The Wallsburg Half Marathon

Many of you may not have heard about the Wallsburg Half Marathon last Saturday. It is a very small, yet prestigious race. In fact, it is so difficult to qualify that there were only two runners who were asked to run in it this year. Rode and Heather had definitely earned their place in this race, though. Training was rigorous (ie 4 practice runs during the entire 3 month period prior to the race, including a whopping 6 miler which laid them both up for days). Although the competition between the two was fierce (neck and neck as you can see below), they both performed optimally, even with a cramped foot for Rode from mile 4 to 13. Thanks to Olivia, who was a superb water girl, sacrificing nap time to attend to her duties.

Feeling good at mile 4

Crossing the very official finish line

13.1 miles later

The Real Story: Heather signed up to run the St George Half Marathon, but due to some scheduling difficulties, she decided it would be better to stay home. She was determined not to skip out on her goal though, so she decided she would just run her own half marathon. I graciously volunteered Rode to be her running partner for the 13 miles, and being the good man that he is, he consented. The training schedule was exactly as stated above- meager to say the least. Hez and Den charted a 13.1 mile course covering the entire city limits of Wallsburg. We headed out there bright and early Saturday morning (ie like 9:30, which shouldn't surprise anyone) and off they went. Liv and I delivered Gatorade to them at designated spots, as well as some Ibueprofen at about mile 8. Denver, Liv, and I met them at mile 13.1 with a toilet paper finish line, which unfortunately ripped in the wind before either of them ran through it. I don't think they cared though- they were just grateful to be DONE!

Goodbye Mullet, Hello Pigtails

Liv has been sporting a mullet for quite some time now. It is probably the cutest mullet I've seen, but even still, she is a lady and we aren't living in the 80's/early 90's anymore. It was time to update her look. We tried for pigtails a few weeks ago, but I could only keep her still to put one ponytail in and it looked pretty ridiculous (although she still wore it to church because I was determined). Finally this morning, we succeeded in getting two pigtails. She still has fairly small amounts of hair on top, like someone else in the immediate family (insert Rode's name here), but the ribbon hopefully acts as a distraction from that :) I think she is pretty darn cute.

Happy Halloween from the Pedersen Family Circus

The Greatest Show on Earth

Introducing...

The Lovely and Talented Tutued Tightrope Walker, Mommy

"The Incredible Daddy Rode, Lion tamer Extraordinaire"...

...taming the fiercest baby lion west of the Mississippi.

Celebrating Autumn

I LOVE the fall. It reminds me of home in New England, and inevitably makes me homesick. I decided that even though I couldn't see the beautiful trees in New Hampshire, I was going to celebrate autumn. When I told Anthony that I wanted to go apple picking, he was game although a little confused. I think his exact words were, "So what exactly do you mean by 'apple picking?' Like WE are going to go pick apples off of the tree?" to which I replied "Yeah like you go to an orchard and fill a basket with apples to celebrate the autumn season." "Oh okay, that makes more sense. I was just confused because picking apples in my mind seems like work." And, apparently it seems like work to most Utahns who would just as soon leave it to the farmers as they would to pick their own. After researching and calling numerous orchards within a reasonable driving distance, there was not one that was "Pick Your Own" with the exception of one which my friend reported was 4 rows of apple trees bordering a busy street in Salt Lake. Anyhow, I resigned myself to the fact that we would be "picking our own" apples out of the country store at whichever orchard we visited. That would have to do.

I also wanted to pick a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch, and after a great referral from my sister Kelley's sister-in-law, we went to "The Red Barn" in Santaquin. I think the orchard is Southwicke's Orchard. It was a bit of a drive but well worth it. Aside from the fact that we did not get to "pick our own" it was exactly what I was imagining. After enjoying some delicious ice cream, a divine pumpkin chocolate chip cookie, and some apple cider slush from the store, we went on a hayride through the acres of orchards, to a legit pumpkin patch and picked out our own pumpkin. When we got back to the barn, we bought a few more goodies from the store, including our apples out of the cooler room :) I had a perma-smile the entire time. Sweet, sweet Anthony just smiles and lets me appease my New England desires.

ReLaXiNG

Redeeming Myself

I am feeling like a mean aunt for posting a pouty picture of this little stud muffin, so here are some pictures to show how handsome he really is.

Everything is more fun with party hats...

Like...

