Grocery Shopping

This is how I manage grocery shopping with 5 children in tow...

Special Treats!


Bribery. It works for me.

We do not eat at the junk food cafe every time we visit Sam's Club. That would be too expensive. Plus, if we did it frequently, it would lose its special status from rarity. I won't even expand on the (lack of) nutritional quality to the food.

But, on days like yesterday, it works. The fridge and cupboards were empty. We were long overdue grocery shopping. And, our schedule has been very busy. So, after enjoying a few hours walking around the zoo with our friends in the morning, I bribed the kids with lunch at the Sam's Club cafe, so that I could fit in the grocery shopping on the way home. (I do not present it as a special favor to Mom. I present it as a really fun idea.)

The idea was a hit! We went from the zoo to the store. We ate first. Then, we ran through the aisles and loaded up our cart. The kids were so excited about the treat of pizza and Coke, that they forgot to whine about how tired their legs were already, from walking around the zoo. Everyone cooperated well enough to get our groceries.

I only added 1 thing that was not on the list. I only forgot 1 thing that was on the list. I'd say that trip was a success!

Normally, I don't have to make such huge shopping trips very often. I try to space them out a bit, if I can. I try to go alone when The Referee is home. He also helps by stopping off at the store to pick up a few items on his way home from work. So, I try to work it out with a few alternative options before taking all the kids grocery shopping. I can shop with 5 in tow fairly easily, if the list is short. Sam's Club is a big, open warehouse, so it can be fun for the kids, especially when seasonal items arrive that interest them. But, when the list is long...because the fridge and cupboards have been empty a few days too many....that is when I pull out my wild card: Bribery!

A special treat can go a long way.

Chore Chart

The kids are earning money! This picture is from their first pay day. They were quite excited about it.

We are following the recommendation of our financial adviser, Dave Ramsey, and paying the kids a commission for working their assigned chores each week. It is not an allowance. Dave says that allowance is like welfare. He calls it commission, because they have to earn the money in order to receive it. That concept reminds me of something my Mom always says, "You don't work, you don't eat." My Mom is a big advocate of working hard and earning your way. I want my children to learn the wisdom of this principle as well.

I also want a cleaner house. So, I will secretly admit that one of my biggest inspirations to starting this chores/commission path was my own personal gain. I decided to start with the new school year. I designed a chore chart. I listed out a handful of chores for each child, based on age and ability. I am hoping the list will serve as a good template for what the kids should be doing each day, and the money will be the motivation to keep working at it.

Each child has the chore of making their bed, cleaning their bedroom, brushing their teeth, and picking up their things from around the house. The older kids have rotating chores as well. The rotating chores involve the cleaning of one room....the schoolroom or bathroom, for example. They are assigned that chore for 1 month, and then it will rotate off their chart and a new chore will rotate in. I am hoping that I will be able to teach them how to properly clean that chore item initially, and then they will maintain it without my assistance for the rest of the month.

So far so good. We have been utilizing the chore chart for 2 weeks. The biggest improvement I have noticed is that the bedroom floors are much more visible every day, and the kids' stuff is not all over the living room. It has been nice to have help with some of the other chores, like vacuuming and wiping down the kids' bathroom. Overall, the house has been cleaner. I pick 2 days out of the week that the kids have to complete their rotating chores, so that everything is cleaned thoroughly. I even gave one child the chore of cleaning doorknobs around the house, in an attempt to cut down on the spread of germs.

The commission prices average about 25 cents per chore. That is pretty low, but it is a start. I am expecting the prices to increase as the kids get better at their chores, and as the family budget is better equipped to pay them. Right now, the kids are pleased. They are learning about money...learning about saving, giving, and spending. We have even had a discussion about sales tax.

We have already had the experience of a child not completing all his chores, and not receiving all the commission. That is a tough lesson, but it was quickly learned. Jersey #3 is ready to tackle his chores this week, with much more enthusiasm.

Jersey #2 is the most money motivated of our children. She has been paying real close attention to my bedroom inspections, and working hard to keep her room cleaned up, and her rotating chores completed. She does not want to miss out on a single penny of her commission.

Jersey #1 has started asking to help out even more. She was eager to learn how to wash a load of her own laundry. I quickly complied with that lesson, and praised her for her efforts. Then, I made a mental note to start teaching each of the children to wash their own laundry when they turn 8 years old too. (That way, I only have 6 more years of doing kid laundry!)

