April 30: Team Umizoomi and Vanana Yogurt

Fridays my son stays home with me. Lately, it's been a real challenge as work has picked up and I have to balance a full workload while trying to ensure I don't exile my son to the other room where I'm not sure what he's doing at anytime. But, the last few weeks, we seem to have nailed down a decent routine - I work a little while he watches a show, then I take a break and we hang out for a while. Then, I return to working and he maybe does a workbook or colors or something. A little later, I take another break and we hang out. You see the pattern. We try to limit the TV time, as I really don't want him growing up to become another Martin Tupper. But, today, while we ate our Trader Joe Chicken Nuggets and some carrot sticks, he asked if we could watch Team Umizoomi. Maybe some of you know this show. I did not. But, it was Nick Jr., and most of the shows on that channel in the early afternoon are acceptable for a child in my son's age range. It's actually kind of a cool show. From what I can grasp, there are 3 characters - Geo, Milli and Bot (who happens to be a robot). I guess each show they encounter challenges for which they have to rely on their math skills to resolve. Today's episode involved an elephant sprinkler at the local community park that was clogged; the result of some child's rubber duckie that got caught in the draining system. The team saves the day by using their mathematical talents to reach the plugged pipe and re-establish a sufficient flow to the elephant's trunk so that all of the kids can cool off under the sprinkler. You can watch it here if you like. And, as a side note, while watching this my son and I sampled the Trader Joe's Vanana yogurt we picked up last weekend; a creamy blend of vanilla and banana. Can you say banana pudding? It tastes exactly like it!