My baby girl is officially one year old! (sniff, sniff). The year has gone by so quickly. This year has been full of happiness and excitement each and everyday. Cloey's name means "in bloom". She truly has blossomed my life and brought me into bloom in so many different ways. She teaches me love each day as she lays her head on my chest and warms my heart with her contagious smile. She teaches me loving patience as she not only tolerates Katelund's bantering but also loves her to pieces and gets excited each and every time she sees her. She teaches me endurance and problem solving as she creates and climbs through her "mazes", as we call them, and then dilligently figures a way out. But most of all she has taught me how to savor each moment as a mother. I feel so blessed to be the mother of such strong beautiful spirits. They each have such great strength within them and the countenance of the Savior radiated upon them. They are very different yet very alike in their will power. I know that they are choice and elect. I feel so humbled to be their teacher, mother, and friend.

Yesterday was the Relief Society Women's Conference. It was amazing. I won't go on and on about details like I usually do, but I will share with you my favorite part. The theme was about finding happiness in our lifes. President Catlett said at the end of his talk, that really it is simple. The recipe for happiness is found in the acronym J.O.Y. J=Jesus(always put Christ first in your life) O=others (serving and loving others) Y=yourself (you should put Christ and others before yourself). Isn't that an awesome formula for happiness? I loved it. The spirit was so strong, especially in my favorite class which was on Disciplining with Love. (I really want to give more details but I promised I wouldn't so I better have integrity).

I really am in denial today. I cannot believe that tomorrow is Cloey's first birthday. I am not ready for her to be walking and talking, she is still my baby. It is funny how with the first one you can't wait for the next stage and the second one you want them to stay a baby forever (well it least it has been the way with me and I know with Andrea).

Katelund went pee pee in the potty yesterday!!! She initiated the whole thing too. She got ice cream while Cory and I did the potty dance and song (it was an impromptu thing). We were banging on pots and pans and everything. She almost made it this morning to the potty but she didn't quite make it. I'm really not forcing it because I think (just like everything else in her life) she is going to have to be in control and decide for herself when she is ready.

Singing time went awesome today!!! I had a lot of people come and tell me afterwards that they haven't heard the kids sing like they are. I was so excited. It was awesome. While they were singing Scripture Power (my favorite song ever), I had them raise their scriptures in the air when they sang the words "scripture power" in the chorus. It was incredible. The spirit was so strong that I got chills all up and down my arms and of course the tears couldn't help but leak out a little. I LOVE my calling so much!!!!

Well, I love you all and I hope that you had as wonderful of a Sunday as I did. We are going to our friends for dinner so I will write more tomorrow.

Yesterday, Katelund came up to me with a very serious face and asked, "mommy, someday do you want a truck or a car"? I really had to hold back from laughing histerically, but I answered quickly and matter-of-factly that I would like a truck. I don't know where that question came from but it was priceless!!! So I ask all of you what do you want someday, a car or truck?

I put an ad up on the Gates Four Bulletin last week for tutoring. I got 2 calls today. One is for a boy who is struggling with 5th grade math. I am a little bit nervous about tutoring math since that is not one of my strengths. I got an A in the first elementary ed. math class and a B in the 2nd one, but I am still a little bit nervous since I will be helping him with geometry, angles, and fractions. I know that I can do it, but I think I am going to be doing some studying on my own also.

I took Katelund and Cloey to the park yesterday and we had a picnic lunch together. It was really fun. While Katelund was playing on the playground, she was going through the tunnel and sticking her little face out of the holes. She would stick her head out and say, "mommy, I love you" and then blow me a kiss. All of the other moms that were at the park were all saying "ohhhhh, how cute". It was adorable. It is nice every once in a while to have other moms adoring my child instead of protecting their own from my daughter. What can I say, I have a little tomboy.

One of Katelund's best friends right now is one of my little CTR 5 boys. His name is James. I think Katelund has a crush on him. His mom and I hang out a lot so they play together quite often. She gets so excited when she sees him. Her other best friend is still Bethany. Her and Bethany are quite clickish in nursery. All of the other moms think they are so cute together but they are worried about how they are going to be as they grow up because they are kindof snobby together and they get jealous when other kids play with the other one. It is pretty funny. They walk the halls holding hands and telling the boys to chase them. I think I am in for trouble in a couple of years.

