.: 5+1=6

.: 5+1=6: I'm going to just cut right to the chase.  So May 2013 Jade, Tayten, Bentely, Harper, and I will be welcoming future baby Erhart!  I r...

5+1=6

I'm going to just cut right to the chase.  So May 2013 Jade, Tayten, Bentely, Harper, and I will be welcoming future baby Erhart!  I really am excited and I debated on announcing this because its very fresh in the oven and normal people usually wait before they shout it out to the world but we all know that I am not normal!  I am such a big mouth when it comes to stuff like this so I knew I couldn't wait another month!  I LOVE the reactions I get from people, my Dad for insistence I call him and I said "Dad I have some news for you," and his words exactly, "don't even say it, Erica when are you going to stop."  I was like well thanks Dad glad your excited!  I know he is but its funny how he shows it!  I have also gotten the "O wow was this a surprise?"  People for some reason think if you have more then 2 kids you are crazy!  Well to me and all the "crazy" parents out there I will admit we are crazy!  But its so fun and God has called me to be a mother and I love this crazy life!  So cheers to the next month or two feeling nauseated, tired, cranky, and overly emotional!  Cheers to the months of peeing constantly, sore boobs, and out of control hormones!  I pray for patience, self control, and a healthy baby!  A little more pink to even things out would be cool to!  I mean every girl should have a sister right?!  Either way it will be fun boy or girl!  Not sure if we will wait to find out or not.  Well that's that! 

FUN FACT:  Our baby is the size of a poppy seed!

AMAZING TRUTH:  God has a plan already made for this little bundle!
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

FEELING:  I am feeling good so far just headaches and tired of course!  Only 277 days LOL

Here is how I told Tayten since he can read now and he is really the only one that understands and cares!  He told Bentley and Harper and Bentley is pretty excited!

Love and Blessings!

Time....so little

.: Catch up and Callings

.: Catch up and Callings: Hello fall!  WOW I can't believe we are here again!  I will not complain however because as much as I love summer I also love fall!!  It ha...

Catch up and Callings

Hello fall!  WOW I can't believe we are here again!  I will not complain however because as much as I love summer I also love fall!!  It has been a busy summer (hence no blogging lately) so I will give you all a brief about my abouts lately!  So "Pretty Pretty" was such an amazing night!  God did big things and as soon as I am able to get more pictures I will post them on my blog for you all to see!  I cut about 7 ladies hair (we had around 25 other stylists) and they all touched my heart in one way or more!  Even the ones that didn't have much to say, just the smile at the end of there haircut was enough to warm my heart!  Doing this event got us all excited to keep  moving forward and so we are in the works now for holding an event Dec. 1st!  Not the same event but leaning toward giving these woman and children winter wear!  So as we plan I will let you know what we will be up to and how you can get involved!  "Pretty Pretty"  will also become an annual event! 

My heart for this fall season is to focus on others! I plan on doing things differently from this point on when it comes to holidays and things! We plan to spend our Thanksgiving serving less fortunate people...making them a meal and eating with them. I really feel its so important to expose my kids to what life is like for many people even little ones just like them. So instead of making the traditional turkey dinner at home we will make it at the shelter we choose and serve! I know I am not rich with wealth but I am  rich with blessings from God and I want to share the riches I can with others! I have been thinking all the things in store in this life we have and how much we can do if we try and lead the life God has created us to live! I mean in God's eyes I probably only have 15 minutes on this earth and the rest of eternity with him in heaven so ultimately I want to make him proud for this short time I do have to be his hands and feet. What an amazing thing! 

Jade, I and the kids went to an apple orchard in Lakeville last weekend and had a blast!  We met some friends of ours there and enjoyed delicious honey crips and a hay ride!  We also came home with a bag full of apples the kiddos picked ($25 dollars worth)  I left there thinking "WHAT?  We just spent 25 bucks on apples?"  But in my defense they were super delicious and it was fun for the kiddies to pick them!  Tayten is back in school!  1st Grade already!  We got a call a week before school started from a school we have been trying to get him into since Kindergarten and they let us know they had an opening for him!  We decided to move him so he is now at 7 Hills Academy in Bloomington!  So far he loves it and actually enjoys wearing his uniform!  I am so excited to watch him learn and grow in school!  I can't believe they already have homework!  So its a good thing its 1st grade cause I have to practice for when he gets older!  I am a little nervous I won't have a clue how to help him!!!  Bentley and Harper are home with Mamma all day!  We are little goers though!  We are always doing something and having play dates with our friends!  Jade always tells me its not fair I get to hang out with my girls and there kids everyday while he works!  I LOVE having families to do life with!  Bentley will start pre-school next year so I am trying to enjoy all our time before the running begins!  Harper is really coming out of her shell......wow is this mom in trouble.  She is a little spitfire!  Stubborn and strong willed must run in our blood cause man she is only 1.   I thought that was suppose to be an easy age?!  Guess again!  I don't think you can get much cuter then her though!  Gorgeous little thing and I am not biased at all!  I am hoping we can still get a weekend of camping in before it gets to late in fall but we will have to see.  Jade is busy at work and we will take it as we get it!  Slow season is right around the corner so I feel like we kinda need to be squirrels and store all our nuts for winter!  Well here are some pics of our end of summer and start of fall!  Love and Blessings!

