Rocket Weekend

A week ago Sunday, it was decided that the family should go shoot rockets. Some of these rockets are at least 20 years old. Anyway, the preparation was on Saturday--including going to the hobby store to purchase engines--A,B,C,D, and E--each one twice as powerful as the one before! Ian put together his first rocket and it did really well. It was sent up 4 times.

Lots of planning involved!

On Sunday, we drove (forever--only stopping once for the bathroom--which doubled as a gas stop, too) and came to this very flat dirt area. Chairs were set up as well as this very appreciated shade. Then the food came out--snacks and water for all. Meanwhile, Mike was actually working on the rockets.:)

Here he is--ready to launch!

Even Clay got in on the action.

This was a grasshopper who may have died this very day--but not before being launched in a rocket and sent up VERY high. He didn't move much after his return. Poor Astro!

While they were looking for one of the rockets landing place, Jenelle found her own rocket and got to launch it a couple of times. Ian and Olivia were real troopers running after and getting all of the rockets. They sure were tired afterwards!

I think it's fun how they're all looking for the rocket. They went very high and sometimes we lost them for a bit in the sky. All were brought back home, though. A successful day of rocket launching!

New Printer

Our printer, less than 3 years old, was dying a slow death. After replacing two of the colors of ink and them not working, and the copier function not working either, we decided it was time for a new printer. Instead of Epson, we now have Canon. Mike researched online and he picked it up on Saturday. He also set it up for us. It is so nice to have a new, properly working, and fast printer. Thank You, God!

Sonogram

On Monday, after we left the kids off (about 7:20am) with Mike's mom--thank you, Mom, Mike and I had a breakfast date before going to our sonogram. It was nice to be together without distractions while we sat and ate. I had already downed my necessary water. By the time we were walking to the car, I was afraid I would need to sneeze. I knew if that happened, I'd have a problem since I was so full of water. Mike led me to the car so I didn't have to look up and chance having to sneeze from the bright sun. Anyway, we made it to the appt and I couldn't sit all the way back in my chair, but I was able to read through my devotional I had brought along. Mike had brought Wild at Heart to read while he waited. My name was called pretty quickly and the technician, Marcia, was gracious enough to only do a small portion of the sonogram before letting me use the restroom. I thanked her. It was so neat when Mike got to come in and we both got to see the baby moving around and all his/her parts. The technician kindly avoided the certain area since I had told her we didn't want to find out the sex. We got to see and hear the heartbeat. Pretty amazing. She gave us two pictures to take home. We're so proud of the new little Hekman God has brought into our lives!

Spinning and Riding Daddy

Mike spent some time playing with the kids last night. I love hearing them laugh together!

Day Out with Family

Here are the three of us enjoying the beautiful outdoors. It was great having lunch outdoors where the kids could run around and I didn't have to be concerned about them making too much noise or disturbing others.Cousin Amanda holding Clay

We enjoyed a picnic of tri-tip sandwiches, chips, baked beans and fresh apple cider.

Here's the table from the other end.

Climbing on the fence

Facing the camera with the beautiful scenery behind them

Proposition 8

Please encourage those you know to check out what Prop 8 is really about.


http://www.youtube.com/user/PreservingMarriage

Pumpkin Patch

Last Thursday, we had the opportunity to go to the pumpkin patch with our friends from the Moms' Bible study I've been a part of.

I set the timer and here's what the camera captured. I love Jenelle's expression!Here's a better picture of the three of us. I braided my hair just for the pictures at home.

Mike's mom met us at the pumpkin patch and we got to spend a little time with her. That was special.

Jenelle and Clay on top of the hay stack

Petting the goats

Funny looking llama

Jenelle and Clay with the goats--Jenelle and Allison got to feed the goats before we left.

Posing in the pumpkin patch that had posted on it "do not enter"

Jenelle and Allison with the cooperative goat

It was fun to be with friends and to have an outing. A bonus is that all I spent was 25 cents twice for goat food. Yeah. I'm glad we got to go.

An improv visit

My parents had/took Columbus Day off and decided to spend some of it over at my house. That was so nice. Here's the picture of them with the kids. Sometimes Clay likes to smile with his eyes shut. A short phase, hopefully.

I don't feel like much has happened lately besides regular life, but that is actually good. Last week was pretty busy. Besides the kids' dr appts, I also had a baby appt and things went very well. I sure love hearing the baby's heartbeat!

On Saturday, I got to help with a double shower for two friends from church. Both of their babies are due in November and neither one is finding out the sex before the baby is born. Very exciting. It was a nice shower--just 6 of us and Sheri set it up as a tea. She's so good at that.

Saturday afternoon, I decided it was finally time to get out all of the maternity clothes that are mine and those that have been loaned to me and sort them out to see what I like and what will work for me. I still haven't finished, but I have made some headway.

Mike worked a lot this weekend on part 2 of our entertainment center. All he has left to do is sand and stain. It already looks great!

A neat treat on Monday. Since it was Columbus Day, my mom had the day off and my dad took it off. They came over during my second (last) piano lesson to be with the kids and then stayed for dinner and to hang out with us. It was so nice and sure makes me look forward to their retirement so I can see them more--just for the fun of it.

