January 2026 Part Two

January 2026 Continued

 The last bit of January 2026 we traveled to Utah again to watch Ethan at the district wrestling tournament. The tournament was in Riverton Friday and Saturday, January 30th and 31st. 

We arrived Thursday evening in time to have a tour of Olson's greenhouse in Salem. Esther showed us around and explained several things. It's a huge operation just there. Then when you think about all the other locations, it's pretty massive. 

Esther suggested a place for dinner called Crust Club. We each had an individual chicken pot pie pocket we took to go and ate at her home. She gave us the grand tour of the townhouse. The living room was recently cutely decorated by Chrystal. It inspired me to think about ways I can better decorate our home. We were highly impressed with the closet Esther organized with new drawers and shelves. It's skillfully made. 

We did use the time to visit some other family as well. Friday morning before the tournament started, we went to see EksAyn and Patty.  They served us some lunch. We had a very nice visit. EksAyn moves slowly. His health is declining somewhat. However, he was so cheerful and positive about so many blessings. 

It was quite the contrast to our visit with Kathy. She has had some health setbacks and feels quite hopeless. She cried a lot during our visit. I think that's a regular occurrence for her. She may need some help for depression, but she's not very willing to hear opinions she doesn't like. We took her a hamburger and visited for about an hour or so.

Sunday after church we visited my brother Scott. Gayle was napping, so we didn't see her. Her health is very delicate. We brought Scott two pint jars of chili sauce. He says that takes him instantly home to taste, or smell that chili sauce. He was planning to cook some steak later that day and was looking forward to tasting it then. 

Earlier at church I enjoyed watching Scott Tanner as primary chorister. He has amazing energy! All the kids are excited to learn from him. 

Nicolina served a yummy dinner of lamb roast. Their new every Sunday dinner tradition is chocolate Bundt cake. Esther and Becca came for dinner too. 

That evening I accompanied Nicolina to her book group at her next door neighbor's home. It's a group focused on improving marriage by studying the book The Empowered Wife. About eight ladies were there. There was some good comments and I learned too. 

The tournament for Ethan did not have as high of results as we hoped. He did not place but the next week at JV State he did amazing! (More on that when I get to February 2026). I did ask him as we were walking in the parking lot between matches to get some snacks from the car what he likes about wrestling. He talked about mental toughness, visualizing goals, not giving up. I said those will be good skills for your mission. He said they are good skills for life. He's also learned how much he can push his body and how important it is not to be a couch potato. 

Unfortunately I did not get photos of our extra family visits.  I need to be more aware.  I did snap a few of some Tanner kids.  I also include here Ethan's match that I recorded on my phone.  The other matches were on Nicolina's phone.

This is the match I recorded.  I'm not sure I have it completely in sequence.  but enjoy!

January 2026 Part One

 Our 2026 started off quietly. We went to bed early New Year's Eve. We were invited to Lance and Janadene Skinner's house to play games, but since we both felt a little under the weather and also our temple shift was the 2nd, we decided to just start off the new year well rested. 

It was a different Christmas break without very much snow. No snow at all on Christmas. Snow fell the next day and even more the next.  In the first couple of weeks temperatures ranged from melting to below zero.  Our yard stayed covered with at least 6 ins or so. 

January 10th we traveled to Idaho Falls. We did a little shopping with real stores! After we made our way to Rexburg for dinner with James and Sage, Chrystal, McKay, Cody, and Kira. We were surprised a little bit when John and his three oldest children showed up. I think James knew they were coming but we didn't so it was a great surprise. We brought lasagna and some cookies. James and Sage served garlic bread and salad.

Several of us tried the green golf putting strip that Sage got for James's Christmas gift. The BYU basketball game also played in the background. 

Kira slipped out to do some studying. She had spent the day snowboarding with friends. Cody and McKay left to work out, so glad they could have some brother bonding time. Chrystal, John and kiddos and we, all went to Colin and Jean's to spend the night. Grandma was there too so it was nice to visit with her. 

The next morning Jean fed us a yummy breakfast and we all got ready to go to church in Rigby for McKay's meeting. When we walked in it was such a treat to see Nicolina and six of her seven children there. Kira came again. Sven and Bobbi and David and Lynda with Maggie were also there. Plus some Sugar City friends who love McKay, Cody and Chrystal. Another treat to see Rob Robinson whose ward also meets in that same building. 

James had gotten up early Sunday morning to put a roast in the Crock-Pot. He and Sage had dinner ready for everyone who could come. It was a very yummy roast! Dad and I felt very grateful for the opportunity of being around family. It gave us such a boost! 

January is also a month full of wrestling.  We feel blessed with the technology to watch Ethan and Zayne. Some videos of some favorite matches.

       

ETHAN

                                        

ZAYNE

We feel inspired by the toughness and resilience of these young men.  Wrestling is a tough sport.  Both of these grandsons work hard and persevere.  We're very proud of them.

A new year brought a new job for Esther. These are her words from the Better Together chat on WhatsApp.  "So some news from me.  I started a new job this week! End of an era for Ultradent.  I stocked up on toothpaste and said by to my people there.  Monday I started as a safety coordinator at Olson's greenhouse gardens!  They supply the plants for Home Depot, Walmart and somc Costcos here in the west.  This week was a lot of getting familiar with people and systems.  I am the first and currently the sole safety professional here so there's a lot of work to do.  I'll cover all 4 sites in Ut, Co, Az, and ID so there's some travel involved."

First Day on the new job!

She traveled on the company plane to AZ to observe the company site there.

Again we feel inspired by amazing children/grandchildren with Esther's courage and her intelligence as she goes forward in this new path.

We traveled to Garland, Jan 23 after our temple shift.  We spent the night at John's and Heather's.  They were gracious enough to give us their bed.  The next morning, we hoped to give John and Heather some "date" time while Jane was napping.  They went to a gym to work out and planned on a local restaurant for breakfast after.  When the arrived at the restaurant they were told there was no more sausage or bacon, and hey! isn't that what breakfast is for?  So they just came back home.  

We had fun playing with the children.  I especially enjoyed some games with Samantha.  She seemed to warm up to me better than ever.  We played Don't Break the Ice, Old Maid, and Go Fish.

Later that morning we got ready for McKaylee's and Joe's wedding in Brigham City.  It was a beautiful time.  So much family came.  Nine of Grandma's twelve children and spouses were there. Cute boys of Brennin and Janessa were the ring security. I'll have to let the photos tell the stories because I'm running out of steam right now.

All the Erickson side that were there in this last photo.

APRIL 2025

First Day of April in Bedford

From other locations on April 1st

Esther on her way to work

And Joshua's and Briana's yard

Beva's 5th Birthday April 3

Mary made the birthday cake all by herself, creating the design and everything.

In Fargo, those Ericksons battled the flu for a few days, running the rounds through everyone except Joshua and Briana

Nicolina's General Conference weekend cinnamon rolls.

In Star Valley Chrystal, Zayne and Ruby came for General Conference and a couple days more.

James and Sage were also here from Rexburg.

Caleb and Kereigh were also in and out a few times.

 April Events:

General Conference Weekend

At the home in Star Valley - Sage and James came Friday night.  Chrystal, Zayne, and Ruby came Saturday morning.  During the sessions we played General Conference Bingo with candy that Chrystal brought. In between sessions some went snowmobiling.  

We played several card games, soaked in the hot tub, and ate good food.

Chrystal enjoying some moments with Brooklyn, Brennan and Janessa's new daughter.

Tanners got some baby lambs right around Conference weekend.  

The big event of April was the birth of Wesley Joseph Erickson.

Born April 11, his due date.