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

March Madness... Pearson Style

Here's a quick run down of some of our events and visitors in March:

Eric turned five on March 2nd! One of my kids favorite traditions is having balloons on their bed as they wake up on their birthday. I get several reminders the night before a birthday to NOT forget the balloons. Talmage and Eric even blew up balloons and carried them into our bedroom to place on the bed for Tyler's birthday this month.

Grandma Riley has made several pillow cases for us this past year. She sends each grandchild one a month and corresponds the patterns of the fabric with the holiday. She even sent special "Happy Birthday" pillow cases for March a long with the St. Patrick's Day ones. We LOVE getting our pillow cases Grandma Riley!

Maidie turned two March 13th! Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the balloon filled room... here's a nice one of her wrapped in her favorite blanket.

Ty turned 33 on March 14th! I made him his yearly carrot cake.... from scratch. I grated the carrots and everything! I must love him!

Rachel and Soren came over for some cake. We LOVE Rachel! She is the one who found our house here in Texas, and fed Ty numerous meals while he was without his family.

My brother, Derall, came for a visit. He and Tyler hit SXSW in down town Austin the weekend he was here. Maidie affectionately dubbed him "Uncle", not "Uncle Derall", just "Uncle", so that's how he's known to us now. We took him out for some good BBQ at the Salt Lick, we ate ourselves sick with the all-you-can eat beef brisket, ribs and sausage.

Ty's dad also came for a visit. He'd been to Africa and brought Talmage and Eric some wood carved elephants. Thanks to Safelite, it was the second overnight visit we've had from Vonder.

Leia Mais

Missionaries and Mayhem

My family and I have been in Texas now for three months. In those three months I have talked about the church and what we believe in MORE than in my 32 years in Utah. Some of our neighbors have never known a "Mormon" before. In fact, one neighbor told me that as they waited for us to move in, the overall mood on the street for their new neighbors (us) was fairly negative... because, "you know, their Mormon". Talk about being on the "outs" for the first time in my life.

Slowly, I think I've won the hearts of some of my neighbors with my freezer jam (the bus stop ladies were blown away that I make my own jam, but com'n, once you go freezer, you can never go back) and home made rolls. (Thanks, Mandy)

The topic of religion frequently comes up. I've shared my testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, discussed polygamy, and shared my thoughts on the code of health our church encourages with the Word of Wisdom. I can feel my testimony growing and I'm thankful for that,..... but still, not thankful for the move. *sigh*

Every ward here in our city has it's own set of missionaries. It is a lot of fun to have them in our home for dinners and to visit with them at church and other functions. I love that my kids get the opportunity to interact with them. We had Elder Peterson and Elder Lund over for dinner last month. Elder Lund was being transferred, but before he left he wanted to come and say goodbye to our family.

Elder Peterson (on the left) is from Gilbert, Arizona (he's actually in my brother, Derall's, stake there). Elder Lund (in the middle) is from Kearns, Utah, and lives by the Olympic Oval there. These are awesome young men, and I'm sad to see Elder Lund go.

As we visited with the missionaries, Maidie found a little bit of trouble.

She found the Lanolin I use on my lips (not nips, but lips.... it's a very good lip balm) and squeezed it out to apply all over her face, hair and hands (it even got on her eyes). It took some Goo-Gone, a nice LONG soaking in the tub, and 5 shampoo's to take the grease from her locks. Oh, Maidie, at least it wasn't "Chocolate Rain" this time.

Leia Mais