The Hendricks Family Experience

I have a million excuses for not keeping up but I am sure it doesn’t matter now.  I still can’t believe how long it has been.  Especially when my last post is Claire’s first birthday.  She will be two in a month.  There is just no way to catch up now.  Just a few highlights however….Chris earned his Eagle. We are thrilled, proud and glad it is finished.  He will receive it in June.  I am so excited that  family will be here to join in the celebration.  Sarah turned 12 and yikes those girl hormones.  Poor Chris has to deal with 5 females in the house.

Chris Jr. had his first date, made it into NYSBDA All State Band, participated in Area All State Orchestra and is so excited that he will be attending two Junior Proms.  (We like him more – he is so much happier after talking to this girl )  He did much better on the swim team this year.  No more belly flops into the pool and even made it to Sectionals.  He will be making a visit to West Point in April.  He is working on becoming a candidate so he can apply there next year.  I can’t believe he is old enough to be looking at colleges.  I don’t know that I am ready for that yet.  Well most days anyway.

Alexandra got the lead in the school play, and turned 10 yesterday.  She is very excited about being in the play.  She is getting so good at the piano.  I have to admit I am living my dream through her.  She is my alarm clock every morning when she starts her practice.  She loves to play all the time.  I love it.

Sarah made All County Band.  Out of 60 some odd flutes that tried out she ranked #6.  We are so proud of her. The concert will be in April.  She is practicing her solo for NYSSMA on her flute as well as the piano.  We just got her a cell phone.  She has been having a blast texting and calling.  It drives her brothers crazy but we think it is pretty funny.  She will be playing one of Cinderella’s steps sister in the middle school’s production of  Into The Woods in April.

Mason will be turning 15 next week.  He is excited he is finally taller then me even if I am wearing shoes.  He joined the swim team this year and had a small part in one of the high school plays (4th mushroom on the right side at least that is his chris’s joke) as well as helping with the costume crew on another.  He is now a Star scout and a Den Chief with one of the local Cub Scout Packs.  They really like him he has a good time helping out.

Kate and Claire are our two partners in crime.  Claire climbs up everything and Kate eggs her on.  They are the best of buds most of the time.  They are so cute and such a joy.  We love having them around.  Kate loves pre-k and just cracks us up on a regular occasion with her comments.  It has finally warmed up enough for them to play outside it is so cute to watch them play.  I do miss just being able to put Claire on a blanket in the grass, she wouldn’t leave it.  She would only crawl to the edge because she didn’t like the feel of the grass and wouldn’t crawl on it.  That all ended when she learned to walk.  Now we have to chase her all over the place.  Claire is so much trouble, her new thing is taking off her diaper.  That creates all sorts of fun for me.  We have to check her every night after she goes to sleep because she will strip and fall asleep naked.  She keeps us on our toes.

Chris took me to see Mary Poppins in NY in February for our anniversary.  It was excellent.  We also ate at a Brazilian restaurant, the food was really tasty.  Now we can check seeing a broadway show off our list of things to do while we live in NY.  (Though I hope not our last)  Other then that we keep plugging along.  Glad winter is over and hopefully I will be better at keeping up.