Dear John

This is a tough post to write. I love that line in the movie "Contact" when Jodie Foster is in "space" and has to try and describe to others what she is seeing. She simply says, "You should have sent a poet." That completely describes how I feel.

I love John. He's just one of those people that I never knew existed until I found him. He is kind, caring, and so very thoughtful. He is so other-centered and selfless. He spends much of his time doing things for others. The best part is, he does most of that for me. He has made me his priority...and yet, accomplished so much for so many other people in the process.

He just turned 47. I can't believe how much he has become in so few years. He reminds me of what Ezra Taft Benson said: "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can." John is one who truly has turned his life over to God. He just wants to fulfill the mission that he said he would finish. He is constantly engaged in that work.


He has a GREAT sense of humor. We laugh ourselves silly at our house. People often ask me what John is "really" like, and it's so fun to tell them that what they see is what they get. He is what he seems and more: Funny, happy, spiritual, and lively.


John is a great dad. EVERY one of my children could be described as a "Daddy's girl" or "Daddy's boy." They ADORE him. It's very obvious who the favorite parent is at our house, and I simply LOVE that, because they couldn't love a better man. He is always laughing with them, playing with them, teaching them in ways that only he can.

He is a hard worker. I used to not understand how on vacation he constantly had his computer with him so he could write, or how he was always reading and studying something. But now I know that it's just IN him. He is a worker. He is happiest when he is accomplishing something, and he accomplishes great things. He recently taught himself to play the banjo! He's always trying new things!

He is generous. I don't mean to embarrass him, but he is ALWAYS doing things for others. Whether he pays for others' car repairs, lends them his truck, or slips them some needed money, he is always doing for others. He spends at least a couple of nights a week helping others, either in his church calling, or his own chosen goal to better others' lives. It's amazing to watch.

I can't believe I get him. He is the best friend I've ever had. He doesn't judge me for my inadequacies, but focuses on my better traits. What more could I ask for? He's simply perfect for me. I love you, honey!!!

Bubble Trouble

I just love bathtime pictures:

Sometimes happy...



Sometimes sad...



Nice and clean

Football Season

Andrew and John have been playing flag football all fall...well, Andrew has played, and John has coached! The games are usually at night, and with a cheap camera, the pics aren't so good, but you get the idea! Way to go Andrew!!!

Candy, Caramel, Cool Crowd, and a dash of Chaos

Every year we have our annual "Haunted Gingerbread House" Family Home Evening. Of course, they're not that haunted, and they're not gingerbread, but we have fun nonetheless. My friend gave me an ingenius idea...I melted sugar on the stove and pre-made the houses for the kids. I just dipped the sides of the crackers in the liquid sugar, and put the houses together. The sugar hardens like a sucker, so those houses held up so well! Great idea! Here are pics:
Look at all that Candy!!!

Ashley

Matthew

Madelyn

The kids are so excited!

Holden

Gabriel

Elizabeth

Taking a small sample

Joshua

Adam

What a crowd!

Carrie and Holden

Andrew and Joshua

Ashley, Abbie, and Natalie

Lauren takes a nibble

Aaron

Elayna, Ava, and Timothy

Ava

We decided to make some caramel apples as well!

Ashley decided to make a "torture chamber". I think she gets these genes from her Grandpa Loveridge. (He has a guilloutine in his Law Office). Note the skeleton, used to be a man with a spear through him...:)

Here's the bigger picture...note the skulls atop sticks...what????

This is an "orange man" who has been, uh, "speared" also.

We held this during the U of U game...here are the die-hard fans, Michael, Marshall, and Tim:

We had an AWESOME night with everyone! Thanks again for all the treats everyone contributed! For me, one of the best nights of the year! Love you all!