Today, my friend, Denise, and I continued our tradition. Since we were pregnant with our girls, Denise and I started going to Olive Garden for lunch. When we had no kids, it was easier to get together. Now that she has 3 and I have 2, it is more of a challenge to get together, but we sure don't take it for granted. Her mom-in-law watched her kids and Jessica (my sis-in-law) watched my kids. We tried to enjoy every moment. We even went through Starbucks drive-thru to make our relaxing time last a bit longer. That was fun to look forward to and the time out was so fun.

God has blessed me in so many ways!

Jenelle's and Clay's dr appts

Well, this morning both of the kids had their yearly check-ups. I took books thinking that it would help to entertain them, but they weren't as successful as I had hoped. Oh well.

Here they are in the waiting room. Before we were actually called, Clay was on Mommy's lap arrest. The pediatric section is right next to the old people section and I didn't want my kids to drive them nuts. It was nice that another little four year girl was there for her appt too and entertained my kids.:) I love that they wear little hospital gowns. So cute.
Dr. Cuni is so gentle and sweet with the kids and very thoughtful and kind, as well. She even laughed at my kid stories. I'm sure she has heard them all before, but she doesn't act like that. I really appreciate her. I tried to prepare the kids for her checking their eyes, ears and mouths. They did pretty well. I did NOT mention the shots. They cried enough when those occurred. I didn't want them crying before.

Jenelle interacted very well with Dr. Cuni and did what she was asked to do.

Clayton followed the light.

I gave the kids a Tootsie roll after their shots and then some ice cream and an extra movie when we got home--to make up for them getting shots. I think we have survived pretty well.

Two things

The kids were playing outside on Friday and I hadn't heard them in awhile, so I took my camera and went outside to see them. This is what I saw. They had put themselves to "bed". Very cute. Jenelle said they had already brushed their teeth. So cute. I'm glad they have good imaginations.

Sunday evening on the way to church, Jenelle was singing, "If You're Happy and You Know It" and on one verse, she didn't remember the words so she just did gibberish until "clap your hands". It was funny. Mike came up with these words that go to the tune, "If You're Happy..."
If you don't remember the words, just make it up.
If you don't remember the words, just make it up.
Mom and Dad will know you're lying, but they know you're really trying,
If you don't remember the words, just make it up.

It was quite funny since he just made it up as he went and it worked.:)

TV

Here is our former set upHere is the new set up. Can you see how it is angled out from the wall?

Mike worked hard on Saturday and got part 1 of our new entertainment center hung (on hinges). Two amazing things. It's level and when Mike hung on it, it stayed hinged to the wall and was still level. Yeah. The picture is great and Mike figured out how to use the DVD player with it. Yeah. He's so thorough. It looks beautiful. I just go for functional, but Mike works for presentation, too. I love how the DVDs fit so perfectly--again thanks to Mike's measuring. Another amazing thing--I got it running by myself this morning--after just a brief tutorial from Mike last evening. The only bummer is that the DVD remote fell where I can't see it. I'll have to work on that before Mike gets home. I don't mean to make more work for him, but sometimes I do.:)

Random Pictures

We got to have Ethan yesterday morning. I attempted to feed him some food. I tried hard. He seemed more relaxed about the whole process.:)

Clayton trying out a hat given by Auntie Annette

Part 1 of our trip for Grammy's services

We left on Saturday and returned on Tuesday about 9:40pm. The trip up went pretty smoothly. We stopped at a Carl's Jr. play place on the way up and then we also visited with Mike's grandma.

Here are Jenelle and Clay on the play equipment.

Grandma Fredriks holding Clayton. He later showed her how he plays Hide n Seek and kept running around.

Mike, Grandma, and Jenelle

Before we went to our hotel or my aunt's house, we stopped by Mark and Annette's (Mike's sister) home. We also got to go to church with them on Sunday and visited with them afterward. Jenelle LOVED being with her cousins! Annette gave us a boxful of books. She hands us down her favorites! Thanks, Annette.

Olivia and Jenelle

Clayton loves books and he let Ian read him 1 or 2 pages before running off.

Mike relaxing while checking out a railroad book given to her be Annette

Mark struck a pose

Emily (who turns 18 today!) and Amanda (who turned 16 last month)

Sister and brother--happy to be together

Clayton loves cuddling with his aunties.

It's always good to be with family!

Part 2 of our trip for Grammy's services

We got to spend a lot of good time with family. As you can tell, Clay did not want to be without his "me". On the day of the services, we just made sure it matched his outfit. Since being home, he has quickly gotten used to only having it in his or Jenelle's room.
Clayton cuddled with his Auntie M before bed time

Aunt Sandy hugging Mandi

Mike and Clay hanging out

We put together a collage of Grammy pictures. Here is my cousin April and I posing with it.

My Uncle Darryl, Mom and Aunt Sandy with a picture of Gram in the middle

My cousin, Amber, with Clay and Jenelle

Uncle Dennis holding Clay

My dad, mom, Mandi, and me