Video of Charity and Melissa finding out the flavor of baby we're having!

Race for the Cure 2011

Race #1 of my little race circuit complete.  Saturday, May 7th,  was the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure.  It was an amazing experience being there and participating.  I ran this race back in 2006 but it wasn't nearly as emotional for me back then as it was this time around.  I was one of something like 20,000 race participants.  TWENTY THOUSAND...that is a CRAP LOAD of people!!!  There was so much energy from everyone.  There was music, and cheering, and people wearing outrageous pink costumes and thousands of "In Memory of" or "In Celebration" of signs.  I decided to run this race this year partly because of the cause (raising $ for breast cancer) but mostly I just needed a 5K race this time of year.  So it took me off gaurd that I was so emotional.  Part of the emotion came from the fact that this was my first race in a long time and it marked the beginning of a long journey for me, but I think more than that was the fact that as I looked around at all the support being given to the cause of breast cancer (and cancer in general) awareness and research I couldn't help but think of my own mother who just last year fought her own battle with breast cancer and won.  I also, thought about my grandmother who died of lung cancer just a few years ago.  While waiting at the starting line for the race to begin I had to fight back tears a few times.  It was an incredible feeling to be a part of something so big and so important, while at the same time acheiving a personal goal.  I look forward to racing again in this AMAZING race next year!

this is what I crossed the finish line to see  :)

a look-see at a small part of the SEA of people

May 7, 2011

My goal was to RUN the whole race (no walking) and to finish in under 45 min.  Mission accomplished on both counts.  Finish time was 40 min and I ran it all!

Then & Now

This is what I did in 2006:

SLC Half Marathon

AND THIS:

Deseret News 24th of July 10K

And a SLEW of other 5Ks and 10Ks

then I met HIM

and WE wrapped up the year of 2006 by doing this

In 2007 I started this

And in 2008 I ended up with one of these

This is what I did in 2009... A LOT of cleaning up after and chasing after this one...

And then we got THIS message

AND SOOO...

This is what I did in 2010

And then I had me another one of these

Now it's 2011 and this is what I've got going on

Now this one...

Chelsea 2008

Looks like this...

Chelsea 2011

And this one...

Ruby 2010

Looks like this...

Ruby 2011 (almost 10 months)

So what else does 2011 hold for me???

Well, there is this: http://slc.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/SLC_SaltLakeCityAffiliate?fr_id=2133&pg=entry, which happends in less than 24 hours.  My first race in several years.

Then it's onto this: http://www.deseretnews.com/media/run/ (the 10K...not the marathon) in July.

And IF I can survive both of those, the REAL goal is this: http://www.laytonmarathon.com/ (the half).

Running and finishing the Salt Lake Half marathon back in 2006 was one of my proudest moments in life.  Ever since I finished that race I've had the deepest desire to do it again.  But marriage, children and life have all taken priority (as they should have) and training for something as ambitious as a half marathon has not been possible.  I am hoping that 2011 is my year to get back to a half marathon.  I pray that life in the Petersen home will be calm enough that I can devote the time necessary to the training needed.  I am crossing my fingers that my body will be strong enough (I was 30 lbs lighter the last time around so that's asking a lot) and healthy enough to withstand the challenge and remain injury free. 

I'm looking forward to an exciting and fun remainder of 2011.

Easter 2011

The girls has a jam packed Easter this year.  Saturday morning started off by coloring Easter eggs.  We had no spills this year (YAY)!

just like a Pro :)

Dad got in on the action this year

Proudly displaying the finished products

Although Ruby couldn't help, she was supervising from her high chair the whole time :)

 After the egg coloring we headed down to Brad's grandparent's place for a little Easter party.  Grandma Ruthe and Grandpa Roy live in an assisted living facility and they put on a really cute Easter egg hunt and party for the kids.  Chelsea got an adorable Easter basket, she went on an Easter egg hunt, had a rootbeer float, met the Easter bunny and got to pet and hold some real live baby bunnies (THEY WERE SOOOO STINKIN' CUTE!)  It was a lot of fun!

Chelsea with her basket & balloon with grandma Ruthe & Grandpa Roy

Found one!

Chelsea made friends with the Easter bunny

And here's the REAL Easter Bunnies...they were adorable!

Ruby & Grandma Ruthe - I think they called ahead and coordinated their outfits :)

As if all of that wasn't fun enough, after the party at grandma Ruthe's we took the girls over to Grandma Bab's house (Brad's parents) so that we could go on a much needed date.  While they were there they got two have a round two of Easter egg coloring with grandma, their cousins Braxton and Devan and their aunt Amy.
On Sunday morning everyone woke up to the baskets and goodies the Easter bunny had left.

Love Ruby's face in this shot

After checking out the loot from the bunny, we had a quick breakfast of strawberry waffles and then it was time to get ready for church.  We attended Brad's parents sacrament meeting because Scott (brad's dad) was singing in their ward's AMAZING (and I mean truly AMAZING) choir.  They did a special Easter program that was so great.  After that sacrament meeting Brad and the girls went back to his parents house for yet ANOTHER egg hunt, while I headed back up to our ward to help out in Primary.

on the hunt

Chelsea & Braxton

she found bubbles

not too shabby

 After primary I headed back down to my in laws for a delicious Easter dinner.  We were also joined by a special guest.  My brother Greg's best friend Bryce is up at Utah State going to school and we were blessed to have him join us for Easter dinner.  It's always great to have his company and it was nice to share Easter with him. 
So Easter was busy busy busy but it was a really wonderful weekend!

Charity's Wedding

In April we had the pleasure of going to California for my sister, Charity's, wedding.  We (the girls and I) were able to go down about a week or so before the wedding and spend time with Grandma D and Grandpa Steve.  The wedding was beautiful and the visiting was wonderful!  Here are some pictures of our time in Cali and our family at the wedding (and one or two of the bride and groom for those of you who know my sister).  We didn't get very many pics because I didn't think ahead and the camera battery was on the verge of dead...sorry.

Petersen clan at the San Diego Temple

Me & my beautiful girls (sorry it's shiny - smudge on lens)

Ruby playing with her dress

Chelsea in front of the temple

Mandy (my SIL), me, my sister Charity (the bride) & my sister Jaylee

Chelsea & Daddy dancing at the reception

Beautiful table setting (her colors were brown and lime green)

Me, Ruby, my brother Jeff & my niece Mackenna

Me & the beautiful bride

All the siblings and our significant others :)

Charity & her nieces Mackenna, Chelsea & Ruby

Mr. & Mrs. Russell Slaugh