First Grader!

There has been excitement in the air as K looked forward to starting first grade. We got a surprise a few days before school started that K's class would be splitting up after lunch and heading into other first grade classes. K's teacher is needed to teach a second Kindergarten class in the afternoon. K has done so well riding the bus like a pro, excited about taking her own lunch to school and rolled with the punches of two teachers and classes. I am excited about how the school has a new class this year of children with disabilities and are integrated into the classrooms. K has already told us about the two that visit her class. She is absolutely loving school and being with her friends, as well as making new ones. Yesterday, I was at the school doing some things for PTA and saw K at the library. She showed me she had lost a tooth. She had pulled it out while "just trying to loosen it." She proudly wore a tooth necklace to house the baby tooth. When she got home that day, I asked to see her tooth. Her reply, "I lost it." She was looking at it later that afternoon in school and dropped it. So technically, she lost her one tooth twice at school. I told her since she had no tooth, the tooth fairy wouldn't be able to give her any money, K replied that it was okay because she already has enough money. I think if she writes the tooth fairy a note, she still might be able to get a little bit of money.

Goodbye Kindergarten! Hello 1st Grade!

This last year, lil' K has grown up too much, gained more independence and enjoyed trying new things. We enrolled her in a little ballet class in January, in which she loved to get dressed up in her ballet clothes. After the first day, she wanted to wear a tutu like so many of the other girls in her class. The last week, they performed the dances they had learned and lil' K looked so pretty out there. She was embarassed when I wanted to get pictures of her.

In March, we got a piano and thus began lessons. We just happen to live one mile away from a great piano teacher who happened to have an opening for us. It does help that she is my sister. lil' K has loved taking piano, and in April, just weeks after starting lessons, had her first recital. She said an introduction and played her piece, Old McDonald had a Farm. She was very nervous during her introduction, she held it together, but I could tell she was nearly in tears. lil' K had her part and her piano piece both memorized. She played the best Old McDonald I have ever heard, and I have heard it many times in the last few months. Her next activity after finishing dance was soccer. lil' K was invited to play with a few girls from our neighborhood and school. Most games were cold and windy, the last game (which was a make-up game) was the warmest, we just didn't have luck with the weather. In her last game, lil' K scored two goals!! We were proud cheering parents on the side line. Her second goal, she ran all the way from the other end of the field. After she made that goal, she came over to me and asked, "Is that how you play soccer?" Last game and it finally clicks. She was most proud of her trophy and instead of reliving her glory goals, she would ask anyone if they wanted to see her trophy.

Also, in the last few weeks of school, her top two teeth became very loose. At two different instances, I wiggled and pulled until they came out. She is excited to have new front teeth for 1st grade and checks everyday to see if they are coming in. We are proud of all she learned and how well she reads. She is excited to start school again. For now, we will enjoy the lazy summer days, swimming lessons, and plenty of fun outings. In the last few weeks, she has mentioned wanting her own Book of Mormon, so this last weekend, I took the kids to the Distribution Center and bought them their own books. lil' K wanted her name on hers, so I found some stickers and I put their names on their books. Yesterday she took her scriptures to church. When we got to sacrament meeting, she told us she read her scriptures in primary and had marked a scripture in her book. She was trying to find that scripture and told me it was blue, which side of the page it was on and added, "It was Nephi, I think 12." As I flipped through, I found it in 3 Nephi 12:8-9. I was impressed she remembered so well where it was. She spent a great deal of the meeting reading that scripture and bookmarking it. I was glad her teacher helped her find the scripture and mark it in her scriptures. I am so proud of her! She is growing up and loving our new surroundings and making new friends. She has befriended an inactive member in our ward, who needs a friend. lil' K has been a great friend to her and is so kind to everyone and is so much fun to be around. She is a terrific big sister and loves to write little notes to people and help anyone who needs it. We love you, lil' K!!

Cinco de Mayo - a bit late, I know

For Cinco de Mayo this year, we invited mi familia for a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!! Everyone brought some food to share and we enjoyed the food, friends, wearing our sombreros, and oh, we did watch Los Tres Amigos (english with spanish subtitles...next time you watch this, it is hilarious!) My dad came in, saw we had on the movie and went straight over to watch it. We did miss a few family members who couldn't make it, or left early. The only major hiccup of the night was our microwave started to short out and our rice was left uncooked, we salvaged it on the stove (I usually don't cook it on the stove because I always burn the bottom and our rice cooker would have taken to long). From then on our microwave cooked at 50%, but we have a new microwave now, problem solved. We had a blast and the kids loved watching the movie and the adults loved watching it and seeing the translations (especially My little buttercup).
Our menu included: enchiladas and black beans (thanks to my sis);
homemade salsa (thanks to my hubby);
guava, orange, passion fruit juice;
baked chicken taquitos;
cilantro lime rice;
real fruit popsicles (thanks to mom);
and a lime margarita and ice cream smoothie (thanks to costco demostrators).

Easter - and a bit of Memorial Day

On Easter Sunday (even with GC) the kids got new church clothes. They did wear them to church the week before Easter. The Easter bunny made his way to our house leaving the kids: new flipflops, a sandwich container for picnics, a few pieces of candy, cookies, and an egg with a baby chick inside (given by grandma e, the egg is placed in water and over time cracks and reveals a plastic baby chick). We watched confernence and let the kids play during the day and went to F's parents for dinner and met at my parents after to have an easter egg hunt. Since the weather did not permit it to be held outside, my youngest bro had to hide all the eggs in the house. They were everywhere!! You could stand in one spot and find 10+ easily. This was one 2 floors! The kids had a blast finding all of the eggs and stuffed animals. My mom loves doing things for the kids and I would have to say this is one of her favorites. She has got it down to saving the eggs because she has written the grandkids names on them, making sure each child has the same number of eggs. She does a fantastic job.

