Runaways

Patrick and I have run away from home for the weekend.  We'll be back on Sunday.  Happy weekend to you!! 

A reason to love laundry

I have done scads of laundry today.  I had gotten behind on my putting away from last week, and then of course it has already piled on for this week.  As you well know, there is no time for rest when it comes to this task.  As I was aimlessly folding, I pulled out my baby dude's cute little underwear.  We've been trying to work on potty-training this week.  I keep calling his underwear panties - that's all I've ever known!  He doesn't correct me, because frankly, thats all he's ever known too!! As I was folding his "panties" I was struck by how cute and adorable and wonderful they are.  And DIFFERENT!!!  No princessess or Dora or Bratz or flowers.  No, these are Lightning McQueen, and Buzz Lightyear and Thomas!!  Very manly panties.  They are so teesny tiny, and so "man-like", and I love them.  Even though it has been just a week since he's been wearing them, there are quite a few pairs in the laundry as he has not quite gotten the hang of it.  But, he's learning, and will get it one of these days.  Until then, I don't mind folding umpteen pairs of my boys drawers ... as long as Michael will forgive me for writing about them on the blog and referring to them as panties.  

Today was Tuesday...

Our day was pretty ordinary and very good. The highlights of the day were making and delivering raspberry cheesecake bars to special people, watching American Idol, Michael going potty in the potty all day long, and cutting bangs for Maddie.  She has been saying that she wanted them for about a month  - finally, I gave in!  I can't believe how much older she looks!!!!  Beautiful as ever and she is THRILLED!!! I am thankful for ordinary days that just move along at a steady pace.  It is a blessing for me to be at home with my kids and enjoy the little moments that I might miss if I was out doing something greater than ordinary.  I don't know what that greater thing would be, but sometimes when I am in a "grass is greener" mood I imagine that there is something more that I should be doing. However, on days like today, the whatever is out there that I'm not doing is nothing compared to the little ordinary things that we did today. Loving and enjoying the people in my life - how else could I better spend a day?  

Creativity explosion!

The girls wanted to make pillows tonight. They were really adorable and creative! I don't know what came over them that they wanted to sew, but they did and it HAD to be tonight. Of course, we made M pillows - what else? They turned out beautifully, and the girls were so excited about the project that they had made themselves. What a fun start to our week, being creative and having a blast together. I am SO blessed to have my 3 girls.

Show and Tell

I have always loved embroidered dishtowels. Especially the ones with the days of the weeks sewn on them. My sister Renee has a wonderful knack for embroidery that I haven't ever been able to adopt, so I haven't ever made myself any. But I FOUND some - and they have the days on them!!! They are really cute, and I am SO happy about my little treasure that I had to show and tell someone!!!

Tuesday to Sunday

On Tuesday and Wednesday we were eating lunch at the park, 65 degrees, no jackets, comfortably playing there at the park for a couple of hours. I think the kids even had their flip flops on as they played outside after school. Fast forward a few days... Today, Sunday - snow on the ground, snow falling from the sky, cold, cold, cold!!!! That is Colorado weather for you - crazy!!! It's kind of nice to get the best of both worlds in one week. Just reminds me not to let my spring fever get the best of me quite yet! Our toes might get a little chilled if we put the snow boots away and leave the flipflops out - especially today!

There's no place like home.

This afternoon, we went to the park downtown near the library. (I also went to the library - one of my favorite places!) We thought we were going to have a picnic, but the weather was jut a little bit too cold. Instead, we ate our lunch in the van. One of my favorite houses in Ft. Collins is down near the library, and it is for sale. It's been for sale for a while, but today they were having an open house!! Lucky me!!! So, I decided to be a lookie-loo, and took my little self over to the house. I've always wanted to go inside this house. It is all of my favorite things - old, quaint, unique, situated in one of the best parts of town. I went inside and enjoyed looking through the house, but was struck by all of the things it was NOT - things that are favorite parts of my very OWN house. All of the sudden I realized that maybe my favorite house in Ft. Collins might just be OUR house!!! Yes, the house was cool because it was about 75 years old, but it didn't have NEARLY the uniqueness of Michael's trucks lined up in rows all over the upstairs hallways, or my favorite colors on the wall, or multitudes of drawings by our kids hanging on many doors, or Patrick's quaint gardens outside, or the multiple combinations of storage solutions containing shoes, backpacks, coats, library books, occupying any and all available space in our home. What makes OUR house unique and special is US - the family of 6 that lives here and the memories and laughter that we have and will have. I found myself blanketed with contentment as we drove away from my lookie-loo experience. I am thrilled that I got to go inside this house and appreciate it's beauty, but I was more thrilled to walk into my own home and recognize how much I have within the walls here.

Happy kids, Happy mom!

