And the Award Goes To...

Let me first say that until my hubby strong armed me into watching this year's Academy Awards; I'd gone most of my years without watching even 15 minutes of it, but am very glad that I joined him for this year's Oscars.  It gave me a frame of reference for my experience at the 2009 All Greek Awards Ceremony at UW-Madison.   

In the Spring of 1992, I joined Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity at UW-Madison.  As an undergrad, I never thought of myself as a leader in the chapter.  I lived in the chapter my senior year in college and held the position of Social Chair.  In a predominantly while sorority, I was often insecure about what I had to offer and am glad for the consistent opportunities to break out of my comfort zone.  Oddly enough, I'm now the Advisory Board Chair for the same chapter I joined over 15 years ago.  This means that I oversee the board of other advisors and assist them in their work with the chapter officers; our primary goal is to help guide the women in success as they manage the organization. I absolutely enjoy the position and all that comes with it.  I get to work with a lot of different women and seem to be doing a good job at it; even when they're displeased with me and some of my techniques and decisions along the way.  

One of the ways my hard work was recently recognized was at the All Greek Awards; which I must admit - I didn't know it even existed (and they've been doing it for 19 years).  Above, I'm holding my plaque for "Outstanding Chapter Advisor".  I didn't know that I was nominated.  I opened my email about 3 weeks ago and received a congratulatory note from the President of the All Greek Council letting me know that I'd been nominated in November last year and that I'd won.  I was surprised, so I did what anyone would do...I wrote back and asked what the criteria was in their selection process and then looked the organization up on the Internet to see if this was legit.  (I know, I'm working on receiving great things)  Turns out, the woman on 2nd from the left in the picture above - Molly Stamer, the 2009 Theta Chapter President had nominated me months ago on her own volition.  

When looking at the website (http://www.uwgreek.com/community/aga.html) validated how much bigger of a deal than I'd originally thought it would be.   There are over 30 Greek organizations on the UW campus and out of those, I was a winner!  Not only did I win, but Theta took home 3 additional awards.  So it was a win-win-win-win situation (gotta watch "The Office" to get that one).  

Naomi, on the far left is holding the "Chapter of Excellence Award", I'm holding my award, then Molly is holding hers, "Outstanding Chapter President" and Kim is holding the "Risk Management Award".   After the ceremony, one of the Fraternity boys that they know came over to the table and said, "You all cleaned up!".  That we did and it was such a huge encouragement, especially having been on probation for a large part of 2009.  I was so proud of them and of myself too.  The plaque is sitting in the middle of the dining room table on display for now.  If only there were Academy-esque Award Ceremonies for being a wife or mother...

For now, this award will have to do; so with that...my acceptance speech.

I'd like to thank the AGA Council for existing and taking time out of their busy schedules to recognize those of us dedicated to volunteerism within the Greek System.  I'd also like to thank Jenny Nichols for recruiting me back into this position - some days that's a thank you and others, well...it's not.  To my husband for finally coming around and supporting me even though I'm a 37 year old with an English major and Master's Degree in Education and still can not explain why I enjoy working with Theta so very much.  Of course to the collegians, this award would not have been possible without a nomination from them as well as the every day things they do that keep me on my toes:)  And mostly, to God for encouraging me in this very special way. 

Girl Time

Yep, go ahead...awwwww!!!!

They are cute aren't they?  Veronica, 7 is on the left and Sabrina, 10 is on the right.  For the record, this is the best photo of Sabrina that I've ever been able to take.  Such cuties.  We are at Ted's Diner; a local ma & pop diner here in Wauwatosa.  I don't know if my family is pulling my leg, but this old time diner has been there for over 15 years and I was the one that introduced the family to it...yaaaa me!

With Mark, Taylor and Dylan out of town for the Springfield Church Lock-In, the girls and I were left to our own devices.  Since they were living it up in their boy world, we were going to treat ourselves a little bit.  We got up and ready for church and skipped into Ted's for cereal, juice and the breakfast special and the best dining experience.  I sat in the middle of the two.  

Sabrina to my left, slammed her orange juice down lightening fast, eyeing up the basket of lollipops behind the counter.  Veronica on my right, spun round and round on the diner stool talking and asking about 3 questions a minute.  It was such a calm time together and incredibly bonding.

