Spring Break

We didn't head anywhere spectacular or warm like some..but that's okay we had pretty descent weather here in good ole' Michigan!  Some would don this a 'Staycation"...I call it life!!  Who came up with the idea that every time a kid has a school day off we have to take them somewhere,  I think it probably reared it's ugly head with the revolution of mom's going to work.  The guilt of not spending days with our kids made us feel better when we would take them to Chuck E Cheese or Bowling or McDonalds or to the mall....we all feel better about 2 parents that work full time....when we have a new pair of shoes or have seen the latest movies. or have season tickets to the Griffins.  

Now, it was not my intent to slam working parents ....not in any way!  I'm guilty of all of the above too.  Trent is proof of that..in the morning he wants to know where I'm going to take him for the day....even when we do go somewhere..he wants to go again after dinner.  

In my day..we spent all day playing out side, building forts, washing windows, hand washing our cars, mowing the lawn, watching TV (all 3 channels!), doing dishes, weeding the garden & riding bikes!  I probably complained a fair amount about the jobs that I had to do....but in my maturity I can look back and appreciate the life I had ...I had a great life!!!!!  We saw few to none movies, we never went to Chuck E Cheeses, we did bowl occasionally (excluding 4-H) and I never went to a Hockey game or to see the Harlem Globetrotters!  We spent most Friday nights home watching Lawrence Welk and Love Boat/ Fantasy Island on Saturday night!! 

I had parents that loved me and two sisters that kind of did! I wouldn't have changed a thing if I could...I was blessed...no doubt!

WOW that was a rabbit trail!  Sorry about that!

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Trent had gotten tickets for his birthday to a Griffins hockey game.  We attended on a Saturday night...and they won!

On Tuesday, we went to the Dove free movie with Grandma Linda....we saw Chipwrecked....very cute!  I purchased some Moroccan oil (that needs a post all of it's own!!!)

On Wednesday we and every other sole in GR headed to the John Ball Zoo....it was packed but God provided a front parking spot. Trent and I moved along quite quickly as we didn't have a stroller to navigate! 

reading the sign 

"hey, don't take my picture!!" 

Chimpanzee exhibit..my personal favorite!  They weren't feeling very entertaining this particular day but we could see them up close! 

This was the Grandpa..he was sunning himself on a rock 

chimp skull 

playing around! 

'owning the wooden train' 

playground...just hanging around! 

On Saturday the KC Fall Festival Committee sponsored a Easter Egg Hunt.  I don't have a great picture of Trent..I was helping at the prize table! 

They had 250 kids attend!  Here is the line waiting to redeem their tickets for a prize/candy 

We had a good week!  Thanks for checking in!!!

Trent's Day....

Last Saturday, Trent participated in the AWANA Games at Comstock Park HS.

For those of you not familiar with AWANA..it's a Wednesday night church program.  This particular event is where area churches compete with other AWANA programs.  They compete around a circle in very specific games.  Trent also competed last year. It's for 3-6th graders.  Here he is sitting with his team waiting for the events to start.... 

preparing to play in the Bean Bag Swap 

getting ready to run the Sprint Relay...that's 3 laps by a 3rd or 4th grader..one heat.

I was biting my nails off..so nervous for him! 

the photo finish...

he actually took 3rd...but just by a bit did #2 beat him (coming from a mom!!!) 

4 way tug 

Balloon Relay

he's so cute!! 

all their hard work and perseverance paid off...

they brought home a first place!!! 

Trent and his metal.... 

Then at night we had Upward Basketball closing ceremonies...here he is with his team & coach.

The one good picture I got during all his games 

Trent with another metal!!! 

that's all folks....

He's got the Life....

Trent's birthday was in February...but his birthday keeps on giving!

One of his gifts, from his Grandparents, were tickets to the...Thunder Nationals...Monster Jam Monster Truck Show.  That's important stuff to a 10 year old boy!!

The nice boy he is....he let Steve & I go with him..isn't he sweet...or does he know who will by him snacks? 

right on the finish line!

little happy with the shutter!

and every boy needs a sword from the Monster Truck show...hahaha!

Donut competition

Here is High Maintenance....the only girl driver.

She wiped a donut like nobodies business...round and round and round and round and round ....

and then she shot confetti and glitter out of the back

Graver Digger had his 30th anniversary this year....he tried to beat her-he really did...that is until he blew his engine...BAM...he's done for the night..RIP Grave Digger!!  Pretty sure GD was 'suppose' to win this competition!

Oh and did I mention the the only girl driver won the donut competition?  Oh and did I mention that she won the Freestyle too?  Did I say she was a girl?