The schoolroom is a big chore. The kids come and go, and leave messes all over. Jersey #1 was dreading that rotating chore on her list. I totally understood that. So, I empowered her with the authority to call back her siblings who made the mess, to have them clean up after themselves. She is asked to help the youngest two siblings clean up, in an attempt to train them (and I make sure they work with her), but her older two siblings must return to the room and clean up their mess when she asks. All of a sudden, those rotating chores took on a new look.

When the kids were able to remind their siblings to clean up the messes they made...instead of having to clean up after their siblings....suddenly everyone starting doing a better job cleaning up after themselves. That improvement alone has been worth every effort I put into this process.

Man cub

Jersey #3 thinks he is all grown up now. At 5 years of age, he is certain that he can run with the boys.....or the men, in this case.

We had a work day at church this month. The men were working outdoors on the landscaping around the church. The women were working indoors, decorating and preparing for Vacation Bible School. We had the children indoors with us.

Jersey #3 asked if he could work outdoors with the men, instead.

He was so entertaining to me. He tried to move rock and trim bushes. He came indoors to get drinks when the men came in. He found a hat to wear too. Any time I suggested he help me with something, he reminded me that he was working outdoors with the men.

I think it is good for him to be working with the men like that. It is good that he sees men come together in teamwork to accomplish a task. A nice thing about this experience at a church work day is that the language and attitudes of the workers are good.

I'm not sure how helpful he was, being only 5 years old. But, he seemed to think he was quite an asset to the project.

Running: Week 4

Running! I'm still running! I am still dragging myself out 3 times a week, to complete the Couch to 5K running plan. Who would have thought that I would have stuck it out this long? I have never desired to be a runner before. Dare I admit that I am actually enjoying this training? I am really, really enjoying the results. Fitness results. Weight loss results. Overall feeling good, results. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment from completing the workouts each week.

I've just completed Week 4...

5 minute warm-up walk
Followed by this interval twice:
3 minute jog
90 second walk
5 minute jog
2.5 minute walk

Week 4 was a big jump in jogging. Previous workouts had me jogging a total of 9 minutes. This week had me jogging 16 total minutes. I am surprised I could do it.

When I jog for the 5 minute sessions, I can really feel the muscles in my legs and torso getting a workout. My knee is not bothering me at all when I run now. I increased my distance to 2 miles each workout, versus the 1.5 miles I was covering before. I still land heavy when I jog.

I went online and watched a video about proper running form. I was surprised to learn that my stride is not as off as I thought. The stride I thought I was suppose to have is what happens when you run as fast as you can, as if someone is chasing you. Jogging as a workout is a much shorter stride. So, my jogging is more real than I originally considered.

During the 2nd workout session of the week, I picked up my pace a bit to pass a guy who was walking the track. I didn't want to catch up to him and then stop jogging and walk, because my walking pace was slower than his. I didn't want to keep catching up to him and then slowing down. That is annoying when folks drive that way, so I am sure it is annoying during a workout. I was nearing the end of my running interval, so to give myself a longer space ahead of him, I tried to run faster. I learned that I can run a little faster than my current pace. I also learned that it is very challenging to do so. I was really breathing heavy and sweating more....and it took much longer to recover my breathing and heart rate during the walking portion. Whew! That was a wake-up call for how I need to keep working towards better fitness.

I went online and found a 10-week program for slowly weaning off the liquid crack (Mountain Dew). I just dread that withdrawal headache, so I am hoping a slow process will help. I am thinking that if I can stick to a running program for 4 weeks, then maybe, just maybe, I can eliminate Mountain Dew from my body.

Maybe.

I haven't started it yet. I'm still contemplating. Feeling this good about running is certainly inspiring me to consider the idea. Clearly, we don't see runners guzzling Mountain Dew regularly (or at all, that I am aware of).

I'm working up the courage.

Haircuts and Picture Day

We took the kids for haircuts last weekend. I thought it would be a good time to then try to get individual photos. I was thinking something similar to "picture day" at school. I was thinking it would be nice to have individual photos of the kids each grade.

Well, I think I might need to do a bit more learning about common poses for school photos.

The kids are cute. Their hair looks good. Their Mom needs some picture day photography schooling, though.

