AWANA Games

AWANA Games is a half-day of fun and competition. Teams of kids from AWANA clubs around town meet up in a gym and compete against each other in a series of games that include running, bean bags, balloons, tug-of-war, and noodles. They are many of the same games that are played at AWANA each week. The kids have a blast.

This year, we had 3 kids participate in AWANA Games. Two participated in Sparky Games, and two participated in T&T Games. Does it seem odd that we made 4 participants out of 3 kids? The answer is that Jersey #2 was able to participate in both events. Being a 2nd grader, and a younger sister, has its privelages. 2nd graders (the oldest Sparky's) can "play up" to help form more participants for the T&T games. Since her older sister was signed up for T&T Games, Jersey #2 was recruited too.

Last Saturday, we loaded up the whole family and went to the Games.

This was the largest AWANA Games event we have attended. It seems more and more churches are offering AWANA. More and more clubs are participating in Games. We saw many folks we already knew, from various other kids programs around town.

There were 4 circles set up in the gym. Each circle had the ability to hold 4 teams. Our kids were on Green teams. The AWANA colors are Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow.

I managed to get at least 1 good picture of each kid participating in a game event.

At the end of the Games, awards were given. There was a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place for every circle.

For T&T Games, Jersey #1 was on a 1st place team. Jersey #2 was on a 3rd place team...

For Sparky Games, Jersey #2 was on a First place team, and Jersey #3 was on a 2nd place team. They also received a patch for their AWANA vests.

Sometimes there are clubs who do not have enough players to form an entire team. When that happens, kids are recruited from one team to another to help out. For T&T Games, Jersey #2 was recruited to help another club. The incentive for being a good sport about switching teams is that the player receives the awards for the team they are on, AND for the team they came from. In this case, Jersey #2 received the 3rd place awards from the team she was on, and the 1st place awards from the team she belonged to originally. Getting double awards just made her day!

Jersey #4 was a restless spectator. She looked for every opportunity to leave the stands and go to the restroom, or to seek a snack from the concession stand.

Jersey #5 started was a happy spectator originally. He clapped. He cheered. He climbed up and down the bleachers, pointing out each of his siblings.

But, a few hours later, he was a sleepy spectator, unable to endure the entire event. He fell asleep on the bleacher, mid-clap, and had to be carried to the van when Games were over.

We Like To Eat

Recently, all of my children have been asked what foods they like to eat. Their answers certainly fit their personalities and differences.

When our family doctor asked what her favorite foods were, Jersey #1 gave him a full explanation:

"I love bread. I eat a lot of carbs. So, my Mom reminds me to eat some vegetables and protein so that I don't get a tummy ache. If I only eat a bunch of bread and drink Dr. Pepper, it makes my stomach hurt."

The doctor confirmed that Mom is right, and she needs protein and vegetables too. He also praised her for having a good grasp on nutrition.

Jersey #2 and Jersey #4 had well-child check-ups this week, and the doctor asked each of them what was their favorite thing to eat.

Jersey #4 answered: "bread....and milk."

The doctor looked up at me and saw the surprise on my face. I was certain she was going to say powdered sugar donuts. He assured me that bread and milk were good favorites for a 4-year old.


Jersey #2 answered: "strawberries."

This is so true. The child can eat an entire quart of strawberries in one sitting, without sharing. Strawberries never go to waste at our house. She made the doctor laugh when she told him that she likes to eat all the strawberries and not share with her siblings.


As I was driving home from the doctor's office, I was pondering food. The kids were telling the truth about what their favorite foods were. The part I was pondering was the fact that if ever asked what MY favorite food is, I always answer: cheeseburgers.

I prefer cheeseburgers. My daughters prefer bread, carbs (bread & pasta), and strawberries.

Hmmm. Is it any wonder why they are slim and I am overweight? I think I might see a connection here.



Jersey #3 made us laugh when he announced that ALL food was his favorite.

That is so true. He has not mentioned a single food that he does not like. He is always hungry. He eats every two hours, and has since birth. He tells me every day that the meal I just served him was the best "lunch" ever. (Yes, every meal is lunch, according to Jersey #3).


