We did it! The Red Head left for Fort Jackson Basic Training November 3, crushed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and is now back home in Minnesota as of May 28.

What. A. Journey.

This photo, taken a couple weeks ago already, is my current favorite. Is a 24×36 for above the fireplace too much, ha! Welcome home, Red.

This past weekend, I loaded up the minivan and made the journey to Chicago solo with three (!!) kids. Armed with a console full of Diet Coke, many a’podcast, two fully charged iPads and lots of enthusiasm we made it! And it was so worth it. We saw (fully vaccinated) family and friends that hadn’t even met Oliver, visited parks I grew up with, ventured to the city, and had minimal tears on the way to and from. Gold stars to my road trip warriors and gold stars to hugging family (and that’s all coming from someone who’s not much of a toucher!). Can’t wait to all be together again this summer!

In the most exciting news around here in quite some time, I booked a plane ticket last weekend to pick up the Red Head from Officer School at the end of May! Kid-free and vaccinated, it’ll feel like a whole new world. The countdown is on!

I’ve pinned, tagged, saved, bookmarked, and loved a lot of spaces over the years but something about this kitchen keeps me coming back again again. Perhaps it’s the weathered beam, the doorway details, the perfect vein of the countertops, the mixing of wood tones, the beautiful hood, the lines of the hardware, the black window frame… all of it! Saving in my inspiration folder forever and for always.

“i do not expect my child’s respect.
just because i have given birth to their life.
does not mean they owe me.
anything.
what i want most
is to look into my child’s eyes
and
see
that i have given birth
to
a
heart.
have
honored.
held and feed.
someones
heart.
from the moment we first met.
and
they love me for it.”

Nayyirah Waheed

On February 10th the Red Head graduated from Basic Training. Woop woop! One chapter of this adventure down, many more to go!

Image :: That Kind Of Woman

It’s been almost a week and still not over this moment. Or this one.

After the dumpster fire that was 2020 (except for you, Oliver J), it seems silly to kick the year off with resolutions. We’re all just surviving. And that’s just fine.

Surviving as evident by the fact that this post about the ‘new year’ is coming to you mid-January.

Surviving as evident by the fact that my DoorDash account gets more action on my phone than ever before.

Surviving as evident by the fact that my wardrobe is 90% leggings and sweatshirts.

Surviving as evident by the fact that 30 mins on a bike feels like a luxury vacation.

Surviving as evident that our household is held together by Disney+ some evenings (and mornings and days and weekends).

We’re doing it, folks, and that’s all that matters. I once heard a saying ‘never apologize for what you did when you had to survive.’ So this year, let’s give ourselves more grace. We deserve it.

Source :: Bridge & Burn

Let’s see, since we last connected a few things have happened…

• Covid-19 continues to rage on and on (but so thankful for those that are getting vaccinated!). I fell victim to the germ in early November and spent the better part of a month at home with three kiddos and my saint of a sister. Luckily symptoms were very mild but, I tell ya, that not being able to taste and smell is very, very odd.
• The Red Head left for Army Basic Training right before the Covid bug hit our house. That leaves me solo with three kids under three here at the home-front but we are so lucky to have a stellar daycare and incredible network of friends and family near and far. People have really come out of the woodwork, even during a pandemic, to help us in countless ways. Can’t wait until we’re all back together this summer!
• The holidays have somehow come and gone. The Red Head was home for two weeks (!!) but the time flew by. We masked up with family in Chicago, Zoomed with family across the country, made countless FaceTime calls, toasted to the New Year at 10:30 instead of midnight, and hunkered down through a classic Minnesota snow storm. Now, I’ve set my focus on cleaning, sorting, and purging every closet, drawer and basket in this house. It’s amazing how quickly kids’ stuff accumulates!
• Oliver J is growing like a weed! He’s got a long torso (like Michael Phelps, I tell him) and the best smile. He’s patient and sweet and the perfect little man to complete our family.

I know I’m forgetting a million and one other things happening day to day here and across the country (do we need to talk about the ‘protestors‘ at the Capitol yesterday… I have no words) but wishing all the best for you and yours in 2021. We’re only one week in and it’s been… a lot.

Onward and upward, friends.

Image :: faucethead tumblr

On September 16 we welcomed the newest Erickson to the world.
We love you, Oliver J.

Source :: Chelsey Werth