A Lengthy Leiby Update :)

Despite the obvious lack in my blogging efforts, lots has been going on around here! So, I'll try to be brief... although, that is one of the beauties of blogging. I'll never know if you read just the first sentence, skimmed the entire post, or read every word.

Things have been busy. Busy in a good way...but nonetheless busy. We went from being a '1' job family to a '4' job family. John was offerred a position through a friend to be the new Director of Operations at Summit Worldwide. They schedule freight transport across the United States. He works in a small office by the airport with about 5 other guys. He's travelled a little bit and looks forward to some international travel in January. He's scheduled to go to Singapore. A trip to Kenya is also on the books for next year... and, YES!, his wife hopes to be joining him! The company does a lot of work on the East Coast, so John starts his day at 6am. It's made for some early mornings which have seemed to have caught up with him as of late! He's down with a upper respiratory infection this weekend. He's also keeping up with Real Estate in the afternooons and evenings.

I also recently found a couple of part-time positions. I am working a couple of days a month at Gresham Surgery Center. They do mainly day surgeries. I am working in the Pre-op and Recovery areas, but will hopefully cross-train to the OR and Endoscopy later. It's a fun place with a totally different feel than what I was used to, being at a level one trauma center. I also accepted a position at Mt Hood Medical Center in their Short Stay Unit. I will be working a couple evenings a week there. Currently, I am meeting their nursing orientation requirement, which is full time for two weeks.

Last week was a struggle, I'll be honest. While we are thankful for the guarantee of finances every month, it has come at a price. Just being gone a week, I feel like I missed out on so many moments with the girls. I felt disconnected from them. All week, I kept telling myself, "Just wait until the weekend. You'll be able to make up for time lost." Nope.

Why? Because when you work full time during the week, Saturday is when you do all the other things that couldn't possibly get done during the week. It has made me sympathetic for the moms that do have to work for various reasons, and for the single moms who have no choice. It also has helped me appreciate the time I have had, and do have with the girls on a daily basis. While both scenarios are exhausting and stretching in their own right, I would much rather choose to be exhausted alongside my girls than apart from them.

Amaya asked me after my first day of orientation, "So now that you are working, who is going to be my full time mom?" I assurred her that, even now, if someone were to ask me, "What do you do?" I would answer, "I am a stay at home mom and wife with two great daughters and a loving husband."

Thanks to my amazing mom and dear friend Marlene, the girls have done great over the last week.

So, besides John and I both starting three new jobs in the last 2 weeks, there's been plenty else going on to keep us busy. Amaya started Kindergarten this week at Phonics Phactory, we're in the throes of the Soccer season, Tennyson turns '3' next week, and between now and October 8th, there are 12 more scheduled doctor appts on our calendar (we had 4 already this week).

Don't think I am complaining. I'm not by any means. We will settle in after this next week is over. I'll be back to my 'full-time mom' status with just a couple of shifts a week to be gone from home. I LOVE BEING HOME WITH MY KIDS... can I say that again! I love being home with my kids!

We were on our way to church this morning, and Amaya, very thoughtfully asked, "Why do some people not like Jesus?" We talked about this for a couple of minutes, and then she said, "Why did you and Daddy pick this church to go to?" I listed the reasons, which included that we thought it was a great place to have the girls learn more about Jesus.
Amaya responded, "So that way we won't be shy when we get to heaven."
I never thought about it like this, but it did make sense once I mulled it over for a moment. I love seeing things through a five-year old's eyes.

There are so many more things I could put in this Lengthy Leiby update, but maybe I'll just try being better about some more frequest updates. I am anticipating the regularity of Fall. It's my favorite season by a long shot: crisp mornings, picking apples, colorful leaves, cozy evening fires, pumpkin desserts and crockpot dinners. Mmmm, I love it. The hues of greens and oranges and yellows and reds...these are a few of my favorite things.

Amaya and her friend Harley. Amaya's playing on a Co-ed U6 team. She has scored a couple of goals, and has become known for her aggressiveness (couldn't think of a nicer word...it's not as bad as it sounds) on the field.

We were at the Jamboree a couple weeks ago. Amaya asked to use the port-a-potty. While I was standing outside waiting for her, she said through the door, "You know the only reason I wanted to play soccer was to get a trophy."

"No, I didn't know that... and you could have mentioned that before I signed you up. A trip to Goodwill would have cost a lot less."

And No, I didn't actually say this. But I did think it... and thought about it again on Saturday while I was sitting at her game... in the rain.

Amaya and Grammy at Oneonta Falls last weekend.



Amaya had the important job of holding the boat to the dock. She was very serious about it, but had no intentions of letting me help!

I am as tall as the 205 bridge... :)

First day of school!

For those of you wondering... yes, I cried. Kindergarten seems like a much bigger deal than preschool. It's so official. I'm thankful for Amaya's teacher, and for a couple of great friends she made last year. Of course, Amaya reported some hilarious accounts of her first day, but I will save those for a later post.