Last Weekend Before School

I got to spend it with my family in Dallas.  My sister and her husband were going to the temple for the first time, and it was also my dad's birthday - we won't mention which one.  It was a fun time - quick, but fun.

Melissa and Chris Oravetz - Dallas Temple August 2010.

We have an official family photographer (you know the Kennedys, the Linfords we are the same).  He has done the weddings over the last two years, he did our bluebonnet family pictures, and he is an all around great guy.  Melissa had him come and take some pictures at the temple, and he was even able to come to the sealing which was nice.

The family who was there for the sealing....  We were missing some sisters and brothers (Eric was home with the older two kids since we had a soccer tournament and Kelsey's first cross country meet that same weekend).  We did, however, have two cousins, so that was nice.

We also took the opportunity to celebrate my dad's birthday.

I include this picture for a reason - my dad is always making speeches, talking and with all the focus on him could not resist. 

We all went in together and got him some kind of carry your golf clubs and walk on the course thing.  He loved it, so that is all that matters. 

I Heart NY

I have a thing for NYC.  I love the city.  I have this secret desire to live there.  I would not want to have little kids there, but you never know.  Eric and I might sneak off some day to be city dwellers!

This year for our annual girl's trip we tackled New York.  We came.  We saw.  We ate.  We got grossed out by the urine smell of the subway.  We were a little (OK a lot) freaked out by the rats of the subway.  But all in all, we had a great time.  No kids (except Becky who was carrying her little bundle of joy everywhere we went since she is 7ish months pregnant, and quite the trooper).  It was a time to laugh, let go, and enjoy the lack of a plan and the lack of responsibilities.

Some pictures - compliments of Jane.  We all have jobs on these trips.  Sarah, always secures our great apartment (it feeds in to my wanting to be a local).  Jane is the photographer, and she lugs her heavy camera all over and does a great job.  She also served as tour guide on this trip because she has visited the NYC a lot!  Becky is the holder of the map (although, with google maps the only physical map we had was the subway, and that was very helpful).  Heather holds the key - where would we be if we lost the key?  And my job is to be mean when needed - and this time to talk to the locals when that was necessary.  Since we all have blogs, everyone has posted many of these pictures before.  But since I consider this my journal, I will do some of them again.  My trip to NYC in pictures.

All of us in our apt before we headed out for the day.

Goofing off in the elevator.

Saw Memphis - loved it.

Went to Brooklyn - loved that.  Bridge in background.

View from Brooklyn - Manhattan in the background.

Shake Shack how we love thee.

Went to church - Manhattan First Ward.  Interesting.....

Trip to Hoboken to see Carlo's Bake Shop.  Line to go buy something way too long.  Did not wait.

But, did manage to stalk Buddy in his alley.  If you look hard, you can see me, Sarah and Heather.  Jane is taking the picture and Becky is standing to the side wondering why in the heck she let us talk her into this!  (side note, I was right next to Buddy talking to him.  He was very nice).

Magnolia Bakery we love you too!

Can't wait for next year!

And So It Begins Again

Monday the 23rd of August was the first day of school this year.  I approached the day with joy and apprehension - joy to finally get these kids out of the house during the day so I can have my office back!  Apprehension because with school comes sports, homework, other time sucking activities.  All in all, I think we did OK.

The first to depart was Kelsey - she had seminary day one!  I think that is crazy, but hey.  Here is her in the dark picture.  She is a sophomore, and is so glad to no longer be a fish!

Kelsey first day of school 2010.

Not sure why I was on a backpack thing this year, but there you go.  Looking for something different for the first day.

Sophie caught the bus at 6:10 am.  She was ready to go, and even had her hair down and not in a ponytail!

Sophie first day of school 2010.

I walked out to the bus with her and kept taking her picture to annoy her - and it worked.

Can't you just read what is going on in that mind of hers?

My babies were the last to leave.  This is the LAST year I will have children at the elementary school.  How can that be?  Ryan started school in August of 1996.  14 years of sending my little babies off to the elementary school comes to an end. 

Allie first day of school, 2010.

