erica danielle

Last night I got home and warmed up the meatballs I had made and prepped on Sunday. I made angel hair pasta (which my children had never had?? I guess they don't usually sell it at Aldi haha) and roasted broccoli. Lucy told us that she got a spot in Home for the Holidays, and Olle said his teacher is 99% sure he made GT (it's going to be really heartbreaking if he didn't actually make GT). We cleaned up dinner and then played Blank Slate, followed by a couple rounds of Dutch Blitz until Lucy spilled my tea on the cards, and then the game was done. It was getting dicey anyway bc Olle hadn't won a round and was juuuuust on the brink of a potential break down. The kids got ready for bed and then snuggled in on the bottom bunk with the iPad to watch a show while Sten and I had chats in the kitchen. It was our only family night this week and it was really nice. I went to bed feeling super grateful for nights at home (spills and crabby kids and all) where we all are there and...

Grateful today for the chance to bring Lucy to school. She's not overly chatty (especially in the morning when she's 1/2 asleep) and I felt thankful today that we easily talked while we drove to school.  I looked around all day and was able to identify many things I was thankful for.  - friends to workout with - a lunch packed with nutritious food - a gym for the kids to play in on this dreary rainy day - a good book to listen to - co-workers, friends, family that I get to connect with daily - money to go grocery shopping with after school  - bone broth that I am attempting to make in the crockpot  - a free night without any plans  xo. edc.  

Kids did some serious trick or treating last night and we ended up with 20 lbs of candy. Not kidding.  Jessica Olive Lucy and I went to the MOA to celebrate the 13 yr olds and now birthday szn for Lucy is officially over. I think she had a pretty solid 13th celebration and I will forever say: she’s the easiest person to please. ❤️ This year we had: an alien abduction, Thing 1 and Thing 2, a perfume bottle and a Greek goddess. We had the best weather this year and the kids had a blast.  I start out strong in November blogging daily with the things I’m thankful for. I usually miss a few days, but I do love this practice and I’m going to give it a go again this year.  Thankful for the sunrise. This time of year the sunrise/sunset is like an explosion of color and I love when I get to step outside our door and breathe it in.  Shout out to Haley for my November Goals: Drink 50oz water a day Finish 2 books 3 days of strength each week after icebox  Do something new th...

October isn’t over, but I guess it’s close enough and Halloween feels like it should get a post of its own. And also, I’ve barely taken any pictures as of late, so not much to report I suppose.  I used to take so many pictures. It helped to jog my memory as to what we’d been up to and funny things about the kids. But as kids get older you see them less and they don’t do as funny of things?? Or maybe I’m just not around them enough?? Idk? Another weird thing of having big kids.  Anyway— This month was a whirlwind and I am not sure how I will keep up this pace of life and remembering all the things if I don’t start taking more pictures!  Some things:  Had a toasty and seriously hard and amazing 3 hr run with Haley through the woods Saturday in between 2 flag football tournaments,  followed by the fastest grocery run ever (I was sweating) and then out to celebrate Jenny’s birthday. Phew! That was a run on sentence bc that’s how my day felt! Haha.  A 3 day week...

On Friday Sten and I went to Kim's birthday party and learned how to make RAVIOLI. It was such a lovely night and super fun to learn such a cool new life skill. I just told Haley while running yesterday morning that I waffle between being completely content with my life and happy with the things I've been able to experience and see, and then on the completely opposite spectrum I feel FOMO and YOLO and want to spend all my money and go take a cooking class in Italy.... Life is funny like that, huh? Anyway, I guess I got a "best of both worlds" kinda situation with this, because I didn't have to travel, but I still learned something really sweet.  It tasted amazing We went to Jim's funeral on Saturday and it was full of people who have hope and love Jesus and have memories of someone who lived a long full life. It makes you really  examine your own life and how you will be remembered. I hope there is laughter and stories and pictures and hope at my funeral. I ho...

The Badland Babes were at it again and took home yet another W at the Birkie Marathon Relay this weekend. It was a blast and not just the winning part :) Staying at Mandy’s cabin was a dream and I was so thankful for the opportunity to hang out with these fast friends.  A boat ride + charcuterie happened all snuggled with blankets and sweatshirts and that was very nice. I was the last leg and so waiting 4 hours to run was hard-- and cold. I look normal here but really I was wearing another layer and a stocking hat and had many goosebumps.  I never stopped running, but I did get my phone out at the top of the switchbacks and took this picture. It was SO fun to run down this hill. The sunrise in the morning was absolutely stunning and the fall colors were vibrant.  I have been sore ever since. I went into the race a little under the weather and I just feel off. I don't know what it is. but I don't like not feeling like myself. and I feel a bit frustrated. I haven't been sle...

My tiny 6lb 15oz baby turned 13 yesterday. How can it be?? She's absolutely lovely inside and out and we had a wonderful weekend celebrating who she is. I made Sally's Baking Addiction Cookies and Creme cake and it was SO yummy. Look at all those candles! Ziva, Lucy and Lyla at the MOA where we literally shopped til we dropped and went in EVERY single makeup store the mall has to offer. We ate a late dinner at Chipotle.  Lucy might be the easiest person in the world to buy presents for. Everything makes her happy. She is so grateful and she is so excited! She loved the weekend and we love watching her get older.  All 3 kids killed it last weekend in sports. Sten and I were able to make it to all the games/meet and the weather was perfect and I had so much fun watching them do sporty things. Lucy shaved 3 minutes off her time on this exact same course from last year. At this rate next year she'll be faster than me in the 2 mile.  Both boys played QB and they are so differe...