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!

Home Sweet Home

On July 8, 2012 Brett left Connecticut to go home to Utah for a few weeks to work with Greg and take some time off and get some much needed R&R from the busy life he leads here in CT.

He enjoyed being out there and spending time with those he loves. I stayed back to work and was able to get some good crafting done while I seemed to have so much extra time on my hands.
I joined Brett on Aug 3 and was able to spend some great quality time with the family. My sister and her family was visiting from Alaska and unfortunately we only get to see them about once every year to year and half, so most of our time was spent soaking up every moment that we could with them. And I must say, we are so extremely blessed to have in-laws that actually enjoying spending time with each other and we were able to take advantage of spending time with both sides of the family at the same time! Thanks for being so great guys! We sure love you and miss you!

I was absolutely terrible at taking pictures this time... I rarely had my camera out so I don't have as nearly as many pictures as I would like but I do have a few - mostly of our adoreable neices and nephews.

Petersen Family (minus Greg)

Petersen Kiddos

Beach Fun at Bear Lake

Golfing and Hanging out at Bear Lake

Water Babies! Ladies... that hot model is still single! :) 

Cache County Fair Fun!

We had so much fun while we were in Utah. We sure do love it when we are able to spend time with our families. I can't wait for Christmas!

While you were out....

Brett has been in Utah for the last few weeks which has given me time (LOTS of time... ) to stay up late, eat junk food and make lots of cute crafty things that of course I copied from Pinterest. I couldn't think of crafty things to make on my own but I sure do have fun making them.

Picture/note hanger for my office at work

Homemade Chalkboard for my office at work

A cute wreath for my door at home

A welcome wreath for my door at the office

Sunburst mirrors made with clothes pins for a wall at the office

 All of them were SO cheap and so fun to make! Thank you pinterest! But my budget does say thank goodness for a trip to Utah coming up in less than a week.... YEAH!

Happy Independence Day!

This year we were not quite sure what to do with ourselves for the fourth of July but it just so happened that I was checking things out on the FB when I spotted a picture of my dear friend Judit Stolpa who lives in Hungary. I met her while I was working at a YMCA in New Jersey 5 summers ago. This picture of her just so happened to be in NYC! I commented on her picture to see if she was still there only to find out that SHE WAS!!! Lucky for us it just happened to the fourth of July so we had the day off of work. We didn't have plans and I couldn't pass the opportunity to meet up with someone I never thought I would see again. So we headed into the city. We rode the train in and met Judit in Grand Central. We walked to Central Park, got a jumba juice and then meandered our way back down to 34th street. We were headed to grab some pizza at La Famiglia but Judit saw a Wendy's and had to have it. Her brother lived in the states for several years and was always raving about Wendy's so she just had to try some. It's kind of funny to think about someone raving about Wendy's and other people never having that experience.
After Wendy's we headed down to the piers to watch the fireworks. Let me tell you, this may sound like it was a completely relaxing way to watch the fireworks and I am sure it would have been had the 4 million other people in NYC would have stayed home. It was something that I always thought would be so cool and  nothing would be more patriotic than watching the fireworks exploding all around Lady Liberty. For all of you who thought this would be the case, let me assure you that this is NOT the case. Or perhaps it is, but only on TV OR if you pay nearly $300 a ticket to get on the piers or boats on the water!!
Don't get me wrong, it was still an experience - but one I never have the desire to do again. I will certainly be just fine watching my little town fireworks from where ever that little town may be. We had a great time with Judit and I am so very happy that Brett was able to meet her. I have wanted them to meet for so long - I've actually told Brett since the day I got back from camp that we would be going to Hungary to visit her because he just had to meet this incredible woman. Well, I didn't quite get him to Hungary (although I haven't given up trying to get him there... maybe someday. Anyone want to donate to our Hungary vacation fund?...)
but they sure did finally get to meet and they hit it off. Brett is now encouraging my younger brother to marry her - and heck I sure wouldn't complain if that happened.
Judit made such an impact in my life in just a few short months. She is an amazing person and friend. She is so very thoughtful and I am truly amazed at how much she impacted my life in such a short period of time. I think I only stayed through the whole thing because of her. I honestly thought that I would never have the chance to see her again but my heart filled with joy and joy leaked out of my eyes when we embraced. I love her very much and wish that we could have spent more time together. But now Brett is more motivated to get to Hungary because he loves her too. :)
And no post of mine would be complete without some pictures....

Walking to Central Park

Chillin (trying to) in Central Park in the HOT, HUMID weather

It was so hot and cramped and miserable
but we were still enjoying our time together!

NEVER AGAIN!

View of the fireworks

Memorial Day Weekend

I asked Brett about 3 months ago if he would be interested in heading to the NCAA Divison 1 Lacrosse Championship that was held this weekend in Boston, MA. He said he hadn't really been following Lax this year due to being too busy with school. But since school ended and he has had an hour or two here and there to catch up on the Lax world, he decided that he would really like to go to the tourny. So we headed up to Foxborough, MA to the Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots for the semi-final games on Saturday afternoon. Game 1: Loyola vs. Norte Dame, with Loyola winning. Game 2: Duke vs. Maryland with Maryland winning. Games were fun to watch, atmosphere was fun, but most of all it was enjoyable to spend a weekend actually watching Lax with Brett next to me rather than him on the opposite sideline coaching, which has never happened and probably won't for several more years (if ever) unless of course we go to Championship weekend again next year, which it held in Philly.

