Tiny Dancer

George & I often refer to Bea as our Tiny Dancer because, well, she loves to dance and she's tiny. She has "happy" dances, "sad" dances, "angry" dances and "silly" dances. She twirls and points toes and gracefully throws her little arms in the air. She love to "practice" her "ballerina dancing." It's one of my favorite things about watching my 3 year old.

So this week we were driving and the song "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John comes on. Bea immediately tunes in, quietly listening to the lyrics:

Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad

Bea then pipes up from the back seat: "Did you hear that Mommy? They are singing about Jesus. They said Jesus. They said his name: Jesus Frees. Mommy, did you know that Jesus' middle name is Frees? His whole name is Jesus Frees."

Seriously. She is so darn cute, clever and all of the above.
Our little Tiny Dancer.

Ballerina, you must have seen her, dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me
Tiny dancer in my hand

Salt Lake Pictures, part duex

Mommy & Bea next to our carriage horse, Kidd. Bea in the lobby of the Little America Hotel. I wanted her picture by a huge vase of flowers, she insisted on having her picture with this stone dog. Whatever -still cute a bug no matter what she poses by.
Three generations of Ericksons!! Only missing Grandpa Matt. Doesn't Grandma Dode look fiesty for 94??!!! Bea with Grandma Dode's doll, Mary Marie. Grandma Dode got this doll from her "Poppy" when she was only 4 years old - that makes this doll 90. It almost looks as good as Dode.

Broken Wing

Honestly, we have had the most eventful week we've had in quite awhile.

Here's the run down:

Sunday: Bea comes down with a NASTY case of the stomach flu and was a little wet dishrag on the couch all day with Mom cleaning up quantites of vomit. Meanwhile, Daddy & Ollie go for a day-long snowshoe adventure with Chris Tenny & Co.

Monday: Bea stays home with Dad due to the flu.

Tuesday: While practicing her "ballerina dance" Bea eats shit and lands on her ladybug tea set from her Nannie, thereby sustaining a "buckle fracture" to her forearm. Off to the First Care center we go for x-rays, splint, etc... We officially dub her with a broken wing.

Wednesday: Mom stays home with Bea and follows up with the orthopedist to find out....permanent cast is in the forecast once the swelling goes down. Nannie comes down to help Mom w/ Bea. Mom prepares for depos in Butte, gets Bea ready for her Valentine's Day party the next day, and gets the family packed for the trip to Salt Lake City - leaving Friday. Mom then has to leave for Butte, for depositions.

Thursday: BeaMom kicks some serious ass during depos, Bea & Dad drive to Butte to spend the night before leaving for Salt Lake City. Mom, Dad & Bea spend Valentine's evening at the Hampton Inn in Butte. We decide to make the most of our romantic suite and the 3 of us pile into the whirlpool in the bathroom for a big, huge, giant Valentine's day bubble bath complete with whirlpool jets. Top that off with boxed wine and Bud Light from the convenience store across the street. Hey, there was lots of love to go around on Valentine's Day, all we were missing was Puggy. That night Bea gets a 2nd bout of the flu, or else ate too much Valentine's candy, and throws up massive amounts of vomit twice in the hotel.

Friday: Get up bright and early - assess Bea - she appears fine. We hit the road for SLC. But first stop in Dillon for the legendary Patagonia sale. Too much money later, we head out covered from head to toe in Capeline and fleece. Drive like bat-shit crazy to SLC. Check into the Little America Hotel (our favorite place to stay in SLC). Bea & I get gussied up - Big Daddy G takes us to dinner at Romano's Macaroni Grill, where the three of us truly enjoyed ourselves. We take the light rail back to the hotel, get bundled up, then catch a 8:30 carriage ride of downtown SLC & around Temple Square. So, so, so, fun. 3 of us bundled under about 5 wool blankets snuggled in and taking in the sights of SLC at night. wonderful. Then to bed - finally.

Saturday: Get up, work out, drink coffee, go see Grandma Dode at St. Joseph's. Grandma Dode is George's grandmother who is 94. She was the reason for our visit. She didn't look a day older than when I met her 11 years ago. She was dressed to the nines in black slacks, nylons, dress shoes, crisp white button up blouse, brooch, Norweigian sweater, earrings, hair coiffed and lipstick. It was wonderful to see her so well. We ate lunch w/ her at her assisted living center, and stayed for about 3 hours hearing all about family history. It was a really great experience. We look forward to seeing her again soon. Then we left, Bea slept, George carted me around to go shopping at Ann Taylor and the like, back to the hotel for Bea & I to swim. George headed back to have dinner with Grandma Dode and his aunt Mary Ev. Meanwhile Bea & I lounged around, drank hot chocolate, primped, preened then waited for Big Daddy G to come back and take us out on the town. Daddy came back w/ Mary Ev, we went to great pub, ate, drank then fell into bed.

