Family Photos

I am SO incredibly pleased with our family photos this year. I love photos anyway, but these turned out great. A friend was offering to take family photos as a fundraiser for her upcoming adoption of a little boy in Ethiopia. I jumped at the opportunity. A family photo AND an adoption fundraiser...double the fun!!

Lil' Pumpkins

I took my Lil' Pumpkins to a pumpkin patch and attempted to get some fun "Fall" pictures.

We certainly had fun...

We took pictures...

But, I am starting to think that maybe pumpkin orange backgrounds are not our thing. The brightly colored clothes we tend to wear may be throwing off the whole "Fall" look...

There is also the "squinting" into the sunlight facial expressions we are often sporting...

I think we will just focus on the "fun" part of going to the pumpkin patch....and all the candid photo opportunities that brings....and leave the Fall calendar-worthy photos to other families.

Rolling Around

I had no idea that roller skates came in such small sizes...

We went on a family outing to the roller rink on Saturday. We had never actually been there before, even though it is fairly close to our house. The older 3 kids have their own skates, received as gifts from Granny & PawPaw in recent years. They have enjoyed learning to skate inside our house. We have talked about taking them to the roller rink for over a year now. It took us this long to finally go.

The Referee and I have not been roller skating since we were 12 or 13 years old. I am pretty sure that roller rinks have not been updated since then. The rink was the same. The carpet was the same. The music was the same. I did not dare check to see if those 70's and 80's decade hits were being broadcast from a record player or tape deck.

I was really enjoying re-living my past with my kids in tow. Granted, I do not skate like I used to. I did not even dare try the limbo. Actually, I clung to the wall and actually panicked at the thought of my body falling to the ground. I was certain I would not bounce back from a fall, like I used to. Jersey #2 skated past me so fast that her wind nearly knocked me over. Yep, I'm getting old.

We were not sure how the kids would react to the roller rink experience. I was really surprised it was such a family-friendly place. Granted, we chose to go during the specific skate session that was listed as "family skate," geared for younger children. (I'm pretty sure we want to stay away from teen night.) They had skates in every size, including toddler sizes for Jersey #5.

At first, Jersey #3 did not want to skate. He wanted to play arcade games. After learning that his choices were to skate or to sit near the rink and watch his family skate, he decided to lace up. Jersey #5 protested those heavy skates being put on his feet. He cried. We held him and walked/skated around the benches. He calmed down and decided to try to stand on his own. He fell down and thought that was hilarious. He proceeded to attempt to stand up on his own, fall down, and giggle. Jersey #4 wanted to skate, but took a while to figure out how to keep her legs straight. Helping her skate was much like trying to help an octopus skate. She had arms and legs flailing everywhere.

It didn't take us long to find our balance in the carpeted area...

The rink itself, took much more courage.

By the end of the session, Jersey #2 and The Referee were skating all over the rink.

Jersey #1 and I preferred the slow-n-steady path next to the wall.

After his first fall on the rink floor, Jersey #3 decided the carpet was a much nicer place to skate.

Jersey #4 surprised me with her fearless approach. As soon as she got her octopus legs figured out, she was ready to get out on the rink floor. I kept trying to hold her back, thinking she would get hurt. As soon as I was distracted with one of her brothers, she started inching her way out onto the rink. She would hold the wall and skate at a snail's pace, but she was out there. I finally gave in, and took her for a little spin...

We almost made it out of the place without injury....

until Jersey #5 skated into the wall and busted his lip...

He is a tough kid. A little break from skating, a little snack, and wiping his blood on Mom's shoulder fixed him right up...

Ah, family memories.

Good times.

The Employment Roller Coaster

I think it may be safe to say that the employment roller coaster ride has finally come to a halt.

My head is still spinning. I need to pick my guts up off the floor. My pulse rate is starting to return to normal.

Thankfully, all of the drops, spins, lurching, twists, loop-de-loops, and screams have stopped.

I hope.

It ended well. We are walking away from the ride, smiling, and chattering with delight.

I completed my day-shift training. I begin my evening shift schedule next week. I am looking forward to settling in to that employment schedule and seeing how it works for us. The job has been good. The time away from the kids has not. I am hoping that there will be less of an emotional effect on us if the kids are sleeping through half my shift instead.

The Referee has officially been laid-off from his employer...and has officially accepted a new employer. In the end, the job is the same. It is contracted work to a specific location. So, the work remains, but the hired contractor changes. The job duties are the same, but the name on his paychecks changes.

There were two companies pursuing his employment. This was a fun way to face lay-off. When he told both companies his lay-off date, his desired start date, and that another company was also offering him employment, they kicked into high gear to make him an offer he would not want to refuse.

Both companies offer medical insurance benefits to meet our needs. We need coverage that spans the country, not just the state, because Jersey #2 has a cardiologist in one state, and a surgeon in another. There can be no lapse in her coverage. Being able to provide for her health care is one of our very top priorities. As soon as The Referee made this point known, both companies were fast to share that they offer the benefit, and that it would take effect the first day of his employment. That was a huge relief!

