What are they teaching him?

***UPDATED*** With his teacher's response.


Z. gets home from school today and since he hasn't been feeling well I ask him how he's doing. He says fine but that he has a lot of homework. So off he goes to start working on it. A little while later he comes out and ask me and Hubs if we know how to do Mexican Division? Both of us just look at each other and try not to laugh and say what, since we were expecting a joke? And he says do you know how to do the Mexican division? So this is how the conversation played out.

Me: What do you mean by the Mexican division?

Z: You know where you do division and it looks like your playing hangman.

Me: Well I know how do a kind of division with a box that looks kind of like hangman. But I call it long division. Let me show you. And I do.

Z: No mom, that's different than Mexican Division but it's kind of the same. And he takes the paper from me.

So he shows me a "new" way of doing what I know as long division with some tweaks here and there. It's definetely not the same way I did long division but it comes up with the same answer. I just can't get past the name it was given, "Mexican Division". Z. isn't any help since he just said he thought that must be how they do it in Mexico.

I know this may upset some of you but I truly do find this whole thing funny. And I can hardly wait to get the answer from his teacher as to why it's called "Mexican Division". And just to be sure I wasn't old or anything I googled Mexican Division and nothing came up. So now I really am anxiously awaiting the answer from his math teacher as to why in the world it is called Mexican Division? And I did tell Z. that I'm sure that it's not called Mexican Division because that's the way they do it in Mexico.

Alright for those of you who are actually still curious as to his teachers response I'd thought I'd share it with you.

Z. is correct; we are learning "partial quotients" which is how they divide in Mexico. It helps make division easier for the students who can get stuck very easily on the traditional method of long division. It is where the students break apart the dividend by using multiples of 10, and subtract those pieces from the whole.

Mmmm...okaaay! Since I technically never learned math IN Mexico (just the border town across the Rio Grande) I truly can't 100% contradict her on this one. But I really do kind of want to. ;)

Because I'm really at a loss here

I'm to tired to think of anything interesting to write about. So this is what you get instead. A quiz on the kind of American English I speak.

Your Linguistic Profile:

55% General American English 20% Dixie 20% Yankee 0% Midwestern 0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

I can understand all the scores except the 20% Yankee one. I'm not a Yankee and haven't even been further north than Virginia. So how in the world did I score a twenty percent there? I'm curious as to how you guys score, so if you take the quiz let me know.

So then I'm looking at other quizzes to take and I come acorss this one called "What's my Girl Smell"? Well how could I resist that one. I've always been curious about what my girl smell is ya know and here it is:

Your Scent is Mango

Sultry, sweet, and mellow You enjoy every moment of life!

What's Your Girl Smell?

Mango...never would have guessed that one in a million years. No I was thinking more of the soap smell, wearing the same shirt the kids wiped thier hands on yesterday smell but instead I got mango. I don't even care for mango's that much but apparently it's my smell. Who would have thought it?

So there you have it. My thoughts are not working today so instead you get worthless quizzes and what I think of them. I'm sorry about it, really I am.

What are they trying to tell me

I'm driving in the car this morning and K. looks at me and says so sweetly "I like your Zebra shirt". So I look at my red and white striped shirt and just say thank you sweetie.

Then this afternoon, Hoss is in the kitchen and says "Whoa, Mom, you look just like a zebra".

What is it exactly my kids are trying to tell me. I'm feeling very self conscious in a zebray kind of way. And I'm just not sure I will wear this again.

Basket Gremlin Strikes Again

It happened again today. That darn basket gremlin stuck me at the grocery store. Normally I am able to keep most of his mischievous purchases out of my basket. But today for some reason I missed what was put in the basket. And since I had the help of three of my kids to put the groceries onto the cash register belt, I missed them there as well. When I was unloading my groceries at home. I found an abundance of extra cookies and crackers. I also found an extra box of juice bags. But since we go through those so quickly I really don't care about that one to much. But unless you think that gremlin was only after junk food, I also found a poked in kiwi. But that little guy wasn't actually in a bag, he was found left alone in the basket while I was loading the car. Still not sure how he ended up there since he wasn't there while I was paying. All I can say is that those darn gremlins were definitely moving faster than I was today.

Photo Hunters

This weeks theme is old fashioned. And there is nothing more fun to do as a child than swing. So here is a picture of my kids having some old fashioned fun. Big brother Z. is winding up little sister K. so she can spin around is circles until she is dizzy.