Last night, I tried to do a few (unexpected ) things that would keep the kids happy which in turn keeps me happy too! I find that this helps with the "missing Daddy" that we all experience when Patrick is traveling. Really, it just helps if we are all distracted so that we forget that he's gone. When he is gone, his absence is certainly noticed all day long, but it seems especially apparent in the evenings. I am very thankful for Patrick's job on many levels. It provides for us, he enjoys it, he now has an office in Ft. Collins, he works with great people. But, he is gone a lot. I think that the kids and I do a very good job at surviving, and even at times thriving, while Daddy is gone. However, the trip that he is gone on this week has seemed longer than the last few, so I've had to tap into the "extra creative mama" that resides within me. Last night, we had a special kid friendly supper (shells and cheese, chicken nuggets, green beans), we made a chocolate pudding pie, we watched American Idol, and we read our book together. We had such a fun night together. There really wasn't anywhere else I would have rather been! Maddie got to stay up a little longer than everyone else as a reward for some good behavior earlier in the week, and she enjoyed that a lot! I am SO grateful for my kiddos and their great attitudes and good behavior. They make life in our house very fun - it's so awesome being the mom to such amazing kiddos. Daddy is coming home Friday, and we will all be very happy to see him come through the door.

Proud to be an American!

I thought the inauguration speech of our new President was wonderful! It was really awesome to hear what he had to say and to watch the pomp and circumstance of America on full display. I loved watching the two couples, the Bidens and the Obamas standing on the steps of the capitol waving goodbye to the Bushs in the helicopter. There was just something about it that was very moving. For such a time as this, Obama is our President, and I am really happy to live in America today. It is really neat to know that we got to see and hear our new President of the U.S. when he was here in Ft. Collins this fall. How cool is that???

Boots and Suits

We went to the indoor swimming pool this weekend. Michael was confused because he thought that we were going to our outdoor pool. On the way to the swimming pool he kept saying, "this is not the way to the pool!". All of the kids looked so cute in their swimming suits flip flops and coats. Michael looked especially adorable because he had his snow boots on with his swimming suit.

Some days are wonderful like that!!

I got a package in the mail on Saturday. I was totally surprised that there was something in the mail for ME - I was so excited to open it and even more thrilled when I saw what was in the package!! My amazing sister Lisa made me an apron!! It is so pretty, and I will cook often just so I can wear it. Thank you for blessing me, Lisa.

Hope and Perfection

We have had a very nice week. It has been filled with pretty ordinary events - laundry, Daddy travel, homework, playing, cleaning, playing, going to the library and the gym, taking a few naps, school, show and tell, play dates with friends, and many more things that make our little Henricks' world go 'round. We have had really amazing weather the past 2 days, and I think it is supposed to continue into the weekend. I definitely got a case of spring fever yesterday and even bought a few primrose flowers to put inside to celebrate. They are beautiful and remind me that even though we aren't in spring yet (reality check!) it IS coming! Sometimes all I need is a little bit of HOPE to keep going. We started our weekend last night with a fun family night. I made upside down pizza for dinner, a recipe that my sister Lisa recommended - YUMMY! We also had brownies with M&Ms (in honor of all our M's.) for dessert. Then Daddy made a campfire outside in our fireplace and we enjoyed that for a little bit. Meredith was so enthusiastic - she kept saying "It's like we're camping!" We came in when mommy couldn't take the smoke and chill anymore - what a party pooper! The kids and I have been reading the book "The Indian in the Cupboard" out loud together. It is such a great book, and we are all enjoying it. We read that for a little bit, got our jammies on and finished our night watching an old movie, "Herbie goes to Monte Carlo." It was a PERFECT Friday night.

Passport to... nowhere...at least for right now.

I got my passport in the mail yesterday! It was so important looking, and I feel so very much like a grownup! I felt like I was "approved" by some very official power. I wanted to start singing "Oh say can you see..." or "I'm proud to be an American". I can travel out of the USofA now... at least that was the reason that I got the passport to begin with. About a month ago, there was talk around our house of Mommy and Daddy going to Mexico at the end of January; Daddy for a conference, Mommy for, well, not a conference. I made a BEELINE to the post office for my passport. They've probably never seen anyone so desperate for one. The photo in my passport reveals someone who is tired and needs a vacation (and a haircut!). A few days ago, however, we found out that we are NOT going to Mexico. We are not going anywhere, as of right now. I am really disappointed, but will just wait and pray for God's better plan, which will be better than Mexico, I am sure. I was listening to the song "Blessed Be Your Name", and I was singing along to the words that say "You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your name." I want that to be more than just a catchy tune with words I just sing along with. I want it to be the attitude of my heart, thankful and expectant for whatever God's blessing for us would be, rather than pouting about the blessing that I thought we should have. But for now... I will just stay home.

January

This morning, I was feeling very "januaryish". Description - gray, cloudy, blah, cold, colorless, lifeless. After a couple of cups of coffee and a very nice conversation with my sister, my spirits were revived a little and I started doing some work around the house. When I got to the kitchen, I saw some flowers that Patrick had given me in December. Miraculously, they had survived about 3 weeks, but were definitely headed to the trash today! As I carried the flowers over to the trashcan, I noticed that there were a couple of blooms still living in the vase. I "heard" those little flowers call out to me, pleading with me not to throw them out yet, that they weren't quite finished blessing me. So, I snipped off the few carnations and daisies that still had life in them and rearranged them into a cute little jar of flowers. It lifted my spirits SO much!! In the big vase, they had gotten lost in the other flowers that had died and so I was just going to throw the whole bunch out. After I separated them and gave them a new home, my January mood suddenly disappeared, and I think I might even have a slight spring in my step for the rest of the day.

