Fridays Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  you look pretty dapper fresh from the barber if I do say so myself.  Dear Henry:  happy one year adoption with our little veen clan, we think you are pretty much perfect!  Dear Summer Morning Walks:  I adore starting my day with you.  Today I even got to see two cute little old ladies in polyester suits and a hot air balloon = love.  Dear Of Monsters and Men and Justin Bieber:  vastly different = yes.  Both on my summer play list = yes!  Do I contradict myself?  And last to my wonderful readers:  don't forget to take your invisible crown with you today and make it fabulous!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  there's no one on this earth I'd rather share a smile and laugh with.  Your eye crinkles are the BEST!  Dear Ella:  you are almost nine years old!  I'm so proud of you and the way you've grown in confidence this year.   Dear Spring:  I love the hope you bring to my rain soaked soul.  Thank you for tulips, bright green grass and the promise of warmer days.  Dear One Direction:  seriously, could you be any cuter?  I love my indie music - but there's something inherently fun about a little peppy boy band bubble gum tune once in awhile.  Dear Jake:  I wish I could protect you from all things that hurt - like broken hearts when good friends move away.  What a sweet and tender soul you are.  Dear me, myself and I:  psst....you get a whole day OFF today!  Yippee!!

Fridays Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  I think you gave the neighbor quite a fright last night when you went charging by with Henry.  But then again, I might be frightened too if a 6'5" bearded man with a headlamp was running toward me in the dark = yikes!  Dear Ella:  I wish I could have protected you from the pain of your first loved pet dying.  Lucky Pockets was a great little hamster.  Dear Mark:  Now whenever I hear the muppets sing Mahna Mahna, I think of you.  Dear 6a.m.:  Why art thou so dark?  Dear Bookclub:  I'm afraid you might hate me always and forever for choosing "The Corrections" this month.  Oh well - at least I'm enjoying it!  And last to Mr. Veen:  It's Friday, Friday - tomorrow maybe I'll get out of bed after you  - deal?

p.s.  I super bad can't wait to see this movie!  Dr. Seuss + amazing animation = win!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr Veen:  last night while looking at you lying on the couch I said: "You look like death warmed over"; well this may have been a slight exaggeration and I'm sorry for that.  Also, I'm sorry you have such a bad cold.  Dear New Shoes:  why couldn't you have been honest from the beginning and told me you were going to KILL my feet after an hour of wearing you?  Dear Henry:  ever since Mr. Veen was out of town overnight you've taken to sleeping on the bed.  At what point did I become such a sucker for you?  You are definitely our new baby!  Dear Trader Joes:  thank you for supplying all my fall essentials:  pumpkins, apple cider, pumpkin bread and YES pumpkin beer = delish!  Dear Mumford & Sons:  how I do love thee!  The following is the first song I ever heard of yours and I was hooked.  Bonus points for dropping the f-bomb in such an artistic sensitive way.   This song proves that sometimes there's no substitute for a well placed swear word.  And last to Mr. Veen:  this is the first weekend for awhile that we're all going to be home together - yippee!  Can't wait to spend some time with you and my favorite peeps.

HAPPY WEEKEND!!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  I know it sounds cliche but you really are my best friend - I like you a lot.  Dear Fall:  there is something almost magical and other worldly about your crisp cool air and sunshine.  You are a favorite of mine.  Dear Jake:  I adore receiving your phone messages on the days I work letting me know you've made it home - could you be any cuter?  Dear Kids:  You guys are so awesome and are rocking it with the new routine.  I am one proud mama.  Dear Song:  The other day when you came on the radio the timing was perfect.  Help with being resilient in the form of encouraging music is always welcome.   And last to Mr. Veen:  It's Friday!  Looking forward to sleeping in at least until the sun comes up tomorrow!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  Do you know that there are few things more attractive to me than seeing you doing laundry and unloading the dishwasher?  Dear Jake and Ella:  It is so much fun to watch you grow up into your own people - I can't believe I have a 5th and 3rd grader this year!  Dear Self:  It's been approximately eight years since you've had a traditional "job"; no wonder co-workers, lunch breaks and paperwork feel so foreign to you.  Dear Mom:  A few days ago I actually said out loud "I smell fall in the air" - remember how mad I used to get at you when you would say that?  Dear Awesome Song found below:  I first heard you about a year ago and then heard you again last week when I went to see this movie.  You are a keeper for sure.  And last to Mr. Veen:  It makes me happy to watch you ride away on your bike complete with safety helmet.  So glad that it's Friday and we have a nice long weekend ahead!

