My Matthew

After reading comments from my last post, I realized that a lot of the Erickson family really don't know my husband that well. I know he is just going to love being the center of attention on my blog.
His name is Matthew, he has a nephew who's name is also Matthew, so he goes by Matt. He was born in Montpelier, Idaho, not far from Bear Lake, in November 1969. His family actually lived in Bern, just a few miles south of there. The whole town was Kunz'. Matt is the youngest of 6 kids. He has 4 sisters and a brother.

Matt's family moved to Spokane was he one. He has been here ever since. He was very mischievous and always getting into trouble. He loved to take things apart...still does. He graduated from West Valley High School in 1988, I was only 10 years old. He went on a mission to New Jersey and really loved it. I've heard some great stories...Matt got a postcard in the mail from a companion, who took a picture of him sitting on the toilet.

He spent 1 year at Ricks College, then moved to Seattle with a friend of his and met his first wife. She was pregnant at the time and Matt became her lamaze coach. They were married not long after the baby was born. The marriage only lasted a few years. He then moved home and worked the family business, a Maytag Home Appliance Store. I met him not long after the divorce was finalized and we started dating...

He just "graduated" (you know what I'm talking about, Karlene) with a Bachelor's in Organizational Management from Whitworth University, but has one more class to take before he will actually have a diploma. He loves cars and electronics. He really wants a Quad and a Snowmobile. We really would like to travel, I would love to take him back to London with me, my favorite city!...

He is now a Mortgage Planner...if you own a home, click here.

That is my husband in a nutshell!

I was tagged...

My cuz, Kaisa, tagged me in her blog. I haven't done one of these before, so here it goes...

Lovebird tag...I guess this is a good time to do this since we just had an aniversary.

1. Where did you and your husband meet? We met at a mutual friends apartment while I was on a date with another guy. I dated a lot and had a reputation...
2. 1st thing said...I have no idea, but I knew his nephew, who is only 18 months younger than me, before I met Matt, so I remeber saying, "your Chris' uncle and you are still in the singles ward?" I'm suprised he even talked to me. I also thought he was in the Bishopbric...all that gray hair.
3. 1st date...We went to see a movie, Patch Adams. All he talked about was the girl he was going to see down in Utah that week. He came back and we went out again...and saw Patch Adams.
4. 1st kiss...the 2nd date. We were the only ones in the theatre and he planted one on me.
5. Long/Short Courtship or engagement... We started dating in february 1999, engaged in June and married in December.
6. Where did you get engaged...It was on a Sunday. The temple was still being built and we were at the park directly behind it. He popped the question there...it was nice.
7. Where were you married?...We were married in the RS room of the Francis building in Spokane. We were sealed in the Spokane Temple 1 year and 11 months later.
8. How did the Reception go? It was a blast! I still get comments on how fun it was. There was lots of food, fun music, a great DJ...we had fun!
9. Where did you go on your honeymoon? Las Vegas...I don't think we ever slept. Clint Black sings 'our song' and Matt suprised me with tickets to see him in Vegas. We were like 5 people from the stage. I loved it!
10. Who's turn is it next?........Anyone who feels like being tagged. I would love to hear from...Janet, Karen, Juli, Kim W. and Kim S.

Tiny Olivia

I was going through pictures of the day Olivia was born. I came across a few that showed how tiny she actually was. I have noticed in that most of the pictures taken, she looks like a normal sized baby.

Please note that most of these pictures are from after she passed, so her color may be a little purple. She also has club feet and little muscle tone in her legs.

Brinley's Ornaments

Brinley's school had another family night where all the kids got to make 5 ornaments. We invited Cody and Julie to come with us. Here is what Brinley made...

She left her signature on this one's face. The 'blob' down the middle is buttons.

Hasn't everyone made a reindeer candycane?
I love this reindeer. It is my favorite.

For those of you who know what Homestar Runner is, this is snowman Marzipan.

Good ole' pinecone, glue and glitter.

We had such a fun time and Brinley loved the crafts!

20 lbs down...45 to go

It has been 1 month and 2 days since Olivia was born...my milk has finally dried up and I don't have to wear a sports bra 24/7 or cabbage (some of you know what I mean)...my hormones are still a little out of whack...I don't sleep well...I haven't got much of an appetite...yet I still have this extra 45 lbs to get rid of. (Thank you mom for the "pregnancy weight gain" gene.) My mom and I have started walking at the mall while Brinley is in school. I have really enjoyed it and it gets me out of the house. I really want to start exercising more, but I know that you shouldn't "over do it". I wouldn't worry about it so much if I had a baby to carry around. Then people would know why my stomach is so, so flabby...along with my arms, thighs, butt, etc. So, do you have any suggestions on what else I could do to lose this weight? It would be much appreciated...thanks.

photo shoot

I did a photo shoot today with my friend, Karen Pixler, for my brother, Jared, and Karen's cousin, Marcey. I would like to know what your thoughts are on my photos. Oh yeah, Jared and Marcey, I hope you like them. Karen, I would like to see your photos.

Manito Park Conservatory

While at Manito Park today, I walked through the Observatory and HOLY COW! I did not know they decorate the place with 30,000 lights. It is only lit up until this Sunday. Great family activity. Maybe stop and get a hot cocoa after. Very beautiful. Best of all, it's FREE! We were there during the day, I can't imagine what it would look like after 4pm, when it gets dark here in Spokane. Here is the information below... This picture isn't that great, but maybe you can get the idea. It's a poinsettia Christmas tree.

Horrible music from the 90's

Last night Matt and I went out for our Anniversary. We saw the movie 'August Rush'. There was a little bit of a cheesy moment at the beginning, but the rest of the movie was really good. Plus it's only PG and Robin Williams doesn't drive you nuts either. It's a movie about music and a boy trying to find his parents. Anyway...

When we got home, we talked about music from when I was in Jr. High and Highschool, which would put Matt at 22-25 yrs old. So here is a trip down memory lane...do you remember these bands?

Boys2Men

Bel Biv DeVoe

Sisters With Voices

TLC

EnVogue

Salt and Peppa

Criss Cross

Color Me Bad

98 Degrees

Arrested Developement

Pearl Jam

Nirvana

Al B Sure

C & C Music Factory

Vanilla Ice

B 52's

MC Hammer (it's hammer time!)

Technotronic

Backstreet Boys

Blind Melon

Cake

Presidents of the USA

Right Said Fred

The Cranberries

Spice Girls

I had some of their albums and going through this list, I started to sing songs in my head. Sad...

I have come across kids today that have never heard of some of these "bands". That makes me feel really old or the music was just so bad that who would want to remember it?

8 years

Happy Anniversary!

to my sweet, wonderful, lovable husband, Matt! We have been married 8 glorious years...well, they haven't all been great, I could have ended this year on a better note...but for 7 glorious and 1 crappy year.

Then...

Now...Matt's a little grayer (okay, a lot grayer). I, a little chubbier. At least I know we still love each other no matter what.
It's always been a running joke that every year I tell him..."Honey, we've been married ___ times longer than your last marriage." well, now I can add in a 4.
I LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!

Brinley meet...Brinley

A good friend of ours has a grand daughter named Brinley, spelled just like our little Brinley. She was so excited and wanted to hold her. This is only the 2nd Brinley we have actually met. She is three months old and adorable. I held her for awhile and could have taken her home with me. I love being around babies...I love their smell, there is nothing like it.

I really miss Olivia...