December Eve

Two days ago I was at Jenna's and she mentioned she was doing "elf on the shelf" with her family this year.  I had never heard of it.  After she explained it to me I knew this was a tradition I wanted my family to have so I headed to Target to get our own 'elf on the shelf.'

It being December Eve I thought it'd be a fun night to bring the elf to our home.

Close to bedtime the doorbell rang and on our porch was 3 packages.  They boys were so excited and Landon found the one with his name (its kind of exciting that he's learning his letters) and immediately opened his.  Jaden was more hestitant and I had to tell him it was ok before he'd open his.  Inside the boys found pajamas and slippers from Santa so they could wear them during the Christmas Holiday.

Before they could open the third package they had to take their bath.  When they were done they put on their new pjs and opened the 3rd package.  Inside they found the "elf on the shelf" and we all read the story together. 

If you aren't familiar with the 'elf on the shelf' you get to name him...the boys named our "Elfy".  Each day Elfy will watch the kids and each night he'll go back to Santa and report what he saw.  If you touch Elfy he won't be able to report the good things you do each day.  Each morning Elfy will return and you may find him in silly locations. 

I'm going to try to do a daily blog entry of Elfy and what he's up to that day!

I hope this become a fun tradition that remind the boys and girls to be on their best behavior.   

Trim The Tree

On Sunday we pulled out our Christmas Decorations.  We didn't actually trim the tree since we love the convenience of an artificial tree.  The boys did almost put the entire thing together themself and it was a wonderful thing.  I can't wait until I can't send them to the roof to string Christmas lights...until then we won't have any:)

They had so much fun pulling each thing out of the box and the memories that each item contained.  We have a couple of annoying Christmas Toys that we've received from past Christmas that they think are the greatest. 

The girls napped for most of our decorating but woke up at the end and watched us from their walkers. 

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Chris has been working at his new job since March.  We were pretty confident that it was a really good fit and that he'd do very well at it.

Chris has almost always worked in sales therefore his paychecks haven't always been consistant.  Some months are a feast and other are a famine...it's the nature of the beast.  He does have a base but that alone would not provide for our family even kind of.  We rely on his commissions.

Each month since Chris has started each month is better then the next and they expect to hit a national record this month.

Chris isn't doing this alone.  He has one of the hardest working bosses he's ever worked for and the two of them have made huge ground and gotten attention nationwide.  Thus his boss is being promoted shortly leaving an opening in management.

Chris is SALES!  He does really well with it.  He's made wonderful relationships with the doctors he works with and he continues to make more and more...the free food may help! 

We knew there was the possibility he'd be approached with the management position and we weren't sure it was something he'd want.  He's already making more then his boss.

Well today his bosses boss came into town and sat him down to talk about it.  The salary isn't very good and the bonus potential isn't either.  The only motivator in moving in this direction is that it is a stepping stone that must be taken to move up in the company.

Chris's boss and his family have sacrifed for only 1 1/2 years and now he's on his way to a huge base (about 1 1/2 times what Chris will earn this year) and huge bonuses. 

The salary Chris would earn plus bonus will be about equal to what Chris earned at yellowbook (keep in mind we only had two kids then) BUT so much less then I think he can earn at the rate he's going.

It'd be hard to live off that amount.  We are fortunate and have eliminated almost all debts and can almost call ourselves debt free except for our house.  WE could do it but it'd stink and Chris boss works HARD!  He works 80 hours a week sometimes. 

PLUS, Chris may never get promoted.  Everyone wants to move up.  It's management, not as much sales where Chris is successful! 

So what would you do?  Does anyone have a crystal ball?  I really was looking forward to his future paychecks...especially the ones after this month.  To some what he'd receive in management would seem like a lot and others would wonder how we were able to live:) 

If you see us eating Ramen you know that's the direction he went:)

Swimming and Kitties!

Last Saturday we did Brunch and swimming with my family since my brother was up for thanksgiving.

When cousins are up they can't get enough of each other and there are some major meltdowns when we leave.  

Chris usually heads to my parents on Saturdays for football games with my dad and takes the boys with him.  When Landon would come home he'd be raving about grandmas kitties!  I was a little confused since my parents do not like cats.  I asked Chris what he was talking about and Chris told me some strays had adopted my parents since my mom couldn't stand to see them starve.  Needless to say Landon loves to go and see the kitties.  He chases theme EVERYWHERE and pulls their tails.  While we were there on Saturday he grabbed one and threw it on the tramp.  The poor things don't even fight back. 

Our Thanksgiving Turkeys!

We had a fabulous thanksgiving this year...it was easy breezy lemon squeezy as Jaden would say.

The Hendricks side of the family all came to Idaho to celebrate and we are a BIG group.  Because of the size we moved it from my grandmas large home to a nearby church and I was worried it wouldn't feel like thanksgiving but it was fabulous and so convenient. 

I think I'm going to start the tradition of making my kids turkey shirts. I didn't get very good pictures but the boys thought they were awesome and the girls loved chewing on their ribbon!