Jersey #1, 4th grade

Jersey #2, 2nd grade

Jersey #3, kindergarten

Jersey #4, preschool

Jersey #5

Vacation Bible School

The kids and I spent the week attending Vacation Bible School at our church. It was a big week. We were exhausted every day. But, it was a good kind of exhausted, created by having tons of fun.

I was a co-director of VBS this year. I was only CO-director this year. That was great. I had another co-director to work with, so I was not on my own. That was wonderful. She was fantastic. Very organized. Very tech savy. Very smart. She had great ideas, and kept us on schedule during the planning phase.

I was able to focus on people-pleasing. Er, well, I am not actually very good at people pleasing per se...

I was able to focus on recruiting folks to help us out, and catering to their wishes as best I could. People are quirky. Their quirks don't bother me. So, I tried to cater to their quirks as best as I could so that everyone was pleased with the work they were doing. I tried to fit workers to areas where they worked well....and worked well with others. If folks are satisfied with their working environment, they can focus on the true goal....teaching the children about Jesus.

I am a strict parent. So, I was also the strict leader who corraled the unruly children. Some of the teen helpers used me as the discipline threat...."You better sit nicely with your class, or you will have to go sit with Coach Mom!" The child would look back over their shoulder at me. Oooh, no one wants THAT punishment! I didn't mind a bit. I provide structure. Other folks provide spontaneity. It works.

I was also able to focus on an area I feel called: shuttle! Since I drive a 12-passenger van, I have 6 seats to spare. When I was praying about getting the van, I considered the extra space as a means to invite children to various activities with us. What a great outreach to be able to invite friends to Vacation Bible School and transport them too. I enjoy playing kids songs in the CD player, listening to their conversations, and laughing at their silly jokes. The noise volume does not phase me. I tend to survey, scan, and count heads as a part of life already, so I haven't lost anyone yet. On my busiest days, I transported 10 children to VBS, including my 5. On my lightest day, I transported 8 total. That was a good use of my van!

We arrived to the church a little early each day, so that I could help get things set up. The kids enjoyed some outdoor play....

We enjoyed music. Songs with motions were a huge hit....

At lesson time, we learned about being conquerors with strength from God...

Crafts were hands-on, messy fun...

Lunch time was a favorite part of the program...

Game time was a blast...especially water games on the last day....

We have a really cool Pastor who taught about the missionary we were supporting this VBS. He explained salvation to the kids, each day, at their level.

And, being in the oldest group had its privelages. Their leader spoiled them with treats...

Vacation Bible School is so much FUN!

Tired

We are having a very big, very busy week this week. We are all so very tired....

No-Win Potty Training

I have said it before, and I will say it again...

I stink at potty training!

My current situation involves my 5-year old son. He potty-trained later than his sisters, for sure. He was already 3 before he mastered the skill during the day. But, since he is such a sound sleeper, he required a Pull-up at night.

Jersey #2 was the same way. She wore Pull-Ups at bedtime until she was just past 6 years old. She sleeps hard at night and does not wake up. She still does not wake up, but apparently she reached a point where her bladder grew big enough to hold everything all night long while she slept.

Jersey #3 is in the middle of this growth process, I think. He really wants the privilege of wearing underwear to bed (instead of a Pull-Up), but he does not yet fully have the ability. So, half the time, I am having to launder soiled bed sheets and PJs in the mornings.

The other night, he woke up and was stirring around in his bed. I had just gone to check on the kids before going to bed myself. When I saw him sitting up in bed, looking dazed, I asked him if he needed to go potty. He nodded. So, I walked him to the bathroom. I stood in the doorway while he went through the process, so I could walk him back to bed. He was clearly disoriented from being half-asleep.

That is when I started to question if he really should be trying to wake up and void in the middle of the night. He was still so much asleep, that he did not have much stability or aim while he stood to pee. He overshot at first, and peed on the back of the toilet seat. When he tried to regroup, he peed on the floor.

So, I stood there wondering, is it better to have to wash soiled bed sheets every morning because he didn't wake up to pee....or to have to clean the toilet area every morning because he did???

I can't win.

Horseback Riding

The kids enjoyed the opportunity to go out to the ranch again. I know they like horses, but I am still so surprised by how much the younger ones enjoy scooping horse POOP!

I praise them for working so joyfully. It is a great opportunity to get to visit the ranch and ride horses. This time out, they also had salamanders...

