Polygamist No More!

In the chair... Took a while to saw through the hair!




Ready to donate to Locks of Love - 11 inches or so.

Side view of before and after.

Now we have to find a new nickname for Sophie - any suggestions???

Fun, Crazy, Relaxing

How is that for the description of a trip. Five crazy women with five husbands and 23 kids between them headed to San Francisco to enjoy some eating, shopping and female bonding.

I read somewhere, and if I was the internet queen that Sarah is I could find it, that women really need female relationships. Girl time is very beneficial to our overall health and wellness. After last weekend, we should all be very healthy. We laughed, giggled, shopped, ate and talked our way through four days and MANY San Francisco hills.

Since we are all bloggers, here are the links to get the recap of what we did. Sarah, Jane, Heather and Becky. I did not bring a camera because Sarah and Jane were there. They have fancy cameras and they know how to use them. So, you will have to look on their blogs for pics - how is that for passing the buck! Jane is sending us out the pics on CD and I will post some - these were stolen from her blog.

Thanks Potrero Hill gals for the female bonding, fun, craziness and relaxation!

My Baby Is 18!

Happy Birthday Ryan. I am having a really hard time believing this little baby I brought home from the hospital is an almost grown man.

I have spent some time strolling down memory lane, and decided to share Ryan's life with you through pictures - about one per year (lets hope blogger works!)

First Picture. The non-genetic birthmark makes its first appearance.

First Christmas. He was so smiley and cute!

Here he is at one!

His first birthday party!

Here he is age two. This was my first introduction to Gymboree.

Age Three.

Age Four.

He has always been a great big brother! This is when Kelsey was a little one.

He went through this phase where he LOVED this jacket. He wore it all the time - even when he slept! He also LOVED this pooh. He slept with it for years. Circa 1995.

1995 - aren't they cute!

His first kiss! 1996 with Jaclyn Hamm, a family friend.

1996.

1997 with Steven. They were playing with Ryan's Dr. Dreadful. He got it for Christmas and loved it.

Baptism day - 1998. Ryan and Eric at the church.

Grandparents Day, 1999. Ryan and Marilyn, Eric's mom.

1999.

Christmas 2000.

March 2001. At the hospital with the twins. He thought they were pretty cool - at least for a few days.

Learning to rappel at Cub Scout camp, 2001.

2002. He played roller hockey for a few seasons at the YMCA. He even broke his wrist when he got newer, faster roller blades.

2003. Couldn't find a great pic of him for this year. This must have been at one of his award ceremonies at the intermediate school.


His birthday 2004. Notice the cake? That is the one Caroline ate all the frosting off the top of after it was frosted. Nice Caroline!

First day of school, 2005. He no longer likes to have his picture taken. Can you tell?

Joe Dirt. Halloween 2006. This is what living in Tomball, Tx will do to you!

Ski trip with Eric, January 2007. He got to see some Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. That has become a little tradition with them - not the cheerleaders, but the skiing. It is their time away from the girls. When Ryan leaves next year, Eric won't know what to do!

Spring, 2008. Letter Jacket.

Remember his bald head? What can we do about him?

I know I am his mother, but I am so proud of the young man he has become. So Happy Birthday my little baby boy!

Not Much To Say

I know, a miracle. Me with nothing to say. We are just living our life. Working. Swimming. Getting ready for school.

Yes, getting ready for school. School starts 3 weeks from Monday. I am gone the week before school starts on business, and I will be gone part of the week before playing. This leaves us needing to get the school thing done. Shoes, supplies, clothes, etc. etc.

Soccer starts tomorrow. One week of two a days. Football starts the 11th. Two weeks of two a days. Our lazy days of summer are soon over.

The pics are from Megan's wedding last summer. It has almost been a year. Hard to believe.

So there you have it. Nothing new from the Pearson clan. We are going to Austin Pearson's wedding this weekend - he is Eric's brother's youngest son. He is marrying Maren Holyoak from the Tomball Ward. It is nice to have it so close - and we just love the Houston Temple.

What Was Ryan's Eagle Project

I realize I was on my soapbox, and did not clearly outline what he did. If you don't care, click away.

There is a run/bike trail that ran right behind our old house. It is used by the Champions Fit Running Group, as well as tons of others. Eric, Kelsey, Sophie and I also run on it. There were no markers indicating mileage.

For his project he placed markers at each 1/4 mile interval down the trail.

This is what one looks like.

