Don't rain on my parade

Aubree's school has a fun tradition of having a Book Character Parade. Each of the kids is supposed to dress up like a character from a book and then carry the book in the parade. Aubree decided to go as Fancy Nancy

She was a very cute Fancy Nancy, her one request was to have curly pony tails so we rag curled her hair in the pony tails and she loved it.


It was freezing, she wore a long jacket but forgot it and her book in her classroom. The kindergarteners got to sit and watch all the older classes and then be in the parade and the end. Aubree was thrilled to watch the other classes and guess what the kids were.
Hayley was so excited to see Aubree and have her wave at her
I was really impressed with all the teachers and staff they all dressed up. There are 8 kindergarten classes so each of the teachers dressed up like an animal from Eric Carlisle Brown Bear Brown Bear what do you see. Her is Aubree's teacher as the purple cat
It was cold but totally worth it.

No pictures please...

At Hayley's preschool last week she got to dress up both days! She was thrilled. She had decided to be Rapunzel for Halloween, so I thought she would dress up as that. Boy was I wrong! Monday night as Hayley was getting into bed she declared she was going to dress up like a unicorn for school tomorrow. When I tried to explain to her that we didn't have a costume for that she got very upset and said please mama? I decided I had two options; 1: make it a fight the next morning after Aubree and Eli went to school or 2: figure out how to make a unicorn horn. I chose the latter. While Eli and a buddy were studying I made this, which I think turned out pretty cute:
The next morning she chose her outfit and was thrilled with the horn. However she didn't want her picture taken.
After a lot of compromising she let me take one picture if she could play one game on the computer before school. (which happens to be her new favorite thing)
One picture but no smile, I'll take it!

On Thursday she decided to be Minnie Mouse, which she dressed up like last year so that was easy:
But again not thrilled to get her picture taken, she finally let Eli take a picture of her when she got to school with her friends:
She made a very cute Minnie if I do say so myself.

We can fix it right!

While getting ready for a visit from Grandma Aubree's closet door fell off. So Eli and Hayley came to the rescue. Eli looked at Hayley and said get your tools :She loves to help fix anything, she also likes to fix things that aren't broken. She was a big help and was very patient for her turn to help:When it was finally her turn she was thrilled:Her one complaint after the door was fixed and the glue was drying was that she only needed one tool in her tool box and she needed to use them all. So if you are in the need for a handy woman Hayley is your gal.

Whats in a name?

They other day I was sitting next to Aubree watching a movie when she started to make a funny sound. Ah Ah Ah Ah then she would stop and then start again, Ah Ah Ah. Then she looked at me very seriously and said, "mom I am pretty sure my name doesn't start with an A, it sounds more like an O". It took me a minute to figure out that in her mind A only makes one sound, and O sounds more like the A in her name. Trying to not confuse her I explained that some of the letters make more than one sound, and some even sound a lot a like. However I was impressed that she figured out what letter she thought her named started with. Boy is she in for a world of confusion later in life when things start to have silent letters. Good thing she doesn't need to worry about that for a while

The name game.

One of the many quirks we have here at the Erickson household is we have nicknames for each other. Eli is usually the one who comes up with them and they usually stick pretty good. I know what your thinking everyone uses nickname, Eli even goes by his most of the time. No no no, these aren't your typical nicknames.

Soon after we got married Eli called me HONEY (pretty common), then it morphed into HONEY BUNCHES which let to HONEY BUNCHES OF OATMEAL.

When we decided to name Aubree, Eli didn't want her called Aubs. He felt like it was a weird nickname for a child. But alas we started to call her AUBS which let to AUBREE DOBBREE which sometimes is just DOBBS? Because she was so tiny when she was born my mom started to call her PRINCESS PEA, that has also stuck. PRINCESS PEA is much more feminine that DOBBS don't you think?

Hayley has had the most nicknames and will answer to all of them I think. Hayley became HAY HAY, which morphed into HAY BAYLES, or just BAYLES. Recently Hayley has discovered that she has a middle name Alice. She soon recognized that its the same name as Alice in wonderland. We stared to call her Hayley Alice which morphed into HAYLEY ALICE WONDERLAND, and sometimes just WONDERLAND.

Sometime Eli and I will refer to them and 1 and 2, when we don't want them to know who we are taking about.

There was a period of time I called Eli EJ for his initials, but he hated it and so it didn't stick. Guess we should work on that, wouldn't want him to feel left out.

