Audrey Is In!

Audrey was recently invited to participate in the Vancouver School District Challenge / Gifted Program for 1st through 6th grade. Yeah Audrey!! We are very proud of our little cutie (hootie)! I felt a little nervous about her getting in because she is young in her grade level. Also, since Emma and Bruce have participated in the program, I didn't want Audrey to be the odd ball out. But, like Audrey has been telling me all along, of course she would be able to do it too!

March Events

A few exciting announcements:

1. Emma was accepted to the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. There were 500 applicants and 90 were selected. It is a small, prestigious public school for grades 6 - 12. Also, based on an audition DVD Emma was accepted to participate in the BYU Summer Ballet Camp. Way to go EMMA!!

2. Bruce took first place in the pinewood derby in his pack and 3rd overall in our ward. Way to go Bruce & Brandon! (It was a team effort - highly competitive between the dads). Brandon also raced his pinewood derby car from his cubscout days. Unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough to make it all the way to the finish line.

3. A funny Audrey story: She has really been wanting to do a fancy dinner with the china, crystal, etc. I said OK and that we would need to plan a fancy meal too. So, I sent her into the pantry to get a few menu ideas. She came out of the pantry very excited and said: "I know the perfect thing - How about beans and pumpkin pie!?!" (Obviously the canned goods are at her eye level.) Anyone want to come over for our fancy dinner?

A New Word

Kids make up the coolest words! Audrey's latest creation is:

icksgusting

It means repulsive, horrible, and unpleasant. It is obviously a creative variation of the word disgusting specifically created to describe the little boy that sits next to her in kindergarten because he dips his crackers in his water and chews with his mouth open. Too funny!

Try using the word a few times. It is fun to say and people will know exactly what you mean.

Trip to Spokane / Hayden

Last weekend we drove up to Spokane, WA / Hayden, ID. When we were in Hayden at Brandon's parent's house we had a surprise, Hawaiian 6th birthday party for Camila. Here are all the Erickson grand kids:

We visited my Grandma Giboney. We gave her a mechanical puppy for her 95th birthday. She loved it like it was real!

Grandpa Bruce and Bruce II with matching shirts:

We made the trip for the baby blessing of our newest nephew Jay Marshall Erickson. He is such a sweet baby!

Brandon also did some insurance structural evaluations while we were there. He took Audrey with him and they saw a grotesque dead deer. I mention that now only because now Audrey can do a perfect, very funny mimic of what she saw. I'll try to get a picture of that later.

2009 Science Fair

This year we had three fun projects in the Eisenhower Elementary Science Fair.

Audrey eperimented with OSMOSIS (aka Is my celery thirsty?)

Bruce did the Coke + Mentos combination. Boys love explosions!

Emma studied the effect of air volume with burning candles. It was a fun night!

Happy Valentine's Day

1. Emma and Brandon went to a Daddy-Daughter dance


2. Brandon surprised each of his girls with a beautiful rose personally delivered to school and mine on the van's front seat

3. Brandon bought me a really nice set of flatware! Hooray! It wasn't a surprise though because Audrey said on "Valen - times" Day morning, while we we all eating breakfast, "Don't worry Daddy! I didn't tell Mommy you got her silverware!"

I'm a lucky girl! Thanks Brandon for being mine!

Afternoon Kindergarten

Afternoon Kindergarten is great! We have time to relax, play dress up, and get our chores done. Audrey's loves to wear skorts (skirt with shorts underneath), leggings, sassy boats, lip gloss and lots of bling.

REA's 5-year Anniversary

Tomorrow (1/19/09) Brandon's structural engineering firm (Roggenkamp Erickson & Associates) will be 5 years old. It started with the two smart, experienced engineers in a make shift office - each with a Rolodex of phone numbers, a calculator, and a pad of engineering paper. It wasn't easy at first being without an income, working 60+ hours per week, and handling all the unique challenges of starting/running your own business. But, their hard work has paid off with exciting projects and steady growth. For more detailed information about their firm, go to reastructuralengineers.com

New Nephew - Baby Jay

On January 14th a new nephew was born into our family - Jay Marshall Erickson! He is Brandon's brother's 2nd baby. Brandon was in Spokane for work and had the privilege of visiting them in the hospital. He is our 15th nephew. We also have 11 nieces. Congratulations Jonathan and Brynne!

Rock Star or Structural Engineer?

A couple of years ago, Bruce was asked by his cousin Cody if he wanted to be a rock star when he grew up. Bruce answered, "Yeah! But, my Dad says I need to be a structural engineer like him." The funny thing about that conversation is that Bruce is (without coercion) a "Mini-Brandon." He built this complex magnet structure when we came home from church today. Of course, it has parts that open and perform imaginary functions (laser shooting, etc.). You tell me...should he be a rock star or structural engineer?