Vacation in pictures

We left on August 16 for HoneyCreek Resort by Lake Rathbun.  The boys were excited to go!



Zach thought it would be fun to have a couple of toys come with us and be in each picture.  Smooth Smurf & Clumsy Smurf were the chosen ones.



Isaac & the Smurfs after we checked in to our hotel room

We brought along donuts and milk for breakfast each morning



HoneyCreek has an 18 hold golf course and on Saturday morning we went out to the driving range to let Isaac & I take a few swings.

Daddy coached Isaac and Isaac did pretty well for his first time

Caleb even took a few swings after Isaac was done

Zach's not supposed to because of a stress fracture in his foot but he couldn't resist taking a few swings himself. :)

Caleb in the Pirate outside of the waterpark

Isaac in the Pirate outside of the waterpark

Isaac taking a break from swimming to pose with Smooth.  Isaac LOVED the water and turned out to be quite the swimmer in the deeper water.  He even went under water!

Caleb checking out Smooth & Clumsy.  Caleb loved the shallow part with the little waterslide the best!

Saturday afternoon we rented bikes and took off for the playground for a picnic lunch.

The boys loved playing on the playground

We were able to rent a Burley for Caleb to ride in.  Zach pulled him behind his bike because he was too heavy for me!

Isaac & I rode tandem together which was a new experience for both of us

Caleb fell asleep mid ride so we let him nap for a while after we got back

Our room was right off the lake. Smooth & Clumsy are checking out the view.

We ate at the resort restaurant Saturday night.  It wasn't very good food but the kids enjoyed coloring

The bread was the best part of the meal

Caleb & Mommy waiting on the food

Daddy & Isaac waiting on the food

Sunday morning before we left we rented a paddleboat.  Mommy & daddy did all the work while the boys enjoyed the ride in the back

Caleb & daddy enjoying the ride

New House

 

 

We have officially moved and have almost been in our new home a month!  We are slowly getting settled in but have a lot of boxes to unpack yet.  The end of our summer was busy in and of itself so to throw a move in on top was a lot! 

 

We love the house!  We have so much more room and love having our bedrooms on a different level than the living room & kitchen.  The boys each have their own rooms for now.  They've been begging to bunk together but Zach & I want to get settled first before tackling something like that. ;)  Both boys love to ride their bikes and 4-wheelers up and down the sidewalk in front of our house and I love sitting on our front porch watching them.  I haven't done much sitting & watching yet but I look forward to the time where I will once all these boxes are unpacked!

 

One of the best parts of our house is that we live so close to the Indianola Balloon field.  During the National Balloon Festival we woke up to numerous balloons flying right over our house.  One morning I even got to see one take off in the field next to us!  Such an awesome sight!  If you ever want to see the balloons let us know!  We have prime seating now!

A balloon taking off from the field next to us

Inflating the balloon for take off

It takes a LONG time to inflate a hot air balloon

A daily sight over our house during the week of the National Balloon Classic

Catching up!

We have been busy during the month of July!  After we got back from Minnesota on the 4th we spent a weekend with my family to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary.  We spent Friday at Adventureland then Saturday morning the men golfed while I took the boys back to Indianola for swimming lessons.  Saturday afternoon we played wiffle ball out in the yard and other yard games with the kids.  Saturday evening was supposed to be a quiet family hot dog roast but my sister in law & I decided to make it a surprise party and invited a few of my parents closest friends and relatives.  We had a lot of fun that night!  Sunday morning was a quiet morning spent at home playing games and packing to go back home.  There are pictures below of all our fun activities.

 

This week we are packing up and preparing to move!  We get possession of our new house on Monday the 29th but don't actually close until July 31st.  Our current house closes the 31st as well.  We have rounded up some friends and family to help us load and unload a trailer on Monday afternoon.  We hope with so many people it will go quickly!  Next time I update this blog we will officially be moved...I am in awe and wonder!

 

Isaac & Caleb at Adventureland, waiting to ride the Ferris Wheel

Still in line with Grandpa Bryce & Grandma Arlene

My two brothers and their families loaded and ready to ride the Ferris Wheel

Isaac & Daddy waiting for the Ferris Wheel to start

Caleb with Grandpa & Grandma waiting for the Ferris Wheel to start

Isaac & Caleb wanted to ride the semi trucks while everyone else went on the roller coasters. Daddy went along as well

Then we were off to the airplanes!

