First Day of School 2013 Third Grade

It is hard to believe that summer is over and school has started again.  WOW!  That went fast.  The kids are all very excited for the new school year.  Jon and I are very excited as well.  This year the kids will all be in the same class.  They started a new school with in a school where are kids attend and we were lucky enough to have made the cut to be included in this school. 
The school is called Impact Academy.  I can post more about the school later but it is a different way to teach kids.  They will learn and work at their own level and pace as well as do some Service Learning this year.  The classroom is very dynamic and exciting.
So far the kids are very happy with their new gig.  They come home and talk about all the exciting things they have done that day.  They are thrilled with this new furniture and space.  They told me that they have not done any learning yet this year.  I replied and told them that they better start learning or we will have to find a new school.  Then K piped up and said "Mom, we are learning but just in a new way so it does not feel like learning"!  BINGO! 
Jon and I pray that this school year will be a success.  We are hopeful and excited for what is to come and how much our kids will grow. 
Now for that to do list that is a mile long on all the things I need to get caught up on around here.....

RIP Toby June 7, 2000 to August 3, 2013

  

Today is a sad day for The Erickson Five....we had to put our beloved cat Toby down. He was a great companion and will be missed by all of us.  

Toby was Jon and my first baby.  We adopted him one month prior to getting married.  He was such a cute kitten and I will never forget when we went to adopt him how he crawled up Jon's arm and snuggled into his neck.  He was a very sweet kitten that had big feet.  He had extra toes on all of his paws which we thought was so cool.  

Toby has been through a lot with us.  The adoption of his brother Dexter, three moves, triplets, and most recently the addition of Gracie Mae to our family.  Toby did not like any of the changes but he did tolerate them.  He was essentially my cat.  He slept by my head most nights and seemed to be my companion.  These past few months both Jon and I have noticed that he was losing some weight.  Then his ear got bad and when I took him to the vet, they said that he had tumors in his ears.  Dexter also has tumors in his ears but seems to be tolerating them better than Toby ever did.  I know in my heart that Toby is at peace and I look forward to reuniting with him in heaven one day.   The hardest part of owning a pet is a day like today. I continue to remind myself that “'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Madeline Island Camping 2013

A few weeks ago we were blessed with the opportunity to go to Madeline Island to go camping with some of our friends and neighbors.  As a child one of my best friends growing up had a cabin on Madeline Island and I had been there a handful of times.  It was great to go back and experience it with my own family. 

What an awesome time we all had.  It was such great weather, warm and sunny all day with some rain at night.  Jon loves the rain at night in the tent.  I tend to worry a bit about getting wet but this time I tried to relax and enjoy it.  The bugs were a little heavy this but we did not let that stop us from having a fantastic time. 

The highlight of the trip was cliff jumping.  There was both a high jump and a lower jump.  We all enjoyed jumping off.  The only hard part was that the water was VERY cold so it would take your breathe away when you landed in it but that did not stop us, well at least some of us in the group.  We could have spend all day jumping off that cliff and we already have plans for going back next year. 

The kids even made their own Kids Camp in our group camp site.  They hung out in their own camp and even had their meals in their camp. 

We all joked about our "mini van" line up.  Great time, Great Friends, Great Memories!

Enjoy the pictures!

Summer Camp Rules 2013

This past week the kids have enjoyed spending time at our local YMCA camp.  They participated in camp last year and they loved it so much that we signed them up again this year.

I cannot say enough positive things about this camp.  What a wonderful opportunity for our kids to be able to take party in such a unique experience.  The camp is run by young adults.  These kids are in college and have been through years of training to become camp councilors.  The girls have had some junior camp councilors in training with them this week and have enjoyed it.

The camp offers so many wonderful things.  There is a swimming pool, gaga court, volley ball, play ground, canoeing and kayaking on the lake, fishing, archery, arts and crafts, cook outs, tie dying, many fun camp songs to learn and the kid favorite Black Hole (a black tube slide). The kids are outside all day from 9 AM to 4 PM.  They are happy, dirty, and tired when its time for me to pick them up.

Last night was family night.  It was great to see the camp and all the activities that the kids did all week.  At the end of the night we all met in the amphitheater for counselor and camper introductions. All of the kids had to shout out their names and then each group sang one of the many camp songs.  At the end of the intro the counselors all got up and did one last camp song (the most favorite one) and they all went crazy. 

There was so much energy.  The camp director spoke to all of the parents at the end of the night and explained how important statics show it is for kids to have mentors that are older children as they grow up.  We are so blessed to live so close to this YMCA camp and to be able to send our kids there.  They had an absolute blast and I have been asked over and over and over again this week "Mom, can we go back next year?"  Awesome!

