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???

Yeah for Spring!

I am so happy that the weather has been nice enough to play with the dogs outside! They start to get a little stir crazy in the winter (just like Mike) and here are some pictures from our fun the other day. (Now I just need some nice soft green grass)

My new favorite part of playing fetch is that 1) Lincoln is much bigger then he was last fall when we played and 2) These dogs don't know about sharing.

When Lincoln gets the bumper the game becomes Keep away. Remi has the speed but Lincoln has the agility, I tell ya it's a battle! It really is quite entertaining to watch. Mike is frustrated because it isn't really teaching Lincoln anything other then "When you get it - RUN!" but I don't care because it is hilarious


I also find it hilarious that Lincoln always sits like this. Ever since he was a puppy, just kinda falls over and lounges. Cracks me up - and BTW does he have a long tongue or what??

Cutest picture of Remington EVER - I don't care if you are a dog person or not, that is super cute. And in case you were wondering, yes I bought that because it had his name on it - wouldn't you have done the same thing?

Do Ragnar cause I am 30? Check.

OK so here we go! Ragnar was AMAZING - I know it is cliche to put things on your blog in all capitals but I don't care because it was AMAZING and something that I will absolutely never forget. The people I went with were hilarious and incredible and the experience has honestly changed me.

Yes this will be a long post because I am very excited to share the AWESOME (there I go again) memories that I just made :) If you are "happy to be ignorant about something you could care less about" then stop reading (inside joke) otherwise, read on! and get excited because I am forming a team for the October 2010 Vegas race - let me know if you are interested!!

Standing in Andreas driveway getting ready to leave for our adventure - picking Keith up in Vegas, which is why we are a man down.

Stopped in Kingman for dinner, and for Kates Internet girlfriend
Getting our van into the spirit of things
This has to be one of my favorite pictures. Our start time was 7:20 and Carol (on the right in the pink jacket) was our first runner. The sun coming up with the runners really tells what this thing is all about.
Here is the first exchange point and the "shoot" where the next runner waits. Not only was our team incredibly supportive but so were all the other 4000 people! It was so cool to hear strangers telling you "you're doing great" and "keep it up!"
Ashley finishing up her first run
Again with the team support - love it! and check out that monster hill Keith is running up (it went on and on for about 4 miles. He is a rockstar!)

See what I mean?
One of my favorite pictures of Kate. Doesn't she look happy to be running? Didn't you feel happy to be running Kate?
Ha! She kills me! The lady in green came up next to her and she said "oh no you don't" and ran ahead of her - I fell over laughing and so did the lady in green. Good job on the kill Kate!
Andrea is also amazing. She was our team captain and this was her 2nd time at Ragnar. When I grow up, I want to run like her.
I didn't know that my heart could beat so fast, but I was next - the last runner of our group. I know I am cheesy and dramatic, but this is not posed, I was terrified.
Cute brother supporting me and giving me some water. Love this picture.
After everyone had finished their first run - Still smiling, a good sign!
Wouldn't you pull over if you saw this giant chicken? (yes we know it is a rooster)
OK, so if you say "Kate sit up and be happy" this is what she does. Love her. Here is our camping spot before run 2. Spaghetti and good times.
Carol preparing for her 2nd run. The vest, back light and headlamp are required. Before the run I thought it was a little much, during the run I was very grateful.
One of my favorite shots of me and Keith. I am so glad that he is part of my great memories from this crazy time.
Group shot at Keith and Allie's after the race. I was so sunburned, but no one else was. Seemed dumb to me, but it serves me right for not putting anything on. When I saw my nephew (who is 3 1/2 he said "Keri you needed some lotion"
Look at our cute alternate runners!
And we have already decided on a theme for October 2010. Remember that I am forming a team!!

Words can not express how glad I am that I did this. If even 1% of you thinks you should do it then jump all in!

So Long, Farewell

I am typing this before I go to bed on the eve of my Ragnar departure.

It is still so unreal to me that the race is finally here - wasn't it a million years ago that Kate told me about it? I am more nervous then I have admitted to anyone, including myself! I really want to do well and prove to myself that I am stronger then I think. Isn't that kinda the point of running? If not, then I still don't get it. The past few months of training have taught me a lot about myself, my abilities, and definitely my weaknesses. I haven't even done the race yet, and I am happy to have been a part of it. Thank you to Kate for getting me involved, thank you to Keith for joining the team, and thank you to everyone in my van for the adventure we are about to have!

Stay tuned for a post about my love or hate of this event - I don't know what to expect!