Small Group Formal Oscar Bash

About a year and a half ago God finally gave us the go ahead to begin a young married group that we have wanted to do. Some people ended up not being able to commit (moving and other reasons), but about 9 months ago we got stuck with a pretty amazing group.

We have been going through the series Boundaries in Marriage. We prayed for each other, gave each other advice, laughed, argued, and always enjoyed ourselves. We have had family parties with friends and have enjoyed the moments with our families and moments with just the couples. We have 6 couples that compile 12 pretty awesome adults that have conceived 13 children (1-7 years old). We have amazing babysitters that watch them once a month, but in February Aaron and I really wanted to plan something for the adults to do together that involved no kids. 

We planned a dinner at Will & Danielle's with our wonderful friend (practically family member) Chuck. Since we found out later on it was the same night as the Oscars, we had that in the background, we filled out polls, and even dressed up.

Our menu was incredible:

Appetizers

Yummy stuffed celery

Small plate

Seared Scallops in Newburg sauce served over a bed of baby spinach

(this was INCREDIBLE!!!)

Salad

Carrots, Cucumbers, and Red Onion in a sweet chile oil vinaigrette

Entree

Chicken breasts stuffed with crimini mushroom tapanade

Orzo with sun dried tomatoes and garlic

Asparagus

Dessert

Pot a Creme with chocolate covered strawberries

It was an amazing night of great food, friends, and just an overall perfect night. We love each other, support each other, want our marriages and families to thrive, and we love Jesus.

It just doesn't get any better.

I'm so blessed to have such a great group of friends, friends who I consider family.

Josh & Sarah 

Aaron and I 

Love him!

Took off my heels for my shortie!

Misty & Steve

Will & Danielle (Will trying to be taller) 

Samantha & Travis

Our amazing chef

Oh boys!

Cherylyn & Eric

The girls

Silly silly boys

Classic!

Enjoying our meal

Happy Valentine's Day

We had a great Valentine's Day. The hubby and I celebrated early and he surprised me with a couples massage and we headed to The Speak Easy and the Looking Glass House.

Yum!

I wish I would have taken pictures of the food. They serve their food with an Alice and Wonderland themed menu. You order your food as you go, in chapters, and you get to share. It's so much fun.

We started with mashers (fried mashed potato balls) with gorgonzola sauce.

A yummy salad that included feta, raspberries, pecans, and a yummy vinagrette.

Then we shared market fresh vegetables that were sauteed.

And a bacon avocado cheese burger.

Dessert: a chocolate lava cake. Heaven in a bowl

Actual Valentine's Day was spent with my boys. A yummy breakfast with heart biscuits, strawberries, and pink strawberry milk.

A fun day at school.

And for dinner: heart shaped pizza and salad.

Excellent day

My hansome man

 I love his curly hair

I love my sweet boys

Breakfast!

To die for! Arcata Scoop
Vanilla Peanut Butter
Uber Dark Chocolate

You can't have a holiday without after holiday sales.

I spent $25 on a Love canvas, a new wreath, heart lights, felt heart garland, a table runner, and cupcake liners. Ready to decorate next 

Worship

It was an amazing night at Fusion. It's been awhile since I've done Worship Stations.

It was definitely something I needed.

Adding my prayer word to the scrabble letters.

Leaving my burden at the cross.

Writing down my sins and confessions and shredding them.

Molding a modelof an idol and smashing it.

Writing what I need forgiveness for and wiping the sand away.

Looking at the globe and finding where I'm praying for and where I should be praying for.

Getting my priorities in order.

Aaron spoke tonight on our bodies in Romans 12 and the will of God.

Part of the night we read an article about the Red Market. (That isn't the exact artiicle we read, but it gives you an idea). It's heartbreaking to even fathom what life would be like if you were so desperate to survive, what you would do for your family.

We talked at our table if we would give a body part to someone else.

Would we give anything? Would we only give to certain people we are close to?

It was such an interesting discussion, definitely needed.

Jesus, I'm amazed at how amazing and powerful you are.

Thank you for guiding me, forgiving me, and loving me.

I want to follow your will. It doesn't matter what the world thinks or my close friends think.

You are who I look to for reassurance, self-worth, and identity.

I'm so thankful that I have a Savior.



Prayer words with Scrabble letters

Laying burdens at the cross

Asking forgiveness in the sand

No Excuses

I make excuses.

We all make excuses.

I have a list of the most important things in my life. They should get the bulk of my time and effort, but my time gets wrapped up in other things.

I make excuses.

Working full-time again is an adjustment. I will probably finally get used to it and then be at home full-time again.

With Aaron not home 65-75 hours a week right now, life sometimes feels insane.

I don't want to make excuses.

I want my priorities to stay as my priorities.

I want to stay in the Word. Praying. Seeking. Listening.

This takes time. Time I will not forfeit.

No excuses.

I want to keep working out consistently.

Guilt overcomes me when I pick up my kids, spend a little time with them and then dropping them off at Cal Court's daycare.

I know I need that time. And my boys thrive there.

I want to continue eating healthy.

Eating healthy takes a lot of prep work.

Eating right and taking care of myself will not be put on the back burner.

No excuses.

I want to strengthen my relationships.

Spend time with my boys. Cuddle. Read. Play. Laugh.

Date my husband. Enjoy the simple moments.

Spend time with my friends. Give freely. Forgive often.

