Braden's address

I thought that I had posted this earlier but I guess not.

The easiest way to get letters to Braden right now is through pouch mail.

 Write on one side of plain white paper, fold it into 3rd's and tape it closed-leavig about 1 inch on either side.
Put address and first class stamp on outside of letter -no envelope!!!

Pouch mail to

Elder Braden Michael Erickson
Uganda Kampala Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City Ut 84130-0150

I am sure he would love to hear from you.

Squirt gun party

I registered to do a Nurf squirt gun party through a company called House Parties.

And they actually choose me to host a party. They sent me 5 Nurf Squirt guns and 10 bags of Cheetos, lots of coupons and tattoos. We were supposed to have the party Saturday but Loren's work is hosting Lagoon Day-so it is free for us.  We can't pass that up, so we had the water party early.  The boys invited some friends and I bought extra guns and of course used the coupons.  The kids had a blast and got to take Cheetos home with other fun goodies.
We may do this again this summer just because it is so much fun.

He made it to Africa

Yes, he made it. I kind of stressed about it. Because he called and talked to Loren from the airport and said that he had to do the last part of the trip on his own.  I'm guessing it was because they had his travel itinerary wrong the first time around.
The silly kid, I waited around at home knowing that he gets to call home and find out that he called Loren at work.
I'm glad he made it safely.

Here is an email we received from his mission President today.

12 June 2013

 We want you to know that your son, Elder Braden Erickson has arrived in the Uganda Kampala Mission.  I was very pleased to note the preparation, worthiness and commitment of your son to be obedient and to serve the Lord honorably.  He spent his first day at the Mission Home where we had lots of special training and food.

Elder Erikson is a choice young Elder, eager to be an excellent missionary.  His testimony is strong and I am honored to have him serve in our Mission.  Elder Erickson is laboring in Gulu, District with an excellent trainer, Elder Plant.  Sister Jackson and I will see Elder Erikson in a timely manner at Zone Conferences, and I will have an interview with him on those occasions. This is a wonderful Mission and I know that Elder Erickson will be successful.  We pledge to keep our eyes and hearts open to his needs.

Thank you for teaching, nurturing and sending forth this fine young Elder. He will serve the Lord, honor the Erickson Family and other loved ones.  The Missionary Department has authorized e-mail to the family once a week and we are grateful for this added blessing.  May the Lord bless you with peace and assurance that all is in His hands.

Yours Sincerely,

2nd trip to MTC

You would think that one trip to the MTC would be enough. Not if your child's name is Braden.

So it goes like this...
letter and emails from Braden---

Dear Mom and Dad,
I still need my yellow fever card!!!
The MTC is going great.
I got a NEW flight plan. I will be going to SLC, to Washingtion D.C. (yes, Paige, that's right)!Then I will  be going to Belguim Brussels to Entebbe Uganda!
I Leave June 10th.

 If you can I need to have the yellow fever card by Wednesday, Thanks.

oh, I have something I want to share and its...
"Try a little harder to be a little better"

Braden


Uhm, with the emails we sent back and forth, we decided that he didn't get a yellow fever card. So, I went to get one from the health department. They were very sure that he got one. It was a good thing that he had signed a release form for me to get his information, the first time I was there, or they wouldn't have given it to me. So after talking to them and them checking their computer, they finally give me the yellow fever card.
I get home, open Braden's draw in the kitchen and guess what, there is his original yellow fever card!
I write hi a letter and get it ready for the mail.  Loren says he isn't sure it will make it to him beforeMonday. So, this morning I drive back to the MTC.  The security there is very strict. They give me a card at the security window and tell me to park in #1 and call this number. I talk to someone in the MTC whom tells me they will let me drop off the card, but only the card and that a security guard will come to me to get it in a few minutes. I take the card out of the envelope and in a few seconds there is a guard asking me a few questions, takes the card and tell me to have a good day.  Wow, they don't even let you into the parking lot.

By the time I got home, there was an email from Braden saying "thanks" that was it , silly kid. -mom

Bitter Sweet

We spent the morning washing last minute items and packing Braden's suitcases.
He was kins of quiet all morning and on the way to the MTC. I am sure he was excited and anxious at the same time.
Drop off was quick but not painless.  They had a few men directing traffic and welcoming us, asking us who we were dropping off.  We then pulled over to the curb where we were meet by missionaries. Opening doors for us, and helping with luggage. They gave us enough time for hugs and a quick hug and they whisked him away.  It has been a bitter sweet day for me. Joy and tears.-posted by mom.

Blog book

I just put a blog book together for Hope of her 1st year.I used shutterfly and it was fun and easy. Can't wait for the book to come. I never did do a baby book. Good thing I have a blog. You can view it here. Enjoy.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZOGjlm0ZNmzpg&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

Allergies!!!

I have decided that the doctors really don't know what they are talking about when it comes to allergies.

