The Rodriguez Family Blog: August 2009

Friday, August 21, 2009

Family Night at Dodger Stadium

On Monday evening we headed to Dodger Stadium. We are a family divided when it comes to baseball. The older boys have been St.Louis fans since they were little, Mario and I have always been Dodger fans and we've managed gain a dye hard Dodger lover in Luke. Unfortunately, Mariah can't decide and really likes both teams. But, this time she was thinking blue! We had such a wonderful time. Luke was in heaven and loving every minute of it! Good times!

13 Years

2009

We celebrated 13 years of marriage this past Sunday! Wow! We can't believe it. Where has the time gone? This is also a momentous year because we have now known each other longer than we haven't known each other (16 years)! God has been so gracious to us. Every year we are grateful to have had another year together. We are looking forward to what God has planned for us in the future!

1996

Harvest 09

We went to the Harvest Crusade last weekend...it was great! We saw Relient K and Skillet perform, AWESOME!

Luke and Daddy

Luke was rockin' his air guitar when Skillet came on!

Diane was able to join us too. It was so awesome to see so many people moved that evening to commit or recommit their lives to Christ. The field was packed at the end of the night (it's what I like to call a "goose bump moment")!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Kids Say The Darndest Things...

...but sometimes they say the sweetest things too! Today Luke told me, "You know mom, when I was a baby I was imagining and dreaming of a mom to adopt me that looked just like you. The same hair and the same eyes...even that blue shirt you're wearing. I don't know why I just love you so much!" Talk about melting your heart...he is such a sweet little guy! How blessed we are, THANK YOU LORD!

Monday, August 10, 2009

The First Day of School

Jacob on his way to the bus stop!

Mariah and Luke before we headed out the door!

Mommy, Luke and Daddy at Luke's new desk!

Luke and his teacher!

Mariah and Daddy before she lined up to go into her classroom!

Today was the first day of school. Everyone was up early and excited for what the day held in store. We all had a few butterflies to start but they soon were gone. Dylan headed to high school, Jake to middle school, Mariah to fourth grade and Luke started Kindergarten! Dylan's schedule had been changed when he arrived at school, much to his surprise. It turned out to be great for him and he was very pleased. Jacob rode the bus and made some new friends...they were knocking on the door to play this afternoon in no time at all. Mariah got the teacher she had been hoping for and is excited to learn how to play the recorder this year. Luke had so much fun that he didn't want to leave when I went to pick him up today! It looks like it will be a great school year. I can't wait to see what the year brings for each of them!

(Unfortunately, the older they get the less they let me take their picture. Notice that I wasn't able to get any of Dylan, just one of Jake on his way out the door, a couple of Mariah and I have LOTS of Luke! LOL)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Girl's Day

Mariah and I decided to do a mommy-daughter day before school starts. We started at Starbucks and then headed over to get our toes done. It was nice and relaxing. I love that one-on-one time with my kids because they open up and like to talk...and if you think Mariah talks a lot anyway, you can imagine what the one-on-one time sounds like! But I'll take every minute of it. What a blessing! LOL

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Knott's Berry Farm

On Thursday we went to Knott's. It's been years since we've been there. We all had such a great time. Luke loved Camp Snoopy and the older kids had a blast on all the "big kid" rides. The biggest kids (Mario and I) have come to realize we aren't as young as we use to be! Man, we just don't recover like we use to after riding those things! But, nonetheless...it was an awesome family day!

That's what summer is all about!

Summer is good for dips in the pool, sleeping in....and fort making! Luke and Mariah made a very elaborate one this week that included rooms and hiding spots! They were very excited about it. They kept it up most of the week and loved camping out in it! Awe, to be a kid again!

Rock Climbing

Jake and I met up with friends last week so the kids could rock climb, little did I know that the moms were also going to get a workout! I didn't realize that we were going to need a lesson in safety and become the spotters for the climbers. Man that was hard work, but super fun! The kids has a blast. If you've never been, you've gotta try it!

Something to Consider

Adopting a child doesn't change the whole world. But for that child the whole world changes.

Unknown

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so you may live as you wish.

Mother Teresa

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Truem

Whether you believe you can do something or not, you are right.

Henry Ford

What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.

Eleanor Powell

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition!

The small things we do in life for others don't mean much...they mean EVERYTHING!

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one come to you without leaving happier.

Mother Teresa

A friend is someone who knows you well and still likes you.

Unknown

Kids Say The Darndest Things

Luke often says such funny things, so I thought I would start to share them with all of you from time to time! So here are some of the most recent ones that have kept us laughing...

Apparently Luke has recently become fluent in French. When I inquired about where he had learned French he replied, "From the FBI!"

Recently our dog Maddie was barking to get outside. I sternly said, "Be quiet! Go lay down!" Then I heard Luke say, " Mom, I could be wrong, but I don't think that is the way to earn Maddie's affections!"

Luke has narrowed down his career options recently. He told me he just can't decide whether he should work at Walmart or be a Doctor!

Luke asked me the other day if we could stop at Starbucks for a "Frap-a-chonie".

After our walk through a living nativity this Christmas, Luke said "Wow...I didn't know Jesus was "king of the jewels" thats cool!"

Luke has been asking about heaven lately. When we will go there, who will go there and now...what will go there. He told me that he'd like "jacket" (his blankie) to be there so please put it in a box, write "JESUS" in big letters and He can pick it up at the post office when he has time!

When I asked Luke how his day at school went earlier this week, he said "Great! I met Avery and she's willing to marry me!"

Today Luke announced that he is getting a tatoo. It apparently is going on his stomach and will read: God is awesome...and so is my mom! It does have a ring to it! I like it!

Luke was watching the kids walking by as we waited for Dylan after school today. When suddenly he blurted out, " Oh dang! I just saw a Jonas brother! I didn't know they went to this school." I said, "You did?" And he said, "Yeah, the one with the hair!"

Luke hurt himself on Friday and we had to visit the emergency room. When the Dr. came in she asked me if he had lost conciousness at anytime. And although he was very much out of it, Luke opened his eyes just a little bit and said, "No, I lost my balance!" Then closed his eyes again.

Luke was asking about the logistics of how God could make everything in the world in just a few days. So, I began to review with him what happened each day. When we got to the 6th day I told him that God made the first people. I said, "Do you remember who the first man was that God made? Do you remember his name?" "Grandpa?" was his reply!

On Halloween Luke asked his dad, "What is Jesus being for Halloween?" When Mario said he didn't know...Luke said, "I think he's gonna be a hamster!"

Luke received a call from Geoffery the Giraffe at Toys 'r' Us for his birthday today! He listened quietly, then said, "What the heck? I didn't know giraffes could talk!"

We were at the doctor's office recently and the nurse told Luke that she loved his curly hair. This was his reply, "Seriously, it's not MY fault! It's my mom's..."

Recently one of Luke's siblings was sent to their room for disobeying. As he assessed the situation and they went upstairs, he turned to me and asked, "Are they gonna get their rear-end paddled?" To which I replied, "No! Where did you hear that?" He said, "You know...that's spanish for a spankin'!"

Most nights I tuck Luke into bed and they all go pretty much the same...tuck him in, pray, give him a kiss and turn on his music. But tonight was different! When we were done praying he said to me,"What did you say?" I said,"Amen!" "M-O-M!" he told me,"It's Hey, Man! When we're done praying we say Hey, Man!"

Man, you've got to love kids!