Erickson Clan

Where has the time gone?!

2011-01-22T23:16:00.000-08:00

There is WAY too much that has happened since the last time I blogged, so much in fact that I'm not going to go in to too much detail over everything. Just the big stuff! For X-mas this year, my brother, step-sister, dad and Leah and my aunt and uncle, all chipped in and got us a laptop!! So, now, my blogging should be more frequent. As for right now, it's ridiculously late and I don't want to start it all this moment. More to come soon! Just in case anyone who reads this, thought I fell off the planet!

Halloween 2009

2010-02-15T16:10:00.001-08:00

We didn't think we'd be around for Halloween, considering how late Brian was! Luckily, my doctor was nice enough to induce me and we made it! The kids would've killed us if we weren't there for trick or treating! They were so excited for Brian to participate, but I kindly explained that a one day old baby cannot go outside on Halloween. Not to mention the fact that he won't eat candy either! So, they were nice enough to let me stay home and pass out candy this year!! What nice children I have! Blake was so excited to be Harry Potter. I found his Gryffindor robe at Good Will for 3 bucks!! It was brand new too! SCORE! Nana's was at Good Will also and it was 6 dollars. The onl extra thing I bought was Nana's broom and it was a measely 3 dollars. So, all in all, if you do the math correctly, I only spent 12 bucks! Woo hoo! Our next door neighbor bought Blake his potter glasses and he wittled his own wand. Yes, I said wittled! He got a "real" pocket knife from Uncle Robbie and he decided he wanted to carve a stick in to a wand shape. He's very resourceful! They kept trying to convince me to get a costume for Brian but they didn't understand that a 24 hour old baby wouldn't fit in to any kind of costume! Ha ha!! Here are a few of the photos we took of the spooky night!!

2010-02-14T01:30:00.000-08:00

Brian's first day home

2010-02-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

They couldn't stop kissing him!

This was her proudest moment yet!

Grandma Steiger made his beautiful blue blanket

He had cute little moose on his feet :)

That big grin says it all. So proud!

He was just so small and chunky!

We had a very short stay in the hospital this time. I had him Thursday morning and by Friday night, we were home. Brian and Angie had the kids at home waiting for us. The kids were absolutely elated to see their new brother! We walked in the door and the kids were sitting on the couch with grandma and grandpa, with giant smiles spread across their faces. It was the cutest thing ever! They immediately ran to the carseat and skipped out on the "welcome home" hugs. Oh well, I let it go, just that once though! They couldn't believe they had a brother. It was one of the most amazing and beautiful moments of my life. To see my kids welcoming their new brother like that was just wonderful! We couldn't have asked for a better homecoming.

And then there were three....

2010-02-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of the morning he was born.

Squishy, puffy cheeks!

He still sucks on those two fingers!

My beautiful baby boy.

Here he is!! Brian William Erickson. I decided on a middle name that was a little more traditional than DANGER! We still call him baby danger, so at least he'll have that nickname for the rest of his life!

He was born on Thursday October 29, 2009 at 12:09 p.m.! The morning started out way too early. We had just gotten that really bad snowstorm the night before too. We were up at 4 and we left the house a 5. We drove one mile an hour on trecherous roads to St. Joe's and got there at 6. They got me in to a room finally, about 7. This labor was a very different from the last two. I had to be induced this time. I didn't really like it honestly! It was way more intense than regular labor. They started me on patosin, probably didn't spell that right, at 8. It started being annoying right away, but I was ok in between contractions. It got pretty painful and I got some drugs through my IV to take off the edge, but I did it without an epidural again! He was born 4 hours later! He was 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 18 inches. My biggest baby so far! The nurses said he was perfect with his pink skin and full cheeks. He came out screaming, so he passed that test right away. He peed and pooped on the little baby table as soon as they put him down, so he passed that test pretty quick too! It was hard this time because my kids were not allowed in the hospital but we set up Brian and Angie's laptop and Skyped the kids minutes after he arrived and the kids got to see him. They were SO excited! It was a wonderful day and Todd and I were so happy to have another healthy baby boy.

