Joq & Laura

We are really enjoying our time with Joq & Laura. They came up to visit us on Saturday, Dec 27th and are staying with us all week. We just love them so much and really enjoy hanging out with them. They are so easy to hang out with and so genuine and real that we don't have to do alot to entertain them. It is just fun being with them and doing life together. They have had fun spoiling their little nephew Xander. He is so lucky to have so many people dote on him! We have been playing lots of games and making lost of great food. Good times!

Xander's first Christmas

Xander had a very great Christmas. He was hilarious with all of his Christmas presents. He loved to climb on top of them and slowly rip off the paper. And he would dance and laugh at the songs and sounds that they made before he had even completely unwrapped the gift. He was really funny and entertaining to watch. He was very blessed and was given many fun toys to play with. Thank you to all who love him so much and spoil him with your love! We miss you!!! Xander has been having so much fun with everything. We are so blessed and loved.

Fun in Florida

We are having a great time in FLordia with my family. Xander has "wowed" the family with all of his amazing tricks! He has loved performing and hamming it up for all the friends and family here. He now "praises the Lord," makes snake, duck and cow sounds, tries to walk all the time and gives high fives like nobody's business. He especially loves it when I tell him high five...too slow (and take my hand away real quickly) He has also become quite a great kisser, thanks to Aleah Faires! hahaha! He loves kissing the ladies!
Some of our family from Jax came down to visit today and that was a lot of fun. We went to one of the down town areas and walked around, some some amazing lights, and a free outdoor gymnastic christmas performance. That was fun, especially since it was free.
The sad news is that on the way to the airport, my camera got dropped in the cup holder in our car. Unfortunately, the cup holder was already being occupied by a cup full of water...and there went the life of my good ole' faithful friend. So alas, just in time for Xander's first Christmas, I find myself without a camera.

Cindy-loo-hoo & the Grinch

We dressed up for the annual youth group Christmas party tonight. It was a lot of fun to hang out and have a good time. We received many compliments on our costumes. Now I am tired and need to go to bed!

Just like old times...

THis weekend has been very fun and a little chaotic at the Hendriks household. On Saturday morning, David brought down the Pringle kids to stay with us for the weekend. We have been decorating for Christmas, building gingerbread houses, playing games, watching Christmas movies (ELF!), and making pumpkin spice muffins...mmm!

We have really enjoyed having them here, playing at the house like old times. Xander has had such a great time having playmates in the house. They just adore him and play with him all day long. He thinks they are hysterical and laughs and giggles at anything they do!

They are early risers and tease me for sleeping in...I would hardly call 8 am SLEEPING IN! ;) This morning they boys got up at 6! I don't know how they do that...

We are enjoying our last day with them and making the most of our time together. We are so blessed to have them in our lives...chaos, joy, laughter, love, fights, fun and all that they bring! ;)

Date night?

Tonight Brandon and I went to explore a little something new in Modesto and found ourselves at Johnny Corino's for dinner. It was very good. We split spicy chicken pasta with artichokes & sundried tomatoes. We wanted to go somewhere new and as we passed we both agreed that Italian food sounded really good. Xander was a joy to have along with us on our quasi-date-night. He ate some crayons, ripped some paper, banged the plate on the table continuously & dropped his slippery pasta on the floor! He is in a really fun stage right now. He likes to copy us when we do anything. Voice fluxuations, squeals & giggles, patting our hands on the table, clapping & high fives...make dinner and "date nights" so much more exciting! Brandon is currently putitng together a "big boy" car seat for him...where did the last 9 months go? I can't believe he has already grown out of his first car seat! He is such a joy! We love him so much & are excited to watch him learn and grow each day. He has been trying to walk a lot lately. Take a few steps here and there, it is amazing!

A hard day for Xander

Today was probably the worst day of my life.  literally.  It started out pretty good.  I painted pottery with one of the women from our church.  That was really nice.  It was fun to be creative and just relax without an agenda or a to-do list.  Later I met one of the girls from my small group for lunch.  Again, very nice to talk with someone and hang out.  In the late afternoon, Xander and I took a walk with Brandon around our neighborhood and took the chance to talk and catch up on life.  That was a very nice treat.  




Then we fed Xander and headed over to a new couple's house for dinner.  They are a nice young married couple that we just found out actually has the same anniversary as us.  How random! We ate dinner and watched the Office! What more could you ask for in a day? So why was it so horrible, you might ask? Well, I will tell you.  When we arrived for dinner, we spent a few moments greeting each other and talking about our day.  We then headed into the kitchen to help finish preparing dinner.  We talked some more until Xander wanted to get down to play with their dog.  It was cute for about ten seconds until their dog started growling and barking at Xander!!! It was so horrible.  We all freaked out, of course.  We screamed and lunged at the two of them. They were right at our feet but I couldn't seem to get to them fast enough!  They had to grab their dog off while we rescued Xander.  Xander was already crying uncontrollably and I figured he was just scared from the sudden barking and our screams.   I held him and soothed him until he had started to calm down, but he was still crying A LOT, especially for Xander.  So after we closely examined him, we found that the dog had actually bitten him on his arm.

 It was so awful.  I just felt so sick.  He was hurting and crying and actually had teeth marks on his arm!  They felt terrible too, of course.  It wasn't their fault.  I know Xander is used to playing with Malachi so he is not scared of dogs.  I am sure their dog was just intimidated by Xander.  But it still sucks.  I am so sad for him.  Ugggghhh! Poor Baby! I think I need to get him a sick present, right?