growing up.

growing up can be tough sometimes.

i celebrated my birthday on the 21st.

i have more wrinkles and my metabolism is slowing.

despite these i actually feel very excited to be here and now.

jeff and the girls made me a yummy cake,

and since my lung capacity is probably diminishing too

i got some help blowing out all 29 candles.

the girls are hitting milestones.

jillian started official pre-school.

she was ecstatic.

she even gets to be in class with her cousin chloe.

this is the face of "growing pain" that camille had driving away

from jills school the first and second day.

poor girls is still having a tough time.

each pre-school day she asks if she gets to stay with jill "this time".

she even started going under the water while swimming by herself

and not crying. she popped up and said, "see mom, i'm a big girl

now like jilli. i get to go to jilli's school now".

sisters are so much better together.

track-stars

We like to exercise in this home.

We encourage the children to follow suit.

Earlier this year they had the opportunity to show off some skills.

A near-by town hosted a mini-Olympics.

It started with a warm-up and stretching.

Next was the running of the torch.

Jill thought the races had begun and left everyone in the dust.

Then the events began.

They did long jump, javelin throw, shot put, obstacle course,

and of-course the 60 meter dash.

The girls did great a had a great time.

In other running news:

We like to participate in a few fundraising runs each year.

Here's a re-cap:

Two-Sisters One Heart Run

Pat's Run:

early morning pre-run chill and anticipation

post-run heat with the group

This event is HUGE!

The Taylor's have made it a tradition.

We've participate a few of the years and it grows bigger each time.

The first year we ran it there was one heat, one start time.

This year there was over 20 heats placed by estimated run pace.

It was wild, the amount of people there.

It's 4.2 miles around Tempe Lakes and ASU.

I'm not sure if it was the hype in the air or what but I ran faster than I ever have.

I did the 4.2 miles in 39 minutes and felt like I could have gone faster.

It's still not that great of time, but an accomplishment for a sprinter.

Jeff did great as usual at 35:26.

Petersons 2011

We just returned from a great get-away to the mountains of Utah.

We played with cousins.

Jill had the time of her life at 7-Peaks, a water resort.

I can honestly say I love and enjoy each of these people.

Lucky to have such a great family.