Weekend Fun

I feel like the last few weeks have been crazy - and they have.  Between work/pleasure trips, kid stuff, and the basic maintenance stuff, I am running like a crazed woman.  I have been gone the last 3 weekends.....

This weekend was Sophie's region Orchestra concert, and the Galveston 1/2 Marathon.  This was the first ever Galveston half - and since I did not get into Houston, stupid lottery, it was my only local chance for a race.  Many of my other running friends are committed and running a full marathon in January, but I could not get on board with that (well I was sort of on board until Houston screwed me...) 

Anyway, our nice cool November run was really a hot and humid and really crappy run for me.  I wanted to quit at mile 3.  And I passed my car at mile 4 - so it was just mental to get me to the finish in MY WORST TIME ever.  The company was great fun, however.  I crashed the Brenner Family event, and ran with Sarah, Debbie, Jonah (brother) and Josie (SIL).  Debbie's husband ran as well, but he is really fast and beat me by over an hour.  Jenny also ran, but she is a prancing pony and took off at mile 1 with her running wife Lynn and we did not see her until the finish.  We stayed together as a group until about mile 11 when I begged them all to leave me.  Jonah stayed behind and finished with me.  The good news, everyone finished and for all of them it was their first 1/2 marathon!  Picture below stolen from Debbie's blog.


Debbie, Helmut, Josie, Jonah, Jenny, Sarah and me.

 I had to rush back, wet hair and all, to Sophie's concert.  There were five percussionists, and she was able to play the triangle (don't laugh) , tambourine, wood block, chimes, snare drum, crash cymbal and suspended cymbol.  Here are a few pics - the one is really bad, but it is her in action.

These concert uniforms are the most sexless things I have ever seen.  Eric always calls her a boy when he sees her (nice huh?) 

Kelsey could not miss out on the action - and had to jump in front of the camera.

That is all - then I came home and went to bed where I proceeded to be sick (some kind of bug, don't know what).  Now just need to get better so we can go to Dallas for Thanksgiving - turkey and a soccer tournament.  Fun times!

She Plays Basketball Too

Our dear Sophie tried out for the basketball team at the junior high school.  She had never played - well that is not true.  She played one game at the church.  

She made the B team.  So, she has added basketball practice to her list of what she is doing!  She had her first game last night.  Not only did she start, she played the whole time!  Go figure.  She also had the most fouls from her team.  She did not foul out, so all is good (although listening to her talk about wanting to blatantly foul a member of the opposite team at the end of the game did give me pause...)

They lost - big time.  But it is a place to start, and she had fun.  Here are some pictures of her basketball debut...



Defense - not afraid to get in her opponents face.




Dribble a little high....





This is to show a size differential.  Do you see that very large girl under the basket - she is twice Sophie's size.  At one point Sophie was defending her - it was pretty stinking funny.



Watching her dad in the stands





Kelsey there to support her sister and make faces at the camera



 

This was new for us - cheerleaders.  None of the other sports the girls have played have involved cheerleaders - of course they were there for Ryan's football games.

My overall take on basketball - I like inside sports that are done in a bout an hour.  It was fun, and I think it will be a fun season for Sophie.  And yes, this makes me think she is more like my sister Megan everyday (Megan also played basketball in Junior High...)

Peer Mediation

There is a program at the elementary school - Peer Mediation.  Ryan only attended Lakewood Elementary in the 4th grade, and I did not hear about this from him.  However, both Kelsey and Sophie submitted applications for this program, and neither one of them was accepted.

You can apply in 3rd or 4th grade.  Neither Caroline nor Allie applied last year.  This year I think they both applied, but it was Caroline who was accepted.  I knew it was an "honor" to be accepted (really only since my other two were not deemed good enough), so we were very happy for Caroline.

She has been going to school early two times a week for the past couple of months to learn how to mediate.  They have studied, and even taken a test.  Today was graduation. 

The Honorable Judge John Coselli was on hand to speak about the program, and encourage the new graduates and their parents.  I know we will put Caroline's mediation skills to use in this house.



Caroline showing off her certificate




Receiving her certificate from her friend Abby, a graduate from last year.

 Congratulations Caroline on a great achievement!

The Pearsons Take New York

Eric and I got to get away for a long weekend in NYC - my new home away from home.  In all seriousness, I love it there.  I am working on getting Eric on board to move after the kids leave home.  Not sure how we will afford it, but it is a great plan in my book.  We just relaxed and spent time together without children.  It was pretty great.  Not so many pictures - Eric was not so compliant about letting me take his picture.....



Eric and Carrie at Pop Tart Store

  We were walking around the last day, and ran into the Pop-tart store.  Yes, that is right, a whole store about pop-tarts.  Since two of our kids do love the things, we went in.  This is the only picture of the two of us from the trip...

Eric in Central Park

 It is always amazing to me to be in Manhattan, and walk in Central Park and see a waterfall...

At Mile 26

 We planned it to be there for the NYC marathon - it almost killed Eric to be in town and not run.  Next year he wants to enter the lottery.  We were able to go to church, then hit the end of the Marathon for the winners to come across.  We were at mil 26 - .2 miles to go.  The winners are so dang fast - they run the full faster than I can run a 1/2....  It was fun to see.



Dinner in Little Italy - Sofia's

 It was so nice to spend time with Eric.  We were able to have lunch with Mark and his girlfriend, Jeehae, in Brooklyn  - which is always fun.  All in all, great time in the Big Apple.

Allie and Caroline

Lately, there has been a lot of focus on the older girls - they have kept us going all the time.  The twins have sometimes taken a back seat - some day it will be just them here with Eric and I and they will rule the roost.  They have had a few things going on.  It was the annual Sacrament Meeting program for the Primary on Halloween.  I did get a few pictures of them before church - they look so grown up to me.



