Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
30 Days To Live
Jon came home the other day and told me he found a book at Barnes and Noble titled "30 Days to Live". He did not buy it but ever since he told me the title, I have been intrigued by it. This has made me think a lot lately about living life to the fullest and appreciating everything we have and counting all of our blessings.
So it is easy to say "Live every day to its fullest and count your blessings" but in the real world, it is easier said that done. Some days, I just don't feel that upbeat about everything. Shamefully yesterday, was one of those days. I was in a bad mood and I will spare you with all the details of why but as I laid in bed last night before I reached my slumber, I thought about my actions of the day and I could not help but feel ashamed at my bad mood and attitude. I am so blessed with so many things but yet I find myself taking those for granted. Really, though, what is important in life, material things like houses, cars, or toys? NO! Even though we live in times where we want instant gratification for the things we want, need or think we need. What is really important is spending time with the people you love. Hugging your kids and playing games or putting the computers away at night and spending time with your spouse. This past week there was another death in our extended family. Death always seems to bring life back into perspective. So I am very guilty of not living every day to its fullest but I intend to work on this area of my life. I also intend to buy this book or at least one like it so I can read it and try and practice it.
So it is easy to say "Live every day to its fullest and count your blessings" but in the real world, it is easier said that done. Some days, I just don't feel that upbeat about everything. Shamefully yesterday, was one of those days. I was in a bad mood and I will spare you with all the details of why but as I laid in bed last night before I reached my slumber, I thought about my actions of the day and I could not help but feel ashamed at my bad mood and attitude. I am so blessed with so many things but yet I find myself taking those for granted. Really, though, what is important in life, material things like houses, cars, or toys? NO! Even though we live in times where we want instant gratification for the things we want, need or think we need. What is really important is spending time with the people you love. Hugging your kids and playing games or putting the computers away at night and spending time with your spouse. This past week there was another death in our extended family. Death always seems to bring life back into perspective. So I am very guilty of not living every day to its fullest but I intend to work on this area of my life. I also intend to buy this book or at least one like it so I can read it and try and practice it.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Whole Lot of Fun
On Sunday, The Erickson Five joined three other triplet families at a hotel not to far from our home. It was an overnight and water park party. I am happy to report that we had a BLAST! We spent hours at the hotel's water park and then we spent hours in our adjoining rooms hanging out, singing, dancing, and truly just have a great time.
Who could have thought that this...
Could have caused all of this to take place....
We had a huge dance party with the mommies and the kids. Of course the Dad's stood off like this....
as I am sure they were scared to get in the mix and show off their moves.
The kids really enjoyed the big water slide and we took many turns going up and then back down the water slides with the kids.
I think the adults enjoyed it as much if not more than the kids. Both Jon and I feel so blessed to have such great friends that know exactly what it is like to have three little kids at one time.
They understand our daily life and they don't think it is strange at all the things we go through. 
We feel blessed to be able to go to a water park hotel and make such fun memories with such fun friends. You know you are blessed when you come home from an overnight and your sides hurt from all the laughing and fun you have had. We just can't wait until the next water park family play date!
Who could have thought that this...
Could have caused all of this to take place....
We had a huge dance party with the mommies and the kids. Of course the Dad's stood off like this....
as I am sure they were scared to get in the mix and show off their moves.The kids really enjoyed the big water slide and we took many turns going up and then back down the water slides with the kids.
I think the adults enjoyed it as much if not more than the kids. Both Jon and I feel so blessed to have such great friends that know exactly what it is like to have three little kids at one time.
They understand our daily life and they don't think it is strange at all the things we go through. 
We feel blessed to be able to go to a water park hotel and make such fun memories with such fun friends. You know you are blessed when you come home from an overnight and your sides hurt from all the laughing and fun you have had. We just can't wait until the next water park family play date!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Ligth Switch Emotions
Yesterday, K woke up with GG Del on his mind and heart. He has mentioned her a few times in the past few weeks but yesterday was different. You can imagine my surprise when we were on our way to church and out of the blue, K said to me "Mommy, I miss GG Del and I want to go and see her"! I always just tell him our belief that we will see her again in heaven someday. This answer usually satisfy him however, yesterday it did not. He kept asking all sorts of questions all the way to church about GG Del and then in a very sad voice he told me how much he misses her. I told him that we all miss her so much and then it happened. The light switch of my emotions was turned on and the tears and sadness took over. I quietly cried through church yesterday and then after I had that sad ache in my belly all day. My saving grace was that I spent the day with Jon on a home project and this kept us busy all day long.
This is not the first time that I have lost someone that was close but this is the first time that I have lost someone that was such a BIG part of our lives. I know that grief can take a long time to to process. I know that I will ALWAYS miss GG Del and that we all have an empty place in our hearts with her gone. I just wonder at what point my emotions will be easier to control than at the"light switch" level.
Tonight as we were driving home from Grandma Mary's house, GG Del came up again. A, E, & K were all tuned into the conversation this time. K started in again about how sad he is and how he wants to go to heaven to see GG. Ella pipes up and says "K, stop talking like that, I don't like that talk" and then anytime after that if K said something she kept shouting for him to stop. So at this point, I told everyone that if they miss GG so much they can just talk to her. So we all took turns talking to GG and telling her all about our Christmas and everything else that we have going on in our lives. I then said that maybe GG will give us a sign that she can hear us. What I thought was interesting was that A said to me, "GG will come see us at night when we are sleeping". To which I replied "how do you know that have you seen her"? A said "No but I just know she comes at night when we are sleeping". Interesting perceptions for a 4 yr old. I do hope that GG Del is watching over all of us from heaven and peaking in on us at night.
