Lunch Date

On Wednesday we had a lunch date with my grandparents. We haven't seen them since July and they were unable to attend our Sunday gathering because my grandfather recently had knee replacement surgery. They really wanted to see Daniel before he left. Daniel decided to dress in uniform on Wednesday. He wanted to go by his office so they could take a picture of him to hang in their waiting room. This will be to inform their patients that Dr. Henrichsen is currently away serving his country.

We first stopped by the Armed Forces Recruiting Center. Daniel has spent some time there and met the soldiers working there. We dropped off a dozen donuts and Daniel let them know he was leaving soon. One of the soldiers gave Dan his card and said email me when you get there with you new address. He said they often have people come by to drop things off or see where they can send things to the troops and they like to send things to local Lancaster County service members. So perhaps Daniel will receive some surprise packages while there.

We then stopped off at Daniel's office, then to pick up some sandwiches. While at the sandwich shop, two different people came up to Daniel and told him "Thank you for serving". It makes everything more worth it when ordinary citizens are grateful for those who serve our country.

We had a nice lunch and visit with my grandparents. As we were packing up, my grandmother said more than once, "Oh Dan, I just don't want you to go." At first I thought maybe she wanted us to stay and visit longer - then I realized she was talking about going to Iraq. I wanted to say, "I'm with you on that." But as she said that and gave him a hug, she became a little choked up with a slight swelling of tears. I had to turn away and pretend I was organizing Ainsley's colored pencils to take home so I didn't burst out sobbing. I know I have a few rough days ahead but then I think I'll be less emotional. The anticipation of the goodbye is always worse. I've NEVER been good at goodbyes. Once the goodbye is over, I think I'll actually feel much better. Then, the countdown will be until he comes home versus the countdown til he leaves.

While taking pictures at my grandparents house, Ainsley was invited to be in the first picture. This made me quite nervous since she was up on my grandfather's lap so soon after his knee surgery. My grandfather reminded me she was on the good knee and she knew which was the good knee and which the bad but - 3 year old's memories can be quite short and I was just hoping she wouldn't wiggle or kick the the bad knee. She actually did fine on his lap - It was the picture taking part that she didn't do quite so fine with. She has this great desire to make funny faces everytime her picture is taken. So this is the first picture we got. She also had a rootbeer barrel in her mouth.

Let's have a closer look:

Not the angelic face we were hoping for - actually it's quite monsterish! She was promptly invited to no longer be in the picture and we were able to get the nice picture at the top of this blog.

Family Home Evening Activity

Can you guess what we did for Family Home Evening activity Monday night? I bet you'll never guess! Ok - you probably got it - YES we went fishing. Something new for our family. Chase came in with the big catch. A 4 pound, 20 inch channel catfish. Here's the picture to prove it.


"That's a BIG CAT"

Rag Quilts

Well you all know that I love rag quilts. As far as making a quilted project, they take the least amount of time, accuracy is not a big concern, and I think they look cute. I have made quite a few in the last few years. Last fall we had 4 babies born in our ward in a 3 week span. I made rag quilts for several of these new babies and the sisters in our ward became interested in learing how. So they asked me to teach an enrichment activity (not at the big meeting just a special interest activity). I was supposed to teach it at my house but 16 people signed up - not enough table space for 16 machines in my house. So I taught it at the church last Thursday night. Only 10 of the 16 showed up but we had a nice group and I enjoyed teaching and seeing the different fabric choices of each person. This is a close up of my fabric. Poodles were my theme. There really wasn't time for anyone to finish a whole quilt that night so I was really happy when 3 of the girls told me Sunday that they had finished their quilts over the weekend. I had made mine in different stages so I could demo each stage quickly that night. I put all the stages together and was able to finish mine the next day. Here's the final result.

