We Did It!!

We successfully completed the 2008 Gold Nugget Triathlon!! It was a 500 meter swim, 10 mile bike and 4.1 mile run. I went down to Anchorage with Rachelle and Ellen but there were 9 women from Delta that particpated and 1400 women total!! We had a great time and were all pretty happy with our times but of course we are all talking about the ways we could have shaved off time. This is a great race for beginners, there are all ages from 6-80 and every shape and size of woman you can imagine. Some ladies are very competive then there are others just out for fun and excercise. Everyone is super supportive, racers cheering each other on along the course and there are tons of spectators also cheering.


Pre-race photo, we caught up with Sam at the bike drop-off.


1400 bikes!! The race officials did a fantastic job, everything was extremely clear and ran very smoothly.

The first ladies were in the pool at 9am the last in around 3:30, thats a long day for the volunteers.
We did it!!

Delta's triathetes!! (Lynetta and Sam were missing from the photo). A special congrats goes to Cindy- she finished 51st, just 15 minutes behind the winner!! If she would have traded in her Huffy for a real bike she would have been right in there!!

I saw this guy near the finish line with a bouquet of flowers for his racer...aww, isn't he sweet!

Not much left.. man it would be a bummer to have been the last person out of the pool!!

Well, there is another tri at Chena lakes in late July, we are thinking about doing it. It is about the same distance but it is a mass start and an open water swim- definately more intimidating. We need some motivation to keep up the training.

All you ladies reading this should put next years Gold Nugget on your calendar!!

The New Arrivals

Big excitement on the old homestead...the baby chicks arrived- 4 layers, 2 turkeys and 15 meat birds.

But even more exciting was the arrival of Cali's beautiful baby boy!!! I was laying in bed saturday morning and heard Cali making noise so we got up and ran out just in time to see the little one being delivered. Here is he is within an hour of being born, so CUTE!!!

He was up and on his feet within 30-45 minutes and was trying to nurse but not quite getting it. I had to help get him looking in the right spot and help get Cali to stand still for him. I named him Nugget because I was supposed to be leaving for the Gold Nugget Triathlon, our departure was delayed until he was all settled in.

Wyatt has a new buddy :)

Cali has been a great mom, she is very protective of little Nugget especially when the dogs are around. She won't let him get more than three steps away from her. In these pictures he is about 4 days old.

Did I mention how dang cute he is?

Nice Day for a Picnic

Sara invited us over for a pizza picnic in the woods. It was a great day and the boys had a blast eating pizza, climbing hills, picking grass and of course playing on anything with wheels. The Moms enjoyed just sitting back and watching the boys play.


Torsten is getting so big now!

The Brewmaster

After about a 10 year break, Jeff has taken up brewing again. His first batch, a Nut Brown Ale, was a huge success. He just got done bottling his second, an IPA, and we can't wait to try it out. Stop by for a beer sometime, we have plenty!


The 12th was also Jeff's Birthday. His buddy John got him this sporty little helicopter. Sounds like John and his co-workers spend most of their time at work flying one just like it around his office, no wonder why so much of our state burns every summer (John works for Forestry).

Boys will be boys!!

The Simple Pleasures

We are all so happy to be outside again!!



Sometimes its hard to get pictures of Wyatt becuase he usually comes running for the camera as soon as he sees it. I just barely got this one :)



I couldn't help but take about a million pictures of Wyatt last week as he was playing in the puddles and picking up rocks, ah...to be a kid again. I had a blast just standing by and watching him explore.





We really do have to watch this kid now, he can certainly cover some ground and doesn't seem concerned at all about being too far from Mama and Papa. Jeff and I watched him take off down the trail behind our house, we kinda let him go to see how far he would actually go. We finally went to catch him and I got around the corner all that I saw was his little hat laying in the trail...he was still cruising off on some sort of a mission. Scary!!

Clearwater Float

May 3rd was the 10th (?) Annual Clearwater Float. As always a good time was had by all and not as always, the weather was wonderful!


Jeff hiked in from our house with Wyatt, so I had the pleasure of paddling with the lovely Lauren. She also makes super yummy cookies, a very good quality in a paddle partner!


Greg and Rachelle breaking in their brand new boat, it floats.


The floatilla.
Dan, Adrian and Inai loading up.

The Sweeties relaxing at camp.

Enjoying the view from the top of the bluff.

The mosquitos love that soft, sweet baby skin :(

The Pax flowers were in full bloom :)

Halla and Wyatt became fast friends.
When we got into camp Jeff and Dan put out a couple Burbot sets and had this one on the line the next morning.

Wyatt actually made quite a few friends this weekend, he seems to be getting a little bit better about his separation anxiety. He also did pretty well in the tent but he was up WAY past his bedtime.

Ready to head out the next morning. Everyone was waiting on Lauren and I :)

We spent most of the second day floating leisurely with the boats rafted up together, sharing snacks and enjoying each others company.

Just at the end of the trip it started to rain but just about when everyone got all thier rain gear on it let up.

Inai was the only dog on the trip, which is pretty strange for this group, there are usually more dogs than people. I guess we went for quality not quantity this time (no offense to Mancha, Nellie and Tecate) but Inai is awfully cute!