Happy Birthday Marq

To celebrate Marq's birthday we headed down to St. George the morning after Christmas. A few of our friends came down with us and we had a great weekend. The boys spent the majority of their time out on their bikes finding trails and jumps. They had a blast! Pics to come...
On his birthday we both had the day off work. We relaxed and did some birthday shopping. After last weekend Marq decided he needs more protective gear :) We went to dinner at The Porcupine with Marq's parents and then played games at our house.
Happy Birthday Marq!!! We love you :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This year, for Christmas Eve, we spent the night at Bob & Kae's. Christmas morning is always more fun with little kids.
We had fun watching the boys open their gifts and sometimes I think Marq has more fun with their toys than they do.

After all the gifts were open we took the doggers snowshoeing up American Fork Canyon. The snow was beautiful. It was Koda's first time snowshoeing and he did really good until he froze :( Luckily I brought a fleece blanket so we wrapped him up and Marq carried him in his coat until he thawed out a bit.
Poor Koda isn't built for the snow but he's a trooper!

Christmas Lighs

Marq's family has a very old tradition of going to Temple Square to see the Christmas Lights every year. This year met at our house for hot cocoa & appetizers then head downtown. We lucked out because it wasn't as cold has it had been the week before.

We had fun walk around with everyone seeing the lights and getting ready for Christmas.

After the lights we all headed down to Bob & Kae's for a yummy dinner and games. Getting excited for Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

This year I was lucky enough to get to spend the holiday with my ENTIRE family which hasn't happened for quite awhile. Melissa & her family flew up for the week from San Antonio, TX and we loved having them here!
The Hooley family moved just a few months after Marq & I got married about 3 years ago. Holidays just haven't been quite the same for my family with them gone but we LOVE it when they visit.
We got to have Kennedy & Aidyn over for a sleep over one night and I got an entire day of shopping, lunch & a movie with my sisters & mom. I really enjoyed the girl time and I am so glad I could get the time off work to hang out with them for the day.
We spent the entire day on Thanksgiving with my family eating, hanging out, watching movies & playing games. We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Let it Snow!

While my sister was in town for Thanksgiving she was nice enough to let me steal her 2 girls for the night. Kennedy & Aidyn had never been to our house and it was their first sleepover at Aunt Lynzie's.
We were all glad that it snowed, the girls have been wishing for snow since they found out they were coming.
We had a fun night watching movies, drinking hot chocolate and eating popcorn & ice cream.
The next morning we took the dogs to the park and played in the snow. I finally had to drag Aidyn inside to warm up & dry off. Thanks for coming to stay with us girls! Can't wait to do it again :)

Happy Birthday Chevy

Tomorrow is Chevy's 4th birthday and we are having a hard time believing it. We remember so clearly the night we picked her up. Chevy was born in St. George, Marq's parents picked her up for us and brought her home. Bob handed her to me and said "Chevy this is your mommy". I wrapped her in a blanket, we took her home and that was it... we were in love!

Chevy has a very strong personality all her own. She is stubborn and determined but also so, SO sweet!!! She has a way of knowing if one of us is sick or sad. She tries so hard to please us anyway she can. She has been lots of fun places and done lots of fun things. She loves to hike, play at her park, go for walks, sleep in, snuggle, camp, play tug of war, go to grandmas house, and snowshoe. She does not like to ride in the car, swim or take a bath. She is VERY smart! She can come, sit, stay, lay down, roll over, shake, high five, dance, say "I love you", give kisses, speak, and she is a beautiful singer. She makes us laugh everyday and helps us remember to enjoy life and love each other. Chev loves her new baby brother and is a very good big sister.

'Chevy has taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. She's taught me to appreciate the simple things a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in the shaft of winter sunlight. She's taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, she taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.'

'She became part of our melded fabric, a tightly woven and inseparable strand in the weave that is us. Just as we had helped shape her into the family pet she would become, she helped to shape us, as well as a couple, as future parents, as animal lovers, as adults. Despite her quirks, Chevy has given us a gift, at once priceless and free. She taught us the art of unqualified love. How to give it, how to accept it. Where there is that, most of the other pieces fall into place.'

We love you very, very much Chevy Lynn. You've been a part of us since the beginning and have helped shape our family. We are looking forward to many more happy memories with you. Stay young babygirl, you still have kids to raise! :)

I am Thankful

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and I have so much I have to be grateful for. Here is my "thankful list" so far...