2010-02-13T13:54:00.000-08:00

So, it is very apparent that I haven't blogged in a while, considering the last blog entry is me very pregnant! So, I have a bit of catching up to do! Pardon me while I enter in three months of big, fat, beautiful, baby!!! Enjoy!

Big Mama!!!!

2009-08-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

Just look at this belly!! Todd likes to make fun of the size of this thing, ALL THE TIME! He has to constantly remind me that it is gigantic! Isn't he lovey! Like I don't realize the size of it?! DUH! Everyone keeps asking if we are having twins!? YIKES!!! No way! We are very excited! This picture was taken last week, at 32 weeks. I am thoroughly enjoying this pregnancy, and as excited as I am to see the little boy, I kinda don't want the pregnancy to be over! Weird, huh?! Oh well. I guess there's no slowing it down now!! We decided to name him Brian...after his daddy, of course. He was very flattered...like I needed to increase the size of his ego, HA!

And the baby is a........................?

2009-07-06T22:42:00.000-07:00

So, we had the ultrasound. It was exciting and the kids got to go, so they were pretty excited, not only to find out what it is, but also to see how they did it! They did say it is a boy though! The umbilical cord was between his legs, so it was kind of hard to tell the sex, but the radiologist said if she had to put money on it, she would go with the boy side. I want to keep an open mind, just in case, but we're going with the boy thing anyway. We are SO excited!! Brianna was not excited however. Grandma Erickson went with us and of course, Nana was with her the whole time. Well, when the doc said she thought it was a boy, Nana buried her head in Angie's shoulder and balled!! It was SO sad! She didn't look up the rest of the appointment. She got over it by the next day though. She's excited too, now. :) I don't have a scanner otherwise I'd post the pics of the baby. All I have are pictures of the face because the nurse wouldn't take pictures of the "sex organs." She told us that taking pictures of naked children is child pornography. Well duh, but an ultrasound picture....really?!?!?! WHAT??????????? It's a black dot on a black and white photo of an alien looking blob in your stomach! What the crap!? It was probably one of the most outrageous things I've ever heard, but I couldn't argue, she wouldn't budge! LOSER! I wanted to yell at her and tell her to give me a picture of my son's pee pee, NOW. I held back. On that note...If I get a hold of a scanner, I'll post some pics of THE FACE ONLY! Ha ha ha! Crazy people out there!!

We're havin' another one!!!

2009-06-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are looking at my last blog with wondering eyes, yes...it is true, we're having another baby!! We are so excited! The kids are really excited as well. Nana wants a girl, go figure, and Blake wants...guess...yes, a boy! Funny how that works. We don't know yet what it is. We find out Friday. i will make sure and post it as soon as i find out! Watch that baby countdown widget and follow along with us! Yay!

