Fun night with friends!

Patrick was given some tickets to the Nuggets/Celtics game for last Monday night. He got 4 tickets, a parking pass and some $$ for food. Plus the seats were really great seats! We took our friends Mike and Lara, and the night was so much fun. The Nuggets didn't play up to par, but because none of us are die-hard fans, we didn't much care. The point of the night was to have fun and THAT we did!!!

Hike

Last weekend, we took a hike to the ponds that are near our house. It's a nice thing for us to be able to get to a natural area very quickly. It only takes a few minutes to get there, and we can do things like fish and throw rocks in the water, walk on nice trails, look for wildlife. The kids LOVE it. In fact, Marky and Maddie weren't along for this particular adventure and when they found out we had gone they were both disappointed. Here are a few pictures of our outdoor adventure.

She's a girly-girl

I took these pictures of Meredith last Sunday when we went on a hike. I absolutely love the "true-to-herself " way that she has her dress on while she is enjoying the outdoors. I wonder if Patrick ever imagined that he would father such a sweet little girl. Loving the things he loves outside, dressed up like the girly-girl that she truly is.

Password: thank you.

Psalm 100 - The Message

 On your feet now - applaud God!  

Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.

Know this - God is God and God, GOD.

He made us; we didn't make Him.

We're His people, His well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password:"Thank you!"

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank Him.  Worship Him.

For God is sheer beauty, all generous in love, loyal always and ever.

This is a Psalm that I memorized a long time ago; probably in the third grade at my Christian school.  All of Miss Wolhart's class memorized it at Thanksgiving time, reciting it at the top of our lungs in the King James version, of course.  I like that version, because it is what I readily recall, but this morning I read it in the translation, The Message.  It was good.  I needed it.  I haven't felt like applauding God this week, please forgive me.  Although, after all is said and done I don't know why.  He has been good.   I had just forgotten.  My eyes were focused on the reasons to be grumpy - and there were plenty; but this morning I turned my eyes to focus on the reasons to clap for God, and they were plenty- er. He is generous in love and He is loyal. Funny, these are three of my favorite things - generosity, love and loyalty.  I am His well-tended sheep, I just forget. I let the disappointments grow, the fear and frustration deplete, the challenging circumstances move my glance away from my Shepherd to my sheep pen.  The pen isn't clean, there's poop in it (literally) there are little lambs crying for more juice and another Lightnigh McQueen fruit snack - baa-baa. And yet... my Shepherd is there and He is all I need. He is tending me well.  I am His sheep.  You are so beautiful, GOD and I say the password - Thank you.     

Wednesday Thoughts

• I love that my painting project of my bathroom cupboards is going so well!
• I was so excited that Michael was pooping in the potty... until he didn't :(
• Why doesn't she like me?
• I miss Patrick. 
• I'm so thankful for wonderful babysitters.
• My heart hurts when my friend is hurting.
• I loved kissing my kids today.
• I hated spanking 2 of my kids today - but then loved kissing them again.
• Drinking good wine (bought with the cash in my pocket!) with my friends and having great conversation tonight was so fulfilling.  I feel blessed because of them.
• When will it get easier?
• I'm so excited to see tulip tips peaking up from the ground!
• I was very disappointed in the mail today.
• Going to Bible study today was very enjoyable - I am loving studying the book of Esther so much. 
• I wish that I could have talked to my sisters today.
• I'm afraid of what might happen if my kitchen floor gets any stickier.
• I'm happy that tomorrow is another day, with no mistakes in it yet, and mercy from my God that flows and flows.  I love you, Lord.

Hard to believe!

Well...it's official.  Michael has waved goodbye to babyhood.  He has stared the challenge of potty training in the face and has emerged triumphant!!! This weekend has produced both potty and poopy victories.   I am SO proud of my little guy.   This has been a difficult and tiring few weeks,  but we have prevailed and big-boy underwear is our reward!!!  He has mastered the potty and in his own words "diapers are for babies!".  Tomorrow I am going to take a bag with the last few diapers that reside here at our house to a friend at church. There will be NO MORE diapers here at the Henricks' house.  It is really difficult for me to believe that I am finished with diapers. ( at least until I have grandkids. ) What will I do with this skill of mine? You see,  I am an expert at this very thing, diaper changing.  Over the years, I have perfected my speed and technique to such degrees that I DARE SAY I might be able to win an award - if only there were a contest for me to enter.  I have spent so much time changing diapers, so much money buying diapers; it is a strange finish line to cross plagued with many feelings - relief and sadness, joy and disbelief.  It's all there, and because I am a mother, I know that this will not be the last time that a final step produces both sides of the emotional coin.  I just wonder when the next time will be!