Jersey #5 was asked by his AWANA teacher what was his favorite food. He answered: "Cheetos and bananas."

It sounds like he likes to snack.

Hot Topics: Pacifiers

I was at the dentist the other day....completely on my own, without any children in tow....and happened upon a conversation about pacifiers. The office had a news show on the television, and a segment came up about some celebrity's child who was caught in photographs with a pacifier in her mouth. She was 4. This was apparently newsworthy.

I was appalled. A pacifier at age 4 is national news? Wow. There must not be much going on in the world, if this is the sort of thing that people are getting upset about. Sure enough, experts were brought in to discuss this breaking news topic. One expert was a Mom who never let her children go near a pacifier. One expert was a physician, who was going to give us all the appropriate response to pacifiers. One expert was a Mom who did not think pacifiers were much of a problem. Judging from the way the newscasters were acting about the subject, I knew that last Mom was going to get eaten alive on this program.

Thankfully, I missed the rest of the segment, as the dentist approached and was getting ready to work on my teeth. His hygienist could not resist sharing her thoughts on the subject while they got things ready. Her comments made me wonder if she even had any children.....or if she had even been around any children. I know that I knew a whole lot more about parenting before I ever had any children. The more kids I have, the less I know about what is best.

The hygienist began to explain to me that children should not use pacifiers after their teeth come in, because it could move their teeth out of alignment. I stared in awe, wondering if she knew what age teeth arrived in a baby's mouth. That would really limit pacifier use, if the arrival of teeth were the limit. I tried not to laugh as I thought about the number of times I have seen a toddler hold their pacifier to the side of their mouth, using their teeth. Kids can get really creative with the combination of teeth and pacifiers.

I didn't say anything. I just listened. I am really not passionate about pacifiers. Some parents like them, some don't. Some kids like them....some kids REALLY like them....and some kids don't. I really can't see where the world is going to come to an end if a child does or does not take a pacifier, for whatever length of time. There are so many choices that parents have to make for what is best for their children. Adding more rules, fears, and stigmas is not helping grow great parents.

When the hygienist was finished giving me her report on the damage that pacifiers do to teeth, she turned to the dentist for affirmation that she was correct. I really had to work hard to not bust out laughing at his response. This man has been around the block a few times. He has seen it all. He simply said that he has not recalled ever putting a person in braces because they took a pacifier. He knew of some thumb-suckers who moved their teeth. Some. He said that some people have teeth that move easily and some people just have crooked teeth.

Then, he added that if a child was already showing signs of crooked teeth....and already going to need braces....then you may as well let them have the pacifier and enjoy themselves, because that need for braces is in their future regardless.

Lunch Date With Daddy

Jersey #4 got to enjoy lunch out with Daddy today. She had a blast.

This is a birthday tradition that The Referee started many years ago, when Jersey #1 was a preschooler. He takes each child out to lunch for their birthday. Just the 1 child and Daddy. It is such a sweet tradition. I just love it. I know the kids love it too. They take great care to pick the restaurant they want to go to.

The Referee takes great care to fit the birthday lunches into his busy work schedule. He makes a point to let the kids know that they are special to him. So special, that he makes time for them.

It is also nice to be an "only" child once in a while, and get all of Daddy's attention. That is a rare treat for a child in a large family. It is entertaining to see the kids react. Jersey #4 smiled so big as she got to go off with Daddy on her own. The Referee reported that she looked a bit surprised when she got to go get her food immediately after finding a table. (She didn't have to wait for any siblings to get settled first.)

I like this Daddy-date concept so much, that I am seeking a Mommy-date version to implement now too. I don't want to detract from the special tradition that The Referee has established. I just want a piece of that sweetness too. I've thought about a movie night, or an activity with Mommy. I'm still brainstorming. With Jersey #1, I took her shopping at the mall for an afternoon. I have not yet decided what to do for some special time with Jersey #4. I hope to figure that out soon.

Number 4 Turns 4

We enjoyed a VERY full weekend of birthday celebration. Jersey #4 is FOUR!