With medical insurance needs out of the way, The Referee was free to pursue career advancement. He told both companies what job title and salary range he was seeking. I was impressed by how well he knew exactly what he wanted for his career at this time. He used this opportunity to promote to the level he felt he needed to be classified. It helped that he is already enrolled in a Masters Certificate program, showing he is currently working to grow in his career. It worked! Both companies offered him a promotion and salary increase.

In the end, The Referee really surprised me by taking the most "stable" job offer, instead of the "coolest" job offer. All week, he had been leaning toward one company. But, when the details came forward, that contract funding was expected to be unstable through this next year, he changed his focus. He decided to go with the bigger company, who is better equipped to absorb the funding instability a little smoother. It was a tough decision. It was the right decision.

He starts his new job on Monday.

The blessings continue to pour in. The Referee's supervisor made a point to categorize his lay-off in the way that yielded the highest severance package. We were not expecting a severance, considering he was moving to a new job as quickly as he could. We have already made the decision to put the severance check into our emergency fund. With the instability of the job contracts, we could use a larger rainy-day savings.

The company he declined has already called again. They just wanted to make sure his decision was not about the money...because they were prepared to offer more. The Referee took the time to explain his need for more paycheck stability. He has a lot of mouths to feed, and just cannot risk being on furlough every few weeks. They understood fully, but asked for his patience as they attempt to approach him a few more times in the future. I find their persistence to be refreshing and amusing.

I am looking forward to this next week. I begin the evening shift. The Referee begins his new job. I am hoping the transition is smooth. It would be nice to have our feet on solid ground for a while.

End of Season

The Upward Flag Football & Cheerleading season is officially complete. Our family attended the award ceremony this evening. It is a great event. In addition to fun door prizes, slideshows, prayers, and music, there is usually an entertainer who performs and brings a positive message. Tonight's entertainer was a juggler. He had incredible talent, and captured the kids' attention the entire show.

At the end of the event, the teams lined up for the "parade of champions." There was an inflatable tunnel that each child ran through as their name was called. Our children beamed with pride as they ran through the tunnel to the front of the stage.

Jersey #1

Jersey #2

Jersey #3

Each player was given a gift. The cheerleaders received backpacks. The football players received footballs. Fun Stuff.

Football Fun

Flag Football has been a fun experience with Jersey #3. He loves balls. He loves sports. Right now, we don't see a favorite sport emerging for him yet.

Kindergarteners in sports are very entertaining for the parents. There has been more than one situation where Jersey #3 attempted to run the football through the opposing team's goal line. He tends to want to run away from the crowd.

It took him half the season to realize that he can pull the flag of the person running the ball. That discovery made the game much more engaging for him, when his team was on defense.

Snack time after the game is still his favorite part of playing team sports.

What a Sport!

Jersey #1 is a good sport at just about anything she does...

She tries her best, and takes it all in stride...

She makes friends with everyone on the team.

I expected her to be more timid and shy about performing in front of the crowd. She really surprised me by how well she goes forward. She learns the routines well, and concentrates to complete each cheer accurately.

Once in a while, she smiles and looks like she is actually enjoying herself...

Two games ago, she asked me if girls can play football too. The answer is yes.

She says cheerleading was fun, but next year she wants to sign up for the football team.

That's MY girl!

She's Got Spirit

There was a time when I thought it was absolutely crazy for me to volunteer to be a cheerleading coach, just so my girls could benefit from the Upward Cheerleading program. I had my reasons--lack of experience, lack of skill, and lack of bounciness.

We are now half-way through the flag football/cheerleading season. I am so glad I decided to coach, after all.

It turns out that Jersey #2 LOVES cheerleading. She has rhythm. She has bounce. She has energy. She loves the crowd. She loves the attention. She is having a blast!

When I think about the status of her health in recent years, the big open-heart surgery, and her amazing recovery, I can't help but be thrilled that she has the energy to cheer with all her might.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Her enthusiasm is contagious.


It turns out, I am having a blast coaching cheerleading too.

Car Seat Limits

Hand-me-downs are usually quite common in families with multiple children.

But, when it comes to child-restraint car seats, Jersey #5 has been giving us new experiences.

When Jersey #5 was born, he came home from the hospital in a brand new infant car seat...

When we took our former infant car seat out of its place of storage, and prepared to install it in the van, we learned that car seats expire. 5 or 6 years is all ours was meant to last.

I knew that we are suppose to replace the children's car seats, if they are ever involved in a vehicle collision. At the time, I did not realize there is an expiration date as well. It was printed clearly on the manufacturer's label. So, I made a trip to the baby-supply store, and purchased a new infant car seat, for my Jersey #5.

Two years later, Jersey #5 is once again enjoying a brand new car seat. We gave it to him as one of his birthday presents...