Front

Back

Goodbye and Goodluck

Last Friday Daniel's office had a special luncheon for him. It was for the staff to have a chance to say goodbye and good luck. They ordered in sandwiches for everyone and got this giant cake. Ainsley and I were able to join them for lunch. Daniel gave a short speech where he told the staff how much he enjoyed working with them and how he is honored to serve his country. He also told them that the most important thing you can do when things come your way that are unexpected and less than desireable is to have a postive attitude. He said that your attitude is what makes a difference and even though this is not what he would have chosen to do right now he is looking at the positives. He is happy to serve his country and knows that he will become a better surgeon because of the types and amount of surgery he will be performing. He will see and work on things that are very different and on much bigger scale than what he sees in his office. It was a very postive speech but Daniel's a very postive person. Today was his last day of work before he leaves. He said one of the girls in the office bawled as she said goodbye. It's nice to know he's loved.



Sunday afternoon we had a get together to also give friends and family a chance to say goodbye and good luck and celebrate his birthday. Two of my siblings and father came, two aunts, an uncle and cousin and several families from Valley Forge who he was close to. It was a nice gathering. He received an LDS DVD for military, several LDS music CDs (to put on his ipod for Sunday listening), a huge carmel and toffee covered apple drizzled with dark and white chocolate and a bag of beef jerky to take with him (the apple WILL be eaten before he leaves because of course it would never survive the desert heat((that's really the only reason, it's really not that I HAVE to have bite)). The kids and I are saving our gifts for this weekend since he will be home on his birthday now. His plane leave at 8 am Sunday morning. We are glad for the extra 3 days.

A Busy Day

Last weekend we had our wonderful Labor Day cabin visit. We got home around dinnertime so we could unpack and get to bed early since it was a school night and Daniel and I had planned a day to the temple on Tues.(Sept. 5th). Even though we had just spent the weekend fishing, Daniel decided he needed to take the boys fishing after dinner for just a little while. Well, I knew Tues morning was going to be hectic since we had to get up and get the kids ready for school and ourselves ready for the temple all by 8:30 am. Well, wouldn't you know Daniel got up extra early so he could do some morning fishing. My sister Brinn rescheduled her work for the week so she could take the day off and babysit for us so we could get to the temple together one more time before Dan left and the baby came. Brinn arrived around 8:25 so I was scrambling trying to greet her, get the kids packed up and out the door - oh and it was raining. So I told the kids to go get in the car because we would drive to bus stop today. I didn't feel like trying to walk 3 of us under an umbrella in a church dress to the bus stop. MacGregor was trying to get his shoes on at this point and I said, "Carry them to the car and put them on while we wait for the bus." My thinking was that he could always run to the bus with untied shoes but he could miss the bus trying to get them tied in the house. The kids ran to Dan's car because his garage door was already up. Chase jumped in the front and MacGregor behind the passenger seat. Whoooo, we made it to the bus stop on time. Mac got his shoes on and I turned to tie them for him but I couldn't reach real well with this belly and all. He had to put his shoes up between the front seats so I could reach. Well with the morning fishing run the poles were also poking up almost between the front seats fully equiped with lures/hooks on the tips. The bottom of Mac's sneaker got hooked. I told him to hold still and I'd get it, but he said, "No, I can do it" and proceeded to pull his sneaker back down to the floor behind the passenger seat bending the entire pole toward the floor. He did get that hook undone from the bottom of his left sneaker but as he did it - he hooked his shoelace from his right shoe. So now I am trying to pull this hook out of his shoelace but because of the barbs they put on fishhooks it won't pull out. Meanwhile, Chase sees the bus and splits. I figure for sure he will tell the busdriver to wait and I pull and pull and scream and pull and sigh a mean sigh and I can't wiggle it free. I look up to tell the driver to go on but the bus was already gone. I guess there's no waiting for a kid with fish hooks in his shoes! So now I drive back to the house very frustrated that MacGregor had missed the bus, that he wasn't ready to go in the first place, (if he had had his shoes on, this would never had happened) and very frustrated that fishing is all my family wants to do anymore - morning, evening and midnight (if he hadn't gone fishing, the poles wouldn't have been in the car.) I know why they say moderation in all things! I am thinking - Do I have to cut his shoelace off, do I have to cut the hook off the lure? Mac has to stay in the car because he has a fishing rod stuck to his shoe and Dan is naked in the shower. What can I do? I just wait. Daniel finally emerges and gets the hook out of the shoelace but now Mac is now almost late for school. We are also running late on our intended leave time for the temple. I finally tell Daniel to run Mac to school and come back to pick me up. Daniel says, "Why aren't you ready?" I wanted to scream - NO I am not ready because I thought the boys would have caught the bus a half hour ago and instead I was trying to pick fish hooks out of shoelaces for the last 25 minutes. Instead, I just said - I need to get my make up done and a few snacks packed.