Sunday: Got up at the ass crack of dawn and hit the road. Drove like mad, and finally made it home. Went for a nice, loooooong walk, came back and ended the week with a hurrah at Blue Canyon Grill. What a week.

Bea goes in on Tues to get a permanent cast. She's doing great and not really in any pain. I feel so bad for her though b/c she's so tiny and she really does remind me of a little bird with a broken wing. :( But she's been getting tons and tons of TLC from us.

Anyway, I have tomorrow off, then on Wednesday have to head over to Great Falls for work. Blech. I just want to stay home. Well, here's some pics of our week-long trials and adventures.

Sunday: Bea recovering from the stomach flu. Note the yellow puke bowl next to her.

Puggy recovering from a long day of Snowshoeing with Fashja

Bea with her broken wing all wrapped up in plastic for the Valentine's bubble bath in Butte.

Bea & Daddy enjoying hot chocolate at the Hampton Inn after the "Bubble Bath."Mommy & Bea outside the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City

Daddy & Bea after a big, hearty dinner at the Macaroni Grill in SLC.Daddy & Bea doing their best Italian Mafia impression after dinner - Capiche?Mommy & Bumblebee at the light rail in SLC...on our way to catch a carriage ride!The troop at the carriage ride - just like Cinderella! (or so we told Bea).Staying warm on the carriage ride.

A Girl & Her Pug

Lounging in bed.....

Looking for love & treats.....


....Slumber party!!

Sleeping by the fire...

Tea Party

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Not Nannie. Tee-Hee.

House Frau & Hillary

We think Bea looks like the essential "HouseFrau" in this picture. I can't claim that term - in fact Grandpa Matt on occassion referred to our midwife as "the HouseFrau." Which still cracks us up everytime we recall him calling the midwife that.

Here's a few pics of Bea with her NanniePappy at the Ironhorse and then on the Missoula Carousel. Perfect day in Bea's world.

Pappy as sidekick - Tally Ho!!!

Finally, on a separate note, I have fully enlisted and brainwashed Frau to help campaign for Hillary. George has squashed my hopes of turning Bea in a HillGirl. Won't have it. Won't really even let me talk about it. So, I may have to do so here. Go Hillary!!!! Ollie & I are pulling for you on SuperTuesday!!!

If she gets the vote, Bea will be able to thank me in the long run when she's able to earn as much as her male counterparts without having to work twice as hard to earn less. And YES that is still the case. I'm rooting for Bea to be able to work in an environment where she's a part of the 'Good ol' Girls' Club" who goes to the winebar to conduct business instead of the 'country club' where she's not even welcome. Where Bea can choose whether to be a HouseFrau, mother or successful working woman and her choices will not be considered mutually exclusive. Where she grows up in a society that values helping each other, not helping herself. (On that note, kudos to Max Baucus for attempting to re-work the tax rebate to include the elderly and unemployed - it's not going to kill any of us to forfeit $100 to help someone else). And where her generation will be the fortunate recipients of a clean energy revolution.

So for now, Frau & I will be proudly touting our Hill-aphenalia and working our asses (and curled up tails) off to get her the bid. And for all you Hill-haters, if by chance you are offended, just go ahead and close the webpage. And for those of you who are intelligent enough to look past the smut associated with her husband and the GOP propoganda bullshit - go check out her positions on the issues: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/ And if you are inspired - donate or volunteer.

SuperSkeetieSaturday

Today was our first Saturday off as a family in about 3 months. George just switched shifts, so now he has Thursday, Friday & Saturday off. It was simple, and probably in the long run forgettable, but these days are what makes parenting a joy.

I put together "Land of Nod" cinnamon rolls last night. Actually they are a Canadian recipe, thanks to "the Best of the Best" cookbook from George's mom. They rose to massive proportions this morning and eventually got even bigger in the oven, but turned out to the perfect Saturday morning breakfast.

Skeetie slept snuggly between us last night, so pug resorted to being my pug-hat all night. Cramped, but again, perfect. She had spent the last 2 nights w/ NanniePappy, so we all just needed a good 8 hour snuggle-fest.