As we were walking out of camp last night all of the counselors were high fiving all of the parents.  When we got down to K's counselor, he asked if I was K's Mom.  When I said yes, he went on and on and on and on about how much they LOVE K.  Of course that is music to a mothers ears and made my night.  K did extreme adventure camp this week that included rock climbing, skate boarding at a very large skate park, a high ropes course through the trees at camp that leads to a zip line, kayaking, and hiking.  I was nervous for him as he is afraid of heights but he was determined to participate.  He has done a wonderful job and he truly LOVED every minute of it.  In true K fashion it will be hard for him to say good bye this afternoon.  He asked if he could go back to camp next week and the week after.   A true sign that he has enjoyed the week.

The girls counselor had equally nice things to say about A and E.  They did Arts and Crafts camp this week and I have enjoyed all of the projects that they have brought home.  They too asked to go back to camp next week!

Awesome!  Awesome! Awesome!

Living it up at Nine....and Forty One!

This past weekend AEK turned 9 years old.  It is hard to believe that they are already half way to 18 years of age but it is true.  Time sure is flying by. 

We had a wonderful weekend full of fun and good times.  The girls had their party on Saturday afternoon.  We had a GIRLS ROCK party with a DJ and all.  They danced and danced and danced some more in the garage while Jon, Grandma A, Grandma E, Jane, and Grandpa E watched.  It was such a fun party and all of the girls were so fun to have around. 

We finished their party off with some crafts, pizza, cake and Ice Cream and gift opening.  So neat to see all the girls excited to give A and E their gifts.  It was equally as sweet to watch A & E open their gifts and be so thankful to all their friends. 

K had his party on Sunday afternoon.  We went to a trampoline park.  Boys have so much energy that it was great to watch all of them run and jump and sweat having a blast.  There was a game of Dodge ball that even Jon was able to be a part of. 

K then have pizza and cake with his friends followed by gift opening.  It too was neat to watch the giving and the receiving.  After that the boys got to play arcade games and Laser Tag. 

Jon had his Birthday today.  We did celebrate at Grandma A on Sunday night.  She made a wonderful meal and treated us all to her great cooking. 

It has been a Birthday week full of good memories, lots of laughter, yummy cake and most important good health and love.  God sure had blessed all of us. 

MS Walk 2013

The kids put this together all by themselves and it even made the MS Walk Newsletter!

I am a few weeks behind on this post but I wanted to make sure I put it on the blog.  We had the annual MS Walk on Sunday, May 5th.  This year we did it a little different as we had the kids join us for the walk.  They did AWESOME!  They walked the whole way without one complaint.  I could not be any more proud of them. 

The Boys!

It was a nice day for the walk, a little overcast and slightly chilly but we did not seem to mind.  Considering we have walked in a snow storm before and with the crazy spring weather we have been having this year I would say we lucked out.

Don and I after the Walk!

The Walk In Maniacs team was able to raise over $7000 and I could not be more proud or happy with that number.  I alone turned in $3200 on the day of the walk.  It is so amazing to me the generosity of friends and family to Jon and I in our cause to find that cure. 
My Mom, Jane, and Rachel pulled off a wonderful Cinco De Mayo party after the walk.  It was outstanding and oh so much fun. 

Family and Friends at MS Day at the Twins Game!

Gracie and her friend Gus did the walk with us this year too.  Big thanks to Melissa for making them their own MS Walk Bandanas.  They sure did look great and so much a part of the team. 

Gracie and Gus ready for the walk!

I feel so loved by all my family and friends.  Thank you to all who continue to support Jon and I in our quest for a cure.  There are so many of you that come back year after year after year to help support us and it means so much!  God Bless all of you and know that I have very deep appreciation for your support.  Now for that cure....it's coming and hopefully will be here soon!

Baptism to First Communion....Time Flies

First Communion 2013

This past Sunday we celebrated the kids First Communion at church.  It was such a beautiful day all around.  We had both sets of family in town and all the God Parents were here to help the kids celebrate.

The kids and Jon and I have been preparing for their First Communion all year.  A and K carried the gifts up at Mass and E did a reading in front of the whole church.  They all did a wonderful job.

As always, I ask myself where the time has gone and how are we already at their First Communion.  I'm sure in not so many years ahead I will be asking myself how we are at their Confirmation.

Celebrating life events such as this, it really makes me look at my life and appreciate how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.

Thank you to all who joined us on Sunday to help AEK celebrate their big day.  I could not feel more loved nor be more proud.  May God continue to Bless AEK and our entire family with so many blessings.