I am finally drug free!!! I have been on some narcotics the last couple of days because of an incredibly painful toothache. Luckily, after not going to the dentist for 6 years, Dr. Catlett (my stake president) told me how blessed I am because I came in just in time to save my tooth with a root canal AND I have no other cavities or problems with any of the rest of my teeth. I consider myself very blessed. I am so glad that I pay my tithing. :) I got the first stage of my root canal completed yesterday. The rest will be completed in June. I am a whole new women now that my tooth isn't consuming my every thought.
Last night I went to the gym with my friend Deborah and Cory took us through all of the weight machines and taught us how to use each one (he goes every morning at 4:50 to lift weights with a friend from work). After going through my 3 sets of 10 on about 6 or 7 machines, I realized how incredibly weak I am. I am going to start toning with weights 3 days of the week and then I'll run a short run. The other 3 days I will do my long runs. I'm hoping that the weight lifting will help me build up my endurance and strength for the long distance runs. When I was lifting on the military press machine, I could only lift the bar (20 lbs). How pathetic is that?
So are you all getting excited for me to come? I can hardly wait. I am going to have to stay busy because I am really feeling nervous about leaving Katelund. I am sure that Cloey is going to love all the extra attention that I will be able to give her.
So how was everyone's Easter? Mine was great although I was only half there because I was on codeine all day. I love Easter and I love spring. I am sad to see it come to a close as summer peaks around the corner. I think that this summer is going to be a lot of fun though. I am hoping that I get some tutoring jobs for the summer. I am posting an ad up on the Gates Four Bulletin. Well I love you all so much. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of the gospel and the great plan of happiness. What happiness comes to me in knowing that because of our Savior we can also overcome death and once again become re-united with our spirit and body. As I have been reading and memorizing the Living Christ, I have had such a powerful witness, through the Holy Ghost, that Jesus Christ really is the Risen Lord and that one day we will also feel the nailprints in his hands and we will be witnesses of the prophetic statement that every knee will bow and tongue confess that he truly is the Messiah, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And hopefully, "when we see Him we will know Him because we will be like Him" (that is one of my favorite scriptures.) I love you all so much!!!! Have a wonderful day!

I feel like such a slacker. I have not written in here for a couple of days. This week has been a great week. We went to the beach on Wednesday with some friends in our ward. It was so much fun. We went to North Myrtle Beach. Despite the water being freezing cold, it was a great day to go to the beach. Cloey had a lot of fun being held and playing in the sand. She was happy as long as she didn't get wet. Katelund had so much fun with her daddy. They built a huge sandcastle, played on the water, buried each other in the sand, and played soccer. Katelund is such a daddy's girl and Cloey is such a mommy's girl. It works out great for all of us.
Last night I was listening to the Arise and Shine Forth CD (Arise and Shine Forth is the Mutual theme this year) as I was running. I was listening to the theme song on there as I was finishing up my 6th mile. It was an incredible experience it is hard to even put into words. It was just one of those moments when you feel like you can conquer anything in the world. I am learning to love running so much. It is quite addicting. I am having such a hard time getting past 6 miles. It is like a plateau (sp?) for me and I can't seem to get past it. I know that it is just a mental block but my goal this week was to get past 6 miles. I guess that means tomorrow I better do it. I will let you know how it goes.
This morning, Katelund was sitting in her chair and Cloey was sitting in her highchair. They were both eating their Cheerios just happy as can be. Well Katelund decided to start irritating Cloey (her favorite pastime these days). She started lightly pinching Cloey's arm and I told her to stop but of course she didn't listen. Instead, she began to pinch harder. Cloey was not happy. She grabbed Katelund's hand and bit her finger. It was the funniest thing in the world. Sherrie, Stefani, and I were laughing uncontrollably. I know that it wasn't the best response, but it was just so funny!!! Katelund cried and cried and Cloey was quite pleased with herself because, in the end, she had come out the conquerer. Isn't it funny how things come back around to "bite you". (No pun intended :) )
Tonight we are having a cookout with some family friends so I have to go get the girls ready. I love you all!!!! Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

I just wrote an entire blog but somehow it didn't publish, maybe it was too long. :) I will write a short version. I started my new calling today...primary music leader!!! YEAH!!! I am so excited and nervous because I have to fill some pretty big shoes (the leader before me was INCREDIBLE). I know that I am not her and I lack in her musical skills but I do not that I do not lack in my love for the children. Most of them I have taught in either CTR5 or Cub Scouts. I did okay today, not my best, but I know that each week it will get better and easier as I get more comfortable singing in front of them, learning how to get them to sing, and getting in my groove.

