The Munchkins

I've been thinking a lot about parenting, about my abilities as a mother, our abilities together as father and mother.  I don't think I could ever love more than I do now as a mom, but with that great blessing of motherhood comes great responsibility, a responsibility I do not take lightly.  With a very spirited almost five year old, I worry sometimes I'm doing it all wrong.  She will be a leader as she grows older, and am I teaching her the right things so that she will be a positive leader?  In counseling with our bishop on this matter, he recommended Shaun and I read an article from last year's General Conference titled, "What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?"  The following excerpt is from that talk.

"A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101.  If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505.  Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving, you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself.... Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you?"

The talk goes on to point out that discipline and disciple  come from the same root, and both imply patience and teaching, and should not be done in anger, but rather as taught in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 121, "by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and be love unfeigned; by kindness and pre knowledge."  The article goes on to point out that we should separate our children's behaviors from who they are (a point I have often made to Shaun), that they are not bad, but their choice was bad.  And he encourages parents to teach from the scriptures examples of being a good person, not only doing good things.  If we focus our energies on helping them become good people, they will be motivated to always do good things.  "Our children are God's children.  That is their true identity and potential."  So Shaun and I hope to work on teaching Christlike characteristics through the scriptures, and also by our own personal examples.  It's my hope that as we move into this Christmas season, that we can have the Spirit here in our home more, and that the spirit of contention can decrease.  I'm not saying it's always contentious here, but it's more so than I would like.

I love my family.  I love both of my girls and my dear husband, and I pray to be the mother and wife that the Lord would have me be to them.

 My girls can have these really sweet moments together.  This was this morning at breakfast.  They were just chummy, and then they wanted me to take their picture.  So stinkin' cute.

 My Amelia is a cuddle bug.  She let me curl her hair this morning for church.  This was a first so I had to get a photo.  She has the most beautiful hair (in my unbiased opinion of course)

 With her daddy before church.

My beautiful, spirited Ella on her favorite horse before church.  She only would pose for me on her horse, but I'll take it if I can get her to smile pretty like this.

Gobble Time

We've been enjoying a lovely and relaxing Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends.

This year, after much debate, we decided to spend Thanksgiving with Shaun's uncle Kerry and Aunt Pixie who live about fifty minutes from here.   We were torn because we also had an invitation to spend the holiday with my Aunt Liz, and my parents went there.  But after weighing the pros and cons of a five hour drive with our children, and the logistics of when we'd get there and how long we'd stay, we felt it may be best to just stay local this year.  We love his uncle, we love my aunt, but ultimately practicality won out in this decision making venture.

 The girls Thanksgiving morning on their new horse, Spirit.  Ella has named him.  Papa bought it for them at the consignment store, and it has been prominently placed right in the middle of my living room ever since.  Thanks Papa.  It has caused a little strife I will admit, but ultimately the girls have really enjoyed having it.  Ella absolutely LOVES it.  Even though she's still asking Santa for a "real horse," I think it might suffice for the time being... as in... until she reaches adulthood:)

 The girls at uncle Kerry's coloring and waiting for time to eat.

 The other fun part to staying here was that we were able to have a family friend come and join us for Thanksgiving.  Emilee is a friend of my sister's actually, but she is out here for an internship, and was by herself.  It was great to get to include her in our holiday, and she was a great sport for having never met any of the Calderwoods.  We hope to spend more time with her before she heads home to Las Vegas for Christmas.  She was a sweetheart!

 The thing I'm most thankful for, my lovely family!  Even if Ella is a ham in this photo.  I just love and adore my husband and my girls.

 Emilee with us.

 Then yesterday we decided to take the girls to the movies.  Amelia's first movie in the theater, unless you count the one time she was three months old.  

The girls enjoyed some games before the movie.  Riding the motorcycle in the arcade.  Girls after their dad's heart.

 Amelia did a pretty good job I have to say.  It's a good thing we bought plenty of food.  I think Amelia ate her way through the whole movie.  It kept her entertained, though she may have a had a little tummy ache after.  Sooo much popcorn!  Let's just say no one wanted dinner after all that junk food.  I suppose every once in a while it's okay to skip dinner in favor of treats, just every once in a while.

Ella was perfect.  She loves going to the "movie vador" as she calls it.  She's seen more movies at the theater than me, this one making four trips for her total.  We saw, "The Guardians," a cute holiday film.  Elle seemed to really love it, as did the rest of us!

So it's been a lovely kick off to our holiday season.  We're excited to start decorating for the holidays, and next weekend we'll probably pick up our tree and go to see the temple lights.  I am so grateful to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends this holiday season.  More to come from the Calderwoods later.  For now, we are content in saying we are grateful for some time off of work to really enjoy being together with just our little family.