hi. my name is Arah and I have an addiction...

I LOVE Zumba.

If you haven't tried it, you must. It is so. much. fun! I have been going twice a week for the past 6 months and in the past few weeks, I've bumped it up to 4 times a week, with swimming, weights and cardio on the other days, except Sunday. Sunday I take a break. It's given me tons of energy and I really miss it when I can't go. The classes have been as large as 75-80 people. It's awesome. There is even a 91 year old in the class.

My only problem is that I sweat horribly. It's disgusting. My friend I go with is also a sweat-er. Her birthday was on Sunday, so I made her a little gift. I've decided that there aren't any cute sweat bands out there, so I made my own. Way cuter. We used them last night, they were awesome! I did a little tweaking to make them better and waalaa...

I took a bunch into the class this morning.

They were a hit. I made them in different colors. They collect the sweat. They don't slide. YAY!!! And used a nice plush terry cloth for the inside. I'm making more. LOTS MORE!

People are buying them from me.

Who would have thought there was a market for sweat bands...

i {heart} seattle

Last weekend, my sister, Julie, and I took the kids over to Seattle to do some tourist-y stuff and see my bro and his girls. My SIL had won some tickets to the BODIES Exhibition and asked if we wanted to go... AMAZING!!!

Sorry if you have a weak stomach, I had to add some pictures. (click on the pics for the links)

Brinley hated it. In fact, I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. She and I hung out in the souvenir area until everyone else was done,then they hung out with her while I did a hurried run through of the place. AMAZING is all I can say. If you get an opportunity to go, check it out.

Friday we had to do some business stuff and then took the kids to the LEGO store. they loved it! It was a great treat for them since we spent about 2 hours in the van driving around in circles in the U district waiting for a parking space to open up close to where I dropped Julie off.

We were pretty pooped out that afternoon. We enjoyed dinner at a 50's diner in Redmond. Great place for kids to run around and get some energy out.

Saturday we decided to take the kids to the top of the Space Needle. I've been to the Space Needle a dozen times, but never have I been to the top until last weekend.

The kids were pretty excited about it. Brinley's favorite part was the elevator ride up.'Hello Seattle!'Brinley decided that when she grows up, she wants to work there. I'm sure she will change her mind next week.

We came home Sunday and spent Monday being lazy up until Zumba that night, then I took the girls swimming for some family time and to wear them down.

fun and funky

I am going to try hard to post at least once a week on this blog.

My birthday was last Monday. It was quiet and nice. My sister, Julie, colored my hair a few days before. Over the weekend, Matt took me out to dinner at Italian Kitchen (and it was DELICIOUS), while Matt's sister, Ami, took the girls and surprised me with a birthday cake when we picked them up. On my birthday, my sister Julie had us over for dinner and ice cream.

As a little birthday gift to myself, I changed my kitchen. I have been wanting to paint a chalk board wall for ages. WE LOVE IT!!! It's been so much fun. Even Sarah puts a few marks on it. It's not as messy as I thought it might become.

You might notice that the bottom cabinet color has changed too. Matt thought I was nuts at first, but as I painted more of them... (the color is Surfer by Behr)

he LOVED it as much as I do. The kitchen isn't finished, so I won't give you a pic of the whole thing until it's done. We found the doors to the top cabinets in the garage (YIPPEE!) So those are going back up too.
We have big plans for our house this year...windows, insullation, new doors, electrical, finish the basement and add a new bathroom, and other bedroom storage closet and an entertainment room, along with egress windows, painting the outside of the house and ripping out a few trees and shrubs, and moving the fence... Hopefully we can get it done, and if not...there is always next year.

I SUCK at blogging lately... December was BUSY, What else can I tell you?

*Matt and I celebrated 10 years together. We ate a nice dinner at Clinkerdagger's...DELICIOUS! I would have LOVED to have spent it in New York City. Maybe next year.

*The last day of school before break, Brinley got an award for the characteristic of CARING. She is a pretty caring girl.