Shave and a Hair cut two bits...

Well with out the shave. Back before school started for the girls I decided they both desperately needed hair cuts. The famous saying about the builders own house is the last to be worked on is true with hair dressing as well. Aubree had only had a few hair cuts in her life thus far and I am a little embarrassed to say Hayley had never had one. So we picked a day and did it.
Aubree went first and was a champ:
She held very still and didn't cry. The DVD they were watching maybe had something to do with that, maybe.
Then it was our little Hayley's turn, she was not thrilled with the idea of getting a hair cut and so she demanded to sit on dad's lap.
In the past there have been other kids who get nervous and need to sit on their parents lap so what the heck sit on dads lap. She didn't cry, she held very still, and I am not sure she even knew what was going on. And by the looks of this picture Eli didn't mind too much watching Strawberry Shortcake.
To tell you the truth, there is no way I could have gotten her hair cut with out him. Thanks babe!

Beignets Anyone?

One of our favorite new activities is to make Beignets like Tiana does on Princess and the Frog. Everyone gets involved, we listen to the music from the movie, dance, sing, and eat yummy treats. What is a beignet you may ask? Well its a fancy french way of saying what we refer to as a scone. (at least at our house) Its really easy especially since it is so warm here. We take rhodes rolls and let them thaw and rise in a cupcake tin, then we each take turns flattening and stretching them, then mom cooks them in the hot oil:The girls dance, sing and set the table. We like all kinds of thing on them: Peanut butter and Jelly, Chocolate frosting, honey butter, and powdered sugar.They have become on of our favorite little treats as well as an activity we all do together.

Who doesn't like bubble baths?

Our kids love bubbles, everything there is about them. They love to take bubble baths and they love love love to blow bubbles outside. A couple of weeks ago Aubree had a hard day at school and so to cheer her up we went to get her a new jump rope she had been wanting at the dollar store. As everyone knows you can't get something for one kid and then try and explain it the 3 year old why they don't get something, so I got Hayley some bubbles. After all it was just a dollar.

Our kids also love Skype! They love to be able to see everyone they love while they talk to them. The other day I just so happening to get on the computer when Gran was on hers, so we got to have an impromptu skype session, and to top it off Papa was just coming home for lunch. Hayley was so chatty I have never seen her like this on skype she wanted to tell and show them everything. Well one of the things she wanted to show them was how she could blow bubbles. So she did, and then we sat the bubbles on the table (with out the lid). After we finished skyping I sat down to eat lunch next to the little lap top which was next to the bubbles. Hayley came over and wanted to put her hand in my drink to "pop" the bubbles. (like I said love bubbles) After I told her no, she was frustrated and pushed a makeup bag that was next to the bubbles, and we had a domino effect. Makeup bag> bubbles> lap top. I grabbed Hayley put her on the floor off the table, grabbed a towel put the lap top upside down trying to let gravity do its thing, and then it made the saddest little noise. I immediately called Eli who started laughing, and told me I better do the same its better than crying. So now I am off to take it to the geek squad at Best Buy who can hopefully get my pictures off, who knows what pictures are on what computer?

So long story short, Lap Top computers are who don't like bubble baths tha'ts who!

Critters part 2

Lets play of a game of can you find the critter? See if you can tell by looking at this photo:

Here are a few more:

When we moved here we found out that there is a very good possibility while we live here we will run across a Copper Head Snake! It is a venomous snake from the pit viper family. Lovely! I hope to never have a picture of one of those from the back yard. Because of this possibility we have talked at length with the girls what to do if they ever encounter one. And we also are removing any dead debris from the yard. Because of the drought there is quite a lot. We were clearing a wood pile on the side of the house and found this little family of frogs

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We found a little baby and my mom caught it in her hand for the girls to see. Here I am holding it in a jar to show them, it was very jumpy. Don't worry PETA we let it go back by its mommy.

Here is an easier photo, they hide for a long time by the fence. They were fun to see, but alas no names.

Random Copper Head facts: They are typically known for being the less venomous of the venomous snakes and bites are almost never fatal.

Random Frog Facts: When they eat they don't chew, just swallow. Frogs eat insects and small rodents. BONUS!

What critters live in your back yard?

