{New Normal}

I found this picture on the camera.  It was taken after church. 
There was nothing super special about this day, just a typical Sunday.   

However, it flooded my mind with so many thoughts. 
With Hannah gone our family has had to adjust to a new normal. 
It is NOT easy. 
We miss her like nuts. 
We sure miss her vibrant spirit and energy around here. 

Someday, this quiet house will seem normal...just not yet.

{grad party}

Hannah's party theme was "She's one smart Cookie!"  So, the food was (yes you guessed it...) COOKIES!

 

I baked and baked and baked to set out a fun spread of cookies!  I think we all gained way too much weight this weekend.  It sure tasted good though!!

I forgot to get a shot before the party was in full swing...so sorry platters are no longer full!  This is of the food table.  It was really cute!  I loved the pink and gold together. 

Her Diploma!!

Isn't she so dang cute?

I think Hannah loved this, a pink glitter "grad" sign!

Super Smart idea.  I did not have to keep running to open the door!!

Fun balloons.  Too bad they did not have pink and gold stars.

OK this was not from the party, but I walked into her room and saw she drew this on her chalk board!  It is so cute I could not pass it up!

The "shrine".  I created a little place to display all her achievements while at WHS.

Congrats Hannah!  I am so happy for you!!

{Graduation}

June 1, 2012 marked a new era for the Heninger family.  We now have a High School GRADUATE!  It was so much fun to watch our little birdie enjoy her night!!


Hannah and her brothers

Hannah and Grandma Mona

Hannah and Grandpa Alan 

Just JOY!

Proud Parents

"There's enough of me to go around!" (sorry inside family joke)

Our little family. 
Rebekah was MAD she had to go to graduation and miss the elementary school carnival!

Graduates walking in...

Getting her diploma

Celebration after all diplomas handed out

It was a nice night.  Congrats Hannah!

{Mother's day}

Mother's day 2012 was the best ever!  I was spoiled rotten!!! 

 Richard and the kids really out did themselves this year.

After breakfast in bed and presents I was told I need to see something outside. 

I opened the front door to this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Yep, Hannah, Jacob, and Rebekah decorated the driveway!  Jonah decided not to help because he had already made me a present!  So funny. 

(It was a shrinky dink key chain caricature of me, vacuuming...according to him my favorite thing to do.)

The kids wrote some really sweet things for me!!!  Of the "10 reasons why we love our mom"  I think "she can pick great things at the $1store" has got to be the funniest!  I have a talent ya know!

The whole day was a lot of fun.  We laughed, played, and I did not cook a single thing or do a single dish!!  What a great day! 

 

Me and the kids, straight from bed, in all our glory!

Thanks for making it one of the best mother's day I have ever had!!

{St. Patrick's Day Fun}

St. Patrick's day came, and went with all the usual festivities!



Lucky visited, left notes...

pots of gold,

festive decor,

 

hid gold coins all over downstairs for the kids to find,

avoided getting caught in Rebekah's trap,

or Jonahs,

turned the toilet water green, the pancakes green and the milk green,

brought smiles to all the kids faces (Jonah)

(Jonah and Jacob)

(Sorry Hannah and Rebekah were camera shy...turkeys!)
and finally left Lucky Charms!

All in all we had a great morning. 
It was fun, and since this year fell on a Saturday we got to spend it with Hannah!  FUN!!!!!

{Valentines Day}

Happy Valentines Day! 

We had a really fun morning.  Rebekah was up by 5:30 begging to go downstairs! 
I made her lay down for a few more minutes. 
There were lots of yummy treats and happy kids!!!



We made our annual sugar cookies (last night)...

Bagged them to share with teachers.

The Valentines Fairy did not miss her annual trip to our home.  She left LOTS of goodies for everyone!
Pop tarts (one box for each kid.  That was met with loud cheers!), chocolates, conversation hearts, peanut butter cups, kisses, malt balls and Cinnamon hearts were in abundance everywhere. 

SUGAR RUSH! (Don't worry we ate a healthy breakfast...we just had dessert after brecky!)

The Valentines mail boxes the Valentines Fairy fills

Lots of decorations for the festive breakfast!

When Rebekah turned the corner into the kitchen she squealed, "Look at the new banner!  So pretty!"  It is worth every minute spent when they get so excited about the details!!

Happy kids to see she came!!!

Sorry no pics of Hannah...I did not pull my camera out before she left.  Darn.

Spilling the loot from the box

 

When I asked Rebekah what her favorite part was she said the "fun cups" the Valentine Fairy made us! 

(If you look in the second picture you can see them.)

She makes me laugh.