After the assembly, her class had a little Christmas party and gift exchange. She got a Barbie Doll... She was SO THRILLED! Can you tell? I told her to tell the girl thank you and that it's the thought that counts. She is the only 6 year old I know that hates barbies.

*We had the annual Kunz family white elephant Christmas party at my sister-in-law, Ami's house this year. We decided on breakfast Kunz style, with cheese waffles with a yummy homemade syrup (thanks Michael), sausage and hash browns. There were some real nice gifts this year...real nice.

*Christmas Eve/Day was quiet. It was well, just quiet. We didn't wake up until 9am, that was grand.The girls got lots of goodies...Brinley was excited to get a lava lamp, Littlest Pet Shop, a zhu zhu pet, legos and a snuggie. Sarah got a tub toy and a Fur Real baby bear. She LOVES it, carries it around everywhere and gives it lots of snuggles. It's really cute to watch her haul it around. My favorite of the gifts was what I made Brinley... a book sling. It's my favorite because I find about 5 books every day in her bed from the night before. Now she can just put them away herself before she falls asleep. I got the idea here.

*The day after Christmas, all of my family came into town. We had an ugly sweater party. It was fabulous. How can you go wrong with metallic leggings and a poinsettia in your hair.

The entire Erickson side was here for a whole week, which got a little overwhelming at times, but it's so nice to have all the family together.

*New Year's Eve was spent at Wolf Lodge. It's tradition to go and celebrate my Mom's birthday with a delicious steak and rocky mountain oysters. We came home about 10pm with 2 very tired girls. Brinley barely stayed up until midnight, we barely made it to 12:15...just in time for us to fall asleep so that the New Years Baby could visit. He was good to us this year. Brinley got a yo-yo (she had asked Santa for one, but Santa already got her enough crap), a soda and a light up wand. We got our usual magazine, snack and soda. Sarah got a book and some juice. Oh, and my boot, well boots, there is another one, were from Matt for our anniversary. I've always wanted a pair and I was COMPLETELY surprised that he had gotten them for me. I LOVE them!

*In the midst of all this, I came down with a severe cold that I am just now feeling better from (it's taken a week), and Sarah got Bronchitis. I have had an ear infection the last few days of this crud and Matt started feeling symptoms of it yesterday. Brinley's been lucky and has only had a cough. Thank goodness...I've had enough.

Latter Day Sentinel

Olivia's story was featured once again.

Latter Day Sentinel

Thank you Sarah for letting us share with you.

mop top

She has wild hair. I love it. She jabbers up a storm. Tells me all about whatever it is she has in her hand and then says 'here go', and gives it to me.
she likes the camera andops to pose or make a face. I love it.

13 months is an awfully fun age.

40

Matt turned 40 on the 23rd. I did really good trying to keep his surprise party a secret and Matt's sister, Ami, did a great job on telling him lies to get him to come to her house for dinner that night.I had a cake made of his car, thank you Happy Cake!!! He loves his car, so it was perfect. He did find out about the cake being made...by accident, trying to fix my voicemail, but had no clue that it was going to be as cool as it turned out. And since he was so not looking forward to turning 40, I had my niece, Melissa, make this '40 blows' centerpiece. It was a hit with all the kids who love blowpops. When Matt walked in and saw the ' shrine' I made if him, he said it looked like he was at a funeral...haha, but that really wasn't the point of it. He got lots of cards and gifts from lots of people who love him.I think I figured about 65 people at the party. We even had a few who were going to come, but couldn't make it last minute. I think we would have had over 75.He was completely blown away by all the love. He LOVED his cake. I am so glad I was able to pull it off, even if he did have some idea that something was happening. My family got him a bunch of 'old people' stuff, like depends and hemorrhoid cream. It's tradition...then the fun part is that you have to take it all back to the store for a refund and spend the money on something you want. I hope you had an awesome birthday Matt. I love you!!!

oh...and a huge THANK YOU to all those that helped me with the party and getting it all together and also for taking pictures. There is NO WAY I could have done it all by myself. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Olivia's 2nd birthday

I really need to be better about posting on my blog. Life has been super busy and I just haven't had a chance to sit at the computer for blogging. Today I have a bad head cold and I feel like crap, so I'm not doing much, perfect time for posting...

for Olivia's birthday, we went to visit her little grave. Other's had visited too and left balloons...THANK YOU! It meant a lot. Matt had to work, so it was me and the girls.