I'm more into quality time than anything, so this was a great time for me to bond with the girls as we continue to build our relationship with one another.  Who but God knows what the future holds for these lovely girls, but I'm so glad that I know them and have been able to be a part of their growth and development and hope to be a positive contribution to their future upbringing, life experience and especially in their life long choices as they continue to grow.

Girls just wanna have fun!

Boys Will Be Boys...

I couldn't believe it.  We were with two other families for our bi-monthly Bible Talk.  After the brief lesson and some snacks, the adults were chatting and I looked over and saw this.  Our 14 year old boy was sitting in the middle of the basement floor playing with wrestling figures (dare I say dolls?) and a wrestling ring.  At one point, he was making them fight one another and adding in their dialogue.  It was jaw dropping and tenderizing all at the same time.  

If you haven't met Taylor, let me say, he's my hands on, close up window into teenage boys.  He'll be 15 in November and is talking about and thinking about things that I wish the brain was hardwired to consider at 30.  It's surreal; wasn't I just avoiding openness with my parents about this stuff only a few years ago?  

It's daunting to me to know exactly how best to respond to teenagerness.  Fortunately, Mark is conversational with the kids and is still in the dialogue with Taylor about all of the tough stuff.  I've been invited in on the periphery - as long as I don't freak out or have an instant panic attack when he shares; which may have happened, I'm not at liberty to say at this moment.  We are also blessed to have friends with teenage boys that know Taylor and have known him since before I came on the scene; they are my partners in staying afloat.  It's also great to have Elders in our church that are on to grandchildren and have lived through this whole teenage phenomenon on the parent side and have come out stronger and excited to help the rest of us.  

Let me just KIR (Keep It Real) right now...

This boy, child, non-working person in our home is asking about sex.  Aaaaaaaaa!  Breathe, breathe...Aaaaaaaaa!!!!

And the craziest thing is that it's normal, right?  The hormones are raging, man.  There's not a mirror that he can't walk past without taken an extended look and then flexing.  Getting him to wear a shirt around the house is like trying to get extra luggage checked at the airport without charge.   I'm stunned that we are going through this right now.  

I do trust that God has got this.  Just like many have given birth and gotten a baby out of the deal, many have additionally lived through parenting teens.  In my spare time, I'm reading a book called, "Yes, Your Teen is Crazy". So far the pieces and parts I've been able to read, particularly about teens, divorce and blended families have been incredibly enlightening.  Please pray for me, I'm trying to balance being involved and supportive while remembering that I'm not a primary parent to Taylor and have never been (nor never plan to be) a boy.  I pray regularly and know that God is in control.

So, as we ride this wild ride, know that I have two double seat belts buckled as I try to remind myself that "boys will be boys"...until they become men.

Bon Appetit to Me

Downtown Milwaukee has a historical portion of the city called "The Third Ward."  It reminds me so much of Madison's State Street that I feel very at home there.  I've been down there many times and it's been wonderful to have the experience, but today's time was beyond memorable. Though the skies were overcast and a chill hung in the air, I bounced across the street with a pep in my step to see what I could see.   Having been to a food tasting at this location a couple of years ago, Mark signed up for their email blast and saw a cooking class for making crepes. Crepes!?!  In Milwaukee?  My last experience with crepes were in France along the Mediterranean with friends.  We were barely speaking as we took the amazingness of this dish into our mouths.  Does it sound fabulous?  That's because it was. Due to the incredible experience before I never wanted to mess with what I remembered as perfect...until now.

The class was more than crepes.  It was instructional, but also incredibly interactive.  I am one of the 5 folks that got up and tried to make the crepes in front of everyone.  It's a working kitchen, much like the ones you see on tv.  The "students" sat facing the kitchen at tables and could hear the chef speak (he was miked).  It was intimate with 16 learners, 1 chef, his wife as his assistant and a few volunteers.  They really did encourage us to ask questions and participate.  The group was largely shy, but I surprised myself several times by asking a couple of questions and introducing myself to a married couple and chatting with them.  I know a lot more about fancy food than I thought and have a ton to learn.   The chef made each of the recipes; they gave us copies of each of the recipes that he made for us.  We had "Soupe au Pistou", "Pesto", "Bouillabaisse", "Rouille" - which was this amazing spread that I can't wait to make, "Crepes & Galettes", "Crepe Suzette".  Tasting all of it was such a reward and especially inspiring, oh and yummers.  Did I mention that they served a glass of Rose with it?!?  Cherry on top!

