And I'm feeling...good

Ahhh...Erika is doing so good. It's a miracle really. I took her into the dr's this week and he gave her a clean bill of health; however, I'm still pretty careful not to go into any major germ-infested places which happens to be merely impossible...seeing that our home is one of them. I've tried to have a strict code of hand-washing around here. We'll see how long it lasts. Savannah lamented, "I'm getting a little sick of washing my hands so much." Sorry sweets.

We had a great weekend! Adam was actually gone for most of it, but the kids and I had fun with a movie night and a full day at the Santa Barbara Zoo on Saturday. I just love that place. I have a million memories there. I hadn't realized how much Adam has been gone until I was reviewing a picture of our family with Austin, asking him to point out the different members, "Austin, who's that?" "Kates" "Who's that?" "Mom" "Who's that?" "Daddygo" (all one word) hmmm. I got a good laugh...Adam wasn't nearly as amused.

Joseph has been picking up some new phrase-ology lately that leaves me...speechless. "Joseph, are you ready for breakfast?" "Yea baby" Joseph, "I need some ketchup baby." I try to correct with, "Buddy, I'm Mom." ... it's a little tricky trying to keep a straight face. He's too cute for his own good...

I had the privilege of hearing Sister Julie Beck (General Relief Society President) speak this past weekend at our church stake center in Camarillo. She was nothing less than amazing...a fountain of incredible wisdom and insight. After her comments, she opened it up for questions. Something that stuck with me (among many things) was that she spoke about a mother's many shifts--the night shift, morning, day, afternoon-evening or the "swing shift." A mother works all the shifts; however, the most important and impacting shift is the afternoon-evening "swing shift." This is when our kids get home from school, they are hungry physically, spiritually and emotionally. She said, "Don't become so busy during the day that you are wiped out during the most important shift of the day." Isn't that interesting? Usually that is the craziest time of the day in our home. I need to make preparations, so that it won't be so anymore. So that I can FEED my children. I took tons of notes, so if you are interested, I would be happy to send them your way. I am always looking for good advice...I need all the help I can get!

Have a super week! I hope our week isn't foreshadowed by the crazy morning we had today. Adam finally said, "Please, let's keep the weeping, wailing, and nashing of teeth in outer darkness." I can only agree. I think it will be different because I'm sitting here watching Austin play and he is just so irresistible...