Caroline first day of school 2010.

And finally, the big yellow school bus.  What first day of school is not complete without that?  This is the bus for both the twins and Sophie.

Elder Pearson eating his Blue Bell Ice Cream - his birthday present from his family.

This was also the first year my eldest child was not here for the first day of school.  Although he did not go to school last year, he was still here.  That was kind of sad for me.  It would have happened sometime, but it is crazy to think he will never be home again for the first day of school!

And now we are in full swing with the schoolwork and activities and life.....  Another summer gone, and another school year begins.

My Baby Is 20!

Ryan Linford Pearson, August 5, 1990

How the heck did that happen?  And how can I have a 20 year old?  Time just flies by.  This is how I remember him - the cutest little boy you ever did see.

August 1992.

Sleeping 1995.

He loved that pooh bear - and from our trip to Disney last year I believe he still does love Pooh.  He wore that corduroy blazer night and day for a while.  I guess it prepared him to wear a suit and be a missionary.

I am so proud of the person he is - of the man that he is becoming.  It is amazing to get letters from him that are so upbeat - I know it is hard sometimes.  To see his testimony grow like it has is amazing.  He is the quiet one, but when he speaks what he says is from the heart.  I know in another year he will grow that much more.

He continues to amaze me with his obedience and sacrifice.  And who could resist those dimples?  They are pretty cute.

And the older he gets the more he is just like his father.  This picture is from a hike he did this week on p-day.  The look on his face, the way he is standing it is all Eric.

This is the first, of many, birthdays that we will think of him and he is not here.  We can't even talk to him - or email.  But I know he is doing what he should be doing, and for that I am grateful.  I can pray for him and feel the peace that he is happy, and knows he is loved.

Kelsey asked if we could still have a cake for him - she must be my daughter.  Any excuse for cake!

Missions

Each mission in the world has it's advantages.  In some missions, you learn a new language - or a new culture.  You might get to see how other people live, or get to experience how awesome Texas is.

When you go on a mission in Utah, there are different kids of experiences.  Like this:

Clinton Utah, July 17, 2010

Yes, that is Elder Pearson on a float in a parade.  It is a missionary float someone in his stake put together.  It was for Clinton City Heritage Days.  He will be on it again next week for Pioneer Day in Ogden.  I think the boy's head will be so big after that.

After that he was able to participate in a youth dance spectacular entitled Arise and Shine Forth.  (see more about the first of two performances here: http://www.standard.net/topics/teens/2010/07/16/arise-and-shine-forth-thousands-weber-davis-lds-youths-perform-epic-song-and)

President Monson and Elder Holland were both to be in attendance on Saturday night.  I guess we will hear on Tuesday if he was able to see or speak with them.

AND, if your sister happens to be in Utah for soccer camp at the same time you are on a parade float, you might also get this:

I guess a Utah mission DOES have it's advantages....

A Miracle 20 Years In The Making

We are experiencing something new here this week.

Ryan is on a mission - so he is not here.

Kelsey is at girls camp - so she is not here.

Sophie is at girls camp - so she is not home.

Allie is at grandma and grandpa's house for a vacation - so she is not home.

Caroline is at grandma and grandpa's house - so she is not home.

Who is home - Carrie and Eric.  Home alone without any kids for a week!  It is really nice to be in our own house, and have no one around.  I will enjoy it while I can, because before you know it they will all be back.

Thanks to grandma and grandpa for taking the twins when Caroline announced they were old enough to go to Dallas by themselves for um two weeks.  They are having fun with Uncle Steven, and the cousins.

Happy 4th of July

(Capt. Patrick Linford pictured middle somewhere in Afghanistan)

There is nothing like having a member of your family deployed to make you pause and really reflect on the 4th of July.  Thank you to all the men and women who are serving our country, and thank you to all their families for their sacrifice.

And thanks Patrick, or GP (which stands for the Gran Patrie).  You make us proud (a little scared at times, but always proud).  We love you!

Learner's Permit

It is always a monumental day when one of your offspring gets behind the wheel of a car.  We have entered that time with Kelsey.  She still has not made it behind the wheel or our car, but now she can legally do so.

