New Neighborhood Playground

For those of you who do not live in beautiful Arizona, most of the city playgrounds have wonderful shades over the entire play structure. Our neighborhood just completed a great playground and we took the kids to play today. It is a short walk out of our cul-de-sac and down the next street. We do not have grass in all the yards, but there is a large grasy area at the park. The kids took turns racing Rick. They are both winners. We have to stay hydrated.

Kids Do the Funniest Things

Some of you reading this blog may be from a small family with no brothers or sisters or one at the most. Others of you are from a larger family where if you remember back to your childhood, you know that kids often compete for their parents approval. We all want our parents love and we will do and say things that will encourage that. Sometimes, we may even need to point out that our love is big. I saw a little of that this weekend with my kids. Emily is the child who is right smack in the middle. I think there truly is something to the middle child syndrome because I see little signs of it all the time. She isn't the oldest, and she isn't the youngest. What she is, is sincere. She pulls no punches and speaks from her heart! The 4 girls gave Rick a very special Father's Day card on Sunday. The card has 4 little dogs on it and they each signed one to Rick. See how adorable the card is. Now, take a close look at Emi's inscription. Emi felt the need to point out that she loved her father more than one of her sisters. I tried not to laugh when I read her words. Kids do and say the funniest things!!!!

Father's Day Skit at Church

We had a great Father's Day this year. Nick performed in a skit at church where he was a demon (not to be confused with being one of the Men in Black, which he said he felt like). He was the voice in the Dad's ear telling him things that were not good for the family. The angel whispered good things to the Dad, which he eventually listened to. Nick and the entire group did such a great job.

Our Saturdays During the Summer

What a busy weekend. Friday night we took the kids to the Cove (our town's swimming pool) for Tsunami Night. They turn the waves on pretty big and the kids ride the tubes and swim. The little girls love the pirate ship slide where they spent quite a bit of their time. Most of the time with the little girls was spent in the warm pool. Zoe said she only went for the warm pool. They had a DJ and pizza all night. Nick was out there dancing to the music. Annie is usually my dancer, but she didn't want to dance when it was her turn in the dance contest. She was so cute, anyway. So Saturday morning came pretty quickly, as you can imagine. I was up around 5:30 making muffins for the kids. They love muffins on swim mornings, plus we take muffins for snacks during the meet. It was a really great first meet. Nick took first in 50 Breast and 50 Back and he took second in 50 Fly and 50 Free. Laney took first in 50 Breast, 50 Back and 50 Free. Nick swims against 13-14 yr old boys and Laney against 9-10 yr old girls. I was so proud of both of them. Their last event they both swam on relay teams with kids that are new to swimming. Neither of their teams won, but they all had a lot of fun. I am so proud of them. Next Saturday we travel about an hour away to a town named Bisbee. That is an outdoor pool up in the mountains and the kids usually freeze. They are already getting cold, but I am sure we will survive. I'll keep you posted!

Swim Team/Lessons

It is swim season again. The kids love being in the pool. Here are a few shots of the kids at our local pool.

Update

Thankfully, the children are all healthy and enjoying their summer again. We got the results of the blood work that was taken on Nick and Emily. Nick's blood didn't show flu or mono. Emily's bloodwork did show the presence of the flu. I am so thankful that she has recovered and is totally back to normal. She was sicker than I have ever seen any of the kids before. It is scary to think how dangerous the flu virus can be. I thank God for his hand of protection over the kids as they were ill and for bringing them safely through it.

Happy Birthday Delaney!

Good Morning, Delaney. For our June Birthday celebration, we always prepare for our early riser, Delaney. This morning at 5:30 am she popped in my room and let me know she was almost ready for the day. This was our cue to get ready for her birthday party. We have birthday parties in the Rodriguez home at breakfast time. The kids wake to find special decorations and treats at every one's plate. Today, when Delaney and the kids went down for her birthday party, they found a luau with grass skirts and all. The girls were adorable dancing. The morning went fast and Delaney went to swim team practice with Rick while the little girls and I prepare for swim lessons. The day should be lots of fun!

Delaney's Birthday Mani-Pedi

Today we began a new tradtion in the Rodriguez home. When you turn 9 (or any birthday with a 9 in it) you get a manicure and pedicure. Delaney invited her friends Josie and Gabby to join her for this most important occasion. They enjoyed picking out their colors, getting their fingernails polished and then sitting in the massage chair. They had to sit as far forward as possible so their feet would reach! AHH, the life.

Delaney's Birthday Weekend

Monday is Delaney's 9th birthday, so we are heading to the mall to meet her friend from school, Josie, and her family for lunch and a movie. The kids seem to be feeling much better and hopefully we have seen the last of the illnesses for the summer.

Dis-O-Behave?

What a way to begin our summer. I took Zoe to the doctor yesterday after she began running a fever over 104. Nick and Emily both are being treated for strep throat, so I figured Zoe had it too. Our pediatrician looked at the test results and told us that Nick and Emi tested negative for strep and Zoe probably didn't have it either. I am taking the three of them today to the lab to have blood drawn. Now we are going to check for mono and the flu. I pray that they recover quickly. Emi seems to be doing better, but Nick is still dragging around. Anyway, at the doctor's office yesterday, where I had all 4 of the girls, Annie, who is not sick, would not be still. She flitted around the office talking loudly, playing and fussing with her sisters. I told her to sit down at least 10 times. Finally, I put her on my lap and would not let her get up. She pleaded with me, "Mama, I will dis-o-behave, I promise." I looked at her and repeated it...."You will dis-o-behave?" She answered me so sincerly, "Yes, I will dis-o-behave. That's good!" When I told Mama and Daddy, they figured that she wanted to distinguish between disobey and dis-o-behave. I intend to hold her to her promise from here on out!

Summer

Summer is here! We love summer, but we do not love it when the kids are sick. Nick and Emily are recovering from strep throat this week and missing their first days of swim lessons. Hopefully, Emily will be back to swim tomorrow, but it may take Nick another day or two. We will see when we wake up tomorrow. The other kids are enjoying their lessons. Annie is so big, she walks right into the water for her lesson. Zoe, on the other hand must be peeled off of me and carried, kicking and screaming, into the water. The first day I sent her off to her lesson that way, the Moms watching were mortified. After she got in the water and away from me, however, she did fine. Today, the scene was equally as bad, but once again, she did great once she got out there. It is quite funny thinking of the whole scene. Zoe is my drama girl. Delaney started swim team practice and is loving it. She is talented in the pool!