We had a fun time with Trent..he such a fun kid!

A Boys Valentines...

Trent's valentines we made for school

I 'pinned' the idea off of Pinterest

They are matchbook candy holders

I know, we could have been a little more creative with our designing....but hey, the kids only want the candy anyway!

This is his box 

I thought it turned out cute for making it on short notice.

Total Boy.... 

farts & burps

Oh Trent how we love you!

Double Digits!!

Our little cutie pie has turned double digits today!

Here are some pictures through the years with him!

Trent has been a delight.

Learning to ride his bike...

Heading to pre-school 

Coast Guard Festival Fun in Grand Haven!

He was pictured in the local newspaper..Go Trent!

Easter time... 

Awww....What's not to love about this one! 

An angry lion

(he didn't want to be a lion for Halloween!!!) 

Tyler & Trent enjoying the snow! 

The first fish he caught in Ludington

one word....Adorable!!!

Trent you are a delight to have in our family!  So glad God blessed us with you!  You keep us hopping!  You enjoy life..all.the.time!!!  You love a party and being involved in whatever is 'going on'!! You love sports and the outdoors..you really like Soccer...and you are good at it, to boot!  You have added so much joy to our lives and we are wishing you the best birthday ever!  

Happy 10th birthday Trent!

Praising God

Trent & I were luck enough to attend 

The Rock & Worship Roadshow on Friday night Nov 4th at the VanAndel.  

This was the first concert Trent has ever been to!

This was a pay-at-the-door kind of concert..so we didn't have to pre-buy any tickets.  

I was pretty sure I could drive to the Arena with out the GPS..so we took off Southward.  Well, if you know anything about how directionally challenged I am, you will  understand the above statement!!! As soon as I got off 131 on Pearl, I knew I had gotten off too soon..so I took the next right..and Trent's eagle eyes spotted the Arena, we went around the block, parked for $8...just like we knew what we were doing!!!  The line wrapped almost all the way around the block..so we quickly made friends with the people in front of us while we waited..so not like me!!!!  We soon found out she was a nurse and he was a pastor in Petoskey..they were down visiting their kids for the day.  He actually is from a sister church in Traverse City, New Hope Community were the Isenharts go..small world!!!  And to make things even funnier..when their kids joined them in line...they were taking pictures together..and they were trying to get everyone in..I said I would take the picture for them...the guy behind, thinking we were all together, piped in and said "hey I'll take the picture of all of you!"  Hahahaha  A family picture of them, with me tucked in the middle!!

So, after a long wait, in pretty decent weather for the first of November we got in.  It was not very hard to find two seats together..so we had pretty awesome seats...well, if you consider sitting under 14 speakers awesome..than this was your seat!!!

Waiting for the show to start...

more waiting

the 14 speakers over our head

Trent with a shot of the crowd!

Hawk Nelson

Matt Maher ( my personal favorite)

Matt Maher & his band

Trent and his glow cross

MercyMe...they were excellent too!!! 

Trent was getting a little tired of it around 11pm ..so we were thinking of leaving...just then MercyMe started playing....I can only Imagine!!  Ummm...sorry Trent, we have to stay for this one!!!!!  Most Excellent!

Other groups were Jars of Clay, Tripp Lee (some rapper dude) & Group One Crew.

Some of the things I noticed.....

*There were a lot of teens there..PTL!! Sometimes in this world, the news gets me down and I feel like the world is going to Hell in a hand basket.  Sometimes I get thinking that the kids these days are horrible..and that there is no one good left.  I start thinking this generation is all about themselves and God is nowhere to be found!  Well it did my heart good to see so many kids attending and genuinely praising God!  GOD IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!

* I can not text fast....Steve texted me around 9 to asked if we were still there..I was trying to reply...do you even know how many times I had to backspace to correct my spelling!  Talk about embarrassing, I was trying to cover up what I was doing so the others around me couldn't see ..I didn't want to be the butt of their jokes!!!)

* I brought my camera--I might as well brought a 8 track player!!!  I felt like the kids around me were whispering....what is that?  does it take pictures? Nobody carries a camera (at least kids under 25)..they all use there phones to take pictures.

* The music was really loud-it took me two days to get my hearing back.. maybe that had something to do with our seat selection???  maybe I'm getting old???

* It was so good to hear people praising God!  I am not a singer in any way, shape or form...I couldn't carry a tune if it had a handle..but when the music is that loud..you can sing at the top of your terrible voice and no body knows how bad you really sound!

*Trent still loves to go places with his mom (well..if there is fun & food)

We had a great time together and even enjoyed a McFlurry on the way home!