The Rodriguez Family Blog: December 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Christmas Stockings at Grandpa and Grandma's House

Luke and Daddy

Uncle Matt and Reese

Aunt Jen and Casey

Jacob and Grandpa

Chase and Diane

Twas' The Night Before Christmas

Luke sprinkles a little "magic reindeer food" so Santa knows just where to stop!

New jammies for Christmas...too bad you can't see the jammies. Oh well, the kids are cute!

And a story before bed...I love these moments!

My Little Chipmunk

We started our Christmas Eve morning by taking the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel. Luke couldn't wait to take his picture with Alvin and Simon! For some reason the older three passed on the opportunity...

All I Want For Christmas...

All season long we've promised Luke we would take him to talk with Santa. Before we knew it, it was just three days before Christmas and Luke still hadn't stopped by to sit on Santa's lap yet! Luckily, the line wasn't long and Luke got to tell Santa just what he was hoping for...and mommy got this super cute picture!

The Mission Inn Lights

We took a family outing just before Christmas to see the lights at the Mission Inn. We always love doing this, the decorations are so festive! They definitely put us in the Christmas spirit!

Back Row: Mariah, Cameron, Michael, Ethan Chase and Casey

Front Row: Luke, Jacob, Dylan and Reese

Family Christmas Traditions...Switched up!

For some time now one of our Christmas traditions has been to go to dinner at the Mission Inn in Riverside for a very nice family Christmas dinner. But this year we decided to change it up a bit! Instead of going to dinner as a family, we chose to make dinner for some local families! These families have children who have some health challenges and are here in town receiving care at Loma Linda hospital. It was a fun twist on our tradition. We got the kids involved and everyone helped out. I think we've found a NEW Christmas tradition!

Casey, Reese and Chase were our official cookie taste testers!

Cameron, Mariah and Ethan all helped cut out, bake and decorate the Christmas cookies for the families!

Dylan, Jake and Michael wrapped the boxes to be packed for each family!

We all went together to deliver the enchilada dinners to the families. What a blessing it was to meet them! They are all so brave despite the unknowns that lie ahead for their children. It was a great reminder to thank the Lord for the healthy children we have and teach them to have compassion for those who need encouragement.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Mariah Turns 10

Emily, Mariah, Juree, Cami, Samantha, Abbie, Alexis, Diane and Mom

Mariah had her 10th birthday just before Christmas! She decided on ice skating with friends to celebrate. We all had such a fun time. Happy birthday sweet girl...it seems just like yesterday we were bringing you home in a stocking!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Winter Wonder Slam Tour

On Saturday night we saw Relient K and Tobymac! Tobymac is a favorite at our house (mostly me and Luke). His show was AMAZING... like always! We had so much fun rocking the night away. There were 150 friends from church who all went together. We took up an entire section on our own! Good times!

A Living Nativity

The guard wouldn't let us in until Jacob told him why we were all there.

This was the very last scene in the walk...

Luke got to feed this camel his treat!

Mariah and her friend Samantha

Luke and his friend Chase

On Friday evening we went with friends to see a living nativity! We all really enjoyed it. The sets and costumes were so great and the acting was very good too. The kids got to see an alpaca (who spit on some of the girls in our group) sheep, goats, donkeys, a horse and Luke even got to feed a Camel! I love these Christmas time activities. They are memories I hope they carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Angel Breakfast

Luke and Daddy

Luke and Camden

(I wasn't able to flip the picture, but had to include it...so cute!)

Luke and Macie

Luke and an Angel

Luke and Jackson

Every year our church host's an Angel Breakfast for kids 3-5 years old. Luke has enjoyed this event every year and couldn't wait for it to come around again this December! He loves the "kid friendly" breakfast that is served and the singing angels that visit. Each year the kids are given an ornament to remember the special day. This year he had lots of friends who were able to join him and that makes it even more fun!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was full of fun and a little relaxation too! We gathered around the table with all of our loved ones and found a great deal to be thankful for this year. What a blessing it is to have each other in our lives. Dinner was very good as usual, my mom seems to have these holiday dinners down. She makes it seem effortless, yet I know she was up at the crack of dawn preparing. After dinner we watched Elf to ring in the Christmas season right...(hahaha)! The older boys played several rounds of Spoons and the little guys and girls took their always anticipated ride in the ranger with grandpa! We hope your family had a special day spending time with those you love too. Happy Thanksgiving!

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!