Summer Adventure 2011

School starts in 2 weeks.  The summer is almost over...I have mixed feelings about this.  It's most definitely time for the kids to go back to school.  They are bored and possibly getting dumber by the second with all the Nintendo DS and Sponge Bob they are currently taking in.  I have been on maternity leave all summer which I also have mixed feelings about.  Its been great to be home with my kids since, as a working mom, I don't get to do much of this.  However, since the very reason I am home with them keeps me very much on my toes, it has also been hard to be home.

I have had to think of every activity possible to try to keep them busy and entertained and keep myself sane.  We have done swimming lessons, dance camp, scout camp, the local zoo, the local aquarium, multiple trips to various parks, splash pads, McDonald's play places, and mall food courts and they seem generally satisfied with their activities this summer. 

And of course, since I am home we had to take advantage of this time and take a family trip to California to visit our very favorite place.  We decided to also throw in Sea World and San Diego Zoo while we were there.  Are we crazy for doing all this with a 5 week old baby?  Yes, a little.  It was not easy but we made it work and we had a really good time.   Think of it this way...we braved D-land on Christmas Day.  I dare say that after that we are able to do anything.  It takes colossal patience and a good attitude.  Both of which I had 93.4% of the time...good enough.

For me, a trip where the kids get to see fun and educational things while laughing and learning and spending time together as a family while we also avoided any major disasters along the way = a successful adventure.

After a couple days in the car our first stop for fun was the San Diego Zoo.  I remember this zoo from field trips in elementary school and I wanted my kids to see that there are zoos that are way bigger than the Hogle Zoo.  We had a good time despite the miles of uphill walking and the extremely humid climate.  Ugh! 

If you ask the kids they will probably tell you that what they remember about the zoo is bouncing on the giant trampolines.  Paige was even doing flips on these things.  Personally, my favorite part was the giraffes and the merekats.





The next day was Sea World.  We headed straight to the Shamu Show and the kids braved the very front "soak zone" row while Eric and I hung with the baby in the safe and dry zone.  All I can truly recall from that day was that it was stinking HOT!  The kids got nice and wet from the Shamu Show but Eric and I remained toasty.



I really think that this is the only picture I have with all 4 of my kids in it so far.  Its not easy to round up all 4 of them but this backdrop at Sea World was picture worthy.  Oh and I have to mention that Cameron is a goofball.



The kiddos show off their loot on the way out of Sea World.
So long to Sea World for at least another 5 years or so.

 

Disneyland!!

(I mean, is there really any other reason to go to California, anyway??...jk) 

Day 1 at Disney was for California Adventure.  We did the new Little Mermaid ride which was great.  It is really cute and thankfully the wait wasn't terrible.  There was also the Ferris Wheel, Monsters Inc, Bugs Land, and the Tower of Terror for Braiden and Eric (Paige and I don't do Tower of Terror).




That night in the tram on the way to the car the kids were getting extremely slap happy.  I caught these pics while they were playing some silly game.  Its amazing how they can have so much energy after 10 hours at Disneyland.



Day 2 of Disney I didn't take many pictures but what I did take were real gems.  Don't the kids just look thrilled

Paige is finally tall enough to ride the Indiana Jones Ride.  These are a couple of pics I took of her expressions during the ride.  Needless to say, she was terrified and will probably never do it again. 

Day 3 was a combination of Disneyland and California Adventure trying to get every last thing in that we could.  The kids got their giant pickles (ew) and Cameron finally crashed about early evening.  I really wanted to crawl into that stroller and join him.



So WHAT WAS MAX DOING THIS WHOLE TIME?  See above.  Pretty much just sleeping, eating and pooping.  He has since developed a strong hate for his car seat after spending so much time in it.  He did pretty well, all things considered.  It is not easy to tote a newborn around like we did but it all worked  out.  At least I can positively say that I will never have to do it again.



The drive home was looooooooooong.

Max, Max, and more Max

 

Max~ 2 weeks old

Paige and Cameron are very proud to be a big brother and sister.  Paige is especially enamored with her little baby brother Max.

