Uppy date on the 5K

April is almost gone, I'm sure you are all on pins and needles wondering if I ran my first 5K:).  (Like you have nothing else to think about)

Well, I will update anyway, even though you probably forgot about my commitment and moved on with your life.  

The answer is yes and no.  Marc and I participated in a 5K last month in Salt Lake.  It was a 5K to benefit The Road Home ( a homeless shelter in Salt Lake).  Such a good cause that we had to do it.  I, however, did not run the entire time.  I walked most the time, but I walked, and Marc, who is substantially more fit than myself, jogged mercifully beside me the whole time.  We made it 50 minutes and 15 seconds.  Hey not great, but okay.  And we both really really liked it so we plan to do more.  We just are not going to do any this month.  Mostly because it's a crazy month. Three of our offspring have birthdays and so we have stuff going on all the time and there isn't a Saturday available. Next month for sure!

How do I feel overall you ask?   Great!  I have days still when I 'm beat and I am exhausted, but I can tell my body likes the running. It has rewarded me with strength and stamina and blasts of endorphins.  What more could a girl ask?

My one teeny teeny tiny complaint would be that the scale hasn't moved as much as I would like. A couple of pounds, maybe, but that's all I got.  Marc on the other hand, has lost mucho weight and he didn't need to!  No, I'm not bitter if you are wondering, because I have discovered that the scale treats us very differently.  (It likes Marc.  He is the scale's favorite)

If the scale could talk, this is what it would say to Marc:  "Oh wow!  I am so proud of you! Look at you working out so diligently!  And eating better!  You will lose lots of  pounds! Congratulations!  Oh I know you had ice cream a few times and cake, but overall you have been so good so we won't even count those times."

Okay now me. The scale,  "Oh looky, <yawn> you've been running a lot and doing squats like everyday. woo. hoo.  Okay you can lose a pound a two.  But you know you cheated a couple of days and so you will have gain a pound or  two for those bad days.  I know they were just a couple of bad days and the rest of the time you did great, but sorry, you have to pay for them.  Try a little harder next time."

Again no bitterness. None. 

 Seriously, hopefully the scale will move and all, but right now I am grateful for the opportunity to run and most of all do it with my very supportive ( and less weightful:)  husband who is by my side on my health seeking journey.

Making Minor Memories

It's been a long time since I posted any Minor Memories.  First of all, I really stink at taking pictures.  Really.  I usually forget half the time and after the fact, I say to self, "that event was pic worthy" but the moment had passed. Picless. 

So here's what I got.  

We have been involved with an outreach group that meets once a month to deliver burritos, hygiene items and such to the homeless population in Salt Lake. It has been a humbling experience in which I am so grateful to be a part.   Here we are getting ready to go with our backpacks of burritos.

Awards Assembly.  I attended Suncrest Elementary's Awards Assembly a few weeks ago.  Jaycie got an award for Math and Reading while Braden got an award for P.E.  

She is the cute one the far right

Braden on the far left

And we had to celebrate Pie Day on 3-14-15 at 9:26.  It was historic.

And Mikaela turned the big two-o on March 18th.  

For Mikaela's birthday, Marc and I got her Ed Sheeran tickets and this is her priceless reaction:

 Mikaela again. Now that she is 20, she decided to revamp her fashion style.  JK, she went to a retro work out party and this was her contribution.

 Don't forget to check out the shoes.  I got to go shopping with her and I tell you it was more fun than helping her pick out a prom dress.  #Saversalltheway

And  Dr. Seuss's Birthday was in need of celebration...with food of course.  Here is our tribute to the poetic genius.

The Eye of the Tired Tiger

Back in March of 2012, I blogged about being sick and tired.  Although I'm not as sick and tired, I'm still struggling at times.  The deal-i-o is I LOVE MY LIFE!  But sometimes it exhausts me.  I was diagnosed eons ago with the Epstein-Barr virus and I'm pretty sure that's a factor, along with hormones, adrenals and just being a mortal.  Whew!  Well now I'm seriously sick of it.

