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!

what's going on in march

MARCH
1st: 10:00 Andrew's Baptism
2nd: Ashton's blessing CANCELLED due to illness
5th: Kim's B-day
14th: Andrew's Party 4:00-6:00
17th: FHE @ Johnson's
19th: Madelyn's b-day
22nd: Tim & Tiffany anniversary
24th: Dad's b-day
26th: Carrie & Josh anniversary
28th: Natalie Love's b-day
30th: Bethany's blessing (2:50 pm)

Here He Is!

Last night Jennifer's water broke...5 weeks early, and at 9:15 this morning, Daniel Marlin Dustin was born! He was 6 1/2 lbs. (I think) and 19 inches long. He's adorable, but in the NICU for a brief little time (24 hours or so) while they stabilize his lungs. Tiffany was the first visitor, and brought us back these pictures. Thanks, Tiff! Enjoy! More to come probably when it's a little safer to visit and take pictures.

Holden turns one!

So, this afternoon, we all made a trek to the "hundred acre wood" to celebrate one year for Holden Mercer! What an adorable party Carrie put together. When we arrived, the children all made "Winnie the Pooh" character hats including tigger, eyore, Kanga, and Piglet. Holden the birthday boy got a special "pooh" hat.

We played "toss the bag into pooh's belly" and "pin the tail on eyore." It was so fun! Carrie got pizza for everyone, coupled with drinks and salad with the help of Jenn and Tiff. We opened gifts, and the little muncher got some fun fun toys!

To top the celebration off, Carrie brought out an AMAZING and HUGE cake that she and friends spent 13 hours baking and decorating! The thing must've weighed 10 lbs! It was HUGE!

Holden was excited to see his beautiful cake...here he is blowing out the candles!

So, make sure you look at the amazing detail on the cake! It made mom CRY! I guess after 13 hours of baking, it's a reaction you may expect, but I didn't...so I had to look again at the detail, and suddently, we were ALL crying!
Way to go Carrie!

Hey everyone. It's been a great February so far, so I had to share the kids! With two birthdays, it's been a month full of LOVE! Quickly, for Andrew's birthday, I asked him what he wanted, and he said, "Harvey Unga's autograph." I laughed! (for those of you who may not know, he is a half-back for the BYU football team.) Well, John made a call or two, and before I knew it, I was standing in the BYU athletic building receiving a coach's hat, a little elastic wristband, a poster, and a little mini football helmet from the Athletic director with about 10 autographs from the BYU football team on it. It said "Happy Birthday Andrew from your friends at BYU." Max Hall, quarterback, and many other players also signed it. It was a fun surprise for him! of course we had to supplement with the jacket, garbage can, backpack and checkers game. He's one big FAN!!!

Thank You!

This is our Super-Shout-Out Thank You for the darling birthday gifts from our cute cute cute family! We just got the package today and Ava was way excited about everything - you all really spoiled her!

She wanted to open all of her presents and kept saying matter-of-factly,
"Mama, I need a knife" to which I replied
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
"Mhmm."

(Thank you Kim for sending them, along with all of the other stuff we left in Utah! You're awesome to do that!)

Thank you again! We love you all!!!