The Mom

As I was putting Meredith to bed tonight, I told her that I was going to need her help tomorrow because I was going to be gone all day.  She said "You want me to be the mom?"  And I said "Sure!  What do you think you will do while you are the mom?"  She said "Tell Daddy to clean up after himself, tell Michael to go potty, and take good care of everybody."  I would say that she has got it down!!!  I have NO DOUBTS that she will do all of those things tomorrow.   

A good day

I really like Thursday.  It is one of my favorite days of the week.  Today was a great Thursday.  Mostly, we were home all day long.  I cleaned and did laundry, sewed a little, and Meredith and Michael had 2 friends come over in the afternoon.  Even though there were 2 extra kids in the house, there wasn't any fighting (at least sibling fighting) that I had to get involved in  so it was worth having their friends over.  Lately, on Thursday afternoons, we have been "borrowing" my friend Susan's grandma as a new friend of ours.  "Miss Betty" is in her 80s, and lives in a retirement home.  She is such a sweet lady and Marky and Maddie  enjoy reading to her and talking with her.  Michael and Meredith look forward to playing with the bin of toys in Miss Betty's room, and we all look forward to making her smile with our visit.  It has been the best way to spend an hour on a Thursday.  We hope that Miss Betty never tires of our visits.  Tonight the little ones and I went to the gym (working on those 5 pounds!) and now we're home just chilling out. Patrick is in town, but is really busy with a project at work so he hasn't been home yet tonight - my encouragement to "work like a woman" has not yet proven to be fruitful - could be a long night at the office for poor Patrick.  The weekend coming up is promising to be amazing.  This Saturday, speaker and writer Angela Thomas is coming to our church for a women's event.  I get to be apart of the event on Saturday, but the AWESOME thing is that I get to go to dinner with the planning team and Angela on Friday night.  I can't believe that I get to go, and I am SO grateful and excited!!  I think that it is going to be such a fun weekend.  Well, it's a happy night here in my clean house.  I love enjoying how hard I work during the day; it is insanely rewarding.  Pretty soon I will be saying TGIF!!!  Nighty night.

How fair is that?

I went to the gym last night. I was feeling so blah after all of the sugar I had consumed over the weekend in honor of Valentine' Day that I knew that I had to go. I love going to work out; it just hasn't been as easy to do over the past few weeks with sick kids and potty training. However, yesterday, I had new determination. I must lose 5 pounds. Or else my 5 pounds will become 10, and then 12 and then... well - you know. So, I was on the elliptical machine which I HATE (all of the treadmills were busy) and one of the trainers I have worked out with came over to talk to me. His name is Mark and he is a BIG guy - not fat, but just BIG. Over 6 foot tall, and I bet he weighs about 275 pounds. Since I haven't been at the gym I haven't seen him in a few weeks - he is not BIG anymore - I could tell in his face that he had lost some weight. He told me that he's lost 33 pounds... IN 3 WEEKS!!! I couldn't believe it! I want to lose 5 pounds and can't seem to do it, he's lost 11 pounds per week??? I just can't understand it. I'm happy for him, but it is just not fair.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 It has been a snowy and cold Colorado day of love. We have been together all day long, loving on each other, (and fighting with each other!) making memories together as we celebrated Valentine's Day.  I wanted today to be all about Marky, Maddie, Meredith and Michael.  I was thrilled when I looked at the calendar a month or so ago and realized that we would all be together for the holiday/weekend.  I determined then (as only a mom would!) that we would make the most of this day, and WE HAVE!!!  This morning, we all went to "Lowes" to participate in their "kid's building project".  The kiddos got to make a jewelry box with a heart on it.  After that, we went to the movies and saw "Hotel for Dogs".  It was fabulous!!  Definitely worth going to  - even for grown-ups!  Lunch at McAllisters followed, where the kids shoveled mac & cheese in their mouths as if they hadn't eaten for days.  (Actually Meredith woke up sick yesterday so she hadn't eaten anything in a day.) We then moved on to taking care of Grandma Oman's kitty, and the chore of Sams.  That store is just not my favorite place.  it is a necessary evil and I am thankful for some of what it provides, but it is just SO much work - shopping, paying, pushing the heavy carts, watching out for ALL of the swarms of fellow Saturday shoppers, putting the groceries away - all of it is just A LOT!  After we had accomplished all of those tasks, we had a scavenger hunt; the kids had lots of treats and treasures hidden around the house for them to find with clues to guide them.  They had so much fun trying to find everything.  Even Michael got into it!  They were so excited to collect their treasures and figure out what each of the clues meant.  Later, Daddy made supper for us all, including cupcakes,  and he and Michael surprised all of us girlies with beautiful roses and chocolate.  What a fun treat!!  We finished the day off with some reading of our book (we're almost done!) and a "Princess" movie.  It's been a full day and a wonderful day, spent with those that I love most of all.   