So there's my take on this weeks theme. For other views on this week's theme visit TNCHICK.com or PhotoHunt

I'm a spring/summer gal

I am officially here to declare myself a warm weather person. That means that I'm tired of the cold. I'm ready for the warmer weather to start back up. I'm ready for spring. And it's not like I even have a lot of winter weather to deal with living in Texas. But I am tired of being cold during the little cold weather that we do have. So here you have it I'm no longer going to deny it. I'm a spring/summer girl. But if you ask me in August when it's hotter than heck, I may just declare that I am a cold weather person. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

The First Tooth Fairy Visit

Hoss lost his first tooth on Monday. He was eating an apple and it pretty much came out then. He was torn between laughing with excitement and eagerness at the idea of the tooth fairy along with fear that it would hurt to actually get the tooth all the way out. So I just had him open his mouth and told him that I didn't think it would hurt at all for it to come out. And during that time I was able to pull the last little bit to get it, Hoss didn't even realize I had it until I showed it to him in my hand.

He was even more excited the next morning when he found some money under his pillow. Now if I can just come up with a good reason for the tooth fairy to keep his tooth maybe he'll stop asking me why she kept it. Here he is in all his toothless glory.

Wordless Wednesday

Anticipation



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Had a Blast

I had a wonderful time this weekend in Austin. My friend and I drove down there in no time at all. Lots of good conversation and a few laughs. We both learned so much from our weekend course. I can't wait to start trying out some of what I learned. I wish I had more time to go into details of all that was taught but even now I'm sure I am forgetting stuff as I sit here. All I can say is that if you ever get a chance to go to any of the courses with RMSP then by all means do it. You will not be disappointed.

Now I really should go off and take care of some of the things that need to be done.

My Foot Warmer

It's been colder than usual lately. Which means that my feet have been colder than usual. Even with my thick socks and slippers they are cold.

In fact about the only time my feet aren't cold is when I can sneak them underneath someone sitting next to me. Hubs really doesn't like this much and the kids never sit long enough for the chill to completely leave my feet. Which leaves me with one choice. Our dog Gigi. This dog just emits body heat like you wouldn't believe so my feet warm up pretty quick if they are underneath her. The only problem is that in order for my feet to remain warm and snug under her, I have to also pet her. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but Gigi is one of those dogs where if you give a scratch, she expects a belly rub. And then next thing you know she'll be trying to sleep in your bed with you. Now that's just not something I can do.

So as you can see, every night about the time my feet are freezing, I'm faced with the same dilemma. Do I let the dog warm them and then have her pushy dog self try to climb into our bed later in the night or do I just deal with my cold feet on my own and sleep without the dog trying to sneak into bed with us. It really is a trivial problem to have I know. And any true dog lover would just let Gigi warm her feet and then sleep in her bed afterwards. The thing is I am more of a dog liker than a dog lover. This means that my like has it's limitations which means I am doomed to suffer from cold feet. Until I get this look from her every night. It's kind of like this one in which her expression says...


Hey let's make a deal, I warm your feet in exchange for sleeping on the soft bed. So then I warm my feet on her and later that night I shut the door so she can't come in. And then I feel guilt for about two seconds and then I fall asleep. Until the next night when we do it all over again. Gigi isn't really a good negotiator but at least she keeps trying.

Wordless Wednesday

"Ice Poinsetta"


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Driving the Roller Coaster

One of the many things that I truly dislike is a roller coaster ride. They just make me sick. Hubs and the kids though, they just love them. So whenever we go to Six Flags or any other amusement park I always pass on the big rides and just look forward to the kiddie rides which I am able to stomach.

But I've discovered another roller coaster ride that I just love. Since I live in a fairly large metroplex area we have lots of bridges and overpasses that go up pretty high. And like me as a child, my kids love it when we go on the highest one. But they have taken it a step further than I ever did as a child. They pester me nonstop until I tell them we are about to drive up on the big overpass at which point they all stick their arms up in the air and start telling each other excitedly, we are almost to the top...hold on here it comes. Then once I peak at the top and we start to descend, the screams and laughter break out and for them it's just like a roller coaster ride (well okay I'm sure my nine year old Z. doesn't really think that but he participates just the same). So here I am driving in my minivan chugging along anywhere from 60-70mph depending on how late I am, and it's complete roller coaster chaos in the car. Anyone looking in our van would see one thirty something mom speeding down the road trying not to laugh. While at the same time four pairs of arms are waving around in the air and four mouths are screaming in roller coaster like joy.

For me it's the best of both worlds, I get a part of the excitement of what my kids experience when dad takes them on a real roller coaster but I never actually have to get on one. Instead I can stick with the smaller rides that don't make me sick. What could be better than that?

