CraZi-ness

I don't know how this all transpired, but in 1999, yes, a zillion years ago, Todd and I were asked to be Sonny and Cher for a Christmas program at church.  Huh?  Yea, that's what we thought.  But we played along.

And in my diligent efforts to organize and scrapbook, I found this momento...enjoy a laugh on us!
 

Happy 20th, Elder H

Birthday wishes across the miles to Matthew.



He is doing well on his mission, but we sure do miss him.

Boy, do we need a VACATION!

It was so good to get away.   We spent the last week of June in Provo with our kids before we all headed up to Lander, Wyoming for Todd's high school reunion over the 4th.  That would be his 30th (has it been that long?) reunion.  Here's a few pics:

Garrett and Saryn

Fun at Seven Peaks Water Park

Nathan and Madelyn at cabin in Lander, Wyoming...notice the bear above the doorway that makes Nathan look as if he's wearing  headband.

Brandon's family

Madelyn was a great sport camping.  She love the play ground, all the people, and just chillin'.

Lander has the BEST fireworks display we have ever seen.  And we've seen a lot.  A local dentist, Dr. Bills, makes his own fireworks and with narrative puts it to music.  It lasted 1 1/2 hours.  It was breathtaking. Here's the best part....it's free.

One of the highlights was the 5K and 1/2 marathon on July 4th.  It was an entire family event...  Julie's first official race and she did a great job. Saryn set a PR on the 1/2, and two of the boys placed in their age groups, with Nathan crossing the finish line 9th overall. 

The kids wanted (yes, they asked for it!) to see where Todd lived in while growing up in the beautiful Lander Valley.  We did get photos of the house he lived in until he graduated, but it wouldn't load.  While taking the photos the owners pulled up and invited us in.  Welcome to the 21st century---the house was updated and beautiful. Todd enjoyed reminiscing about his hometown and catching up with his classmates at the reunion.

We headed home east while the kids drove off to the west.  Great to be with the kids.  We missed Matthew, but are grateful for his service in the mission field.

Snowy Memorial Day

This is the view we had as we drove home from Provo on Monday, Memorial Day.  It was raining down in the valley when we pulled out at 2:30 am  and headed up Provo Canyon.  The temp was at 37, so we knew we faced the possibility of snow the higher we went.

Just outside of Heber the rain became snow. It was a white out a few times.  So fun when those trucks zoom past you on the freeway going 70 mph while you're trying to stay on the road going 45.  We lost at least an hour, making the drive 16 1/2 hours this time.

We were looking at the temps in KC during the snow storm, and could see that it was 79 there.   It took 4 1/2 hours to get out of the storm and west of Rawlins the temp rose to a balmy 37 degrees, and finally near the Nebraska border, we had dry roads. 

Glad to safely make it home.  And grateful for warm temps.

More on the reason for the trip later...

It's Settled, Once and for All!

There is a bit of a discrepancy with a few (perhaps just one?) of my siblings.  You see, my grand entrance into this world happened to fall on my mom's birthday, so we share birthdays.  In my childhood I was often told by a certain sibling that I was the worst present my mom ever got, causing me, in my insecure adolescence, to run to mom and see if she would confirm or deny this statement.  She would always laugh and say that of course I was her BEST present ever.

I just got a thank you card in the mail from my mom for a birthday gift I sent her, in which she put in writing, and I quote:  "Thank you for the ________....but my best birthday gift ever was you!"  Yes, she put the exclamation point in, too.

So there you have it,  in writing now, forever!

Inspiring 5K

The KC Missouri Temple is under construction, nearing completion, and is beautiful so far.  We're so excited to be 30 minutes away.   It is inspiring to drive down I-435, as much as we run to and from the airport, and see the temple jotting out of the landscape, beckoning to us. 

Last weekend was the first Temple 5K.  To make it affordable for LDS families it was FREE.  They had to close registration due to the overwhelming response at 1600 participants, but no worries, the Hendricksons were already registered.  No, I was not the first one to register.  Maybe the 30th or something....

Todd and I both ran.  Nathan opted to sleep in (imagine that, the life of a 17 year old). It was fun to absorb the atmosphere,  be near the temple and see it in the distance as we ran.  Lots of families, missionaries in yellow vests volunteering, and of course, lots of food.

Added bonus....I got to stand on the awards "stage." (Funny thing, the other woman on the stand with me, her first name was Rebecca as well).

What a great way to start the weekend.

The Best Gifts

Just celebrated my birthday.  Nathan got up at 5:15 am to cook me breakfast and bring it to me in bed BEFORE seminary.  That's a lot of selflessness for a 17 year old!  And the omelet was delicious. (Notice the dog waiting patiently for a taste)

 

All of my kids did a great job of giving a gift of self.  Brandon and Julie were here visiting and shared with us their beautiful daughter and their time (besides a thoughtful gift).  Spending hours on transferring old videos (family) from 8 mm to CDs  is Garrett and Saryn's gift.  Matt send me the nicest letter, a keeper.  Todd took the day off, giving me the gift of time and fun memories.

I am so blessed.  Thanks everyone!

