why adoption?

Ben and I decided when we were engaged that whether we could have biological children or not, we wanted to grow our family through adoption. It's such a dazzling, touching principle, and we knew we wanted it to be a part of our lives. We have been blessed with three amazing kids,who are our world. Now, we feel this big, huge feeling telling us it's time for us to adopt! There are so many reasons why, in addition to just knowing. We have the love, we have the ability, we have seen the miracle of adoption in both of our families. Our kids are giddy with the plan. During my certification process as a preschool teacher, I read book after book covering the merits and challenges of adoption. After this, we knew that we would want to adopt a baby right on the heels of having a biological baby, so that bonding could take place through breast feeding. Also, the two little babes could be buddies and essentially twins. When Ida was born, we knew she was the one! She is such an amazing, sweet-tempered little baby. She is so wonderful, and will be such a special part of our adopted baby's life. The list goes on and on. We know we want a big family, full of love, fun, diversity, and connection. We can't wait to see this continue to happen.

the definitive Ben and Eirene

About Ben (by Eirene): Ben is my favorite person on the planet. He is charming, funny, witty, kind, sincere, intelligent, hard-working, and thoughtful. I miss him when he's not with me, I laugh continually when he is. He is my best friend. I first met him in the eighth grade, where he had the advantage over all the other pre-pubescent boys of having a job (in the lunch kitchen) and knowing how to drive. In high school (where we were just friends) we were in drama, student council, and tenth grade biology together. In drama, we played opposite one another in the play "Annie". He was Warbucks, and I was Annie (it might be speculated that this gave us our first taste for adoption!) (kidding). His parents taught him the value of hard work, kindness, and manners. I never knew Ben that he didn’t have a job (except when he was a missionary for two years in South Africa). If I had had any brains, I would have been head over heels for him in high school, although I do remember once confiding in my best friend that one day Ben Henderson was going to make a great dad. Years later, when our paths re-crossed, it took about five minutes for us to fall in love. We dated for two months, were engaged for two months, and the following year, I had the delight of finding out how dead right I had been about Ben all along. He is an amazing father. Our children adore him, as is evidenced by their shouts of joy whenever they hear the garage door open. Ben is the manager of a flower wholesaler (yes, that means lots of fresh flowers for me). He loves his job, his’65 Ford pick-up Leona, reading the news, and taking care of our yard. He knows the words to old country songs, and he reads to the kids every night. He is my treasure. Quote: “Lightning McQueen, I only missed you a little bit. I missed Mae and Ike a lot!”



About Eirene (by Ben): Mrs. Henderson, Eireenie, or just Reenie is one of those few people in life that seem to light the way for everyone else. She has an infectious charisma and spunk that can make anyone crack a smile and has kept me entertained for the 13 years I've known her. From the moment we became friends our freshman year of high school I felt an immediate deep bond with Eirene that I wouldn't fully understand until about 5 years later when she looked me up after discovering that we lived in the same college town. I knew it. The instant she wrapped her arms around my neck on our first date I felt like I was coming home after a long absence. I felt refreshed! Eirene thinks, learns, and speaks for herself. Her mind, heart, and soul are open to all that is beautiful, beneficial, and fun. She isn't content with letting knowledge come to her, she anxiously yearns for it and actively seeks it out. Eirene doesn't settle for the status quo in any circumstance, but rather believes in change, progress, and improvement. I knew all of these things about Eirene long before we began dating, but after having grown up and matured much I was finally ready to soak it all in! I knew that if I was going to have a chance at being truly happy and satisfied with my life and endeavors, that I had to marry Eirene. I knew that if I wanted to experience true love in all of its ups and downs, trials and triumphs; if I wanted to make any sort of impact on the world for good, I had to marry Eirene. I married Eirene! I married life and joy! Eirene is a true pleasure. Whether the medium be paint, pen, or photoshop--she is an artist. Whether the student be grumpy husband, eager child, or spiritually needy churchgoer--she is a teacher. Be the recipient a baby's bottom, a child's head, or her own shoulders--she is a seamstress. Eirene can do and actively does anything she desires. If she sees something she wants to wear, cook, or achieve she gets a book from the library and teaches herself how to make it happen. My wife is a doer. My wife doesn't just believe in good things, she IS good things! Eirene is the mother of our three incredible children. Everything she does has the ultimate effect of teaching and nurturing Mae, Ike, Ida, and their daddy. She teaches through example and tender understanding. She helps me understand how our individual children need individual care, time, and love. All of Eirene's education, hard work, sacrifice, and life experience has created an unbeatable, unbelievable mother. Eirene brings me joy, encouragement, happiness, laughter, fulfillment, forgiveness, and faith. She is my inspiration in all I think, do, and say. With Eirene as my wife--a true woman of God--how could I ever go wrong!?

