Busy Christmas Break

We made it through Christmas and now on to New Years, Jacksen's 7th birthday party, our 8th anniversary, and then Jennah's birthday. Most families slow down after Christmas, not us Christmas is just the beginning of a month long party. Hopefully adrenalin will carry us through.

My youngest brother and his girlfriend were in a bad car wreck Tuesday before Christmas. They both walked away with minor injuries and a concussion. Sean wasn't wearing his seat belt and really should have been hurt much worse than he was. The car was completely demolished. Christmas was very meaningful this year. It really scared all of us and made me realize how blessed we are and that we need to live every day like it is our last.

So for the New Year I resolve to live every day like it is my last because as we all know it could be. What's yours?

Jonathan's Christmas Party

We went to Jonathan's work Christmas party Saturday night, and we had a great time. Grandma Janet kept all three kids over night and took them all to church on Sunday. That was the first time Joel had stayed the night away from me and Janet said he did fine. Yeah! That means we can start leaving him some and not worry about him. Jonathan's name was drawn and he got to play Deal or No Deal. He won $250!! I was so proud of him we never win anything, and that was the biggest prize of the night! It was so much fun having a date night. After the party Jon took me to Steven Howards KoKoa and bought me some of my favorite chocolates yum! 

 

Joel's Breakdown

 

Christmas Cards

Last weekend after the beautiful snow I thought we would go ahead and try to get our Christmas card photo in the snow. We headed to Honor Heights Park only to find it closed because of the weather. So we improvised and took pictures right out side of the park. Only two of the twelve we took turned out well enough for the card this isn't the one we chose. The pictures didn't turn out because we had been shopping for two hours, the cold, and we had to wake Joel up upon arrival at the park. I am going to post another picture that you can see Joel has had enough. It was fun though.

 

My Crazy Parents!

My parents work as Hot Shots. Their job is to deliver large equipment anywhere in the U.S. or Canada on very short notice. They got a call yesterday to go to New Mexico. For me this would be stressful in itself getting a call one minute and dropping everything, packing a bag, and leaving that same day or sometimes early the next morning. If you know my dad, he thrives on this sort of thing. He loves a good challenge and is always ready to get up and go. This time is different though. They have had to travel in bad weather in spots, but they have never started the trip in bad weather like this time. So they left this morning about 7 and have been traveling for eleven hours now and still have about four hours to go. Along the way they have experienced several white outs. If you haven't ever experienced a white out, you see nothing but white everywhere. It can be quite scary. This trip in normal weather would take about nine hours. I called them earlier and my mom said they had been going about 40 MPH the entire trip. They have to stop every so often to rest and they sent these pictures to us. I just thought this was kinda neat. I tease them everytime I call and ask them where in the world are Bill and Tamara. I really think they are enjoying the chance to see the world in their Dodge pickup. 

The Simple Things in Life

This week I have realized it is the simple things in life that make me happy. First, a working washing machine makes me happy. Our's has been broken for over a month. We kept thinking we would try to look at it ourselves but just never had the time. Monday we finally had a repair man come and fix it. Total time of repair ten minutes. What was wrong you ask? The drain had a sock stuck in it. I am so happy to have a washing machine again.

Second simple thing: Zithromax. If you have small children you will know that this medicine does the trick when it comes to ear infections (Joel has yet another double-ear infection). Only one teaspoon the first day and one half a teaspoon for days two through five, unlike other medicines that have to be given two or three times a day for ten days, and then at the end of the ten days the kid still has an infection. For some reason the Dr. always tries the Zithromax after about a month and a half of other medicines. This time the Dr. prescribed it first! Love this stuff!

Third: The change of seasons, although not exactly simple makes me happy. It is so exciting to be able to tell my kids that when they wake up in the morning there may be snow. Not to mention the coziness of sitting in front of the fireplace and watching a movie.

Sometimes this time of year I get all wrapped up in who is getting what and how are we going to pay for that, but for this week anyway I am happy with the simple things.

