2010 in review...

WHAT A YEAR....



Where do I begin to express my feelings about what has happened through this year.  It started out with me anxiously waiting for the little bundle of joy to come and make a presence into our family.  I knew that it was going to be a year that was full of firsts for not only Cole but first for me.  2010 was full of joy, laughter, smiles, trials, ups and downs.  There is nothing I would change about the passed year.  We grew as a family and each one of us grew as a person.  We enjoyed each birthday and holiday with friends and family.  Cameron and I were blessed in our jobs... TO KEEP OUR JOBS in this economy.  The kids have all grown so much.  The joy that they EACH bring to our family.  As for me becoming a mom this year was probably the most memorable thing that happened and it has been a great gift from my Heavenly Father that has continued to grow. The memories that we created both with family and friends were great.  We are blessed with great friends.  Friends that support and love each one of us.  Our families have been there when we needed them and when they needed us.  I want to thank each of our friends and family that have helped us throughout this year.  You all mean the world to me.
 There were things that were hard in 2010 and things that we can forget about 2010.  We have a new year to start over.  To make new choices and new memories. 

BRING ON 2011!!!

Twas the night before Christmas....

 And all through the house...

The kids were getting ready to open their ONE gift on Christmas Eve.  Everyone knows what that present is...

PJ'S!!!!

Gotta love the new pajama's on Christmas Eve.

Look at Cole he can hardly contain his excitement for his new PJ'S

Then after the excitement of the new pajama's and the day to follow.  The kids finally get to bed and finally fall asleep.  The peace and spirit comes through.  I love this time of Christmas.  I set and look at the Christmas Tree all decorated and this is the time I reflect and think. 

The joy this holiday brings.

It was a great Christmas season this year.  I will blog soon about my feelings of the past year and the thoughts, hopes and desires of the year to come!

Sweet Dreams my littles ones

and

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

One Christmas tradition...

Building Gingerbread House.... this year

Gingerbread Train!!!

For one of our Christmas traditions we love to get together with the Brannelly's and put together our Gingerbread houses.  This year I found a train and thought it was so cute.  When Derek was younger he was infatuated with trains.  So whenever I see trains I think of him as this little buddy!

I have to admit that the train was a lot harder to put together and to KEEP TOGETHER!.  It kept wanting to lean over and fall apart!

 Derek had the idea of how to decorate it from the beginning!

 Derek got to decorate the front of the train and Courtney was in charge of the back of it.

Working so intensely!  He was so serious about this decorating!

 Cole really didn't care about the Gingerbread train, the candy and taking a picture for that matter!  It was passed his bedtime.  Little STINKER!

So proud of the finished product!~  He even made a grassy area with flowers and filled the back of the train with CARGO!

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!.

Now we wait until New Years Eve and then they smash it all up and enjoy the Christmas treat!

The joy of seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child!!!



This will be a picture I will cherish forever!!!



Ward Christmas Party...

 Jordan River Ward Christmas Party!!

Tonight was our ward Christmas Party.  Like always it was a lot of fun.  You can never complain when there is great  food, family and friends gathering together this time if year.

This year Cameron and I were asked to be part of the skit that they put on.  The skit was called

"The Christmas Guest"

We were Mr. and Mrs. Schultz.  We had a few lines and it was fun to be part of bring the true spirit of Christmas in.
Santa came and Cole was so mesmerized by him.  I got some great pictures.  Derek and Courtney are of course "WAY TO OLD" to go up and talk with Santa.  They wouldn't even humor me and go up and take a big family pic with "THE MAN"  Oh, well!  If they ever ask why they don't have a pic with Santa this year I will just have to remind them of how "OLD" they were!!

Here is Cole after the party taking pictures with his "TWO ADORABLE GIRLS".  They were all born within a few months of each other.  So whenever we get the chance we get them together and take pictures.

Here is Cole stealing a candy cane and started to play the drums.!!!





He always has something to say!

Carnival Cruise Mayhem...

 Carnival Cruise Mayhem...



Carnival Splendor being brought back to San Diego by tug boats!



Many of you may remember back on November 20, 2010 Carnival Splendor was stranded out in the middle of the Pacific ocean do to a fire that broke out in one of the control rooms.  Well for most of you this was just a topic you talked about, you felt sorry for the vacationers stranded and it took a few minutes up on the evening news.  Well for the Henke family this hit a little harder. 

