Wordless Wednesday - Uncle T

Happy 8th Anniversary Babe

Jon and I have now been married for 8 years. I am still in shock about how time seems to be flying by and I cannot believe that it has been 8 years since I married my best friend and soul mate.

I am ashamed to admit that Jon and I have not written those letters that we owe to our Priest. It has been on my to do list for a year now and it has not been completed. So many times I meant to pull that wedding videos out and watch so I knew exactly what our assignment was supposed to be. It still has not happened but now that Jon and I are working really hard on our "to do" lists around the house and so much is getting done, I might just get that letter written to the priest.

Tomorrow night Jon and I get a date night out. We are not sure exactly what our plans are going to be but I think we are both just looking forward to spending some much needed time together.Tonight my mom made us a steak dinner and we even had cake. The kids loved it and then they sang "Happy Anniversary" (same tune as Happy Birthday) to both Jon and I. It was fun to celebrate with everyone.
I think it is safe to say that Jon and I have not had the easiest rode these past 8 years. Our traveled path has been one that was much different than what was anticipated 8 years ago. However, due to all of these challenges, it has made us so much closer. We don't always get along, we don't always agree or see eye to eye but we both know one thing is true...We love each other and as Lots of Scotts stated recently, "We are on the same team"! I know that someday a long time from now, both Jon and I will look back on these crazy times and wonder how we ever did it all. We will remember the ordinary every day moments that we often take for granted these days and we will smile at all the memories. I am confident that we will both agree that we would do it all over again and not change a thing.
Jon, God sure has blessed my life with a husband like you. You are such a dedicated, hard working, and loyal husband who puts your family before any of your own needs. Thank you babe for being my soul mate and very best friend. Thank you for all your love and support. Happy 8th Anniversary and here is to many more years chuck full of happy and fun memories together.

Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh MY

Last week Jon took the kids to the zoo one day. They had a blast. He packed a lunch and off the went. Look at the awesome shot that he got above. Love that picture. The bear was being very friendly with the kids walking right up to the glass to see them and doing somersaults in the near by "pond" for them too. They rode the train that is at the zoo as well. Jon even made the kids walk the entire zoo for "exercise". They all had so much to tell me when the got home from their zoo trip with daddy. They also saw them feeding the sharks in the aquarium too. It was really a fun day for all of them. I just wish I could have been there to join in on all the fun.

Wordless Wednesday - Good Friends

Photo Kind of a Day

Today we did the annual family photo shoot. We met our photographer Brian at a local park and it went great. The weather was nice and we had some great settings. I will not have the photos back for awhile but once I get them I will post a few for all of you to see. It was a lot of fun hanging out together as a family today. Such a nice fall day with the sunny shining and a nice cool breeze to keep us all comfortable in our sweaters and jeans.

Playing at the park after our photo session, I came to the realization that these kids are BIG. They are getting so grown up. I know that people tell me all the time "really enjoy it, they grow up so fast"! I never knew that it would go by this FAST! I sometimes worry that I may not be enjoying it enough. I find myself grasping onto these days and memories that we are all making together. I want to capture it as I know soon this will all be a distant memory. I guess that is just how life goes. Therefore, I want to live every day to it's fullest. I was reading a moms magazine and they had 40 Tips to a Happier and More Fulfilled Life. Here are a few of my favorite:

Always Pray and make time to exercise.

Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of six.

Try and make at least three people smile each day.

Life isn't fair but it is still good.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does.

Make peace with your past so it doesn't screw up your future.

Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

Forgive everyone for everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything. Give time, Time!

Envy is a waste of time, you already have all you need.

The best is yet to come.


Finally....

Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

**These pictures were taken last week at a play date, they are not from today's photo session.

Football Fools

This past week, a very generous contractor that I work with handed me 4 tickets to the local University football game. We already had plans for Saturday so I thought I would pass the tickets on to my brother or my dad. However, I soon found out that they were all going to be out of town. I then started to think about the football game and how much K would love it. Lately, he has been asking both Jon and me to turn on the TV so he can watch some sports. He is crazy about sports. He would watch anything boxing, golf, swimming, you name it he would love to watch it. So I decided after much thought (sorry S that we canceled on you and G) that I would take K to the football game. Jane said she would have a date with the girls and I recruited one of my very best friends scooter (nickname) and her nephew to come to the game with us.
We had a blast. We got there just in time to see the March Band take the field and then the players all run out. K asked a thousand questions about football and after the 1st quarter when I told him that we were going to get some lunch, he said "no, mom, I am watching the football game"! He did not want to leave his seat. It was great. I especially loved when the Cotton Candy vendor started up our isle and K raised his hand and screamed at the guy "I'll take some Cotton Candy"! I of course then bought him a bag of cotton candy and everyone around us was laughing. I also got him a baseball hat and I think he would have wore that hat to bed if I would have let him.
It was a fun date. I know Scooter really enjoyed it too. It is such a treat to get to spend one on one time with my kids. I know that they really enjoy it too. Big Thanks to Jane for taking the girls and spoiling them rotten today. Also, thanks to Scooter who went with us and helped create the fun memories.