Daniel got Mac to school with 1 minute to spare. We got off the temple and I started to feel a little more settled. It took us longer than we anticipated to get there because of the rain and we got a later start so I told Daniel I think we needed to eat lunch before our session. When we walked thru the lobby we asked a sister temple worker about the cafeteria, as we turned to walk away I glanced at her name tag (which I rarely do) and said to Dan - "Look Honey she has the same name as us" There it was - HENS spelled just like ours. She pointed us in the direction of her husband to which he and Daniel talked at length about their geneology. Turns out that his g.grandfather Erik Christian who settled in Provo was brothers to our g.grandfather Soren Peter. Daniel knew his family was the "Pottery Hens" He said he would be interested in perhaps having a reunion of the decendents of the three brothers who arrived together in Utah from Denmark. They will get off their mission (DC Temple) in Nov 07. Another interesting thing is that he lived the last 35 years in Tempe, AZ and Lara believes she has met him. Incidently his name is Gary Michael Hen but he goes by Rusty.

We had a very nice although very small (8 people) session. Again it took longer to get home with traffic and rain. We arrived around 5:30 in time to grab some quick dinner which my wonderful sister had made and already fed the kids. We then rushed out of the house to the cub scout pack meeting where Chase recieved his Wolf Badge. We really had to cram 6 achievements into the last 2 months. He made a nice set of wooden book ends and organized his whole baseball card collection by team in an album (seen in photo 2). We were even finishing things the night before but he got it and that's what matters. Congratuations Chase! We swear we are going to do better with the Bear Badge. Now we've been in longer I understand the program a little better and we will try to be working throughout the year instead of cramming everything into the last month before his birthday.

Labor Day Weekend

We decided to spend the weekend at "Redgate" (my parents cabin) so Daniel could have one last fishing extravaganza before he leaves for Iraq. We were quite worried though because Tropical Storm Ernesto was predicted to dump 5-7 inches of rain up there during the weekend. ( I would like to know why Ernesto was coming up the Atlantic Coast while John was off the pacific coast of Mexico - does anyone else see that as strange?) We contemplated not going but in the latest "Bassmasters" magazine there was an article on how to fish in "flood cover" (meaning when it is dumping rain). Daniel figured we better go. We got lucky though because we got very little acutal rain. We later realized why - see further down the post. It misted quite a bit and was cloudy most of the time but we were able to get outside. Daniel spent most of the time (dawn, dusk, mid-day and midnight) fishing. He tried new lures, new techniques, new poles. The kids fished with him but their attention spans don't quite match their Dad's. We did take some fun hikes. We hiked in areas we that are not well traveled, thru high brush and marshy floor. We found salamanders, newts, frogs, beatles, snails, bird's nests and monarch butterfly catapillers. The boys found a bush that had about 20 monarch catapillers in all sizes. Ainsley made her famous "tupato soup". Chase learned to row a canoe all by himself and we all had fun shooting the 22 rifle at cans and targets. * We attended the little branch on Sunday. These people had historic flooding in late June - washed away roads, houses, flooded towns. We drove past a vehicle junk yard and saw hundreds of refrigerators, stoves, and other appliances (showing how many homes must have been flooded). In many of the testimonies that were shared, the members spoke of their prayers being answered and their gratitude for the lack of flooding that was predicted with that storm. Incidently, I prayed for lack of rain too but probably for different reasons (more selfish reasons).

Snap or Clap?

