Fall Is Here

No, not a post about nice fall leaves, chilling weather and a break from oppressive heat - because we are not getting any of that.  It is hot and humid and not going anywhere soon.

But fall does bring cross country and soccer back to the Pearson home.  I have not been able to make it to one of Kelsey's meets yet - I have been burning the candle at both ends with work and kids and life. 

However, Sophie's school hosted their first meet on Friday so the coach needed all the parents to help.  So, I did manage to get myself there and take a few pictures of her.

Sophie is coming across the finish line - can you see her looking up to see her time?  She placed second in a field of 103 runners.  She does not like the picture, but I do.

Kelsey had a friend whose dad was at their meet (happening at the same time as Sophie's meet), and then brought a couple of them over to see the end of the WillowWood meet.  It made for a cute picture of my two running girls.

Kelsey did well at her meet and improved her time.  She won't tell me any more than that, so we will leave it at that.

Kelsey, Merritt, Rachel and Natalie goofing off after the meet.  After this they all came to our house to spend the night - and then four more friends came over.  I think they just sat around, talked and ate.  Since most of them had just run in a meet, I guess it was deserved.

The next morning brought more soccer.  This was a picture from last week - one of the moms on the team takes pictures for us and sends them out.  This was a cool header.

And as she gets older, the physicality of soccer gets worse.

As you can see she gives it out as well as taking it.

That is it from Pearson central.  Soccer, cross country sweating, school and work.  Next week - my baby girls turns 16.  Am I ready for it?

My Mother - By Kelsey Pearson

This is what Kelsey thinks of me.  She drew it during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.

Not sure what to think - what I really think is she needs to be old enough not to color during Sunday Services.  Is that too much to ask?  And when did I get brown hair?

Hump Day

Ryan before his mission - photo by Sarah Jones.

I can't believe it, but we have made it to hump day - the one year mark of Ryan's mission!  I can't believe he has been gone one year. 

I had a mother of another missionary in our ward ask me when it gets easier - and it made me realize it has become easier.  I told her 7-9 months - that was when it started getting easier for me. 

It has been an interesting year - an amazing year in many respects but also a hard year.  Amazing when I read his letters.  When I hear him bear his testimony - when he says things about how reading scriptures at home really helped him love the Book of Mormon (and we are hardly the poster family for good scripture reading).  When he says he is fasting for an area to increase work, and that he and his companion are going to skip lunch to work harder.  When he asks me to pray for him to get along with his companion....  All of those things make the other things worth it.  And then there are these kinds of pictures that really make it all worth it.

Being a mother is interesting.  You carry this child for nine months - and that is the easy part.  You are responsible for their well being - physical, mental, spiritual - the whole thing.  You are their whole world for a brief moment in time.  Then they grow up - and need you more than ever.  You guide, love, make peanut butter sandwiches and watch them grow.  Then you are supposed to just let them go - all the day in and day out stuff is just supposed to stop and you are supposed to let them go and become their own person.  Just like that (well not really just like that because they do start to pull away as teens, but as I stated I think they need you more during those years)...

In some ways the mission makes that easier - he is gone.  You have NO control over what is happening.  You don't even know if they are a good missionary, or a screw up missionary.  You can't be there to help them when they are down, guide them when they are wrong, and participate in their joys.  They are off in a strange land, or Ogden Utah, and they grow on their own.  Since you can't be there, you have to let it go.  You also have to rely on the Lord more than you have before.  So with their growth comes your growth...

All in all, I think the next year will be better than the first - I don't cry about it very often anymore.  I still miss him, but it is getting easier

Regardless of how old he is, I will always remember this sweet little boy.....

My firstborn and only son will always be that sweet little boy with cute dimples and pockets full of rocks!

If It Is Labor Day

we are playing soccer - well really just Sophie is playing soccer, the rest of us are watching....

Thank you Lynley for taking the pictures and posting them.  They played four games, tied two and won two - but that was not quite enough to get them in the finals...  so we got to come home on Sunday. 

Eric and I were playing tag team with the kids - I went to Austin with Soph on Friday, and he held down the fort at home with the others.  He came in on Sunday morning, and if they had stayed to play more I would have come home and he would have stayed.  Kelsey was wonderful and stayed home with the twins and the dog on Sunday - she even took the twins to church (thank you Kenningtons for getting them there). 

We also got to see the Gray's new house - it was wonderful.  So nice to keep in touch with old friends.  Thanks for having us.

Now, back to real life - homework, games, meets, church and trying to keep everyone fed and clothed. 

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.