Dinner at Culvers

Lately, Mike has been craving Culvers cheeseburgers so we end up going there once a week. We all get the Scoopie Meals so we can save up the tickets to buy Culvers stuff :) and then we can get ice cream. It's just fun! :) I was able to take some pictures this time and since it's something that we do on a pretty regular basis, I figured I should document it! :) Too funny!

Last Day...

This week went by just as I hoped it would - not too fast, not too slow - just right! I am currently sitting at Starbucks waiting for Mike to get done with class and just enjoying the smell of coffee and the relaxation of blogging! Too much fun! Checked out of our hotel just now and we have about 4 hours before we have to be at the airport so we get to walk up and down 16th Street Mall and get some souveneirs and eat at Anatoli's. This is going to be the perfect afternoon because its already 50 degrees, with not a cloud in the sky!!! And tonight, I get to hug and kiss my babies! I can't wait!

Sicker Than a Dog

Oh my! I didn't think that this congestion was going to turn into this but it was awful last night! I felt so bad for Mike because I could not go to sleep, could not get comfortable, could not stop reaching for the kleenex and could not stop getting a drink of water. I could not have been a worse sleep partner last night! I ended up on the floor so that my tossing and turning wouldn't keep waking him up and thankfully that didn't wreck my back.....although I was convinced that it would. But what a nice morning to be able to sleep in until 11, then take a bath, then slowly get ready and then head out to explore. Just magical! :) I miss my boys tho! I kept having these dreams about them, that they were with me and how were we going to go shopping today without a stroller.....so funny! :) I'm too much a mom now, I think! :)

So.......I had a fantastic club sandwich at Jason's Deli (never been there), got a gourmet cupcake from Mermaids Bakery and Pie Shoppe (never been there), picked up some naughty cold medicine that I'm not sure that I should really be taking from Walgreens (been there too many times already) and now I'm at Starbucks drinking a white mocha with a shot of caramel and blogging away! How much more relaxing could this be? :) I truly am in wife heaven!

We Are Here!

Well, the flight went very very well! So thankful for a good pilot! And I sat next to a colonel in the air force who was very jittery and kept reviewing his itinerary every 5 minutes. Try that for an hour and a half. I didn't know if he was going to be able to make it! Between him shaking his leg and Mike shaking his legs, my sanity barely stayed in tact. :)

The hotel is really funky but very nice and right down town. We are about 2 blocks from 16th Street Mall which is very similar to Nicollet so I feel right at home. Not as many shopping choices as Nicollet but still very fun! Very excited to explore and see what I find in the coming days. :)

I am battling a cold and the more I think about it the more I think that it might be allergies but not very sure at all......hopefully I can take some medicine for this congestion and be done with it sooner rather than later.

The boys will be with Grandma and Grandpa Henderson for the rest of the night and then Nana will be there bright and early tomorrow morning to spend all day Tuesday and Wednesday with them. I'm so thankful for wonderful wonderful parents!

Oh, did I mention that it's 73 degrees? Loving it!

Denver Here We Come

I can't believe that this week is finally here! I've been waiting for what seems like forever for it to arrive and thought it would be just a little longer but wow, it came fast! What a sweet treat that our family is giving us by being with our boys and allowing us to take this trip together! There's quite a schedule for this week but between our parents, Erica and Jessica every minute is covered and they will be with family the entire time and probably having too much fun!

We didn't tell Taylor anything about the trip because he's old enough to understand that if we leave, there is a possibility that he can come too so we just thought we would leave all that conversation out of the equation. But boy did he understand really quick when we were packing this morning. I felt so bad because he immediately asked Mike if he could come too and all the crying started. But.....we are staying in touch with Skype so hopefully that will help with all the homesickness on our end and their missing us on that end.

Not quite sure about this plane ride coming up but God is with me! :)

Coley on the Phone

Cole the Woodworker

Mike has been working on these name plaques for the boys and they are turning out absolutely beautiful. But all Cole has seen is Mike sanding them down for the next coat of stain. So when Cole started sanding it on his own, we had to get a video. I love how little boys want to be just like their daddy!