Today was the first day of school for the boys. We had a really good night last night getting everyone ready. We got out back packs, laid out clothes for the next day and got everyone to bed early. The boys got up really well, especially MacGregor who is not a morning person. (He may look like his father but he gets his sleep genetics from his mother.) In all my searching the night before and the morning of - I could not find MacGregor's lunch box. I know we had used it during the summer but it was not in any of its normal places. I told him he would have to take his lunch in a bag today. I picked out two bags - a brown paper lunch sack and a small Bath and Body bag with handles. I asked him, "MacGregor, which bag do you want to take today - handles or no handles?" His reply, "If I snap I want handles and if I clap I want the brown bag." Ok - so I waited. And then he snapped. I don't know why kids say or do the things they do but I LOVE it! I have no idea what goes thru their little heads but I think it's so cute.

A Real Nice Affair

Last night we went to my sister Brinn and her new husband Kent's wedding reception/open house at my parents. It was a real nice affair. The food was wonderful. My parents had it catered by two women in their stake that are just starting their own catering company. I thought they did a fabulous job. Kent and Brinn both wore their wedding attire much to Brinn's dismay. Of course everyone there loved it. She said she felt a little awkward being in her wedding dress in the house and being the only one dressed up. I thought it was great cuz you knew who the bride was and she didn't blend in with the rest of the crowd. It was great to see so many family and friends we don't see too often. Quite a few people made the long drive from Dover, Delaware where we used to live. When I go to events like this or reunions in general I feel like "This is what heaven must be like". You get to see and visit with all the people that make your life special, people you rarely see often but people that helped shape your life and hold such a big place in your heart.

To see one of their best wedding pictures - click on Brinn and Kent under Links. I love that picture!!

2/3s Down 1/3 to Go

I have reached the 6 month mark and I feel pretty good. Ok that was until I went to church today looking like this. I thought I looked pretty normal for mid-pregnancy. Daniel tells me that a couple came up to him at church today and said, "Wow, your wife looks like she's ready to pop!" Daniel said, "Well, uhhh she still has 3 more months." I guess they will see what "ready to pop" looks like in mid-November. Not to mention that 2 weeks ago a sister in our ward who lives close by gave me her cell phone number and said, "call me in the middle of the night and I'll come stay with your kids - you are due on the 15th right?" Yes - she was talking about the 15th of August! ( I think she was confusing me with another girl who actually was due the 15th, but I don't she'd get confused if she didn't think I was looking ready) I think I just need to remind people that I am very short and that baby has no where to grow but out. I got out pictures recently of the day I delivered MacGregor. I know that it is going to get much worse before it gets better. (although I hope I won't get quite that big again). Speaking of Worse - my sister's new husband's sister (if you can follow that) had a baby yesterday. For those of you who remember the Mudowney family - this is Ryan's wife. The doctors were never real sure of her due date - they gave her several but just kept letting her go figuring she would have the baby when her body was ready. She finally ended up taking castor oil and had a 11 pound 9 ounce first baby with no drugs! Not a feat I would ever like to achieve.

The ones that didn't get away

I had some trouble getting these pictures to upload in the last post. Since Chase's big catch from last night got away, I decided to show you some big catches from last week. This is MacGregor's sunfish. Daniel said it was the biggest sunfish he had ever seen. He said it was the the size of MacGregor's head.








Chase has been wanting me to post this picture since we started our blog. This is his "big one" that didn't get away. This is the biggest catfish any of us have ever caught .( Daniel may have had one bigger but it never made it to the camera, catfish are fighters and they do what they can to get back in the water)
This fish went from Chase's shoulder nearly to his ankle. It was pretty big around too - look at it compared to the size of Chase's hand.

Friday Night Fishing

Last night we went fishing. We started out day fishing and ended up night fishing. Daniel became obsessed with fishing sometime this spring. He now fishes every chance he gets (at least 3-4 times a week). He goes before work, during his lunch hour and afterwork with the kids. The kids love it. He asked me recently if he thinks he can bring his fishing pole to Iraq. I told him a US soldier fishing the Tigris probably isn't the safest and the water is polluted so he shouldn't be near it (according to our Deployment Health Guide: Iraq). I think 3 months without fishing is going to be killer (some serious withdrawal is ahead). Not to mention when he gets back it will be winter and not alot of fish are biting then.