HAPPY WEEKEND ALL!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  last night I literally gave you a hi-five as we passed each other coming and going.  Let me say I am looking forward to actually sitting down with you and having an adult conversation tonight.  Dear 90 degree weather:  you have given me a fresh realization that I'm not a fan of you this week.  I will take partly sunny and 75 any day.  Dear Ella:  thank you for being an eight year old girl and showing me how fun it is to go to lunch and shopping just us two.  You're pretty cool!  Dear Fleet Foxes:  thanks to a certain friend I cannot stop listening to this song which makes me feel like I'm going on an epic journey.  Nice.  And last to Mr. Veen:  you don't drink real coffee, stay up late and are an excellent burper.  Need I say more? 

Happy FREAKING Weekend!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  today we were discussing how your new haircut is reminiscent of Brad Pitt in his latest movie Tree of Life.  Just another reason I'm in love with 50's/60's old school.  Dear Costco:  after yesterdays trip I was affirmed in my decision to refrain from entering into a long term relationship with you.  Dear Henry:  lately my favorite new phrase to use around the house is "Oh Henry!" ; this only makes me love you more.  Dear Noah and the Whale:  I love absolutely everything about this song and video - that's all.  Dear Cabin Camping Trip:  I'm excited and nervous about you all in one.  Please be kind.  And last to Mr. Veen: what do Bachelor Pad, family reunions, no privacy, pregnancy and ranchers all have in common?  Leave it to you to figure that one out!  Love ya.

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL!

Fridays Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  It's always a nice surprise to have a quiet morning chat with you before the kids wake up.  Dear Doggy Park:  Thanks for providing free entertainment last night.  It's official - I feel like I have a new kid now after hanging out with a bunch of human "parents" doting on their dogs.  Dear Gearheart/Cannon Beach:  Just a few short days and we will be getting reacquainted!  I can't wait to sleep in, not do laundry, eat too much, and play with my sweet fam.  Dear One Day on Earth movie:  You look amazing and make me and my little world seem very, very small.  And last to Mr. Veen:  Since I won't be blogging next week you'll have ample time to catch up on all the blogs you've missed = lucky you!

HAPPY FRIDAY!


One Day on Earth - Motion Picture Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  It has been a whirlwind of a crazy week, it seems we are in a season where I blink and an entire week has gone by!  Dear New/Old Job, Kidney Stone, and Henry:  Thanks to you this week has been really good, really bad AND really fun all together.  Dear Oregon:  I don't care what people say about your drizzle in July, you have once and for all won my heart this summer!  Dear Avett Brothers:  I can't sing your praises enough after seeing you live and in concert. This might be my new favorite song of yours.  Dear Concert Goers:  Wow!  What an eclectic mix of weird you guys were.  Thanks for providing people watching at it's finest.  And last to Mr. Veen:  I will drive you to urgent care and then yell at the doctors and nurses to hurry up and see you anytime.  Here's hoping we don't have too....

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  upon waking the other morning you declared you had a Hannah Montana song stuck in your head.  You then proceeded to sing "Put your hands up!" over and over.  Dear Nancy Jam:  thank you for making my bagel with cream cheese d to the licious.  Dear Vacation Bible School:  wow.  Three nights in a row of free childcare?  Yes please.  Dear SNL the 2010's:  I can't think of a better way to end the day than by laughing my hiney off with you!  Thank you for being on insta play - Amen.  Dear PW iced coffee concentrate:  at first I was skeptical of your process but one sip was all in took to become a believer.  Thank you.  Dear Stupid Computer in all it's Stupidness:  you are not letting me post videos today which is quite frustrating.  I will borrow a word from a cute girl I've met and say simply:  poops!  And last to Mr. Veen:  how about a hot date at the cheap theatre tonight? 

