Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we went to our new church for their Christmas Eve service.  Quite different from the late night services my traditional Lutheran Church back home, especially considering it was daylight and almost 70 degrees outside when church let out.  We're used to it being close to midnight and probably 10 degrees in Iowa after Christmas Eve church services!  We spent the rest of the day just hanging out and getting ready for Santa to visit!

Someone wasn't very happy to be taking pictures...

but she came around!

We opened just a few gifts on Christmas Eve and then waited for the big guy to do his magic overnight!

Christmas Cookies

The last few months have been a little crazy, so it's been a while since I have posted.  But I'm back!

 

This week was all about family and Christmas.  In true Hensley fashion this year, we had another first.  Our First Christmas in California.  We weren't able to travel back home this year.  We definitely missed our families, but had an amazing holiday anyway!

 

One of our family traditions is to back sugar cut-out cookies for Christmas.  We have to make them for Santa of course! Enjoy a few pics from our baking session this year...

House Tour - The Boy Room

 

So this is the little man's room in our new house.  Since the photos, I have also finally found him a new large area rug so he now has a plush place to play in his room.  He loves his new room!

My sister gave me this dresser when we moved.  It was a great find for $3 - and with a little paint it looks amazing!  Thanks Carrie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His bookshelf and headboard also got a new coat of paint.



And these guys watch over the entire room.  It is the safest room in the house for sure!

Pumpkin Time!

Another 1st in California for us!  And I have to admit that is was so nice to have warm weather so we could carve our pumpkins outside. It made cleaning up so much easier!!    Everyone had a great time carving this year and Chase even got his hands dirty!  Hope you are having a great Halloween week!

Happy Friday and a Little Fashion Show!

Happy Friday!

Here are some pics to start your day from a little fashion show the kids had the other day.  Have a great weekend!

He's such a good brother!!!

Randomness

We have been busy.  And I'm finding that it is exactly what we've needed!  Here's some photos to show what we've been up to...

Emma had to do a little shopping with me the other day and she hates shopping!  But she did find this...it made for a few laughs!  Who would really buy this....seriously!

This girl has her own style...and I love it!

This little man loves his new birthday gifts...

This guy misses his friends...so the kids and I arranged a little pretend visit.  Their smiling faces are still hanging out in the living room and sometimes I feel like they are staring at me!  Creepy!  Time for a real visit boys!!

I got a haircut...a much needed haircut!  Goodbye daily messy pony!

These two both love school and are making new friends every day.  That makes me smile!

I think they are finally starting to feel like California is home!

The kids started soccer too...

This boy likes when it's Emma practice night because he gets to play transformers in the dirt!

That's a little of what's been happening here.  We had a visit from my parents last week...we needed a little family love and are sad the visit didn't last longer!  

Today...

Today I am thinking about my best friend and her family.  I am praying for them and sending them all the positive energy I can.  I am praying for "Aunt Jody" and for her to feel no pain and know that she is truly and deeply loved.  And I am feeling like right now being "just a phone call away" is too far away when a friend truly needs you.  

Please send Renee and her family an extra prayer or two if you can today.

House Tour - Part 2

The Hallway!

 

 

I bought this runner for our long hallway that connects the bedrooms to the main living space a few months ago - and I LOVE and HATE it all at once.  It sheds.  No really - I mean it SHEDS.  ALL THE TIME!  I Vacuum...and then vacuum...and then vacuum some more.  IT STILL SHEDS!  I'm losing my mind over this shedding rug!  But I Love how it looks down our long hallway!  We have a love/hate relationship and I'm hoping it will quit shedding so I can just Love it!



The Wedding!

 

This Very Special person in our life got married this summer!!!

And the three of us got to go!!!

 

And I got to spend time with my Bestie!  I miss her!!!

This girl makes me smile too!  I love that she wants to spend time with us when we're home!

I think Emma was most excited to spend time with this lovely lady...they had "girl time" all weekend!  So special...

Although this is her Boyfriend for LIFE!!!  We miss this little boy almost every day!

They are all our FAMILY for sure!

So Cute!  She did such a great job!

And she was ADORABLE from head to toe!

There was a lot of this to keep everyone happy in those pretty outfits!

This is one of my favorite pictures - it was a beautiful wedding!

At the reception Emma gave a performance and sang a little song while we were waiting for the bridal party to get there! 

And all performances MUST involve twirling your pretty dress of course!

Adorable!

Eat your heart out ladies!  He's Mine!!!  (And this little man loved his tux!  While the other boys took theirs off immediately after the wedding - he only took off his jacket and vest and rocked his pink tie the entire day!)












It was a great trip and a beautiful wedding!  We miss Everyone and can't wait to come home again!!!