  I enjoy being outdoors and I spend a lot of time there.  But I'm taking it a notch higher.  I'm going to run the Provo Trail and come April, I will do a 5k Trail Run.  That's my goal.  This morning I headed up the canyon and started my 8 week training plan to run a 5K.  I ran 2 minutes straight and thought I was going to die.  But I didn't!   And it felt good, in a tortuous kind of way. 

 In order to stay committed, I'm blogging and come April, I will be able to run more than 2 minutes without breathing like Darth Vader on steroids.  I officially have "The Eye of the Tiger" (in honor of Katy Perry's performance at the Super Bowl) "and you're going to hear me Roar!"  

After my nap:).

(video by Michael Mclean)

Musings: Just Ramblings for the New Year

I do love the new year.  I love the idea of pushing the refresh button on my life and resetting my aspirations and goals.Yes I have goals, and probably a lot of the same ones I had last year.  Still trying to lose those pounds and all, but other than that I am ready for 2015 to make me a better person all around (hopefully less all around by next year;)

Looking back to Christmas last year, I realized I do love Christmas as well. But I think it's like having grandchildren over.  No I don't have any grandchildren, I've just heard from other grandparents how it is. It's exciting, fun, exhausting, exhilarating, chaotic, messy, lively, entertaining, crazy... I could go on, but you get my point.  And so when they leave, or you put the Christmas decorations up, and go on with your life, you are sad, but a little relieved. That's kinda how I'm feeling right now.  Sad, but ready for some kind of order in my life. (So...in about 5 or so years, I'll revisit this concept so see if I am right.  I should have grandkids by then;)

I was pretty much sick during the Holidays, but I still enjoyed them.  I was trampling through Walmart at 1:00 a.m feeling like a truck ran over me. Twice.  But I survived.  We survived. A lot of things didn't get done.  I told my kids, we may have a different kind of "White Christmas"  if I didn't catch up on laundry.  But we made it through fully clothed.  It always works out!  I enjoyed wrapping up in my blankie with my kleenex box watching my kids "Just Dance" after my 4 hour nap on Christmas.  It was all good.  All good.

I'm feeling better,  and now I'm an organizing- get rid of clutter- become a better me- maniac!  Here I come 2015!

Musings: Christmas Letter

Making Minor Moments Memorable in 2014

Hello friends and family!  We just thought we would give an update of the family situation.

·         Erickson family camping trip

·         Yellowstone

·         Disneyland with a surprise visit to Legoland

·         And a million other little things that make a year:  dinners together, playing together, helping each other, and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ as best we can.  (Just speaking positively.  We had our share of stress, frustration, and chaos)

·         Mikaela

·         Going to school at UVU

·         Working at the testing center

·         She’s” got the moves like Jagger” when it comes to dancing

Chelsie

·         Senior at Mountain View

·         Plays the viola with the orchestra

·         Is super smart and unintentionally makes me feel dumb by her scientifical knowledge

Alyssa

·         Sophomore at Maeser Prep Academy

·         Plays volleyball for Maeser

·          Has discovered her inner artist when it comes to creating delicious, nutritious, pulchritudinous food.  (Pulchritudinous means pretty ;)

Braden

·         6^th grader at Suncrest Elementary

·         Loves to play football

·         Eats, drinks and sleeps Legos

Jaycie

·         4^th Grader at Suncrest Elementary

·         Sings in the school choir

·         Puts Tigger to shame with her happy bounciness

Marc

·         Working at DHI

·         Plays softball with the boys

·         Receiving letters from AARP continually (He turned the big 5 0 this year)

Brenda

·         Still on a quest for matching socks

·         Volunteer at the Homeless shelter in Provo

·         Became a substitute teacher this year

Koda

·         Our new little doggie

·         Is on backyard  border patrol protecting us from the evil birds

·         Adds so much fun to our family

A special thanks to our good good friends Kent and DeeAnn Slade which helped make our year memorable by taking us to Yellowstone, Disneyland/Legoland, Wicked, Odgen temple open house, and introducing us to our cute little doggie…and many other little great things.