It just doesn't seem possible that she could be 4 already, but I know it is true. As I reflect back on her birth, and raising her to this point, I realize that I am more surprised that I made it through these past 4 years of being her Mom.

She is a handful......all by herself. When God takes that much beauty and that much brains, and wraps it into one package, adding in a level of determination that is undefined...the result is one frazzled, worn-out, humble mommy who is constantly entertained by the depth of my experience raising this child.

I have never met another child like her.

There are parts of her that resemble others in our family, so we are pretty certain she is ours. She looks like a duplicate copy of Jersey #1. She has a strong will, like Jersey #2. She also pays attention to detail, knows what she wants, and knows how to behave.

As soon as we think we have a grasp on her, she throws us for a loop. As an infant and toddler, she did not like anyone. She was not friendly or social in any way. At 4 years old, she loves being the center of attention. It was not a gradual process--it was as quick as the flip of a light switch. That is how she operates. She goes in one direction right until we think we have her figured out, then "flip" she switches course. I is always an adventure with her.

Jersey #4 led us on an adventure with her birth. Starting in the womb, she was in a footling breech position. She was standing on one foot like a flamingo, refusing to be born head-first like majority of the other babies of the world. We used modern medicine to our advantage, and she was born feet-first, via c-section. She made sure to disrupt the c-section plans, by starting labor 2 days earlier than scheduled.

From the moment she was born, Jersey #4 has been in charge. It took mere minutes for the doctors and nurses to give in to her wails, regardless of hospital protocols. It took her less than 24 hours home to have every member of our family running the moment she cried. She demanded her attention and care, on her terms, in her time. I have never seen anything like it, and I was suppose to be a "seasoned" parent by then.

Each year, the adventure continues. She caught the flu for her 1st birthday, forcing us to cancel her party.

Going against the norm, once again, age 2 with Jersey #4 was probably the easiest age so far...

By age 3, she was certain that the birth order of our family was incorrect, and she should be the firstborn instead.

She loves to try to do everything her older siblings can do. When she masters a development younger than they do, it causes quite a stir. That fuels her to try even harder....to upset them even more. The way she can dribble a basketball already, makes me wonder what she will be like when she is old enough to play sports.

Her early interest in "schoolwork" makes me wonder where she will go academically.

I can't even begin to predict where this precious child will take us. I do know one thing for certain--buckle up, we are bound for adventure!

No one said parenting is easy. Jersey #4 reminds us of this truth on a daily basis.

Let the adventure continue...

The Boy Can READ!

We have one proud fella here at our house.

Jersey #3 can READ!

It was a landmark day when he sat down and read Green Eggs and Ham to me. He calls that a "real" book. Apparently, the little paper readers we have with our homeschool curriculum are not fooling anyone. Our kids do not consider them real books for some reason.

That's Ok. I've got a whole shelf of "real" books for my new readers to tackle when they reach this point. Jersey #3 was thrilled to realize he can pick up other books and read them too. His confidence has soared.

I am proud. I am pleased. Mostly, I am relieved. Whew!

This boy has never been as easy as either of his older sisters. (His younger sister is no piece of cake either, so I have a double whammy coming at me with these two in the middle). He was not an easy baby. He refused to participate in preschool. (His actual statement to me was, "Mom, I am too young for school...I am only three!") So, I really should not have been surprised that kindergarten has been a challenge.

Our entire focus for kindergarten is teaching our children to read. If a child can read well, they can learn anything. A child who cannot read well, typically has decreased confidence about their educational abilities. We want our children to read well.

It was easy enough with Jersey #1. I waited too long, thinking she was suppose to be in kindergarten before I taught her to read, and she ended up teaching herself. The summer before kindergarten, she would start spelling out words she saw and street signs, and ask me what they said. It didn't take her long to figure out how to take the sounds each letter made, and put them together to make words. By the time I actually pulled out my well-researched "perfect" curriculum I wanted to use to teach her to read, she had already blazed through half of the process on her own. She was reading easy readers to me her first week of kindergarten. So much for the perfect curriculum.

