Good morning treadmill

Jon recently purchased a treadmill and a spin bike for our house. I never realized how much I would use it (since I practically LIVE in a gym)!!!

It's so nice, on my days off and when Jon is out of town, to just hop on the treadmill or go for a ride while it's nap time instead of going to the gym {yet again} or, more realistically, doing nothing.

It will also be nice when it's crappy outside in the winter, and you don't even want to think about going outside or driving to the gym.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I beat my head against the wall the entire time wishing I was outside, but it works. :)

Why didn't we think of this earlier?

Thanks Daddy.

couple days home with rashy kids= decorating spree!

LIVING ROOM BEFORE

 AFTER (new, brighter textiles)

New bedroom textiles

ENTRY BEFORE:

AFTER:

(made the E canvas, painted the entry table white)

 JAY'S ROOM:

hung mounts

I painted the paddle and added an area rug:

 Boys' bathroom BEFORE:

AFTER:

homey touch

PATIO TABLE BEFORE:

AFTER:

shade!

HALF BATH VASE ADDITION:

PANTRY ADDITION:

Had  friend make me this board

PLAY ROOM

(still a work in progress, just wait)
painted this star white

I made this fabric wrapped canvas with painted E

ENTRY:

My new wreath!  (didn't make this, just needed a summer-y look!

The next big projects are Cade's room (he moved into the guest room, so all 3 boys have their own room currently) and our back yard "beds" (we have curbing filled with weeds). :) Stay posted.

You can get a lot done with a couple of days {not} at the gym!  Poor Tyce has had Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease. He's fine now, and it was actually a nice break! 

Backyardigans

small SUMMER joys!

Tyce took his FIRST STEPS this week (towards licorice)

...on his FIRST camping trip ever to the Clark Fork River for 4th of July week. :) I wish I took a picture, but that kid was constantly covered in dirt and/or sand, and we still couldn't wipe the smile from his face...
It was a FAB week of intense rafting, cliff jumping and time with ALL of Brynne's siblings and parents.

Jay learned to buckle his own big boy seatbelt!

Cade had his FIRST baseball game and had 2 hits from the coach-pitch and 1 off the tee! He also had one play to first!

Silver had her first SWIM and could not get enough of the water. She got heat exhaustion on the trip because she had 2 days straight of 3 hours straight of fetch (thanks to all the little cousins) into the river without drinking enough. We had to nurse her back to health with gatorade and hose-downs.

We have also enjoyed Silverwood and Corbin Park beach (on the river here in Post Falls) a couple of times already.

Can't wait to see what else summer brings!

Tyce is ONE YEAR!!!

 This day feels like yesterday.

The day Tyce Gatten Erickson joined our family.

He has so much personality, and is into everything, yet I still feel like he is my newborn baby.

At one year:

your nickname is "DESRUCTO-TYCE!!!!" for a reason. ;)

You have 7 teeth... 4 on top, 3 on bottom

You love to eat everything in sight and you growl at us when someone else is eating and you're not.

You have been off the pacifier for about two weeks and you are just starting to get better.

You have stood twice on your own, but really have no desire to. You are perfectly content being waited on! :)

You are a brute, and you have to be. Your brothers wrestle with you and they don't go easy on you,

you take it, and even fight back! Grunting and pulling hair, and pushing their faces. It's hilarious!

You say "mama", "dada" and that's about it... you mostly just grunt. ;)

COMMENTS YOU GET:

"Look at that hair! It's, like WHITE!"

"He is such a HAPPY baby!"

"He looks JUST like his Daddy."

As you can tell by the below pictures, you are one of the happiest babies we've ever seen. You smile at everyone and everyone who says hi to you.

You are pretty easygoing (as long as you're fed)

and WE LOVE YOU!!!

Cannot imagine our family without your strong spirit in it!

Silver turned one 4 days before you, so we snapped a couple pics of the one year olds!

Birthday Boy!

We went smaller for this kid's first birthday, and it was perfect. :)

Just our little family and Grammie and Grandpa Erickson.

I think his brothers were more excited about the party than Tyce, and it was so cute to watch!

He sure wasn't shy about the cake!!

This guy is so laid back and fun to watch.:)

Love ya buddy.