My favorite kind of Day

I love the fourth of July because it is all about hanging out with friends killing time until it gets dark. It sounds weird, but it might be one of my favorite holidays :) This year was tons of fun with some of my favorite people.

Trying to find the guy that comes out of the firework. I took a bunch of these pictures and April is in this position in all of them - I love it!

These guys are not "pose for pictures" kind of guys so I love this. Dave has pink eye so we will forgive the closed eye picture.

Here is Matt demonstrating why we don't throw snaps at people kids! it popped on his shirt and left a black mark. Don't tell the young ones, but we all thought it was hilarious
One of my favorite things to do with snaps was drop them down the sewer - this picture makes my heart smile.
We played toss water balloons with towels (does this game even have a name?) I was telling someone at work about it and she had never played, I said "really?" she looked at me like I was crazy and said "yeah we just threw them at each other" I thought a fight would break out, but I guess the kids liked the game because we used 85 balloons playing.

Team Dave and Sam were a force. Then the kids decided the adults should play against each other. They had some awesome technique - check it out!



This game would not have happened without Aprils hard work filling balloons and Angi's special water balloon filler - Here is April demonstrating the possible multiple uses

So glad we remembered to take a picture - Thanks Angi! Then it was time for the show......


April and Matt are some daring firework starters. It is impossible to capture in a picture, but they were mighty close to a lot of flames - good show guys!

We bought these "rockets" that you were supposed to put into the grass. Turns out they were just fountains, but on a long stick. Matt decided to make it an adult sparkler and created quite a finale for our 4th of July. Thanks everyone for the fun time :)

I am on Team.........

Yeah for Girls Night Out!! We went to see Eclipse, which is not my favorite, but what a fun night (and a highly entertaining movie!)
We started with dinner at Zupas - this restaurant is a new discovery for me and I wish I had known about it sooner, YUM. Just ask Lisa, I am pretty sure she liked it too :) Then we were off to the theater. We got to see the movie as part of the Cents of Style screening (I put a link to their blog here in case we make it on, cross your fingers!)


I find it funny that a lot of people were taking these types of pictures in absolutely pure excitement. Angi and I wanted to join the fun and look like older women obsessed with these tweens.

April decided Team Bella is the only way to go.

We were then off to Red Mango, another first for me. Way to go Angi - loved it! We were off the wall crazy while here and I had a blast! I think everyone around us thought we were drunk, but who cares?

OK so April thinks that Angi looks like Dakota Fanning - you be the judge.



I think she may be onto something......... We made a super scary drive home through West Valley looking for a house with a gate, but no fence. Yes you read that correctly and I will hopefully be getting a picture to share with you soon.

We topped the evening off with a scary moment from Dave (sorry Aprils neighbors). I never care about going to bed late when I get to spend time with these girls - love ya!

Just keep running, running, running.....

You have to think of Nemo to get the tune of my title (which I stole from the Gibbs sisters, thank you ladies!)

Saturday was the WestFest 5K which I decided to run with the girls at the last minute (see my high 'late register' number?) Running is a funny, awful, wonderful, strange thing to me. When I was training for Ragnar I kind of started thinking "OK I guess I am a runner now" not realizing that to actually be a "runner" you have to be SUPER consistent with it. Time for me to get back into the "training" side of things based on my time on Saturday. The other problem is that why do we all focus so much on our time? Before all this I couldn't even run a mile (not even close) so why can't I celebrate being part of a 5K? Running in a race that I wouldn't have dreamed of doing a year ago! The mind games associated with running make me crazy but I appreciate that they push me to do more. I signed up for a 10K on the 24th and need to get going!

The best part of Saturday was being there with so many friends. I finished last out of everyone, but I am trying not to focus on that (see above). We are a wild crowd and I wouldn't want it any other way. I am pretty sure that everyone wanted to be part of our fun :) Great job to all the ladies that got ribbons and thank you for keeping me motivated! Hope we all do more races together!