I was a bit surprised when Jersey #2 stepped right up at the opportunity to hold one. She actually went back to that station a few times throughout our visit. I had no idea she was such a *critter* kid.

This time around, the older three kids were working more on learning to hold the reins and direct the horses themselves. Jersey #3 has a ways to go. He forgets which pull and tug is meant for which direction. He concentrates hard, but the ranch volunteers have to help him and lead the horse quite a bit.

Jersey #2 enjoys herself whether she is using the reins, or whether the volunteer is leading the horse. I think she is just happy to be riding again and to not be afraid of getting up so high. She chatted with the ranch volunteers the entire time she was in the saddle.

Jersey #1 had quite an experience. She was placed in the group with the more experienced riders from the start. Since I was with the younger kids, I did not get pictures of her working around the ranch. She likes having her independence away from her Mom like that. Thankfully, she still lets me know when it is her turn on the horse, so I can come running with my camera.

The horse was being very stubborn this time, and Jersey #1 did not have the assertiveness to let the horse know she was in charge. I found the situation to be entertaining. Jersey #1 found it to be a bit disappointing. She felt like she was sitting still on the horse for half of her turn. She just could not get him to go in the direction she wanted. She did get him to turn in a full circle, like the ranch volunteers suggested.

When we chatted about it later, I explained to her that this was part of learning how to ride a horse. It is a good challenge for her to become more assertive. Her previous disappointments dissipated as soon as she realized that being on the horse on her own, with the reins in hand was much more of a "big kid" experience, than having the volunteer lead the horse around the corral like they do for the younger kids.

I assured her that being frustrated with her own limitations is part of the growing process. She developed a new resolve for next time, as I encouraged her to rise to the challenge the horse was presenting to her. What a blessing to have this opportunity.

By the time The Referee came home from work that day, Jersey #1's version of the story about her experience switched to how she received the opportunity to steer the horse all by herself, without assistance from the ranch volunteers. She dreamed big about what she was going to work on next time.

Jersey #4 had no interest in getting on a horse this time. She did not put on a helmet at all. She was content to scoop horse poop and play.

Jersey #5 put on his helmet and walked through the gate to the corral. He was ready to go...

...and then he changed his mind as soon as he got close to that big horse.

He decided to ride the slide instead...

Swim Lessons

The kids just completed a 2-week session of swim lessons. It is VERY important to me that my children learn to swim and to be safe in and around water. So, we enroll them in swim lessons every summer, starting at the preschool age (around age 3). I also work with them whenever we go to the pool for family swim.

I used to take swim lessons when I was a kid, because it was important to my Dad that his children learn to swim....and learn to swim with proper technique. His efforts to provide swim lessons, set me up to later join a swim team in high school, and to work as a lifeguard in my teen years.

I can only hope and dream at this point that my children will acquire a love for swimming that may lead them to swim teams and/or lifeguarding jobs. For now, I just want them to learn to swim well and be safe.

There are a handful of swimming pools in our town that are open during the summer months, and a few that are open during the winter. We actually drive a little out of our way to take swim lessons at a pool that is not the closest one to our house. The pool itself is bigger, and also has a bigger area that is only 3 or 4 feet deep. The new swimmers really like having that much space where their feet can touch the bottom of the pool when they stand up. It seems to give them much more confidence when they are first learning to swim. An additional reason we go to that specific pool is because they have some of the friendliest lifeguards in town. The lifeguards who teach the swim lessons are very sweet and encouraging, and my kids really like them. It must be a nice place to work, because we see the same lifeguards there each summer, as they work themselves through high school and college.

The city swim program offers a parent/tot class and a preschool class. The goal of those classes is to help a young child become comfortable in the water.

As soon as a child is comfortable getting into the water, and maybe even blowing bubbles, they start the child swim lessons program. This program has 6 levels, and the skills build upon each other as they progress. The 6th class includes a lot of junior lifeguarding skills as well. At the end of each 2-week session, the kids are given a card with their name on it, and all the skills for that level class. The instructors fill in the bubbles on the card to show us what skills the child has demonstrated. As soon as all the bubbles are filled in for one level, the child is ready to enroll in the next level class. It is a great system for our family, because it shows me how the children are progressing through each level.