HAPPY FREAKING WEEKEND!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  this morning I grabbed your sweatshirt to throw on before going out back to check on my rhubarb.  Insert super cozy good feeling right here.  Dear Rhubarb:  it seems you are not quite ripe yet, however I am SO very excited to harvest you when you're good and ready (hurry up!) - no pressure.  Dear 10 day forecast:  although you look a smidgen better than this last week, I am still not impressed.  If you can manage to get to at least 75 then we may have something to talk about.  Until then you continue to be wimpy at best.  Dear bagel with peanut butter,honey, and sliced banana on top:  Elvis might be jealous of our relationship however I guess what he doesn't know about won't hurt him.  Dear The Head and the Heart:  I can be a little bit fickle when it comes to forming new music relationships however this song was love at first listen.  Mr. Veen thinks it sounds like a train ride - nice.  And last to Mr. Veen:  today I stumbled across info. on an all inclusive resort in Mexico.  Want to go in say three years?  It's a date!

HAPPY FREAKING WEEKEND!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  it's pretty cute and funny how much you love your new beer glass.  It gets bonus points for being too tall to fit in our cupboards.  Dear Jake and Ella:  three more days of school to go!!  I think I am just as excited as you guys are for the change in our routine.  Dear Self:  you and I both know how long this week has been.  Your weekend escape could not have come at a better time - so excited!  Dear Gwen Stefani:  I am loving you and your music lately and this song sums up my thoughts exactly.  And last to Mr. Veen:  thank you for being the kind of husband and father who supports me getting away from time to time.  Good luck to you this weekend - I'll miss you!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  I have never quite understood the logic behind getting up, showering, and then taking a nap.  Call me crazy (because I am!), but I prefer the reverse order to that equation.  Dear Ipod:  after only a two year relationship you have officially called it quits!  Your timing in this is less than desirable.  Dear pug puppy:  I cannot for the life of me get you and your squishy cuteness out of my head.  One word and one word only is saving me from going out and getting one of you right now:  poop.  Dear Justin Bieber:  after watching your documentary I officially have "Bieber-fever".  What can I say?  If loving you is wrong than I don't wanna be right.  Dear Saturday:  word on the street is that you intend to deliver 80 degrees and sunshine.  Yes, there is still hope for a summer!  And last to Mr. Veen:  you are the flip in my flop, the fizz in  my beer and the sparkle in my sunshine. 

Erin -- out!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  39 years ago tomorrow a long, scrawny baby boy with big blue eyes was born.  Lucky me!  Dear Thomas P. Calhoon:  I have no idea where this name came from only that it is the perfect nick name for you from time to time.  Dear Tommy Boy:  do you remember this song by Living Colour from our wedding video?  I think the lyrics still ring true today.  So glad I've got the solace of you!  Dear Thomas William van der Veen II:  I remember thinking maybe you were some sort of Dutch royalty the first time you told me your entire first name, little did I know you are not only royalty but a true Viking as well!  Dear Tom:  you are my best friend and the love of my life, I can't even begin to imagine navigating this world without you by my side.  Looking forward to it being all about you this weekend!!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  I think you're cute even with a missing tooth - it must be love!  Dear Blogger:  I don't appreciate you shutting down on me like that - and where did yesterday's post disappear to?  Maybe there are tiny men in my computer after all.  Dear May:  although you have delivered some flowers, April apparently did not get the memo to stop showering.  Dear Drama:  I. DON'T. DO. YOU.  please take a hint.  Dear Ella:  I love that I can send you into hysterical laughter by making Mr. Cow fart, in fact it maybe might have been the highlight of my day yesterday.  Dear Gnarls Barkley:  bonus points for providing the perfect song and video to cap off the week of all things crazy.  And last to Mr. Veen:  thanks for loving this crazy girl!

Peace out!

Letter to Ella

Dear Ella,
Today you turn eight years old!  I remember clearly the day we found out you were going to be a girl.  I was SO excited!  I couldn't wait to go shopping for you and clear the stores of all things girly and cute.  I also vowed before ever having you that I would refuse to fall into the stereo-typical pepto bismo pink everything trap that most parents of girls seemed to.  Fast forward to today - your room is almost entirely pink.  Just one of the many things I've changed my tune about since having you.