 

 Fun at the Apple Orchard

 Family Pic!

 Jade and celebrated 6 yrs of marriage on Aug 19th!

 The great Minnesota get together!

 Mommy, Auntie, and Harps!  "The girls" at the fair

 Harper Lynn is getting so big

 Grandpa with the Grands!

 Tayten's big day of 1st grade

 1st day at new school!  "Good luck Brother!"

Walking leads to face planting in the dirt!

BLISS

 5K Color Run with my Girl Rachel Johnston!  We did it!

Pretty Pretty just 7 short days away!

Many of you who keep up with my few and far between blogging lately have read about the upcoming event I am so proud to be part of called "Pretty Pretty".  I am so excited and a little nervous now that is just a week from tomorrow!  August 24th will be an amazing day not only for me but many many amazing woman who will be shown the love of Christ with a night of beauty!  A friend and I recently went all over Minneapolis (some areas I have never seen in my 10 years of living here) to drop off all our posters and invites to Pretty Pretty.  These places included many homeless shelters, Emergency Food Shelf's, and battered woman's shelters.  I never in my life saw all the homelessness and poverty.  All I could think of was this is only 15 minutes away from my home, there all so many kids, so many people, how, and why?  My heart was so saddened and I immediately felt changed.  Annie who was with me made a very good point as we drove away from our final shelter...she said "Erica the people who work in and for these shelters are the hands and feet of Jesus, they do this day in and day out."  I think we both teared up for a moment and it made this event we are part of much bigger.  For one day these woman and children get to do what a lot of people do just as a day to day thing, get there hair cut, get some new clothes, get a message, get a manicure, eat some pizza, put on some makeup, and maybe talk to someone who cares.  For a moment in there lives they get to feel beautiful, loved, respected, special, and taken care of.  For many it will be the 1st time in a long time or maybe the 1st time ever.  Bottom line we need prayer not only for this event but for where these woman and children go after they walk out the doors.  I wish I could give them all a home or a job or get them away from the touch situation they are in.  A night to forget about it, a night to be loved, a night to be pampered, and for the kids a night to eat a meal, maybe the 1st in days.  I believe God has BIG things in store for August 24th 2012.  If you find yourself wanting to do something make a difference come join us in doing something for the woman and children in OUR community who need us.  I can't wait to share my experience with all of my blog followers!  I also really wanted to share all the amazing things people have already done to be part of Pretty Pretty!

Cub Foods gave a 20.00 gift card, Salon ROX gave a free haircut and color certificate, Papa Johns gave us large cheese pizzas at employee discounted price, Lunds and Byerleys gave us 500 paper bags (.25 cents a bag) and 10 cases of water, Sam's Club gave 200 free cupcakes, Panera Bread gave a certificate that will bless someone with bagels and cheese once a month for a year, and so many people have donated clothes, money, jewelry, handbags, shoes, pantry items, makeup, and things we need to make this event possible!  AWESOMENESS!  If you have anything to offer or want to be part of this event or have questions email ambercvc@gmail.com or contact Amber Linz at 612-210-8564.  Its almost here please keep this event in your thoughts and prayers!  Love and Blessings!

Let the FUN begin!

So now that August has creeped up on us and summer will soon come to a close we are getting ready for a fun, crazy, and maybe realxing??? time at Kamp Dels in Waterville, MN!  Jade and I have taken the kids every year now for the past 3 years!  This year however the Linz family of 4 and the Madden family of 6 will be joining our Erhart party of 5!  We are so excited and busy getting everything we need for a memorable camping trip with good friends!  Here are some of our past "Kamp Dels"  pictures!  Enjoy!  Can't wait to blog about our camping experience!  With 5 toddlers 2 babies and a 7 yr. old I am sure we will have more then enough stories to share!  Love and Blessings!

on the way home!!!!