Just in

Just posted again on the weight loss blog (link on the right now).  I'd love to have more contributors, or you're welcome to contribute just by posting comments.  Either way.  Last night I did a great job at weight loss by having a giant migraine and throwing-up instead of eating.  Perhaps bulemia is the way to go... {kidding, I did that with my roommate, not so fun, not so delightfully smelly}
P.S.  In order to add you as a contributor I apparently need your actual email address.  I'd love lots of different viewpoints, so please email me -- or comment with your email address. :)

Things You'd Never Do

Ok, here's the countdown of things I really said I'd NEVER do and did this year. 
1.  Let Santa bring my kids a wii
2.  Bought a wheat grinder
3.  Composting
4.  Excessive canned storage with labels and an extensive shelf life
5.  Bins for wheat.

You know, when you're young you say you'll never do drugs, or have premarital sex....

Really, I should've made some other vows.  The other day as I was re-filling my water tank so I could have easier acess to my compost bin (don't forget you have to empty your water tank in order to be able to refill it) I wondered what happened to me.  I know this blog has had lots of me complaining about who I've become but sometimes you just have to embrace it.  Or, think of ways to make your husband turn the compost....

That's IT

Last night as I was seeing the bottom of our toilet in a very intimate way I decided that is it.  I need to eat better.  I need to treat my body like I treat my furnace (or, I will treat my furnace, when we finally get it!).  I keep a filter on that, I only feed it good things, and what do I do to the thing keeping me ALIVE?  I feed it chocolate, and fat, and delicious happiness.  Only it doesn't provide delicious happiness, it provides a large butt.

Anyway, after talking with my friend Lara, we decided that as kitchy as weight loss blog is, we need the support of our friends, and most importantly our husbands.  Drew could stand to lose a few pounds, and I think we saw each other sacrificing we'd be more willing to play wii instead of sit on the couch and eat chips with ranch dressing (Drew's favorite, and yes -- I am serious). 

So, I made a new little blog:

Losing with Loves and Lovers

It's classy, I know. 

But somtimes being fat isn't super classy either.

If I'm skinny I will re-name it to "We are all skinny, check us out!" (and yes, I did just claim http://www.weareallskinny.blogspot.com/ -- because we will succeed)

We'd love some more contributors, but I will be posting in hopes that people support me and provide constructive criticism when necessary.  If you can't take people saying, "HILARY WHY DID YOU EAT 4 DOZEN ECLAIRS, NO WONDER YOU ARE FAT."  Perhaps just commenting would be best for now.  :) 

Please email me (link at the right) if you're interested and I'll add you.  Or I'll try and figure out HOW to add you. :)

The Holidays through Jesus

Reading Jesus the Christ does put the holidays in perspective.  I think it's something I might try again.  Maybe I need a year off....

We were at our Bethelehem the other night (which is super cool -- they added a fire dancer to the camels, goats and "real" angel) and I saw ALL these people lined up to go in, and I wondered where the throngs of people were to save Him.  I wondered how they let it happen.  Sometimes I wonder why He could let my furnace die....

And although they are completely different levels, the answer is the same:

Because He had to.  Jesus had to die for us.  And while plenty of people betrayed him, and were unable to stop it it's all because he had to do it.

Sometimes when I wonder why God doesn't stop the trials in my life, I think we all need to look to the brightest star, and remember that He has to let us go through things. 

The amazing part is that we have a companion to go through it all with us.  I'm so lucky to know Him.  Just, so very lucky.

*I will most likely have a house cave-in after writing this blog.  It's just something I had to say.  I will have my eyes peeled for the fires of hell to engulf me for my testimony.  I never learn....

The Reason for the Season

I spent a good 1/2 an hour writing the flyer for our classroom "Holiday" party.  What did I learn from this time well-spent?

Well...

Hmm... how would Jesus write the flyer?  Frankly, I'm not sure.  I'm pretty sure that he would talk-up Christmas.  After all, his name's in it.  Christ wasn't about being PC.  I think that's something I found myself having the hardest time with while I read my scriptures.  BUT, no one was PC at the time.  Imagine how popular I would have been....

However, I was left to the joy of offending no one.  I think I did pretty well.  I spent some quality time with the clip-art until I found one of a mitten.  Our party did build community spirit, which is what it's supposed to do.  One of the parents also brought a pinata, and while I was pretty nervous about someONE getting wacked, instead of that thing... it all went really well, and the kids LOVED it.

I guess in that act I learned a lot of things.
1.  Diversity is great.  No one would've brought a pinata to my class party.  All porcelin-white faces staring up at the teacher singing Silent Night...
2.  Let's pretend that a Jewish kid did go to my school... they'd feel left out.  I doubt Jesus would want that.  He was definitely inclusive, that's for sure.
3.  Kindergarteners can follow directions when threats of possible violence and loss of candy are inflicted. :)
4.  I also learned that it's AOK to talk up the menorah, but there's no way in heck a teacher's going to bring in a baby Jesus.  I find myself being OK with it though.  I appreciate that someone's traditions are being shared, and since Spencer gets plenty of Jesus talk at home, I'm glad he knows that Jonathan is going to light a candle each night.  I honestly thought a Monorah was a Christian tradition, when I was little.  fo real.  I am also ammused how traditions are mixed-up at school.  "Mom, when Hannakah is over, they have a festival called Kwanza."  "Um, no."
5.  Diversity is how the world is made, and we are sent here to make our own choices and it's not our job to judge people or turn them into ourselves.  It's our job to share the light of Christ and love them.  Does it make me sad when I hear about my wasatch-front neices and nephews being able to sing Silent night at school, or call it Christmas break... a little.  But I find our own perks, they are plentiful.