Exciting Week!

It has been an exciting week (well extended week) at the Hendrickson house :) June 10th Lincoln (or "stink" which was born from the stink of Link) turned 1! I can not believe we have had him for a year and even more shocking is his 60 lb weight! Yes he is a puppy and is still learning, but is getting much better. Mike says he wants to give him away much less these days.

Here is a picture from when we first brought him home and he was scared of everything, especially the stairs. I still think he could compete for cutest puppy EVER.


I was kinda bummed about the frosting, but want to hear something amazing? Lincoln didn't even care - what a trooper.

I am a cheesy crazy dog mom and figured he had to have a birthday hat for his 1st birthday. Well as usual he thought it was food or a toy and tried to eat it. Best picture we got :) Mike kept giving me the "are you kidding me?" look and I must say I deserved it

I also got to go to Allies families cabin the next day. I had so much fun and feel very lucky that they invited me :) It was rainy, but the only bad thing that came out of that was I didn't take out my camera - I played with the kids on swings, made beaded necklaces, got on a swing with Nick (PS has anyone else done that as an adult? my behind was WAY too big and it was a little painful), ate a yummy campfire hot dog dinner (with smores made with Reeses, a first for me - a nice change!) and said my good-byes. I look forward to going again :) Thank you to the Peck family!

The Annual Jones BBQ and fishing tournament was the next day. Always a good time, but too long between get togethers I think.... something to consider. Anyway....

Here are the boys - missing a few, but it always changes from year to year. With Mikes short (almost non existent) hair his head was cold. Holly let him wear this hat and he was in heaven. Anyone know where I can get one? He really wants one for fishing!

The wives - Always my favorite and most memorable part of our get together.

My friend Kate ran the Wasatch Back this last weekend. I asked her if I could come run her 3rd (and last) leg with her. She was nice enough to say yes and this was what I looked at while waiting for her. Once again I would like say that Ragnar is AWESOME and I think everyone should do one. Anyway this is the only picture I took, but thank you again Kate and GREAT JOB - her last run was a challenge and she did a great job.

TOY STORY 3!!!! How can you not be excited for this?? (as I keep asking Mike)

Dave and April were nice enough to let me tag along with their family and it was SO GOOD. Anyone that wants / needs to see it is welcome (and encouraged) to call me. I loved it and at times felt like I was the only person laughing (I got a few looks from Ella......) At the beginning (no I am not ruining anything) there is a little montage of "home video" of Andy growing up and playing with his toys. Pixar does such a great job of making you remember what it feels like to big a little kid and only have your imagination in front of you. Plus there were a lot of "old school" toys that really took me back. I feel bad for all the toys I have ever broken or thrown away. As always - Great job Pixar, I love you!

I sure do love this little girl. I love all of Dave and Aprils kids, but this felt like a "me and Ella" kind of day. She kept wanting to hold my hand - even in "non hand holding" situations and it just made me smile. She has the biggest heart and I love when she wants to sit by me or tell me secrets. What a great week! I feel very lucky to be surrounded with amazing friends and family.

Soccer Saturday

Mike and I finally went to one of Logan's soccer games! (Good thing too cause it was the last one of the season!) I was a little worried that Mother Nature was going to take over, but we made it through with flying colors.

Neve wanted to run around, but I made her snuggle with me for a little while :)

Sam wanted April to count his time to the tree and back. I really should have shot a video because he might be the cutest runner I have ever seen!

Do you watch Parks and Recreation? This is Mike's impression of Tom Haverford (??) pretty good I think and tell him he looks tall in this picture.....it will make him very happy.

Mike and Sam battling it out - close game!