This year, with the kids being a little older, we tried to focus more of Easter on the real meaning...the resurrection and life of Jesus Christ. We had a fhe about it and hung pictures on the mantel about the last few days of Christ's life, in the center the picture of the resurrected Christ. I am trying hard to help the kids to understand more of the holidays and not just the gifts. We have been reading the scriptures with them (children's scriptures) and they are learning. It helps me to feel I am doing the right thing and teaching them what is right.

This was not on Easter, but just this last Sunday in sacrament meeting. lil' L was looking at the Children's New Testament at the pictures and maps found in the back. He asked his dad, "Is that where Joseph fell out of the window?" That previous week, we had finished reading the Doctrine and Covenants. Both of the kids are listening and this is one of the many examples that confirms what they are learning. I am grateful to have the gospel and teach my children about Christ and the sacrifices He has made on our behalf. We took the time on Memorial Day to visit our grandparent's grave sights with the children. This was a good experience for us to teach a little bit more about the plan of happiness. The kids kept asking, "Is this where they died?" We corrected them telling them it is where they are buried after they died, and how they are now with Heavenly Father and Jesus. We also explained how we are sad to not see them on earth right now, but we will be with them again. Each of the headstones had a picture of the SL Temple, and I thought that was neat to show the children how important the temple is. lil' L was convinced he has been inside (we did take them to a temple open house last year). I love to see the kids learn, but they are growing up too fast.

Easter Camp

For nearly 40 years, a group of families steal away the weekend of Easter to camp, ride atvs and dirt bikes, and spend time in the desert. The number of families has changed over the years, but one family you will find there most years is the Ericksen family. I have attended the Easter camp regularly (about every other year for 6 years).

This year we left home in a snowstorm/near blizzard status to head south. We camped 2 nights and had beautiful weather (no snow!)

Our crew included: our family of 4,

my father-in-law,

my brother-in-law +3 kids,

my sis & bro-in-law +4 kids,

my sis-in-law, husband, +3 kids

and their friends +4 kids

Grand total: 26 people in just our group.

For most of us, this was camping at its greatest (or worst). Tents, bring in all supplies - including port-a-potty. Two families had trailers, but we did the old fashion tent and sleeping bags.

lil'K waking up cuddled in her sleeping bag and blankets.

We were the largest group there. With the combination of teenagers, the 3 atvs from our camp were out riding constantly. Saturday morning, my niece finished up breakfast and said, "I am going to put on a helmet so I can ride the 4 wheeler." She went down put on a helmet and stood there waiting for someone to bring an atv back in. We noticed there was a line of 3-4 kids wearing helmets just waiting for a ride. Apparently, standing with a helmet on is the universal sign for "I want a ride." If the kids were riding, they were climbing the rocks, exploring or playing in the sand.

lil' L and Grandpa ready to ride.

On Friday afternoon, a group of us drove a few miles down the road and went to some Native American petroglyphs. We've seen them before, but we took the Easter camp newcomers to see them. I still think they are amazing.

The kids at the petroglyphs.

Both Thursday and Friday nights, we convened as an entire group to enjoy delicious popcorn cooked over the campfire, as well as s'mores.

Saturday morning, after breakfast and we had cleaned most of the camp up, we had the annual candy hunt. We split the kids into groups. The oldest group got to ride the atvs around to find their clues and treasure, while the younger two groups walked around familiar sights of the camp grounds. After the kids found the candy, we divided and packed to come home. What a great and successful camping trip!

This is our garden....

and this was our spring crop this year....

We spent the majority of our Saturday digging up rocks. As you can see from the tank and chairs, these are not your average small rocks. A portion of the rocks had been used as a border, but about 75 percent of these were buried in the ground, only to be dug up and removed. Did I mention these came from about 1/3 of the garden? 2/3 of the garden is great fertilized, ready-to-go soil filled with worms.

In our garden we are planting:

banana peppers

blackberries

blueberries

cantaloupe

carrots

chili peppers

cilantro

cucumber

green beans

green onions

peach tree

pear tree

peas

pumpkin

snow peas

tomatoes

zucchini

Hopefully we'll get a good crop this year. Definitely a trial run a some of them.

As for the front yard, we have grass and what is supposed to be a flower garden.

This is what it looks like now, but we will be planting here soon and will be taking out grass to make room for the shrubbery and visual appeal.

The Year of the Book

So, I have been completely wrapped up in reading books this year. I guess that is what happens with no internet (until last week) and I also just joined a bookclub with ladies from our new neighborhood. I thought I would share (and keep my own record) the books I have read thus far. I have included links to the books to learn more about it. These books are all different from one another. I love getting lost in books. My list needs more books....what books have you read??

The Senator's Wife

by Sue Miller

domestic fiction (not my favorite)

Nickel and Dimed: on (not) getting by in America

by Barbara Ehrenreich

nonfiction

Jane Austen Ruined My Life

by Beth Patillo

fiction

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

by Alan Bradley

mystery fiction

The Heretic's Daughter

by Kathleen Kent

historical fiction

the one I have just begun this morning

Eat, Pray, Love

by Elizabeth Gilbert

book on deck:

Honolulu

by Alan Brennert

domestic fiction

and waiting on the library

Committed: a skeptic makes peace with marriage

by Elizabeth Gilbert

follow up to Eat, Pray, Love