Jonathan's BAD Back

Okay, so we finally know everything (so far) that is wrong with Jonathan's back. We knew before his fatty tumors had come back (four this time instead of two) and that he has arthritus in the same place as the fatty tumors. His back started hurting more so Jonathan went back to the Dr. to get a referal to a specialist. He went and had an ex-ray and the Dr. thought he may have a slipped disc. He ordered a MRI. Jonathan went today to find out what it showed. I am kicking myself now for not going. I just assumed the MRI would show everything we already knew and maybe a slipped disc. I was so wrong! The Dr. told Jonathan he has hemangioma?!?! He said it was a rare find. Jonathan said the Dr. had to explain it to him about eight times. This is what Jonathan got from it; it is a large grouping of blood veins that have formed a tumor on his spine that can cause excrusiating pain at times and other times you can seem just fine. The good news no surgery, and it won't get any worse than it already is. The bad news there is nothing that can be done about it except for pain meds. He also told him the two lower lumbar discs are thinning this means they are on the path to slipping (I think). He also said that this has no connection to any of the other random things wrong with his back. So that's where we are right now. Jonathan is kinda relieved to know he isn't crazy. I am confused. I tried to call his regular Dr. so he could explain it to me and answer some questions, but I think he is out this week. I am still trying to decide if this is good news or bad news.

This picture is just one of the many things Jonathan has been willing to try (some things he is still unwilling to try YOGA) to help relieve his back pain. Needless to say it didn't help. 

 

Jennah's Thanksgiving Feast

Jennah had a school Thanksgiving Feast yesterday. This picture is a family project all the Pre-K kids had to do. They had to dress up Tom the Turkey so he wouldn't get eaten. It was a really fun project. Of course Jennah wanted to dress hers up in a dress so as you can see our Tom the Turkey is dressed like the Little Mermaid. So much fun!

Joel also enjoyed the feast as you can see in these pictures he has a cookie in each hand.

Today was Donuts with Dad day at the school. Jonathan couldn't go this afternoon with Jennah by herself so the three of them went to Jacksen's school this morning. I knew he was going to take them this morning so I volunteered to help in the afternoon Donuts with Dad. The dads had to write their names, their kids names, and their kids teachers names on a paper just so we could see who attended, and it amazed me how many dads didn't know who their kids teacher was. I think probably 3 out of 4 dads had to ask there kids who's class they were in. So when I got home I called and quizzed Jonathan. I was so proud he knew both our kids teachers!

Poor Gravy

Well I'm afraid we are going to have to put good old Gravy down. He got out of our fence last night and almost killed a little dog, of course it was the other dogs fault. This other dog is always out of his fence and comes to Gravy's fence and teases him knowing Gravy can't get out. Gravy has never gotten out before, and all we can think is that some kids must have gone back there to get their ball and forgot to shut the gate.

As I was coming home last night I saw Gravy and the little dog starring each other down. I yelled at Gravy to come to me and he backed up a little and the other dog jumped at him. That was it for Gravy, he attacked. I ran in to get Jonathan to come and break them up. Gravy wouldn't listen to him so Jonathan hit him until he let the dog go. Our neighbors said the dog was okay just sore.

What really scared us was that Gravy wouldn't listen to Jonathan. We have always thought he may have a little pit bull in him and after seeing how Gravy had the dog by the neck we are convinced he does. So we just can't keep him around our children. He has been such a good dog we just hate to do this but we have no other choice. Everyone knows how attached Jonathan gets to his pets (Pride), and I'm afraid Jacksen is going to be the same way. He just cried and cried when we told him what we were going to have to do. So I'm afraid we have a long night ahead of us.

 

 

 

And The Winner Is...

Jennah! Yet again Jennah won our church fall festival costume contest. If you can't tell she was a 50's girl. She loved the skirt because of the beautiful spins she could do with it. Luckily Jacksen was outside playing when they announced the winner or I think there would have been some tears. He tries so hard to think of great costumes, but there is just something about Jennah that wins the judges over.















Here is our little pumpkin Joel. This little outfit was Jacksen's when he was almost two and as you can see it was almost too small for Joel. He loved the trick or treaters that came to our house. He was right in the middle of Jacksen and Jennah handing out candy too.

Change of Plans

We have been planning for the past month for Jacksen to be a Ninja Turtle for Halloween. We bought a turtle shell at a resale shop about a month ago, and have been adding to the costume as we go. Jacksen really enjoy thinking of things that will add to his costume and it really makes him proud of what he has come up with. One year we made a homemade spiderman costume and worked hours perfecting it, only to have Jennah win the costume contest in a cowgirl costume that we already had and she really didn't care about. Jacksen cried and cried. So on the way home from working all day in Bristow yesterday Jacksen told me about 6:00 last night he wanted to be a Ninja instead of a Ninja Turtle, although they may sound quite similar they are very different (his school party is today!). I explained to him we had worked for so long to get the Ninja Turtle costume together I really thought he should wear it. Knowing Jacksen takes such pride in coming up with costumes I thought maybe we should let him do it and so after thinking about it I told him if he could come up with it that he could do it. So here he is as a Ninja. I wish he would have thought of this easy free costume a month ago! Maybe all three of them can be Ninjas!

