It's been far too long

So I was listening to the radio on the way to the gym this morning. Star 102.1 with Mark, Kim and Frank in the morning. They were talking to Tersa Smith who does the news at 9. She was talking about how her blog domain expired and was turned off for not having written on it so long and it got me thinking about my poor neglegted blog.
I have been struggling with a lot of changes going on....1.trying to adapt to being a stay at home mom. 2.My callings as a 1st counselor in Relief Society and Activities Director for the branch. 3. Trying to be a better daughter of Heavenly Father.
ADAPTING TO BEING A STAY AT HOME MOM-I'm not. I kind of knew I was never the type to stay home all day and have a clean house with the nutritios meals a day. I had to be stuck in the house all week 2 weeks ago due to my radiator giving out on me. I went crazy. Became impatient and took out all my anger on Albert when he got home from work. I knew I was being irrational. So now that I have my car back I am so much better. I am in the gym by 9:30 am every morning, which makes my day go so much better. Not to mention I am now 20 lbs below my prepreggo weight. I still count myself being a stay at home mom because the boys are just in the gym daycare for 2 hours. That still counts right? And.....since I am so much happier leaving the gym my family gets 2 some what nutritional meals a day. Sorry breakfast you will just have to stay with oatmeal packets.
MY CALLINGS- actually they aren't so bad. Gabby Craft is the prez and she is way on top of things. Besides we only have 12 Sisters on our list. Being the activities director is easy too. Everyone in our Branch are such good friends that they are all over at our house on the weekends playing volleyball anyway. I just need to start having an opening and closing prayer. However Pres. Cruze asked me to organize a temple to trip to Nashville to do Baptisms....They are complete booked to the end of the year.
TRYING TO BE A BETTER DAUGHTER OF HEAVENLY FATHER- We had a stake women's conference last week that was such a booster spiritually. I knew that I needed to improve my prayers and scripture study. The conference was a huge shove to do that. We watched Reflections of Christ. I highly recommend it.

Our trip to the Smokies

We went to the smokies today. We had plans to hike to Abrams Falls but got there around 4 pm so we decided just to walk around the cades cove visitors center instead. We saw a bear (pic didn't turn out too dark)a deer and a little birds nest with chicks in it. Benji loved it. Sammy must have thought it was bland. He slept the entire time. On the way back, while we were still in the park. Albert got pulled over for going 57 in a 35 zone. Some how he has the best luck ever, he got off with a warning. That is the 3rd time he has been pulled over for speeding and still no ticket. Not that I am complaining. I didn't want to have to pay a ticket.

Benji's 3rd Birthday

I can't believe Benji is 3. He is such a great kid. Last year we started a tradition of having lunch with Albert at Mr. Ghatti's Pizza Buffet for Benji's B-day. He loves to play the games. Tomorrow is his little party, Everyone is invited. Just call to get directions to the house!

Sammy Update

Most of you might have heard through the grapevine that we had to take Sammy to the emergency room on Monday. He was admitted with a diagnosis of Bacterial Menengitis, which is worse than viral menegitis. I have never been so scared in all my life. I always knew that losing a child was my greatest fear. I was faced with that fear. The Doctor did tell us however that we came in early enough to have a little breathing room. It broke my heart as I had to turn my head into Albert's shoulder as they were doing a spinal tap on my 5 day old baby. It was even worse as I heard him scream from the nurses trying to get an IV into his tiny veins. They tried twice in each hand and twice in each ankle before the nurse finaly got one in his wrist.
We were told on Monday to expect to stay in the hospital from 10-14 days. But here I am on day 4 in my home with my baby again. PREISTHOOD BLESSINGS ARE REAL, PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED. Albert gave Sammy one of the most beautiful and most comforting blessings I have ever heard of in my life.
Yesterday morning when the doctor came in he told us that the bacteria in the culture they took from Sammy's spine had disappeared and looked like it was more viral. This morning he told me that the bacteria had completely disappeared and was replaced by a viras. Which is not really a big deal. The doctor said he had never seen anything like that happen before. Again I say..........PRAYERS ARE ANSWERE!
I finally got my camera and computer working together again so here are some pics of our new addition. Including a pic of Sammy in Children's hospital with all his IVs and tubes. (so sad)

Samuel Ricardo Angola

He is here. He weighed 8lbs 3 oz. 20 1/2 inches long. and yes.......lots and lots of thick black hair. We are both ok. and at home. pictures to soon come

Stay at home Mom

I have been a stay at home mother for a total of 2 days now, and I am already a little frustrated. Day 1 was perfect. Benji and I read books, played outside, I got some cleaning done, and even had dinner ready for Albert. Day 2 was going pretty good. We woke up, had breakfast then went to the pool Benji's swim lessons. After that I had to run to the post office do deliver a package to Albert's Brother. That is where my troubles began. Benji was running everywhere, threw a fit, and even ran out the door into the parking lot. I knew Benji was a very active kid, but I've never seen him act out like that before.
So here is my question to all the mothers out there.......How do you run errands while controlling your children's behavior?
I believe in spanking, as long as it is controlled and with love, however, I do not spank in public. Am I right in doing this? I highly doubt that even if I did give Benji a good spanking he would have acted much better. So I want to know what other moms do to discipline effectively.
Needless to say I am a little down trodden. The general thought running through my head is, if I cant even control one kid, how am I going to handle 2 next week, and 3 in August when we get Gabby? Any advice will help!

Albert and Katina

A montage of us. Plus some sites of Bolivia and El Salvador.....Sorry Stephanie, it was the only pic I had with both Albert and I in the mission.