Sunday, July 31, 2011

the swimmer

Back in February I talked about getting Kelly into swim lessons since she was under the impression that she was already able to swim, but in fact, couldn't.

We tried the Park and Rec, but I had to be in the water with her and the pool was always a couple of degrees too cold! Besides, they ended up not even being 'lessons'. They were 'get your kid used to the water without crying' sessions and we didn't need that.
It was fun for her, but not so much for me.

I brought Mikey and he (like me) hated it too. It was just too cold --

Well, we were down by Crissy Field by the old air hangers, dropping Paige off for a birthday party at House of Air and went to turn around and saw a swimming pool.
I ran in to check it out and it was La Petite Baleen I had no idea that any of these things were even down there! There is even a rock wall climbing place, but I don't know the name of it --

So in April, Kelly started lessons at La Petite Baleen and now she is definitely a swimmer!


The Paper Mama


She has worked her way up and has earned 5 ribbons
(the first one is just for not crying) and is now trying to earn her 'purple ribbon'

She LOVES her swim lessons!
I was going to stop them when school starts, but she is so good at it and likes it so much,  I signed her up to take her lessons after school.


And then, when my big three are in school, I can take Mikey -- their pool is warm!


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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Momma totally in Love

Jill at Momma Totally In Love is hosting a new Blog Hop! 
It is week 2 ~
Have Fun!










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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

{wordless Wednesday}









Wordish Wednesday



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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

sibling love

I used to believe that for siblings to get along well they needed  to be close in age. I don't know even know how I came up with this --
My brother and I are 3 years apart and there were plenty of times that we didn't get along, but most of the time we did.
My mom didn't get along with her brother and they were 13 months apart.
My dad is one of eight siblings. Four boys, four girls. My aunt just recently told me that they each grew up thinking of themselves as an 'only child'.
Explains a lot.

Paige and DJ are 26 months apart. Paige and I both just doted on DJ and he adored her. Gave her his first smile, first laugh.
{sigh}
DJ was so little and had these full body belly laughs -- it was so freakin' cute!

Paige is now almost 14 and wants to be an only child
(at least some of the time)

Kelly is six years younger than DJ.
It has been great for DJ. When Paige started feeling a bit too old to play with him all the time, it was just about the time that Kelly was old enough to play.
And I have to say it again, DJ and Kelly are inseparable.
Inseparable.
He is her favorite person. She waits for him to get home from school.
They talk and play all the time.
All The Time.

Paige turned 12 a couple of weeks after Mikey was born. Every baby should come with a 12 year old sister. He LOVES her.

At that time I had a Newborn, a Preschooler, an
Elementary student and one in Middle School.

I know "all siblings fight", but mine are not allowed to. I wouldn't allow someone else to say mean things to one of my kids, so I don't let them say mean things to each other.
No, they don't always get along, but I do insist that they will show each other kindness --
(Paige is the one having the most trouble with this lately)
Some of the time they do need a reminder (DJ) and I have had to ban them from speaking to each other (usually in the car)
But for the most part, for now they all get along.

And who knows how Mikey will fit in to the dynamics of it all?
In just a few short years Paige will be going to college.
{sigh}

I'll have one in College, one in High School, one in Middle School and one in Elementary.

My goal is for them to all to like each other
and get along --
and for one of them to take DJ with them when they move out.





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{i heart faces}




water




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Sunday, July 24, 2011

october

October is a big deal month for us and I am already obsessing planning for it, in my head. I usually don't start thinking about the kids Halloween costumes until August...
(yes, really)
This year, on October 5th,  Mikey turns two! Well, that means a Blue's Clues Party -- since all the other ones had Blues Clues Parties when they turned two.
But Mikey doesn't even watch Blues Clues. He doesn't even really like TV.

Unless there is sword fighting, which I find hilarious. We will be watching a movie, or Game of Thrones and Mikey could be asleep -- and he will hear the swords and bolt upright to watch!

So you see my dilemma?
Do I make him have a Blues Clues Party, or find something he is into... (can you even have a jump off of everything you see themed party?)


The "all three clues" cakes we made for Kelly's 2nd birthday.
I love Blues Clues --

Then we have Big Mikey's birthday a week later. Which, admittedly is a lot easier -- usually. The kids all make him cards and we make a cake. But this year he turns 40!
(amazing how he caught up to me, huh?)
So we will have to so something -- but it would probably be wrong to have him make all his own food for his own party, right?

12 days later, Paige turns 14. Fourteen.
{sigh}
Paige hasn't had a birthday party in the last two years -- because I had a newborn and then a one year old party to plan. She and a couple of friends hung out at the Academy of Sciences last year, but this year, I can't think of anything -- especially since Halloween is a week later!

And Halloween is huge at our house!

2010

2009



Paige as a Mummy. DJ was a Vampire and Kelly a Witch.












I always like to stick to a sort of theme, but last year
I let them (okay, sort of) choose.


DJ was a Headless Horseman, Paige a Pumpkin.
Kelly -- who came up with her costume on her own, was a "Dead Princess" and
Mikey was a Gorilla.

The year before he was a Banana.
(because it's just funny)








This year, I want to go back to making them all dress alike.
Before the two older ones protest.

2008

2007

I've wanted them to be Three Blind Mice or The Three Little Pigs, but Dad keeps vetoing those....
And since now there are four of them --
Not a clue.
.... not a clue?

Blues Clues Halloween?!?
Anyone?



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Friday, July 22, 2011

{this moment}

A single photo (or four)
- no words - capturing a moment from the week

a simple, 
special, 
extraordinary moment
a moment I want to pause, 
savor 
and remember







please
leave me your link in the comments
and even join in
where it all started




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{Paige's pics}

Paige and I were goofing around
with some of the pictures she took at Olympic Park. She wanted to link up one of her photos
to the Black and White challenge over at The Paper Mama
but one of the rules states that you need to have one of your children in it ~
and since she is still a child...

before
I told her I would post it here!

after


the worms page



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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

just grab it

I was adding Jazmin's blog button to my link page


and I was wishing I had a button for my sister in law's blog.





I love Cyndi's blog! She posts pictures of my adorable nieces and it keeps me updated with all the things they are doing. I even stole borrowed the name of my blog from her.
But you know, I am not even sure if she wants a button.

.... but I want one for my link page.

Alright.

So I made one.
La Familia Hendrickson

But then I realized that I needed one for Paige's blog -- and DJ's blog too.

the worms page
Book Reviews and Life by DJ

They look super cute on my link page!


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grandma's playground

My mother in law Robyn died in 2006 from appendiceal cancer I miss her all the time. I still have a difficult time talking to people about her without getting emotional.

I was going to write a post about her on her birthday that just passed, and I couldn't. Even thinking about what I wanted to say made me tear up.
Someday.

But, I do want to explain Grandma's Playground.


We take the kids to the cemetery at least twice a year. They like to go. They ask to go. The plot is a big open area -- the family cross is even the picture on the Holy Cross website.



So the kids run around. And dance. And play.






And we laugh
about how much Robyn would have gotten a kick out of the kids running and dancing on her grave.


And we wish that she was still here, with us.



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