I started earlier with Jersey #2, using my perfect curriculum. She was eager to learn. She caught on immediately. She was reading the summer before kindergarten. I wish I could credit my curriculum. But, it really is not perfect. It is organized and clear, at best. But, Jersey #2 is a whiz kid, and no curriculum can take credit for that. (I wonder if I can take credit for it, though? Can we say she has MY genetics that is making her so smart? Hmmm, I think I may be on to something here....)

After the whole "I'm too young for school" attitude with Jersey #3, I did not even push reading prior to kindergarten. Actually, we started off a bit slower even when he started kindergarten. I started to wonder if I could just get a kindergarten curriculum for the Wii? It didn't take him long to realize he was ready for school, and actually enjoyed it. He has been very cooperative in his studies. It turns out, he is a natural at math.

He was willing to learn to read. But, he was not able. This was a new experience for me.

He struggled with the orientation of letters. A visual-spatial thing. As far as he was concerned, there was no difference between M or W. Same thing with b or d. I am suspicious it has something to do with his ambidextrous abilities.

It took months for him to figure out a system to identify each letter as a separate letter from its mirror-image counterpart. I was starting to worry. The Referee assured me that most kids do not even learn to read until 1st grade, so there was no reason to worry about kindergarten.

Then, one day, he asked me, "is that a "b" or a "d"?"

He finally realized they were TWO different letters.

From that point forward, his reading progression began to actually progress. He started identifying each letter and its sound. He started blending a consonant and a short vowel. Then, he started reading 3-letter words (with short vowels).

Then, we hit a bump in the road with the sight word, "the". That is a difficult word to pronounce when you are missing so many front teeth. It took 3 weeks for him to reach a point of recognizing it, and pronouncing it consistently.

After he grasped "the", he grasped long vowels. THAT was the point when I realized he was actually reading. His confidence increased more and more as he was reading those little paper readers.

The day he read a reader without my assistance, I pulled out Dr. Seuss.

He chose Green Eggs and Ham. It is has lots of repetition. That helps me see how much he is retaining, after he learns a word the first time.

The more he read, the more he smiled.

When he finished the last page, he shouted, danced, and gave us all a high-five! His excitement was contagious.

Sick Days

We have been having a lot of sick days around here, for the past month.

I am growing suspicious that the children's museum we visit frequently is the germ culprit. There is such a pattern with visiting there on Monday, and Jersey #5 coughing through the night by Wednesday. We took a week off, then it will be Spring Break. So, I am hoping to get everyone healed again in that time. Part of me wonders if we should return for science classes there for the rest of the semester, or if I should just cut my losses and not return for a while.

I am not normally a germ-a-phobic individual. Actually, I am a big fan of natural immunity, letting kids get dirty, and childhood fun. I teach the kids to wash their hands, as the best means for staying healthy. Even with a daughter who is a heart patient, I consider myself realistic in the precautions we take.....more precautions when she is weakest, and less precautions when she is healthy.

I find myself in unfamiliar territory now. Jersey #5 seems to catch a cold, cough, or some sort of upper respiratory infection every other week. He takes longer to get over them. He gets so congested. To make matters worse, he is already allergic to 2 classes of antibiotics, so his treatment options are not as open as my other children. We try to let more illnesses run their course with him, before rushing to the doctor, and hope that his respiratory tract grows stronger as he grows. A little Tylenol and/or Benedryl at bedtime goes a long way for helping him sleep and breathe, pain free.

Lately, staying home in our PJs, resting more seems to be the best medicine for him. He sleeps a lot more when he is sick, which is a trait he must get from his Momma and his PawPaw. We both do the same thing. Resting at home has become such a frequent thing in the past month, it is really helping me see where my real priorities are.

It is hard to see the little ones sick like this. I had really been hoping that the warm weather would bring a healthier winter all around. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

Can it be summer time yet?

Running Shoes

I finally bought a real pair of running shoes.

Yes, I am way late on this. Running shoes are expensive. I had no idea how truly valuable they are.