This time, the expiration date was not the issue. This time, I learned that car seats also have a weight limit.

Oh my!

The car seat that we were using had a weight limit of 40 pounds.

Jersey #5 weighed 37 pounds on his 2nd birthday. He will not be developmentally ready for a booster seat (that uses the vehicle seat belts to restrain the child) for at least another year or so. I am pretty sure it is safe to assume that he may gain those 3 pounds (or more) in the next year, and bust the weight limit of the car seat.

Thankfully, I am not the only parent with this problem, and the car seat manufacturers have a product to meet my needs...

There are car seats for children who need the 5-point harness restraint, that hold up to 65 pounds.

I had no idea such a product existed, but I am certainly glad it does. None of my other children pushed the weight limit of their car seat. For the most part, my children tend to grow on height/weight curves that run above the average. Usually, my biggest challenge is fitting their seat belts to their great height requirements. This is the first time weight has been an issue too.

Jersey #5 has been larger than each of his siblings at any time point (except birth). He is currently taller and heavier than every single 2-year old we meet. He is actually bigger than most 3-year olds we know too (including being heavier than Jersey #4). Thankfully, he maintains healthy growth proportions. He simply represents the 95th percentile of those childhood growth curves, for all categories...height, weight, and head circumference.

As a result, he gets to enjoy brand new car seats to help keep him safe...

Employment Praises

HALLELUJAH!!!!

Great relief has swept through our household.

We have been in the midst of a long, drawn-out saga regarding the stability of the company that The Referee currently works for. A major contract that funded them ended. The renewal contract did not get renewed. We feared that lay-off was right around the corner. Any day now. The news could arrive any day...

Well, that date is set. October 14th. That is the last day The Referee has funded work. After that day, the company can no longer guarantee him a paycheck. Ironically, the day he celebrated 2 years of being employed with this company, he was informed that they no longer had work for him.

Out of the blue, a fantastic twist occurred in this story. Our prayers have been answered...

Another company has been watching this saga for over a year. They have been watching and waiting. Now, they are swooping in.

A small team of folks from this other company asked for a meeting with The Referee and a handful of his coworkers. They offered everyone a job. Same job duties. Same pay. New boss.

HALLELUJAH!

The new company says they are prepared to start The Referee the day he is out of coverage at his current job. That would certainly help us maintain steady medical coverage, with no breaks.

The Referee considered his options. He approached his supervisor to discuss the situation. Even if his current company could find him other coverage, they cannot guarantee it past mid-December. His supervisor assured him that he was aware that the other company was offering him a job. There will be no hard feelings if he takes that job. He has many mouths to feed. He must do what is best for his family.

He can take the new job in clear conscience. What a relief!

He has a new job opportunity. What a blessing!

The new employer offers the medical benefits we need. Our prayers are answered!

HALLELUJAH!

God is Good!

5K

I DID IT!

I RAN A 5K RACE!

I followed the Couch to 5K training program. It worked! In just 9 weeks, I was able to go from sedentary beginner to being able to run 3.1 miles. I am amazed! And proud! I feel a great sense of accomplishment to set such a goal and complete it.

I thought it was very convenient and appropriate that my 5K debut race was a pro-life event....a fundraiser for Right to Life. That certainly fits my values.

My family went with me to cheer me on. It was a great family event. They had a jumper and games for the kids, so they were very busy having fun while I ran the race...

They did take time out of their play to watch me cross the finish line...

Overall, the race went very well. I was already confident I could run 3 miles total, because I had done a couple of those long runs as part of my training. I was not sure how much different the course would be, since it included a dirt path instead of concrete. Uneven ground is tougher on the knees and ankles, but I managed just fine.

I was very nervous about being so slow. I was afraid the entire event would be over, and everyone would go home, and I would still be running. I was hoping that the walkers wouldn't all pass me up. It turns out, I did not have much to worry about. Yes, I was slow. Yes, the majority of the runners left me in their dust.

But, very few walkers passed me up. Most who did were doing a run/walk interval throughout the race. In the first mile, I did get passed by a 3-year old boy. Twice. He had to stop off the trail to use the restroom, so I passed him briefly. He then sprinted past me, yelling to his Mom, "let's run!" He didn't keep up that pace. He and his Mom ducked out early, and he finished in a stroller. I liked his enthusiasm for running though.

The course was neat in that it went out for the first half of the race, then looped back for the 2nd half. So, it wasn't long before I could see the runners returning, making it look like I was still part of the group. There was also a 1 mile run/walk event. That race started at a different start point, 30 minutes after the 5K began. Everyone finished at the same finish line. So, even though all of the 5K runners were faster than me, I actually finished the race with some of the slower 1 mile runners. There were plenty of walkers after that, so I was not even the last to finish. I appreciated that.

I am so pleased that I ran an entire 5K race. I had so much fun too. I want to keep running regularly, and sign up for more races in the near future.

I can't believe I am actually saying this:

I like running.