The Unveiling of "Sauce"

Pine Wood Derby time people.....

What's wrong with this?

We are the Pearsons, and we know NOTHING about how to construct

a cool/fast/derby appropriate car.

Luckily, we had a kind friend who invited Tyler and Talmage over to his house to help.

The boys got online and checked out different cars to see what Talmage liked.

Once they found one he liked, they took the picture to Dean's house. Dean cut out the car and Talmage sanded it down.

Then.... Ty had to leave out of town to Dallas, which left ME to pimp out his car.

@#$%#%!

I had Talmage draw the design he wanted on a piece of paper.

Then I took his design and sketched it on his car.

Once we had the design on his car, Talmage took good ol' acrylic paints and put the color on.

Ty came home the day of the race and was able to help Talmage put the wheels and the finishing touches on his car. He names his car, 'Sauce'.

Talmage insisted that his spider be present for this picture.

Check out the 'Sauce' being called on deck.

Pictured below: Henry, Talmage, Logan, Fudgie (yes, he really goes by that name. Kind of like Talmage is Sausage... only I don't even know this kids REAL given name...) and some other random scout.

Our friend Dean (this is the guy who served with Dan on his mission Michelle) is pictured below in the red checkered shirt, he's the one who helped cut out "Sauce". He also built the race track years ago and set up a sensor to determine the winner and also log the time.

Mae-Mae sweet.

Talmage, Eric and THE TRACK!

Our Pine Wood Derby was set up so every car would race each other twice. Once all the cars had finished they combined the total times and the 'Sauce' was #1..... NUMBER ONE!! It even snagged the track record at 2.70. Then they took the five fastest cars and did a race off between them. Talmage was so funny to watch as his car would race. I didn't watch his car, I watched him!

The 'Sauce' had a great run! Despite being #1 in the preliminary races, it finished #2 in the race off and was conquered Henry Wood's car, "Bullet". Sauce still holds the track record though, and that will carry on to next years race!

Maybe we Pearsons do know a thing or two about creating a cool/fast/derby appropriate car!

Go Sauce!

Leia Mais

The Lizard Named Ribbit

One day I was in living room playing the piano.

After I had been playing for a few minutes, Eric and Maidie came in. Now usually when they hear the piano being played they run into the room and start wanting to play and make their own music, but today they were both quiet and stood looking out the window. "They are entranced by the beautiful melody," I thought to myself....

WRONG!

They were entranced, but not by the beautiful melodic tones from the piano, they were fascinated by this creature....

Day #1

There he sat, on our flower box. I think HE was entranced by the music.

We sat there for about 30 minutes just watching him. Then Talmage and the other neighbor kids came home from school. With all the commotion outside our little lizard friend ran away.

The next day Maidie ran to the window and said, "Where's Ribbit? Oh, there he is!" Sure enough, there sat Ribbit (affectionately named by Maidie) once again on our flower box.

I have a neighbor who was once a zoo keeper, I described the lizard to her and she said it sounded like an Anole.

Day #2

It's been fun to watch him as he does push ups and extends his dewlap (look how smart I sound). I read online that they do this to when there is an intruder near by (maybe he thinks Eric, Maidie and I are the intruders). Another friend told me they do it as part of their mating ritual....kinky!

Like before, the next afternoon we found Ribbit nice and comfortable on our flower box.

Day #3

I must say he has been a very nice pet. I don't have to feed or clean up after him......

We'll have to see if he comes around tomorrow (I really hope he does)!

Leia Mais

Dinosaur Tracks

The kids were out of school this last Monday.

My friend, Rachel, invited us and some other friends to go explore and have

lunch near some real, bona fide, dinosaur tracks.

Unfortunately, the dinosaur tracks were covered with about five inches

of water. Usually they aren't covered at all, but we've received a lot of

rain this winter, which is good for Austin, but bad to examine the foot prints of our extinct friends. I definitely plan on going back, and I'll take some pictures then.

Funny picture of the day....

Eric and Soren wore identical outfits... ha!

Our friends:

Cheri-Ann and her daughter Paige

Rachel and Soren

Coen, Tauni and Ella-Bella

Rachel told us to pack some sandals and a lunch. She said that where we were going there would be a little stream that trickles by, and that the kids could play and put their feet in it.

Once again, with all the rain, it was no longer little trickle of water...

which the kids didn't mind!

With everyone distracted by the water fun, Maidie takes this opportunity

to pillage and plunder everyone's unattended food.

Why is it that everyone else's food tastes better than yours when your two?

Here she is munching Paige's grapes.... Yes, I see you Mae-Mae!

It didn't take long for my boys to get chilled playing in the water. Here, Eric is seeking out the ONE towel I brought (I thought there'd be a TRICKLE of water) to warm up!

He was quickly followed by Talmage....

Those not totally immersing themselves in the water were a

comfortable temperature and chose to play the "stick" game.

How to play the stick game:

1. Find a stick

2. All players put sticks in the center

3. All players count to three

4. On three, all players yell, "yeah", and lift your stick in the air

Guaranteed for ten minutes of fun.

(See photos below)

Once the boys had warmed up and munched some more snacks, they were ready to play in the water some more. Both had blue lips, and were shivering, but still they swam their hearts out!

The only drama:

Talmage came walking up to me and said, "Eric almost drowned, and I

totally saved him."

Then I said, "Yes, I can see how Eric almost drowned in that swift, deep,

current out there... he's lucky to have a brother like you looking

out for him!

Eric, contemplating life, after his traumatic near death experience.

Favorite moment of the day:

Maidie took her time coming up the trail to go home. While the boys waited for us,

they picked me a bouquet of wild flowers. What a way to end a great afternoon! Love 'em!

My shirtless, flower pickin' wonders!

Leia Mais

Easter

We love our Grandma's! They send us mail, and not just envelope mail.... PACKAGES! Grandma Riley has been sending us our holiday themed pillowcases, and Grandma Gucci makes sure her holiday gifts find their way south to us. We received Gucci's Easter package the last week in March, but on the box it said not to open until April 1st. We had to wait FIVE days before we could open it. There it sat, on our telephone desk, just waiting for us to rip it apart, but oh, no......we refrained. Finally, on April first we could claim our loot. Talmage was elated to find carpet gliders as part of his gift, and knew just how they worked. I was elated to watch him and Eric slip and slide as they played tag with each other... a very FINE gift! Thanks Gucci!

We emailed the Easter Bunny this year and asked if he wouldn't mind hip-pity-hopping to our house on Saturday morning instead of Sunday (an idea I used from my sister, Michelle). Of course, he was happy to oblige! It was nice to be able to take our time and enjoy the secular part of Easter on Saturday, and then really focus on the Savior and his resurrection on Sunday.

Their over-all favorite treat from the Easter bunny..... the chocolate bunny!

The boys wasted no time biting and tearing apart their bunnies. Maidie had to make friends with hers first. She kept telling the chocolate goodness in front of her, "I love your necklace!"

Once she had satiated her conscience, she went right for the face!

For breakfast we feasted upon German Pancakes. I never tire of the presentation they make as you take them out of the oven. Lovely!

Can you read my lips? Oooooooo!

Happy Easter!

Leia Mais