Weekend

Our weekend has been pretty quiet. I had my painting project which came to be because I need to organize and clean Michael's room. The boy got SO many fun things for birthday and christmas; the current way his room was set up was not making the best use of his space. (Probably closer to the truth was the fact that his mama needed a little project to keep her busy...lucky child the project was his room!!) In my house, one thing leads to another and another and another. So, I took a shelving unit that I had in the living room (which I have hated for a while now!) and put that upstairs in Michael's room. This left me with a spot that needed to be filled in the living room. So, the kids and I went on an adventure to find some shelves. The last place that we stopped, we hit the jackpot!!! I discovered a shelf unit for $6.99 - it was UGLY as DIRT (Patrick wasn't sure that it was worth $6.99), but I saw great potential. I took it home and painted it yellow, and it looks amazing now. So does Michael's room!!! Meredith and Michael loved being apart of my project - it was a fun way to spend a Saturday.

Before and After

Before
After

Laugh out LOUD!!

This is hilarious!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnKnADfl_TA

The week so far...

• Maddie got to take 2 favorite stuffed animals and her favorite snack to school for a special classroom activity
  
• Mommy went out for dinner with Grandma Oman at a yummy mexican restaurant
• Michael got blown over by the strong wind that we had yesterday
• Meredith wore something other than her purple dress to school
• Mommy finished a really great book
• Daddy hasn't traveled since the middle of December
• Michael and Mommy went to the library
• Michael played with his favorite friend Giovanni
• Marky babysat Michael and Meredith while Mommy went to school to pick Maddie up
• Mommy cleaned up the house after everyone went back to school
• Daddy got the lights in the basement back on
• Marky is mastering her new Wii game
  
• Mommy's neck is feeling better
  

The wheels on the bus go round and round

There are some mornings when we hear the squeaky wheels on the school bus coming down the street, and the sound signals to us to get a move on so that we don't miss the bus.  Other calmer mornings, it is just a reminder for me that the bus is meeting the kids who are already out in the front waiting for it.  This morning, it was a time for celebration!!!  Those squeaky wheels sang loud and long down the street announcing that the kiddos are back in school. We have had a wonderful break, but there comes a time when everything needs to go back to normal.  That time is today, and we are ALL happy!!   Time to recharge the mama batteries! 

Lazy Sunday morning

I have had an unexpected yet very enjoyable Sunday morning. Maddie woke up this morning saying that she didn't feel that great, and the other 3 kids were snoozing soundly. These two things changed my plans for us to go to church. Patrick needed to be at church because he is apart of the prayer team this morning, so he went on without us. I was able to spend some time exercising, reading, praying, drinking some coffee slowly, hugging the kids as they woke up. I picked up a book over December that I've been studying, and it had this wonderful idea of rewriting the verses in 2Corinthians 12:9-10 to personalize them. I love these verses anyways, but the idea of inserting my own name and circumstances into them was so enlightening.

"But God said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, (name), for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses (list weaknesses), so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake I delight in weakness (my weakness), in insults (when I've been insulted), in hardships (identify hardships) in persecutions (where I am being persecuted) in difficulties (list any difficulties I am having). For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Maybe this will strike a chord with you as it did with me. I hope that you have a wonderful Sunday.

Cool Dudes

Pretty Girls

Partied out

More birthday fun!

How much more celebrating can one family do???? We have been decorating and eating and celebrating and gift giving since Halloween - our final event here was Michael's 3rd birthday, January 1st. I don't know why, but I think the 1st day of the year is such a unique birthday to have. For me, as a mom, it signifies the first of many family events that we will do together throughout the year. Michael is happy that he is finally 3 because we have been talking about him turning 3 (and what a BIG boy he is going to be - no diapers soon!) for so long. We are always happy when Grandma and Poppop can come over to take part in our celebrations with us. Happy Birthday, baby boy!

Michael

Who is happy in the morning and grumpy when he's hungry.
Who adores his mama and doggy, worships his daddy and Ashley.
Who loves firetrucks, Mater, Thomas and Lightning.
Who plays with rescue heroes, sisters and monster trucks.
He thinks hotdogs are yummy and Marky is funny.
His blankies are his favorite especially when he's sleepy.
Who doesn't like naps or getting in trouble.
Who loves to run fast, yell loud, and make shooting noises.
His goal for the year is to potty in the big potty.
The only boy in our family, yet he's gentle, loving and sweet.
Playing with friend Giovanni is a very special treat.
His mama loves to kiss him and daddy gives nightly snuggles
His 3 big sisters boss him but balance it with love.
He is our special three year old, a true gift from heaven above.

my 2009 goal

The grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence,
the grass is greener where you water and fertilize it.

Video

I think this video is really beautiful. Have a happy January 1st!