I just Like My Kids

I just like my kids. I think it's funny when they turn my kitchen into a restaurant (almost weekly). I like it when they head-butt my thigh and hug it to tell me they love me. I'm even getting used to their own "decor" in their bedrooms, including their dart-gun targets and "do not enter unless you are Adam, Aaron, Joshua, Thomas, Ashley (or any other cousin.)
Last Monday for FHE we did a little lesson, then afterward built a temple out of blocks. I thought the "Angel Moroni" was particularly clever.

Yep, I just like my kids.

I thought 35 was the new 25!!

So, although I'm not yet "approaching" 35 (I've got well above 5 months to go...), I thought I'd post my frustrations about my age. I remember after my first baby was born, I lost those whopping 25 extra pounds in about 6 hours (give or take a few minutes.) Fast forward to child number six, 20 months old already, and I'm still struggling to lose that last 10 lbs! It used to be that if I sacrificed an only ate the HALF dozen donuts, the weight would drop off. Now I'm subsisting on water and celery and gaining weight every time I pass the candy bar aisle at the grocery store. So, thanks to my friend who posted this comic...it made my day.

Timothy

I love how this kid gets into the car. It's like a Herculean effort just to open the door. I wish they could stay this little forever.

School!

AT LAST! My kids were so anxious to start school and the day finally came! We had been ready for school to start for weeks, since most of the kids in the neighborhood started school two weeks earlier. We did make a last-minute stop off to buy shoes with Auntie Tiffany...who makes EVERY shopping trip fun!

We got some caramel apples for the teachers, woke up late (!) and sent them off!


Things are so QUIET during the day with all four of them in for a full day! I miss thier running, chasing, teasing, chaos,....um, wait. I miss THEM. Not that other stuff. ;)

Dad's in a Jam...Raspberry.

Last week I dropped in at my parents' home, and Dad was in the kitchen, proudly hovering over his latest creation: his own self-bottled freezer jam. He went to the store, bought bottles, something like 10 packages of pectin (a little much, Dad!), and went to town. In just a few hours, he had raspberry jam to last a season, and a sense of accomplishment to match. Way to go, Dad!

Birthday Celebrations

For Ashley's birthday, we took the kids up to Park City to ride the Alpine Slide. It was such fun! Ashley zips down first...

followed closely by Nattles

and Andrew....

For the first round, Matthew rode with John, but then for the second ride, he was supposed to go with me. He was so mad, and probably couldn't quite understand WHY he had to go with me, so he said he would rather just sit and cry, and MISS riding with me because he couldn't go with John...and somebody called it the terrible TWOs. I think it's the frustrating FIVEs. :) I'd rather just sit here and cry...

Mom came along to sit with me and tend Bethany while we awaited our turn down the slide. Mom's a speedster down that mountain!Riding on the lift up the mountain with TimothyThat night we opened presents...and of course I forgot my camera, but thankfully Auntie Amy had hers handy! While we wait for pictures, we'll just post the "present!" We gave Ashley a certificate for horseback riding with us up the canyons at Snowbird Ski Resort. She was in HEAVEN! It was the perfect activity in the perfect venue. We had a great time!

Riding the Snowbird tram to the lookout point. What a view! On top of the world...
Helmets on for a rocky ride down the canyon in a little 4-wheeler
We passed a tree that had been struck by lightning
Ashley on "Captain Morgan." Check out those horse's blue eyes!
John on "Malone."

Here I am on "Easy Money."
Malone had one speed....slow and steady...and WAY behind. We rode for about an hour in the BEAUTIFUL back-country of Snowbird and loved every minute. The horses were so mild, and even trotted a bit from time to time. What a fun birthday present for ALL of us! Thanks again, John, for a fun day out with our not-so-little girl.

...and before you know it...

Your baby's ELEVEN! Happy Happy Happy Birthday Ashley. Eleven reasons why I LOVE this girl:

1) She is so responsible! She has started babysitting, and after her first job, the mom called me to thank me...not only for being a great babysitter and playing with the kids, but for feeding them and CLEANING up her kitchen. Way to go Ashley!

