family fun on the beach

With Jake leaving in less then a month we took one last Hendrix family vacation to the Oregon coast. Jake's parents, brother and lot of friends went over to Manzanita for the weekend. It was a great weekend as you can see full of lots of fun and laughter!

sunny Manzanita,OR

a little baseball on the beach

Joan & Max

Ted, Brandi & Levi

Ariel & Erich

Hugh had to blow bubbles for the kids all night!

Ethan-so proud of his tower

Gracie-so mad she can't knock it down

what a difference a day makes in Oregon

we had to stop in Tillamook for some cheese!

shamrock run

Today we ran in the Shamrock run :) it was a small 5K run in downtown Portland. This was the first "run" I have done that I actually ran! I'm not a runner and I really don't like to run but I finished in under 40 mins and that was my goal so I feel pretty good about it.

Jake and I after the race

Billy, Jake, Kris, Britt, Rick, Brandon, Robin, Eric, Tony & Katie

"you know mom....."

About an hour after putting Ethan to bed I heard some noise in the kitchen. I looked but saw nothing. Bothered by this I looked throughout the house just to make sure everything was ok. I looked into each kids room to find both of them sleeping. But just as I closed Ethan's door I heard a little giggle. I walked over to the "sleeping" little boy and tucked him in tighter, leaned in and kissed his head. After another giggle I could smell some spicy cheese. I asked Ethan if he had been in the kitchen eating something. He started laughing and said "of course mom....I just had to eat the leftover quesadilla" I couldn't help but laugh and told him to stay out of the fridge. He replied with "you know mom, you really shouldn't put things where a 5 year old can reach them." "really?!?" I said. "hey don't get mad at me I'm just trying to help you out with this parent thing!" he said as he pulled the blanket up and rolled over.

Is it just me or am I raising a teenager already?

momma's got a new job

Yes it's true after 3 1/2 short years I have returned to the workforce (not counting the 4 months I did advertising at home after Gracie was born). I have been feeling like I was missing something lately. With Jake's new and wonderful career in the Air Force taking off I felt a little left behind. I know it sounds silly but it's been really nice these past years with Jake home. Sure he's worked a little here and there both for his Dad and on the base but really we have just been enjoying him home. Don't get me wrong being around someone all day even if you love them can sometimes get to you but I have to admit I liked having help with the household chores. I just wanted to get out and do something else for awhile.

So back to me and my search for a job. I had a list of requirements that really were non-negotiable. I mean after all I was thinking about putting my kids in daycare something I said I would never do.

1) part-time only!

I did not want them to be in daycare all day especially with Jake being in another state. I have no idea how him being gone is going to affect them and I didn't want to make it worse by leaving them too.

2) close to home or even better work out of my home

I'm just not going to spend a lot of time driving to and from work-sorry but I hate to drive!

3) fun

If I'm going to be paying for my children to be in daycare then I want to be enjoying myself.

4) I wanted to help people

After almost 10 years at the bank I wanted to do something different. Don't get me wrong I loved working at the bank, I just didn't want to do it anymore. I wanted to do something that would make a difference in other peoples lives.

So with these requirements on my list I started looking into school, volunteering and a few home based businesses none of which I could see myself still doing in 5 years. Then a friend of mine told me about her business and Jake and I fell in love :)

I am now an independent representative for ACN. I am able to provide my customers with satellite tv, home security, Internet, local & long distance, wireless cell phones and my favorite the digital video phone at a small savings each month. The best part is we represent most of the big company's that everyone already has like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Nextel, Tmobile, DirecTV, Dish network, ADT & coming this summer NW Natural & PGE! I get to work from my house and only work when I want to. I can have as many or a little customers as I want, it all depends on how much money I want to make. There's no telemarketing or door-to-door because you're just talking to your friends and family who already pay for most of these things anyway! But here's the best part I get to help other people do the same thing. There is no competition! If you want to join me, that's great we are all a team. It may sound a little corny but I have gone to a few meetings (that are held at the Oregon State Bar) and people are really changing their lives for the better. Some make thousands by doing this full time while others just do it in the cracks of their day.

I'll be showing off my new digital video phone in a few weeks when I get it. That was the deal maker for Jake and I! When we saw that digital phone I knew I wanted it and I knew that many other military families were going to want it too!

So I'm working again but so far it doesn't feel like work. I've shared my business with a few friends, talked about it over coffee with a few old friends and made a few new friends along the way. If you or anyone you know would be interested please let me know, I'd love to talk :)

http://www.kristinhendrix.acnrep.com/

...sometimes a player

After asking Ethan for the 10th time to pick up and stop playing I heard this as I walked out of his room:

"Sometimes I'm a picker and sometimes I'm just a player!"

Walking back in with a smile on my face I said "what did you say?" Ethan replied with a sigh, smiled and put his hand on his forehead and said "never mind you're just a parent you wouldn't get it"

.....when did I become so old?!?!?

little mommy

Today Gracie walked out of her bedroom and closed the door, put her hands on her hips and let out a big sigh. I asked her what she was doing and she said "my baby was crying so I put her in bed and closed the door!"

I guess it's true what they say "monkey see, monkey do!"