Talking Up a Storm

Over the last few days Erin has gone from saying very few real words to saying about 5! She used to only use phrases like: "Who's Here?", "What's This"mama, dada, etc. Now she can say: kitty, duck, baby, bye-bye and head. I think her vocabulary is about ready to grow leaps and bounds over the next few months. It should be both fun and interesting to hear what she has to say! Mommy and Daddy better watch what they say around her!

Up North!: Day 4

Fun in the Sun!

Our Cottage

Up North!: Day Three

Allison and Katie arrived late last night. This morning Erin was quite happy to see her two aunts. Erin and Katie busied themselves watching Dora the Explorer before breakfast!

We were going to all go fishing with minnows that we caught but Erin wanted nothing to do with the boat. She was quite interested in the minnows though. So Mommy and Erin stayed back and played in the sand.

Up North!: Day Two

We awoke to a dreary, rainy day. Ick! According to the Weather Channel the whole week was looking to shape up this way and I was not a happy camper! I hoped the weather would shape up so we could go swimming later in the week!

Erin made me take a picture of her this morning so she could see herself. I have to say she was pretty darned cute!

We went to Frankfort to an Eriksen family reunion. It was being held on the beach right downtown. We went and the weather cleared just for the time we were there. It couldn't have been more perfect.


Erin played with her cousins Harrison and Hudson (my dad's cousin's boys). They played "Tarzan" in the dune grass. It was adorable! They were really cute playing together.




Grandpa and Erin went for a walk down to the pier.

Erin was a little unsure of the sand. Actually at first, she quite hated the feel of it on her feet. She would scream and cry until I picked her up! But she got used to it and had a pretty good time!





We found a set of swings and Erin felt right at home!

Our Little Diva

Up North!: Day One

Erin and I drove up to visit my grandparents on Crystal Lake in Beulah, Michigan. We caravaned with my dad. We left early this morning (8am) and only had to stop twice. We stopped for drinks and snacks and a diaper change and then we stopped after Erin threw up after drinking a lot of milk. Whew! But we made it and in pretty good time too. We pulled into the driveway at about 1pm.

We went to dinner at Crystal Mountain with Uncle Don and Aunt Sue to celebrate Grandma's birthday. Erin was quite the angel during most of the 2 1/2 hour dinner!

I Wish I Would've Thought of This!

Popsicles & Dancing!

Erin loves eating popsicles and dancing. Here she is doing both! She is quite the multi-tasker (like her mom!)

Erin dancing @ Yahoo! Video

Dinner with the Himpeles

Ryan's Mom, Brian and Chris came over for dinner tonight. We had Beer-Butt Chicken on the grill. If you haven't tried this out you should. It is delicious and the chicken just falls right off the bone. MMMMMMM MMMMMM MMMMMMM! Erin played and played outside and had fun riding around in her wagon.

Erin sliding @ Yahoo! Video

Erin swinging @ Yahoo! Video

Diana's Baby Shower

Erin, Melissa and I threw Diana a baby shower at work. We had a great turnout, lots of gifts, Barnaby's Pizza and a fabulous cake. What more could we ask for?!?! We are so excited for Diana and Zach as their due date approaches. We can't wait to meet their little one when he/she arrives!!! (I think it is a girl!)

UFC at BW3s

Ryan and I got a group of friends together to go to BW3s for wings and fight night. It was the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) 100. I can't stand watching it but I go for the company and to play trivia! Ryan had a bunch of his coworkers come and his sister Amanda and her fiance Cory. Kristin and Matt came as well. My brother and his friends showed up a little bit later too.
They had a cornhole set outside to play! What a fabulous idea that was! We played while we waited for a table. (Ryan and I kicked some major buckets in the first game.) It was a late night but it was nice to get out and have some "adult" time!

Amanda, Megan and Kristin

Matt, Ryan, John, Dave, & Jordan

Amanda & Megan
Cory & Amanda

The Pool with Grandpa!

Erin and I went to the pool with Grandpa, Susan and Aunt Allison and Aunt Katie. The weather was goregous and it was a lot of fun. Erin really enjoyed swimming with Grandpa and got lots of attention from the other pool go-ers! Erin would actually try to kind of swim on her own and would reach out for you. She loved it! She was tuckered out though and slept all the way home!

Erin and Mommy

Erin and Grandpa

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Aunt Allison (while eating a cracker)

The New Library

A new library was built out by our house, so it has been super convenient to stop in there a couple of times a month to pick up some books to read. Erin LOVES going to the library and looking at all the books. She picks out her own books and likes to sit in the little cubbies they have there to look at pictures.