So goofy

This morning both boys woke up very happy and were so goofy eating breakfast! We've already had so much fun today!

Chilled

This is the first time that I have seen him do this and I just had to post a picture! He's so cute!!! Sometimes I just eant to squeeze him so much!

Cole's First Birthday

Today we celebrated Cole's first birthday! I love having my babies on Friday's because their 1st birthdays fall on a Saturday which is such a good day to celebrate! Because it's the middle of winter, we had the party at the Maple Grove Community Center. It was very affordable and the kids were able to play in their maze or in the pool. Very fun! We kept everything simple and just had Costco pizza, chips and cupcakes with ice cream. I made a cake with a Winnie the Pooh theme but the cupcakes were the bigger hit! :) It ended up being just a wonderful wonderful time and I love my baby boy! He won't be my baby boy for long and he's growing up so fast! I just love him and his precious personality!

Scrapbook personalized with Smilebox

Playing Together....

Most often than not, they do not play happily together but recently, with a little bit of training :) their playtime has become more enjoyable! Just trying to capture the happy times!!!

The goody bags are done! One thing crossed off my list and a whole bunch more to go! They were easy, affordable and super cute! Now on to the hard stuff......:)

Birthday Cake Inspiration

I'm thinking about doing this design on Cole's birthday cake for his party this Saturday but am I brave enough or just plain crazy enough? I think so! I'll post pictures of the before if it turns out good enough! :)

Valentine's PJ's

Grandma and Grandpa Henderson celebrate almost every holiday with gifts for the grandkids. And this holiday was no exception! I swear, the presents these two got was unbelievable! And all we had for them were some cupcakes and valentines......not quite up to par with the gifts but next year we will do better. Wait, next holiday, whatever it is, we will do better! :)

They both got pj's which we took pictures of to share, and toys, and candy and new sweatshirts and new outfits! Grandma and Grandpa Henderson are awesome! We love you!

Sweet Boy

Today when I decided to lay down on the couch for a quick minute, Taylor thought that I was sick so he gave me his blanket (that is absolutely the most giving thing he could do!!!) tried to keep Cole happy by giving him cars and keeping him away from me and then turning off the lights so it was cozy! I was so touched by his thoughtfulness and it made me so proud that he is my little boy!

Crashed

Obviously I didn't get him down for his nap soon enough. Thankfully he still went down very well with out any fussing or waking up! Yeah for nap time!

HE will silently plan for you,
His object of omniscient care;
God Himself undertakes to be
Your pilot through each subtle snare.

He WILL silently plan for you,
So certainly, He cannot fail!
Rest on the faithfulness of God,
In Him you surely will prevail.

He will SILENTLY plan for you
Some wonderful surprise of love,
No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
But it kept for you above.

He will silently PLAN for you,
His purposes will all unfold;
Your tangled life will shine at last,
A masterpiece of skill untold.

He will silently plan FOR YOU,
Happy child of a Father's care,
As if no other claimed His love,
But you alone to Him were dear.

Mommy's away...

So today was my day with my sisters and Mike had the boys and these are the pictures from the day! Wow! What happens when I'm away amazes me! So cute tho!

What?

So it seems that he just puts whatever into his mouth whenever. I don't know why but here's the proof. :)

So Cute!!!

What you love to play with! And Daddy lets you!

Standing & Clapping!!!

Drop Your still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease:
Take from our souls the strain and stress;
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Your peace.

Breathe through the pulses of desire
Your coolness and Your balm;
Let sense be mum, its beats expire:
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!

Sunday Subway

We have this habit of going to Subway EVERY Sunday afternoon. So much so, that the employees who regularly work that Sunday afternoon shift know us by name and know our sandwiches without needing any prompting! Kinda scary but I love it! I think thats part of my OCD........don't know.

Anyways, today we actually ate in the restaurant! The boys loved it and I felt that it was so special because it was the first Sunday that Mike has been able to be at church in the morning and see the bus kids and then to be able to go out to lunch ~ what a treat!

I'm so thankful that his health is steadily improving and thanking Jesus for every day we have!

So Cute!!!

What you love to play with! And Daddy lets you!

