30 Days of Erica age 30 FINAL POST

30 Days of Erica age 30

It is bittersweet to be writing the final blog.  2016....Erica is 30!   My baby is 30.  I am so honored to be Erica's mother and to be a part of her life.  She stole my heart 30 years ago when she was born and my love for her has grown deeper and deeper with every year.

Her Birthday   #30

 Erica wanted "KIMBERLY" CUPCAKES....those chocolate ones with the chocolate gooey filling for her cake this year.  That was easy.   She got to blow out the candles on one cupcake.

Here is our cupcake tree stand.....of course....I had flavor options:  strawberry and red velvet cake.  They were delicious.


Rylie became ill the day before Erica's party and wound up with strep and fever.  So....Aundrea stayed home with Rylie.  We missed them and were sad that they were not with us.  But we DID facetime with them.  That was pretty fun.

 Savannah and Erica were talking with Aundrea and Rylie on the ipad.

 They are watching Erica open the gift from them

 AND ITS A WINNER!  Anyone who texts with Erica knows she LOVES the poop emoji.  Aundrea found a coffee mug with that emoji on it.  Erica was surprised and really loved it.

That is their response watching her open the gift.

 Since her party was on the 8th, we wanted to see her on her day....Jan 10

 She and her daddy

 The 3 of us.

We have to include the kids.   Alan took the picture so her is really here too.

There is the cute couple.  I love them both so much.

Well....it has been a blast.  So very grateful to have memories and pictures to share.  Hope you have many more years, Erica , of awesomness.   Hope I am around to see some of those years.....
I love you!.

Erica Leigh Mills Baumer

1/10/86

30 Days of Erica age 29

30 Days of Erica age 29

My blog is coming to a close.  It has been a wonderful 30 year trek of looking back on Erica's life.  What I found was that after the grand kids started coming, I started making more pictures of them.  I am going to work at making sure I get my own kids pictures as they continue to age.  It will be fun to look back on YEARS from now.

 Her 29th bd cake....chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  THE BEST!

Opening her gifts.  That Walking Dead calendar was just perfect for her.

I always try to see my kiddos on their actual birthday....even if we party on a different day.  I made sure to grab a shot with her on the 10th of Jan.

 Lincoln had his 2nd birthday party at our house.  Erica and Alan had their house on the market and they were constantly showing it.  They needed their house to be ready at a moment's notice for a last minute showing.  So....planning ahead, Erica held it at our home in April.  

And guess what?   They sold their home in May!   This was their last family photo in their Collierville home.  They had a contract on a new home to be built but it was not ready for a move in yet.  Soooooo  They moved in with us in June!.  2 families under 1 roof!  And it totally worked.  We had a great 4  1/2  months together.  In fact....I felt like empty nesting all over again when they moved out.    But....it was a great experience.

Here is our family group shot at the Falls in Heber springs.  We were able to all be there together in July of 2015.  We even saw the Cardboard Races at the lake.  It is a big deal and we really enjoyed seeing all of the creations and watching them race in several heats.  It was a hot day so it was perfect to be at the lake playing on the beach and in the water.  There is even a Treasure Hunt for the kids.  Our little ones really loved that part.  The coins that you find in the dig are traded in for prizes.

 Here is our family selfie on the day they moved into their new home in Rossville.  Oct 2015.  It worked out perfectly for Alan because it was during his Fall break.

AND.....this is their new home....we were all helping them move in.

 The traditional family photo in front of the hearth at Thanksgiving.

This cute shot is Keith and Erica ....they are recreating an old pose that we did before Keith was married.  Below is the original pose.

Here is our goofy family again....We obviously get into the crazy shots.

This was the first year for Erica's kids to trick or treat in their own neighborhood.  They had a blast.

Here is what happens when I lay my phone down unlocked!!!!!

Just us girls.  I didn't buy us matching PJ's this year but we wound up wearing matching pairs from a previous year.  We didn't even know we would all be dressed alike this year.

This I have to brag about!  The kids came up with this idea for a Christmas gift for Larry and me.  They made this great game.  Larry and I have had opportunities to play Corn Hole at different church functions.  One time...Erica and I were on a team together...Larry was out of town.  I think Erica came up with the idea and they all pitched in and built it and painted it and put the decals on it!  We love it and have put in some practice time on it.

30 Days of Erica age 28

30 Days of Erica age 28

We are now up to year 2014.
This year was a big year for Erica.  She landed her job at Impact Printing.  Alan had already graduated in 2013 and she graduated from U of M with a degree in Technical Writing.  Savannah graduated from Pre K at Happy Times.  Many changes this year.

We start with her 28th birthday.  It was celebrated at our home:  it is a bit easier because the grandkids can go off and play when they get bored.

 We had just eaten our take out meal.

Her brother Keith helped with the cake and blowing out the candles.

