erica danielle

 Merry Christmas friends and family! We didn't send out a card this year, so here is our letter with our 2016 favorites: We kicked off the year in Mexico with my family. It was the vacation of a lifetime. We had so much fun swimming in the pool, playing in the sand and enjoying time with the fam.   Below is a recent picture of the kids. Lucy turned 3 in September and Olle turned 1 in July.  Lucy is full of stories and has the most amazing imagination, she loves princesses, watching shows, art projects and baking with mom. When she grows up she wants to be a princess so she can help people.  Olle is an absolute joy. His laugh will turn any day around and he is 100% boy. Loves trucks, tractors, and throwing balls. He doesn't know many words, but he gives the tightest hugs and we just love him so, so much.  Here we are hiking around on the North Shore this winter. We love exploring with the kids and it's fun to think of how these vacations will o...

Thanksgiving was awesome and continues to be my favorite holiday! We got to spend TONS of time with cousins and aunts and uncles and then spent the WHOLE day after with the Bernards. Time with them is always special to us and this was no different. I'm thankful for each one of them and the way they love us.  Sten and I celebrated year 8 a little different this year. We took the money we would have spent on dinner and went shopping! #adulting On the day-of, we had cheese and our favorite wine and talked about this past year. Highs and lows, dreams and things to come. We looked through our wedding pictures and re-lived the day. That day was truly magical and easily one of my favorite days of my life. The excitement, the love and all the joy in the world! Our first SNOW! I felt like the ultimate mom by bundling up the kids and playing in the snow for an hour. It was a fun morning and we all had fun. Poor Olle, that snow suit is just a little too small, and he could barely w...

......Sten! He makes our house so much more fun. The last few weekends I have been out and about and he has jumped in as amazing super dad! It makes leaving so much easier. I was at a wedding shower last weekend and he loaded up the kids for sample day at the grocery store(s). Totally a dad-thing. Lucy told me all about being at the co-op and getting "treats". He also has more patience than anyone I know and last weekend BOTH kids fell asleep on him. I have no patience when it comes to that kind of stuff- therefor that never happens to me. One of my favorite memories this month was loading up the bonfire pit and roasting smores in the afternoon. It was the perfect day and I love that Sten is always willing to build us a fire. I am thankful for so many things this time of year, but I'd say Sten is at the top of my list! family bonfire!  sample day! Sleepy kids. XO, erica

 Look at these cuties!!! Princes Anna and a Cubs player for downtown Menomonie trick or treating... it was a beautiful day-- didn't even need a coat!!  Jen, Maci, and Chase joined us Halloween night and the 3 big kids had SO much fun! There was no fear going up to the houses on their own and Lucy even felt comfortable enough to walk into most peoples homes... eeeek....  2016, 2015... another year, another princess holding hands with her daddy <3  this picture just kills me... Posing: Anna and Anna! Lucy's sideways smile... gosh I love her! How great are holidays with kids? Sten and I are having lots of fun with these 2 kiddies lately :)

My favorite month has arrived. It's been tainted a bit by all the negativity surrounding the election, so I'm choosing to use this little space on the internet to remember the good in this world, mainly my family and friends whom I treasure the most. The kids and I traveled (with my mom) to my cousins wedding in Missouri last weekend. It was just great. Full of sweet times with uncles and aunts and cousins that I don't get to see enough. Watching my kids love our extended family has become one of my greatest joys. They are lucky to have some of the warmest, sweetest, and Godly people in their lives and I am the luckiest to get to sit back and watch it unfold. I am indebted to my mom for helping me out this weekend and to my sweet Grandma who took my hands in hers and told me I was doing a great job and that I have great kids. Even though she can't really hear, it still meant the world to me, because parenting is hard and I constantly feel like I'm failing.  We...

This was the most exciting thing I've had the privilege of doing in a LONG time! A couple weeks ago Emily's husband (Caleb) asked if I would come out and surprise Emily for her Birthday-- naturally I thought that would be the BEST thing ever and instantly asked Sten. What do you know? 3 weeks later I was on a 4 hour flight to SF with nothing but 3 books and my carry on. I've never been a part of a surprise quite like that and seeing a shocked Emily at the bar when I showed up with my suitcase will be something I never forget. We had so much fun catching up all weekend long. I feel like our hour phone calls never leave me enough time to ask all my questions or talk through all my problems :) We walked around the city, ate so much good food, met her friends, and saw her beautiful home. It was really great to have a break from the kids and I finally missed them by the time I was flying home... sort of :) Thank you Caleb for giving ME this gift and for letting me spend a w...

This weather is like the best thing in the world. We've biked, worn shorts and tees, played and enjoyed A LOT of outdoor time this October.  Today we spent the whole morning/early afternoon outside. We stopped at a green space and tried to fine every color leaf. Lucy thought it was the best thing ever, and I did too! Olle, was kind of just along for the ride :)    really, really pretty  this kid makes the funniest faces.  Can't tell you how many hours we've spent playing ice cream shop at this park.  Lucy actually went down this slide by herself! Brave girl! Happy Fall! So not ready for Winter to come. I know these days are dwindling and the darkness seems to come SO soon, cutting into our evening walks. Choosing to really savor these days and try to remember how really great my kids are. Love that I get to spend my days with them, being their mom.  XO, erica