Enjoying the airplane ride

After airplanes we had to go ride motorcycles and cars.  Isaac picked a big motorcycle

Caleb picked this car

Riding the motorcycle and the car

Isaac helping Grandpa Bryce roast hotdogs for supper Saturday night

Some of the people who surprised mom and dad for the hotdog roast on Saturday night

We even bought a cake for them

40 years together and still smiling!

I thought it would be fun for them to feed each other cake again just like they did 40 years ago

And they look the same as they did back then...

Caleb is still potty training and very proud that he kept Buzz Lightyear dry

Saturday evening we got out the sparklers and Isaac LOVED them!

Caleb got in on the action too with daddy's help

Sunday morning we played CatchPhrase outside on the patio. Isaac & Caleb are helping Grandma

Isaac & Mommy playing CatchPhrase together

Caleb & Grandpa Bryce playing Buzz & Woody

4th Of July & Moving!

We are excited to share with all of you that our house has been sold and we have purchased a new one!  This experience has been interesting to say the least but we are so thankful for God's providence in our life and for the new house He has provided.

The house we originally bought fell through as we were waiting on our house to sell.  Neither Zach nor I were really that upset about it but it left us wondering whether to keep ours on the market or not.  We had quite a few people come through and look at it but no one gave us any offers.  A week after the original deal fell through we both were set on taking ours off the market and then that very night an offer came in.  Because we had no where to go we were pretty firm on our price.  We thought when we countered back the people would walk away but they didn't.  They accepted instead.  So we sold our house contingent upon finding a house of our choice.  In that situation they give you 7-10 days to find a house before the deal is void so we spent 2 evenings house hunting in a mad dash.  After the first night we were very discouraged because everything on the market was either out of our price range or not exactly what we wanted.  But on night two, we found a house that had exactly what we were looking for.  We will be moving to the east side of Indianola, very close to all the schools and only a few minutes from our church.  We close July 31 but are hoping to move to the new house a day or two early as our current house also closes on the 31st.

We spent the 4th of July weekend with Zach's family in Minnesota.  Zach's sister flew in from Oregon and it was really nice to spend some time with her.  We went to the Austin 4th of July parade on Thursday where Isaac & Caleb came away with enough candy to last them the rest of the year.  That evening we went out to the farm and put the pontoon on the lake for some fishing.  I'm not really a fisherman but I did cast a few times into the water and came up with the prize catch...a walleye.  Zach's dad says there are only a few left in the pond and he hasn't seen one caught in over two years.  He was very excited!  After fishing we went out to the fireworks.  Isaac and Caleb both really enjoyed the show!  Friday & Saturday were spent hanging out with family and relatives around Austin.  We came home Saturday evening and used Sunday as a day to recuperate.

Isaac & Caleb waiting for the parade to start

Isaac & Caleb helping Grandpa Leif drive the tractor

This weekend we will head out to my parents to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.  It was actually in May but my brothers are teachers and couldn't get away at the time.  Zach got super cheap tickets at work for Adventureland, a small amusement park in Altoona.  We will be going there as a big family on Friday and then will camp out at my mom & dad's for the weekend with my brothers and their families.  After that little adventure we will put our noses to the grind stone and finish packing for our move.  Busy times ahead for the Erickson's but we are so excited!

Happy Father's Day!

We had a wonderful Father's Day.  Zach got some outdoor work done and then had some fun in the pool with Isaac and Caleb.  Yesterday was the first day we got the pool out so the boys played in until they were shivering. We hope there will be more days to play in the pool!

Happy Father's Day Zach!

Daddy & the boys playing in the pool

Last weekend we traveled to Minnesota to see Zach's dad & grandparents.  Hard to believe but last weekend was the 1 year anniversary of Zach's mom's death.  It was wonderful to be with family and we really had an enjoyable time.  The boys went out to the farm with Grandpa and daddy to do some fishing.  They were hoping to get the pontoon out on the water but the batteries were no good so they fished the shoreline instead.  The afternoon was spent visiting other relatives and the evening we rented a movie, Here Comes the Boom with Kevin James.  Very funny and all of us had a great time watching it together.  On Sunday we traveled further north to Zach's aunt's cabin to see the extended family.  We didn't get to stay long but we enjoyed the time we had.

