Halloween Trick-or-Treating

Savannah is in her 3rd costume for this Halloween. She was Emma Smith for church, Junie B. Jones (a children's book author) for school, and a Forest (Woodland) Fairy for Halloween night. All of them were her own idea. I'm just glad she was happy to make do with what we found on our mantle and Nana Cheney's costume bag.
McKay missed school on Halloween because he was sick and could not stop coughing, as you can see in his picture. However, we did let him spread some of his germs going door-to-door Halloween night.
Emmett did some great poses as what he thought was a dragon until he realized he didn't have wings. Half way through wearing his outfit he said, "Mom, I think I'm a dinosaur because I don't have any wings." My response: "Oh... oops... you are." Luckily he wasn't phased.
Joleigh was a ladybug but we forgot to take a picture of her. Take my word for it, she was cute.

Pool take down

The thing that saves me in the hot, humid summer is our 3 foot pool. When the weather started getting cooler, a couple of weeks after school started TJ soliceted the kids to help him take it down this time. As you can see, he is standing on the other side away from the soon-to-be tidal wave. Bailee, our dog, enjoyed getting wet too.

Baby 5

Yes, I'm pregnant and now that I'm about 3 months along and feeling better I thought I would finally update. I'm due May 2nd and I find out what I'm having on December 2nd. We are very excited. The kids responses were my favorite. When I told Savannah, her first comment was, "how did that happen?" and while I was contemplating my response she luckily spewed out many other questions and thoughts that filled her mind... "you already have a baby", "we only have one crib", "we don't have another room for a baby", "I have to share a room with Joleigh?". Mckay's response was "What... but you're not fat." He sure knows how to make me feel good. Emmett didn't think the news was all that important and didn't really pay much attention. I think as my stomach gets bigger he'll be more intrigued by the idea. After I finish catching up on past events in our life, I'll probably post again after I find out if it's a boy or a girl:).

Cheney Family

blacker died

Each year 9 of my best friends from college and I get together over a weekend for a "Besties Reunion" in different places accross the US and stay up way too late and eat way too much food. Well, I was on my way to the airport yesterday headed for "Besties in Boston" when I called to confirm my ride and was informed that it was next weekend not this weekend. So, I'm back at home feeling pretty foolish with a clean house and no laundry and decided it would be a good time to update my blog since I haven't posted in 2 months and life here has been anything but uneventful.





A sad experience for all of us was waking up on the morning of the 4th of July to discover that one of our chickens, Blacker, had passed away sometime during the night. Savannah mentioned that Blacker was resting under a bush the whole day before as they were playing in the coop. The kids nick named her "sleepy head" and Savannah was making sure the boys didn't wake her up.

We had a moment of silence as TJ dug a grave and buried Blacker. Emmett was extremely sad, wailing would be an appropriate description of his entire morning. He would be fine one second and then he would fall apart again. The great thing is it gave us another opportunity to talk to them about enjoying life knowing that death is ok and happens to everyone but that we can be together again.

TJ gave the kids each a new chick this Easter (TJ-Maria, Moo-Bessie, Mc-Snowball, Sa-Lily, and Em-Tweeterhead) and we had to sell McKay's (Snowball) after it began cockadoodledooing. He was very sad and I told him he could have my chicken. His response was, "I think I'll have Blacky because she really needs me." I know... our first batch of chickens names are very unique... Blacker, Blacky, Yellowy, Goldy, Brownie, Tweeterhead 1, and Tweeterhead 2. You can probably guess their color, Tweeterhead 1 and 2 are multi colored Brahmas with a yellow base. We are down to 7 chickens now (3 from the first batch, and 4 from the second).

new motorcycle

And as though a dog isn't bad enough... TJ bought a new motorcycle. Now... before you jump to any conclusions... I really must describe it as a motor-bicycle. It's a 197? Honda CT90 that has a duct taped headlight and only goes 55mph max. Plus, I rode it down the street which means it's not much more than a bicycle with a little motor. One of his YM counselors at church has one and has been working on TJ to purchase one for the past month and he is at least 50% responsible for the purchase.

new puppy

After much kicking and screaming and crying out that "I don't want a puppy!" We had a family vote and the puppy stays, I was outnumbered 4 to 1. I must say I like Bailee now but we weren't on the best of terms the first week of her life at our home.
Bailee is part cocker spaniel and part poodle and the kids love her! After sneeking her upstairs in their room for about a half hour this morning, this is what she looked like when she saught refuge at my feet downstairs.

cousins

In July, the kids and I ventured on a 10 day trip to my parents in Utah. I love going home for lots of reasons that even make the 4 hour roundtrip plane ride not seem all that horrible with 4 kids. A few of the reasons I endure the travels are 1)the kids get to make fun memories with their grandparents and cousins, 2) I get to see people who think like me and I understand why I'm so stubborn and sarcastic sometimes and 3)there is something about going back to where you started that helps you step out of your current fast-paced life and remember why you live and love life.

Each of my kids found a favorite cousin that they literally followed around during our stay in Utah. Emmett and Emma, Andrew and Mckay, Savannah and Elizabeth


Emma, Elizabeth, and Savannah



Emmett and his cousin Emma are 3 months apart and they were inseperable the entire vacation.

Papa Hendrix and Jo

first taste of sand

it didn't matter how much she didn't like it, joleigh couldn't resist putting sand in her mouth again and again.

Folly Beach in Charleston, SC

we spent a week in cute cottages overlooking a marsh in Charleston, SC last week. (unfortunately the marsh was dry but it was still beautiful). i love when my kids can play outside all day long. we rode bikes on the bike trails in the mornings, spent hours at the beach playing in the water and the sand, played on the playground and splash park during nap times and used 6 bottles of sunscreen... yuck!

Charleston Beaches

 
 
 
 

our first home

Life is full of great things to be happy about. Our happy moment yesterday was selling our first home filled with five years of some of our funnest memories... like riding on the tractor with Dad, playing in the Bradford pear leaves in the front yard, and working hard on many home projects. We'll miss it but we are enjoying our new home with the extra space and longer driveway to ride our bikes on.