Temple Trip Disaster

Last Monday evening I accompanied Todd to a bank meeting he had to attend in Keokuk, Iowa.  Now, as you all know, the Nauvoo temple is only 15 minutes away, across the river and up the road, so I accepted the invitation, the thoughts of attending the temple on my mind.  Arrive late in Keokuk, but enough time on Tuesday during Todd's meetings to attend the temple.

Well, apparently I had A LOT on my mind, because we were 2 hours down the road, 7:30 pm in the middle of Nowhere, Missouri, when I looked in the back seat to discover I had forgotten EVERYTHING.  Oh, no, not everything....not the bag of snacks (heaven forbid, don't forget the snacks!) I had in my hands and not my purse, but everything else...my overnight bag, temple clothes, running clothes, toothbrush, makeup, etc.  Agony!

I did not drive 5 hours to Keokuk, Iowa, just because I wanted to be with my husband, as delightful as he is  (although I love to be with him, but I did have ulterior motives here).  I was disappointed.  Todd, trying not to laugh, suggested that we stop in the next town and buy something  I could wear to the temple.

Lucky for me Chillicothie was only 10 miles down the road.  And even luckier, they had a Wal-mart.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I love new clothes.  However, Walmart does not sell a large variety of dresses and/or skirts.  Also, because I'm tall, Walmart dresses/skirts never work.  They hit me too high in the waist and are too short.  Couple that with my desire to be careful with our money, and I was not happy about spending money I didn't want to spend on an outfit from Walmart that I was pretty sure I'd never wear again.

Are you ready for the fashion show?  Here's what $4.99 at Walmart gets you  for Sunday dress...

Not bad.  However, flash backs of my sisters, Kathleen and Miriam, in their JB waitress uniforms came to mind.

And here's the shoes:

Not so bad for $5.  I might wear those again.

I won't tell you what I found to run in.  It was so ugly I couldn't even take a picture of it!  And the $1 makeup?!

The peace and beauty of the temple was worth the $9.99 Walmart outfit (did I hear faint snickering and laughter from a few of those temple workers at my outfit as I was leaving?).

I leave you with a look at down Parley's Street as it was last Monday:

Ruff (puppy quilt)!

Here's another sewing project I made recently.  And it's already broken in...I found Nathan had grabbed it and cuddled up with it while watching ESPN.  He was sound asleep, wrapped up in Pink!

Love & Birthdays

Elder Hendrickson has been on his mission for nearly 7 months.  We miss him but are grateful for his hard work, sacrifice and faithful service.  In keeping with the Allred tradition we sent him a giant sugar cookie.  And one for his companion as well.  But it said "Elder Shroering."


A few of Todd's best friends stopped by on Friday to wish him the happiest of birthdays.  What would we do without Lincoln and Drew?!  They could not believe Todd was 48...perhaps because to them, he's a five year old (could it possibly be his level of sense of humor?)!

Education

Nathan has attended school six days in the last five weeks.  Christmas holiday/vacation consumed 2 1/2 weeks of that break, but the weather has been the main contributor to his lack of education lately.  Last week one day of school, this week so far...one day.   Yesterday when Grandpa came down to breakfast he asked if Nathan had school because there was a cloud in the sky!  It's about that bad!

In the last several weeks we did get significant snow.  And cold temps.  This somehow frightens the good people in Missouri.  When school is not in session due to the cold and snow, the kids have a hay day playing outside....in the cold and snow!

cRaZy

Challenge:  2011 Sew More

My sister shared her challenge to sew a project once a month , and since I had set a goal top sew more in 2011, I was delighted to hop on board.

Month #1:  Hot pads.  I started out making three from valentine scraps of fabric I had from last year's Valentine sewing project (table runners), then I caught the bug.  I ran and bought more fabric to make just a few for my visiting teaching sisters.  Then I thought about my daughters-in-law, and my friend, and then another friend....

 Snow day today....sew, sew, sew.  Fifteen hot pads!

It's a snow day again tomorrow.  Sigh.

All Good Things Must End

Sad, but true.  Christmas has come and gone.  We loved, loved, loved having the kids home.  For one day they overlapped and we had them all here (except Elder Hendrickson, of course).  

We did the usual Hendrickson traditions....caroling on Christmas Eve at the old folks home, taking the missionaries out for breakfast on Christmas Eve (all 10 of them!), ice skating, Japanese New Year celebration with loads of friends, and so much more.

Besides talking with our missionary son on Christmas day, which I did not get a picture of, here are a few highlights...

Madelyn gets a ride from a rather unhappy Jackson

The 1st Annual LS 1st Ward Father/Son Basketball Tournament

The cutest Santa in the crowd cheering Nathan on at his b-ball game....

Nathan's the one in red (white guy) at top of the key...LSN pulled off a win.

Our friend, Giana

 One of the blessings we enjoyed in December is Giana.  Her mom, a good friend, was having a difficult challenge.  Giana came over Friday nights and stayed until Saturday night all through December.  What a joy.  She brought a different perspective to our lives.  We enjoyed the Nutcracker together, the ward party, a movie, shopping and house cleaning.  She was a reminder of what really matters most at Christmas.

Ice skating with friends

Garrett and Saryn

We spent a night at a hotel on the Plaza.....soooo fun.