Trenda's Blog

Smoothies

Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 3:03 pm.

Our kids love smoothies, even the way I make them!  It’s not that I’m a bad smoothie maker, I just put all healthy stuff in it–if they’ll drink them why not??  I want Kelly to call his “shakes” so the kids know it’s a treat (his are delicious but always have ice cream in them!).  I usually just use whatever frozen fruit we have, today Mari called it “fruit salad” smoothie, add some cottage cheese (I know — yuck but if you don’t put too much in, it’s just fine and I sneak some protein in).  We also added some yogurt and green juice (you really don’t want to know what this is:) but they will drink it plain so they’re good with it.  So, here is a picture of them drinking it–see they are enjoying it.  And everyone wanted more.  Tobin even said “moe” and rubbed his belly (sign for please).  When I got the camera out, Mari said “hey, you can put this in your blog”. 

I was reading a book to Tobin this morning a pointed to a picture and asked him what it was and just as clear as day, he says “baby”. I’m thinking I should have a column along side this that lists the words that he is saying–I’ll have to get Kelly on this idea??

I get to go scrapbooking in about an hour, I’m shooting for 10 pages completed.  I’ll let you know how I did.

1000 pieces

Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 8:48 pm.

Last night, Kelly & I completed our first 1000 piece puzzle (Kelly’s first, my who knows–I’ve done quite a few).  How, you might ask, do we have time to do a 1000 piece puzzle?  It all started last January when we made a lot of financial changes, including getting rid of DirecTV and then in September deciding to greatly decrease our time in front of the tube.  We read more (well, Kelly reads more), I’m scrapbooking & writing a blog:), we play board games, we work out, we put a puzzle together, and we actually talk to each other.  It used to be that we’d collapse in front of the TV right after putting the kids to bed–didn’t matter what was on, just habit I guess, we’d find something–even without cable.  Now, we have 2 nights established that we watch one show–usually recorded so it only takes 45 minutes to watch.  It has been a great change!

The puzzle was fun, we have it set up in a back storage room in the basement so the kids can’t mess with it, we turn the radio on “Pillow talk”–remember that??  We talk and sing the cheesy love songs as we work the puzzle:)  I have great memories of doing these with my Mom & sisters, all the funny sayings &  grumblings came back.

Oh, Mari & Kelly played Yahtzee before bed again tonight and for the 3rd night in a row got 2 yahtzees!  Her last 3 scores have all been over 340:)

PB & J, Graham cracker snacks & a catastrophe

Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 9:04 pm.

Today I worked in the morning so our awesome nanny was here–her name is Debbie and she was truly a gift from God 2 1/2 years ago, she has her grandson Ashton for a couple days so he came with her–the kids love playing with him, I came home to them all lined up eating PB & J–very cute.

Tobin has been doing a lot of screeching & pointing, so we’ve been working on the “sign” for please (rubbing tummy).  Today, he really figured it out and even said “peas” at the same time, he was very proud of himself.  His new fake smile and “chee” is getting even better, this is a better picture of it.

We’ve had leftover frosting from Ezra’s birthday cake (how long is that good for??), when I was a kid my Mom used to make us graham cracker sandwiches whenever she had leftover frosting.  It’s been a big hit with the kids.  Tobin keeps saying “moe, moe” (more).

 I forgot to mention this yesterday–I started a load of laundry and Ezra came running, he loves to pour the soap in and put the clothes in.  We got it all running and he returns to his breakfast to find it gone, I’ll give you one guess who the culprit was.  Of course, Tobin was happily sitting in Ez’s chair with the spoon in hand.  Ezra was so upset, the tears started coming (& boy can he gush like a faucet!), I quickly assured him that he could have more and all was well.

The latest

Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 3:57 pm.

	Tobin is doing the most hilarous thing, if you say to him “Tobin, can you smile”–he breaks out into the cheesiest grin you’ve ever seen! The picture doesn’t capture it that well–you really need to see it in person!  He first did it at Evan’s birthday party but now he does it on command, and even when he’s crying.  And yesterday, he added the word “cheee” (cheese) to it.  Hmm, perhaps I have the camera out a bit too often.
	Mari was busy on Saturday doing a 300 piece puzzle with very little help from us, she definitely has a knack for it and thinks she’s ready for an even bigger one.  Of course, there was a piece missing when we finished–the down side of purchasing at garage sales:)
	During our worship service on Sunday, it was brought up about the importance of scheduling the “important” things.  I seriously could write a book on this stuff–I literally have been submerged in this line of thinking for the past 18 years at work, I’ve heard it all!  But, it hit me (had to be God) that Ezra needs more 1 on 1 time with me.  Before we went on our date, he was quite distraught “but I’ll miss you Mommy” and then during Sunday School he had a little melt down when I tried to drop him off.  These outbursts can almost always to predicted based on how much Mommy time he has gotten. So, I decided that between 1-1:30 during the week I would focus on him, Mari is off to school & Tobin is down for a nap.  We can play games, puzzles or read books before his nap (stuff that’s difficult when Tobin is around), maybe you all can keep me accountable and check back to see how I’m doing.

We had our date night on Saturday night, it seems like every time our date night comes around the kids are extraordinarily trying during the day–so much so that we can’t wait to get out of the house (I’m just being honest!).  But Saturday, we had a great family day and I actually think it put less pressure on our date.  We were excited to get out but it wasn’t desparate–do you know what I mean?  Anyway, we had a great night, just a movie & dinner (and a few errands) but it was one of our most enjoyable and relaxing!  Once again, I highly recommend this — see my blog posting:  Three Kids Napping (under mom stuff) for all the details of how to set this up for yourself.

I was trying to find something to freecycle this weekend (our goal every weekend) and figured I’d clean out my dresser & closet, now those of you who know me that I’m not a clothes horse and really don’t have that much so I figured I’d just have a few things that I would combine with Kelly to make a bag.  I filled an entire kitchen garbage bag with all sorts of clothes–my dresser & closet look great now!  So, clean out your closets and give that stuff you’re not wearing to someone who actually needs it:)  I also scored a Leap Pad backpack (to carry the stuff in) and 2 bags of size 5-7 boys clothes for my friend.

Birthday Party

Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 8:49 pm.

Today was a fun-filled day, it started pretty early–a 5am wake-up call from Tobin, by 6am Ezra had joined in with a Good Morning to God song (very sweet), Mari came running in then to tell us she was really tired and it was too noisy–the funny thing is that she was talking about her noise maker not the boys, she turned it off and actually went back to sleep.  Ezra informed me that he was “bery disappointed” that he got 2 animal crackers after breakfast, I guess Kelly gave him two and Ezra thought that wasn’t nearly enough. Tobin discovered that carrying a pot around helps him reach things higher.  Ezra climbed into his pack n play (where he takes naps in our room) with the help of a stool and then yelled for me because he couldn’t get back out (if he only knew!). My friend Jody came over with her 2 year old daughter, the kids all had fun and they stayed for lunch.  All three of them decided they could fit in a rubbermaid container.  Mari went off to school and the boys took 3 hour naps, I guess the early risers were tired.  When Ezra woke up, I picked him up and told him I loved him–he wrapped his little arm tightly around my neck and said “I love you sooo much”–talk about melting a girls heart! The long naps were great because we had Evan’s birthday party to go to tonight.  We met them for dinner at Buddy’s first, the kids were great.  Kelly & I decided that was because I sat at the opposite end of the table–something I’m willing to continue if it results in good behavior!  Then off to Pam & Robs for cake & ice cream. A fun day was had by all:)