This summer, the kids astounded me with their efforts. We were only able to register for one session of swim lessons, but they all still managed to complete all of their skills for the class they were in. (It often takes 2 sessions at a class level for them to complete all of the skills). So, next summer, they will be ready to move up to the next level. I am thrilled to report that I now have 3 swimmers and only 2 non-swimmers. I feel so much relief each and every time one of my children learns to swim well enough to get themselves back to the side of the pool.

Jersey #5 seemed comfortable enough in the water to join the preschool class. But, after the first day, he refused to return. He sat out the next day. After that, we both joined the parent/tot class. He loved swimming with Mama. He is back to being real comfortable in the water again. We will try the preschool class with him again next summer. A year to grow and mature should help his cooperation.

Jersey #4 did great in the preschool class. She fully participated each day, and had a blast. She is actually the most comfortable in the water of any of my kids at that age. I wonder if swimming will be a sport that entices her in the future?

Jersey #3 has no fear. As a result, I usually have to rescue him during swim lessons. This time, he learned how to swim underwater and get himself back to the edge of the pool. So, I did not have to utilize my former life-guarding skills with him this summer. Jersey #3 spent most of his time underwater. He also splashed his entire class every time he jumped into the water. His teacher didn't seem to mind. She liked his enthusiasm.

Jersey #2 can now swim 10 yards on her own. Last summer she was nervous to put her head underwater. This summer, she is a fish. She has gained a lot of confidence. She is so sure of herself that she was giving the instructors suggestions on what skills to work on.

There were times when I would just stop in my tracks because Jersey #1 caught my eye. I can hardly believe the skills she has learned. She can swim an entire length of the pool (25 yards) using front crawl stroke and backstroke. She also took an interest in diving into the pool. She practiced diving from the side of the pool, swimming across the deep end, diving off the low dive (with the help of the instructor and a mat that she slid off)....and then jumping off the high dive the last day of class...

I just love seeing my kids enjoy swimming.

Running: Week 3

I made it through Week 3 of the Couch to 5K training program.

The Week 3 workout routine started out with a 5 minute warm-up walk. Then, there were 2 sets of the following intervals:

• 90 seconds jogging
• 90 seconds walking
• 3 minutes jogging
• 3 minutes walking

I admit I was a bit nervous about actually jogging for 3 minutes. It turns out....much to my shock....that the 3 minutes were easier than the 90 seconds, somehow.

It seems that I am really awkward early on, but my body finds a stride eventually, so it is easier to continue jogging. I also notice that my leg muscles get tight from my hip to my ankles for the longer intervals, versus just my lower legs getting sore for the shorter intervals. This is all so new and fascinating to me. I do not know what to do with this information, yet. It is all just data. Observation and data collection are just my nature. I am a scientist.

I collected some other data this week during my workouts...

I am slow. The Referee completes 5 laps (approximately 2.5 miles) during the workouts. I complete 3 laps (approximately 1.5 miles). So, I am slow. It is a good thing we tag-team so that one of us is supervising the kids on the playground while the other one runs, because it seems we would not make good running partners. He would lap me in no time.

I am actually jogging faster than I walk though. I noticed that when I am in the jogging intervals, I am actually passing by other folks who are walking along the track. That is a relief to me, because I was seriously starting to question if I was hardly moving when I jog.

The second workout of the week is the hardest. The 3rd workout is the easiest.

I am glad I am doing this. I like "training."

Unfortunately, the scale was not my friend this week. The numbers refused to budge. So, no weight loss (and thankfully, no weight gain either). My sister dropped 7.5 pounds in 3 weeks by counting calories. I dropped 5.5 jogging. ???

Then, Jersey #1 commented to me yesterday that I was looking really skinny. I tried not to laugh, but I have NEVER been told that before. She meant well. I see now that she has no idea what defines "skinny." I tend to discuss body size with her in terms like slender, athletic, and healthy. I want her to have a positive body image. I thanked her for being so sweet, and told her I was glad that she could tell I was exercising my body into better shape.

I really do feel a fitness improvement, and that is awesome!

First Day of School

We started school this week.

One of the perks of homeschooling is that we get to set our own schedule, as long as we cover the required number of instructional days set by our state. Last Fall, when we learned that Jersey #2 would need heart surgery in May, we worked through most of the holidays in order to complete school by May, so that we would have school off our plate to focus on surgery and recovery. I actually liked being finished with school so early, and having the month of May as part of our summer vacation. So, this school year, I set up our schedule to start school in early August, so that we will be finished by next May. The kids did not seem to mind a bit.

