Cowtown Half

Went up to Ft. Worth on Saturday to run the Cowtown Half Marathon with Kim and Jennifer (pic is from Jennifer's iphone, but you get the point).  The weather was beautiful, Jennifer and I took time off our last 1/2 in Houston 13 months ago (and might I add there are HILLS in Ft. Worth).  Kim hurt her knee so she had to walk the last 3 miles so as not to cause irreparable damage.  Dang - she just got back from her knee injury.  I hope it will not sideline her long.  Fun was had by all and Joe T. Garcias, a Ft. Worth tradition, made for a great lunch.  We were back to reality Saturday night.  Now to look for another one to run....

Saturday Pearson Style

Which meant a haircut for Kelsey, church BB for Kelsey, the twins first soccer game, Sophie soccer scrimmage, and Kelsey had a Sweet 16 party to attend.  (oh and an 8 mile run for mom).  And, did I mention Eric was gone?  Typical fun.  I missed the church BB (which Kelsey went to cheer her team on, but did not play) and Sophie's game.  I got there for the last 10 minutes, and she sat out the last 10.

Allie and Caroline's first game.  Lets see, I talked Caroline into giving soccer another try this season since she only played 1 season when she was 4.  Last fall was TOO crazy with soccer and cross country and volleyball.  So, she is playing soccer.  If she can pay attention to the game, she will do well.  For a first game she did great.

The is Allie's second season back.  She still has a problem running her mouth as much as her legs (her grandfather defended her by saying she has lots of business to conduct - and I wonder where she got the gift of gab?).  Allie almost scored twice - had a run down the field and did shoot on goal.  It was our only two shots on goal.  We lost 0-4, but it was a good get back into the swing of thing game.  Some pics:

Allie going after the ball - she did have a few foul issues....

Allie throwin.

Caroline was very nervous at first - then she loosened up.

I am not sure if Allie is running her mouth telling Caroline what to do, or if she is mad Caroline kicked the ball and she did not (of course it is completely within the realm of possibility that Caroline took it from Allie)

Allie is number 6, Caroline number 8.  They tagged in a few times, I thought it was cute.

And, Kelsey's hair.  Not totally different, just lost some of the polygamous look.

That is it from chez Pearson.  Next Saturday - I am gone and Eric gets to do it all by himself! 

Perfection

Do you think this is why I need to be on a diet - the fact I think perfection can be found in this chocolate/peanut butter snack (which, FYI, is only 4 points).

Love Easter Candy!

Really?

I am not sure what is worse - the fact my son is laying there having this done, or the "adult" who is doing it.  Eric said, this is what missionaries do..... 

Just Because

Found this and it made me tear up.  My father always says if you can just remember the love you had for your children the day they are born, or when they are little and cute, it will get you through the teenage years.

I remember this picture - Ryan had climbed into the crib with Kelsey to entertain her and keep her happy.  Sweet boy and cute girl.

That is all.  Go hug your kids.  They grow up way too fast.

Sophie's Birthday Part Deux

I never did finish Sophie's birthday post - and it has been a crazy couple of weeks, so I have not posted much of anything.

Sophie is an outdoor kind of girl.  She loves to be outside.  Her biggest punishment is being stuck inside all day.  She has wanted a skateboard since she could ask for one.  Now, I have a sort of irrational fear of skateboards.  I once had to attend the funeral of a 12 year old boy in our ward who died riding a skateboard.  That was all I needed to know I did not like them.

But, she has persisted.  She has begged.  When we were in California over the summer, Stacey's daughter Michaela had a ripstick.  Sophie, of course loved it.  It is like a skateboard, but you have to move from side to side to get the thing to move forward.  I guess I finally succumbed to the pressure, and for her birthday Sophie got a ripstick.

Needless to say, she was thrilled.  Here is her first attempt at riding it.

The last picture from her birthday.  Sophie is really cute, but wears DANG soccer tee shirts every day.  It is a problem.  I got her a cute tee shirt for her birthday - this is the only picture I could find of it.  We also got the dog "fixed" on her birthday, so he has his nice cone on!  You can't really see the shirt well - I will have to attempt another picture.

She has not had a chance to ride it a whole lot more, because it has been COLD.  Like 30 degree cold for a very long time.  I can handle the overwhelming heat in the summer - I don't like it but I can handle it.  What I can't handle is the COLD - sitting at 3 soccer tournaments in a row in the frigid temps is NOT my idea of fun.  Dang groundhog...  I WANT SPRING.

Enough of my temper tantrum.  Needless to say, she will love the ripstick.  I expect her to use it a lot and I expect to worry the whole time.  It is the mom in me.

Here You Go Mom

I found this in Caroline's Wednesday folder - how cute is that?

Sophie and Soccer

When I was getting pictures together for Sophie's birthday, I came across this picture.

Yes, she is wearing sweat pants.  I thought it was so cute, and made me thing of her soccer through the years.  Soccer has been a big part of her life for many years.  Those early YMCA years I don't really have good pics - the twins being born and then needing all my attention is my excuse, but really I just did not take enough pictures.  So, these are when she is a little older.

First year playing for Challenge - she was about 10.

I never realized soccer was so physical - the older she has gotten the more physical it is.

