A Gift For Four Generations

My Extraordinary Grandparents

At least once a year our whole Utah family of 20+ travels to
California to visit our grandparents. These trips have always
sparked fond memories of our childhood summers. Grandpa
would remind us of our adventures in the Sierra Mountains,
Grandma would laugh about our exploits at the beach. Even
better were the stories they would tell us of their own amazing
undertakings. Their epic tales of adventure always kept us
enthralled:
Treks through the Amazon, White water rafting the Colorado,
Flying their plane through the Grand Canyon, Landing their
plane at night on an unlit landing field in Mexico, Deep sea
fishing, Skiing the Alps, Hiking to Machu Pichu and so much
more.
However, this year's visit was bitter-sweet for us all. Perhaps
it is because we know that our 86 year old grandma will be
leaving us soon. Perhaps it is that we are nostalgic for the past.
I think we all have a sense of subdued celebration and awe for
a life well lived. My grandparent's quest for adventure has
always been a cornerstone in our memories of them. Now
those stories are coming to a close.
As four generations of women stand side by side I can't
help but feel that each one of us is extraordinary in our
own way because of our grandma and her lust for life.
Thank you Grandma, Thank you Mom, Thank you
Hailey for being a part of my life.

great grandma, grandma, mother, daughter gather at the piano.
What a gift!

Dave's Other Son

THE ANNUAL ERICKSON UINTA BACKPACK TRIP
(dads and sons only)** except Hailey**


Dave and Hailey made it home after wandering around in
the Uinta Mountains for two days. Come to find out they
walked three miles in and three miles out. I was under the
impression they were doing a hundred miler due to the
ample amount and variety of munchies they carried with
them. They survived a mountain downpour, chilly
temperatures and fish guts. Most importantly they survived
each other!
Barely.....


Dad and Daughter spent some time fishing together. This is Hailey
before she caught a fish. I can just hear her telling her dad "don't
tell me what to do! I KNOW how to do it!... fishing is so lame!"


Then an hour later an impatient Hailey finally catches a 12" trout.
As soon as she started catching fish, fishing was no longer "stupid".


Happy now

If you catch it you have to eat it!


Six boy cousins and a lone girl



The Uinta Mountains are beautiful this time of year. The
wildflowers were blooming and the lakes were brimming with
recent snow melt. Fish were plentiful. Father and daughter
"roughing" it.

I'm Worried

Dave and Hailey packed for a two night camping excursion together.
As I looked at the amount of supplies they were taking I couldn't help
but wonder. "Are you leaving me, Dave?". He packed enough food for
6 weeks, he had a water purifier, he had a cook stove and enough gas
to last for months if he conserved. Realistically they didn't ever have
to come home ever again! I looked earnestly into my daughter's eyes
as they drove off, "I'll see you in two days, right?".

I'm Cool Like That

I took Hailey shopping at H & M, you know, where EVERYONE
goes because it's the coolest ever! They sell clothes that only
cool people wear and their styles are soooo SICK! (sick means
awesome these days). So after a few hours of scrutinizing the
entire inventory of this gigantic and very sensational store,
Hailey settled on a few AMAZING outfits. Low and Behold! She
bought the exact same outfit that I bought two weeks ago!!
Ya, I'm cool like that.

After Dinner Clean Up

I really enjoy preparing a good old fashioned home cooked meal.
I like the smell of freshly chopped herbs, the sound a hot
fry pan makes when it's ready to saute onions. I like watching
sauce thicken and bubble. Heck, I even like how home-cookin'
tastes when it all finally comes together to make a meal.
However, dinnertime is never a peaceful time. Hailey is busy
picking out all the onions, I'm soaking cookware to simplify the
subsequent clean-up. Dave can't sit still and always needs more
ketchup. Tanner is done with his meal before the rest of us begin.

As background, I must say that Tanner uses no utensils when
he eats. He shovels food into his mouth like a common raccoon.
He is also strapped to his chair much like a prisoner.
Therefore, picture a captured, ravenous animal sitting beside
me devouring dinner as if he hasn't eaten in days. In his delight
at being fed he flings food around, flipping mashed potatoes and
ranch dressing from his fingers. When his cup is empty he tosses
it, when his plate is bare he casts it away as well.

Clean up is quite considerable. Does anyone else have to mop
their ceiling?

The Smartest Man In The World

He is a man so rich in knowledge and experience that he coined
the phrase "been there, done that".

His expertise is so sought after by the neighborhood guys that
I have to schedule appointments.

He is a man of such intellectual prowess that he has a website
called "dave.knows.all.com"

If he wants your opinion he'll give it to you

He has been known to say "I don't always know everything,
but when I do I prefer to tell you so".

He IS the smartest man in the world.


-----------------STAY INTELLIGENT MY FRIENDS--------

Happy Birthday to the biggest brain in the house.
and a special thanks to Nanette for knitting the brain hat.

The Secret of Poo

Now that Tanner is out of school and home all day he follows me around the house like a big, loud, clumsy puppy dog.He always has to check out what I'm doing. Sometimes a mom just needs a little alone time and I discovered a way to keep him at bay. I can't believe that I haven't used this trick earlier:  a little background first......
Tanner has always been grossed out with the site and smell of poo. He gags on his own stench. If he sees poo in the toilet he gags and practically runs away.  I remember instances when he was sitting in a lake or a river and a poo shaped stick would drift near him. He would start gagging and frantically try to push it away.
A while ago I was enjoying a relaxing, hot bath (candles and bubbles and soft music). Of course Tanner found out where I was and started banging on the door. Annoyed, I shouted,"leave me alone, I'm going poo!" Next, I heard a little gag and he never bothered me again. Brilliant!!
Now, when I want to sleep longer in the morning and he comes banging on my bedroom door I just shout "I'm going poo!" and he leaves. I know this won't work forever but it sure is fun.