Let me start from the beginning.  A couple of months ago Cameron and I started to discuss Christmas.  What we were going to do for Christmas.  What Courtney and Derek would like for Christmas and we both had the same thoughts and feelings.  Since Courtney and Derek get actually 2 Christmas's.  One with us and then one with their mom.  Then if you add up all the Grandma's and Grandpa's and aunts, uncles and all the cousins!  This score when it comes to the present aspect of Christmas.  So we thought it would be a great idea to forgo most of the presents this year and lets start to create some memories that will out live all those toys that will end up broken, lost and forgotten.  We approach the two oldest kids with an idea of going on a FUN FILLED VACATION for their Christmas this year and they both were totally on board.  They saw our vision and jumped right on with us.  So we talked about it and we all came up with the idea of going on a cruise.  Cameron and the kids love to watch the Travel Channel and watch all the different beaches, and cruises and vacation destinations so they already knew what they wanted to do.  So the planning of this vacation started.  We decided to fly into Long Beach, CA. and cruise into the Mexican Rivera.  I picked a cruise line that was within out price range and booked our cruise.  Not a week later we saw the above news story.  We couldn't believe it.  That was out boat!  That was our vacation!  That was our Christmas stranded out in the ocean.  Well I call Carnival and promised me that The Splendor would be up and running and better than new for our cruise date.  So I proceeded to make flight arrangement, bookings and all the paperwork that went into getting passports for the kids.  Then the heartbreaking happened.  Cameron got and email yesterday stating that our cruise date had been cancelled.  WHAT!!!!  Are you kidding me!  All the work and planning erased and I was back to square one!  Yes we were going to be refunded our money and we were going to be compensated for our troubles but that didn't help the disappointed on the faces of Courtney and Derek when we told them.  So before I made that terrible announcement I went to work.  After an hour and half on hold for Carnival Cruise lines and numerous calls to Delta we got it figured out!  It isn't the Mexican Rivera and it isn't Carnival Splendor (which is a good thing I guess) we are going to the Mexican Baja Cruise.  Instead of the 7 day cruise with three different stops we are going on a 5 day cruise with only a stop in Cabo San Lucas for 2 days.  So that gives us 2 full days in paradise.  There is only one problem.  Since we didn't want to pay the $150 per ticket change order charge to our airfare we are still flying into Long Beach.  Somehow we will find transportation to San Diego.  We arrive around 9:30am and The Carnival Spirit leaves around 4:00pm.  So we have the time if there is no delays!!  We are crossing our fingers!  Since we get back from our cruise on Friday and we don't fly out until Sunday we will have to fill our time up with all the fun that Sunny California has to offer.  We might hit Universal Studios or something.  We want that to be a surprise to the kids!!

NEW BOAT.... Carnival Spirit!

For our troubles we were upgraded to a Balcony Suite and given 25% the price of this cruise.  So we are going to receive a refund!

I guess more money to spend in Cabo!!!

We are....

We are a MOVIN and SHAKIN at our house lately!!!!

Don't you love his what we call "HIS BIG MUSCLES".  What a chunk but I LOVE every one of the rolls!  I could gobble him up!

Don't mind the TV in the background... we were watching the new TV show about the Glee Clubs.  I cant remember what it is called!

Someone is 9 months old...

 I am 9 months old!!!!

 Mom can't believe how big I am getting and how FAST the time is flying by!

Time went so fast that she forgot to take my 8mo pic by Daper Dan.  So here I am with him.  Can you believe how he is getting smaller and I am getting bigger!

 Went to the Dr. for my 9 mo check up today and I got all my stats...

Weight... 22.18lbs(73%)

Height... 28 in (38%)

Head... 17.7 in (24%)

 I am loving this age.  I can do some many more things and I see the world in a whole new light.

I still haven't mastered the art of crawling yet.  I just can't seem to get my food behind me so I can take off.  But that doesn't stop me.  I can get anywhere I want to get with just a little more effort.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to stand.  If I could stand all day I would be one happy boy.  As you can tell in the picture mom took I am getting pretty good at it. (If you ask me)

My most favorite thing in the world right now is dropping things on the floor and then bending over to see where it went.  I don't care if my mom has to bend over a million times to pick up whatever I dropped, I just love to do it. 

I love to go shopping and sitting in the big boy sit in the cart it is a blast.  I either have to TRY and turn around so I can see where we are headed and make sure everyone in the store gets a smile or I have to touch everything my mom puts in the cart.  I guess I just want to approve.  Then if I get a chance to grab something I will then do my favorite thing and toss it on the ground.  It is the funnest thing in the world to do. 

My mom introduced me to this thing good "FOOD" a couple of months ago and WOW, I love it.  I love to eat what everyone else is eating (well, only what my mom thinks is ok) and WHEN everyone else is eating.  It doesn't matter if I just had a bottle and I am completely full if there is food around I want to try it.

I like most things, but there are a couple of things that I am not really sure about.  My mom had me trying this Spaghetti and Meatballs stuff...hmmmmm, I have to think about that. Not really sure I am into that yet.

I still LOVE my bath time.  I get so excited that I almost jump right out of my mom's arms just so I can get into the water that much faster.

I love to be the center of attention.  If I am not then I will make it known with my screeching!!!

I love to talk and tell stories.  I love to tell my mom and dad ALL about my day.

Nothing is better than my bed.  Do many of you adults feel that same way?  It really is the best thing invented.

I am not really sure about this thing that everyone is calling "WINTER"  I hate my coat, it makes me feel like I am on the set of Christmas Story.

I hate to wear hats, my mom always makes sure I have a hat on when we go outside.  I know that I look adorable in hats but I have master the taking off the hat with one finger. 

(SEE PIC BELOW FOR EXAMPLE)

My auntie Em made me this awesome Camo hat the other day.  My mom loves it and I am getting to like it more and more.  I guess I like the attention I get from everyone around me when I do wear it.... so I guess I will continue to wear it just so I can flatter the people around me.

My hat from Auntie Em...

 I would rather play with it than wear it!!!

Here I go... one finger and it is off! 

Until next month, I will be one month old and one month wiser!  Hang in there mom, I know the time is going to fast for you, but I am enjoying every minute of this so called life!