We all had a good time. I really don't mind fishing if I don't have to pull the hooks out. If I had a good pair of gloves I think I could do it (and I have done it when it was absolutely necessary). Last night I lucked out and Chase was there to do all the unhooking.

Chase hooked a huge fish last night. His pole was bent almost completely in half. He was reeling and reeling and this fish was pulling out his drag just as quickly. He got it 6 inches from shore and the line snapped. Oh the one that got away! He got away with a hook still in him - that'll teach him. He should have let himself get caught and photographed and then we would have put him back with out a hook in his lips.

First Grade Project

On Thursday evening there was an open house for First Grade. MacGregor was able to go in and meet his teacher, pick out a desk, get to know his room etc... The teacher had sent a note to all the students asking them to bring in a homemade flower to help decorate the bulletin board. Here's the final result.


Of course we used fabric, my medium of choice. Anytime I can dip into that scrap pile and make something I do. MacGregor had a project last year as well that allowed us to use extra fabric. He had to decorate a turkey using anything he wanted. Here's that project.

Cooked Salad

Tonight for dinner we had grilled pork chops and steamed cabbage ( a family favorite). We haven't had steamed cabbage in a quite a while. I scooped a very small portion on Ainsley's plate and she squished up her nose and said "I don't want that." I said "I'd like you to try a little." As I scooped a large helping on the next plate she looked up and said, "But we don't cook salad!" Aaaahhhh - the perspectives of little ones.

Favorite Uncle

We had a declaration made this weekend as Ainsley enjoyed her play time with Aaron and Christine. I believe Jeremy's position has been usurped. Ainsley declared, "Christine, you are my favorite uncle." Sorry Jeremy - you now have to move over for Uncle Christine.

Weekend's pictures

I had a hard time adding these pictures to the last post. I am attempting to add them here.

Looks Like We've Made It!

We are going to give this a try. I can't say I really understand how to do any of this and I'm not a great writer but we are willing to give it a chance. I really enjoy reading all the other family blogs and I feel like we know each other better by seeing and hearing all the ongoings of each family.

I don't know if everyone has heard but the Army Reserves has called up Daniel to serve three months in Iraq with the 399th Combat Support Hospital. He leaves in just over 3 weeks (2 days before his birthday). He will return around the 20th of December. So yes - he will miss the birth of our baby due November 24th. I thought starting this blog might be nice for him to see what we are doing daily as well since I don't know how often we will be able to talk on the phone. I also hope that will give me motiviation to record our daily ongoings.

We had a nice visit with Aaron and Christine this past weekend. It was short since Daniel had to be in Pittsburgh Friday night and Saturday for a Soldier Readiness Program. The kids and I went with him and stayed in the hotel. We got to the hotel about 11pm. Around 4am the power went off (so did the airconditioning and any type of white noise we were using(static on the radio). It was very hot and you could hear everything from the hall which was mostly this random beeping coming from I don't know what. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep (I am not sleeping comfortably anyway these days.) The power returned around 7am. Daniel left early for his program where they injected him with a multitude of deadly diseases (immunizations), went over military finance things, created a will with a lawyer, fitted him for a kevlar helmet etc... The kids and I had a lazy morning, hit the grocery store for some lunchables and caught a 12:30 movie. By the time the movie was over Daniel was done. We left Pittsburgh at 3 and arrived in Lancaster at 7pm where we met Aaron and Christine at a restuarant for dinner. We celebrated our 11th anniversary with them and our children. We thank the military for taking our anniversary and Daniels birthday from us this year (not to mention #4's birthday). We enjoyed visiting Saturday night. On Sunday Aaron and Christine made us their "wonderful german pancakes in a muffin tin" recipe. It was delicious. We drove them around parts of Lancaster City and rural Amish country. We saw buggies - Sunday is a great day for that. For dinner we had Hawaiian Haystacks - a winner in everyone's book and dessert was ripe peaches with half and half. Yum. Monday morning we toured Daniels office, went out for Philly cheestakes and went to the Wilbur chocolate factory before they headed back to New York. We sure had a lot of fun. We hope to get together again while they are living on the East Coast.



I guess that's it for now. My kids start school in one week so I am sure this week will be a busy one.