all about Mae

Mae Ella Henderson is four years old. She is as girly as you please--pink, unicorns, fairies, interpretive dance, and anything that has glitter on it. She is lovely in every way. Endlessly helpful with her younger siblings, Mae takes great pride in being the big sister. She is eager to participate in anything that involves Ida, from choosing clothes for her to wear to helping me bathe her. She also puts in a lot of hours with Ike, her partner in crime. I fear her efforts to civilize him will wear her out. Mae saves every cent she finds in a box to save up for our adoption, and is ecstatic to have another baby to love and adore. In fact, a few weeks after Ida was born, Mae Mae was telling me “Mama, we have got to get another baby.” She is a great leader, and a great example. She is kind and generous and very responsible about her chores (except when she’s not). She loves to play, pretend, and dress up with her cousins and friends. She is learning to read and write at home preschool, and writes letters to just about everyone. She is a great artist, and asks to paint nearly every single day (watercolors are her favorite). Quote: “Ikey, this is not a zoo, it’s a sleepover!”

this little Ike of mine

Benjamin Ike Henderson is a delightful little guy who brings down the house pretty much every time he opens his mouth. If comedic timing is something it is possible for a three year old to have, Ike's got it. He is friendly and talkative, and often opens conversations by saying "I like you." A real crowd pleaser is his Popeye impression, complete with muscle flexing, and if he can get his hands on it, spinach eating. When Ike is the raspy Popeye, the rest of us are cast thus: Dada - Bluto, Popeye's big, bearded nemesis. Mama - Olive Oyl, Popeye's love interest. Mae - The Magical Horse (Note: not an actual Popeye related character, but Mae refused to be Wimpy, Popeye's hamburger eating amigo).

Popeye: "Oliboyl, wook at me. I'm hitting Bwuto."
Mama: "Ikey, we don't hit people."
The Magical Horse: "Mama, you have to use your Olive Oyl voice."
Olive Oyl: "Popeeeeye, don't hit Blutoooo."
Bluto: "Yeah Popeye! You little runt, don't hit me!"
Popeye: "Sowwy Bwuto! I will kiss you."
The Magical Horse: "No, Popeye doesn't kiss Bluto!"
Ike: "Yes, I CAN kiss Bluto!"
Mae: "No Ikey, Popeye doesn't kiss Bluto, he kisses Olive Oyl."
Ike: "Oh. Okay."
The Magical Horse: "You have to use your Popeye voice!"
Popeye: "Oh. Okay."
Olive Oyl: "Oh, Popeeeye! Thanks for the kiiiisss!"
Bluto: "Hey, I want to kiss Olive Oyl, too!"

You get the idea. Ikey loves playing with his sisters (and the rest of us), and is a wonderful big brother. He has to give Ida B. kisses every time he sees her, and always volunteers to cheer her up when she is cranky.
Quote: "Where are the toys in this shoe restaurant?"

Miss Ida B. Rainbow Caroline Henderson

Ida Caroline Henderson was born on April 20, 2011 in our living room. Mae took one look at her and said, “Name her Rainbow.” Every day she has been in our lives has been a complete joy. She loves to smile, slobber, make new sounds with her little voice, and laugh hysterically when her Dada kisses her on the tummy. She loves her brother and sister and tolerates a good deal of loving from them. She is endlessly sweet, calm and enjoyable.

back in the saddle

Well, people, we're back. Wasn't that fun when I was a fabric designer for a glorious five minutes? It was fun. Back to business.

New Blog

Hey, everyone (if there's anyone still reading this blog :), I (Eirene) am starting a new blog at eirenehenderson.blogspot.com. Some crazy exciting things have happened around here which have necessitated that I start a new blog, (and you'll have to go and find out what at the aforementioned blog!) The new blog will be a bit more anonymous, but it'll still have all the family stuff on there, and probably be a bit more consistent. (Wait, probably not... but maybe). Anyway, love and guts!