We brought apples and pears and Brinely picked out a dozen roses too. Sarah sculpted an apple with her teeth before leaving it for the deer.Julie and her kids met us out at the cemetery, but it was so cold, we waited in the car for them. Brinley picked out an apple for herself and shared it with Sarah while we waited.Cody brought some carrots, well actually a huge bag. The kids scattered them everywhere. I am sure the deer feasted that night. It was a nice, quiet day. We left from there and went to the mall. We dropped the older kids off to play while we took the babies and walked around, window shopping.

We didn't make a cake this year, I didn't feel like making it. I didn't cry this year either. But made up for it the next day when I went to the WSU Spokane campus and spoke with the nursing students, which has always been healing for me.

Olivia

My sweet little Olivia,

Today you should be celebrating your 2nd birthday.

You are missed.

You are a part of our lives every single day.

Two years have gone by so fast. I can't believe its been that long. I sat here tonight looking through all of her photos. I cried...and even smiled a little. She was such a tiny little thing. I can't believe how much of Sarah I see in Olivia. I know Sarah knows her. I won't let her forget, either. Brinley is good to remind us. As much as I ache to hold and cuddle my sweet baby, I go would go through it all again. This beautiful girl has brought some great blessings into our life, and others. She is an amazing little girl. There are so very many things that I would have never had the chance to do or experience if it wasn't for Olivia. I believe that no matter how hard the trials we face, it's all about the attitude we have going through them. Some things we just don't have contol over. I'm not sure what the day has planned for us. I can't really say we are going to do anything, but there is no school and so I am sure for Brinley's sake, something will be done. We will be visiting her grave and even leaving a treat for her woodlawn friends...that I know... and I'm pretty sure that there will also be some random acts of kindness around Spokane too.
I wish this was a happy birthday. Do you call it a sad birthday? I'm not really sure what to call it. I hate calling it an anniversary...the anniversary fo her life and death? I guess it's her rememberance day.

I love you Olivia! I miss you and wish you were apart of this crazy life we lead.

I try to imagine you thrown into the mix of things. A 2 year old and a 1 year old...wow, I'm not sure what to think about that. I think that you and Sarah would have grown up to be the best of friends, and have the fights like my sister, Julie, and I used to.

Sarah turns 1

My baby turned 1 on Sunday.

I am a blog slacker and should have posted a happy birthday tribute on Sunday, but no...So here is to my sweet little busy bee, who loves her momma more than anyone else and at times can get really, really draining.

Sarah, you have been a joy this past year. A HUGE healing tool for me after losing Olivia, and I believe you two would have looked so much alike.

You have the wildest hair that hangs down in your face and you love to pull out the barretts we put in it. You are starting to figure out how to pull out the ponytail holders (and always when I have you in the high chair with something really messy).

You have put a smile on my face every single day. You say the cutest "oh oh" and "wow". You LOVE baby dolls and think they are funny when you poke their eyes. Now you have a stroller to push them around in...and for Brinley to push you around in, which you think is a thrill.

You didn't even know it was your birthday, but you loved it when we sang to you and thought it was fun ripping off wrapping paper. You were excited about opening the birthday card from Grandma and Grandpa Kunz. You loved your jammies that Aunt Julie got you and you wrapped yourself in them as soon as the paper came off. The dress Grama Lana and Papa Jim bought you is adorable and you thought so too ( for another post).

You loved the cake and had no problem figuring out what to do with it.

We love you little Sarah Mae. We are so happy that you are a part of our little family. Brinley thinks your the best thing in the world and loves it when you wake her up with a cuddle (and sometimes a pat on the head) every morning before school.

Hope you had a fun 1st birthday.