Lost Carebear

Hey family. Our baby carebear ran away while we were in Salt Lake, and we wondered if it found a home with any of you! Ava misses her lots and so I figured I would see if I could track it down... If by some chance it is with any of you, would you mind keeping it safe until we get to Utah?? Thanks a million! -- Amy

One Year Older and Wiser, Too

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT SUSAN!!! I just thought we could wish Aunt Susan a happy birthday! I think this is "Sensational at Sixty" right? I was thinking of a fun memory of her, and the first memory that popped into my head was driving in the car listening to "Rosanna"...blasting away, and all singing along! Of course her fabulous cookies and chocolate cake frosting come to mind in a hurry! When I was dating Adam Zimmerman, he used to love to go to her house on our dates because she was always so welcoming and charming! She is the best hostess ever, and can throw a buffet together faster than anyone I know. She's the ring-pop, popcorn, burrito queen! She's a care-taker, always helping others, even small animals. My whole life she had pets around. What a woman! We love you, Aunt Sue!!! Have a GREAT DAY!!!!

Just a note...

Everyone, I just wanted to say thanks for making Bethany's blessing day so special. It was really amazing to look out during the meeting and see the faces of (almost) all of my siblings, nieces and nephews, and my parents. It was really hard to express in the moment how grateful I am for our family, but I guess a blog is always just as good! I just hope you all know how lucky we are to have such a close family. I hear other friends talk about their extended family like you would an irritating pet...and it makes me so grateful that we have each other. So, I'm making a list of one thing I love about each of you.
Dad: You're the life of the party. What an amazing sense of humor you have. Thanks for always making us laugh. (not that you come to this blog, though!)
Mom: You're the center of the party...every even revolves around you and Dad and actually, all those events happen because of the closeness you have instilled in each of us to each other
Michael: You're endlessly serving, as simple as that. If you're not at work, you're at someone else's home helping them do something they can't do alone, never expecting anything in return. You're amazing.
Jenn: You're the extra-miler. When it seems like all the work is done, you pitch in and find something ELSE to do to help...dishes and clean-up at EVERY family gathering. You're everyone's best friend.
Jeff: You're the gentle giant who works unbelievably hard, and diligently until you're done. You absolutely LIVE what you are teaching those seminary kids each day. A stalwart and amazing example.
Natalie: A silent sufferer. I've never seen anyone go through what you go through and yet endure so patiently and quietly. You're optimistic and loving, and an excellent mom!
Tim: You're amazingly personable. You always have a minute to talk to ANYONE about ANYTHING. You're unwaivering in your values and principles. You also seem to make more out of your free time than anyone else I know, accomplishing much.
Tiffany: You're the gracious hostess. You are always looking for the simple touches to make the family events elegant and memorable. You're a great listener, and always trying to be a better person (and frankly, accomplishing it!)
Josh: You're a very loving and devoted father, and talented in so many areas from dance to home repair...you name it! You're brilliant and a very hard-working student with a great future ahead!
Carrie: You're (sorry, folks) the favorite aunt, always playing with the kids and teaching them new and fun games that we used to play when we were kids. You're also the most competitive game-player :) and most elaborate decorator with an amazing flair for table settings!
Marshall: You're the well-rounded friend to everyone. Betos with Dad, Golf with John, Hiking with Tim, Blackhawk Down with Jeff, debates with me; everyone has a special interest in you and you take a special interest in them.
Amy: You're the artist. From flannel boards to quiet books, teepees to hand-knitted quilts, you have the touch to turn something shabby into something fabulous. You're also the baby sister who has grown into an example of for us of parenting and friendshipping.
Christian: You're just the coolest little brother anyone could have. You're in that great stage of life when you share your music, your dreams, and your dating life with those who have the patience to work it out of you! You're a hard-working guy with great grades, and a GREAT personality.

I love you all! We're so lucky to have each other with our many varied and different talents, that woven together make one amazing tapestry.



(or is that "blended together make one amazing smoothie"



or "mixed together make one amazing cookie")?



Oh well, whichever one it is, I think we make a great family team.
Have a good day, and thanks for making mine.