 The kids have been giving us stepping stones each year with the grandkids' footprints.   The Christmas season was a little busy so they decided to make the stone while we were all together on Erica's birthday.  Ethan was the first one to make his foot impression.  Notice he was dressed as Jake from the Neverland Pirates.

 Rylie was the next one.  It took all hands to help hold them, hold legs and arms, and press the foot.

 Next was Savannah.  The girls are wearing matching Little Mermaid PJ's.

 Lincoln was the last one.  He was NOT too thrilled about this event.  This was going to be the last stone.  The older kids' feet were growing and they weren't going to fit on the stone any longer.

After the footprints are made, then they get  to decorate it with shells.

Voila!!!!  The finished product.  My 2013 stepping stone is complete.

We had Baby Dedication at Living Hope on 4/5/14.   This was a fun time for the family to get to come to a brunch and then see the babies and their parents commit to raise their children in a Godly way.
Lincoln was almost 1 when he was in the dedication.  Which was better then when Savannah had hers......she was older and not very patient with the process.  

Lincoln is seen here at his 1 year Birthday party.  He had just finished his smash cake, as you can see the remnants on his mouth.

He was getting tired of all of the fun and festivities.   He was almost asleep just sitting there.  Who knew that this would be Lincoln's only birthday party at his house on Lawnwood?

 Aundrea and Keith hosted a Graduation party for Erica....5/17/14.  She didn't want a huge party so they planned one for the family and a few friends.   Delicious food.  Cute decor.

 She really enjoyed receiving gifts and especially the gift cards.  But...Erica enjoyed having her family celebrate with her more than the gifts.  This was the result of her hard work, determination, commitment, and drive to obtain this degree.  She completed this while working, being a wife and mother and never missing a class....even after she had a baby during the semester. And her GPA was excellent.  It also helps to have a supporting husband and family members.
Way to go Erica!  We are all so proud of you.

Savannah graduated from Pre K on 5/22/14.  She would start Kindergarten in the fall.  Erica was learning that her children are growing up so fast.  We have to enjoy every moment.

We are a goofy bunch!   This was our annual water falls picture.  It was made in May when we all were able to be together at Heber Springs.  Everyone really likes to make the crazy shots.  We use those to bribe the kids to make regular pictures.

A cute family shot at Thanksgiving.  Even Lincoln was smiling.

And YES....our matching PJ's.  I had to do it.....

30 Days of Erica age 27

30 Days of Erica age 27

In January...Erica had her 27th birthday and was 6 months pregnant.

Erica had her favorite cupcakes from Muddy's:  hot chocolate flavor.  I had to beg them to make the cupcakes for me because it is a seasonal one that only lasts through Christmas.   So grateful that they agreed to make these.   We definitely enjoyed every morsel.  

The baby showers begin.  Aundrea and I gave her this shower.   It was a brunch for family and friends.  This one had the elephants theme that I mentioned earlier.  

Happy Times friends...where she was working....gave her a shower too.   Her friend Heather was so sweet to plan it and do it for her.  Erica and Heather became good friends and still are today.  

 And the BIG day is here....Lincoln James Baumer was born on April 13, 2013

The Baumers first family of 4 photo.  What a sweet day!  

Later in October....when Lincoln was older......there was a cousins photo shoot at Grandma's.  

I just had to include this cute picture.  Savannah, Lincoln, Rylie, Ethan.  

As for the jobs.....Erica stopped working at Happy Times to finish her degree.  Lincoln and Savannah still went to Happy Times while she finished school...

30 Days of Erica age 26

30 Days of Erica age 26

Erica has had many jobs during her 30 years:  Baumer's Footwear, Forest Hill Animal Clinic, Cosmetologist ( 3 locations), Color Guard Instructor, Teacher @ Happy Times Daycare.  She learned so much from every job she held.  All of her experience helped her to develop her skills for the dream job that she has now.  But...more about her jobs later.

It is now 2012.....

We celebrated her birthday at a restaurant and then went to Yogurt Nation to have dessert and gifts.  She was excited with all of her gifts but really liked her digital camera.  It was better than her other camera.


In the summer of 2011, Larry and I surprised the kids with a family trip to Disney World in March of 2012.  We told them that we wanted to do this before it got too hard to take trips once the grands started school.  They were excited and started making plans immediately.

Excited to be on the flight to DISNEY!

MILLS/BAUMERS take Disney 2012

 We had a blast at the Cinderella Breakfast.  It was so much fun watching the Grand kids see and interact with all of the Princesses.  They also loved  getting autographs.  Priceless!

 Waiting for a parade.

 Posing with Mickey and Minnie.

 And of course...the Big Family picture with Mickey and Minnie.

 Checking out the loot after shopping.   AND.....a rest stop too.

After park milkshakes.

Space Mountain Time!

Know what this is?   GENDER REVEAL!  We found out that Erica was having a boy!    Our 4th grandchild was on the way.

Matching PJ's.....but Erica is 5 months showing at Christmas.

What an exciting year!!!!!