1- I am thankful for a warm home & comfy couch.
2- I am thankful for an extra hour of sleep :)
3- I am thankful for the warm sunshine.
4- I am thankful for an Tahna, an awesome best friend that I LOVE!
5- I am thankful for the automatic start & seat heaters in my Subaru.
6- I am thankful for a brilliant, capable husband who is willing to do so much around our house.
7- I am thankful for Jacque and the unconditional love, joy, wisdom and comfort she has given me over the past 18 years.
8- I am thankful for my peaceful home.
9- I am thankful for a fast new computer.
10- I am thankful for a caring and understanding boss.
11- I am thankful for my dad and the sacrifices he has made for my freedom.
12- I am thankful for a job that I am good at and I like... most of the time.
13- I am thankful for quiet quiet evenings spent at home just cooking and listening to music with my wonderful husband.
14- I am thankful for true friends who are always there for me. Thanks guys!
15- I am thankful for new gutters and a newly repaired roof just in time for winter. Thanks babe!
16- I am thankful for Chevy, my beautiful beagle. 'She has taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. She's taught me to appreciate the simple things a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in the shaft of sunlight. Mostly, she's taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.' 'She became part of our melded fabric, a tightly woven and inseparable strand in a weave that is us. Just as we have helped shape her into the family pet she has become, she helped shape us, as well as a couple, as future parents, as animal lovers, as adults. Despite all if her quirks, Chevy has given us a gift, at one priceless and free. She taught us the art of unqualified love. Where there is that, most of the other pieces fall into place.'
17-I am thankful for the internet and the knowledge and communication it puts at my fingertips.
18- I am thankful for my mother. I have watched her overcome countless challenges over the years, always full of optimism despite the many adversities that have been thrown at her. She has taught me to always have strength, determination, endurance, and a positive attitude. I admire her for her commitment, dedication, hope & faith. I am thankful for all her love & support.
19-I'm thankful for my dad. I admire him for always being so brave,reliable & loyal. He has taught me to fight for what I believe in & that family is the most important thing. I have pushed him to his limits on more than one occasion so I'm thankful that he still loves & supports me. Thank you dad,for putting up with me no matter how ridiculous the situation and for always being caring,concerned,understanding & patient.
20- I am thankful for the life that I live. I am not famous or wealthy but I have more love, peace and happiness that I could have dreamed of. I am grateful and so lucky.
21- I am thankful for Koda. He has taught me patience, tolerance and the art of puppy-proofing! I love him for his stubborn & determined personality, his adoration for his big sister and his puppy dog eyes. I love you Koda Bear and I'm thankful you're part of our family.
22- I am thankful for beautiful, clean, white snow.
23- I am very thankful for the day I got to spend with my sisters & mom. We shopped, talked, went to lunch and saw a movie.
24- I am thankful for the beautiful state of Utah, the gorgeous mountains, fresh white snow and all the fun that comes with it.
25- I am thankful for Marq and the genuine, honest, loving man that he is. I'm thankful for his optimism & his enthusiasm and I am very thankful that he is my lifelong partner, travel buddy and friend.
26- I am thankful that my entire family could be together for Thanksgiving.
27- I am thankful that I don't have any kids yet to make noise or wake me up early in the mornings :)
28- I am thankful for Christmas decorations!
29- I am thankful for a husband who helps clean the house.
30- I am thankful for a holiday that helps me remember to speak from a place of gratitude. I am so blessed and for that I am grateful.

Happy Halloween

Halloween this year was pretty low key for us. Our friends Brandon & Lissa came over, we all dressed up and had a fun evening. Marq dressed up as a bloody surgeon.
I was a bunny.
Chevy was a ballerina.Koda was a Grease Monkey.

***I'll post more pics of all of us soon.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Nope! It's not Disney Land... it's Lake Powell. Wahoo!!! Marq & I took some time off work, left the dogs with Grandma Razz and spent 5 days in Lake Powell with Marq's parents and some friends.
THIS was the view out our bedroom window! A view like that made EVEN ME a morning person!
We woke up early one morning and went kayaking through the narrow canyons which was amazing! So fun exploring together in the morning sunlight, probably my favorite part of the trip :)We relaxed, played,wakeboarded, played games and hiked. Bob even got me up on the waterskiis... finally ;)This is the Death Slide that we made. We had an AMAZING trip! The weather was perfect and we both came home happy, relaxed, a little sore but rejuvenated!

The damn Dam

Being an engineer Marq appreciates things like dams so here we are.
I was really happy to be out of the car by this point.

He's Here!!!

The long awaited day is finally here! Weston Mac Erickson arrived on October 5th.
Tahna did an amazing job! She had a very long, hard labor but she did awesome. I am so proud of her!!! What a B-E-A-U-tiful baby boy!

I am a very proud Aunt!
Isn't he perfect?
I can't wait to spoil him and tell him stories of his mom and I's adventures :)
Weston- We waited a long time for you and I am SO happy to finally meet you. I hope that you and I will be the best of buds and get to spend lots of time getting into trouble together :)

I love you little man!
Aunt Lynzie

Saturday Morning Surprise

One Saturday morning this fall, Marq woke me and the doggers up and said "Wake up, I have a surprise." We all got up, got in the car and started to drive. He wouldn't tell us where we were going but we headed up Parley's Canyon and into a canyon I didn't recognize.
We drove for awhile on a dirt road before pulling off and parking. We were near the base of a trail and there was a picnic table. He opened the trunk and there was the contents of our entire camping kitchen. He had gotten up early and quietly loaded the car without me knowing.

He cooked us a yummy breakfast of Mountain Man Hash with veggies and our homemade salsa. Yummy!!!

After breakfast we hit the Mormon Pioneer Trail for a morning hike.

A lazy Sunday afternoon

These are just a couple of pics I took one lazy day while my husband and doggers were napping around the house. This is what I love about Sundays!

Fall Hiking

The weather warmed up a bit for a few days so we took the opportunity to squeeze in an evening hike with the doggers after work one night.

Unfortunately neither of us thought to check the forecast, skies looked clear down here. An unexpected rain storm hit while we were on the trail so we found shelter under this tree while the rain and hail passed. Poor Koda was looking at us like we were crazy. We waited out the storm and were on our way.
We got wet but we had fun. Grandma Razz will be happy to know that I did not melt :) Turns out I'm not made of sugar after all, I guess I'm just naturally this sweet!