The After-Thanksgiving [E+C Blog] Special

When you grow up in a different time zone than your cousins and grandparents, attend a college that's a 21-hour drive from your home town, watch your sisters settle down in three separate states, marry someone from a state that makes hot dishes instead of casseroles requires a plane ticket home, and spend more time interacting via technology than you do face-to-face, you learn that distance does not always dampen a relationship.

In fact, living with family spread across the country has its advantages. Most recently, I've discovered that it provides us unique opportunities to gather together in unusual combinations of "mico-families." Just this last weekend I had lunch at the airport with my grandma from South Dakota, my Minnesota-based aunt, and my uncle from South Dakota and his daughter - but not her siblings. We were all missing people from our immediate family unit, and I'm sure the thought crossed all of our minds that we'll likely never be together with that specific group of people again. But it was fun, and I'm grateful for long layovers and that my family takes advantage of these little opportunities to stay connected.

A Speech for my Sister

It's just been two weeks since my oldest sister's wedding and already I'm missing everyone - and the donuts (seriously, World's Fair Donuts are the best, and only 65 cents a piece!). So I decided I'd share my maid-of-honor toast with you all, just to keep the wedding spirit alive a little longer. And speaking of wedding spirit, it was only a week and a half after we sent Kirsten and Scott on their marry married way that my youngest sister and her boyfriend (who caught the garter!) got engaged. You can read their story here. But before we get caught up in another wedding whirlwind, enjoy my speech to my dear oldest sister.

I'm standing on the dance floor, mic in hand. The DJ gives me a nod, the room quiets, and I begin ...

Karrin also gave a speech

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Carolyn, the second of the Pearson girls, and probably the person Kirsten has known the longest besides our parents.

And for those of you who already know me, you likely also know that I love to WRITE much more than I love giving speeches. So I decided to write Kirsten and Scott a letter that I’ll share with you now

Dear Kirsten,

It seems like just yesterday we were growing up in New Jersey; a group of four ragamuffin sisters. We’d traipse through the woods, build tree-houses and elaborate forts, and forever be on the quest for adventure.

Picture Sarah in here as well

I always loved having you as an older sister, but as a kid I was kind of frustrated I could never quite catch up to you in age. I mean, 13 months apart is practically twins, yet just as I was getting close enough, there you’d go and have another birthday.

But I loved that we were so close in age, mostly because it meant we were almost twins. Did I ever tell you how much I treasured our “twin-ness?” Although we have always looked somewhat alike, there was a time when we were around 10, that we looked so similar even I can’t tell us apart in photos. But however hard I tried, I could never get you fully on-board with embracing the whole “twin” thing. You either hated it, or more likely, were really good at feigning indifference, rolling your eyes as I traipsed downstairs just happening to wear the same exact red turtleneck and blue overalls. It was a fun game I’d play, but probably a good thing I outgrew it.

I was secretly tempted to show up in a white dress so we could be "twins" but good thing I stuck to the bridesmaid gown as planned!

As kids, we had a lot of fun being the “big girls.” Karrin and Sarah shared a room, which left you and me together in our own bedroom to plot our ongoing mission to extend bedtime. After we’d exhausted conversation while lying in bed, one of us inevitably crept to the door and down the stairs – which was always an invitation for the other to follow. We’d usually slink down the steps, avoiding the noisy spots, until mom discovered us and we had to reveal our “phantom ailments” – a painful pinky or an invisible bruise, or whatever reason we had for being out of bed. Luckily we both have husbands now who can keep us on track and enforce bedtime when need be.

Some of my best childhood memories are from our long car trips from New Jersey to South Dakota, where we’d devise games and methods of staying occupied, like creating a talk radio show, or designing our dream homes on paper. Of course you, the natural-born architect, used all the correct markings and symbols to indicate doors and windows, and I don’t know if you noticed, but I usually ended up copying your design – “three steps down to a window seat reading nook, that looks nice … “

The one thing that’s surprised me about you, Kirsten, is that for how organized and detail-oriented you are, you also have a bit of an unexpected fearless streak, that leads you to do things like rock climb, study abroad in Spain, or roughing it one summer in the Black Hills for an architecture workshop. And of course there are those lesser-known “wild” things you like to do that usually involve subjecting yourself to some sort of extreme cold. Skipping through the lake, barefooted on Thanksgiving – in Minnesota, for one.  Or when you were a kid, while the rest of us were off building snowmen, I distinctly remember you lying face down in the snow, just to see how long you could stand it. Turns out, pretty long.