                                    
 
Thanksgiving weekend we also experienced quadruplets.  Not really but my cousin Jake and his family stayed with us and they have twins 5 months older then the girls so we had lots of babies!  Growing up Jake and I always played together and he was a little bit of the trouble maker and I was always the one saying "should we be doing this?"  If his twins are at all like him (they are boys) we are in for some really adventures!  Both his and our older kids had so much fun together and had some late night staying up and playing!  I also love his wife...yay...which makes it even funner.
 
On thanksgiving day we had a wonderful feast....it's fun when there's lots of people because there is a big variety of dishes and lots of yummy choices.  This is the first thanksgiving my boys discovered olives on their fingers and they thought that was a lot of fun.  After dinner we all had plenty of room to play and hang out.  Most of the men went outside and played football and the kids played on wiggle cars, hide n' seek, basketball...they truely were in heaven. 
 

The girls were so good.  I was walking pushing them and someone said "how did you do that".  I had no idea they had both fallen asleep.  I hurried and pushed them to a quiet corner so they could get a little rest.   They aren't always perfect and they have their moments but I am so lucky they are overall happy little girls.

Here's a picture of my mom and her beautiful sisters and mom. They are the ones that created this huge family called the Hendricks:) We had a wonderful day and we hope that the tradition can continue although each year as the family grows we acknowledge that it probably won't.

                                       

Mi Familia

I haven't done as good as I hoped with all the things I'm thankful for.  One thing I've noticed though is that those thoughts are always on my mind lately.  I'm often writing blog posts about what I'm thankful for in my head and I'm just not taking the time to get them down.

On the top of my thankful list is definately my family.  Although there is a lot of us, we are all there for each other and love to do things with one another.  I'm so grateful that my kids are getting to create the kinds of friendships I created with my cousins growing up and it a blessing to live close to most of my siblings.  

I'm so grateful for my little ones and the joy they bring to my life.

Having girls has been so much fun (two at once has been a little bit of work).  Although they are identical there is something distinct and unique about each one and we often comment how much Eli looks like me.  Here's a picture of me when I was about 1 and one Jenna took of Eli the other day.

 I'm thinking the reason I think she look more like me then Alisha is the chubby cheeks and her expressions:):):)  It's fun have a mini-me or two!!!! 

The most wonderful thing about this upcoming week is that I get to spend lots of time with one of those things I'm most thankful for...my family and lots of extended family too.  I have the best aunt, uncles, and cousins and this will probably be the last time they all do such a big thanksgiving because we've grown so much!

thankful....

I'm so aweful to write down all the things I'm thankful for and this time of year is such a good time to really think about those things...I'm going to try to write down a few things each week of all the good and wonderful things I'm surrounded with.

I'm going to start with Jaden's teacher (not because it's what I'm most thankful for but because she's fresh on my mind).

At Jaden's school you choose what type of classroom setting you want your children in the prior May.  There is a program at his school called Spectrum that lumps 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders together with highly involved parents....you have to be involved for your children to be in the this program.  I was too worried about making that kind of committement having just had the girls and thinking my life may be over so I chose traditional.

During the summer I started stressing about this decision and that I took an opportunity away from Jaden.  I felt horrible. When everyone returned working at the school again I called and asked if there was ANY possibility of getting Jaden in one of the classes....they kind of chuckled.  Needless to say he entered a traditional first grade classroom.

It just tells me that things work out the way they are supposed to.  His teacher is new teaching at his school this year and although I have very little to compare her too I don't think he could have gotten anyone more wonderful.  I have never seen such an excitement for what he's doing at school and he's so motivated to make good decisions and he's excited about what he's learning.

Fortunately, the girls didn't take away all my abilities and I get to volunteer in his class room for 1 1/2 hours each week. (I'm thankful for you watching my children, Jenna).  I get to witness how amazing she is.  She has some really tough kids in her class and she handles them so wonderfully. 

Jaden does not like to do his homework and Chris keeps asking me if I'm sure he's doing well at school because we witness a horrible attitute at home when it comes to his school work.  I told Chris I'm witnesses Jaden's work at school first hand and he is one of the top of his class and his "I can't" and "it's too hard" is all for show.  His teacher brings out the best in him and hopefully I can learn some of her tricks to bring out the best in him at home so that homework will be a pleasant experience.

So today, I'm thankful that my son is in such good hands for a good part of his day!

1/2 birthday x's 2

These lovely girls turned 6 months on Wednesday.  They are so much fun and we can not believe how quickly time flies. 

Trick or Treat

We've had a busy halloween and I'm not too sad to see if over!

I've failed at taking very many pictures of all the fun Jaden and Landon had but hopefully they'll remember what spoiled little boys they are. 

Last Saturday was our Ward Trunk or Treat and I have to say that those are pretty fun and easy (that is because I'm not in charge).  After some really good chili I headed to the car, turned it on, put the girls in their carseats, and hung out as I got to see all the little kids cute costumes.

On Sunday (again no pictures but I did steal these lovely shots from facebook) my sister and sister-in law threw a halloween party that was to die for. I was rather inpressed with their discusting, yet deliciou- foods:)

We ended our celebrations with Trick or Treating on Monday.  After being unable to find dry ice anywhere in town we didn't get to enjoy our traditional root beer but the boys did have a lot of fun collecting  and eating candy from the neighbors.