Happy Easter!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter. I just posted a big post on my own blog, so I'll not say much except I'm grateful for everyone in our family (all the way to great-grandmas and aunts and cousins) and am especially grateful that we are eternall bound through the gospel! We re so blessed. Love to you all!

Hendricksons Head Home

Amy and Marshall, we just want to thank you for spending your Spring Break with us. It was fun while it lasted! See you this summer!

family pictures

Guys, here's a little thing while I'm thinking about it....we really need to do an updated family picture this summer while Amy & Marshall are here. Carrie, I know this means that you'd be very pregnant in the photos, but I think it's better to have that than to not get one with the Hendricksons at all. What are everyone's suggestions for a date, location, photographer, etc.? I was just thinking it would be nice if everyone could plan ahead a little to be able to pay-in for this.

And then one opinion right off the bat: unlike our last photo shoot with Hailey, I don't think it's a good idea to have the large family pic and then all the individual family pictures on the same day. We're just too big for that now. Let's keep this simple and stick to one big portrait and then some cute cousin pictures. I think we're all to the point now where our individual family pictures should happen on our own. Let me know what you think!

SURPRISE!!!

Well, Amy and Marshall have planned a surprise for a while, now, and last night was the "final reveal."


They told me to gather everyone at Leatherby's ice-cream parlor under the guise of a birthday celebration, and they would be waiting there!


They drove all day Thursday and slept in Logan at Marshall's Mom's home, then drove to Salt Lake on Friday evening. I spent WAY too much time at Tiffany's house to get to Leatherby's on time, so I missed seeing Mom, Dad, and Grandma Loveridge getting surprised, but it was fun to see my kids, Tiff and her kids, and Carrie and Josh get surprised! Welcome home! (For a week, anyway!) We LOVE having you here!

Happy Birthday, Kim!

Just wanted to wish Kimbie a very happy birthday! We love you and hope your day is great!

Update on Daniel

Hey, I just thought I'd give a little update on Jenn's baby, Daniel. He is still in the NICU...looking so cute! He is so gorgeous and has these long dark hair, and long arms and legs as well! I think he gets that from daddy! Jennifer was able to nurse him...he has a good latch, but she has to use some sort of "shield" because he is still too little to nurse well. She is nursing around the clock, going to the hospital every three hours, staying for three, to keep him fed. He's getting supplements as well, but hasn't gained weight. He's lost about 10 oz. since birth and hasn't gained anything. Jenn amazes me. I got there around 8:30 p.m. and she will be staying until 11:00 p.m. and will go home. Then she will go back at 5:00 a.m. Whoa. Anyway, we're anxiously awaiting his arrival home. Anyone want to sign up for a dinner rotation? She's able to make it home for dinner... I'd LOVE to go clean her house as well...it would mean so much to her, because it meant so much to ME when Tiff, Amy, and Mom cleaned my house with Bethany...(but of COURSE we have to go without her knowing because she is SO independent!!!) So that's that! Please remember them in your prayers!

SLAM DUNK--Andrew gets baptized!

Well, and so it goes, I have another perfect child...for a moment at least. Andrew got Baptized on Saturday. What a sweetheart. Amidst the usual "boy" moments, Andrew is a love and a cutie. He bore his testimony in church yesterday, so innocent, and told the congregation that at first he was nervous to get baptized and go under the water (I learned of his underwater fears after years of swimming lessons watching him do ANYTHING to keep his head above water)...but that he was also excited to get his "sins washed away." He then said he felt a warm feeling when he went under and was grateful to follow Jesus' example. When he was baptized, we were a little worried that John's back would give out...I told the witnesses to jump in and save him in case he started drowning (!) but all went well. I almost laughed when both of Andrew's feet left the ground and almost floated out of the water...I guess he was just hangin' out there and wanted Dad to do all the work!

Anyway, thanks to all who came. He and I talked that night, and he was so grateful to have such good family support...he was trying to name off everyone who came. Also, thanks for all of the FOOD! It was so yummy and nice for a spring day. I love you all...and love you, Andrew!