Kirsten and Scott, I’m so happy you two found each other, I know you have many wonderful adventures ahead. And Scott, you now have an awesome partner-in-crime.

For the last five years my sisters have had a brother in law in their life thanks to my husband Evan. I’m so happy that today I finally have you as my first official brother-in-law. Welcome to the family.

Let’s raise our glasses to the happy couple and for many years of adventures to come. 

... and one more, because it's too funny not to share:

WHY am I making that face? I don't remember this. But I do remember trying to see around her veil ... 

Photos by Linda Rivard Photography in St. Louis

Birthday Tribute

My dad's the type of person who can find an adventure in everything. Whether it's walking the streets of New York City, hiking in the Black Hills, or enjoying an evening bike ride, he will find something new or interesting ... or peculiar to do. I'm not saying he's a daredevil - in fact, he's quite afraid of heights. He simply has the mindset for adventure. This is really just another way of saying the old cliché: he sees the glass half full. Whatever is in front of him, be it work, play, or even mindless errands, he is curious, open-minded and sees the possibilities. And that's how adventures are born.

Hiking at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minnesota.

We used to live in NYC back when I was a toddler, and my mom has told me how dad enjoyed his walk home from work through the busy streets. Yes, he loves his hometown in the Black Hills of South Dakota and is quite the nature boy, but he never let that keep him from enjoying another experience. One day he actually found a sofa on the street and carried it right up to our apartment. The big green sofa of my childhood came to be because he found it on the street and said, why not?

Apparently my favorite past-time as a lil tyke was swinging upside down!

Dad and I were out on a bike ride one summer evening when we came across a Jaguar parked at the end of a long driveway. For Sale, it read in the window. Naturally, we had to check it out, peer through the windows, contact the owners ... we continued on our bike ride, then stopped by on our way home for an official test drive. Leave it to dad to head out on a bike ride and come home with a new car!

But not all of dad's adventures result in sofa and car purchases. Many are just about exploring a new path when out on a run - something he's instilled in me. Part of the excitement of running outside is the fact that there are choices to make. Shall I turn left or right? Over the bridge or around the path? What's going on down there ... ? With nothing but my own two feet I have the power to explore. It's really quite liberating and the rhythm of those choices lulls me into a nice runners high (never heard running and lull in the same sentence before, have ya?).

Although it's impossible to list all of the things I've learned from my dad over the years, here are a few that come to mind right now:

-You can make a home anywhere, if you have the right mindset. And everything you need will more or less be available, although maybe not in the form you expect.

-Don't assume you know yourself well enough not to try something because you don't think you'll like it.

-Be your own drummer - foster positive relationships and be socially savvy enough to bolster your own success, but don't worry about petty stuff getting in the way of what you want to do - or be.

-Make up words

-Be curious.

-Be geeky.

Dad and his geerkery

Hiking Crazy Horse Monument when we got caught in a hail storm!

Happy Happiest of Birthdays to you, Dad!

"... Let's have an adventure! (from the pancake song)

Birthday Business

......

old, you say? there's no such thing

.......

(Kirst, note the childhood memory reference in the line above?) For Kirst's big 30 bday, sister Karrin and I flew out to St. Louis to help her celebrate. Of course we wish that Sarah, our youngest sister, could have been there too, but she is off having grand adventures in Alaska. Our weekend was filled with biking, wineries, breweries, shopping, eating, and even tree climbing! Here's a little slideshow from the festivities ... and I threw a few old photos in there too, just for kicks. (Thanks for sending your pics, Karks!) Have a happy happy birthday, Kirsto!

Pancakes with the Sisters

If you've been wondering why it's been a little quiet over here as of late, it's because I've been busy over on our new sisters blog!

Go check out my newest post about Saturday Morning Pancakes! (recipes included!)

Home-improvement update: I think we have a problem on our hands. Our sink is leaking, majorly. Let's just say someone has the kitchen-renovation bug!

Introducing our new Sisters Blog!

Happy Saturday everyone!

I have some house updates to show you, but while I type that up and work on the pictures, I wanted to share with you a new blog you might like.