2009-06-15T15:25:00.001-07:00

Faith in humanity...gone

2009-03-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know that my closest friends and all my family have had to listen to me complain about this all weekend, but I'm SO upset and heated about this, that I have to vent some more! (sorry)
So, this past Friday, we went to see a movie at Movie Tavern. I politely turned my phone on silent before the movie started and proceeded to put it back in my jacket pocket. I took my coat off eventually and put it in my chair. At the end of the movie, I put my jacket on, did the one last "did we forget anything" sweep and left the theatre. We live ten seconds from the theatre. I realized after walking in my house that my phone was not in my pocket anymore. I immediately checked the reciept for a number...of course there wasn't one. I then went to the website and found the number...no one answered at the theatre. I then decided I had to drive back, and fast! I got there and it had been, literally, 15 minutes since we had originally left. The manager was NOT helpful at all! I told him I had left it and he said "oh...well...you can go look." Oh no, I was NOT in the mood! Regardless, I went and checked the theatre and I checked with our server and this nice lady helped me look for it. It wasn't there. I left my name and number with them and left. I must've called the theatre 17 more times that night, but no one turned it in. I shut it down and checked with Verizon and they said a call was made at 9:30, from the phone. Whoever has it, hit redial. It is Monday and I still don't have my cell phone. It was one of those brand new Verizon Blackberry Storms, touch screen...blah blah blah. So, I get why it was so wanted, but...I am pissed! It's not the phone I'm mad about losing. It's all the pictures and videos of my kids and friends, it's the hundred phone numbers I had in there, all that stuff! I'm so mad about losing all my personal information and memories! Everytime something like this happens, it makes me lose more and more faith in humanity! Why are people so dihonest?!?!? Why can't people just be good and respect other people and their property??!!! It boggles the mind?!
So, for those who read this...I don't have ANYONE"S number anymore. I will soon be trying to get everyone's phone numbers and stuff. It is so discouraging and depressing . I'll move on eventually, but for now, I'm pissed and I'm gonna sulk.

My...that boy is getting too old, too fast!

2009-01-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

Mom: " Blake, what do you want for lunch tomorrow?"
Blake: " A PB&J and juice."
Mom: " ok, what else?"
Blake: "Ummmm...nothing."
Mom: "Honey, you have to have something else along with your sandwich. How about chips and a yogurt?"
Blake: "yeah, chips are good, but not the yogurt."
Mom: "Why not? I thought you loved yogurt?" "You were the one who asked me to buy the yougrt!" (FYI- the yogurt containers have Diego on them.)
Blake: " I know, but all the boys laugh and say I like Diego?!"He says with a smirky grin on his face. " Could you buy yogurt without Diego on it please?!"

It was so sad and so hilarious at the same time. He is only seven and is being affected by "image!" How stupid! It's yogurt people...not to mention the fact that the container gets thrown in the trash anyway! Whatev!

So proud!

2008-12-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't blogged in twelve years or something...I'm a slacker, I know. Anyway, this past weekend was filled with so much! I don't have pictures yet, because of a slight malfunction on my part, but I want to at least write about it. First of all, my bubba boy Blake had his first concert with the Colorado Children's Chorale. For those who didn't know, he auditioned back in August and he made it in. I was really nervous at first because he wasn't really excited to be in it. I kinda felt like I was forcing him to do it and living vicariously through him. Well, much to my relief, he had his first few rehearsals and LOVED IT!! Yay!! Well, so this past weekend was their Christmas concert at Boettcher Concert Hall, downtown. I was once again nervous when he went in for dress rehearsal and, thankfully, he had a blast! I thought the huge theatre and stage and all the thousands of people in the audience would make him nervous, but he did it and loved it. So, when it was time for the performance, I was a crazy, psycho woman and he was the calm, cool, and collected one! Regardless of all that, the performance was, wonderful and my baby boy did an AMAZING JOB!!! I was so proud of him and I cried at the sight of him doing something so well and loving it. So, that was my first tearful proud moment this weekend. My second came with my princessa. She has been loving her cheer leading! Saturday, her squad was one of the children's squads in the CHSAA cheer leading competition. They didn't do any competing but they got to perform in between the groups. I was nervous for her because it's been hard for her. She loves it, no problem, but she is only five and she hasn't been catching on to the cheers very quickly, so naturally, dropping her off at the performers door at the Denver Coliseum knowing that she was about to perform in front of hundreds of cheerleaders and their family and friends and coaches was a bit nerve racking! I had no reason to be nervous. She got out there, rocked her little blond head off and nailed it! I was bawling like a baby! I will get pictures posted as soon as I can, but I had to at least tell all. I am SO proud of my babies and so grateful for such amazing and talented, and extremely cute I might add, children! A mother couldn't ask for better.