Four Days and Counting

I have four days left until I get to enjoy my last Christmas present from Hubs. And I am getting so excited.

I will head out Friday evening just me and another friend and we will drive our excited selves down to Austin. Where we will both then spend the remainder of the weekend cooped up in a hotel conference room attending one photography class after another. Yes, I know this doesn't sound like fun for some of you. But for me, this is BIG stuff. I'm hoping to come away from these courses with just a little bit better knowledge of what I am capable of doing with my camera. Because at this point it's all user error.

So that gives me four days to work my tail off. so that when I get home after a brief two days, the house won't be falling down around me. I can dream can't I?

Oh My..

Some days I just feel like I go from one mess to another.

A. is currently on her third top of the day and it's barely naptime now.

Touch the Clouds

I took the girls to the park this morning since it was a nice day. While there we spent a very long time on the swings. But as K. is begging me to push her higher on the swings I got to thinking about how all the kids love to swing. It must be an age thing because both boys before K. used to say the same thing, push me high enough to touch the trees and then they move on to push me high enough to touch the clouds.

How many times during the past nine years have I heard that one request? I really don't know, all I know is that it's a lot. And I know I will hear it for a few more years to come since A. isn't far behind her sister in that department. And every time I hear one of them ask me to push them high enough to touch the clouds, I am able to envision all my children's faces at the same age asking me the same thing.

It's really a sweet memory that I tend to forget about until the next time I'm at the park. And each time I really stop to think about all their little faces begging for more it puts a lump in my throat.

Wordless Wednesday

The first winter bulbs to appear.

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My Winter Blue Toes

What do you think was it a bit to wild and crazy for an old gal like myself?

Hubs wasn't to excited about my blue toes but since it really is only me that sees them this time of year I thought why not? I was just disappointed that the girl that paints on all the designs wasn't there otherwise I would have added a cute snowman to them as well.

I can't believe I said that

There are just some things that come out of my mouth and I can't believe I actually said them. Or that I really needed to. I seem to be saying things in this category more often than not lately. Let me enlighten you on my latest I can't believe I had to say that moment.

I am in the bathroom putting my makeup on. Baby A. comes in to help like she does every morning and reaches for my makeup brushes. I take one look at her and have to say "A, you can't use my makeup brushes until your boogers are gone". To which she replies....Noooooo!

Some days I really wonder how I ever got in this position.

Pee Faster

I was on the phone last night with my brother. During that time of complete chaos where I am finishing making dinner, setting the table and getting food in front of my starving children I attempted to carry on an adult conversation. That really was a bad choice on my part. Why would I ever think I should be able to talk on the phone while my four children are still living at home.

But I digress, let me get back to my story, I really do have one. I finally had all the kids at the table happily (if not quietly) eating and watching TV at the same time (bad mommy I know, but I was trying to talk on the phone). When it happened. K. had to go potty. Nothing new there. The kids always have to go to the bathroom once dinner is served. I don't know why it's that way but it is. So K. gets up from the table and stops just long enough to grab the remote control and then she paused the show (gotta love DVR) so she could go potty and not miss anything. Well bedlam ensued and I soon had an uprising on my hands of all the other kids screaming that she paused it and they were watching that and it's not fair that she always pauses the TV when she has to go to the bathroom. So I did what any good mom trying to have a phone conversation would do, I walked into the bathroom and told her to pee faster and ran off with the remote control. I then had three happy kids and one unhappy girl crying in the bathroom that she can't pee faster. But she was almost done so by the time I got there to help her I really wasn't needed anymore.

Yep, my brother sure was lucky he got to talk to me on the phone last night. I've enlightened him beyond what he probably felt was necessary and I have reached a new level of mothering where I now order my children to pee faster.

My Commando Girl

I have a daughter who surprised me the other morning. I won't name names but it's the only daughter I have who still wears diapers. At least she was wearing one when I put her to bed the other night. When I heard her stirring in the morning I went in to get her and my sweet girl had gone commando on me. She had pulled down her pj pants and somehow removed her diaper. Then she slept that way all night long. And it was cold that night, my poor baby must have froze her bottom off. When I went in to get my commando girl there was a big wet spot in the middle of her crib sheet. At this point I was just glad it was only wet and nothing more. She was so proud of herself, I could see it in her eyes. So I scooped her up and redressed her in all the appropriate attire, then I changed her sheet. I hope I never wake up to that kind of surprise again. I mean I am all for losing the diaper but not really in that way.