At any rate, we had cinnamon rolls & green tea smoothies for brekkie, then all piled Ol' Blue, including pug for a day around Missoula. We hit Great Harvest to pick up bread, invaded the Good Food Store for weekly supplies, ran to Target to get Bea a new big-girl booster seat, flew by Loose Caboose for hot chocolates, then drove out to Spurgin Road for some sledding. Sadly we didn't have our camera, but we had a kick-ass time flying down the hill on the purple plastic sled. Twice all of us piled on the sled and freakin' screamed down the hill. One time ending with a snow-wedgie. Soon thereafter we took off for the the Montana Natural History Center to participate in a kiddie-seminar on bird species. Bea huddled around the presenter, a bird-specialist from East Glacier, and was the perfect "little naturalist." Actually, she was fascinated with a flashlight battery that she had found and stowed away in the pocked of her fleece jacket, but regardless, she sat still. That is a fantastic center and I would highly recommend their kid-programs every Saturday.

We then headed home for naps and then made dinner. I found an instant Bea favorite: wild mushroom mac & cheese. She had a penchant not only for edamamme, but also for any type of mushroom, prepared any way. So combining mac & cheese with mushrooms was a delight for her. I'd highly recommend this decadent dish, particularly if you are hell-bent on ruining your healthy eating plan. You can find it at http://www.gourmet.com/ in February's recipes. After a supreme comfort meal we all rolled downstairs to finish the day with a movie. Tucked under a down blanket, on the couch with Frau, Bea & Big Daddy G - is quite simply the best.

Back in Business

It's been a long time, but I'm going to try to get us back in business.

Bea's now 3, Ollie is 5 1/2 and George & I are trucking along as well.

For New Year's we hit First Night Missoula with our dear friend Eliza. Bea got to meet Curious George in person - no kidding!

Then Bea got her face painted, which was very thrilling for her. When asked what she wanted painted on her face, she replied dead pan with "apples & bunnies." Uh, sure - a totally logical combination.

Next day we headed over to Cd'A to spend the night and see George's friend, Jay, from his days at BSU. The four of us really had a lot of fun, hangin' at Moon Time; swimming in the pool; going to church at St. Thomas and visiting friends. It was a great way to start the New Year.

Bea and George after a filling Moontime lunch. Yum!!

More recently we have been subject to a punishing cold snap - thanks to Canada. Blame Canada!

At any rate, during what was perhaps our coldest morning, as in minus 3 Fairenheit, we had a malfunction with our second car and George needed a lift to work. Which would be no prob if he went to work at 9 am, but he in fact leaves the house at 4:15 a.m. So with little to no warning, Skeets and I were forced to haul our asses out of our toasty beds and drive Fashja to work. Ugh. Oliver kept my bed warm. Bea was good sport, on the way home I hi-jacked an espresso stand that had not officially opened and treated us to hot chocolate. Bea decided the day had started, no reason to go back to bed, so we hung out downstairs under down blankets watching PBS kids. Not a bad way to beat the cold afterall. See first picture above. I couldn't get it to move down here. I forgot just how f*cking aggravating the formatting can be on this blog.

On that happy note - hopefully I'll be posting again before 2009.

It's Snow Joke

Today was George's big day - he completed the Snow Joke 1/2 marathon today - all freezing cold 13 miles of it.

Bea, Ollie & I went along to Seeley Lake to cheer on Big Daddy G. It was like the Tour de Seelee. Bea, Ollie & I drove the support car behind, along side and in front of George to lend moral support. (But only after Bea and I had coffee, hot chocolate and breakfast in the very warm Little Bird cafe.)

George did so great, he knocked 10 min off his time. We were so proud of him. At the starting line Bea was hollering at the top of her lungs "I love you Daddy!! I love you Daddy!!! Good Wuck Daddy!!!"

At the Starting Line

Then as we were driving the support car de Erickson, Bea was looking out the window wistfully saying, "Is that one my daddy...noooo. Is that one my daddy...noooo." Then I hear her say, "I want to be a runner tooooo." She clearly was very enamored with her Big Daddy and his performance.

Keeping warm at the Little Bird Cafe

10 miles down, 3 to go!!! Yea Babes!!

Fini!

Post-race Relaxation

After we got back to Missoula, George & Bea went swimming and soaking at the gym, while Frau and I napped. Because driving the support car was exhausting.

We then went out for a post-race-celebratory dinner at The Old Post Pub, whereupon Bea ate like she raced a 1/2 marathon. Soup, bread, black beans, quesadilla and....Shirley Temple.

