CHRIST mas.

This Christmas was a little more quiet than usual and we loved it!

It was so much fun with our boys being a little older.

We spent Christmas Eve with just our little family of 4.5.

*luke 2 (and explaining to our kids the true meaning of Christmas)

*it's a wonderful life

*finger foods and sparkling cider

*santa claus 3

*opened first present of PJ's.

Then Santa came that night....

and here is Christmas morning:

Each of the boys got one present and a stocking full from Santa, the rest was to and from eachother...and gift exchanges from family members came later. Watching the boys get SO excited on each gift was such a treat. It was so fun!

Jon (still a little groggy)

me and my spoildness...

our boys love chocolate chips, so when they found these in their stockings they said, "WOA, look at these BIG chocolate CHIPS!" So cute.

We then had a big breakfast of breakfast burritos, waffles, sausage, orange juice, etc. and Nana and Papa Gatten stopped by to eat, share their company and generosity with us.

Later that evening, we went to Grammie and Grandpa Ericksons for a fancy 3 course meal!

"CHEERS!"

of course, we also got in some pool, and board games...

and more gift exchanges. The boys loved their new sled!

We really enjoyed our couple of days together as a family, and the chance to reflect on the birth of our savior. We also were able to teach the boys about giving and they helped shop for others in need. We feel so blessed to have the gospel and know that our Savior lived.

Christmas Card 2010

2010 Erickson Highlights:

Still in PF, ID trying to sell our home!

JAN: New Years @ Gatten family reunion in Hope, ID. Jumped in lake Pond Orielle!

MAR: 5th wedding anniversary

Jon to Vegas for March madness

APR: Jon and Brynne to Honolulu, HI

MAY: St. Joe camping/rafting trip

JUN: 4th annual Running Into Fun (our Cda kids fun run)

Brynne 1/2 marathon

JUL: clark fork river trip, J&B co-ed multi-church softball league (placed 2nd!), Gatten Reunion(ext.) in UT

AUG: Cda tri, "couple retreat" backpacking trip near Bonners Ferry, ID

SEP: Cade starts preschool!

OCT: Jon to FL for his annual sales mtg.

NOV:Family trip to Seattle, WA, got skunked hunting, went to Vancouver, WA for TG.

DEC: Christmas @ home. Ringing in the new year on an adults only cruise to the Caribbean!

Extras:

Jon: Got Rookie of the Year with Zoll as a pre-hospital medical sales rep. Travels all over AK, WA and northern ID, as well as Boston. Loves sports. Executive secretary in our ward.

Brynne: Busy wife, mom and chorister/choir director in church. Teaching group fitness classes in Liberty Lake. Cycling, pump, and core pilates.

Cade (4 in Jan.):started soccer in the spring and preschool in the fall! SUPER smart, boss to Jay, organized, quiet yet social, loving and sweet.

Jay (2 in Jan.): "walking tornado", "mess maker", "terminator", "meatball". All his nicknames describe him! Copies his big brother, and loves giving lots of kisses and hugs. Very vocal!

Merry Christmas! Love you all!

Thankgiving in Vancouver!

This yr. we braved nasty roads and a couple extra hours in the truck to have TG weekend in Vancouver, WA (Portland area) at Jon's brother, Brandon's house. We had a ton of fun hanging with family.

Here is Jon's mom, "Marmie" with baby Ruby

game time on the ipad! Bruce 2, Brandon, and Cade

one of many mini piano recitals :)

Kelly (Jon's sister) and daughters, Camila and Ruby

Jonny "fat-doggin'" it

MEAL TIME! Jay jay gettin' ready for grub!

one of my pies I made:

the scrumptious feast:

Sherry and Bruce 2

LtoR: Bruce 1, Nancy, Dan, Emma, Jay, Cade, Corbin, Kelly, Jon, Camila

While we were there I (Brynne) was able to snap some family pictures of Brandon, Sherry, Emma, Bruce and Audrey. Here are a couple of my favorites:

We have so much to be thankful for. A free country to live in, a warm home, a great job to support our family, all of our temporal needs and wants met, and aside from all of that...most importantly, we have eachother, our healthy children, great families, and the gospel of Jesus Christ to guide us in our lives.

Another baby!

The rumor is true, we are expecting our third child July 20, 2011. We couldn't be any more excited and grateful for this opportunity to bring yet another spirit into our family! Jon really wants a boy, or twins, or better yet twin boys! (I think he just wants his own NBA team) Cade wants a baby sister (thanks to his little baby girl cousin, Jersey) I really just want ONE baby, and I would love either...and I can say that honestly. I love the idea of 3 brothers and a girl would be a fun change. :) Either way, it is what it is, and we can't wait to meet him or her!