This is Chef Pierre.  He's from France.  He speaks French.  Need I say more?  It was difficult to understand everything that he said, but I was taken back to my years of learning the language. Surprised by how much I was able to understand (he was cracking a lot of jokes) of what he was saying.  It made me miss the language and consider going back and refreshing myself in this area.  As Chef Pierre was coaching me (the first to try making and flipping crepes) he said my name....notice there is no name tag...I learned later that hubby had introduced himself to the Chef and facilitator before the class and talked them into getting me involved and in front of the group.  Chef was hilarious because he acted suddenly like he couldn't hear a word that I was saying, while keeping a smile/smirk on his face.  I did fairly well on my turn, but when he turned his back to put some dishes out of the way, my crepe didn't land exactly centered - see my face.

I'm so glad I got to experience this class.  As I'm finding my way, it's stops along the road like this one that are rejuvenating to me.  I found that I am more of a natural in the kitchen than I thought.  Most importantly though, I was super proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.  What's best about it is that my husband suggested and supported it, that means a lot to me.

The biggest thing that I learned from Chef Pierre and this experience was not to be "pharmaceutical" in cooking, but to embrace the passion that it can bring out and have fun, to cook freely...to become more of an experimenter and romantic cook.  I think I can and look forward to enjoying some really delicious food.

As the French would say, Bon Appetit!

Family Night Out

Sometimes I think we over plan our times as a family.  Mark is definitely a cruise director of sorts and can hatch some pretty intense family fun.  

This night was more up my alley...

The school district's Art Teachers and Barnes & Noble (at Mayfair) partnered up to display the kids' artwork and our two resident artists' work are currently on display.  So we packed the kids up and headed to the mall to see their work.  Dylan's work was on the side as we were heading up the escalator; see him pointing?   I couldn't get closer without hurting myself.  It's a purple box with some collectible items painted red stuck inside the box.  It's art folks!

Sabrina's work (below) took longer to find.  Unlike Dylan she wasn't as excited about the search for her work, but we weren't leaving until we found both 10 year old's work. It's kind of VanGogh isn't it?
Hugs and kisses for the princess painter!  
It was a great night out.  

Simple, not without its glitches and challenges and some testing, but overall a great family night out. 

Mother Son Time

One mom.  Check!  One soccer playing son.  Double Check! Milwaukee Wave Professional Soccer Team...yaaaa!!!

I ordered 2 tix for Dylan and me to see the soccer team play; they're very good!  Mark was awesome enough to hold down the fort, so that Dylan and I could have this time together.  I took him to Noodles for lunch and listened to his 10 year old mind. Watching him while he spoke made me eager for the next time that we'd be able to hang out together.  He's so interesting and right on about some of his observations.   With him starting middle school in the fall, I know major changes are coming and I want to stay as connected as possible during this potentially tumultuous time.  

I really felt it was a sacrifice for me to be taking him to this game.  I don't even understand soccer (I've purchased and am reading "Soccer for Dummies") and wanted more than anything to be home resting after having hosted 4 college boys at our house for the weekend.    I couldn't have planned something better for us to do.  

The Wave experience is very energetic!  It was amazingly loud too - I think my ears may still be ringing...

My favorite thing was when they played, "Jump Around" by House of Pain and Dylan invited me to join him and I did and not only did I enjoy it, but I kept up with him throughout the entire thing.  We fell down into our seats laughing and bonded after 1 minute of sheer silliness.  I was reminded of how important it is to be and have fun with our kids. Even more importantly, I was reminded of how important 1-1 time with each of our kids is; how we need to put that into our schedules and then act on it...regularly!

It doesn't have to be fancy, but it does need to be done, for them as much as for ourselves.  How many other reasons will I find that allow me to be more free to be childlike than when actually with our children?  

