Hey, like I was saying… Hi!
ChristonafreakingBIKE, life has been kicking my ass! Boy in kindergarten, new blog, lots of day-job fracas, home-improvement-y projects in my, um, home… I am full up to here (waves hand above forehead) with stress, righteous indignation, and small people needing hugs 24×7.
In an effort to catch you up on my week, and keeping in mind that a picture is worth ONE THOUSAND (places pinkie finger in corner of mouth) words, those of you on dialup might want to go grab a cup of coffee.


Mike's self-portrait as a newly-minted Kindergartener. I know I don't post pictures with my kids faces, but I thought I'd make an exception here. Note the accurately depicted Favorite Dinosaur Shirt. Also included: "Still Life with Cow."
And we figured that since Chip, 2.5, was able to say "I wanna bed like da BRUDDAHS!" it was time to get him out of his crib. You know what that means: a trip to the paint-it-yourself wood furniture store. Or maybe that's just us. In any case, Craig came home with a bed in the minivan, made a head board, we painted it, and stuck it in his bedroom. He couldn't even wait for me to get the sheets on he was so excited!


Oh, and just for that extra "somethin somethin" in the process of moving it around I made a total bonehead move and flipped my thumb backwards. Hyperextension is fun! I'll have to show y'all a picture of the awesome bruise.

And then it was my birthday! I turned Forty! And my mom sent balloons! And the boys love them! And I still haven't thanked my mother for them! (Thanks Mom — that was so sweet of you :)
When I got home from work, the boys showed me the black-bottom CUPCAKES they made for me and the present they wrapped by themselves.

But of course Craig did the shopping.

And I'm thinking that 40 looks pretty good to me.

Forty is sounding good to me now too! ;)
Love the still life of a cow. You have quite the little artist.
I was just thinking of you and thinking I hadn't checked in in a few days. Usually you're not so quiet.
Still Life with a Cow is terrific! I think that might deserve a frame.
Congrats on turning 40!!! Still Life with a Cow has got to be worth some money in the art world, don't ya think???
So, happy birthday! Nice cupcakes, nice loot!
Happy Birthday…looks like you got a little reprieve from the stresses. Hope so, at least.
Happy birthday to you! Love the art, love the bag, but especially I love the cupcakes. Yum.
(PS The 40s are pretty good, I have to say)
Happy Birthday, Erika! I absolutely LOVE the cow painting (there's a site somewhere where you can submit your children's drawings and have it animated, and I think another that will do a screen print for a t-shirt - that would be very cool).
As a special treat, you'll have to let the boys inhale a little helium.
Happy Birthday. As a 7 month veteran of my 40th year, I'll say it's been pretty great, except for the pre-teen angst. And you've got a few years to gain wisdom (hopefully more than I have) to deal with that.
Cheers!
Haooy 40th!
Hey, I like your little purse. Tres nice.
Cheers!
Happy B-day!!40's have been good to me..but I am only 41…A good place to be.love the self portrait!
I love kid paintings. :)
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy, happy birthday! Love the paintings…and the cupcakes…and the balloons…and the purse…and the perfume. Fun and lovely birthday treats I'd say! Erin
Happy 40th Birthday!
Happy belated birthday! :)
I especially like the cow. Great use of color.
Happy birthday!! Your husband has impeccable taste. (Maybe he could give my husband some pointers)
Happy Birthday!
Woot! Congrats!
40! Woo-hoo! Congratulations. And what yummy cupcakes.
Happy Birthday!!
Yeah!!! Happy Birthday!
And is that a "Coach" purse I see?? You know that is birthday heaven to me. Perhaps I will get a similar gift for my 40th!!
Happy Happy Birthday…
I love that artwork. Very talented!!!
may forty be good to you, Erika. :)
and that art! the kid needs a gallery!
Park Ranger uniforms, nice bags… we 40 year olds have it GOING ON!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Erika!!! 40 sounds terrific!
I agree, 40 looks great! Happy belated birthday!
Nice site & pictures!
Happy Birthday!!! I'm saving that picture and presenting it to spouse in a couple years when I catch up..hint hint..
Happy Birthday! your hubby really know how to shop!
btw…you do NOT look 40!
The self-portrait is classic. Just beautiful. I mean handsome, of course.
Happy birthday! I knew that it passed and I was waiting to hear about it, and it sounds great. What gift could be better than a self-portrait and "Still Life with Cow?" There's a big exhibit of Dutch masters at the Met in NYC, and I saw many still life pics, but I think your kid's is way more interesting.
mmmm I bet you loved the black bottomed cupcakes! Love the bag and my favorite perfume Coco Chanel!
Love the self-portrait! Happy Birthday!
Wow, he's quite the artist. I'm so not showing my mom, who thinks K's artistic skills seriously leave something to be desired. So planning to lose sleep over how well my kindergartener can do a self-portrait. Thank goodness they hang them all up in the room so I can see he's not the worst - not!
Happy Birthday, cupcakes look yummy!
Happy 40th to you!!
I'm visiting from MamaBlogga.
Belated Happy Birthday to you! With all that good stuff you had, I think turning 40 is not so bad! :-)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ERIKA HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, AND MANY MORE YOU'RE ONLY 40!!!
Hope you had a great birthday!
BTW I just realized the perfume is Coco Chanel, that is my FAVORITE perfume. Great minds think a like and smell alike!!!
Hmmm i won't be 40 for another 4 1/2 years but man that souds pretty good. Happy Birthday!
happy birthday!!!
I feel compelled to make it an even 40 comments:
Happy Birthday!
Happy 40th. I will be 40 in March. Love the self portrait! I have framed some of them, and hung them on my wall. Some of the best art ever.
Ooooooo…Love the present!!
Happy Birthday!!!
Belated…
Happy Belated Birthday!! My sons turned 2 and 3 in Sept… so it's a very festive month for our family!! I love how your younger son wants a bed like his bruddahs!! You had me cracking up!! Love it!!
- Audrey
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My life in California with my husband Craig and our sons Henry (6.5), Ed (6), and Charlie (3.75).
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Need a new sewing machine? Polliwogged is giving away two Singer Curvys.
Holy crap.
Oh Christina, there's no shame at all. And good for you for deciding to fight for your marriage.
OK, we're all meeting Laura at pickup today and we're going to kick ass and take names.
Amen.
Loralee is at the hospital with a major kidney infection. Hustle over and tell her something funny.
Perfect! I couldn't have said it better myself.
YAY Simone!!
Sounds heavenly, but I'm left wondering what in the world is a "Teutonic spank?"
Congrats! (And I totally better be in that 20 or I'm going to cut you at BlogHer!)
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