It all started with that chubby cheeked little girl running around a field at the YMCA.  While she will never be Mia Hamm, she will always love soccer.

Happy Birthday Eric

Eric is a hard one when it comes to pictures - he does not like them taken of him.  It is really hard to get a picture of him - and then get approval from him for its use in public.  Here are a few which I think show his real love - his family.  He is alwasy there for his kids, and anyone who needs him.

Kelsey and Eric from my sister Melissa's wedding (March 09)

Kelsey, Ryan and Eric BYU vs OU football game August 09.

Eric frying turkeys with my brother Michael.

Eric and his mother, Marilyn.  November, 09.

Here is Eric's birthday present:

It may be familiar since it was also his Christmas present, but I am cheap like that.  I figure it was so good it should count for a few holidays.  Don't you think?

Happy Birthday - you look better today than the day I married you!

Happy Birthday Sophie

My second daughter enters the world of teenagers today.  It is so hard to believe.  There was a time I did not think she would make it to the ripe old age of 2.  She had colic, and tested everyone around her.  She is such as joy now - it is hard to believe we ever thought bad things about her.

I decided to post a few pics of her through the years - and yes looking at the pictures did indeed make me cry.

First Easter - she is crying which was typical.

First Christmas - a rare smile.

First Birthday.

18 months or so with Kelsey.

2 at Christmas.

2 1/2 with Aunt Megan.  Megan knelt down to get a picture with Sophie, and Sophie decided she needed to kneel down as well.

4 at the pumpkin patch.

Halloween at 6 yeas old - Becca and Rachel with her.

First Day of Kindergarten with Kelsey and Brian Wilkinson.

 First day of 2nd Grade.

Her 8th birthday.

Random picture of Sophie and Rachel - always being goofy.

First day of 5th grade.

First day of 6th grade.  She hated me for getting her hair cut, but I love it.

First day of 7th grade - this year.

Happy Birthday Sophie - I love you!

What Are They Teaching My Children?

The twins have decided we needed a recycling bin at our house.  I discovered this when I saw this sign.

Here is the actual bin (they went all out).

Now, don't get me wrong.  I don't hate the environment, although I have been known to say things like I hate the environment.  To me, the whole environmentalist crap is crazy.  It reminds me of Al Gore, and that makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth.  I drive a big car.  I like my big car.  I don't recycle my diet coke cans even though we drink A LOT of it.  If someone came to my house to pick them up, I might.  Too much work otherwise.  I don't bring my own bags to the grocery store.  I could go on, and on.

But, now my kids go to school where they are under the influence of others.  So, a recycling bin made of a Hot Chocolate box it is.  'Cause even though I don't care about recycling paper, I do love those twins of mine!

Back To Normal

I have enjoyed the winter break.  Christmas with all that fun.  Lack of structured activities (you can read in that soccer, cause that is what I am talking about).

It is all over.  This is what greeted me this morning in the kitchen.

I am not an overly clean person - I wish I was.  There are many times our house, and specifically our bathrooms, look more like the Chevron down the street than a nice home.  There I said it...  Judge away.

This morning, however, things were nice and tidy.  And there sits Sophie's water bottle.  It was stay there until about June when our next break happens - that is when she remembers to dump it out.  Many times it is found sitting next to her soccer bag in the family room, which she dumped on her way in the house.  Sigh...  I put it away, and she comes home and dumps it right there.  Most of the time I just give up.  It is a good thing she loves soccer so much.

So off we go back to the old grind.  At least this season I have convinced Caroline to play soccer instead of volleyball, so it will be one less game every Saturday.  That is something, right?

Frozen Pipe Update

Thanks for the calls, texts and comments.  It was just the landscaping pipe valve thing.  It is a real problem for these suckers in Houston.  5 houses, on MY street alone, had the same issue this week.  We have turned off the oustside water, and on the inside water.  Good thing, 'cause getting water from a well is not my thing! (although I am going to try the Pioneer Woman Potato Leek pizza for dinner) Now we just have to wait until all the hardware stores are stocked back up with the part.

When we got back from Dallas over Christmas, this was waiting for us.  Hard to believe my boy is just one of the many Elders/Sisters out there serving in the Utah Ogden Mission.  I have circled him for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Monday.

Houston Winter Freeze

Guess what we woke up to this morning?  A broken pipe creating a geyser outside our house. 
The upside?  We have some cool looking icicles.

The downside?  No water on inside the house.  When we get some light and it warms a bit, we are going to see if we can just shut it off outside.  I just had to brush my teeth with food storage water.  I guess we can think positive - at least it was not a leak inside the house, right? 

FYI - this is why I DON'T live somewhere cold.  I don't like cold.  I like heat (remind me I said that in August will you?)

The Letter Jacket

It is here.  Kelsey was finally able to go to school today (she missed the last two days due to illness).  I know it was killing her not to be there since she was picking up her letter jacket.  She came home very excited, and how nice of the weather to turn cold so that she had the need to wear a heavy jacket!

Class of 2013?  Hard to believe.

Cross Country.

In case she forgets her name!

Or her last name.  No nickname yet - we can add it later.

She worked really hard for this - she worked out all summer and kept up with cc even when it was hard.  She is one of the first freshman to earn a varsity letter!  Good Job Kelsey.