Well I have learned over the years that I have been writing this blog that, despite all of my good intentions, there are times where I just don’t find time to post anything. Usually those times are when there is so much going on, I just don’t get time to stop much. This most recent time, my photos stopped uploading automatically into the computer and that set me back. So be prepared to be inundated with catch-up pictures from the past few months! Enjoy:)
2014 has been quite a year for us! We have loved watching Ellarie and Holden grow and learn from each other. They continue to make each other laugh like no one else can. They both have their own unique and wonderful personalities. We love them so much.
Holden is now 4 1/2 and started his last year of preschool this fall. He is learning to spell words and continues to develop his amazingly creative imagination. He continues to love sports of all kinds and is very adept at bike riding. His favorite place to ride is at the neighborhood pump track. It’s awesome to see him and his friends tear up the track together. Holden is also very inspired by his dad and has taken a very strong interest in playing the drums.
Ellarie is now just over 19 months old. She is talking up a storm and is starting to put two or more words together. When we drop off Holden at school she says, “Bye, zee ya zoon”. She absolutely LOVES music. She sings and dances to all types of music. She has even taken an interest in playing the drums, just like her big brother. She is really into dogs, Legos, and books. She wants to do EVERYTHING that her big brother does, including jumping off the couch:/
Matt continues to work hard on No Meat Athlete. It has grown so much in the last year! (go Matt!!) He now has running groups set up throughout the US and internationally. Just one year from it’s initial publication in the US, Matt’s book is now printed in French (Canada), French (France), and German! It has been a huge success! Matt has started to get back into some of his old hobbies like drumming and beer brewing which is so awesome. He works so hard so it is nice to see him taking time to enjoy the things that he loves. He is such a great inspiration for our kids to follow their dreams and embrace creativity.
I have been working on trying to get back into running, while fighting injuries. I hope to really get back in the groove after I tackle this nagging knee injury. I still love knitting and have been trying a few new sewing projects. I now have a “craft room” where I can embrace my creativity. I still enjoy helping Matt as much as I can with No Meat Athlete although the kids do seem to take up much of my time these days:)
We are still loving it here in Asheville and recently moved, within the same neighborhood, to a new home. We are now on a cul-de-sac which is awesome for the kids:)
We are so thankful for your love and are so happy to have you all in our lives. We hope that you had a great 2014 and wish you a FANTASTIC 2015!
Much Love, Erin
This past weekend we had such a great time visiting with family and friends! Laurie, Addie, and her mom were visiting her grandmother in Hendersonville so we went down to spend some time with them. It was fun checking out the little aquarium in Hendersonville and seeing some cool rocks:)
Then we had a great treat with Grandmom Vickie and Aunt Elinore visiting us on their way to Florida! It was fun to have Aunt Elinore here for the first time. She fit in great with the kids and enjoyed the dress-up bin too!
We finished off the weekend with a fabulous visit from Aunt Gerri and Uncle Matt! Aunt Gerri also seemed to enjoy the dress-up bin:)
Thanks to Grandmom Vickie, Aunt Gerri, and Uncle Matt, and the Dollar Store we have more costumes plus, other costumes that were missing essential parts were completed! This made Holden’s weekend for sure. I think that when we move we will need to invest in a larger dress-up bin.
We truly love having family and friends visit and really appreciate you taking the time to travel all the way out to western NC! We love you all!
Our big girl is 18 months old! It’s almost impossible to get her to sit down to pose with the bunny. I had a hope that when she was little she would love the animal that I made for her the most. As with Holden, she doesn’t. It’s the thought that counts, right?
She is growing up so fast. The doctor asked me the other day how many words she had and when Matt and I started counting, we realized that it was well over 40! She understands everything that you say and is really developing a great personality that is unique and fun. She has such a love for life already and is a real character. She continues to adore her brother and copy him all the time. Maybe that is why one of her favorite things are cars:) She has a great love for music and books. We love how she is working at pronouncing words and really hangs on the letter K when she ways booK and milK. She takes her time to annunciate the K, it’s awesome. She has always had and continues to have a personality that allows her to just roll with life every day. I am noticing a but of a spark coming out lately though. I think it is somewhat of a defense mechanism to protect herself from the challenges of everyday life with an older brother:) No is a popular word for her when she is near him.
I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do, she is amazing:)
About the same thing happened when Holden was around 15-18 months, I stopped posting on the blog:/ No real excuse other than life has gotten super busy with these guys. We have had a great summer and fall together and I promise that I will go back and try to put up some posts to share with you. But, in the meantime, lets start with today:)
Yesterday was Halloween. We had a great day with friends and enjoyed trick or treating with them in the rain! This was the first year that Holden could not wait to trick or treat! He was out there leading the pack of kids running up the driveways. It was a lot of fun! He had a hard time trying to pick a costume this year but, in the end, decided on Iron Patriot. Ellarie was a lady bug. This ended up being a perfect costume for her because one of the many nicknames that I have for her is bugaboo, shortened to bugs. They both were super cute, but of course I am their biased mom!
Today we woke up at 7:30 am to Holden running into our room yelling, “there’s snow outside!!!!” I pulled back the curtain and could not believe what I saw, there was definitely some great snow accumulation! So I ran out to Target, picked up snow pants and boots for Ellarie, then headed out into the snow with the kids. They had a great time, once Ellarie got over the trauma of putting on her snow gear! Holden lasted a lot longer than Ellarie did. Plus, we made a snowman! Woo hoo!!!
Until next time…
Holden LOVED playing T-Ball this year! His favorite position was most definitely catcher. He got really good at it by the end of the season despite how restrictive the pads were. Here are some pictures from the season! Enjoy:)
I have so much to post as we have been so busy with Holden’s birthday in April, Ellarie’s first birthday in May, plus all of the activities that seem to keep us so busy these days! I promise more posts will come soon. In the meantime, enjoy this one from Holden’s last day of school. I can’t believe that he has just one more year before Kindergarten! Boy is time flying! We are so proud of him:)
This is one of Holden’s awesome teachers, Miss Katie! She greeted us at the car every morning with a smile.
This beautiful little girl is starting to stand more confidently on her own. She is taking a few steps at a time and seems to be getting a lot of new teeth! She is pointing all over the place in order to try to learn what things are called. She continues to love music and always seems to be grooving to a beat, wherever she goes. She continues to amaze us with her bright, happy, easy-going personality.
