AWANA Cubbies

We completed another year of AWANA Cubbies!

This year I stretched myself and tried something new:  I volunteered to be an official leader in the Cubbies program.  (Cubbies is the AWANA program for preschoolers).  In all the past years of my kids participating in AWANA, I had never signed up as a leader.  I would still attend club each week, and assist in the various classrooms.  But, this year, I made that official commitment.  It was a good experience.   

I had 2 kids in Cubbies this year.  Jersey #4 and Jersey #5 are 18 months apart in age, and 1 year apart in school.  The Cubbies program runs for 2 years, so they spent a year in the club together.  This was exactly the same thing that happened when Jersey #1 was 4 years old, and Jersey #2 was 3 years old.

At the end-of-year Cubbies Awards Potluck, we celebrated our year of accomplishments.  Even though he has been avoiding crowds, and finds large gatherings overwhelming, The Referee made a point to attend.  He has always attended their awards programs in the past, and he knew it was important to the children.  I was glad to see him too.  I remember how important it was for me that my own parents attended my awards programs when I was a kid, so I was glad he was making that effort for the kids.  I was also thankful to have the help.  One thing I did not consider when signing up for Cubbies Leader is that it would be hard to be a leader and supervise my own kids at the same time, during the awards night dinner!  With The Referee there to sit with the kids, I was free to roam as a leader.  Plus, knowing how much I cherish pictures, The Referee offered to take some photos for me too.  What a blessing!

This was our 6th year in a row of attending a Cubbies Awards Program.  Our family started AWANA when Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 were both in Cubbies together.  Jersey #1 only completed one year of Cubbies (since she started at age 4), and then moved on to Sparks.  Jersey #2 completed her 2nd year, followed by 2 years for Jersey #3.  Jersey #4 completed one year alone as well, then had her little brother with her for her 2nd year.  Next year, when we graduate our final Cubbie, that will mark 7 years in a row of being part of the AWANA Cubbie program! 

It was so much easier this year, with our two youngest children in Cubbies.  In years past, we had toddlers and babies to hold, carry, stroll, and entertain.  Two preschoolers are much easier to manage.  (As one friend described it, "life is just more challenging with a baby and a toddler, regardless of how many children you have").   

The Awards Dinner went great.  Jersey #4 is very excited to move up to the Sparks program in the Fall.  Most of her peers were excited about the new red vests they would wear in Sparks.  Jersey #4 tells me that the reason she wants to go to Sparks is because she can't wait to get to use the bigger playground area outside the Sparks classroom!