The first colors of fall

2008-10-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Fall is awesome! I love the colors of fall. Despite random blasts of snow, the weather is tolerable and frankly, very refreshing following months of scorching hotness! Summer is still by far my favorite, but I was in awe when I saw the colors on this tree! I pulled up to my house and it caught my eye right away! I thought it was so beautiful I had to take a picture of it. It makes me wonder how people can deny that God exsists. Just look at everything around us! Wow! Anyway, a little random, but fun still the same!

Spartans Cheerleading!!

2008-10-01T22:44:00.000-07:00

Brianna recently joined the Spartans Cheer leading squad. She is loving it!! It, according to her, is, "why she was born!" It's funny how quickly she picked up the "cheerleader attitude and lingo," she says things such as," like, totally! Duh mom, I'm a cheerleaderrrr!" She is such a girl! It is so adorable and funny to watch her. She thinks she is the cheerleader of the year! They practice a lot though! They practice two times a week and they cheer at football games every Saturday! Not to mention the upcoming Veterans Day Parade and the endless competitions they have planned! She of course is still a little too young to get all the different cheers. But she does great, considering she doesn't really know her left and right quite yet, and she can't spell so the whole, "give me an S, give me a P, gimme a blah blah blah, what's that spell," yeah, that doesn't always work to her advantage. But, she sure loves runnin around in her little purple uniform, shakin her spankies everywhere! Oh man, I can't get enough of it all! Here are a few pics!!

This is her squad. See that tiny girl in the front row? Yep, you guessed it, that's her!

Here she is posing at a game!

More cute girlie poses!

2008-10-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some "first day of school pics!" I cannot believe how fast my babies have grown! They haven't grown much, considering their gene pool, but fast anyway! Brianna was sooo excited to go to her first day of kindergarten. She loved it! I cried like a baby. I didn't lose it when Blake went off to kindergarten, but man oh man did I cry me a river when Nana went! I just don't want it to all be over. Ya know, babies, I mean. It didn't last long enough with those two! Oh, but they were stinkin cute, walkin to the bus together. Blake was telling Brianna everything he knew about kindergarten and her teacher and the building and where the principals office is and why you would have to go there. Imagine that, Blake knowing that little piece of info? Hmmm??!! Not a coincidence! I, of course have nothing to do with that portion of the gene pool, just to get that straight!

Random thoughts, By: Jack Ha...er...Lara Erickson!

2008-09-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

So, I sit here thinking about how horrible of a blogger I am. It's not that I don't enjoy it, it's just that my computer, that dates back to 1983, is slower than CRAP! Not to mention my lack of time. Anyway, I'm at work right now with a little free time on my hands so I thought I'd just type...er something. My brother types random, sometimes...stoopid stuff, so it's okay for me right?! Anyway, I started a new job a few weeks ago. I'm at Grandview High School. (I know, for those of us former or current BUFFS, it's a little dissappointing, but you'll get over it soon.) I am working in ILC, (special ed,) and I am loving it!!! The people I work with are awesome and the kids I help out are pure gems! I get to work with Linda Snelgrove too. That's a bonus in itself!! Anyway, it is so rewarding to help these kids everyday of my life. I am so grateful for my ability to work and to help out such great kids. I truly believe this is what I am supposed to be doing iwth my life right now. It is a bit of a downer to not be performing constantly, but not when I think of what I get to do everyday! On that note, I had better get back to work!!

2008-07-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

So, the other night Nana begged me to keep the light on for a few minutes so she could read. I gave in, of course, and told her she had five or ten minutes of reading time. Well, I lost track of time and about thirty minutes later I walked in to her room to tell her to go to sleep and this is what I walked in on! It cracked me up! I of course, had to blog it!! She is so funny!

2008-07-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

The pups are finally getting along! Look how cute and inseperable they are. Awww. Bowser is getting super big. He's a pain in the neck puppy, but SO worth it!

Nerrrd-yness

2008-07-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

There ya have it...I am friggin' cool! Yeeeah baby! Ha...what's funny is that not too many people would agree with this test! Just ask my husband.