Family Reunion

We survived Jonathan's annual family reunion. This year it was at Lake Murray. It was a beautiful lake and we went just in time for the all the fall colors. Although it was the perfect time for the foliage, it was not the perfect time to be sleeping in a tent! Not only was it too cold to sleep in a tent but the tent that we borrowed from our sweet friends only had a net-like material on the sides of it. We covered the sides with blankets, but they kept falling off. Yes, we froze! Don't think we will be sleeping in a tent this time of the year again. Holiday Inn for us next year!!
These are all pictures Jacksen and Jennah took this weekend. They thought it was so pretty there. They wanted to take some pictures. (One reason I don't mind having a cheap digital camera.) They took some pretty good pictures.

My Newest Project

Anyone that knows me can tell you I love to stay busy. Most of the time I like to have two or three things going on at the same time (anything to keep from staying at home and cleaning). I do try to focus most of my "projects" on church related activities. I am one that loves to start new things. I love dreaming something up, planning it out, preparing for it, then actually seeing it happen successfully (well most of the time!). It is so rewarding.

So, I have been thinking about this for a long time and am finally going to follow through with it. My cousin attends a large church that offered a frozen cooking class. I thought this was a great idea. I wanted to put more of a focus on the importance of family mealtime. I went to the Focus on the Family website and found some interesting studies on family meal time. It said only one-third of families in the U.S. eat dinner most nights together. One study showed when teens ate with their family at least five nights a week they were less likely to be on drugs, to be depressed, and to be in trouble with the law. Another study followed a group of sixty five families for an eight year period. They found eating family meals together to be more valueable for development than playtime, school, and storytime. So now I am convinced this is a good thing to start in our home town. Not only will this encourage families to eat together, but it will give me and several others from our church a chance to meet others in the community and invite them to get involved in our church.

I am so excited to start a new project! If anyone has any great recipes that can be frozen I would love to try them.

Learning to Let Go

Today Jacksen went on a field trip to the Air and Space Museum, without me! I'm sure many would be surprised to know that I am a control freak when it comes to my kids. Besides the week they spent in daycare they have always been with me. Of course they will spend a weekend now and again with Grandparents and going to school, but besides that they are pretty much with us 24/7. I knew this would happen sooner or later and it has finally come. Jacksen had a school trip and Jennah has afternoon pre-k. Normally I would just take her out of school, but she had a double ear infection and bad allergies and missed two days of school last week. So she really didn't need to miss. We have great friends here that I am sure would keep Jennah and take her to school, but I just don't like to ask anyone unless they are family. Jonathan stayed at his Mom's house because we have a car in the shop and we live an hour from his work. Usually Jonathan can kinda talk me through this type of thing, but he wasn't here. I was up tossing and turning all night. I know it probably sounds silly to most. It really is hard on me. I just always think of what could happen to him if I'm not there. Jacksen really didn't care if I went of not. I am so embarrassed, but I teared up when leaving his classroom. I called my Mom for support and she wasn't very sympathetic. She just said this was just the beginning. I guess I just need to learn to let go. On his way out this morning I said Jacksen stay with the group and don't talk to anyone you don't know. He said, "I know mom!" I'm sure he will be fine.
In other news its huntin' season, and Jacksen is ready. He found all his camo and his gun (not real). He goes out in our backyard almost everyday and climbs the tree and practices.

Milestone?

Not exactly a milestone, but Joel has just discovered the trash. He is so funny! Needless to say he doesn't know exactly what is or isn't trash. We tell him to throw things away and he runs to the trash chunks it in, and then claps and does a little stomp dance. Just while I have been sitting here posting this he has already thrown a deck of cards and a flashlight away. This is such a fun stage. Well kinda!

Sweet Jacksen

Last night the kids were coloring and drawing at the table like they usually do right before bedtime. They do this about every night so it wasn't any big deal, but when we went to bed last night we found these notes on our pillows. He is so sweet! Our little Jacksen is getting so big. It is the little things like this that make parenting so precious to me. I love being a mom!