Cole and Daddy!

I've come to realize that my boys are not Momma's boys by any means! In fact, they are just the opposite! Right now, if Mike is holding Cole and I come to take him, he clings with all his might to Mike and doesn't want to be taken away! It's precious and disappointing at the same time!

God is in every tomorrow,

Therefore I live for today,

Certain of finding at sunrise,
Guidance and strength for my way;
Power for each moment of weakness,
Hope for each moment of pain,
Comfort for every sorrow,
Sunshine and joy after rain.

Forever 29!!!

So I turned 29 yesterday!!! I remember being little and thinking that there was no way that I would ever be this old! But I love where I am and I am thankful for what God has done and allowed in my life! He truly has been gracious to me!

So for my birthday we had our first baby appointment!!! It was very special and I was thankful that it wasn't a standard OB appointment. We did listen for the heartbeat and the baby was so low that it took a while before we could find it. When we were finally able to hear it, I was at a very tearful point. But the heart rate is at 150 so I am hoping that those old wives tales about a heart beat above 150 means it's a girl come true!

It was a wonderful fabulous day and I was very spoiled! So loving the thought of today too - relaxing and shopping and eating out! Oh and playing on my new iPad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoying Auntie Jessie's Cupcakes

My sister is so very thoughtful and decided that since no one in my house can make me a cake, she would make me Deep Dark Chocolate Cupcakes for my birthday! Oh My! So yummy! And the boys definitely thought so too! I went in to the kitchen and found that Taylor had taken the container down from the counter and had given one to Cole who promptly put the entire thing in his mouth! Taylor had evidently enjoyed one too! And the video explains itself! Thank you Jess for making my birthday so special!

When nothing on which to lean remains,
When strongholds crumble to the dust;
When nothing is sure but that God still reigns,
That is just the time to trust.

It's better to walk by faith than sight,
In this pathos yours and mine;
And the darkest night, when there's no outer light
Is the time for faith to shine.

Long Day...

A Very Merry Christmas...

Because Mike is well enough to enjoy these special moments with us. Looking at these pictures of this Christmas, it is hard to believe that less than a month ago we were in the hospital.....God is so good. I'm so thankful, so very thankful! Obviously from the pictures, you will be able to tell that the boys really enjoyed this Christmas. Cole is growing up so fast and Taylor is the quintessential older brother! It got very loud at times, especially when Cole would go for one of Taylor's new toys. Wow! I thought it would never end! :) But it was so much fun and it was so fun to take these pictures and capture this memory! So cool to think of how next Christmas there will be another little Henderson! God is too good to us! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve...

Always such a special time with my family. We spend the entire day together starting with brunch at around 11, games and hanging out, appetizers, singing around the piano, dinner, opening presents and dessert. Normally the day doesn't end until around midnight or so, but this year, with Mike's health, our night ended a little earlier which was okay since the boys were getting over colds and we all seemed to be tired earlier.

My brothers and sisters and I went to see my Grandma at the hospital since she was going to be there over Christmas and we sang some Christmas songs. Garrett posted one on FB of us singing on the way home......hmmmmm......very interesting since its acappella! :)

It was good to see her though and she seems to be doing much better.

She should be able to come home in a little over a week.

I thought I would post some pictures of the highlights of the day!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Steven's beautiful tablescape! It made our Christmas Eve dinner so special!

The boys unwrapping and enjoying their presents!

My chunky monkey!

What a way to end it - self portrait all the way!

Steven Graduated!!!

Tonight Steven graduated from college with his accounting degree! He only had eight seats so unfortunately only the siblings could attend but at least we got to be there! This was the only picture I could take because my battery was dead! Ugh! Steven probably wanted it that way though because he really doesn't like to be in the pictures - he likes to take the pictures but he doesn't like to be in the pictures. Afterwards we all celebrated at Ruby Tuesday's! It was fun night and I am so happy for Steven. I'll miss all the Wednesday afternoons hanging out waiting for the evening class.......good memories though. He was a good excuse to sit on the couch and watch HGTV and eat! :) Love ya Steven!

Coley & His Bottle