Growing Up...Rocks!

What's cooler than having one awesome teenager with a learner's license?

How about having TWO!

Matt turned 14 and was ordained a Teacher while Nana and Papa were here. Two days before they arrived, he took his Learner's test and passed! So, now it's a fight for the driver's seat...and I always lose. And, I'm okay with that. It's great to be chauffered around by one of two teenagers. Though now I do understand better why there are such things as grey hair, wrinkles and white knuckles...

Congrats Matt.

Road Runners

Sara and Hannah have been part of the Lakeview Running Club

for the past few months. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we went to school extra early and ran the predetermined distance - through ice, snow, rain and sometimes

sunshine! The school club had approximately 190 members this year. They have an amazing teacher

who organizes the kids every year to help them achieve their goal of running a marathon over the course of 12 weeks. Their final mile was last saturday. They ran so well! What an amazing accomplishment! They got to have Nana,

Kim, Patrick, Leah and Dillon

there as well to cheer them on! Before the Final Mile, there was a 5Km Family Run. Sara and Mom entered that. Sara ran it in under 25 minutes. Serious Stewart genes....She placed first in her age category! Good job girls! We are proud of you both. Your hard work has really paid off.

What a Choir!

Parker had his final performance with the LCI Chamber Choir last week. It was an amazing event! It was a little like Mr. Holland's Opus because it was Frank Gnandt's last time conducting the choir. They were fantastic! When the alumni surprised him and surrounded him for him to direct over 100 voices in unison, the church was charged with emotion. We are so glad that Parker had the opportunity to sing with such a great man and to learn from him. We were also glad that Nana and Papa could be out here for the event!

Konichiwa!

For those of us who are unable to travel to all the places in the world where we would like to go, we are fortunate to be able to have some of those places come to us. That's what happened here last weekend. Our good friend Deb asked if she could cook an authentic Japanese meal for ALL of us at our home. All of us included our running group plus all our families. In the end, about 30 people. (I wonder if she regretted her offer after she found out how many could come? :) ) She never complained about how much work it was, but it must have been a TON because there was a ton of food and it was divine! Her mom did help her out too (Thanks Mom!)- but would not come to the dinner. There were tempura veggies, chicken katsu, gyoza, fried rice, sushi, deep fried chicken, all the sauces and an amazing rice noodle and shrimp salad. We all loved it - even all the kids!

So, we haven't made it to Japan yet but we did get a taste of it. Literally. Thanks Deb and Mom and Sous Chef Sean!

Just an update...

He's home and had a fantastic time in Europe with lots of amazing stories. Easter Break is over. Square box planters are built. Everyone is back at school and work. The sun shone yesterday and we hit 20 degrees. Life's good. Just thought we'd fill you all in!