Eirene

Our Christmas!

Absolutely incredible! Those are the only two words I have to describe our Christmas, and our Mama!!! Eirene made our Christmas. Figuratively, spiritually, and perhaps most of all, literally! Here is a sampling of our handmade Christmas:

Mae: Beautiful doll (now known as Harper), matching nightgowns and dresses for Mae and Harper, a knit winter hat, a gorgeous coat, and a cute purse all made by mama; and a cradle for Harper made by dada.

Ike: Superman pj's, knit monster hat, monster backpack, monster stuffed animal (really cool!), and a stickhorse all made by mama; and a pinewood derby truck made by dada.

Dada: Sweet F-16/paper airplane tshirt, ipod armband, awesome fatherly "Lucky Charms, anyone?" apron, and an incredibly intricate knit winter hat all made by Eirene.

Eirene is simply incredible and really made our Christmas wonderful. We also got some very great gifts from family and friends. I hope you all enjoy your Christmases as much as we've enjoyed ours! Merry Christmas!

Ben

Our Christmas Eve

So dada has to work tomorrow (Christmas), so the Henderson's Christmas is today! While mama and the kiddies are still sleeping, I wanted to quickly post some pics from last night's Christmas eve before I don't have time! We went the homemade Christmas route this year, and Eirene made Mae a little (almost too little!) nightgown to match the one that her new doll is wearing (she'll open it this morning!), and she made Ike Superman pajamas. Last night--our Christmas eve--we first read the Christmas story from Luke 2 in the Bible taking a moment in between verses to explain a little to Mae. We then watched Joy to the World, the Church's relatively new nativity movie. It was so fun to watch Mae pick out things from the story we'd just read in the scriptures and understand what was happening! We then opened our new pajamas, and Mae instantly felt like an angel in her white nightgown. She flipped over a little laundry basket and started the angelic chorus. Ikey soon followed by flipping over another little basket and standing on it right next to Mae and joining in the songs! It was a beautiful night, and I am really excited for this morning when they wake up!!! More to come...

Pictures Pictures...

Hrmmm. Catch up.

Howdy folks. Ben here. Its been awhile since either of us have been on the ol' bloggy. I'm going to throw up a few pictures in a lazy attempt to catch up. Most people would then commit to keep current from that point onward. That is most likely not the case with me!

Family. Isn't it about...Blogging?

One of the funnest parts about being a mom are those times when everything is peaceful, and you get to relax for a minute, and maybe check your email, or putter around at anthropologie.com, but then you realize that it's too peaceful. Suspiciously peaceful. And sure enough, your daughter has painted her face yellow.


Another fun part is when your baby starts army crawling around the house, and eating whatever he can salvage from the recycling bin. (His favorites have definitely been church magazines.)

closer...

closer...

he got me!

A potato for your thoughts is just so much more delicious.
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310183354362931506" />

Ahhh...sleep. Ahhh...milk.


Don't let her fool you. She's definitely not training. She just likes to read on the pot. And don't we all?


Looking particularly Bennish.

Baby No More

Not sure when this happened, but our Mae became a girl. I mean, not that she ever was otherwise... I mean... well, you know what I mean. She is just so big! She has thoughts and opinions and a personality. She pronounces blanket "bacon", she calls circles "bubbles", and she says "allriiiiight!" after she suggests you get her a snack. She's quick, my kid. I'd could go on and on and on, but we're off to the park. We'll run and play, and blow some circles.

Let's get down to the knitty gritty

Before I begin, a little light philosophy: Blogging is a nice way to share photos and anecdotes about one's life for the enjoyment and information of any who care. There are some who view it as a sort of online dinner party with a complex set of social rules and an exhausting standard of etiquette. I vote we take the surplus knives and forks out of blogging, and look at it as more of a spontaneous picnic. Let's take the "Emily" out of "Post."
Now, let's talk knit. Lately, I have become a knitter. (As in, within the last four months.) My friend Kristiina gave me a crash course on the basics, but I only recently knuckled down and commit myself. How this came about was our state of relative poverty. I wanted to buy some cute winter hats for the kids, but couldn't afford the ones I wanted. And so I did what any poor mother with cold-headed kids and nimble fingers and a stout heart would do. I went to the library and checked out some books about knitting. (I recommend Knitting School, and the Idiot's Guide to Knitting.) Encouraging Statement: It's really very easy, once you get the hang of it. I knit the winter hats for my kids, but grew hungry for more. I was surrounded by noodly tangles of yarn, my fingers were pickled from constant needlecrafting, I was becoming a real geek. (I also recommend the youtube tutorials of The Knit Witch. Very helpful.)