2) Her smile. Who can't love that face of hers. She is such a sparkler and flashes those pearly whites often

3) Her sense of humor. She is always telling jokes and making us laugh. She has a very witty comment or remark often, and keeps us in stitches

4)Her amazing artistic ability. From a very young age, Ashley showed her special ability to draw and create pictures! We LOVE it when she draws. She is constantly working on her art, trying to improve her talent. One of our favorite things is when she combines her artistic talent with her witty sense of humor with her original comic strips. Here's one she drew after she learned how to play badminton up at Aspen Grove:
(the caption reads: "Tim, maybe we should stop playing since you can't leave the birdie alone.")

5) Her ability to "sense" a situation and act accordingly. I can't tell you how often I'll be feeling a little overwhelmed, and without being asked, Ashley will dive in and start doing something to help me: dishes, vacuuming, etc. What a doll.

6) Her ability to entertain other children. Ashley is the "head" of so much of the play that happens at our house. She is giving somebody a "horsie" ride on her back or building huts, or playing some sort of game, or helping someone build something. Her imagination is endless!

7) She is turning into such a lady. She is starting to mature so much and has just started to get into those little "girly" things...but not too quickly! She's the perfect balance between childhood and pre-teen. Perfect! I might add that she is also an adventurer. She will try new things without worrying. She loves green marinated olives, Brie cheese, and tried pheasant for the first time this summer. She LOVES it when I buy her those strange and unusual fruits and veggies at the grocery store (that right now I can't even name because they're so unusual!)

8) She is grateful. Whenever we do something for her, even the littlest thing, she is always gracious and thanks us...sincerely. She truly appreciates everything we do for her, from buying her new socks to making meals. She is just appreciative.

9) She is smart! She gets great grades, and although may need to work a little harder at some things, sticks to it and hangs in there until she gets it done. She takes pride in her own work and doesn't have to be pushed by us to do well. She just wants that for herself.

10) Ashley is unassuming. When we go to the store, she NEVER asks for things. If another child asks for a candy bar or something, I'll see her nudge them and quietly tell them, "Don't ask. That's not nice." I LOVE that! I guess it sort-of goes back to the "appreciative" thing. She doesn't expect anything.

11) She is mine. What a blessing in my life to have this first child, and such a gem. She is truly a rare and wonderful gift to our family. She is a leader in our home and such a great teacher to her little brothers and sisters. We couldn't feel more blessed to have her in our lives.

Love you Ashley!!!

Aspen Grove Family Camp

Every so often, we are invited to go to BYU's Alumni Aspen Grove. This time, it was for their family camp. We just LOVE this place. It it this little "resort" tucked up Provo Canyon above Sundance. During the day, the kids get to play with supervised groups of kids their own ages while the adults attend classes (or really just do whatever they want!)

They have a great cafeteria with good food, and a buffet where the kids can easily serve themselves.

There is Basketball, Badminton, volleyball, two extensive playgrounds, an old-fashioned cowboy town, tramplines, rock climbing, a ropes course, trout fishing, entertainment, every board game you can imagine, swimming, a family dance, ping pong and billiards, air hockey, arts and crafts center...the list goes on and on. You could spend all your time doing something new each day. And the best part? No television. The perfect getaway.

Eating lunchAshley with her fish (these fish are very well-fed creatures, as the pond is fed from a running stream, so the fishing is not for the weak-hearted! Most fishermen leave empty-handed, but Ashley was so lucky to catch a fish early on!)Ashley tries rappelling Natalie, Timothy, and Daddy playing CandylandBethany tries her hand at badmintonMatthew at the pool

We had such a great time. Thanks again, Aspen Grove!

Simply Selfless

I just love my kids. Today I woke up to the heavenly aroma of cake being baked. This is what Ashley made for me...and Natalie helped decorate. Love you, girls!

The Family that Plays Together...

For Loveridge FHE this month, Jeff and Natalie organized fun in the sun at their neighborhood splash ground! It was amazingly hot, but the water was as cool as the company.