Then finished up the evening at the Griz basketball game. Since we despise the Griz, and UM fans in general, we dressed Bea up in her Gonzaga outfit, complete with red bow. I know this is waaaay snotty, but since George & I are bonafide Bulldogs, we know what real basketball is. We find Griz basketball....yawn...boring. At any rate, since Donna (Bea's Norweigian surrogate grandma) gave us the tickets we put them to good use. Bea was thrilled, delighted, overjoyed, you name it to see Monte Bear. The little zepplin with the Griz logo that flies around the gym out of control at half time scared the shit out of her. George kept insisting it was going to fly over our heads and poop out treats, but it didn't. It just wobbled around and almost dive bombed into the half time entertainment: 12 year old Helena hip hop girl group, gyrating in sync to Justin Timberlake and mouthing the words, "I'm bringin' SexyBack..."

Move over Cupid

You got bonafide competition boy.
Now, who ever saw such a sweet face?
Sure, I'll toot my own horn again...I've got the sweetest Valentines this year:
Big Daddy, Bea and of course, my main man, Ollie.

We had a family breakfast: poached eggs on Birdman a la Big Daddy G.
I went to yoga and came back to a card from Bea (who clearly had been eating chocolate when she licked the envelope...sealed with a chocolate kiss!) and an assorment of truffles from Chocolat - my favorite!
Then we all went for a long walk along the Clarkfork on the Kim Williams trail.

Our romantic Valentine's dinner was enjoyed at the Mo Club with Bea. Cheeseburgers, Bud Light, Shirley Temple, peanuts and pinball. You could feel the love radiating from our window seat.

mmmmmm..."Mo Twub Burgers!"

Barnelopet

We trekked to Lubrecht forest, up Highway 200. You, me and Ollie. Silly singing, drive past Bonner, Milltown, twisted Blackfoot river foggy and heavy. We laugh, Oliver snores. Wet snow sliding down our windows. But we traveled, the three of us, tiny skis on the roof of the car.

You understood you were going to be skiing today. With the kids, you said. And the kids will be nice to me. They will help me ski.

Yes, babe, they will help you ski. We are going to the Lubrecht forest. Where you will put on your tiny skis and you will stare wide-eyed, frosted-cheeked, with no words, marvel at all the little kids around you on their skis too.

The Sons of Norway created this to show you how you must come out to glide and breathe in the familiar sting of cold. And to let you feel how much you love it. To let you safely "race" with the other kids. To let you feel like the meadow loop is far too long for you to really make it. But you did, with your mommy at your side.

And you went, glide, glide, glide, glide, glide, right across the finish line. A strong, tiny, little girl, only 2 years we've known, but there you were: smiling at the cowbells that rang out for your finish. And the medal went around your neck. Your little "stem" I always think, because it is delicate and soft and liste. And now it holds your medal.

I took off your skis, like you were my little Olympian. Carried your skis behind, let you parade through the snow crested path to the bonfire. You sat, still admiring the kids, sipped your hot chocolate, ate cookies made for you by those proud Norweigan grandmas.

You, every little thing about you, pushes my love and pride so far, my eyes sting.

My strong, sweet, confident, silly, brave, joyous little Beatrice.

NanniePappy Experience

Nope, not a typo in the title of this post. Often times Bea refers to my parents as one entity, one word: NanniePappy. Really, her use of "NanniePappy" is actually an adjective, not a proper noun. Really, she's not calling them by their names, rather it is her description of an experience. So technically, it is a noun. The "NanniePappy Experience."

Definition:

Nah-neePah-pee ik-spir-e-ehnz: n. 1. The apprehension of fun, excitement, attention and indulgence with Tim and Elaine Meeks through the senses or mind. 2. Active participation in events or activities, such as a weekend visit with Tim and Elaine Meeks, leading to the accumulation of knowledge or skill.

History:

Derived from the language of 2 a year old, Beatrice Erickson, also known as BeaSpeak. The usage of the term arose from a weekend stay with her grandparents, Nannie and Pappy. They took her to the Come On Inn in Missoula, selecting a room overlooking the courtyard, which was complete with hottubs and a waterfall. The mini-fridge was stocked with chocolate milk. The grandparents brought her new books. Nannie and Pappy swam with Bea, read her books, poured her chocolate milk. They took the young child out to dinner at one of her favorite dining establishments, MacKenzie River Pizza. Whereupon they ordered little Bea her own pizza. Much to Bea's pleasure, her cousin Gabriel, also 2, joined them for dinner with his grandparents, Lollie and Pop. After dinner, back at the hotel, Bea got to sleep in a big bed with her Nannie, while her Pappy snored logs next to them in the other big bed. At 5:00 am, her Pappy made a trip to get her neccessities at a drugstore, cough syrup and most presumably, chocolate milk. At 6:00 am her Pappy made her waffles at the continental breakfast, then her Nannie took her swimming again in the wee hours of the morning whilst all the other people in the Inn were fast asleep. Integreal to the NanniePappy Experience is riding in the back of "Nannie's Caddy."