As many of you know, I am blessed with three wonderful sisters. We are pretty close in age - about six years total (and I'm only 13 months younger than the first!). Since we're spread across the country, we don't actually all get together more than once or twice a year. : (  But that is no reason why we still can't be CLOSE. I think my family has mastered the long-distance family relationship, if I do say so myself! My parents are both originally from western South Dakota, but they raised us girls out east (NYC for a bit then good ol' NJ). Every summer we'd trek out west, usually in a horse-drawn buggy on a four-day road trip, to spend weeks with both sets of grandparents and cousins, so the long distance thing has been ingrained in us since we were little. You just have to make it work. Currently, my parents live in New Jersey, I'm in Minneapolis, Kirsten is in St. Louis, Karrin is in upstate New York, and Sarah is about 15 minutes from me - but will be off to Alaska in June. I think I call my mom at least once a day and one or two sisters or my dad every day as well. We are big on computer Video Chats and iPhone Face Timing, and we all make an effort to get together whenever we can.

When I was little, I often remarked to one of my grandparents, "I wish that we lived where we live and you lived where you live but there just wasn't so much land in between."

Isn't that the truth?

But since land cannot be pushed aside, lengthy interstates cannot be avoided, we must find ways to conquer this distance. And that's where a little thing called the internet (name that TV-show!) comes into play.

May I introduce to you FourSisiters - KCKS, our new sisters blog where we'll keep each other (and anyone else who cares to follow along) updated on the adventures of our life. From random thoughts and ideas to local restaurant reviews to house project to travel essays and beyond, this little blog will share our journey together as sisters living apart.

Check it out! Karrin already posted about her recent travels in Madagascar!

Wrapping up 2011

Just a few weeks ago my family was all home in New Jersey for Christmas, decorating the tree, rolling out cookies, prepping one of my favorite meals of the year, and trompsing through the woods and fields with dog in tow. With four of us sisters spread across the country, it is a treasured moment when we all are under one roof, let alone home in good ol' NJ.

When we were little we turned into little ballerinas around Christmas time, pausing from our sugar-high-induced Nutcracker "performance" long enough to grab a taste of some "food to eat" (as Karrin used to say, aka sugar cookie dough) before resuming our "dance" - which, much to our frustration, inevitable turned into skipping and galloping in a circle.

I thought it only fitting that I set the following video of us decorating the tree in NJ to the much beloved tune from the Nutcracker. (and I'm happy to say I finally undecorated our Minnesota tree and gave it the boot last night ... so nice to have some more space in our house!)

ENJOY!
(I think my favorite part is when, just for a second, Scott pretends to run in front of the camera with lots of animation)

One of my favorite meals of the year: Swedish meatball!

Apple Salad with walnuts and homemade whipped cream

            

Our sugar cookies are kind of a big deal ; )

The recipe is actually my great-grandma's, and won the purple ribbon at the South Dakota State Fair years ago. Perhaps I will share next Christmas season. The key to decorating is to make an icing, not a traditional frosting.

The Pearson family

the Girls! KCKS (I'm in the process of starting up a sisters blog - I'll let you know once that's up and running)

Christmas morning

             

Sarah gave us all snuggly mittens!

Evan and dad got matching robes!

Christmas Day hike at Baldpate

Bryant Park, NYC

            

We wanted to go skating, but the line was way too long

Toparepa at a stand in Bryant Park. YUM.

Rockefeller Center: the tree! Great photo taken by my dad.

Nice pic of the parents in Central Park

Mike can't help but climb on rocks (Central Park)

We walked to the Upper East Side where we used to live (when I was a toddler). Up on one of the top floors!

On our way to the Brooklyn Bridge, here in the subway

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, with the Freedom Towers in the background

Impromptu visit with childhood friend Ariella (fellow Nutcracker dancer!) at a coffee shop in Brooklyn!

View of the city from Brooklyn, photo by John Pearson

We all met up at the Tree to congratulate Kirsten and Scott on ....

their ENGAGEMENT!

It was so much fun being in NYC to celebrate with them right away. Probably the highlight of the trip! We're so excited for them and can't wait for all the planning to begin : )

We also enjoyed lots of quality time with Max ... I won't mention who's butt this is ; )

See this post for more pics/videos of us playing with Max last year ... when there was tons of snow!

It's always sad when we all go our separate ways at the end of our visit, but there's a lot of exciting adventures in store for everyone this year .... Kirsten and Scott are planning their wedding (!!!!!), Karrin is headed to Madagascar, Sarah is moving to Alaska in June and will then be off to Africa for a bit, and Evan and I have lots of house projects and trip ideas in the works. Here's to a great start to 2012!