Thursday April 10

Dad has been working so hard outside.

I know he is so happy for it to be nice outside and to get out there and work.

He has been working on leveling out our orchard area, so the irrigation water will flow better over it.

He has also been re-digging ditches....cutting down dead trees, and burning out stumps.

Today I cut all the vines away that were growing up in the tire swing tree.

I loved how it looked, but it was slowly choking the poor tree.

So I cut it all down, but there were still a million vines that were up in the trees.

And grape vines....my goodness!

They sure hold on tight!!!!

So dad helped me by getting up in the tractor and cutting some of the dead branches off, and then pulling them down, which also pulled down most of the vines.

We got it cleaned up pretty good.

It sure opened up the space.....I will miss it, but it will be better for the tree!

*****

Porter went to Preschool today!!!!!

There was more meltdowns.....and oh man, were they meltdowns!

He actually didn't go on Tuesday, and had to stay in his room the whole time of preschool.

We have been talking about going, and all was good, until about 20 minutes before we had to leave.

It really breaks my heart when I see him like that.

And there is no getting through to him.

After I got him to eat, and fixed his hair....I just kept moving along as if he was going....

He was having a hard time.

So I had him look in my eyes and told him to take big deep breathes with me.

That was enough to calm him down and then we said a little prayer for him.

He was good enough to actually get in the car.

The whole drive there he kept crying he didn't want to go.

We got there a little early, so we just sat in front of the house and I had him on my lap in the front seat.

He gave me every reason why he just wanted to stay home with me.

He also said "What kind of Mom takes away her kids Legos!"

(I told him that if he stayed home, then I would have to take all his Legos away....does that make me a bad mom???)

Anyway, the kids started showing up, so I climbed out of the car.....

Oh man, wish I had video of me walking with him up to the door.

I was trying to hold him, he was trying to get away, any way possible.

He was pushing with straight arms away from me and brought his legs up to help him get away.

I almost dropped him several times.

We got to the door, she opened it and we walked in and I put him down.

It was almost instant.

His teacher told him a little about what they were going to do that day, he took his shoes off at the door, and followed the other kids.

I was shocked.

NEVER did I think THAT would have happened.

I know that saying that prayer was what made the difference.

I know it.

I am thankful for it.

I am also thankful that I could talk to him about it afterwards and how praying to Heavenly Father helped him to be brave and know he was safe and know that everything was gonna be okay.

He had such a great time too.....as if there were no problem at all.

I don't know how it will go next Tuesday, but I sure hope we turned a corner....

*****

The rest of the day went good.

The kids played outside, Dad worked more outside, and I was inside making dinner.

Sometimes that doesn't seem fair, right :)

Oh it's okay.

I made Dads favorite chicken....

He's got a lot going on right now, so I wanted him to have a nice relaxing dinner.

After dinner, he took the little ones with him to pick up the things around outside and tie mater back up while the big girls helped me clean up the kitchen.

Dad gave Elsie a 4-wheeler lesson too.

She thought that was pretty great :)