Based on Bea's active participation in these events and activities, after her grandparents' departure, she pined for the NanniePappy Experience.

Bea's sheer delight at discovering the mini-fridge is stocked with "chotwit milt!!"

The NanniePappy Experience will be visited again over1 President's Day weekend when Mommy, Bea, Nannie and Pappy jump in Nannie's Caddy and head to Seattle to visit Untle Al and Sasha!!! Roadtrip!!!

Hangin with my Little Man Nant

It's actually Grant. Grant Henry to be exact, but Bea has called him Nant since she could speak his name.

Hurshes came over for a universal dinner, meaning the main dish was appealing to both parent & child: Homemade Mac & Cheese. Plain for the kiddies, adorned with Hot and Spicy Chili Relish for the parentals. It was good but here's the down and dirty truth, the recipe called for 14 tablespoons of sweet cream butter. (yes, f-o-u-r-t-e-e-n) Kelly & I have been faithfully going to the gym together on Tu and Th at 5:40 am; however my modest serving most certainly canceled out an entire weeks' worth of early morning gym calls.

Anyway, Grant is surely one of Bea's good, if not her best, peep.

Here she is dishing out her big sisterly love to her little man.

Little Miss Sunshine

I am well aware by now that Bea is most certainly not the average little 2 1/2 year old girl.
She prefers sushi to fruit roll ups; she'd rather go for a hike "up the big hill" (Mount Sentinel) than play with dolls, actually she doensn't play with dolls; and considers one of her best friends to be Frau.

As evidence of her intelligence, wit and charm, Bea has deemed her all time favorite movie to be....Little Miss Sunshine. http://www.foxsearchlight.com/site/littlemisssunshine/

For some time Curious George was the front runner, until she saw Little Miss Sunshine on Christmas Day. From the moment she laid eyes on Olive, it was love at first sight. Bea sat through the entire movie: sexual innuendoes, swear words, Nieztche references and all, not once, but three times, just to see Olive.

Then last week George and I were watching the SAG Awards while Bea was cooking us bacon and eggs at her kitchen (from Nannie & Pappy) when Abigail Breslin (aka Olive) was nominated for her role in Little Miss Sunshine. Bea ran to the TV to see Olive and the love affair again resumed.

At dinner Bea politely, but convincingly, informed George & I that, "I'm not B'trice, I'm Olive." "Hah-hah, isn't she cute. So Bea, what should we order you for dinner?"
"I'm Olive, not B'trice."

Yesterday I heard her digging through my bathroom items. She emerges with a pair of my old glasses on her face proclaiming she is "Olive."

At any rate, now I can blame the movie for her use of this sentence the other day: "Jesus, where is my futing cell phone?!" Ouch. Back to Curious George it is.

A Day with Big Daddy...

...apparently entails hiking to Weir Creek hotsprings, hot chocolate and rice crispie treats.

I'm sitting at work and about 3:30 pm I get the following email from George:

Beatrice woke up this morning and immediately started in on the aspect of going to some hot springs. So, one that can not deny the kid all that our local has to offer, away we went to Weir Creek about 30 miles into Idaho on Hwy 12.

After a lengthy hike over hills, precarious outcroppings on snowy ledges, down along the river, we climbed one last time to find this hot pool just for us.

Frau raised cane while the kid and I basked in the cool glory of nature and sipped hot chocolate and ate a Lil Debby rice crispy treat.

g

With the following pictures attached to the email:

The first one to find a puggy wins a rice crispy treat:

Nordic Bea

I took Skeetie skiing for the first time up at Pattee Canyon the other weekend.

George got her some classic cross-country skis for Christmas and she's been itching to use them.

As you can see, she's wearing what she referrs to as her "ear muffins" that her Dramma and Grandpa Erickson gave her.

After she got the hang of it she wanted to ski in front of me.

Looking at her two tiny pigtails and her little frame skiing down the trail like a big girl absolutely broke my heart.

We seriously have the best kid ever. How cool is it that my two year old asks me if we can go skiing at "Paddee Cinyon" on a Sunday morning.

Between her and Ollie, I am a very happy mommy.

I can't get the video to load on this blog, but here's the link to Bea in action.

Note how she greets the passing skiers on the trail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WOfLbKJmww