Let me introduce you to our newest friend Amy. As you may have noticed Amy is an armadillo. One morning my mom looked out the window and found her. She played in the back yard for about 3 hours and then moved on. We were able to have a great view as she was digging around trying to find grubs. Now we know who has been digging the holes. We are sad to say we have only seen her the one time, but hope to see her again.

Random armadillo fact: they are one of a few non-human mammals that can contract leprosy. They are blind, but have huge eyes.

The Stars at Night are big and bright!

The Erickson's are moving to TEXAS!!!!!! Yee haw! Eli has decided to go back to school to get his MBA and we are so excited to be headed to the Lone Star state to do it. We Erickson's girls are so proud of him and can't wait to start saying howdy and y'all.

For Papa

Today we went to visit the Huntington Library for their free Thurday. I have lived here for 7 years and this was the first time we went. Every time my parents come for a visit Eli tells me that we should take my dad here, that we will love it. Well Eli was right my dad would love it. So this post is for him. If you know my dad then you know we loves Bonsai tree's. Here is just a few of the amazing bonsai we saw. When the girls first saw them they wanted to get a picture of with them to sent to papa, so we did. Aubree wanted to make sure the lizard was also in the picture so we got a close up as well. ENJOY!












There were many many more, so we will just have to take papa when he comes next.

March 2011 Goal

Soon after we moved to Cali Eli's mom gave me most of Eli's pictures as a child. When I first got them I scrap-booked a bunch of them but never finished. As the amazing scrap-book stuff collector I have everything I need to finish I just haven't, but now I will. My goal for March is to finish his book. So when I report in April I will take a few pictures of my favorite pages to show you. Wish me luck. If anyone wants to get together and scrap-book let me know.

February Goal:recap

Through out the month I tried hard to de-junk and organize the different rooms in our apt. I was able to pretty much finish the entire apt. The only problem is just because everything, for the most part, doesn't have a place doesn't mean they stay there. Through out the month I tried to stay on top of the picking up as well and would honestly say I somewhat better about my apt. Its funny how when we moved in I thought we would never be able to fill the apt, and now we have way to much stuff, guess thats what you get for having 2 kids. :) I have some bigger projects that are taking some serious thinking.

ie: we have a 400 disk dvd player and the remote has stopped working. Its harder to use without the remote, and we haven't ever really loved it. So do we get a new remote, get rid of the thing, or do nothing? Mean while I have kept all the dvd cases, which why keep the cases if you aren't storing anything in them? Maybe just keep the seasons of shows cases and put the rest in a disk book? If anyone has a great idea I would love to hear it.

I have also kept up on making dinner, and am amazed at how easy it is when you have a plan.

New toy

While out on a date last weekend Eli and I were at the mall and we wondered into one of our favorite stores William Sonoma. We purchased a Popsicle maker. You put the thing in the freezer for 9+ hour and then right infront of your eyes it makes the popsicles. It was a huge hit. The only catch you have to use real sugar, or 100% juice. So far we have tried California Gold (fresh tangerine juice)- DELICIOUS! Chocolate milk- moose bar anyone, and apple juice- didn't really work. It has become our new favorite thing to do. Here are the girls modeling with the popsicle.
So come on over and we will make our very own Popsicles right in front of your eyes.

Daddy's girls....

Last week while making dinner the girls decided we should celebrate our daddy.

So Aubree and Hayley colored pictures that we hung over the counter.

What kind of a party would it be at our house with out streamers?

And last but not least we had to sing "welcome home daddy" before he blew out candles.

As an added bonus I tried a recipe from a friend and Eli loved it!

look mom no cavities...

Last week I took Hayley to her very first dentist apt. Let me tell you she was absolutely fabulous. I love my pediatric dentist. He is very patient and very friendly. His office is very family friendly. Next to the dentist chairs there are 3 big bean bags and lots of toys. It makes it easy to take which ever daughter isn't seeing the dentist with you. Here is Hayley trying to pick her flavor of toothpaste and fluoride.

Hayley watching Dora (her favorite) while waiting for the dentist.

Here is Aubree in the bean bag chair watching Hayley patiently. We always have to take a stuffed animal to hold, even Aubree needed to bring one.

Tether ball the Erickson way

Eli's parents have a tether ball set. We like to play but our way, everyone stands way from the pole and then Eli spins the ball and everyone has to get on the tire before the ball wraps all the way around the pole.
And then we do it in reverse to get off the tire. This way its a lot more fare for those of us who are vertically challenged. It also is hilarious to watch Eli and the girls play.:)