Max and his Uncle Deputy Ben

I am in LOVE with these pictures...and Max.

PICTURES OF THE DAY

PICTURES OF THE DAY

(Excuse the potential inappropriateness but these are too precious to keep hidden)

Cameron is already a Nintendo DS expert even at the un-ripe age of 3.  At least he chose to actually use the toilet rather than just going in his pants while still holding the DS.  I wouldn't put it past him.  LOL.

Oh the shame...

And right behind me at the very same moment, Paige was laying in her bed with HER Nintendo DS.  Keep in mind that they can see each other from their positions and discuss their attack strategies for whatever game they are playing... this is most certainly wedding video material.

Birth Announcements for Baby MAX

where are the pictures?

I know, I know...Max is 3 and a half weeks old now and I have hardly posted any pictures of him because I cant find the little gadget to upload my pictures (cause the SD card drive in my laptop is busted) so that's why I am slacking in the picture department.  They will come....soon they will come.

What a Day!

June 17, 2011 was a crazy day with a crazy beginning...

*Max Jay Lundberg Erickson*Born at 6:40pm*7 lb 15 oz*21.5 inches*

And a really good ending.

Welcome to our family Baby Max... I am so glad you are here.

All things Paige in June

June was a crazy month for the Erickson family for many reasons this year.  It actually is every year but this one was especially exhausting...in a good way.  Lots of exciting happenings, but first things first...

Paige finished Kindergarten with a perfectly adorable Patriotic Program.  She had been walking around the house singing "You're a Grand Ole Flag" and "Yankee Doodle" for weeks and finally got to perform them.

She did a great job.  She really loved her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Morgan. She was actually sad every time someone asked her about finishing school but she keeps reassuring us that she will still see Mrs Morgan when she is in First Grade.

On June 6th Paige turned 6 years old.  For weeks she has been asking how soon her birthday was so I was very glad that it finally came.  We planned a looooong time ago that she would have a "Hula girl" party and so, even though I was very great with child, a Hula Girl party we did have and it was a hit thanks to Oriental Trading Company and my friends and family who helped me keep all those kids busy for 2 hours.



Braiden and Eric worked hard in the kitchen to prep the Mac and Cheese and fruit kabobs.  All attendees were required to wear a Lei and their best version of a Hawaiian shirt. 





Each little lady was adorned with a grass skirt and hair flower at the door.  Then they were kept very busy with fun crafts including do-it-yourself leis, sand art and homemade picture frames that they got to take home with their picture in it.



All the girls got their pics taken in their Luau garb in our "tropical" back yard.

Paige made out like a bandit with tons of cute gifts from all her cute friends.  Little girls are so fun.  Boys are fun too but there is just something about little girls birthdays that is special. 

The kids played on our backyard in the pool while Braiden filled water balloons and threw them.  No party would be complete without a water-balloon attack from big-brother.

Paige rocked her HULA GIRL look.  She is too cute.

They all looked so cute....especially Cameron!  One of these things is not like the other...



Thank you Wal Mart Bakery Lady for your cake decorating skills of which I have none, nor do I wish to develop them...I only speak the truth.



Maternity pics? NEVER!

Maternity Pics?  Never! 

That was what I have said for each of my pregnancies but as this one draws closer to the end and I feel fairly positive that this will be the last one, the nostalgic side of me decided that it would be totally appropriate for me to document this pregnancy and get some maternity photos done.

This was not taken lightly, I might add... I did lots of research to decided what I really

wanted out of my session and what I absolutely DID NOT want.

I have seen some pretty embarassing prego pics of people in the past and definitely was not about to humiliate myself by showing waaaaaaaaaay too much of me.  I did get a little brave and showed some extremely tasteful and airbrushed belly but that was the extent of it.  For the rest of them I was just going for the traditional, relaxed and totally comfortable look (which I definitely was not, but you get it).

So here is me, 36 weeks pregnant with our last son, Max Jay Erickson.