Bowser

2008-06-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

We got a puppy!!!! Isn't he adorable?! We named him Bowser, even though Uncle Lynn gave me guff about it! :) Todd and I had a Mario Party one night and we defeated Bowser in a few hours. So, because of our triumph, we decided that Bowser was a sweet name! He has been really good. The only annoying thing about him is that he pees on the floor often. But for the most part, he goes outside to do his business! He sleeps through the night and takes at least 2 naps a day. Todd was NOT ready for a puppy, he's being...well..."Todd" about it, but because I get my way, no matter what, we got him! He is perfectly precious! Thank you Aunt Christy for the puppy, he is doing great!!

2008-04-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

We went to a Rockies game with our ward last summer. It was so freakin' fun! We had lunch on the patio of a restaurant right outside the stadium, before the game, we took lots of fun pictures during the game and Blake and Nana were with their cousins and some of their best friends, it rocked!

Brianna and her bestest friend Lily!

Hunter, Blake, Parley and Ethan

Blake and Nana waited in a really long line for this picture, but they were pretty excited to meet Dinger!!

Take me out to the ball game!!

2008-04-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

We went to this way cool park in the DTC for Taylors birthday. All the cousins played together and the whole family was there. Fat kids don't cry, especially in swings and the two duos in those pics are inseprable! As you can see, Taylor got a new lacrosse stick, from us, naturally. I mean, what else would we get him, considering that lacrosse is LIFE! Duh?!

2008-04-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Fred, Blake and Nana

Auntie Anna, Blake and Nana

Jetcar Nationals at Bandimere Speedway!
The Jet Car Nationals are Auntenna's (Auntie Anna) favorite races so they invited us to go along. It was so much fun, even though I was hiding with Blake in the souvenier shop because he was TERRIFIED! Brianna loved it! I was surprised at them both, but whatever!

2008-03-31T22:31:00.000-07:00

Back in August Brianna and I went to see Little Mermaid (live theatre.) A long time friend of mine was playing the part of Ariel, so you can imagine how excited I was to see her playing a lead role in a Broadway production. More importantly though, it was Brianna's first experience with live theatre! I was so proud of her. She did great! I thought she would have to get up every thirty seconds to pee or cry or whatever, but she was so enthralled and in awe over it all that she didn't budge! She even got to meet my friend Sierra after the show, but she wasn't wearing her Ariel costume, so Nana didn't even know it was who she saw on stage! She was so excited to go and as you can see, she wore her Ariel Halloween costume. I kept over-hearing people saying how cute she was. That's my girl!!

2008-03-31T22:27:00.000-07:00

So...we all know that I am exceptionally behind in blogging pictures and fun info. As such, I will attempt a quick recap of the last 8 or so months so bear with me!!

2008-03-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sammy for getting me a cute background. I'm off again for a while so hopefully I'll blog something...but don't count on it. I am obviously horrible at it and plain just don't have ANY time!

2007-11-17T16:39:00.000-08:00

We got Nana and Bentley in
on the BMX action too!!

2007-11-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

The boys both got new BMX bikes! They love to go to Wheel Park together! Like father like son.

Flanders the salamander

2007-11-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

This is the newest edition to our family. I found him in the church parking lot and I couldn't just leave him!

The Princess Party

2007-07-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

Nana finally got to have a party for her fourth birthday, that was a month and a half ago. I'm such a slacker mom! It was a hit! All the girls,(from left to right) Tori, Lily, Nana and Snowfie, wore their best ball gowns and were treated like the princesses that they are. They were so cute! They played pin the kiss on the frog prince, which you can kinda see behind them, they made pretty water bracelets and they ate a dessert, fit for royalty, of cake and pink lemonade in beautiful plastic goblets!! Nana loved it! Her bestest friends, princess dresses and pink cake, does it get any better??!!

2007-07-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

We went to Tiny Town with Grandpa Lucas a day or two ago. The kids had never been and boy were they excited when they discovered a town smaller than them! That my friends, doesn't happen too often for the Lucas/Erickson's!!!

