What to write......


As a lot of you may or may not know already that my Grandma, Gloria Erickson, passed away March 19th in the morning. I have been wanting to write a post about it but that is just the thing, what can I write that will give justice to what my Grandma has meant to me? I am blessed to have a wonderful family on both my mom and dad's side of the family. While I have not been able to see my mom's side as much as my dad's they are still a cherished part of my life. It seems like life should not go on but yet it does and as my grieving continues so do my daily routines. It just does not seem right. It seems like the world should stop in respect for my Grandma.


Some of you may not know that my Grandma was the healthiest of all my Grandparents. I just found out that she had not been to the hospital for 49 years which makes the circumstances that surround her death that much more questionable. I know in these sudden and unexpected situations people ask why as if they have been dealt some bad hand playing cards. For some reason I don't feel that way and feel peaceful about what has happened. I have faith where I know everything happens for a reason and I trust that God knows what He is doing. That still does not make it hurt less though.


She had just turned 83 and she lived a wonderful full life. Her and my Grandpa's 60th anniversary would have been this summer. Even though it was sudden I still had a chance to see her one last time in the hospital and to let her know I love her. Not everyone gets that chance and am thankful for that. She will be greatly missed by many people.


I just wanted to thank everyone who has been thinking and praying for our family and specifically my Grandpa during this time. He is doing better and is back home from the hospital. May my Grandma live forever in our memories and hearts.

I just returned from a trip out to Colorado with Annie, Britta and Leah to visit our friends Lori, Bethany and Lisa. The main reason we went was to meet Lisa and Joel's baby, Isaiah. I can't believe we are old enough to start families. Crazy!

We had to do some non baby stuff so we played some pool

Lisa, the pool shark, enjoying her night on the town with the girls

We took a tour of the Odell Brewery

I know it has been a long time since my last post but this will be worth it, I promise.......

Scott and I got ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He proposed last Saturday, yes on Groundhog's day, in my parents front porch. He wanted to do it at my parents house because I grew up there and he knows that place means a lot to me.

Even though I knew it was coming I was completely surprised when it actually happened. We had made plans earlier in the week to spend a big chunck of Saturday together just doing something fun. He had taken my parents out to dinner last Monday and my mom told him that if he wanted me to be surprised that he should let me make the plans for Saturday and I would not know it was coming. Smart lady! So I thought of going to an arcade called Nickel City in Northbrook. However, at this point we had no plans of going to my parents house so Scott was working on a plan B. Also planned for Saturday was a dinner between all of my cousins on my dad's side at Linnea and Cam's (a reason I secretly wanted it to happen last Saturday anyways because we could celebrate with my family). Fortunately for Scott, I had to bake something for that dinner but I had previously left my baking sheet at my parents house that I needed to use. So I called him in the morning and asked if we could swing by there for 30 minutes so that I could bake something. He of course said yes and little did I know that I was helping to plan my own engagement. So we went to my parents house and hung out with Elsa and Matt a little bit. Then we started to head out the door for Nickel City. As soon as I shut the front door he stopped me in the porch and just smiled and said "I love you." He then pulled something out of his pocket and started to get down on one knee. I then said "are you flippin' kidding me!?!?!" He asked me to marry him and I am pretty sure I let him finish his question before i said "YES!" but I am not completely sure about that one. So we then went back inside where Elsa had written a little sign that said congrats and we were all smiles. It meant so much to have Elsa and Matt right there when it happened since they are leaving soon and I was in CA when they got engaged so I missed celebrating with them. So we still continued the day as planned and went to Nickel City to spend some time alone. Then we had the dinner with my family, now his family too :), which was perfect. I had always thought that my perfect engagement scenario would be to celebrate with family and friends and that is what happened. All in all, that was the best Groundhog's day I have ever had and will never forget :) Let the wedding planning begin!

This is right after it happened in the porch

The ring. I LOVE it!

The cousin's dinner

So here are the final three guys! Linnea, Elsa and I had always wondered who the lucky 3 would be and we could not be happier. Eric is the only one left now.

Gwen wanted to eat just the olives (like her mother!) so she was sticking her finger in the hole and picking them up one by one.

Jenny, Linnea, Kevin and Cam were over at our Grandparents house during the day on Saturday helping them clean out their crawl space and we got to rummage through 3 boxes of our Grandma's clothes that she didn't want anymore!! Here we are modeling our finds. Thanks Grandma!

For the last several years our family has been going up for Christmas Camp at Point. Scott and I were fortunate enough to go up for the weekend. It is always a great time spent with family and friends and I love getting out of Chicago for something completely different.

This picture of Gwen reminds me a little bit of the kid in A Christmas Story.

Our cabin that we stayed in with the rest of my family as well as the Erik Strom family and the Bassetts.




Scott showing me his hockey skills. He played in High School.

From my figure skating days back in grade school.
Our cabin broomball team. Go Pine Nuts!


Here are some pictures from our last big snowfall in Chicago a couple days ago. They are pre-slush pictures when everything still looks beautiful.

Caramel Anyone???

Last year I started making candy as my Christmas present for my Grandparents and my Aunt and Uncles. This year I made 3 kinds of caramels; plain, with pecans and with walnuts. They were delicious!

It has always been a tradition to go out to tea at the Drake downtown with my Grandma and cousins but in the past few years all the Wallgren ladies have been going together the day after Christmas. This is one of my favorite things that I do during the Christmas season.

The newest addition to our family.....

I would like you to meet our new kitten! Isn't she so cute. My mom and I picked her up at the Heartland animal shelter today. We are not sure what we want to name her yet. A cute Swedish name for sure but which one is what we have to figure out. We have thought of Bri, Elka and Frida so far. Do you guys have any suggestions?? We have had enough Flickas so that is out of the running. She is so playful and very cuddly. We love her already!

Here are some funny pictures of Gwen at church. Oink! Oink!