We trudged up to the DPS at 7 am to stand in line and wait for her turn to take her test and fill out paperwork.  She passed, and now we can spend the next six to twelve months working on her driving skills.

I am not sure why, but the cross section of humanity at the DPS always shocks me.  Are there really this many weird/crazy/messed up people in the world?  Notice the woman in the photo - just seemed to be living right there on the ledge outside the DPS.  And don't get me started about the crazy man who shows up every day and preaches hell fire and damnation LOUDLY prior to the DPS opening.....  It is always such a lovely trip.

So, watch out Houston - Kelsey is driving.

Summer Time Pearson Style

School is out.  Soccer try-outs for next year are done.  Cross Country summer workouts don't start until Monday.  Do you know what that means?  No "extra" stuff to mess with for all of five days!  And then, we just have summer cc Monday Wednesday and Friday nights.

Summer means swimming when you live in Houston.  Some pictures of what goes on around here while I am in my office working...

Kelsey's friend have come by and used the pool - which is great.  The two boys here, Brian and Quinton have made great use of our pool since school ended (before all the rain...)  They are very nice and they play with the twins which is nice.  The twins have missed some "brother" type playing and it is nice of those teen-aged boys to play with two nine year old girls!

That is all from Tomball - swimming, sleeping, eating and chillin.  Nice start to summer.

One and Half Days

And counting....  I think we might actually make it this year.  School will be out - then they will all be here on top of me while I am trying to work.  Why was I excited about this?

We had a nice relaxing holiday weekend.  Complete with swimming and not doing much of anything.  I think that sets the proper groundwork for the summer - don't you?

I missed festival season in my extended family.  What is festival season you ask?  I have a friend who had 6 kids.  All of them, with maybe one exception, have summer birthdays - both she and her husband have summer birthdays.  She would refer to it as festival season.

Over the last week, there were 5 birthdays in my family!  Crazy but true.  So, here is my shout out to all the Quigley/Linford/Heningers who had a birthday.

First up was Josh. 

Josh at the Stockyards December 2008

Josh is just a couple of months younger than the twins, so they have always had fun playing with him.  Josh had kind of a rough start on life - he cried A LOT.  And remember I had Sophie.  Josh's problem was he was a momma's boy to the extreme.  If Julie was not holding him, he was crying.  He is a fabulous kid now and the girls love to play with him - especially Allie.

Allie and Josh Easter 2010.

Then it was Megan's birthday. 

Laurie, Megan and Michelle - Go Cougars!

Megan is my sister - my daughter Sophie is very much like Megan.  I would say it is genetics, but since Sophie is not Megan's daughter it is a little funny.  She is smart, funny, beautiful and just an all around great sister.

Megan and Blake Quigley August 2008

Jordyn was our next celebrant. 

Kelsey, Jordyn and Sophie Easter 2010.

 My brother Matt and his wife Julie have taken Jordyn into their home and they are raising her.  She has been with us about two years (on a funny note, when Steven got off the plane from his mission in Brazil he kept looking at Jordyn, then someone told him who she was.  He said to me, no one told me we had a new family member!)  Jordyn is funny, sweet and a good example to my girls. I have not seen her roll her eyes to Julie once!

Our little Jonah, or donut as I call him, was our next birthday boy. 

The Heningers - Jonah is in the cowboy hat!

I have no reason to call him donut, I just do.  He lives in California - so I don't get to see him as much as I would like.  He is funny and a crazy boy.  I submit the next photo as proof of his craziness.

Our last participant is my brother Michael's wife, Erika. 

Michael and Erika August 2008.

She and Michael just celebrated their first anniversary in April, so I guess she is the newest member of the family.  She is wonderful - she is smart, funny, and very thoughtful.  She and Michael were the hosts of this year's easter egg hunt.

The Pearson kids with Michael and Erika - Easter 2010

That wraps up festival season.  All those birthdays and I did not get ONE single piece of cake.  What is up with that???  I hope everyone had a great birthday.