erica danielle

JUNE 1st? I love new months and hope this is one of my best months yet this year. While at Bay Lake this week there were an obnoxious amount of dragon flies. While running I embraced it and they all just ran with me. Dragonflies are a universal symbol of change and I really sense this month being a change for the better for me. May was great, but June is going to be STELLAR.  Here are my FF’s:  1. Celebrating Amos’ 6th Birthday on the Bernard patio with Mojo Monkey Donuts, eggs, bacon and mimosas on a BEAUTIFUL morning!  2. We then loaded up Jessica’s van and took all 4 kids to Big C cabin where the cousins played in the 90+ degree heat for HOURS.  3. Got to hang with these 2 cutie girls and our old Menomonie Library. Lucy misses the library very much and both kids did a lot of independent play while Megan and I chatted and I snuggled little Emmer ♥️ 4. I know every little boy wants to be his dad, but every time Olle copies Sten I just get the biggest kick out of it....

Goodness do we love Bay Lake. I have no words other than to say we’re all a little happier when we’re at the red cabin.  We packed a lot in to a 2.2 day "weekend". Sometimes Sten’s flexible schedule works to our advantage and we get to enjoy lake life when others are heading back to work. We had a quiet 2 days at the lake and on day 2 literally had the entire sand bar to ourselves (usually there’s at least 5-10+ boats also docked).  I recognize that this type of post is a total highlight reel. I didn’t take any pictures of when the kids wouldn’t go to sleep, when they were super needy while we were packing up, when the cabin was a complete disaster, when olle pooped in his swimsuit.... you know, the low lights that never get documented. But somehow you don’t remember those anyway, so what’s the point of focusing on the negative?? 😂  Pretty excited about picking up the boat with dad!  Boys.  Girls Parents Our favorite spot to swim and play in the sand at Rutgers...

Update! I had LOTS of margin in my week and it felt so good. We didn’t go anywhere and had to stay home for a few different things, and it was amazing to have time.  I know not every week can look like this, but it sure felt right for this week. I love taking pictures of fresh bread. Why?? I don’t know. It just makes me so happy. We got a new couch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was on our list back in July when we moved in, but we didn’t know couches were so expensive until we went shopping. So we saved for 10 months and voila! New couch! We can’t stop talking about how much we love it. I think about 20x a day we comment on how obsessed we are with it. #adult. These 3 pictures is what margin looks like to me. 2 clean cars later we played/ sat outside for 4 hours. I love this for so many reasons, but watching my kids be kids is at the very core of why I need more margin in my life. Being able to have the time to stop and do nothing makes life so sweet for me. I am than...

#oops. it's saturday. we've been running around lately and I don't feel like I'm doing the greatest job of leaving margin in my life, like my 18 for 2018... ahhh! Good thing tomorrow starts a new week and I can give it a fresh start. It was hot this week (my favorite), we spent all of Wednesday at the cabin with my mama. That was a highlight for sure. I also got to go on a walk with a friend Thursday evening, which always makes me feel like a human. Friday was spent in the best way possible: -a run with Kate in the morning, -a park date with my friend Ashley and her little guy Mason, -yoga class, -home for a quick nap for little olle man -Kinnickinnic State Park where we dropped the kids off with Gracia so they could adventure, then -Sten and I checked out a super cute brewery in River Falls. We had some really good conversation, and lets me honest --any time I get to spend with him is special to me. Today we've been checking thing off the list, and it fe...

This was my 5th year pacing the get it dunn run. It’s something I look forward to every year. I enjoy helping others meet their goals and get pretty competitive with myself to come in as close to my pace time as possible... this year I was pacing the 1:40 and came in at 1:39:46..... 14 seconds early. We hosted a dinner party the night before, so our kids were at my sissy’s house. We were kid less, and Sten and I had a great drive over to Menomonie and a fun time running around our old digs! He ended up getting second in his age group for the 5k #marriedup. Love this race and thankful I get to be a part of it each year.  2014   2015 2016    2017   2018 ♥️edc

Olle loves being a big guy. If you ask him how old he is (2) he may say he’s 3, just because he wants so badly to be bigger than he is. So ready to wear basketball outfits and hit the court, and eat a whole cookie, instead of a half.  I, on the other hand, take a million pictures of him sleeping because this is when he looks little to me and I love him at this very (tiring) sweet age of 2 almost 3.  Stay little big guy. You’re perfect and so much fun.  ♥️edc 

I really can’t put into words just how much I love this picture. When I think about Summer in the Midwest this is exactly what I picture. I love that my kids have a place that’s safe to be themselves and strip down to their undies and jump in the ice cold lake with no inhibitions.  The sweet joys of being a kid. And of being a mom, getting to watch it all happen right before your eyes.  ♥️. edc

This episode of Friday Favs brought to you by Lucy's OOTD (outfit of the day). She's spunky, and she loves to dress herself in the most random assortment of all the hand-me-downs we get from EXTREMELY generous and gracious friends/family. Seriously, the gift of clothing for my kids? It's saved us hundreds and hundreds of dollars. We have a busy weekend. We're hosting a dinner club tonight (1st ever!) and then tomorrow I'm pacing the Get it Dunn run in Menomonie, and then Sunday is Mother's Day, which is sure to be a sweet day with family. Enjoy my little Lucy's fashion inspiration: Seriously, isn’t she the best?  XO, edc.

.....and just like that, we went straight from Winter to Summer and this family is not complaining. We've all got tan lines, and flip flop injuries, and sore legs from bike rides. Our house is full of sand, and dirt, and bags that need to be unpacked, and repacked from picnics at the park, and extra change of clothes. Our days our spent outside in the bright sunshine, slathered in sunscreen and remembering the familiar and PERFECT sound of little footsteps running on the dock. We've already gone through a package of band-aides from fresh scraps all over little legs. Hair is turning lighter and days are growing longer. Every night is a grill night and after dinner walks around the neighborhood. Everyone is happier, healthier and tired at the end of the day. Oh, Summer, we missed you and we love you.  xo. edc. can you spot lucy swimming in the sand? my happiest place. digging with grampy teddy bear park this kid is too cute.