Trenda's Blog

The "not so scary" diving board

Posted 2 years, 4 months ago at 7:46 pm.

On Tuesdays, Mari has swimming lessons–her skill level far exceeds her confidence.  Tonight on the way there I was trying to talk her into jumping off the diving board without her noodle (she’s the only kid to use one still), she thought about it and suggested that she throw her noodle in and jump to it instead.  That seemed like a good step.  When it was time, she jumped in a couple times, tossing her noodle in first and did great.  Then, Mr. Dennis took her noodle away and she bulked, she started tearing up and he decided to let it go. Her next turn, she left her noodle and held his hand without any trouble.  I told her how proud I was of her and she tells me–”the scariest part for me is touching the water, and Mr. Dennis let go of my hand before I touched it, and I did just fine, so must be I can do it.”  She’s nothing if not logical:)  So, during play time she went right over to the diving board and jumped right in twice without any hesitation!

PS  The diving board is in 12 ft water and the board is probably 3 feet off the water so it’s even a little scary to me.

Sunday afternoon

Posted 2 years, 4 months ago at 8:57 pm.

This afternoon, our nieces — Jessica & Shelby came over to play with kids after church, Ezra assured them that we have lots of toys to play with (they are 17 years old!). The kids worked them pretty good, especially Mari having them run trying to keep up with her on her bike. They also colored, played on the swing set, played tetherball and played with sidewalk chalk.
	After they left, I was ready to put some of the 3 yards of mulch that we had delivered down. Mari & Ez insisted (I’m not joking!) on helping. Now, let me tell you–they were a huge help. Kelly was filling the wheel barrow also but he had to go in and get Tobin. By the time I was done spreading a load they had it half filled again! I’ll take some pix when we’re all done with our massive outdoor efforts so you can see all our hard work.
This picture is Mari in this really sweet garden hat, she wore it all morning at church. I thought I would try & get her 6 year picture (which I know I’m late on but she is still 6 right?). The sun was too bright so I wasn’t happy with the lighting but it’s still a cute picture of her.  Oh, and yes, those are the red flowers in the neighbors garden:)

We have the cutest kids

Posted 2 years, 4 months ago at 7:12 pm.

Looking at the pictures we’ve taken over the past couple days is good therapy for me right now. Today has been one of those days where it seemed like someone was crying every 10 minutes and when not crying there was a lot of whining & demanding! Great opportunities to work on manners right:)

Yesterday we put sandals on Tobin and oh man does he have some cute feet, there is just something about chubby little feet that is sooo sweet. The other picture is hard to see but I looked over to see him with 2 cans of tomatoes and the can opener and he was actually trying to use it!

After many, many days of not pooping on the potty, Ezra finally went tonight. I had told him we could go to the Rec Center if he pooped this morning (and Wednesday morning). He never went but did at 5:30 today so off we went for a quick trip. The picture is of him sitting on his potty seat, playing guitar and singing–I video taped it too:)

Mari: I want to pick some flowers and put them in a vase Me: sure, go ahead (she picks some purple flowers) Mari: Are there any more? Me: you can pick some tulips from the back (she gets a tulip and takes that in the house Mari: Are there any more? Me: Did you see any more? Mari: I saw some nice red ones but they are in the neighbors garden. Me: I think we better not pick those Mari: well, is there anything green so I can make a kind of bouquet (didn’t know she even knew that word) Me: go ahead and take whatever green stuff you want I came in the house to find her with this nice vase, arranged with flowers and greenery. Maybe she has a future as a florist:)

Tobin is growing & growing & growing

Posted 2 years, 4 months ago at 8:09 pm.

In September, Tobin was wearing 9 month jeans & they were pretty roomy on him, today I had to go to the basement to retrieve 24 month jeans for him and much to my amazement they fit! It seems that every time I do the laundry I’m putting things away that are too small. He was pretty skinny at 1 year and over the past 7 months has really filled out gaining 5 lbs. He looks like such a big boy in this picture. I wish I had his 9 month jeans so I could take a picture of both side by side. Tara, if you read this maybe you should bring them home next time so I can get that picture.

Deuteronomy 6:5

Posted 2 years, 4 months ago at 8:01 pm.

Awhile back, I asked for some help on putting a verse over our entrance way to our family room. Deuteronomy 6:5 is what we chose. It is:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

The context is Moses giving God’s laws to the Israelites before they are entering the promised land, it goes on to say . . .These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. He goes on to say that when things are going well for them to not forget about God, to fear Him and to serve Him only.

So, I love the tie in to putting it on the doorframes of your house and teaching it to your children. Mari could read it right away and Ezra wanted her to read it to him. It provides us with another way to help our kids understand our priorities and how God is first:) It’s also a good reminder for Kelly & I!

Our brother-in-law Rob put it up for us, it was a pretty precise process, the perfect project for him on Easter Sunday–thanks Rob!

If anyone out there is interested in something similar, you can custom make them or chose from lots (and I mean lots!) of choices, check out the website: www.uppercaseliving.com Let me know and I can pass along my consultants contact information.