Jersey #3 was very excited to start kindergarten. I am relieved, because he was so resistant to any attempt at preschool. It appears that giving him more time to mature before requiring him to focus on schoolwork, was a good thing. He is eager to learn to read, and has been very cooperative to sit with me and sound out letters. He also announced to me that he loves math. He also loves his new pencil holder that has contraptions for all of the gadgets.

Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 decided that they needed to color the folders that held their schoolwork before they could begin. Apparently, the manila look is out of fashion this year.

After their folders were prepared, they got right to work, and were very studious. Jersey #2 is in 2nd grade. She wants to be independent, and not have me explain the lessons to her. That is working out fine with this week of review. We will see how things go when new concepts arrive.

Jersey #1 is in 4th grade. The workload really increased in 4th grade, so I gave Jersey #1 a pep talk about how much more is expected of her this year.....and that she and her sister will not have the same quantity of work. She took the news rather well. Actually, she seemed mighty proud to be such a "big kid" now. To add to the status, her penmanship lessons are to be written on notebook paper, separate from the text. Consumable workbooks are not as common in 4th grade as they were in the younger grades. She took great care while writing out her lesson in her notebook.

The youngest 2 kids saw the first day of school as a great opportunity to get some computer time. With their older siblings busy with schoolwork, they had the Barbie fashion game all to themselves...

Jersey #4 later decided that she wanted to do schoolwork too. I was prepared for that. It fits her personality. She is certain that she is all grown up now. I had a preschool workbook ready for her. She happily climbed up to the table and colored her worksheets at the same time that Jersey #3 was working on his schoolwork.

I sat at the table watching them both, observing the way they wrote. We have two left-handers...

This is going to be a full school year for me. I thought I was adding an additional student, to have three children to school. With Jersey #4's demand for schoolwork too, I am leaping from two last year to FOUR students this year. My Mom jokes that I have my own one-room schoolhouse, just like in the old days.

Friends on the Move

One of the hardest parts of moving is having to say good-bye to friends.

This week we were visited by some friends who are preparing to move out of state. I knew it was coming. They had mentioned the timing of completing schooling and finding new job opportunities before. Even still, it is hard to say good-bye. They are sweet folks. I miss them already.

We have a special connection with these friends. We met at a support group for bereaved parents. They understand the pain of losing a child. We met the summer of 2000.

We met again in 2004. I took a chance on a local mommy group that had a message board on the internet. I attended one of the park events. This couple joined the event, with their daughter, and I invited them to share our blanket on the ground. As we chatted, about parenting our young girls, I could not help but feel I knew them. It turns out I did. It took me a few minutes, but I was eventually able to place them from my past.

What a blessed reunion that turned out to be! We had gone on in life to expand our families after battling grief. At the park, I introduced them to my two daughters, Jersey #1 and Jersey #2. They introduced me to their daughter....who was born on Jersey #1's 1st birthday!

We kept a birthday connection with them. Through the years, we visited at the kid's birthday parties.

They have added another daughter to their family. She was born the day we were leaving the hospital after having Jersey #5.

Dear friends, if you are reading this blog post, please know that we wish you the best in your big move. I will keep in touch. And if you plan any visits back to this town, be sure to schedule those trips around one of my kids' birthdays, so we can reunite over birthday cake!

Cheerleading

I am now a cheerleading coach.

I am not exactly sure how this happened. It was a series of comments and conversations. Then, suddenly, I was being handed a Coach's manual and a DVD about cheerleading.

Hold up! WAIT! How can this be?

I have never been a cheerleader before. I was never any good at gymnastics either. Actually, my gymnastics teacher said I had frog legs, and no upper arm strength.

I don't even fully understand the sport. Is it a sport? Or is it a complement to sports?

Is it even appropriate? I mean, I am trying to teach my daughters about modesty and respect for themselves. And, well, you know what cheerleader outfits look like. (And when I was in high school, there was a reputation attached to the outfit).

Oh dear. What have I gotten myself into?

Ok. Breathe.


What happened was that I decided to let my older girls sign up for cheerleading, when Jersey #3 wanted to sign up for flag football. When the girls asked to be cheerleaders during basketball season, I encouraged them to play basketball instead. They have developed a love for basketball.

Then, I saw the cute little cheerleaders, and I realized what the appeal was....the pompoms! There is just something about waving and twirling with pompoms.