Caleb using his own fishing pole to fish

Isaac fishing off the shore with his own fishing pole

Grandpa helping the Caleb reel one in while Isaac watches

Caleb and daddy with their fish

With all the traveling we've been doing Caleb is not getting all his naps in.  Plus he's in that stage where he's transitioning to not needing a nap every day anymore.  Some days he is more crabby than others and we've found him sleeping at the dinner table twice now.  The other night we were at my parents for supper and Caleb was so tired he laid his head down on the table to chew his food.  It didn't take long and he was asleep again.  After a ten minute snooze he was ready to run again! :)

Tired boy

We've had numerous people look at our house the last two weeks but no offers.  Last week we found out that the house we wanted to buy had another interested buyer and we were given the option to remove our subject to sale or let the house go.  We let the house go.  We've decided to keep ours on the market for now and wait to see what else comes on in the next few weeks.  If nothing is available then we will remove our house from the market and try again later down the road.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Last week we celebrated Caleb's 3rd birthday.  His actual birthday was Thursday and to celebrate we traveled to Des Moines to eat lunch with daddy.  After lunch I took the boys to the local mall where there is a play area.  That evening we had some friends over for ice cream cake and we gave Caleb his first present from us, a big wheel.  It makes all sorts of sounds, it's pretty cool.  Isaac loves it too!  We were hoping this would teach Caleb how to pedal.

Singing to Caleb on his actual birthday and having ice cream cake with friends

Caleb's new big wheel

We had our family over on Monday for a party.  Caleb got lots of great presents.  One of his favorites is the Woody that talks.  He also got a Buzz Lightyear with a laser that he likes but Isaac has attached himself to it as well.  Caleb shares and we haven't had any fights!

Caleb with his new Woody

Checking out the new Buzz Lightyear with the laser

The theme for Caleb's party was Toy Story and once again Zach decorated the cake with a Buzz and Woody.  It was comical to hear the negotiation between Zach and Caleb as to who would be on the cake.  Caleb wanted every character of Toy Story on his cake and Zach only wanted to draw Buzz.  In the end they compromised and Woody also made the cut.  This was one of the most difficult characters to draw and Zach did a fabulous job!  We also bought a pinata to fill with candy.  The boys and their cousins enjoyed taking turns to see who would pull the right string to make it open up.  Surprisingly we almost made it to the last string!

Caleb's cake, decorated by Zach 

Singing to Caleb on Monday

Trying to pull the right string to open up the pinata

This week we are potty training full time. Caleb is doing great and even pooped in the potty last night!  He is super excited and so am I!  Zach is gearing up to run the annual Dam to Dam race on Saturday, a 12.4 mile race in Des Moines.  This will be the 3rd year he has run it.

For sale

It's been awhile again but in my defense we have been very busy.  At the end of April we decided to hire a realtor and begin the process of looking for a bigger house.  Never in a million years did I think within the first month we would find a house we like and have our own house up for sale.  But that is what happened.  We've tentatively purchased a home on the east side of Indianola, contingent upon sale of our own home.  

In the rush to getting our house "market ready" we had a few projects to get done.  Our realtor suggested that we install new garage doors.  Our old door was a fiberglass door and didn't look the nicest.  We replaced both the overhead garage door and the side entrance door.  Also on the list of to do's was a project that should have been completed four years ago but the flooring guy never returned to finish it.  We expanded our front entryway and laid new tile.  We also had to repair a crack in our foundation that was leaking water into the basement.  On top of projects we did some packing  and cleaning.  We officially put our house on the market on May 10.  So far we've had one couple look and a realtor open house where the realtors came through.  We are enjoying the quiet before the storm.

New garage doors 

Front Entryway expanded to be double the size it was

The boys has been troopers through this whole process.  They love to play together anyway so it didn't really phase them much to have mommy and daddy working so hard on cleaning and packing.  It's been beautiful weather lately so a lot o their time is spent outside.  The other day I caught them playing "doctor" outside using their picnic table as the doctor's table.  Pretty cute & funny!

Tomorrow Caleb turns 3!  Can't believe how fast times flies!  He is very excited to be a "big" boy now and is even trying to learn how to pee and poop in the potty.  I play along as long as he is willing. ;)  Praying this potty training session will go much smoother than Isaac's did.  

Isaac finished preschool last week.  He is ready for kindergarten!  We are so proud of the boy he is becoming and the things he is learning.  He never ceases to amaze us with his ability to make observations.