Jeff splashes a little with Ashton Thomas...just walking and waiting for the perfect time to join the fun Bess-a-booAdam with his newly broken arm stayed on the outskirts. Notice the mis-matched flip flop! Boys will be boys.Holden tries to "man" the blow fish gunEven in the extreme heat, it feels good to snuggle in a warm towel
Carrie, Mom and Dad, relaxing in the shadeOur splashground hostess, Natalie Adam takes a reading break

Tiffany, enjoying the shadeTimothy and JohnTimothyElizabeth, smiling in the sunJoshua, runnin' aroundFirst-grader MadelynMarshall managed to get himself in the middle of a waterfight with EVERY child on the playground!The entire Hendrickson FamilyGabriel is at that stage between walking and crawling. He can do both, but sometimes, it's just easier to combine the two!Bethany trying to endure the heatThe kids take a break for lunchAshley versus AndrewAndrew and Aaron Jeff, the new target of the kids, uses Ashton as a shield.Then he realizes he can use the blow-fish "gun." All those hours of "Blackhawk Down" sure can come in handy!The kids plan their next attack! Kate Keeps HydratedI played with Daniel's curly locks and got him this "Who hair"The Birthday bunch

(Gabriel reached out and grabbed the cake while we were singing. He just couldn't wait!)"Even the best-laid plans...." Jeff and Natalie brought the amazing cake, but accidentally forgot the forks! The cake literally was..."finger-lickin' good!"Michael and Tim enjoy their ice-cream

We had a GREAT time together! Thanks again everyone! We sure love you all and feel so lucky to be part of such an amazing family! Kisses!

Pizza Night

I'm not too domestic. I admit it. I've never made homemade pizza in my marriage. But, you throw in a lazy Friday night, the Johnson cousins, Tiffany's handy kitchen skills, a trip to the grocery store, and voila!

You may notice the lack of cheese on Tiffany's pizza. I guess in her hurry she forgot it...but not to worry...we smothered it on top, and it all tasted wonderful. ;)

In Love with Lagoon

I haven't been to Lagoon in years. No, let me retract. I haven't been to Lagoon when I'm not pregnant in years. Usually I stay off the big rides with whatever small children are clinging to my motherly skirts and watch all of the big kids have fun with John. (I did cheat when I was 5 mos. pregnant with Timothy and ride the Rocket as well as the Spider, but alas, I digress.)

This year, with the benevolence of Jennifer and Amy in my corner, I left Bethany, Timothy, and Matthew home, took on cousins Aaron and Abby, and left with Ashley, Andrew, and Natalie to Farmington. It promised to be 100 degrees, and I had it in my head that you can't wear open-toed shoes there for certain rides. So, I wore my shoes and socks, but didn't have any of those cute little "hidden" socks that look like you're wearing NO socks, so I thought I'd have to wear pants because you just don't wear calf-length socks with capris! Then, as I got ready, I realized I didnt' have any t-shirts...just a capped-sleeve turtleneck...which I wore, and to any who know me, YES...it WAS black. I think I looked like the biggest idiot with long pants, shoes, and a turtleneck! Oh well! I had fun regardless! I'll let the pictures do the talking!

We ran to the Wild Mouse FIRST!!!Music ExpressWaiting for the Spider

A mid-day rest In line for the Log ride

Trying to avoid the Waterfall on Rattlesnake Rapids

AFTER Rattlesnake RapidsSometimes the kiddie rides don't hold enough excitement for an almost-11-year-oldThe Scrambler!These two are the cutest little friendsBuddies Aaron and Andrew

On the Cliffhanger...sopping wet!

Thanks again to the babysitters! At the end of the night, Ashley and I ran to the Samurai for one last ride. That thing is a killer! When the ride ended, the park was closing, but there were still 15 people in line for the last ride that could hold 30 people, so we rode once more. Twice in a row was a little much for me! I think for the first time in my life I was a little nauseated getting off of a ride! Hmmm.... But we love Lagoon!