Exploring the World Around Us

My kids have really been exploring nature lately! It is amazing at what they find and how excited they are when they find them. It is a nice reminder to me to be awed at all of Heavenly Father's creations--no matter how small.

Carter's Math

My goal this school year was to "do school" with the "littles" (those who are under Kindergarten age). So far, about 3 weeks into our school year, it's going well. This picture is a graph that Carter did during math. We do math for 15 minutes a day and he gets so excited about it. It really is amazing that when I decide to do something and really start doing it, the actual effort and time is always way less than the anticipated effort and time. A lesson I'm slowly learning.

Also, I've recruited Lacy's help to teach Carter his letters and sounds. She is a mommy at heart and does a good job. At first, I felt guilty about this (I'm the mom and should be teaching him these things), but soon realized, that their time together is precious. Lacy loves to feel needed and Carter is learning. And those two things are much more important than me feeling like I'm doing my "job."

A Chain Reaction

WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH!!!

I don't have any pictures, (you'll soon understand why) so try to picture the following:
The kids and I were sitting down to dinner. It was actually fairly calm and quiet. I had made strawberry milk and a nice tuna casserole (a new recipe, so I was excited to try it), and all the kids were actually eating it--peas and all. Carter and Creed generally need a little help getting started, so I had just put a bite in each of their mouths. It had also just started raining so the kids were wanting to go out and get wet. I told them that when Dexter and Preston had finished clearing their plates, they were going to take the trash out and anyone who had a clear plate could go with them. Everyone really started chowing down then! All of a sudden, Creed stood up and started gagging. Before I could reach him, he projectiled throw-up across the table splattering Carter and me in the process (remember the strawberry milk?). This of course caused everyone to start screaming and jumping away from the table as fast as they could! Dexter, who has a very weak stomach, didn't even make it to the bathroom before he lost it all over the hallway. As caos was erupting, I grabbed Creed, ran for the kitchen sink and before we could make it there, he lost everything again all over the kitchen floor! Creed was crying (for obvious reasons), Carter was screaming because he had pink, chunky throw up all over him, Kennedy was sitting, uneffected, in her chair drinking her milk, and the rest of the kids were laughing their heads off running for a safe haven of a bedroom. (Where is the video camera when you really need one?!) I finally got Creed, Carter and myself cleaned, Dexter cleaned the hallway, and everything was sprayed and sprayed with Lysol. So, now that it's over, it is just one more dinner in the Rodriguez household.
(BTW, Todd will not have any leftovers for lunch tomorrow!!)

Bugs and more bugs!

I took the kids to a park with Todd's mom and 5 of their cousins. There was a display of huge bugs. The kids had a great time (I'm just glad the bugs were statues and not alive!!!)