Oh happy day!

Today we went to school and registered Meredith for kindergarten!  I can't believe that she is ready to start in the fall!!  She was very excited to go to Zach and do this, although she was a little bit confused - "I guess I won't go to Little Lambs anymore", she said.  She was SURE that they were going to let her stay at Zach today after we finished signing her up.  If only...  

Make or buy

I think these are really pretty.  I wonder if I could make them? Decoupage is a lost art - might be time to bring it back .  

Good Reading

These are 2 books that I read recently - I loved both of them!  The one called "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" was just such a sweet book.  It is about all kinds of home art: cooking, sewing, decorating, painting, etc.  The other book is by Clinton, of Stacey and Clinton of "What Not to Wear".  It was a really fun book!  I enjoyed them so much because they are both about the stuff of love in my life - fashion, home decorating, beauty.      

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

• the fact that Michael hasn't thrown up for 6 hours
• the sun is shining making this February day a happy day
• it's Tuesday - my big girls are home until Thursday evening - Tuesday is my favorite day!
• the movie Madagascar 2  - it has provided many distracted moments during the past few sick days
• Grandma Oman who gave the kids the movie Madagascar 2 - perfect timing!
• my washer and dryer
• the Bible study that I am doing by Beth Moore - "Esther: It's tough being a woman."
• my pajamas
• good friends who help me even when it's not convenient for them
• my pretty house - I love being surrounded by all of my favorite colors, pictures, and doodads
• potty training success
• my sewing machine
• Patrick's trip is very short this week
• Samoa Cookies
• that Valentines Day is on Saturday and that we will all be home together

A must have!!

I think that I must have  

 this

for my tractor crazed son!!!

V-Day

Michael had a potty training victory today!  Even though he was sick for the better part of the day, he had a great day in the bathroom.  EVERYTHING went in the potty, like it was supposed to.  EVERYTHING! I was so excited for him because this meant that he got the nerf dart gun that he has been longing for.  It has sat on the kitchen counter for more than a week, awaiting this very day!  He has been SO happy playing with it; so has everyone else.  When the big girls got home from school, they saw him playing with the gun and immediately knew what that meant. They praised and congratulated him, gave him lot's of "that's a good boy!" -  it was so wonderful to see their wholehearted delight in his success!  It's these types of ordinary days with ordinary events about ordinary stuff that ties the 6 of us to each other - the poop, the barf, the tears, the laughs, the grumpys, the happys, the trying, the failing, the sharing, the fighting, the forgiving, the snuggles.  It's all important - it's all good, even when it's bad.   

Reprieve

 My little guy is sick today.  He started throwing up this morning; I'll spare you the details, let's just say it went down hill from there.  Right now he is sleeping, so I have a reprieve from all of it.  He is so sweet, sleeping peacefully.  I love how he folded his newly washed blankie up and set it under his head.  Ahhh... comfort.  

Baby gifts

I had a baby shower on Saturday for 3 mama friends from church. I got them all a little something from Target, but had really wanted to give them something homemade. Their gift just didn't seem personal enough! So, in the middle of the night on Friday night (Michael got me up and then I couldn't get back to sleep) I came up with an idea for a little blanket/friend for the baby. I combined the idea of Michael's satin trimmed, small blankets that he LOVES with Marky's deepseated LOVE for a stuffed animal friend. So on Saturday morning I made something that I named a flannel friend. I thought they turned out wonderful, and I will make them for every baby that comes my way in the future!!