Parental Practice....

A couple of weeks ago, Matt and I had some weekend overnight visitors that gave us some great insight into parenting.  While I feel I get quite a bit of practice on a daily basis, Matt is not quite as well versed. :)  

Since a picture is worth a thousand words (and I am so behind on my blog, I can't really think of what to write right now) I will let the photos from the weekend speak for themselves...

We started the weekend off with a little photo shoot using the photobooth program on our new computer.  Couldn't you just eat these little munchkins up?!?

After the first couple normal shots, we decided to take it up a notch and utilize some of the amazing features the iMac photobooth has to offer.

The comic book

Black and White, for that formal look we were going for.

Sepia...gotta love that old fashioned look!

The Andy Warhol for the artistic types!

And my personal fave....the ghost family!!

It's amazing how much time you can kill by sitting in front of a computer and taking picture after picture of yourselves!

Once our photo session was over, we headed out toward our activity for the day...the Central Park Carousel!  We packed up a lunch and some snacks and the five of us took the bus over to 86th and 5th Avenue to enter the park.  We made a little pit stop on a big grassy area right around 79th street to eat and run around a bit.

Me with my three little buddies!

The FOUR kiddos of the day!

Me and Patrick

After lunch, which consisted of peanut butter and banana sandwiches for me and Patrick and hot dogs for Matt and the girls, we kept making our way.  We made another little stop at the famous Balto statue and of course had to have our turn at climbing him, along with every other person in CP that day!

Ali, braving Balto all by herself :)

30 streets, 6 avenues and 2 hours later, we finally made it to the carousel.  The long journey was definitely worth the trip for this much anticipated destination, which by the time we got our tickets and made it through the line, was about 3 minutes of horse riding bliss!

Charlotte riding her steed side-saddle

Patrick, me, Ali and Charlotte

The littlest buddy and his baby horse :)

After our rip-roaring ride in the middle of Central Park we started heading back home, but not before climbing some rocks, sliding on the giant marble slide near the zoo or getting our icecream fix from Mr. Softee!

When we finally made it back, we had a delicious dinner of NYC pizza and watched a blockbuster hit, Alvin and the Chipmunks, before it was time for bed.  While Matt and I could have fallen into a sound sleep in about 3 seconds, exhausted from the day's activities and not to mention the at least four miles we walked with 3 little ones, the kiddos had other plans.  After a wonderful reading of "The Octonauts and the Only Lonely Monster" by Matt, all five of us attempted to lay together in our full-sized guest bed.  Not quite so successful!  Everyone kept giggling and tickling and kicking and rolling over until finally the girls decided as exciting as it would be to sleep with Matt and Patrick, they would prefer to sleep in my room with me.  So, next thing I knew, I was nestled between two little sleeping beauties with no pillow.  I finally wiggled my way out of bed in search of another pillow and found Matt and Patrick asleep in the guest room with their heads at the foot of the bed and their feet at the head of the bed...so cute!  I stole one of their five pillows they were holding hostage and nestled my way back into my middle spot.  I finally fell asleep around 2:30 am, and a mere 4 hours later was awaken by the sweetest little Ali voice. 

We spent the morning in our apartment watching Sunday morning cartoons, eating cinnamon rolls and taking more pictures on the computer!

 

Can you tell I'm just a little bit sleepy in these?!? ;-)

We finally surrendered our three little buddies to their parents on Sunday afternoon and spent the rest of the day wandering around, just the two of us.  As much fun as it was to spend so much time with these guys, I think it's safe to say, it'll be at least a few more years 'til we add any little ones to our family (sorry mom).  But until then, I'm sure we can borrow the Dotson trio anytime we need our fix!

Matt's 30th Birthday!

A couple of weeks ago, my beloved hubby turned 30!!!  I wanted to plan something very special and memorable for his big 3-0 and spent quite some time deliberating over what to do.  After tossing around some different ideas, I finally decided on a nice romantic get-away for just the two of us!

So, Saturday, May 1st (May Day!) we headed out of the city, up to a beautiful country region of Massachusetts called the Berkshires.  We have a couple of friends who own houses up there, so we've been up a couple of times, but this was the first time we were "flying solo."  I had the whole weekend planned out, starting with swinging by Golfsmith in NYC to pick up Matt's birthday present....new golf clubs!!  Of course nothing is ever as smooth as you plan it to be, so our quick 5 minute stop turned into a 45 minute wait while the guys at the store searched the stock room for the set that I had bought and had shipped there.  I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself for not blowing my top, but I did get close when the woman at the register asked me not once, but twice if I was sure I had them shipped to the correct store....um, yeah! I believe there is only 1 Golfsmith on 53rd and Lex in New York City lady!!!