So, the next time you find me behaving immaturely, give me the benefit of the doubt and ask if I've recently spent 1-1 time with one of the kids:)

Erickson play-by-play

The first two months of the year have flown by. It's been like a really entertaining football game (way to go Saints!). You know the team has to have plays and a plan, but how it'll work out when they get on the field may not go according to plan and then the team has to be quick to re-adjust, but especially willing and ready to work together. I'm trying to learn so much about how the Erickson family will play this game of life and am recently brought back to the understanding that I need to know me and be clear about who I am and what I'm bringing to the team.

So, I'm reading this book, "Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self" by Sarah Ban Breathnach and this woman has got me "digging" to find me. I'm into it and truly believe I need to do the work, but have to admit that I'm little nervous about what I may find. Do you know what I mean? I'm sure there are good things, but what will I do with the less than pleasant things? The things that my husband and family have been (not so subtly) pointing out to me...those things that I can't and ought not run away from. Huh...back here again. Guess it's time to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

While I'm working on this project on the sidelines; there's still a lot happening on the field, "in the game".

Mark and I have decided to truly prioritize our marriage and are receiving some consistent discipling & coaching about values and foundational, biblical principles in our relationship from two couples - yep, we need two couples helping us. Thankfully they're committed to our growth. We booked our annual trip to Mexico and will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary oceanside in April. Since we weren't sure we'd be able to take this trip this year, we're so grateful that the opportunity landed in our lap (well within our price range) and that we will be able to have time to focus on one another and our life as a team without the many responsibilities on our plate.

Our oldest, Taylor, 14 is going through some thangs. (yep, I meant thangs). I suppose it's "normal", but compared to the way I was raised, he'd be experiencing some different and more painful teachings to the lower back region of his body had he had Willie or Mary to contend with. I'm watching - as a stepmom; I need to be sharp, faithful and ready, but also incredibly careful about how I proceed in these types of matters. Let's just say, we're hoping that this is a mini detour and that Taylor will be rejoining us and his mother in the real world; or rather the way it's going to be.

Dylan, 10 is obsessed with summer. His birthday is in summer and the kid has enjoyed some pretty stellar parties, so I can see why he's looking forward to that time of year. We're also going to be traveling to Door County, Georgia and he gets to go camp in August; so I think that's on his radar too. He's such a mover and a shaker unlike his mother who'd love to stay home and have just about every day be a quiet day with a cup of coffee and a great book in a clean house. Let me just say that much of this blog will be dedicated to Dylan's middle school experience (or perhaps my dramatic reaction to it) in the fall. CAN YOU BELIEVE I'LL HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER? Yikes!

Sabrina, 10 is doing well. She's learning to use more spoken language - because we often refuse what she's seeking until she does - and is so capable of socializing and interacting with the family when encouraged to. Girlfriend loves, loves, loves to clean and does a great job too. She's also got some serious rhythm and gives great hugs and kisses when I least expect them. I am at times challenged when witnessing her desire for the simplest things in life; a sticker, a smile, a job that she can do and be praised for...

Veronica, 7. Let me just say, I think I will get the full experience of co-parenting a girl with the likes of miss Veronica. She's bright, beautiful and knows how to "play the game" if you know what I mean. Whew...I've got to pace myself with V. She's also the one that cracks me up at my core because she already seems to know and be so comfortable with herself at this age and with a tiny filter to match her tiny self, there's not much that she thinks that she doesn't say. If nothing else though, she keeps it real.

We're working on melding this blended family of ours; this "motley crew" so to speak. We learned at a conference last year that it can take about 7 years for a family like ours to function as if it's been blended. 7 YEARS!!!! I'll be in my 40s by then...breathe, breathe...

Mark and I realize that our unity as a couple is where it can work or will fall apart; so we're doing the work. I don't have enough time or energy in my fingers to type about all of that; but believe me we're doing the work. I'm so grateful that God gave us this opportunity early on and that we're seizing it. We need this support and God knows we wouldn't make it into the end zone without His guidance, word and love.

So, that's our play-by-play as we go into March. I know it's kind of a rip off; like I only gave the highlights after the game is over, but there are so many things happening on the field at once that I don't think I could tell you all about them and even if I started to - mid-sentence, they'd start to change anyway.

Thanks for watching our family grow together. We hear you cheering for us; keep it coming...