Happy New Year!!!!

At the end of every year I look back and ponder over the things that I wanted to accomplish in the last year.  Somethings I got done while others I did not.  Like everyone else I have the list of to do's that never get done, no matter how many years it is on the list.  Well not any more!! I have resolved to be better! At the end of 2013 I want to look back at all that I was able to do and be proud that I accomplished all that I  said I would do, and not worry about the things I didn't.  The year that I was able to do this the best so far was the year that I took big projects and gave myself a time limit, a reasonable time limit of usually about a month.  Something I will need more time others less. I also like to be held accountable for them, so that is why I am sharing them with you.

1- I would like to finish the Book of Mormon 2 times.  Really it is 1 1/2 I am currently half way through and didn't want to lose the momentum and start over.  In my life I have never done it just for me so this time is for me!

2- My name is Nicole Erickson and I am a hoarder.  Not in the you can't walk in my house because the junk is piled to the ceiling kind of way.  In the I like to collect and not use stuff. Its not that I collect random things its mostly beauty and scrapbook necessities.  I have decided to reduce the amount of stuff.  In regards to the beauty essentials I have acquired I am participating in a 10 Pan challenge.  The pan is the metal piece at the bottom of the make up you see when you use most of it up.  I am going one step further and using it all up.  I am not allowed to buy anything new until I do.  The nice thing is in the past I typically use half of something and then get something new, so on somethings, I only need to use half.  In regards to scrap-booking stuff, I have a lot.  I like to have it all very organized and just look at it.  I used to make cards project to project, and have a lot of scraps let over.  So now I have challenged myself to only use scraps until they are gone or mostly gone. Once that's done, I can buy more.  I am also interested in seeing what affect this goal will have on my bank account. It should be interesting.

3- To fast on Fast Sunday's with meaning.  In the past I have found that the times I fast with purpose I get a lot out of it.  Being a new mommy, it has been a very long time since I was able to participate in fasting the traditional way, and was touched today how much I thought about what we fasted for.

4- 2014 will be Eli and my 10th year wedding anniversary.  We are celebrating by going to New York! I have challenged myself to save half the money.  So if you know of anyone in the Austin Area who needs a hair cut let me know.

5- I have decided that I like to learn new things so why not take a class.  Starting this week I am taking a cake decorating class.  Maybe I will be the next cake boss, or maybe I will only make cupcakes for my kids.  Either way, I will be thrilled.

The rest of the projects are of course the same ones as before; get scrapbooks done that I started long ago, exercise more, spend less, and love much.

We can do this!!!  Lets make it our year!!

Aubree turns 7

On December 22 our sweet little Princess Pea, who isn't so little anymore turned 7.  What, I know its crazy.  She was so excited for her birthday.  Here she is ready to open gifts waiting to get Grandma and Grandpa on Skype.

                                                               
                                                                      The Erickson MEN

She was so excited to get her camera.  She has taken some great photo's.

She choose Red Robin as her birthday dinner.  Hayley has decided that she no longer wished to have her picture taken.  Ok, well then.

However she does like to take the pictures so this picture taken by Hayley!

The birthday girls as the sang to her, she was so excited until they started then she was a little embarrassed.

Ethan trying milkshake.  Like all Erickson/ Jackson's he LOVED IT!

Aubree has 3 loose teeth, that she wiggles every once and awhile, but gets distracted and forgets.  She is getting quite the wit. Her new catch phrase is " No kidding"? 

After everything I explain to her she says that in a very we'll that's fascinating tone. Its hilarious I only wish you each could hear it. Aubree is an absolute delight and a wonderful big sister that is willing to hold or play with Ethan no matter what else she is doing.  Aubree has lots of questions and is very adventurous.  

We love you to the moon and back Aubree Nicole!!!   

Mr. MBA

On December 13, 2012 Eli James graduated with his MBA from TAMU! Whoop!!

We are so incredible proud of him.  Texas A&M holds a very personal Hooding ceremony.  The students in Eli's class voted on who they would want to speak, Matt Lameroux did a fabulous job.  He wanted to make sure to end their time at school the way it started.  On the end of the first day of orientation Kelly, the Director of the program, asked what had they learned that day.  Matt being a smarty pants said he knew every one's name and then called everyone by name.  So he ended his talk by showing a picture and saying something nice about each and every one of the 72 classmates.  About Eli he said that he was a wonderful family man. After the speakers they each were hooded by one of their professors.

After they were hooded they shook the hands of the Dean of the business school (to the right of Eli). I am proud to say the Dean Strausser knows Eli by name, for good reasons.  He also got to shake the hands of the Assistant Dean, Dean Mac Anally, Eli was her TA the last year.  The man on the far left is Dr. Mujahan, who taught international finance.  He was voted by the students as most inspirational. 

The Aggie ring is a very important symbol.  It represents loyalty, courage, and honor.  In Texas if you wear an Aggie ring people automatically identify you as an Aggie alum, which in turn opens doors.  Here we are in front of the alumni center under the big a ring.

Here is Eli showing you the difference in sizing between his ring and TAMU's ring.  

We are so proud of Eli and all that he has accomplished.  Now we have amazing new friends and a new adventure for our family.

We have a very special  guest photo journalist. Aubree! For her birthday Aubree asked for a new camera and her wish was our command.  She has had a lot of fun documenting things over the last few weeks.  Here are just a few.

 Daddy and his little buddy doing there thing

One of the few times over the last few weeks I sat down

What we think Grandma Vickie looked like as a child

Playing our new favorite dinner table game, Hedbands. If you don't know how to play come over for dinner and we will teach you!

Ethan trying to get into daddies drink

Strike a pose

Make a funny face

Don't worry she is already out documenting more......

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.