It took me a little longer to be ready for this one (Jon was begging me from the time Jay turned 1). And once the prompting came, I fought it a bit, but didn't think it would happen so fast! I have had very irregular cycles since Jay and with Jon's travel schedule...you get the point. I actually had a very strong, testimony building experience in the temple and I actually knew I was pregnant before I could take a test. I was not with Jon at the time, and I cried when i told him. He still wanted validation a week or two later, but

I just kept thinking the Lord knew what our family needed and when!

And lastly, to answer ?'s:

I feel great, just exhausted

my appetite is weird. Craving sour and tart (peperocinis, pickles, mustard, grapefruit)

I got a little sick in the beginning if I got hungry

I will continue teaching my fitness classes hopefully the whole time

yes, I am already unbuttoning my top button when I sit down. :) I guess you DO pop out quicker on the 3rd....

Jay, Meet Jay.

First of all, CONGRATS to my brother, A.J., who recently graduated from cosmetology school and landed his dream job at an awesome salon in Portland, OR. !!!

Now, meet my favorite uncle, Jay (sorry other uncles.) ;) He was a huge help in A.J. making his way to success and he came up to support this event.

It was also the first time little Jay was able to meet his great uncle who he was named after.

Here are the Jays with my Dad, Steve. These are two of my favorite men who influenced my life for the better. What better name to have?

Cooper Larson had an all-out baseball party for his 7th bday at the Shock's (Spokane's arena football team) practice facility in Spokane. There was every type of food you could get at the yard, pictures, music, batting practice and a "Mets (cooper's fav team) vs Yankees (coop's least fav team)" game. The electricity went out for a while, which made it quite the memory! A lot more than your average birthday party!

Cade and Jay getting their cracker jacks and baby ruth's

Jay jay
Jay being a ball boy for the game
All the kids!

singing happy bday in the DARK!

(notice Cade helping him blow out his candles...cute!)

First Snow(z)!!

Jon was gone, and Cade came into my bed right at sunrise. We peeked out the window blinds and saw it was snowing! He wanted to go out right then, but I held him off until later (but still before breakfast!) Here he is with Bear (Bear's first encounter with snow...)

The dogs: "Do we really have to walk through THAT to go to the bathroom?"
And here they are finally out in it!
It didn't stop...we have only gotten more and more since!

Winter is HERE!

Seattle Weekend

The Erickson clan met in Seattle area to celebrate the birth of baby Ruby Araneda, and Sofia's 5th birthday.

We brought Rugie Bear (the puppy) and our little family stayed in a hotel and spent some time downtown at Pike Place Market, and did some shopping.

Fun weekend!

oRaNgE and BLaCk PaRtY!!!

We love Halloween, and we LOVE to party.

I wish I had remembered to charge my camera battery, because this was a time worth taking pictures.

So, you will just have to imagine our annual adults only party:

* decked out with orange and black decorations, witched brew, black lights and the smell of hot spiced cider.

*The "battle of the sexes" game, written by Jon and I, answers read aloud (hilarious).

*everyone's unique orange and black outfits, accompanied by them strutting their stuff down the RUNWAY to music (yes, it got a little crazy)

*more yummy food and treats than any other party of the year! (heck, we even invite our chef friends ;)

Get the picture?

Pumpkin 5K

On Hallow's Eve morning, our church held a free 5k (almost 3.2 miles) for the community in Hayden. It was a food drive and everyone who completed it got a pumpkin! I saw lots of my high school friends and friends from growing up there. Tons of people, dogs, kids...most of whom dressed up (I didn't get the memo...)!

Finished in 26 mins and ran with a friend. Fun times!!

Halloweenie

Jon was on his way back from AK for our ward party, so here we are the

STAR WARS trio:

Cade lookin' tough as Darth Vader, myself as Princess Leia (if you couldn't tell by the buns) and Little JJ as YODA!
We had a chili cook-off, so I made crock pot white chicken chili (YUM) and cornbread. There was a trunk-or-treat that lasted about 5 mins before the candy was all in the hands of the tweens. It was fun, though.

Sister's Lunch

Cassie started this {once-a-month get together with all of the sisters and sis-in-laws and cousins that aren't in school} get together.

The kids all wore costumes and strutted them....

LtoR and BtoF: Me, Ella, Gunner, Gage, Angie, Mikin, Asa, Jay, Brady, Lizzy, Jersey, Sally

Brooklyn(angie's twin sister Amy's daughter), Cade, Beckett

There was tons of yummy Halloween themed treats (Angie and I)...
LtR: Brady, Asa, JayJay, Beckett

and we finished with a cute kids' craft!

Yay for sisters and kids!