My children are playing sports through the Upward sports program. Thankfully, since it is a Christian program, the uniforms are modest, including the cheerleading uniforms. So, when our daughters said they had no interest in flag football, we decided they could try out cheerleading. The program teaches the sport of cheerleading. Its primary focus is Christian faith. So, I felt comforted that this was a good outlet to try out cheerleading.

Then, I received word that enrollment was low, and the church hosting the program may have to cancel this season. I went to the meeting last night to learn more. The program director was explaining that there are only enough flag football players for 2 teams, and there are only 3 cheerleaders. They are short on football coaches, and absent any cheerleading coaches.

The other parents in attendance were in agreement that we should continue the season with only 2 football teams. No one seemed to mind playing the same team every week, since our boys were young and new to the sport anyway. Jersey #3 certainly fits that profile, because he has not played football before.

Then, the director came over to talk to me specifically, because I have 2 of the only 3 registered cheerleaders. He was pretty certain he was going to have to cancel the cheerleading program. He clearly felt bad about that. I explained to him that I had no cheerleading experience to be able to coach. He immediately perked up and said that he had a manual that laid out each week's skills....and a DVD that shows the routines. He assured me that Upward sets the program up so that coaches do not have to have experience. The director even explained that one year, his sister coached the cheerleaders, using a DVD to show the girls how to cheer, because she had no experience.

So, I agreed to fill the void. I volunteered to coach the cheerleaders.

As the director handed me the coaching materials, I assured him that IF he found a parent with experience or who wanted to coach that I would happily give it up! He laughed. Then, he asked me what evening I wanted to set up practice.

The first thing I noticed in the coaching manual is the comment that the coach should have an understanding of the sport of cheerleading, to be able to teach the skills.

Oh dear. I'm in trouble now.

I was not real sure how to break the news to my family, so I just blurted it out.

Jersey #2 was so excited that she ran up to me an gave me a hug.

The Referee, first acted a bit shocked, then shrugged as if he was not really that shocked that I got myself into another coaching responsibility.

Jersey #1 said she thought it was "really cool."

This could get interesting. I am coaching a sport I have never played. At a church I don't attend. With folks I don't know.

But, my kids are excited, so I am ready to take the plunge...

Life Update

Things have calmed down a lot since I posted this update about our combination of life stresses. We still have bumps and hurdles to cross, but our attitudes improve each step along the way.

The Referee spent this weekend tackling the kitchen sink that had a leaky drain that would not remove so he could replace it. I will not rant about how long this sink has been leaking, or the water damage that has been done to the cabinet below it, due to ignoring the problem for too long. Instead, I will celebrate that The Referee finally grew so frustrated with it that he called in a friend from church to help him demolish the drain. The friend has tools to cut through the part, so it could be removed. Demolition must be fun, because the guys were laughing throughout the process. Tough jobs always seem more fun with church friends. The Referee's attitude was dramatically improved and he was able to replace the drain with ease. I am amazed that a kitchen sink part that only costs $5 was causing us so much grief for so long. The leak is fixed and the sink looks great now.

An added bonus is that The Referee was able to find the flooring edges he needed to improve the look of the seam where the dining room and kitchen floors meet. He fixed that up over the weekend too, making our kitchen project look that much better.

The Referee was able to get his car to start. He had to get under it and kick the gas tank area, where the new fuel pump is located. That was the mechanic's strange advice, but it worked. It started running again. A few days later, it started over heating. Poor little car. It is about to turn 11 years old. It has been a good car, but I was really hoping it would hold on a little longer. It looks like we are going to have to get started on our car replacement savings now, because it does not look like that car will last until we are completely out of debt. So far, refilling the coolent every couple weeks is helping the overheating. There is a leak, but its true location is not yet known.

So far, we are keeping up with the incoming medical bills. The medical insurance company continues to send us error-filled benefits summaries. We continue to call and remind them that our contract with them has an out-of-pocket-maximum, and they are assigning more financial responsibility to us than they should. The calls are being tracked, so hopefully the right person will actually follow through and fix the error soon.

Jersey #4 did great with her dental work. Jersey #3 should do well too. I had a dental cleaning appointment with no further treatment needs, so dental stresses are reducing.