...Trying to get out of taking pictures with mom

...Riding a 4-wheeler

...Coloring with cousin Xander

Notice, he wasn't wearing a party hat and this is what happened. I actually think we have a picture somewhere of his mother standing at the top of my parents' stairs that looks strikingly similar to this :)

...Eating your first birthday cake

...Mischieviously climbing stairs

...and Head butting cousins.
Kelley decided on a face mask instead of a party hat to keep us from all catching the swine flu. I thought that to be very considerate, even though party hats are more fun.

Making Us Proud

I am 100% sure she did not get the "gaming" gene from the Kane side of the family. She makes Rode proud :)

I can't be too disappointed though, because she has inherited her mother's love for shoes.

Liv and Lil

Getting re-acquainted in the pool at seven peaks.

Kisses in the wagon. Liv is not one to hold back when giving kisses.

Slip 'n Slide



Looks like we may have a bully in the family.



Holding on for dear life. It was warranted after our bully tried shoving her off.
Diaper Butts!

After seeing Liv and Lil's cute butt shot together, Hezzie and I were inspired to do one of our own. It just isn't quite as cute without the diaper.

"Mom's Gone"

Notice her impeccable manners of chewing with her mouth closed and not talking with her mouth full. Hmmm... I wonder where she learned those? She also doesn't seem the least bit bothered that "mom's gone." And can you blame her? Daddy lets her eat as many rolls as she wants and lets her sit on the counter. Sounds like another daddy I know, *cough* Larish *cough* Kane.

Don't Die of Shock...

I'm about to post some pictures and maybe a few thoughts too, if you're lucky.

Galleria de Olivia

Here is our latest gallery of pictures...

Liv's Notes on Life

Enjoy life through the eyes of Olivia at http://oliviasnotesonlife.blogspot.com

Our Angel Mothers

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.

- Abraham Lincoln

Rode and I somehow lucked out in the mother department. We probably hand picked them because we knew that they would be the best! My mom is a masterpiece. She is the most capable woman I know. Give her a job and she'll get it done, but not just kind of get it done. She will do it, perfecting every minute detail and wowing everyone along the way. She is angelic in more way than one. It seems she has the ability to know exactly what is going on even when no one knows she is around. It was on more than one occasion that I heard my mother say in my youth "I have my ways" when she miraculously knew some sort of shananigans that my sisters or I were into. I only hope to be as alert and in tune as she was. My respect for her guided my actions. I knew what kind of behavior she expected and I didn't want to disappoint her. She is a good woman- a righteous, selfless, super-woman!
And Brooke, Rode's beautiful mother. What a lady! I have loved her since I met her. I will never forget how kindly Rode's mom and dad treated me the first time I went to their home. They welcomed me with no reservations and immediately accepted me as one of their own daughters. I think I loved it so much because that is exactly what my parents would have done. I feel blessed to have a mother-in-law that teaches me so perfectly about selfless service to family and patience in trials. Brooke is ALWAYS thinking of others. Before Anthony and I got married, I was overwhelmed with moving out of my apartment along with everything else I had going on. Brooke showed up with all of her cleaning supplies and scrubbed my bathroom for hours. I had never seen it shine like that before. She spent days at a sewing maching sewing the wedding dress of my dreams. She spent hours ripping out seams, taking in, recutting, and measuring to make it perfect (since I gave her about three patterns and pictures and asked her to "create" exactly what I had in my mind). She was there again, cleaning supplies in hand, when Rode and I headed to the hospital to have Liv (boy, I need to be a better housekeeper so my MIL doesn't have to keep bailing me out). It was such a blessing to come home to an orderly house. Brooke is an angel, an instrument in the Lord's hands as she answers prayers through her selfless service.

We love you Grammie and Nanny. You are the finest women we know!

Like Fathah, Like Daughtah

Thanks Aunt Jane for making me this fabulous hat! I wear it ALL of the time on our walks in the stroller. It blew off in the wind the other day, and when mommy discovered we had lost it, we retraced our whole walk until we found it. Phew... that was a close call.

Like Fathah, Like Daughtah... in more way than one. (ahem...bald heads... oh and always lost in a book)

Pretty Blue Eyes

The most beautiful, blue eyed little girl (in her parents opinion, of course).

Cool Girl Glasses

We call these her "cool girl glasses" and she has really taken to them. We went to the park a few days ago. It was a beautiful, bright sunny day. She wore her glasses like it was entirely normal to own and wear a pair of sunglasses at 8 months old. I had to chuckle inside until the OCD part of me took over and I started worrying that her developing sight may forever be affected due to shaded lenses. Any optometrists out there who can put my mind at ease?

The track or the gym?

I see "hurdler" (as in one who jumps hurdles) or "gymnast" in her future... what do you think?