2007-07-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

All was well when we left the hospital. This is Blake after 5 and a half hours in the emergency room, getting poked and peeled, four popsicles, several episodes of Sponge Bob Square Pants, 12 cc's of tylenol with codine, two teddy bears, a VERY cool hospital gown and a partridge in a pear tree! I got one little tough boy!

Fireman Blake!!

2007-07-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

We had an accident on our family camping trip recently and my bubba Blake fell into the campfire! It was one of my scariest "mommy moments" so far. We were in Dillon and we went to St. Anthony's in Frisco. They were wonderful!! I was a very brave mommy/nurse! I helped the nurse do some pretty gross things in that emergency room that night! YIKES!

First lost tooth!!!

2007-07-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight, right after we brushed our teeth, Blake allowed me to "try" and pull out his tooth. I got a hold of it really good and even though he yelped a little, I got it out!! He was SOOOOOO excited! Yay! One more milestone to add to our list!!!!

2007-06-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

Makenzie, Blake and Nana were havin' some sprinkler luvin!! They are best friends!
They are all one year apart...can't tell huh?!

Happy birthday Nana

2007-06-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

The princess is four! YIKES!! Too big, too fast!

The man

2007-06-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

These are the kind of pictures I get when my handsome little Erickson gets bored! He is definitely his fathers!! They both have ADD!!!!

2007-06-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

Nana got a ballet bar and mat and DVD for her birthday. Boy was she excited! She came down from taking a bath and I had set it up. Here she is doing a ballet stance of some kind! It's something but I can't spell in French!

2007-06-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

Blake had his first lacrosse camp this summer. He had a blast! This is him and one of his friends. Little does he know that this is just the beginning of lacrosse camps!

Lax rules!

2007-06-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

My handsome boys went to an Outlaws game together. They are too much alike! They're kinda cute though!! *wink,wink!

sidewalk chalk

2007-06-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

This was during Sunday dinner. I came outside and the whole family was lauging and egging him on....naughty!! He was too cute to spank!

2007-06-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

She wasn't purposely posing this way. Actually she was being a brat and she wouldn't smile! The minute I said "McDonalds", she smiled...brat~ cutie :)

2007-06-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

She was made for the stage! Look at her! My dancing princess. What a drama queen!

2007-06-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

This night was Brianna's first dance recital! They told us to do the girls make-up so they wouldn't look pale and sickly on stage...I can't believe my 4 year old has make up on. I was worried she would look like a mini hooker, but Todd reassured me that she didn't!

The Erickson kiddos!

2007-06-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

2007-03-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

Here is another piece of our family. Collin, Manda, Sarah, Luis, Todd and I all went bowling when Collin and Manda came home for a few days. It was a blast. We had so much fun! It was good to be with them.

2007-03-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

You would never believe me if I told you she was shy. She is...just not around mommy and daddy! Blake had a play date one afternoon, so Todd and I took Nana out to Chik-Fil-A for lunch. As you can see...she got chicken nuggets. She is our sweet, punk-monkey princess.

2007-03-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

My kids think they are so funny! They do make pretty funny faces and it makes me laugh! Can you tell they were freezing off their BUTTS??? No? Me either. I happen to enjoy their (almost) constant sunny dispositions. There are times however, that the sun rolls behind BIG, dark, thick, ANGRY clouds and you would never believe they could be this cute and sunny! Roll with it.

2007-03-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

So...here is our little family. This picture was taken at the Zoo just this past December 2006! We try and go every year. Blake is 5 and Brianna is 3....Todd and I are..let's just say early 20's! Ha! 26 and 24. We're not old enough to hide our age yet!! Those hats are so funny. They make the kids look like elves!! They are al least the right height. Denver Zoo 2006!!!

Blogging is so weird!

2007-03-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

This blogging thing is strange to me! I hear about it in new movies and from friends, but haven't done it. This is a test run, ignore this please!!!