Growing big & tall

9 month check in

                     Liam             Gavin

Weight         21.4 lbs          21.75 lbs      

Height          28.25             28.25

Head            18.25             17.75

As they get older it's getting easier and easier to tell them apart; the definitive blue and brown eyes give it all away.  They are really starting to play together and act like brothers.  It's so fun to watch.  Liam is growing so fast (already walking as of a couple days ago)

Seattle 3 Day

This was our 5th year participating in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day 60 mile walk.  We've always walked in Arizona, but chose to walk Seattle this year. We had supporters and babysitters so it made it an easy decision.

This is an amazing event that can't be described unless you have an opportunity to participate and/or volunteer.  We appreciate all the support our friends, family, and co-workers have given us over the years.  We couldn't do it without you!

Together the Hendricks family has raised over $34,600 in the past 5 years.  We have already begun our fundraising for 2013 where we will again walk in the Seattle 3 Day.

If you'd like to donate to our 2013 walk please do so at our website:  Seattle 3-Day 2013.

Thanks to everyone!!

Scrumptious Sundays

Eggplant Lasagna

4 WW points plus

I adapted this recipe from one that a friend gave me; this is how we make it.
2 eggplants, sliced 1/4 thick
8 oz fat free ricotta cheese (Trader Joe's has the best)
1 jar marinara sauce (check your sauces most are less than 2 grams of fat, but some are 10+)
2 cups fresh spinach
9 oz, part-skim mozzarella cheese
Fresh garlic, 3-6 cloves
Fresh basil, one bunch
Fresh ground salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Arrange eggplant slices on baking sheet, spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt & pepper.  Bake eggplant 20-25 minutes.  If you have 2 ovens great, if not you'll probably have to do 2 batches. Tip*I bake the eggplant ahead of time, the day/night before so it's one less step come dinner time.

While eggplant is cooking combine ricotta cheese, garlic (minced), basil (chopped) in a bowl.

Now the layering...we treat each slice as the base of an eggplant lasagna tower (rather than layering like traditional lasagna).  Spread a small amount of marina on the bottom of your 9x13 pan.  Eggplant, spoonful of ricotta mixture, eggplant.  You should have 12 individual stacks.  Now layer the entire pan with 1 cup of the spinach, and top with 1/3 jar of marinara.  Repeat:  Eggplant, ricotta, eggplant, spinach, marinara, eggplant, ricotta, eggplant, spinach, marinara.  Top with freshly sliced mozzarella.

Bake 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  let cool approximately 10 minutes.  It may be watery because of the spinach, so use a slotted spoon to serve.  Delicious and only 4 fabulous WW points plus per stack.

Scrumptious Sundays

Chicken Pot Pie

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

1 1/2 cup carrots

3 medium potatoes

1 1/2 cup mushrooms

1 1/2 cup broccoli

(you can pretty much use any veggies you like, this is what we had on hand and it turned out delicious)

2 chicken breasts

3 cups chicken broth

1/3 cup flour

1 refrigerator pie crust

1 egg white

1 Tbsp skim milk

Recipe makes 8 servings; 5 Weight Watcher Points Plus

You can cut the recipe in 1/2 for a smaller portion, but we found the leftovers were just as good so this recipe is actually doubled.

 Sautee all the veggies for 3-5 minutes; add the chicken and cook until chicken is no longer pink

Combine flour and chicken broth; add to veggie mixture - heat until boiling and begins to thicken.

 Pour everything into a glass or stone baking dish.  Cover with pie crust, fold the crust over the edge of the pan to seal the dish.  Combine egg white and skim milk and brush over the top of the crust (this is what gives it that golden brown delicious look).  Cut slits in the crust, bake for 30-40 minutes.  Let stand for a good 10-20 minutes...it will still be plenty hot!  If you don't let it stand it will be soupy rather than creamy.

The first time we made this I accidentally forgot the chicken (DUH!); it was still delicious.  So it can also be a great vegetarian dish if you don't want to add the meat.  Such a healthy spin on some great comfort food that is usually loaded with fat.

Delicious for all ages (even the baby ate it - couldn't get enough of it)

Grandmas are SPECIAL!!

An added perk to our visit to Seattle was a trip to Olympia to see Grandma Jane.  This was the first meeting for Liam and Great Grandma Jane.  When she held him she said "oh my you're a little chunk." That pretty much sums it up.  It was so great to spend the day with her.  I'm pretty sure Gavin wore her out just watching him run around like he does.

We all love you very much Grandma!!

All smiles as usual!

 

 Drinking tea with Grandma; Gavin LOVED this little tea set.

 Barb, Liam and Great Grandma Jane.

 Two big boys crushing Grandma's lap

6 month Stats

Although it's almost time for the 9 month checkup, but I still thought it would be fun to do a comparison.

Gavin 6 months
Weight 17.5 lbs
Length 26.5"
Head 17"

Liam 6 months
Weight 17.9 lbs
Length 26"
Head 17 1/4"

They're so close to the same.  Liam is growing by leaps and bounds!!  He loves, loves, loves to eat and he'll try anything (most things he likes).  He definitely is enjoying 'grown up' food more than baby food.  It makes dinners a lot easier.

The older Liam gets, you can really start to notice their very different.  Still boy Hendricks boys in every possible way though :)

The Wanted Wannabes

Gavin discovered this song on the iPad; we think he secretly listened to it at night in his room.  All of a sudden one day he knows all the words, has a dance routine with instruments.  Gotta love that kid.  Liam sure loves him!

Garbage Disposal

He eats it all.  And when he's hungry he lets you know!!  We can't complain though, he doesn't really cry any other time.  We aren't holding anything back with Liam, spaghetti, macaroni, PB&J, chicken nuggets - he's going to love meat, bread, and pasta.

(Gavin is making progress, made & ate a PB&J the other day)

 Teething biscuit, messy but very helpful when mommy's making dinner

Guacamole, wouldn't stop eating it!!

Operation Holy Moly

Last weekend we attempted to rid our back yard of some pesky moles.  Yes the pictures seem like cruel punishment for the little critters, but with 2 little boys running around the back yard (not to mention other neighbor kids), live traps didn't seem like a feasible option.  So Sgt. Hendricks put on his destroyer hat and headed out for the mission!  Liam and Barb supervised - Gavin just thought it was the 4th of July all over again.

I'm sure we'll have more updates as the weeks go on, hopefully we got 'em and our mission is complete.

All Star Weekend

Thanks to our new favorite neighbors, we were able to participate in the All Star MLB Weekend that was held here in Kansas city.  We started out at the FanFest in downtown on Saturday.

My boys strolling through the streets, it was incredible hot!  We were so glad FanFest was inside.

Liam couldn't swing or throw, but he got on the ground and (as usual) enjoyed every minute of the day!

Do we have a lefty in our family??

I want this chair for the boys rooms :)

On Sunday we went to the Futures and Celebrity games.  The boys were really good (Liam loved the game).  Gavin has been to the ball park a few times so now he knows where the toys are and that's where he wants to go as soon as we enter the stadium.