If anything this is a great reminder that I am not the only one grieving GG Del. We are all grieving her. These kids are amazing and strong and for that I am grateful.
This is not the first time that I have lost someone that was close but this is the first time that I have lost someone that was such a BIG part of our lives. I know that grief can take a long time to to process. I know that I will ALWAYS miss GG Del and that we all have an empty place in our hearts with her gone. I just wonder at what point my emotions will be easier to control than at the"light switch" level.
Tonight as we were driving home from Grandma Mary's house, GG Del came up again. A, E, & K were all tuned into the conversation this time. K started in again about how sad he is and how he wants to go to heaven to see GG. Ella pipes up and says "K, stop talking like that, I don't like that talk" and then anytime after that if K said something she kept shouting for him to stop. So at this point, I told everyone that if they miss GG so much they can just talk to her. So we all took turns talking to GG and telling her all about our Christmas and everything else that we have going on in our lives. I then said that maybe GG will give us a sign that she can hear us. What I thought was interesting was that A said to me, "GG will come see us at night when we are sleeping". To which I replied "how do you know that have you seen her"? A said "No but I just know she comes at night when we are sleeping". Interesting perceptions for a 4 yr old. I do hope that GG Del is watching over all of us from heaven and peaking in on us at night.
If anything this is a great reminder that I am not the only one grieving GG Del. We are all grieving her. These kids are amazing and strong and for that I am grateful.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
NEW SPORT-CUSHION DIVING
Tonight the kids wanted to bring their new CD player upstairs to the living room so they could have a dance party with me. I agreed so we started to dance and have a lot of fun. The new favorite CD around here is GO FISH-Preschool Party. It is all the good ole preschool/toddler songs but to a fun beat.
After we had been dancing for awhile, the kids started to find all the cushions from the sofas and chairs in our house.
They lined them all up and they started to Jump off an old stone plant stand that I have. 
It was so much fun to watch and the kids were really have a great time. As usual, they were like the Energizer Bunny and they kept going and going and going.
It was a fun night with the kids after an already too long week at work. Also, Daddy is back and focused on home now that he has passed his big test with flying colors. We are all so proud of him and we are so excited that he is mentally back with us. 
I have already assigned Preschool research to him. AHHHHH, something off my plate.
Life is good. One of my new year resolutions this year is to slow down and smell the flowers or at least notice the fun around here. I think I did a great job of it tonight.
After we had been dancing for awhile, the kids started to find all the cushions from the sofas and chairs in our house.
They lined them all up and they started to Jump off an old stone plant stand that I have. 
It was so much fun to watch and the kids were really have a great time. As usual, they were like the Energizer Bunny and they kept going and going and going.
It was a fun night with the kids after an already too long week at work. Also, Daddy is back and focused on home now that he has passed his big test with flying colors. We are all so proud of him and we are so excited that he is mentally back with us. 
I have already assigned Preschool research to him. AHHHHH, something off my plate.Life is good. One of my new year resolutions this year is to slow down and smell the flowers or at least notice the fun around here. I think I did a great job of it tonight.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Happy New Year 2009
As we are settling back into our normal routine, I was thinking about how crazy busy I feel all the time. That is part of the reason that this blog has been quiet lately. I got to thinking about why I have not been as dedicated to it and really, this past holiday season was a whirlwind. Jon is studying very hard for something that is really important right now and he has been doing this since Thanksgiving. I understand how intense and important it all is not only for him but for all us and our future so I have been doing my fair share of stuff around here. On top of all of that I am busy at my own job so my stress level has been high.
Having said all that, let's talk about the new year and all its hope and promise. New Years Eve we had our annual party. It was fun. The kids had a blast and they are always so excited when we are going to have friends over. I told Jon before our guests arrived, "I think our kids like to party even more than we do" Jon replied "you know that is going to come back to bite us someday like when they are in High School and we are out of town"! Anyway, the party was fun and this year I was honored to have some of my eldest and dearest friends come to the party. We had a great time and we even had our kids in bed by 9:30 PM so that made for a nice New Years Day!
We have so much to look forward to this year. Our family vacation to Disney, celebrating many important birthdays like the triplets turning 5 yrs old, the wedding of my eldest friend Kristin and all the important roles we are going to play that day, and I am sure many more events that I am not thinking of right now.
My wish for 2009 is for much happiness, excellent health, fun memories, and most of all to be reminded daily of the importance to slow down and enjoy this stage of our lives. God sure has blessed The Erickson Five. May those blessings continue this new year and always.
Having said all that, let's talk about the new year and all its hope and promise. New Years Eve we had our annual party. It was fun. The kids had a blast and they are always so excited when we are going to have friends over. I told Jon before our guests arrived, "I think our kids like to party even more than we do" Jon replied "you know that is going to come back to bite us someday like when they are in High School and we are out of town"! Anyway, the party was fun and this year I was honored to have some of my eldest and dearest friends come to the party. We had a great time and we even had our kids in bed by 9:30 PM so that made for a nice New Years Day!
We have so much to look forward to this year. Our family vacation to Disney, celebrating many important birthdays like the triplets turning 5 yrs old, the wedding of my eldest friend Kristin and all the important roles we are going to play that day, and I am sure many more events that I am not thinking of right now.
My wish for 2009 is for much happiness, excellent health, fun memories, and most of all to be reminded daily of the importance to slow down and enjoy this stage of our lives. God sure has blessed The Erickson Five. May those blessings continue this new year and always.
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