Loyola vs Norte Dame

Duke vs. Maryland

Sunday we slept in and then took a short drive up to Boston. We spent the day in the Cambridge area, most at Harvard University. It was so relaxing and very nice to spend some time together not rushing to see sites or visit  anything in particular. Harvard was different than what I expected but the surrounding area was very quaint and typified New England. There were a lot of street performers out and it was nice to listen to their music or watch their act for a little bit.

Center of Harvard

The Concert Hall

A law building

whole church was made from stone - very impressive

Monday was Championship Game - Maryland vs Loyola. Loyola ended up beating Maryland quite soundly but it was a pretty close/tight game until half. It was such an enjoyable weekend. It was so nice to finally have some time to just relax together, sleep in, and especially not have to worry about studying or work left undone.
Keep your fingers crossed that we get to do it again next year. :)

Maryland vs Loyola

Brett's heaven

Face off's were brutal...

A little update on Brett's schooling: he officially completed his first year of in-class work. Yipee!!! He is now in his clinical, working with actual patients and he is loving every minute of it! There is such a difference in his attitude about learning. He absolutely loves what he does and as frustrating as it was to have to wait 4 years for him to figure it out I am sure glad he took his time and didn't let his wife's impatience push him into doing something that he doesn't love. Can't wait to see where his career will take us in life.
Brett also has the privilege of serving as the treasurer on the Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) for Physical Therapy. While at one of the SSIG meetings, he was introduced to Victor Vaughn, who is a big advocate for PT. He does lots of stuff with the government advocating for PT. This was intriguing to Brett and he started asking more questions. Vic invited Brett to go down to Washington DC with him and the other Connecticut advocates. Brett enticed two if his classmates (AJ Cohen and Don Johnson) to go with him. So the 3 boys headed down to Washington DC for a "man-vaction" to do some advocating for PT on April 23 - 24.
It just so happened that while there the 3 of them, along with their professors sat down at a table with the professional advocates from none other than UTAH!!! Brett told them that he was from Utah and they asked him to join them in visiting Utah's senators wince CT would have 2 student advocates. So the following day he did just that. He tagged along with 3 Utah PT advocates, all of which are professors at University of Utah. Of particular note, the woman Kim Cohee, is head of the resident Orthopedic program at the U - Brett is really interested in doing this residency after finishing at Sacred Heart so it was a great opportunity to network with her - and the PRES of the APTA Tom Ward is also from Utah. Mark Anderson was the third representative for Utah, who was very impressed with Brett and seemed genuinely interested in helping Brett further his career. Brett had a blast and although he was with 3 "big-wigs" from Utah, he said they made him completely comfortable and he was very glad he was given the opportunity to join them.   As I said before: can't wait to see where Brett's career takes us in life. 

AJ Cohen, Brett, Don Johnson (Back row)
CT Delegation - Vic on the right

Mark Anderson, Brett, Tom Ward, Kim Cohee

Brett at the Captiol

Brett at the Capitol

Visitors

This past week we had a few visitors - Brett's parents came to visit for his "Easter Break". We also had a good family friend, Karen Luthi, and two of her friends come a stay with us for a few days. We had a great time catching up with all of them and loved being able to spend some time with them.
Brett and his parents went to Harmony, PA, Fayette, NY, Niagra Falls, and Palmyra. They left me at home to work and to hang out with Karen and her friends. Here's a few pictures of them in up-state:

Niagara Falls

Palmyra Temple

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures with Karen but I sure loved having her visit for a few days. I am glad they got to enjoy New York and we could serve as a good resting place for a few nights. A funny story: Karen was showering and went to turn off the water and the spout broke. Karen had to call for her friends to come help, go talk to our landlords, and shut the water off. All of this happening while I was at work of course... The plumber had to come the next day and completely replaced all of the hardware in our bathroom. Karen is welcome any time at our house as long as she gets us new things when she's here.... :)

We attended church on Sunday and then headed to Philadelphia. We visited Valley Forge and the Rocky Stairs and Elfreth's Alley on Sunday evening. Monday morning we headed to Gettysburg and spent the majority of the day there. Gettysburg was fascinating! We loved it and I am very glad we were able to squeeze it in to the trip. We got a famous Philly Cheesesteak at Jim's Steaks that night and headed back to the hotel.
Tuesday morning we got up and saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Carpenter's Hall, 1st and 2nd National Bank, Franklin's Court, Besty Ross House,  Elfreth's Alley, Fireman's Hall, and pretty much everything that is historical in Old City Philly. We got done a bit earlier than expected so we headed up to Washington's Crossing. We saw the spot where the soliders camped and the hill where they built a watch tower. The tower standing today is a replica of the one they built back in 1776 to keep an eye on the Hessians who were camped out in Trenton, NJ. It was neat to overlook the Delaware and see that famous spot in history. We had a good meal at a little tavern at Bowman's Hill - very quiant and delicious! :)

Rocky Stairs!

Philly in the background

Too bad this picture turned out blurred but
they were such good sports I had to share!

Gettysburg

Graves in the cemetery where the Gettysburg address was given

Newer Veteran Graves in Gettysburg Cemetery

Looking out over Gettysburg from Little Round Top

The City of Brotherly Love
and they were feeling it! ;)

Independence Hall

The room where the Declaration and Constitution were signed

Brett was in heaven at the Fireman's Hall

View from the top of Bowman's Tower at Washington's Crossing

We put Craig and Sue on a flight and sent them home to Utah. We miss them already and wish they could stay but we are glad we got to enjoy them for a week while they were here!