Logan is a champ! He played really well and their team won. He played goalie the 2nd half and stopped everything - Nice! I LOVED sitting on the sidelines cheering with the other parents and listening to Mike say things like "get it out of there" and "there you go" he was so into it! I think Soccer Saturday is really fun way to spend the afternoon :)

My best friend

My best friend Lizzy now has 2 beautiful little girls! Avery May was born May 10, 2010 at 2:27 p.m. I was able to visit them at the hospital and it really got me thinking about the awesome journey of our friendship. I mean c'mon now according to my brother Keith we have been friends since the dawn of time!

Me and Lizzy at her baby shower

Here I am holding Macey

And here I am holding brand new little Avery.

Lizzy moved in across the street from me when I was about 5 years old. I remember going over to her house to meet her. We sat on her couch in the basement looking out the window while I told her about the kids in the neighborhood. For some reason I remember her eating black licorice (maybe because it is so gross??)
We became best friends fast, I think because I was excited to get away from all the stinky boys at my house! So many of my childhood memories involve her, or are because of her! Her family was always so nice to me and I got to be a part of so many vacations. Lizzy got to be an honorary member of our family when we got our membership to cottonwood heights - I think her name was Kacey? (do you remember Liz?) I think my mom was trying to stick with the all "K" thing!
We would come up with our Halloween costumes together and she would always try to help with my fear of haunted houses (oops that never worked out.......)
We have been through everything together in our lives - both good and bad - and while I was sitting in the hospital room holding her daughter I kept thinking about how cool it is that we are still together.
We gave our opinions of each others boyfriends, cried to each other when relationships didn't work out, called each other with excitement when we finally got our rings, were in each others weddings, and now babies! (she keeps asking when I will join her!)
I wanted to list all my memories, but it would go on forever so I will just name some of my favorites.
*when we would watch a movie, we would write down the names of all the characters and put them in a hat. Then we would take turns drawing out names and you could only say the lines of the characters that you got. (Does this surprise any of you that know us?)
*We got accused of shoplifting at Cottonwood Mall
*We are skittles PIG champions
*We once held a monopoly tournament that lasted an entire summer
*The little mermaid is the first movie we ever saw in the theater by ourselves
*we would pick out items in her basement when we had sleepovers and then make "forts" to sleep in. EVERYTIME we did this I would wake up and she would be upstairs in her bed
*we slept on my trampoline every night (pretty much) for about a month once during the summer
*we used to record songs on my computer with funny voices - with Kraig!!
*that is not your marble!
*leak tree and coochie bear
(those last 2 are mostly just for us.......and Keith)

She is one of my favorite people in the world and I love her so much! Congrats on the beautiful sweet new baby Liz - You are the best!!

Happy Easter!

Hip Hip Hooray for the 2nd annual HenHarm Hunt! (That is supposed to be a Hendrickson / Harmon combo, but I am going to think of a better name ASAP) I am very excited that this event is going to become tradition for so many and I feel lucky to be included.

Here is everyone bright and early hiding eggs. Yes it was a little cold, but don't let Nellie's outfit fool you - it wasn't THAT cold :)

I think there is something really cool about a picture with tulips, plastic eggs and a touch of snow, don't you??
Ella and Neve getting ready for the big hunt

Keith, Allie and the kids were in town and I am so glad they came! I am pretty sure that these poor Vegas kids were freezing, but I think they had a blast

Sam running for the blue one (I love this picture!)

Nick found one of my impossible to find special eggs and picked this prize. He was VERY excited about it. (I hope I get to hide the eggs next year - I am already thinking of spots to try and trick Logan!)

Today Mike and I took Remington and Lincoln to get their Summer hair cuts. Yes I know it isn't that warm yet, but their long hair needs to go! Anyway when we picked them up the lady said "we took these pictures for all the clients today - Happy Easter!" and she handed us this:

HA! I can not believe that they even got the ears onto ours dogs in the first place - Both of them sitting and looking at the camera??? Miracle workers at PetSmart I guess.......

I hope everyone had a very Happy Easter!

PS - I am trying a new look, what do you think???