Go out of my way to be a blessing.

Relationships are the most important thing.

No excuses.

I want to challenge myself at work.

I want my students to see that they mean something and they can accomplish anything.

I want their self-esteem to increase.

To see that they are loved.

I want them to step out of the stereotypes of not being "smart" and being a "bully."

I want our education system to change.

I can make a difference.

No excuses.

I want to be known as someone who loves Jesus.

I want my actions and words to express the relationship I have with my Creator.

I want to show people Kindness. Love. Hope. Forgiveness.

I want to give selflessly.

I want God to use my finances and my talents for His good.

No excuses.

I want to finish a cup of coffee before it gets cold.

I want to let my house be messy for awhile without feeling anxiety.

Indulge on carmel dark chocolate and Arcata Scoop.

Sip my wine and cuddle with my husband.

Sleep peacefully and take deep breaths.

Finish what I start.

Give myself a break from being perfect.

No excuses.

Rebekah's Baby Shower

I have this friend I really love. On Saturday I celebrated with her and hosted my 4th shower for her. 

It seems like yesterday (when we were babies) that we were hosting a bridal shower for her at my parents house. She had her shower the day before my 19th birthday and was set to get married only a few weeks later.

Her sister Laurie and I convinced Rebekah to try on her lingerie for us and we giggled and laughed and were never talked into doing that when we got married.

I love this lady very much. She has been one of my closest friends for the past 12 years and I've known her my whole life. It is very special to honor people that you love and celebrate with them as they get ready for the new adventures that life takes them.

I cannot wait to meet my 3rd Kencke girl. Summer we await your arrival :)

Rebekah and Jenny

Me and Rebby :)

Some cute little party girls
Mackenzie, Molly, and Emily

Bonnie and her daughter, Rebekah

Some very cute girls: Carissa, Kelsy, and Teresa

The moms (and Sophie) getting out of playing games :)

I h

Clam Beach Run 2012

I had such a great time doing my first race of the year. I'm looking forward to the other races that are still to come.

The weather was gorgeous for the Clam Beach Run.

I ran the race last year in 54 minutes and wanted to break 50 minutes.

Friday night I started to doubt that it was possible.

Getting ready for the race always makes me nervous, not that someone would beat me, nervous that I will not be able to set out what I wanted to do.

The first half of the 5 3/4 mile course has a lot of hills, as I was huffing and puffing to sprint up the last one, it was a relief to go down the hill to Moonstone Beach.

As you can see the water was very low, but I knew that it would not be good to walk through the water, so I look ridiculous as I'm running because water is splashing in my face and I didn't want the salt in my eyes :)

The last picture is also awful because it is the worst part of the race.

Running on the sand isn't bad at all because it is always hard sand. The last race to the finish is on dry sand that is hard to maneuver in and I always get scared that I'll make a fool of myself and fall and roll my ankle.

I love how it looks like I'm not even running.

I'm very proud to say I destroyed my goal and ran the Clam Beach Run in a little over 45 minutes, which is a 7:55 minute mile.

I've decided that the Foggy Bottoms Run in March (4 weeks away) that I'm going to try the 10 mile.

Anyone want to join?

I think that goal will be 1 hour 25 minutes (8:30 minute mile)

What We've Been Up To

The Hinrichs Household is ALWAYS busy! Going through some pictures I saw some things that we've been up to :)

Mud walk with our friends Avi and Judah. It ended up in a mud bath, both boys were soaked to the bone and very happy! You might think that a big mess was involved, but it wasn't. We stripped off all of their clothes before leaving Sequoia Park, quick bath at home, and threw all of the clothes in the wash (no stains). I love mud days. Next time we will just take the older kids, especially since Henry fell all the way in during the first 2 minutes of arrival. What's new? :)

My sweet little boy swinging

Puddle jumping in action!

My cute little men

Tyler showing off his accomplishment

Tyler helping Avi enter the puddle

New bunkbeds!!! Tyler is now sleeping on the top and he loves it!

We decided it was time to get rid of Tyler's old bed and dresser and get bunkbeds for the boys! Yay! Ty is so excited for the day when him and Henry can share rooms. Henry will stay in his crib as long as we can make him. They both love climbing up the ladder and sitting at the top. My sweet boys are getting too big.



No bake energy bites

 Pinterest is the best for recipes. These no bake energy bites have been made 3x's and all of us LOVE them!

Superbowl cuddling with Chuck

We had our annual superbowl party at the beginning of February. Good food. Great friends. Tons of fun.

Henry enjoying leftover Superbowl cupcakes

This chocolate is fantastic. Buy it!

I had a shower for my friend Rebekah's baby this past weekend and made homemade cinammon rolls for the first time. Pioneer Woman style. They were AWESOME!

Picture of Teresa and I at the shower

Tyler's Valentines for Preschool :)

Baked chicken, steamed broccoli, sautted zucchini, mushrooms, and asparagus, salad, and sweet potato cakes

Cooking healthy has been something that we have been obsessed food. Eating right. Eating less. Filling our body with healthy items. Aaron caught himself yelling at the boys last night for eating food that we were prepping for dinner. We then realized he was getting mad at the boys for indulging in bell peppers and cucumbers. We have awesome kids :) lol

Cuddle time with my two boys

Every day life for our family is so sweet. Wouldn't trade it for the world :)