But, I knew that I wanted some. Most running information I have read talks about a good pair of running shoes being worth the cost.

So, I decided that I would take my birthday money this year, and buy myself a pair of running shoes.

My birthday was a month ago. I finally made it to the store to buy the shoes this week. I have been that busy.

I went to a store that was recommended by a friend. It happened to be near the church where the kids go to AWANA, so I took the opportunity to shop after I dropped the older 3 off for AWANA Games practice.

To say I was impressed is an understatement. I had no idea that running shoe shopping could be this cool.

The store folks were awesome. I admitted right from the start that I needed running shoes. I had never bought them before. And, the folks who tell me I need them also told me to come to this store. The sales lady was thrilled. It turns out she was the owner. Her niece fitted me for shoes, while she talked me through the process. It was process.

First, they had me take off my shoes and walk on a treadmill for a couple minutes. They had a camera set up to monitor my gait while I walked. It was no shock to me when they informed me that my arches collapse as I walk, because I walk inward. Yes, my parents have noticed this my entire life. When I was younger, I ran really funny. I would like to say that I have improved in that, but I think I still run funny. The shoe lady says it is my pronation that is my problem, and that there are shoes that are designed to remedy that. The shoes will keep my arches intact, which will align my knees and hips, which is suppose to reduce risk of injury.

All of that sounded awesome. When I started trying on the shoes, I learned that she was speaking the truth.

I still can't believe that a pair of shoes can support my heels and arches this way. My feet feel so good in my new shoes. I wore them out of the store, just like a kid. I wore them all night at work. I actually wondered if I could wear them to bed.

I can't wait to try them out on the track.

School Supplies

Granny & PawPaw gave the children an old-fashioned classroom pencil sharpener for Christmas.

Granny told the story about how when she was a kid, she loved sharpening her pencil because it was the only acceptable reason to get out of her seat. She joked about times when the pencil would be sharpened down to the nub, as she stared off out the window, daydreaming while she sharpened.

Granny wanted her grandbabies to enjoy such fun. Since most of the grandchildren (including our children) are homeschooled, the odds of them having this pencil sharpening/daydreaming experience are slim.

Also, technology has advanced. We have an electric pencil sharpener in our schoolroom.

The kids love the old-fashioned pencil sharpener from Granny & PawPaw. They have been sharpening pencils all morning.

Jersey #2 is making it her job to sharpen every pencil in the house.

Jersey #5 decided to try to sharpen an ink pen. (For a moment there, I thought he had broken the sharpener, but I managed to unjam it and pull out the shredded pen).

It turns out, this old fashioned sharpener does a much better job than our electric sharpener. The kids are amazed by how sharp their pencils become.

I saw the opportunity and informed them that their school work needs to be neater now that they have sharper pencils! Ha! Sometimes, I crack myself up.

Friendly Competition

This particular little sister is causing quite a stir at our house...

She has grown brave enough to hang from the monkey bars, and even drop to the ground. So far, she can make it across to the 2nd rung.

Considering Jersey #2 was 7 years old before she crossed the monkey bars entirely on her own, she is upset that her little sister is working on it at a younger age.

It is worse for Jersey #3. He is older. He is the big brother. He does not want his little sister accomplishing something that he is too scared to do.

At first, they both wanted me to make Jersey #4 stop.

Instead, I praised her for her bravery and advised her to land on her feet or butt. She beamed with pride.

Jersey #3 and Jersey #2 set out to accomplish more. Their response fueled Jersey #4 to try even harder to get across those monkey bars.

This competition went on for a few days around here. It has been highly entertaining. I have enjoyed how much they are playing outdoors, strengthening their arms like this.



The sibling order has been restored today: Jersey #3 crossed the entire monkey bars on his own this morning, and dropped to the ground at the end.

His little sister is still on rung 2, so that makes him feel much better.


Jersey #2 decided to "raise the bar" by skipping bars as she went across. Now that she has accomplished something even more impressive, she feels on top of the world again.

