One Month Late

One month ago we moved! Don't get too exited.... we just moved to a different apartment in Connecticut. But we love our new place. When we moved we did move from our ward boundaries but we got special permission from our Stake President (Bruce Stratford) and our Bishop (John Neary) to allow us to stay in our ward. We are finally got everything moved in and it seems like we are getting settled into somewhat of routine.
One thing that we enjoy about our new place is the outdoor space and not feeling like there are SO many people around. We actually moved to the "highest point of elevation on the east coast" at a whoping 600 feet... so the sign across the street from our new place tells us....
This is the inside of our place. Still not everything we want but we've come to terms with the fact that we aren't going to get that until we buy or build a home - and even then, it probably won't happen. But for now, we are happy in our new place.

The cars - one is covered. 

The sign that tells about the elevation

The house (we are in the basement)

The office

Bathroom

The entry way - still not sure what we are doing with it ...

The kitchen/laundry

The TV room 

The bedroom

Our AWESOME backyard

Our patio and entry way

Last week I was able to make the trip down to Washington DC to run in a Ragnar Relay Race and let's just say it was A-MAZ-ING! Let's see if you can follow this.... Brett's sister's sister-in-law, Mallory Phillips lives just outside of DC and she ran in the Ragnar last year. I told her to let me know if she did it again this year - and she did. She actually was the Captain of the team. About a month ago we needed to find another runner for the team because someone had dropped out. Mal and me decided that Brett's sister Natalie should come out and run with us, since we did complete a ragnar in June in Utah. We continued to badger her until she finally gave in and booked her ticket and headed out here. She flew into NY, I picked her up, we came back to our place and then later that afternoon we headed to DC. I think I would have enjoyed the Ragnar even without her but having her here was so much fun! It was a blast and if I do it again next year, I just don't think it will be the same without her!
I had never been to DC before and on my final leg I got to be the one to run past through Arlington, right along the Patomac River. I ran across the river from National Mall. So the first time that I saw the Capitol, the Lincoln and Washington Monument I was running by it. It was pretty sweet! Unfortunately, I am not cool enough to have a smart phone so I didn't have a phone with me to take picture while on my run you will just have to take my word for it.

Mal, Nat, and me and our trusty rusty Raggin' Wagon

Sweet tats...

Love me some pickle juice! 

Just about to finish my last leg.

Almost done... with mile 17!!!

The team
Van 1: Sarah, Anna, Sarah's husband, David, Brittney, and Caitlyn
Van 2: Me, Nat, Mal, Kim, Adam, and Miguel.

Crazy story - I didn't know anyone else on our team until we got there and made all sorts of crazy connections with everyone being LDS. One girl had dated my Stake President's (in CT) son, one served in the same zone on his mission in Guatemala as one of my best friends (Scott Perkes), someone else's grandpa is one of Brett's grandpa's best friend who attends deer camp with the Petersen family every year (Uncle Norval Jones), Kim's parents were Natalie's sister-in-laws Mission President, and someone's older brother dated someone's roommate in college. By the end of the trip, we all felt like family. It just goes to show the world within the church is VERY small!

I sure loved running in the Ragnar back here - much more scenic and lots more fun then the one I ran in Vegas. I hope I can do it again next year. Next adventure: My mom and sister are visiting in a few weeks. We are headed to NYC, Newport Rhode Island, Boston, and The Cape. So excited!