Dancing with the Stars

Jennah has a new favorite show. Suprise, suprise it's Dancing with the Stars. She is so cute she stands about two feet from the t.v. and imitates every move they make. It is so funny she had me crying I was laughing so hard. Not only does she dance her heart out, but she has a costume change between each dance.

Memories

This is me about 23 years ago and my little brother William. He is still my "little" brother but now he towers over me. Is this the picture you are talking about Mom? It says on the back we are making a cake for William's 1st birthday. Aren't we cute?

Homemade Apple Pie!

We did it! We made the apple pie and it was delicious. Jacksen and Jennah had a great time making it. I put Joel down for a nap and got to spend some time with just Jacksen and Jennah. They were big helpers. I was very nervous about making the crust but found an easy "no mistake" crust recipe and it was wonderful. Lita thanks for the pie recipe it was so easy! That was the first time I have ever made anything all the way from picking the fruit to making the crust. It was very rewarding. I will definitely do it again.

 

My Little Pickers

No, I don't mean nose pickers although I am sure they do their fair share of that too. I am refering to apple picking. An older lady from our church invited us out the other day to pick apples at her home. Jennah was so excited because she just learned about that in school. The kids had a great time. Joel was in heaven. His new favorite word is ball there were "green balls" all over the ground he would throw. So now I need a great apple pie recipe. I hear these apples are the best in pies. I think the kids would really think that was neat to help make a pie from the apples they picked.

5 Years Ago Today

Five years ago today started many new challenges in the Hendricks family. Jonathan was working at American Airlines as an aircraft cleaner. Not the job of his dreams but a good job with awesome benefits. We had built our home in Bristow about a year and a half before that and were pretty settled. Jonathan was on the tarmac right by the runway at Tulsa International polishing the top of the wing on a 737. He looked up and saw plane after plane landing on the runway. Usually, a plane would land every 20 - 25 seconds, in this instance a plane was landing every 3 seconds. He went back to his shop to see what was going on.

I was at home getting Jacksen ready for the day. He was a little over a year and a half old and I was five months pregnant with Jennah. The first few days after the attacks American Airlines started talking about layoffs. Everyday for the next month and a half we expected Jonathan to get laid off. Finally the end of November he got his notice. We didn't know what to do. That same week we hit a deer with our car and it tore it up so much the car wouldn't run. What a week! The good news was we had deer in everything for the next couple of weeks, deer tacos, deer spaghetti, deer chili, you get the idea.

We decided to take a huge risk and sell our house and move to Edmond for Jonathan to finish his degree. I was really scared because the plan was for me to work as a server at a restaurant in the evenings and Jonathan would watch the kids. Remember at this time I am nine months prego with Jennah! I was scared to death of everything. So we moved from a 1600 sq. ft. house on 5 acres to a 700 sq. Ft. college apartments with college kids all around us. (To top it all off I went into labor with Jennah the night we moved in to the apartment).

The first thing we did was find a church. Our saving grace was the Edmond Church of Christ. The young families class there took us under their wings and treated us like we had been there for years. After Jonathan finished his schooling we moved on to do youth ministry in Muskogee. That didn't work out but we still live in Ft. Gibson and love our church home here. Looking back on all that we went through we know it was Gods plan for us. We learned so much about each other and about God and how he works through us. We also learned so much from the Edmond C of C. Many things we have been able to start here at Ft. Gibson we patterned from the Young Families Class at Edmond. Even though we didn't know anyone who died in the terrible attacks on our Nation and I didn't have to let my husband go overseas to fight in the war, we were affected by it and it did forever change our lives.

We survived the camp-in! The kids had a great time. They had many activities that challenged them to use their imaginations. The kids took an imaginary bus ride, went through some caves, rode canoes (luckily they rowed faster than the alligators chasing them), rode four wheelers through the dessert, went fishing and had non-scary campfire stories told to them under the stars around the fire. Yes, all this happened inside the church building. The whole time they were quizzed with Bible questions. It is amazing how much these kids are learning. As you can imagine much work went into this camp-in. We appreciate all the work Janet and Leon did to make it such a success. After all these activities the kids were taken to their tents to start getting ready for bed. The girls had a make-up party they dolled up some of the older women of our church. The neatest thing of all was two of these lovely older ladies actually stayed the night! They are 82, 73, 70 years old! Can you believe that? I thought I was crazy. I really don't know who had more fun the kids or us adults helping. This is Jennah putting make-up on our Fearless Leader Miss Janet.