Some of you we see often, others not so much.  However, know we love you and are so grateful you are in our lives.

And we wish you a Merry Christmas and a great 2015!

With love,

The Minor family

Making Minor Memories: August to November

Major (or should I say Minor) catch-up time on pictures.  Name has been changed from Five for Friday to Making Minor Memories, or Memories for short.  Too much pressure to do it on Friday.  

Thanksgiving 

 Ogden Temple Open House 

Hiking Donut Falls for Labor Day

Yes, Birds LOVE Mikaela's car...not only for resting

Snow!

Musings: Elf on the Shelf? Good or Bad?

It was the month of Christmas, and this mom was getting ready doing my parenting thing, decorating, baking, making lists, pulling out my Elf on the Shelf, when all of sudden, I found out through social media that I am a bad parent for doing the Elf on the Shelf.  What?!?  I didn't know there was controversy.   I thought I was providing a fun addition to the Holiday Spirit.  I thought I was a fun mom!

According to the experts, which includes psychologists, bloggers like myself, and others, I am doing my kids a disservice by having this Elf on the Shelf in my home.  And this what I found:

 1) It just adds to the lie about Santa! Santa is not real.  Why do we promote it even more with one of his elves.

2)  It can be manipulative.  Parents use it as a crutch for their parenting skills.  "You better be good, Elf is watching and is going to tell Santa"

3)  Really?  An elf coming into your house and being mischievous and making messes?

4)  It makes moms work extra hard each night to have the Elf do something fun and creative.  Believe me. I do Pinterest.  I understand the pressure.

I am sure there are many more, but those were the main ones.

After reading the controversy, I started questioning my decision to do Elf on the Shelf.   Am I  promoting the commercialism of Christmas which I despise?  Am I using it as crutch for my parenting?  Am I caving into social pressure to make our little elf as cute as the Jones'.?

After my introspection, I came up with this.  First of all, we didn't buy the real Elf on the Shelf.  It's a generic version under $10.   In my ignorance of not having the book, and never having read it, I did not know little Elfie was watching for Santa looking for naughty and nice kids.  I thought he was a fun little elf adding to the magic of Christmas.

Which brings me to my next thing.  The Christmas lie about Santa Claus.  Trust me, I have wrestled with this, and those parents who tell the kids right off the bat about Santa, I understand where they are coming from.  Yet we do Santa Claus and the Elf at our house.   And now that I have teenagers and smaller kids, I have learned it is okay to do the Santa Claus thing. The teenagers eventually figured out about Santa and are not emotionally scarred by it.  Yay!  In fact, they have said as I have proclaimed; They loved believing in Santa Claus..  It made Christmas magical.  And in the transformation from the literal belief in Santa to the belief in the Spirit of Giving that Santa represents, they have a great love for Christmas and all it's magic, and a great love for why we have Christmas in the first place.   (For a great read about this and the symbolism of Christmas,  I Believe in Santa Claus by Diane G. Adamson is perfect read.)



And last but not least,  the extra work, I get that more than you believe.  I fail at the Tooth Fairy.  The Tooth Fairy usually makes the round of the gathering the prized tooth after about 3 weeks or so.  I am so teaching my kids patience! :)  Honestly, I would never do the Elf on the Shelf  for that very reason.  However, I have a teenage daughter who has creative ideas and loves doing the Elf on the Shelf thing. So when I forget, which I usually do, she's got my back.  

So there.  I am not a "cotton-headed ninny muggins" (from Elf) mom for doing Elf on the Shelf.  I  am a very imperfect mom, just having fun at Christmastime. And whether you let Elf on the Shelf at your house or not, that's okay. Whether you have deeply philosophical reasons for not doing it or just don't want to do it, good for you!  Enjoy your kids!  Enjoy Christmas and let's let us all celebrate this amazing time of year together.