This sparked Jersey #1 into action. She has been able to cross the monkey bars for a while now. Her height eliminated the fear of dropping a long time ago. She does not usually push herself into more daring physical tasks, so she did not even consider skipping bars as she went across.

She did not want her little sister (Jersey #2) to show her up, so she tried skipping bars too. She can do it already. Whew! The sibling order remains restored.

Since I would not even allow Jersey #5 to swing out on the monkey bars, the kids can rest at ease a while longer that baby brother is not going to show them up....

....at least not this week.

I Love AWANA

I cannot seem to say enough positive things about AWANA. I am constantly reminded of how awesome this program is. It is helping me achieve major goals for my children.

Initially, I looked at AWANA as a club, similar to scouts. The kids make crafts, sing songs, hear stories, eat snacks, and play games. It is a Bible club, so they memorize Bible verses to earn patches for their uniform. When Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 were in Cubbies, I thought of AWANA as a fun activity for preschoolers.

Then, I had an experience at Vacation Bible School that changed my viewpoint. There was a boy who stood up in front of his peers and recited the Bible verse for each day of the VBS week. I was impressed. I wanted my kids to develop the skills to be able to stand before an audience and recite scripture. I asked his Mom, "how did you do that?" I wanted what she had accomplished with her child.

Her answer was simple, "We are an AWANA family."

I immediately started taking a closer look at AWANA. As the kids get older, I meet more and more "AWANA families." They expect their children to fully participate in AWANA, to complete the scripture work for a book each year. When a child goes through the AWANA program, completing a book a year, from 3rd grade through high school, they earn a "Citation Award" which is in equivalence to the Boy Scout Eagle Award and the Girl Scout Gold Award. That is now a goal for our family as well.

When Jersey #1 was in kindergarten, it was an AWANA activity that paved the way for her to accept Jesus as her Savior. She was learning so much scripture, learning about missionaries, and learning about prayer. In the end, it was me who learned the most about how a child comes to make such an important decision.

I also appreciate how AWANA provides group structure and activities for our homeschooled children. They participate in a classroom, meet kids who are nice (and sometimes not-so-nice), and have to obey other adults. It is a controlled environment that lets me see how they relate with the world.

The scripture memory is amazing. The kids memorize a ton of Bible verses. The part that stuns me is how they then recognize those verses in songs on the radio, in Pastor's sermon, in lessons at home, and in their Sunday school lessons. They start to understand as each verse is brought up in different contexts in their lives. Hiding the Word of God in their hearts is what it is all about!

This week, I enjoyed another opportunity to realize how great AWANA is. Jersey #1 and I visited an enrichment/tutoring program for homeschoolers. The kids attend class 1 day a week, and learn independent study skills, note-taking skills, and paper-writing skills. They have discussions and learn to think about things on their own. Jersey #1 felt so comfortable with the group and the topic, that she joined in the discussion, much to my surprise. As the other children were reading a specific Bible verse from their own Bibles, Jersey #1 raised her hand to participate. When the (surprised) teacher called on her, Jersey #1 explained that she did not have her Bible with her, but she did know that scripture by heart. She quoted it from the King James Version, which is written in Old English. The teacher followed-up with a question about who the "thy" was speaking about. Jersey #1 accurately answered, "God."

I sat in the back of the room, with my jaw dropped open, wondering who was this child and how did she learn such skills? I would never have done such a thing as a child. I would have been too shy and too nervous in such a new situation. Why does Jersey #1 have the confidence to speak up like this?

AWANA.

I love AWANA.

Caught Working

My supervisor took this photo of me. She was shocked by the workload on my bench that night. I had petri dishes EVERYWHERE! They were stacked on both sides of my lab bench, and filled an entire cart as well.

I was a bit embarrassed when she posted the picture on the bulletin board for all to see. I suppose I should just be happy she caught me working. That should come in handy around review time, right? Some of my coworkers joked that maybe management will begin to realize how big the workload really is in the lab.

Later, I decided to take a picture of the picture, for myself. I don't have many photos of me at work. My job tends to be one that has limited access to the public.

In the end, this not-so-glamorous photo is really a blessing.