The announcement for which company won the contract has been delayed again. Now, it looks like news will arrive in two weeks. The Referee thinks his subcontract is covered through September, so he has a job until then at least. At this point, we are assuming that no news is good news, as long as the paychecks continue to arrive. Even if his current company does not win the contract, the company who does win may pick him up as an employee, so it could all work out smooth in the end. Time will tell. Now that Jersey #2's heart surgery is over, we do not carry the same stress we had before. We have more flexibility now.

The dog is still coughing. Poor old dog. Her arthritis is worsening too. She really has trouble with stiffness when she tries to get up to stand after laying down a while. She still enjoys pursuing dropped foods at each meal and snack, so she naps close to the dining room table most of the time. I plan to follow up more on her cough when it is time for her annual shots next month. At this point, I don't expect things to improve much. She turns 12 in October, which is a remarkable age for a bigger dog.

To add to our previous challenges, we received a letter from our state saying we may owe more taxes from 2007. Thankfully, there is an amnesty program running right now, so if it turns out we do owe the taxes, we may get out of the penalty fees and interest charges. The irritating part is that we knew that tax year was going to be complicated, so we paid H&R Block to file our taxes. We also paid to have their "Peace of Mind" service plan, where they would battle the IRS if there was an audit. Sure enough, every call I have made to them has been a bust. First, the call was dropped mid-way through. Second, the next rep claimed that the first rep was giving erroneous information. She told me to call a local office. The local office did not answer their phone during their business hours, and did not return my call after I left a message. I called again 2 days later and was told that they do not cover the specific state taxes, because they know nothing about that. Um, they suddenly knew enough to claim they did not cover it.....so why did they not know enough to advise us at the time? It all sounds fishy. The Referee looked up the info on their website, which claims they do cover such services. So, someone is lying. Many times over. It is all so frustrating. But, it is not the end of the world. If we owe the taxes, we will pay them. And, we will continue to pursue the H&R Block claim to see if their program really will reimburse us like it originally advertised. But, I think I will think twice before using their services in the future.

So, right now, the budget is tight, but maintaining our expenses. All of the appliances are currently working, and both vehicles are running. The water leak is fixed. The flooring is fixed. The Referee continues to be paid for his work. We have a home. We have our health. We have a great circle of friends and family. We have plenty of ways to serve at church and in our community. The new school year started. New activities are ramping up.

We continue to ride along the ups and downs in life...

Running: Week 2

Week 2 of the Couch to 5K training program was a bit adventurous, due to weather, but I am happy to report that I completed the 3 workout sessions.

The workout routine added a minute more of running this week. After a 5 minute warm-up walk, there were 6 intervals of 90 seconds of jogging followed by 2 minutes of walking. I ended with at least 5 minutes of a cool-down walk, followed by leg stretches.

I surprised myself by being able to jog for 90 seconds at a time. The 4th interval was the hardest one each time, but the others were good. I can tell that my leg muscles are getting stronger, because my knee is not nearly as sore after each workout. My lower legs still become quite tight by half-way through each session, so I keep wondering if I will ever learn how to run well.

This week, I learned that I am slow. In the 25 minute workout sessions, I am only covering 1.5 miles distance. Well, a 5K is 3.1 miles, so I am only near half the distance right now. I am hoping that my pace will improve the more I train. I took a peek at the future training schedule, and I started to panic about how I am ever going to get to the point of being able to run continuously. I calmed down after I convinced myself that I am just going to take it 1 week at a time, and see how it goes. I am seeing improvements in my strength and fitness every workout.

Thunderstorms threw off my run schedule this week. After not being able to run for 3 evenings in a row, I decided to get up early Sunday morning, and complete my last session for this week, before church. I am not sure if it was the extra rest between runs, the fact that I am now 5 1/2 pounds lighter, or if morning workouts are really that much better, but that 3rd workout session this week was the best! I am finally able to pick up my feet a little bit.

I dropped 1.5 pounds this week. That brings my total weight loss for July to 5.5 pounds. One of the nice things about focusing on the training program and learning to run, is that I am not letting the slow weight loss discourage me.

I am really loving the changes to my body already. My regular clothes are all loose. I had to tighten my bra to a new row of hooks this week, which made me laugh thinking about how many women have told me that is the first area where they lose weight. The other area I've noticed a difference is in my swimskirt. The built-in shorts are so baggy that I started wearing another swimsuit bottom underneath to keep from showing anything improper. I'm not sure how much running it takes to drop an entire clothing size, but I am looking forward to that day.