I love Primary music SOOOO.... much! The spirit bears such a powerful witness of the words that are sung. In sr. primary, I had the kids stand up and sing "Does Jesus Really Live Again". It was incredible looking into their innocent faces and hearing them sing like angels about their Savior. It brought me to tears. I feel so humbled teaching them when in fact, through the spirit that they bring to the music, they teach me how to be like Him of whom the song testifies of. I have such a strong testimony of the power of music. It can touch hearts and testify in a way that nothing else can.

The last three days I have spent substitute teaching in pre-kindergarten in order to pay for my plane ticket to Texas for Katie's graduation and Shanna's wedding. What a three days it has been. It is always an adventure in pre-k. I had so much fun teaching and I even tossed the lesson plans that the teacher gave me and did my own (she said I could change whatever I wanted to). Today we dyed eggs, did a alphabet easter egg hunt, a candy easter egg hunt, and wrote imaginary stories (that I illustrated for them) about the egg that they colored and got to take home. We also make reeses pieces carrots (they were so cute), did the chicken dance, sang tons of songs, acted out a play, and made a "we miss you" book for one of the students that has been out because his mom just died from cancer. We had so much fun! I love to teach so much!! Today I had the principal come down to ask me again if I wanted to teach next year at her school. I told her that I would love to be a teacher full-time but I love my children even more and I don't want to miss out on any part of their life. It did make me feel good though, especially when I had a parent come and tell me at the end of the day today how wonderful of a job he thought I did and how he thinks I should just finish up the year. He said that him and some other parents went and told the office what they thought about me. It was really sweet. There was also another teacher in pre-k who came and told me that she heard quite a few people who had seen me with the kids over the last couple of days who have made quite a fuss about what a good job I've done. Then today when I got home and Grandma told me about how Cloey had laughed so hard when she was dancing with her, I started crying because I realized right then and there that all though I love to teach, there is nothing more rewarding as being a full-time mommy. I am so grateful for a mother who taught me through her example that being a mom is the most influential, effective, and incredibly important career there is.

Well today was a monumental day in Cloey's life. She has officially been switched over to whole milk in her bottle. YEAH!!! (when I write "yeah" you should be clapping). She is also the proud new owner of a front facing toddler car seat. YEAH!!! She is also becoming quite the conosieur of food (her favorite being grapes), today she ate four chicken nuggets without choking. YEAH!!! She is growing up so quickly it is unreal!! I can't believe that it has already been a whole year, where does time go? It definitely flies when you are having fun!! I love my girls to pieces!!! Katelund has been exploring careers lately. She has been experimenting as an artist on her Grandma's walls. She also decided to try a different medium the other day when she used her "gucky diaper" to dip her finger in and spread on the canvas (otherwise known as Grandma's wall). Mom, aren't you glad she wasn't an artist on your canvas??? Me too! There is never a dull moment when you are the mother (or sister) of Katelund!! Life would just not be the same without either one of them.

Unfortunately, the weekend is over. I really hate to see general conference come to an end. I was so uplifted and of course I have discovered many new ways that I need to improve. I loved the talk by Elder Ballard about creating a gospel sharing home. I loved how he said that this is not a program but a way of life. I was also very amazed by his prophecy that if we have gospel sharing homes then we will fill our sacrament meetings, lessons, and cultural halls. What an awesome promise. Another one of my favorite talks, by David R. Stone, was about creating Zion in the midst of Babylon. My favorite line in this talk was, "Seduced by our culture we hardly acknowledge our idolatry as our strings are pulled by Babylon." I think that there are many things that I need to introspectively consider as things that are hindering me from creating Zion in my own home. I also loved when he talked about courage and the kind of courage that it takes to create our own standards. The last talk that I want to write about was probably my very favorite one. It was Elder Bednar's talk on the Holy Ghost. What an amazing talk!!! Recognizing and responding to the Holy Ghost is something that I pray for continually. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost because I know that as a mother I would be lost without it. There are so many different experiences I have had as a mother and a wife where the Holy Ghost has directed me towards or steered me away from what I should or should not do. What an awesome gift that God has given to us, especially the fact that each week during the Sacrament as we approach the Lord with a remission of our sins and a stronger commitment to take His name upon us for the following week, we are able to have the promise that the Holy Ghost will ALWAYS be with us. One more thing to end this LONG entry. My favorite quote of all of conference was; "In the home, the armor of truth should be tailor fit to the characteristics of each child" (Richard G. Scott). I LOVE conference, I LOVE the prophet, and I LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am trying to get this blog thing to work. Why is it called Blog anyway? So I am trying to type something really quick to see if my page will show up. Ok, let's see if it worked.