It won't be long now and she'll be off walking.

1 and 2 and 3 and...

The fireplace has been a favorite place to play for each of my girls but Lucy has been using it more as a place of exercise lately.  This is her new favorite position.

I Am

It seems like I am always struggling with something.  Sometimes it's rather petty and I overcome it quickly, but my latest struggle has had me thinking a lot.  I've been feeling like such an inadequate mother.  I feel like I never get enough done, I feel like there are so many things I wish I would do, lots of things I wish I didn't do and moments when I think my kids bring out the worst in me.

It's been a trying couple of weeks as I have struggled to remind myself that this is only a fleeting feeling and that I'll feel better soon.  I take my job as a mom so deathly serious that it eats at me that I feel I'm not doing that great of a job.

But I got a little boost yesterday.  I attended a Relief Society Seminar yesterday where the keynote speaker was Carol Soelberg, Arizona Mother of the Year.  It wasn't her title that got me, but it was the way I walked away feeling a little more empowered and ready to get back to my kids and try again.

The theme for the seminar was "A Lioness at the Gate."  Carol had a number of pictures of lionesses in different situations, from defending her cubs to gently bathing them.  I'm not one of those people who oohs and ahhs over cutesy animal pictures, but to see a mother in action is very touching.

I really don't remember much of what was said but seeing that lioness act so strong and so gentle at the same time, I realized that a mom is just that.  You have to find a balance between being strong and trying to instill good values and yet be gentle enough that your kids feel safe with you.

On that note I have to thank my mom.  She's strong.  She always stands for what is right, no matter what others may think of her.  And she gentle.  I know that if I picked up the phone right now to call her and said "Mom, I need a minute," that she would drop everything and find a quiet place in the house where she could hear me out.  I know that because I've done it many times.  I always know that I can ask my mom anything.  And I do mean anything.

I remember when I was a Senior in High School, my good friend thought she might be pregnant and was telling me some of the signs she was experiencing.  They were pretty "girlie," if you know what I mean, and most people would have been embarrassed to ask their mom.  I told her that I knew I could talk to my mom and that she would know.  It was in Yearbook so the atmosphere was very casual.  We went to our teachers phone and I called home.  Sure enough my Mom had all the answers and my friend was hear my mom was sure she wasn't pregnant.

Mom, thank you for the stubbornness you instilled in me.  Than you for the love of family.  Thank you for showing me that I am a wife before anything else and that my marriage is the most important relationship I will ever have.  Thank you for teaching me how to take care of kids at an early age.  Thank you for showing me that my home is what I make it.  Thank you for showing me that it is important to take time for myself.  Thank you for teaching me that it is important to find a hobby or something that I enjoy so that I can continue to learn.

You deserve the Mother of the Year Award. 

I hate doing laundry.  I hate folding it and I really hate putting it away.  Today I finally decided to tackle the monster and just get it all done.  Only 3 more loads after this.

Dual Citizenship

This morning Addie was given another Citizenship award at school.  Since it was her second award she was also given a gift certificate to Taco Bell.  We've never been there but she already has her mind made up that it's not somewhere she would like so she's been trying to pawn it off to Jared since Monday.

I love Addie's school but when I go to these assemblies I love it even more.  This morning as we said the Pledge of Allegiance, the kids said it loud and proud.  As the Principal, Mr. Evans, passed out the awards the other students were so well behaved and quiet.  The dad next to me even leaned over and commented on how quiet they were.  And when it came time to sing the school song to the kids being awarded, the students sang like they were so proud to be Lobo Pups. 

What a school!  What a girl!

Every Sunday Kimber fishes through the newspaper until she finds the comics.  She takes it so serious that you would almost think she can read the words.

Check out this girl's hair.  No matter what I do it stands straight up.  And I love it.

Growing up in Arizona, never in a million years did I imagine I would send my child to school with freezing temperatures, a hat, scarf and gloves.  Generally she wears boots as well, but we opted for tennies today.

Christmas Review

Christmas Eve night we were able to have an impromptu visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.  When he knocked at the door I had Addie answer and to say the look on her face was priceless would be an understatement. The girls were shocked that he would pay them an early visit.

 He visited with us for a few minutes and then hurried off.  We were then able to tie up our 12 days of service.  We talked about all of the things we had done for others and that while they were serving others, they were actually serving Christ.  I think they got it.  

After we got the girls to bed, which was a lot easier than I thought it would be, Jared and I got to wrapping.  Last year I had everything wrapped and ready for the tree, but this year I procrastinated.  Thankfully with Jared's help it went quickly.

We're still lucky that our kids don't wake up in the wee hours of Christmas morning.  Instead we had to set an alarm clock for Addie so she could wake everyone up at 7am. They were elated to see everything that Santa had brought. 

Addie still reminds me that Santa didn't bring her everything she asked for but I didn't see her complaining on Christmas morning.  I think she just wishes she could open presents again.  She'll just have to wait until next year.

She Sits

She's finally mastered the whole sitting up thing.  I thought for sure she was never going to sit still.  I mean, she crawls.  Why would you want to sit in one place if you can go somewhere?