All ready to go.




Allie October 10





Caroline Oct 10

I had them get real close and took a close up of their faces.  I did this right before they started kindergarten...



Caroline and Allie August 06



 What a difference four years makes!



Caroline and Allie Oct 10




Showing off their pumpkins

They also had their fourth grade program - That's Entertainment.  I realized this is my last elementary school program I will ever attend - it is weird to think about.  I have had a child in elementary for 15 years - and soon no more.

Allie had a group part, it is hard to see her so I circled her for fun.


That sums up the twins right now - church, school and some fun here and there.  They are really having fun playing with friends in the neighborhood after school - it is nice they have so many kids to play with!

Brooklyn

Kelsey has a friend - her BFF.  Her name is Brooke Bodle - but she has many different names in this house - Ryan and Eric call her Boodles, and I have decided her name should be Brooklyn.  I even got her a Brooklyn shirt from NYC.

Since she is in band and not cross country (although now that Kelsey is a "band fan" they will have more pictures of them doing strange and weird things at the HS games), there have not been many pictures of her lately - and she made me feel bad.  So here Brooklyn - this is for you. (yes I am giving in to peer pressure from a 15 year old.....)



I am pretty sure they should be learning right about now, not posing for the camera...




Making garters for homecoming.




Band member and Band fan.....




Kelsey - why is your room never clean?



Region Band

Sophie is a very driven, talented, young woman - I am not sure where she gets all her talent.  She puts 110% into whatever she does.

With soccer, cross country, school, and church she has also taken up band.  She decided she wanted to be in band in 6th grade - our other kids had chosen choir so this was our first jump into band.  She tried out for, and made, percussion.  I guess this is a huge honor - it is what most kids want to do, and not that many make it.  I STUPIDLY thought it would be the cheapest - note to self NOT SO MUCH.

So, she has been playing various things for the last three years - triangle, ratchet, various drums, marimba, etc.  Each year the members of the honor band at the junior high try out for region band.  Last year I think there were two or three kids from WillowWood who made region band - so it is difficult process.  None of them were in percussion.

Going into the try-outs this year Sophie really wanted to make it.  I had no problem with her doing a so-so job and not adding anything else to our plate - is that wrong?  Anyway, she is not programmed that way.  She made region band and was ranked 10 out of the 200 percussionist who tried out.  She was at try-outs all day on Saturday.  We left the school at 5 after having been there since 8 (well, she was there that long.  I just dropped off and picked up)  Three of the kids in WillowWood mad the region band.  She was the only percussionist.

I am so proud that she always gives her all.  She is a well-rounded young woman.  Even when I give her an out and tell her she can just slide by, she does not.  I am pretty sure she can do anything she puts her mind to!

Congrats Sophie - I don't have any pictures of her in her band uniform.  I will have to work on that for later.

Kelsey Cross Country

Kelsey is winding down her cross country season.  I think it is hard for her with Sophie - you know your younger sister excelling at your sport.  That would stink.  She is always wonderful and very happy for Sophie - a sign she is growing up.

Here is the biggest problem - it is all fun and games for her.  She loves the social aspect as much or more than the competition (and since I am the same way, I can't blame her).  A few pictures from her last meet.



This is how she preps for a race




She finishes

Kelsey has had a great season so far, and has just a couple of meets left.  I am proud of her for sticking with it - she really does love running and this is something she can do the rest of her life!

Junior High District Meet

The district meet for Sophie was on Friday - we were lucky it was at her school.  Eric, Kelsey and I got to help out with the meet.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves.



And they are off





Sophie pulls ahead




Coming In




How Far Back Is She?




Sophie Wins District





Sophie and Alex after they finish




Kelsey and Sophie after meet

 Sophie won two cross country meets this year - last week when she ran her personal record 13:24 and this week.  I would say she takes after her father!  Way to go Sophie.

Funny For Friday

And yes, this is a REAL news report

Sister's Weekend

I was able to spend my annual "sister's weekend" in NYC with 3 of my 4 sisters - Melissa could not make it.  Thanks to Mark for letting us crash at his place.  It alwasy helps with my goal to feel local during these urban experiences.  Just a few pics from the trip...



"Our" subway stop

Megan, Laurie and Michelle in Central Park





The four of us with Dum Dum at the Natual History Museum

  

View from above the Manhattan Temple - that is Moroni



We went in to the distribution center which is attached to the temple, and chatted with some really nice people who told us to go to the building next door to the temple/stake center, and go up to the 34 floor for a great view.  I guess the church owns those apartments.  We did, and the view was amazing.



View from above temple.



There is just one problem - I am afraid of heights.  I had to hand my camera to someone else, and this is how I spent our time on top of the building.

Shopping on Canal Street

Michelle and Carrie at Nyonya

View outside Mark's apartment





A fun time was had by all - we laughed, ran around NYC, and just enjoyed being together.  Looking forward to next year....

Some Soccer Action

These are from the last game on Saturday.  Sophie had run in a cross country meet earlier that day, so I was worried she would be tired.  She was not - she was on fire and even had a penalty called on her which was totally bogus but the girl who stayed on the ground was milking it....  Oh Well.  No pictures of that, just some action shots.

These next three are a series that show her trying to get the ball and coming out victorious.

Soccer is not for wimps.  It is so nice to have a couple of parents who take pictures and share them - cause it is hard to yell and take pictures at the same time, and we all know where I would fall on the yelling/picture scale.....
And most importantly we won - 4-1 and the team is 4-0 this season!