They told me I could try the drops that go under your tongue, if I wanted. The problem, they aren't as affective and insurance doesn't cover them.  They also gave me a new nasal spray to help the swelling-it seems to be working, why didn't they give this to me years ago? And did you know that you can take double or more the amount of antihistamine? They never told me that one either, until I was on the shots. 

Also, now that I took the shots for 9 months and quit, my body has decided it doesn't like things that I wasn't allergic to before.  I went out and cut the ground cover way back in front of the house. I wore gloves because they drip this white, milky, sticky stuff. Sometimes I end up with a few itchy bumps. This was what I got this time. Yes, blisters and bumps-very itchy- benadryl is my friend.

Really? I can tell summer is going to be a challenge.

Twins

I went to the store to spent my gift certificate- I bought some new pants. And couldn't resist buying Hope and Baelie matching outfits that were on sale.

                                                                        Cute girls.

New paint

We have lived in this house for almost 8 years and I have decide that it needs a new look. So I bought some paint and got to it. I painted the living room light green and brown- Hope helped out of course.

 Hope also took a picture of me- not sure how she did it with the camera upside down-but she did.

I only went part way up with the brown on 2 of the walls. I am going to put a wood trim around it/when Loren gets it cut for me.


Then I repainted the entry way...

                                                            This is the before look

                                                                        The new look

Next is to finish Hopes room-doing a light blue with princess border. And I want to paint the stair wall in the family room-not sure what color yet.

All of the kids, now think I need to do their rooms.

Allergy shots

Are NOT for me.

I started allergy shots about 9 months ago. The idea is that you are injected with the stuff you are allergic too, small amounts at a time and build up. This way your body accepts it and no longer see it as an enemy.

Except it didn't work that way for me.  I have been going in to get a shot almost every week- they start with a very low dose (.001) and work up to (.05).  I did great until about .1, I had a bad reaction and had to get an epinephrine  injection to stop my throat from swelling closed.  The allergist then proscribed me singular to take the night before and the day of the next shot. I also was to take 24 hour zyrtec the night before and morning of the shot. It seemed to work but boy I was tired. I felt tired and yucky for a few days though.  After the 2nd shot of .2 one side of my face swoll up. My md thought it was some kind of infection and prescribed an antibiotic, it seemed to work.  But, I soon realized that after every shot of .2 my face would swell up and I then would get a sinus infection.  So my allergist said that we would call .1 my high dose and go from there. Guess what? My sinus swelled up and I got another sinus infection-again. I am still fighting it as I type.  So the allergist and I agreed that the shots just aren't for me and I am done getting them.

It is frustrating that I spent so much time every week for nine months for the shots not to work.

Braden has been called...

Braden has been called to the Uganda Kampala Mission.  Africa here he comes.
Braden said he wanted to go somewhere warm- he got it.  He enters the M.T.C. on May 29th.
He will be speaking ENGLISH.
He only has to take 1 suit. He get to wear dress shirts and slacks, sandals, flip flops, and ties.

Mail

I went to put a letter in the mail this morning and was surprised to see mail already in it.  I don't know if I missed the mailman or if it was yesterdays mail. I did get mail out of the box yesterday but who knows.

We were looking for Braden's mission call because they arrive on Wednesdays but it wasn't there.

IT WAS TODAY!! On valentines day, how fun.  So know, he and I are anxiously waiting for everyone to get home from school and Loren from work, so he can open it.

Any guesses of where he will be going???

Christmas 2012

Christmas was fun.  Every one was happy with what they received .

Braden got suitcases and a small speaker

Paige got a camera and case

Zach got a sniper air gun

Ethan got a long shot nerf gun

Parker also got a huge nerf gun

and Hope got a little people princess castle

 Some more fun pictures...

Loren bought himself a REAL hand gun and safe for Christmas. He and I are taking gun safety classes later in January and learning how to use the gun.

I got a nexus 7. I have read to novels already on it.

Getting ready

 for a mission can be painful.
 Braden had his wisdom teeth out. The dentist told us it was optional and up to us. He then added that they were coming in under parts of his other teeth.  Since we paid for braces, we weren't going to let them ruin his nice straight teeth.
We took him to an oral surgeon so he could be put under and not remember it being done ( I still have horrible memories of having mine out). It took about 30 minutes for the procedure and another 30 minutes for him to wake up enough to go home.  Here are some pretty funny video's I got of him waking up and then sitting at the drive up pharmacy to get his med's.
As soon as he figured out I was videoing him he would look at me or talk to me any more, so the fun ended- well, on video anyways.

He had to take pain medicine when we got home and he still couldn't feel his mouth. It was funny watching him drool water down the front of him.  He only had a little swelling the first day. It was gone the second day, and no bruising. He stopped taking pain medicine on the third day and was back to eating normal food on the fifth day.  His jaw was still sore but not too much.
So of course< I can't get the video's to load, so here are some pic's.