Easter at the Erickson’s

Posted on April 13, 2009

Easter cookies, egg hunt, egg dyeing, and the all important Chocolate Bunny sacrifice.  Another Pagan Easter  at the Erickson’s!

Easter Bunny?

Posted on April 10, 2009

Okay, here we are again…another religious holiday that started off as a pagan ritual that we have commercialized to the point where it has lost most of its original significance.  Don’t get me wrong, I like Easter.  I like dyeing eggs, and having egg hunts.  I love having the excuse to bring together family and friends, or friends who have now become my family, to just have a fun day and enjoy each others company.

But, does this mean I need to lie to my child once more and tell her that a large rabbit is coming to our house and bringing her presents?  I just really struggle with this.  I bought into Santa, primarily because I didn’t want MY child to be the only one that knows he’s not real.  But, I just don’t feel that strong about the Easter Bunny.

I can just teach her about the idea, right?  I can explain that it’s a celebration that winter is over, and spring is here?  Some day, we can sit down and discuss the religious significance of the holiday so she can understand why OTHER people celebrate Easter.  But, I don’t think I want to do the whole Easter Bunny thing.

John doesn’t want to either.

Is this going to be one of those things that scar her for life?  (sigh)

Get your Irish on!

Posted on March 17, 2009

The aftermath

Posted on February 13, 2009

What happens when you have ten 2 (almost 3) year-olds, three babies, and a room full of toys:

Utter Chaos! And a whole lot of fun.

You should see my kitchen.

The future…

Posted on January 20, 2009

I admit, I was a little disheartened when I realized that my experience when it comes to this historical and amazing day, is much different than I would have liked.  I am, at heart and soul, an educator.  And it was painful to me to sit at home, in this days of all days, with a child who can’t possibly understand what all of this means.  I wanted to explain to her how far we have come, as a country, as a society, and as a consciousness.  I wanted to share this with SOMEBODY, anybody.

But, instead I sat with my child while she was playing, and I listened to CNN in the background.  But, while she was playing, I listened to her, too. I listened as she comforted her “babies” using the same words I use to comfort her.  I listened to her explain right and wrong to her dolls.  I listened to her tell me her alphabet, count forward and backward from ten, and identify her basic shapes.  I listened to her tell me how she loves me.  And I appreciated extra kisses and hugs.  And I payed attention to HER experiences.  (she loved the parade) And I listened to what she was observing and what she was thinking.  I realized that not only am I creating a human, I am creating a “character.”  One who knows right from wrong, one that is well rounded, one who appreciates all aspect of life.  I am creating the future. I might even be creating a leader.

Suddenly, I feel at peace.  I am doing what I can for the future of this country by nourishing the character of my CHILD.  I am raising the future, one person at a time.  It just so happens that the person I am focusing on is my own child.  And I am okay with that.

I may not be where I thought I would be.  But I am where I WANT to be.

And five years from now, Chloe and I will discuss what happened today.  And she will have an extra understanding because I was paying attention.  I am keeping track, and in some ways, score.  And when I look back on my life, I won’t regret not being THERE.  I will appreciate that I was HERE.

Oh, internets, how I have missed you so!

Posted on January 6, 2009

I am sitting on the floor (a heated floor to be exact) at Becky and Robert’s house in Bad Wimpfen, Germany, remembering the ease and beauty of the all powerful internets.  Without you, I have not been able to tell my story.  And oh, what a glorious story I have to tell!  Travel’s to a far off land, where we met new and strange peoples who speak not our language, and do not understand the dietary needs of a two year old.  (Okay okay, so what she perceives as her dietary needs, which I am pretty sure does NOT mean eating popcorn every day for lunch and dinner!)

We start our glorious adventure on Christmas Day, in the Newark airport.  From there we travel to Penna in Teverina, Italy…Where a beautiful villa in a tiny town awaits.  In this fabulous villa (aka:  big fancy house in the country) we finally rest our heads (for 8 hours during the middle of the day, damn you JET LAG.)  The night is spent trying to convince the two year old that 2am is NOT a good time to play.  It takes until 7am for her to believe me.  Then the Clan of the Erickson’s slept until 11, while the rest of our illustrious party explored the surrounding villages.

Becky, the remaining traveler from the far off land of Germany, stayed behind to help us forage for food the the strange and confusing market.  (IE:  We went grocery shopping for something ANYTHING Chloe might eat.)  After returning the spoils to the villa, we also explored the nearby town of Orte.  Pictures shall be posted when time allows.

Then there was the attempt at sleep.

The following day, we went into Rome, Italy.  And it was COLD and RAINY and yet, still AWESOME.  Because I said it before and I will say it again, ‘WE’RE IN FREAKIN’ ROME PEOPLE!”

And there will be pictures.  Oh, will there be pictures!

After several more days of enjoying the villa, and taking advantage of the 45 minutes train ride into Rome, we lost some of our travelers to the responsibility of the daily grind.  They will be missed, but the show must go on.

Then there was an uneventful road trip to Florence, Italy.  Where much art was appreciated, much gelato, pizza, wine, and pasta was consumed.  And towers, and Duomos were conquered.  (yeah, John can tell you all kinds of stories of carrying a two year old up 456 stairs!)

After one and a half days, and two nights, of serious touring, the youngest member of our party started to protest.  (aka:  She threw a fit in the Uffizi museum after we waited in line for two hours to get in.  Mommy and Daddy were none to pleased.)  We decided that life was easier at a homestead, where everything, induding the child, was easier to control.

So, we made a tiny detour over to Pisa, to see an infamous tower that refuses to fall over.  Then drove to a seedy and scary town called Genoa, Italy.  Sleep recovered our energies, and we traveled on through the mountainous and snowy terrain of Switzerland (Becky kept telling us there were mountains.  All we could see were miles and miles of snow) to Bad Wimpfen, Germany.

And this is where we pause our tale, for now.  I promise, there will be more.  It will include many stories of whoa and triumph, checklists of how to do international travel with a toddler, and many many pictures.  And probably some photo slide shows.

We have four days left to tour Germany, and then one day of travel.

Let us all hope that we don’t freeze our little toochies off.

Cause, let’s face:  IT’S FREAKIN’ COLD HERE PEOPLE!