TIME WITH DADDY

Well one nice thing of Jimmy being laid-off is that we have had so much time together. Well let's be honest here, sometimes it isn't so fun. It's hard to have a man home all day when you are used to your own groove....they mess things up. I've learned a lot though about what keeps me sane and patient with the kids throughout the day. I felt neither of those the first week he was home, but it seems to be neutralizing now. Jimmy has learned to help keep things clean throughout the day, and I learned to let some things go and take advantage of having someone around that can always take the baby so I can get stuff done. In general though, it has been nice. Jimmy was gone SOO much with his job. Always doing overtime and working Saturdays and evenings. That, on top of being in school, meant we didn't see him too much, and when we did, there was stuff to get done.

Things on the job front are looking positive. He somehow has had some great connections in a couple of places. The job he really wants should have an opening Dec/Jan, but there is another job he's hoping to get in the next week because of an old manager (the same manager that got him in the upstairs department at SallieMae). The latter job is comparable to what he was doing at SallieMae, which he excels at and would be good, but the first job, that we really want him to get, is with a company that he would potentially stay with until retirement. Anyway, there's the update. Please keep up on the prayers...the fact that Heavenly Father is aware of what we need now and in the future for our family has been obvious, and we know that good things will come from this even if it doesn't work out the way we pictured it.

We went to Madison's free zoo this week to get out of the house. It was gorgeous out, and there was barely anyone there. It was a wonderful time. Brooklyn even peed in the big public toilets! We got to see most of the animals they have. The pictures are from a nice area they have by their parking lot. It was just a

perfect day!