Anyway, here are some of my hats, knit for my nieces Avery and Parker, and my nephew Sam.


Avery is a touch camera shy. I had to nonchalantly snap this shot from the other side of the room, and then resume pretending to change a diaper.


There is something so delicious about knitted produce.




Who says warmth shouldn't attack your head?

New Year Resolution

It was a new year's resolution to improve my blogging performance, and so, first off, I'm giving the old girl a face lift. Please be patient while I rearrange and reconstruct. (My blog, not myself.) phew.
Eirene

Obamanomics

Holy moly. Much has changed in our little world since the last time I posted a bloggy. We originally started doing this so that we could feel like we were keeping folks up-to-date without having to actually keep them up-to-date. However, it has become kind of a "we really oughta update the blog" thing. Which, if you think about it, is pretty much the same as "we really oughta call those guys and see how they're doing." Oh well. As I was saying, much has changed, and not much stays the same from day to day anymore. It's kind of mind blowing. The Sinclair gas station just south of BYU's campus kind of is my barometer of change. I know things aren't yet stabilized each morning when I drive by on my way to work and school and am surprised by the gas prices listed lower than the day before. Some days after reading the New York Times, I come home convinced that the absolute smartest thing for us to do is to buy a house as soon as possible. The next day I come home absolutely convinced that the smartest thing to do is to take my family along with a chicken or two and some cornseed and build a mud hut out in the bush somewhere. Whatta world! Either way, I think we can all agree that we now officially live in a society where no one is expected to live with consequences of their choices and actions. Whether I choose to live in a hurricane prone area, buy a bundle of sub-prime mortgage-backed debt, commit petty crimes, build a substandard product for premium price, supply dictators and warlords with weapons and financing to protect my "interests" only to later topple them to obtain more "interests", or just buying a house that's way bigger than I need, the government and the courts are there to make sure that I have a warm bed to sleep in each night.

IN other news, I have an incredible little family, have you noticed? Tonight, Mae said "I want some pie." Of course, we obliged. She is learning so much every day, it never ceases to amaze me. Her mama is a champ of all champs. She is working so hard making gifts for everyone for Christmas, and she still finds time to teach sewing lessons, fulfill her calling, and taking care of our home. Whatta woman. As for Ike, he now rolls across the floor along with puking, laughing, and pooping. A star.

Merry Christmas all!

Beautiful People

What I've been doing while not blogging, Part III

Thanksgiving down in Monticello was by far one of the best yet! We all got as sick as dogs with a mysterious illness that spread like peanut butter throughout the entire clan. The initial symptom was nauseating burps that tasted like yeast, and it went downhill from there. (Since of course, you were curious.) But, we didn't let that stop us from eating ourselves silly, playing lots of board games, watching many movies, and taking a wild excursion into the tundra for a Christmas tree. It rained all weekend, and so there was plenty of mud. Ben was excited to have some off-roady Subaru commercial moments, but it turns out that the AWD on the side of our vehicle is just decoration, because our sporty car was the only one that completely stuck. The mud was so heavily encrusted on our wheel axels, that we had to remove the tires and clean them out in order to get our wheels to turn at all. A slightly lesser drama was the fact that at first I hated our tree. I tried to suffer in silence as all of my male relations, (and a few of the cheerful and stalwart females) pushed against my car, up to their knees in mud. But, as it turns out, I love the tree, and so all their labor was not in vain! Here are some highlights from the trip, my favorite of which is the shot of my dad demonstrating to my nephew Rawl what fun it is to sit on a mattress, and that any big boy who goes potty in the toilet can also enjoy the privilege of doing so. Josie somehow was able to bypass all of those stipulations. Hmmm...

What I've been doing while not blogging, Part II

Yeah, Mae and Ike are still around. Growing like dandelions. They adore each other, as you can see. Or rather Mae adores "Itey" and Ike adores everything, including Mae, but also including dirty socks and plastic bags.