1st Day of School

A, E, & K started school this week. It is just a one day a week program like they were in last year but they just love it and so do Jon and I. The kids get so much out of it and we are thrilled that they get to go back again this year.
Above is a picture that Jon took of them on their 1st day. I think K is starting to practice is expression for when he takes his pictures for his sports in the future. He almost looks like it is painful to smile! Soooo funny! I can't help but notice how much they have changed since the start of school last year. AMAZING how fast time goes by.
Here is to a great start to another amazing school year with A, E, and K. Oh and they get to bring show and tell every week this year so it will be interesting to see what their selections will be.

For Mothers of 4 Yr Olds

Wordless Wednesday - FUN

The Erickson Rodeo

Our horse Lucky and the kids were in the annual church parade this past weekend. I am happy to announce that we took 2nd place in the costume contest. We have been in this parade since the kids have been born. The First year we were three peas in a pod, the second year we were the three little pigs, the third year we were a monkey business, last year we were the funny farm and this year we were Rodeo.
This parade puts a lot of pressure on me every year to figure out what the kids are going to be. Every year the people watching the parade always admire the "triplets" and our theme. This year Jon helped me get the horse on wheels and he even dressed up with the kids. It was so refreshing to have him involved. K told him his job was to pick up the poop that lucky left behind. K also told the judges that they should "move over there is a new sheriff in town".
The kids had a blast walking in the parade and throwing all the candy out to the spectators. We had just enough candy until the end of the parade so that worked out great. I need to start thinking about our theme now for next year. If you have any great ideas please feel free to share.

Wordless Wednesday - Girly Camp

Camping Queen Returns

I made it back home after my glorious camping weekend with my brother and a bunch of our friends. I had a GREAT time as I do every year on this trip. This year was a little different for me though because I missed the kids and Jon a TON. I was very homesick for them this time. It was noticeable because I was asked more than once if I was "okay". It was my second weekend in a row away from all of them and that is just WAY to much. I told Jon that I do not plan to do that again.
It was beautiful weather this past weekend and we all had so much fun. I had some time to reflect on some things going on in my life and it is amazing how much clarity you can get when you slow down enough to pay attention. There are a few things that I have pondered about changing lately and I saw with much clarity that those changes need to happen around here. The kids had a great time when I was gone. They got to go to the fair again with Grandma and Grandpa and Jane, they also went out for dinner, and they got to spend some time with Sue and Denny. They were so busy I don't think they even had a chance to miss me. I was so happy to see them yesterday. I could not wait to get home and pick them up. I think they were happy to see me too.
Sue sent Jon and I an email last night of their adventures with her. Here is what she had to report:

We went to the park, I actually went with Mia and Luncinda and Lego. Lego of course is this very naughty child that takes a mother (Mia) and big sister (Lucinda) to control. At the park he ran away to the bakery, and Mia told me they have to go get him because he eats all the cakes. This happened several times.

Then we went on a big hike into the woods. K, E and A went with. The loved it. They liked the flowers and things they could find. They were thrilled to cross over a bridge that had water running underneath it.

A made lunch. She heated up the spaghetti noodles in a colander under the facet. She had enough spaghetti on each plate to feed 3 adults so we had to scale back a bit. At the hotel yesterday, I got several cartons of milk so she poured every one's milk into glasses. Now you all know she is Denny's pet, and he was bragging about her tonight at dinner how she poured the milk without spilling and everyone had an exact equal amount. He said she could be a Eucharistic minister and pour the wine just perfect. She then set the table and called everyone in. I put bibs on everyone since it was spaghetti. E was a little "naughty" at lunch, pretending she was a baby. I finally told A and K not to look at her because she was just doing it to make them laugh. K was very serious and told me he was trying very hard to not laugh, but his tummy couldn't help it.

After lunch we played water baseball and water Olympics for quite a while. Afterwards, when they were getting dressed, K told me " I don't want to be Lego for the rest of the day, please don't let them make me do it". (It must be a real effort to pretend you are a naughty two year old, which is how"Mia" always describes him to me).

Jon and I both laughed so hard when we read what K said about his tummy. Yesterday, Sue started a letter of the day with the kids. I thought I would continue that on this morning so I told the kids that the letter of the day was C. Ella replied to me, "but mommy, did you call Sue? How do you know what the letter of the day is?" I laughed at this. She already knows me as I usually would NOT think of letter of the day. So funny!