It still surprises me to discover how different my mindset can be after a weekend away from the doldrums of regular life. Not that regular life is boring or anything. It is anything BUT boring, in fact. But I do get in "the zone." And it's nice to be broken out of that once in a while.

I love how I feel about my kids when I get home from a nice long stretch of time away from them, relaxing with my hubby, friends, and a calm and smiley baby all weekend! I am FREE to love them without being TIRED of them. It is WONDERFUL.

We finally got all the kids home last night, and it was already past everyone's bedtime, but I still brought James into Josiah's bed to read them both a bedtime story. Joey picked out Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I just soaked up their cuteness. We did the same thing tonight, except Josiah picked a Winnie the Pooh story. It has been a fun thing to do these days, since James isn't so hard to transfer from place to place anymore.

Seth did great on the half marathon. I am very proud of my man! He got up early today and went to work, and he said he had to climb up and down the stairs a bunch of times at North Valley Dermatology, where he was working. Then he came home and helped me make dinner, helped me get a load of dishes going in the dishwasher, and helped me put the kids to bed. He is amazing! a-m-a-z-i-n-g

Yesterday was our anniversary. Seven years. Sooooo much to be thankful for!

Our SF trip was really fun. We went with Dave and Ashley and their 8-week old baby girl. She and Caleb were like famous people, it seemed, because Ashely and I kept being approached by stranger after stranger who wanted to admire them, and find out whether they were twins, and stuff like that.

We ate a lot of great food, and did a lot of walking around the city. The weather was PERFECT.

Very relaxing...

Back to reality today, though, and it was a LONG day!! This whole week is really busy, in fact. We spent most of the afternoon today at the pediatrician's office. James got a bunch of paperwork signed for his nurses, and Caleb got three shots and an oral vaccine. Needless to say, I am glad that everyone is finally in bed!

There is a TON going on this week. Tomorrow we have to be in Oroville for a 7:55am appointment with James' eye doctor. Then I'm going to come home and make Rainbow Chip cupcakes (a small batch, thankfully!) to bring with me on Wed. night to Lyndsey's....

On Wednesday, James is supposed to go to Chico for physical therapy, but I think I'm going to have to cancel, because he also has a 3pm foot doctor appointment that I HAVE to go to, because I think I've canceled and rescheduled this appointment like at least 4 times already! Then, on Wednesday evening, we're headed to Lyndsey and Ryan's to be with our "group" - so we can all be together on Carrisa's birthday - it's going to be a hard day for all of us.... I've been missing her a TON lately.... grief is so strange, how it sneaks up on you and surprises you with its strength - suddenly.

Her first birthday since she passed...

Dang. 

:*-( 

On Thursday, I am making chili and corn bread for about 40 people who are working at our church's VBS. I still need to borrow someone's crockpot for that.... Thankfully, I don't have much else going on on Thursday!

On Friday, James and Seth are leaving Paradise at like 4am to be at the hospital in Sacramento by 5:30am or so to check in for James' g-tube surgery. They will probably be staying two nights. I might drive down on Saturday to learn (directly from the doctors) how to use the thing. 

WOW....

wow.

So, yeah.... I'm going to bed!