Play Time

We have had such a busy summer so far...too busy to post on this blog! We have been to Yosemite and had fantastic visits from Karl's parents. Hopefully I will get around to posting some of the great pictures.
We are having a quiet Monday afternoon at home. It is really windy (big surprise) so we are trapped inside. Micah is playing with his cars and Matt with Star Wars figures. Poor Matt spent over 5 minutes lining up all his "men" only to have his little brother attack them! Chaos!! Did I say we were having a "quiet" afternoon at home?

It Was Just Too Quiet!

This morning I was a little too "into" reading the directions and recipes for the food dehydrator I borrowed from my mom. I noticed it was too quiet. I went searching for the boys and found them climbing in the linen closet they had just emptied. BOYS!!!

Summer at Sea (not for the Stutels)

Just a reminder or perhaps new information...
My brother left for a semester at sea program a few day ago. He is keeping a journal of his daily adventures on his blog. Check it out if you have the chance. The link is listed on the right of this page (The Crane Files.)
We love you CC...have the time of your life!!

The effects of a s'more!

Pink Swim Cap Pic!

I had to add a picture of our cool pink swim caps from the Irom Girl Triathon!!

Iron Girl

I did it!! I completed my first triathon in at the Iron Girl Tri at Lake Las Vegas. I completed the event with Julie, Karl's buddy's wife, and her sister Joni. It was the first tri for all of us and we had a blast!

I finished 84/643 and am happy with this.

This was a sprint distance triathon with the swim being 800 meters, bike 30k and run 5k.

I had a great cheering crew! Thanks to everyone who supported us! I can't wait to do another one. Maybe next time I'll try a longer olympic distance race!

Spring Sing

We spent the morning hanging out at home in the backyard and enjoying the sun and absence of wind! It has been really windy the past week and we have not been outside much. We all needed to burn a little energy and soak in some vitamin D! Karl and I worked in the yard while the boys played and swam in in the play pool. Actually, Micah swam and Matt rode his bike in circles around the patio table! Karl ran out to pick up our produce box. When he returned we sat on the patio and ate sugar snap peas. Micah grabbed this carrot from the box and started chomping away at it! I love this picture of Matt and Emma, too bad it was taken facing the side of the backyard that didn't get new sod! In the pots are my grapes and raspberries. They are getting established in the pots this year and we will plant them next year! Yummy!

Matt the Rock Star had his first performance on Tuesday night at Spring Sing! His class sang two songs, Arky Arky and God is Good. To say he was excited would be an understatement. A few weeks ago Matt told me he was planning to stay on stage after his class finished singing and he would sing Twist and Shout by himself. I had to explain in a gentle way that Spring Sing was only a group performance and he would have to wait to solo another time! The kids did great and after they sang they got medals. Matt is so proud of his singing medal...just like dad's running medals!

Leona Divide 50

Karl did it! He completed his first ultra race! He finished the 50 mile trail run in 8 hours and 55 minutes. Karl's groupies (aka Andi, Matt, Micah, Louise, Luke, Don, Bill, Dawn, Myra, Max, and Vivian) hiked out the the 30 mile aide station to see Karl come through. Karl will post details of the run on his blog so check it out in a day or so. It was a long day for all of us! The boys and I came home for about an hour after seeing Karl at 30 miles then went out to to see him finish. It is 7:30pm and Karl is in bed with a fever and very tight/fatigued legs. The boys and I are chilling out watching "The Jungle Book." Good Night!!

Clay also completed the run! I'm glad they both finished healthy.

30 mile/Turn Around

Sod

BEFORE.....

AFTER!

Karl and Matt went to pick up the first load of sod around 7:30 Saturday morning. The fun began! It was (big surprise) REALLY windy so the boys didn't want to play outside. They got to chill inside while Karl and I got to work. We worked all day and the result is fairly satisfying! Karl and I decided to name our backyard "Elmer." Do you know the children's book about Elmer the patchwork elephant? I think that explains it! Once the new grass takes and it all grows and blends it should look good!

Matt and the Horse!

Okay, so 4 year olds crack me up too!
Today we walked the boys down the street from my sister's house to see some horses. Matt wanted to put his hand through the fence and pet one of the horses. I told him couldn't do that because we didn't know the horse and the horse didn't know us and I didn't want the horse to bite him. I could see the wheels turning in Matt's head...he then told me he thought the horse's name was Cinnamon. Then he turned to the horse and said, "Hi Cinnamon. I'm Matthew Stutelberg." He then turned to me and said, "So Mom, now the horse knows me and I know the horse, so can I pet him now?" I said "No, that was very clever but even though you and the horse are friends he may think your fingers are food. So, no you can't pet him."
What a goofy and clever kiddo!

Happy Easter