Our new Prophet and Motherhood

Well, I actually was able to watch most of Sunday conference, and I really liked Bro. Ballards, talk about Mother's. I have been reading a book I purchased at last year's Time Out for Couples, called The Parenting Breathkthrough, by Merilee Boyack. It basically talks about how to teach your kids to be independent capable adults, who know how to save and budget money. Alot of it I will use as my girls get older, but a lot of the money things, were good for Mark and I. But I have been really thinking and pondering a lot in the last few weeks about the job of Parenting, and the role and impact it plays on the lives of our children. These sweet spirits, that the Lord has entrusted to us to raise, nurture, teach, love, support, and hopefully build a strong enough foundation to be able to return to live with him. ( Sometimes, I think, what were you thinking Lord, I can't handle this, I barely have my own life in order, and now you want me to be responsible for more souls). But with trying to increase our spirituality in general as a family, couple and personally, it has been on my mind, the majority of my days. I have been making goals and starting new routines with the kids such as chores, FHE, reading the scriptures, and nightly prayers. And I would be doing a good job without the help of a very supportive spouse. But what made me feel real good this morning, was when I was making a bottle for the baby, Aimee was finishing a puzzle on the floor she started last night, and I was singing " I am a Child Of God" The girls watched a little of conference and we had a packet that a friend sent me to do with the kids and that helped keep the girls in the room ands at least hearing the speakers. But Aimee could tell who the prophet was by then end of the morning. We had talked about that at the last FHE and I think she was starting to recall what we were saying. So, despite my shortcomings as a mother, housewife and maid, If my kids grow up with a love for the savior and this gospel, then I will feel very accomplished, and not care that the house wasn't spotlessly cleaned every day.

"LIttle Chef"

So, Aimee has had a new friend this past week, and his name is "little chef". Any of you who have kids and watch disney movies, knows what movie I'm referring to, I'd hope. She carried him around in her pocket, when she's watching TV, playing outside anything, but she doesn't refer to him at every moment 24/7. But when I catch her involved with some thing, I can see her talking to him and putting him someplace to watch or help her. But what made me curious enough to blog about it, was I thought imaginary playmates, were for children who suffered from "only child syndrome" not from those who are a number in their home. But I guess not, Mark and I just think its cute, and he eggs her on, when she is not listening, or not paying attention to us, he'll say stuff like, " I'll take little chef, and eat him," and she goes beserek, like its real, very powerful is the human mind. So I just wanted to point that cute fact this week. I'm not sure what I should be worried about more, whether or not she has a "imaginary playmate" or the fact that it is a little rat.
Emily has been really successful at potty training this week. I have learned that if I put nothing on her, lower end, then she uses the toilet, if not she goes in whatever is there to catch it, whether it be underwear, pull ups, or a diaper ( yes, I have all three, but who doesn't have that for the potty training transitioning years of a toddler) and once I figured it out, she has been going number 1 and 2 in the toilet, as far as the mornings go, after nap, I put a diaper or pull up on when she sleeps, and she always seems to fill them up and wither go 2 again in there. But I think the concept is working, she has had some accidents, like peeing on chairs... but so far no carpet, just easy to wipe up areas. Count you blessings where and when u can I guess.
Cadyn is still all over the place and crawling pretty quick now, and yes we are calling her "Cady" all the time, I blame Emily, since she started it for me. But she has mastered the art of going from her knees to standing and getting up on furniture, and soon she will want to move across that piece of furniture and then away, crazy how fast they learn those things. But so far she is not climbing up or out of things, just gets up and stands theirs and bounces sometimes.
I have been sick with a cold and a nasty cough, which has affected my voice and my head is congested all the time, so I have not worked out since my little trauma over 2 weeks ago. I want to go back, just waiting for my body to get better, so I'm not huffing and puffing after 2 mins, cause my lungs have crap in them, and I can't breathe in my nose, since its full of crap too. But Mark did go 3 days in a row and takes the kids at least the older ones , so I can have some piece with just the baby, I cleaned one day, vacuuming really well, so it took all of 30 mins, and other stuff. Anyways, the alternator just went out on the Camry, but thank goodness thats all it was, and we had it switched out in like 15 mins. We are becoming pretty good mechanics, the pair of us. I guess it helps that both our first cars were 86/87 Camrys.
We are trying to keep up with our daily reading of the book of mormon with the kids, but some days are better then others. Some days we are too tired, and we simply forget, since we just want to get the kids in bed, and lay down ourselves. Hopefully next week can be better.