Summer is officially here!

Aahhh! Summer is here! The kids (and I) were done with school last Friday (May 23rd). I spent the last 4 weeks of school subbing in Resource - special ed. I really had a good time. The kids were great and the staff was even better. There's talk of having me hired on full-time for next school year. I'm pretty excited about that.
Well Fred is just wrapping up week 4 of COTA. Next week he'll be working regular shifts down in Florence. Which is nice because he'll be home every day. Eli has been taking his absence very hard. E's such an emotional kid anyways and with Dad being gone, he's been quite the handful. He hasn't been bad at all, he's just been moody and upset. He's getting better. He knows this is just temporary. Sundays seem to be the hardest on him because that's when Fred leaves. We spent about 20 minutes during church last week outside so he could have himself a good cry. Better out than in!
I surprised Fred with tickets to see the Police last Saturday. Oh my gosh, was it awesome. Elvis Costello opened up for them. I was in heaven! I have loved Elvis Costello for as long as I can remember. Sting came out and sang "Allison" with him. Double yoi! And dang, those two are aging quite well, I must admit! Fred has loved the Police ever since he was little. He didn't even know they were in town. I was originally trying to get tickets to see The Cure, but they were too expensive and all they had were bad seats left. So I thought, what the heck, and I just looked to see who else was coming to town and lo and behold- it was the Police! Money VERY well spent!
The kids are enjoying their summer break so far. Em and I had our annual end-of-the-year pedicures done this week. So fun! I love this little tradition. We started it when she finished Kindergarten. It's a fun way to start the summer off. We've been so busy with friends and sleepovers too! I don't think they have spent an entire day at home by themselves yet! I'm a little bummed that we don't have a pool in the new house, but that's just less work for me to do! I did like having everyone over for a swim though. Last night E had a friend and Em had 2 friends sleep over. Yeah, it was crazy loud here! Loud, but fun. :)
We're getting ready, and excited, for our annual trip up to the Burgh next week. Haircuts- check, pedicures- check, air tickets- check, spent a second thinking about packing- NO CHECK! The kids are so excited to go to Kennywood. E has big plans of going on the Racer until he and Aunt Jan both puke! Aim high, little buddy, what a goal. I'll see if I can bribe Em to ride anything this year. I dragged her on the Racer last year and I thought she was going to have a heart attack- sorry, poor thing! "Oh no, Em, it's not that fast! Yeah, I think she lost all trust in me for the day. Between the zoo, Kennywood, Janell's (pizza and the bakery!), seeing friends and family, perhaps a trip to the museum, I'm sure we'll have a fun-packed trip!

Till then.......

He blinded me with SCIENCE

So Eli had a science fair project to do. And in accordance with true Hendricks style, we did it last night. We went to the fair this evening and to our surprise.... ELI TOOK 3rd PLACE in the 4th grade group! Woo hoo! Go ELI!! He teamed up with another boy and they titled their project "Which Style of Paper Airplane Flies the Farthest?". They tested 3 different styles and wrote up a whole report about it. I am so proud of them. They really did a lot of work for it. I was a bit sad when we didn't see it on display in the hallway, but that was because it was in the library with the rest of the winners!

My dad is awesome!

Oh my gosh, my dad is hysterical. I never really "got him" until I became an adult. I mean, wouldn't you be embarrassed by this too?!?!!

I love you dad. Thank you for making me smile.

PHEW!

After 14 grueling weeks, I am finished with my Special Education course. I passed the final with a 92%. It was a little lower than I would have liked, thank goodness I'm a good essay writer (well more of a good BS'er!). My final grade for the course is a 97%. Can you believe it?? I've NEVER had a 97% in any class (well maybe except for art!). I am so stoked. I think I'll take the kids to dinner to celebrate.

Ok, so now that stress is behind me..... GET ON WITH THE UNPACKING! :)

Just one more thing to take on!

Ah yes, I think it's time I jump aboard the blogwagon. Because I have nothing better to be doing with my time!

Here's the quick update of our lives.....
Eli is 9 1/2 and is just wrapping up the 4th grade. He is still taking piano lessons (and doing fabulously) and is playing soccer (still waiting to make that first goal!)- it's his 4th season.
Emma is 8 and was baptized in March. She is wrapping up 2nd grade. She's taking a jazz dance class and is just so darn cute! Both kids are becoming quite the little bookworms in their spare time.
Fred left this evening to go down to Tucson for COTA training camp. He's going to be a corrections officer in a state prison in Florence, AZ. Yes, you heard me right! Can you even imagine Fred as a prison guard? I can't either, but the benefits will be sweet!
I am substitute teaching K-5 and focusing on Special Ed. I am taking courses online through Rio Salado to earn my AZ teaching certification. I really think I might go with SpEd. It seems the more I try to talk myself out of it, I talk myself into it! I'm subbing full-time in a resource class until the end of the year. We're done with school on May 23. I can't believe it. This year has flown by. I have my SpEd class final tomorrow (and you see how I'm spending my study time!) and I'm not even nervous about it. I totally freaked at the midterm. I got a 100% and it was worth it, but I freaked when I was studying.

On for the NEW news...... as most of you know, we decided to rent our home and downsize. We moved, literally, across the neighborhood into a house that was just about half the size of the other house. I couldn't be more in love with my new house!! Seriously. Less to clean, less to heat and cool, no pool to take care of, did I mention less to clean?? I'm lovin it.

Well I should wrap up this for now. I'll let YINZ all know how I did on my final. Check back.
Same bat time, same bat channel