OH, and to stand back when someone is wacking the pinata.

Merry Christmas to all!

Here's the bad news, if you haven't gotten a card from me yet, you ain't gonna get one.

My apologies.

Here's the good news, I'm posting it here. The even better news is that if you email me your address, perhaps you can get on next year's list!

Neverland seemed to more than just a Halloween theme for us…

On April 29th embarked into our personal NEVERland by having our third child. Her name is P (actual name included here). We NEVER thought we’d have 3… although, having 3 makes me want to sprinkle fairy dust on myself and fly away (although sometimes we would have problems thinking of a wonderful thought). We love her to pieces, and by some miracle, she is not ACTUALLY in pieces (yet, knock on wood). She’s a great sleeper, smiler and tolerates Hilary adding bows and flowers to her excessive wardrobe.

Drew took an entire 2 weeks off of school for the arrival of our sweet P. He also has had a great year playing Cub Scout Dad fulfilling his forever-long calling as Ward Choir Director, enjoying the kids in music at school, and loving his new little girl.

Conner has had several visits to Neverland. He’s never going to tie his shoes, never going to keep a jacket more than a month, and never remembers his homework. In his spare time, he is in Math Olympiad (a competitive math group at school – and yes, I am serious on this one… but wait, there’s more) and FSEA (Future Scientists and Engineers of America – really, let’s just put tape on his glasses now). He is also playing the trumpet in band and is looking to buy suspenders to pull his pants up to his nipple line.


Spencer {sigh} is growing up. We never thought he’d make it, but this year Spencer is in Kindergarten. He is absolutely loving showing off all his sweet skills and in a truly un-Erickson fashion is able to complete the monkey bars entirely on his own. In his spare time he likes to play, bother his brother, be bothered by his brother and make goofy noises at P.


Hilary has enjoyed some quality time off of work from our new little addition. She was able to split her family leave and take a portion during marching band. Prior to having the baby Hilary birthed several kidney stones & grew her legs to the size of tree trunks. On a rather embarrassing note, Hilary bought a wheat grinder and while her calling and election is now made sure she is embarrassed to show her face in public. Perhaps Drew can buy her a burka for Christmas. I’m not sure what I can wear to France….


This year has brought us amazing blessings, and for this we can only thank our Savior, and are happy for the time we get to celebrate His life & birth. We are so grateful for the roll he has in our lives. We hope he has blessed you in similar ways. With all our love.

Here's to a very merry Christmas for all of you. May we all be safe and happy this holiday season!

Breaks in Threes

Turns out everyone's right. They kept saying "gosh Hilary -- it's too
bad your washer and your furnace have both died, but you know they go
in threes."
Well, boo -- turns out #3 is P's eardrum. Found it all bloody and
disgusting this afternoon. She'd been a little ornry, but not much...
I mean, there are like 9 things we could also attribute fussiness
to...
So, the three are done, it's time for sunshine and roses now, right?
Perhaps money falling from heaven like Manna?

Any News is Good News

We had the chruch's PR people come talk to us (we have people in our area who are "called"* to do area Public Relations -- they're not a firm, just regular church people, who most likely know a thing or two about PR, and I stress "most likely").

They just talked about how low of a "likeability" factor our church has.  I was really taken aback.  I apparently live in a dream world.  Among US religions we rank right above Muslims for likeability.  Everyone else comes before us.  {sigh}  I just want to be liked, is that so much to ask?

The church feels that a large part of this is because people feel our church to be "mysterious".  Most people say they don't know a Mormon, but chances are that they do.  You know me... am I mysterious (although, I'm guessing at least 1 in 4 people who read this blog are LDS)?

Anyway, that's not what this blog is really about.  They said that any publicity is good publicity.  I was really taken aback by this.  Yes, I think news stories about our religion are generally good, and people sharing that they're LDS with their co-workers and neighbors is great.  However, I just wasn't a fan of the publicity around Prop 8.  I guess good things have come from it, but I can't feel like it's all a great thing.

Anyway, what do you think.  Do you think that guy who most likely killed his wife in West Valley... if he's LDS, isn't that great.  We'll get a lot of talk time on the news....

I did, however, like this.  I think we need to be able to laugh at ourselves, although you KNOW if they did this about jews or catholics they'd have to apologize the next night.  If anything people know we can take a joke -- because everyone likes to make them.

Oh, and Orrin Hatch... wow.

*Callings in our church are jobs that you are willing to accept for a period of time.  No one in our church is paid for any of these positions.