You were born much like you are today - determined and matter of fact.  I went into labor at around 4a.m. on a Friday morning, left for the hospital around 8:30 and you were born around 10a.m.  I barely made it into the hospital which was quite the shock considering your brother took over 24 hours to enter the world.  Your first cries were loud and sharp.  You made yourself heard right from the beginning.  Little did I know that those cries would be the first indication of the strong person you are. 

I joke that you were born thinking you were twenty.  You have always seemed like something of an old soul to me and almost eerily smart and in tune to the world around you.  Your dad likes to tell the story of how from the time you were an infant he prayed that you would be a strong woman.  He felt God had answered that prayer by the time you were two! 

Today you are strong, smart, kind, determined and funny.  This funny/goofy side of you is so much fun!  The shy phase you went through in pre-school and kindergarten seems to be giving way to a new confidence.  I am so proud of you.  I love seeing the kind heart you have towards your brother and your friends.  You have such a quiet strength when I see you in a large group of kids.  Determined and yes, strong  - you aren't afraid to go after the things you want.  If you get a certain idea in your head - watch out world, your going to make it happen!

My dear Ella Rose, thank you for coming into my life.  I can't imagine my world without you in it.  I am a better person because of you.  And in the words of one of our favorite books Olivia:  "You really wear me out, but I love you anyway." 

I love you my girl - more than you can know.  Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  late night run to DQ for sundaes on a Thursday night?  Yes please!  Dear cute house with the purple door:  every time I jog past you in the a.m. I get a little spring in my step.  Thanks for being so charming.  Dear hand written letter:  your timing yesterday could not have been more appropriate and your author has taught me a thing or two about your beauty.  Loved you!  Dear Avett Brothers:  you had me at beards and banjos - CANNOT WAIT to see you in July.  Dear Sunshine:  sometimes when you are shining through pink clouds in the early morning hours I feel like it is just for me.  This is one of the best feelings in the world.  And last to Mr. Veen:  we've rocked some awesome hair and styles these past 17 years. Thanks for being my constant side kick through it all. 

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  the other night you dreamed you were chasing a hamster and were running in your sleep.  I'm afraid even our California king is not large enough for this sort of extra curricular sleep activity.  Dear mixed bouquet of tulips and daffodils:  thanks for reminding me how good fresh flowers are for my soul.  Can't wait to visit my flower lady at Saturday market soon.  Dear Zack and Cody:  just when I had somewhat gotten used to Justin Bieber now we're watching you two on a daily basis.  Heaven help me.  Dear Anne Lamott:  I can't believe you are going to be in Portland TONIGHT of all nights!  Please promise to come back soon, I might be your biggest fan.  Dear Pricilla Ahn:  this song is dreamy and also reminds me of Darlene.  Dear Darlene:  you were smart, strong and sassy! I think it's safe to say those qualities have been passed on to your daughter and granddaughters - thank you for paving the way - rest well.  And last to Mr. Veen:  we've made it!!  Whoop!  Can't wait to celebrate with you!

Friday's Letter

Dear Mr. Veen:  I can't help but smile when I see Ella and Mama kitty piled on top of you on the couch.  Obviously you are the most comfortable spot in the house.  Dear Bailey's Hazelnut Coffee Creamer:  you are d to the licious even without the added alcohol.  Dear Fred Meyer: please continue to stock Bailey's Hazelnut Coffee Creamer.  Dear Blizten Trapper:  this song and video seems appropriate given my theme of all things mystical this week - bonus points to lead singer Eric Early for being cool enough to have grown up in the same circle I did.  Dear weather:  please tell me it will be warm enough for me to wear the new spring dress I ordered for Easter.  Cuteness is not an option here and I'd love to have an excuse to buy some matching shoes to go with said dress.  Dear weather part 2:  I think it's also your fault that my eyes have been itchy and goopy the last several days, if you could put a lid on the pollen count I'd appreciate it.  And last to Mr. Veen:  I think I've finally succeeded in getting you addicted to my blog.  Love you! xoxoxo