After we finally got  that squared away, we were on our way!  We sailed up to the Berkshires on the gorgeous 80 degree, sunny day without hitting one bit of traffic! We stopped off in a cute little country restaurant called "Moms" for lunch and then headed to the Egremont Country Club.  Now, Matt doesn't exactly know how to play a full game of golf, but let me tell you, he has a mean swing at the driving range!  He was so excited to test out his new clubs, so we spent a couple of hours there, him hitting and me watching!  It was so peaceful and relaxing.  There were some other guys there that couldn't believe I was his wife, just sitting there watching him swing, not complaining one bit!  ;-)  At one point I did get up and had my try at a swing, but Matt's a lefty and his club felt all wacky in my hands and when I went to hit the ball I nearly whacked the girl standing next to us.  After that I stuck to spectating.

Two buckets of balls and many blisters later, we left the driving range and headed to our Bed and Breakfast.  It was the absolute, most adorable place ran by an even more adorable couple, the Baldwin Hill Farm B & B.  After chatting it up with Richard (the owner - who just so happened to grow up in the very house that we stayed in...it's been in his family for more than 100 years!!) for about an hour and a half, we settled into our cozy "bay window room" and took a 2 hour nap!  Later that evening, we had an amazing candlelit dinner at the fabulous Old Inn on the Green and then had one of the most quiet and restful sleeps I think that either of us has gotten since we moved to NYC. ;-)

The next morning we woke up bright and early and fully rested to a delicious breakfast, care of Priscilla (Richard's wife).  Since we were the only guests staying at the B & B that weekend, we got extra special treatment at the breakfast table.  We chatted with the two of them for a couple of hours over "toad in the holes" and amazing homemade muffins, and then got ready to head out.  Before making our way back to the city, we made a little stop at the Dotsons house to, what else....EAT!  They had a wonderful spread for Matt's birthday and the kids had plenty of "birthday" games they were ready to play with him. ;-)

Happy 30th Matt!!

The Golfer and his cheerleader

Look at that swing!

My handsome Birthday Boy!!

:)

Isn't it charming?!!

You can't find this kind of view in the city!

This big tree is famous in the area....can't remember why, but thought I should post it anyway ;-)

Hanging out by the barn before dinner

The fabulous birthday cake made by Amanda Dotson....yuuummm!

The kids were just "a little" excited to celebrate with Matt! ;-)

Overall I have to say it was an amazing weekend.  Relaxing, rejuvinating....just what two crazy city folks need!!  Happy Birthday my love!!!  Looking forward to spending many, MANY more together!!

Til next time....

April....

Hello my faithful followers!

So sorry I have not had any updates in the last month, but things are busy, busy as usual!  Anyway, I have to do another "Hendricks Month in review" since April flew by so fast, I hardly knew it was here. :)  Ok, here goes...

The month started out with an awesome trip to Dover (sans Hubby) for a total girl Easter weekend!  My mom and I flew out to Ohio to help celebrate Bexleigh's first Easter with Jenny and her mom (Wendy or Momma Mullet, as I like to call her)....we had sooo much fun!

Hanging out with the little munchkin!

Such a happy baby!  And not high maintenance at all ;-)

We absolutely had to do a fashion show that included the awesome sunglasses my mom got for Bex!

I just loved my little "wake-up call" all weekend....no alarms needed :)

Even with all the girl time relaxation, we managed to get in a Zumba class AND those little sneaks surprised me with a mini birthday celebration!  Plus, they got me a Shake Weight!  So awesome!!!

Bexleigh loved her baths...

and her bedtime stories!

Bex and her "Granny Ben" (aka my mom)

Me and Jenn....I LOVE this girl!!!

The girls!!

My mom and Wendy had a pretty intense egg-coloring session

Easter Morning!!!

:)

The next weekend Matt and I spent a little time with our old neighbors from the BPC!  We love these two and always have a blast when we go out with them!  She is a fellow blogger who likes to go by the alias "Tizzy," so that is what I shall call her.  After our fun night out, I even got a new nickname :) Tizzy is much quicker on the blogging front, so I'll let her fill you in on our great night out!  Check this out!

"Hotcakes," Matt and "Tizzy"

The next weekend, Matt, Jen and I headed down to Philly to spread our philanthropic wings and run in a race for donor awareness.  Jen has a good friend from high school that had a kidney transplant a year and   a half ago (she's doing GREAT, FYI), so it has become our tradition to go down and run the race every year.  This year was number 2 and we had a great time!  Matt and Jen ran the 5K and I decided to be a little bit of an over-acheiver this year and run the 10K.  Don't we look ready and raring to go!!!

Matt and Jen

Me and Nick (another one of Jen's HS friends)

So, that is pretty much what April looked like....all summed up.  Hopefully I'll be a little better at updating as things happen in our exciting and fast paced life here in NYC....I can't make any promises though ;-).  Until the next blog.....

:)