While we were doing it, we had quite a few people stop and make comments about how nice it was. I think it is something that will be used by many people - the Pearson Clan included.

So, now you know! If we can just get all the paperwork done...

Yes, I Am A Nerd

Sunday was a down day - I laid around all day. Did nothing. Tried to recharge my very drained batteries. While flipping through the channels, I come across West Side Story on TCM.

I LOVE West Side Story. I even have the soundtrack - on vinyl. Sophie came down and watched with me. She is not so happy with the ending, but not everything ends happily.

As I think of the music, I think of each song and think that is my favorite. One Hand One Heart. Tonight. The Jets. Gee, Officer Krupke. A Boy Like That... I could go on and on. If you have not seen it - GO AND RENT IT!

I must have stolen the record from my mother - she also loves musical theater. I think of WSS and think it is really the first musical I fell in love with and paved the way for my love of musicals. When I become obsessed with one, I listen over and over. Ask the girls in our soccer carpool who now know all the songs from Wicked.

So, yes I am a nerd. But maybe Sophie can follow in my footsteps and fondly remember watching West Side Story on lazy Sunday with her mom. She already loves Wicked. I can create another generation of nerds - my ultimate goal as a mother!

The Eagle Project

Anyone who knows me knows I have been nagging/pushing/demanding that the boy in this house earn his Eagle Scout Award. It has been an ongoing battle. Some may ask why - why push yourself, your child, and your sanity for such a thing? (I have asked myself the same thing on occasion)

Well, I have two stories for you. I have four brothers who earned this award. Most, at the time, did not see the reason for it - they did it to please their parents (wasn't that nice of them?). Crazy Uncle Patrick was one of these. When he was interviewing trying to get an appointment to West Point, he wore his Eagle Scout tie tack. He was meeting with Rep. Joe Barton who, upon shaking his hand, immediately noticed his pin and commented that Patrick was an Eagle Scout. This helped pave the way for Patrick to get the appointment, and now is a proud graduate of West Point.

Story number two. My friend and running partner Kim told me a story about her dad. He is close to retirement age. He is a VP of a very large corporation. Very successful man. He has many occasions to speak to large groups, and the company has put together an introduction they send out ahead of time. In this introduction, after all his accomplishments are listed, is the mention that he is an Eagle Scout.

So, does this matter - yes. This is why Eric and I have been working hard with Ryan for him to accomplish this. In five, ten, fifty years he will always have that accomplishment to his name. As parents that is our job - to see the things which will have lasting impact on his life and help him to achieve those goals.

The actual project took place on Saturday morning. We had great turnout, 19 in all, and we are very thankful for the support from family and friends (especially those who drove all the way from Dallas to help). Ryan is finishing his writeup, getting his application done, and waiting for an appointment with the "Board of Review". We are down to 15 days until his 18th birthday, and we will use each and every one!

I have included some pics of the project - just in case you are interested. And BTW - I am SO glad I only have ONE boy to do this with!

This is the one showing Ryan being the boss!

How many Linfords does it take to put in a mile marker?

It's The Little Things

I went for my run this morning. I came home to find that Eric had made the bed before he left for work this morning. It made me smile.

Here is the deal - he could care less if the bed is made - he really doesn't care. So, for him to take the minute and make the bed meant he thought of me and wanted to do something nice for me. And, it made me happy. Thank you! It is nice, 20 years later, to know he still wants to do the little things to make me happy. Because, it is all about the little things.

So, What Have You Been Doing?

I know - it has been a month. Here are the pictorial highlights. Lots of travel, most for work, and kid stuff making me nuts!

We sold our house!!!!!!!!!!! Close on the 17th!

Went to Dallas for the 4th. Patrick spoke at the 4th of July breakfast - complete with bootlegged line from National Treasure 2.

We played with cousins and uncles.

It's a shame Allie is not competitive. We had to stop the match between she and Josh - Caroline just jumped off when she had enough. Allie and Josh were pulling hair, choking each other, really going for it. It was funny.

Kelsey has a new best friend - Jenna.

Lots of swimming.

Playing way too much Wii. Oh well, what can I say?

And, wait for it, Ryan got his license. His Eagle Project is scheduled for the 19th of July, he has raised funds, gotten approval and we compromised by him getting his license a few weeks early. The real one will come in a few weeks.

I was gone for eight days straight. I was tired when I got home - nice to see this sign when I straggled in.

Now you are all caught up. Not that exciting, but it is us!