take your picture. Then, after dragging you back out of bed, I sat you on the floor BY YOURSELF! You immediately began to weep. As soon as you saw the flash and realized I was taking your picture the tears dried and all that was left was your perfect face.

You have learned what it means to have stranger anxiety, and Daddy anxiety, and OH NO, MOM HAS LEFT THE ROOM anxiety. When you're in my arms and someone approaches us you bury your head a little further into my shoulder. As difficult as it makes life for me, I wouldn't give up this stage for anything. I secretly love being the center of your world. It won't last forever.

Oh Captain

Just over a year ago I decided that Logan, being THREE years old was ready to move out of the crib. Why was Logan still in a crib at THREE years old? Simple... he hadn't climbed out of it yet. I wasn't about to give up the fantastic benefit of having my child TRAPPED at bedtime and naptime everyday. Unfortunately, Nate kept commenting that it was probably about time he move into a bed. Actually I think it was more like, "This is ridiculous! You have got to move that kid out of the crib!" Yeah, Yeah. So I gave in. And within a few short months he had already started growing out of his toddler bed.
So, we chose a new bed for him. And since I'd left the poor kid in a crib for THREE years we picked out the biggest bed we could find, complete with built in drawers on one side for all his stuff and a totally cool hiding spot on the other side. We surprised him with it when he came home from preschool today. When Nate told him it's called a "Captain's Bed" he decided it was just about the best thing ever.
Speaking of captains. It's my dad's birthday today. When I was a kid, my mom gave him a captain's hat to wear when he drove around our ski boat at Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. On more than one occasion it flew off when he'd hit a big wave or catch a major wind gust and we'd all yell at him to turn the boat around to fetch it. I wonder if he still has that hat. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Silver Linings

Life has blown in a few more storm clouds than usual, so in order to lighten my mood, I thought I'd mention a few of the silver linings.

Helping in Logan's and Jade's classes
I learn so much about my kids by watching them interact at school. I always come home feeling pretty great about who they are growing up to be.

Going to the temple
There's no better place to find peace.

Logan, Logan, Logan
Today he insisted that Aeris come in his room with him. He wanted her on the floor right next to his train track. When she rolled over and attacked Thomas he laughed and laughed. "Mommy! Aeris is playing trains with me!" I had to put off her nap for an hour because every time I mentioned that it was time for her to go he wouldn't allow it. That boy has the sweetest personality!

Piano Recital
Mainly it's just nice to have it over with, but also there were a few kids who surprised me with their last-minute preparations. Jade, once again, performed beautifully.

Cleared Garden
I cleaned out what was left of last year's plants and Nate tilled and fertilized on Saturday. After our successful harvest last year, I can hardly wait to plant again. Oh, and there's no morning glory... yet!

Tulips
Those bright yellow blooms are so pretty, even if they're sprouting out of a layer of snow.

Friends and Family
Adult conversation is so great when you're surrounded by kids all day... even if some of those conversations take place on the www. Never underestimate the power of a "How are you?" or "What's new?" It's nice when you know people in your life care.

Easter Photos

I love Easter! It's the first sign that winter is coming to a close. We had fun dressing in our bright colors and short sleeves, even if it was 38 degrees outside. Lucky for my kids, I did put coats on them. Too bad I couldn't talk myself into it. I took the kids to the Herriman City event on Saturday morning wearing capris, a short-sleeved T, and flip flops. I opted to carry Aeris rather than push around the stroller, which kept me pretty warm. The kids had egg hunts at preschool, my parent's house, the city, and the neighborhood. There's no shortage of jellybeans and marshmallow bunnies at our house! Sunday morning was so freezing cold that I didn't take many photos of the kids in their cute new clothes (thanks Grandma Hansen!). And the yard looks pretty dead still (because it IS dead still). We enjoyed visiting with my sister and her family who came out for the break.

Happy 8 Months!

I love this baby so much. Maybe it's knowing she's our last. I savor every miniature moment. This month has brought many exciting discoveries for my little babe. Her tongue! She absolutely LOVES it! When I come in to pick her up in the morning, when Jade comes home, when Logan sings to her, out goes the tongue. I never thought I'd love having someone stick their tongue out at me. I laugh and laugh, and she rewards me with the world's biggest smiles!

Just yesterday she decided she had places to go. She spent all day practicing her roll. Back to front, front to back, all with me cheering wildly from the sideline. Two days ago she was completely stationary, today I have to clear an entire room if I'm going to put her down. How quickly things change.

Aeris knows what she wants... anything she can reach. Last week she grabbed right onto the fish I had on my dinner plate. I literally had to pry it out of her tiny vice-like fingers. Boy was she unhappy with me.

Aeris really adores her family. She saves her best smiles for us, expecially Jade and Logan. I think one of the very best gifts I've been given in this life is to have children who truly love each other.

I've Been Elected!

I guess it's old age. I've decided to be more involved in the political scene. I figure I don't have any room to complain about the issues and our government's flaws unless I put forth the effort to make changes. So I have gotten to know some political figures in my area and as a result was given a personal invitation to attend my precinct caucus (No invitations are required. Everyone in the precinct is welcome... and should come so everyone has a say in who represents our area). It was held at a neighbor's house and was quite worthwhile. They even respected my opinion enough to elect me as a county delegate, which means I get to attend the county convention and vote for candidates hoping to make it onto the ballet in November. What a great opportunity.