Anna just loves our new MINI convertible

We have loved our Audi TT Convertible but having only two seats meant it was incredibly impractical. So, we decided it was time to trade the car in on a new fun car but one with four seats. So, yesterday we became the proud owner of a MINI convertible – a 2007 Mini Cooper.

Anna laying in her tent in the backyard

We have been cleaning out our garage in preparation for our house renovations over the summer. During this process Anna has discovered a few things including her old tent. She was so thrilled to find it that she had Marcy put it up and find her sleeping bag so she could take “naps” in there. While she hasn’t slept the night in it she has been spending time there at every opportunity.

Anna with her new “clothes” she made – a paper vest and paper shoes

This morning Anna decided spontaneously that she would make some shoes out of paper and tape. She diligently cut out shapes and put them together. After making shoes she also made a vest, a hat as well as some glasses. Although the latter two did not last very long.

Jude working the weed whacker in the backyard

Today was spent around the house all day. In fact, we didn’t venture out in either car all day. We did some work around the house, went for a bike ride to the playground and watched the second Harry Potter movie. It was a lovely family day.

The first meal outside in our yard this year

What a difference a week makes. On Mother’s Day last weekend it was cold and snowy. Today, just seven days later it was in the 80’s. So, we took advantage of the summer like weather and had our first cookout of the year.  Marcy bought some delicious steaks and I cooked them on our charcoal grill.

Roasting marshmallows on the grill

But what the kids were most excited about was roasting marshmallows for dessert. It was the first time we had done this since moving in to our house late last summer. Marshmallows are pretty much Jude’s favorite food and Anna is a big fan as well.

Jude enjoying his S’mores tonight

The kids spent a lot of time outside this weekend. They both had their team sports – Anna with soccer on Saturday and Jude with flag football on Sunday. And they were in our backyard a ton. Marcy did a lot of yard work this weekend which always involves playing with the kids some as well.

Anna pretended she owned one of the places in Harry Potter. She was the owner of The Three Broomsticks, and she served butterbeer and gillywater to all comers. She also had some delicious chocolate cockroach clusters and bertie bott’s every flavor beans – these are all items from Harry Potter. She was very proud of her store as you can see below. The best part was that, after listening to hours of Harry Potter recordings, she serves these items with a distinct British accent.

Anna staffing her store, The Three Broomsticks, in our backyard

The big news this weekend was an email from our contractor. We are planning some pretty major renovations to our house over the summer – so major that we are packing everything in storage and moving out for a couple of months. Well, we received an email from our contractor last night that said they are running behind and will not be able to start on time.

This was a major setback and Marcy was particularly upset because she has been doing a ton of work getting our house ready to be packed up. We are going to look at other options but right now our plans are up in the air. We will see what this week brings.

Marcy and her mud-covered friends after the Spartan Race in Colorado Springs

This past week Marcy and I went our separate ways. I left for San Francisco for a week to put on the annual LendIt Conference. It was a big success with 950 people in attendance and it was an exhausting but rewarding experience. Meanwhile Marcy completed her first ever Spartan Race, which is basically a 4 mile run over an obstacle course covered in mud, and I mean completely covered in many places. I love the juxtaposition of these two photos here.

My friends and fellow organizers of the LendIt Conference after it wrapped up in San Francisco

Marcy’s parents drove out from Iowa to be here so that Marcy could compete in the race while I was away. Jude and Anna loved having their grandparents in town – they took them to a school walkathon and watched Jude play football. They also went and saw Marcy’s great aunt and cousin who live south of Denver.

Marcy’s family with her Aunt Jeanne and cousin Shari

On Friday Anna went to her friend Reed’s birthday party at Cheeseman Park and they flew kites. Anna loved it so much that on Saturday Marcy went out and bought kites for both kids. Jude’s kite was challenging getting going but Anna’s flew easily and she loved it – particularly the fact it was a Hello Kitty kite (this was not Marcy’s first choice but Costco did not have much of a selection).

Anna flying her new kite at the park in Stapleton

Today was Mother’s Day and it was a cold and snowy day here in Denver. I made pancakes for breakfast and then Marcy wanted to go to a family yoga class which was great. Then it was back home to watch the first Harry Potter movie while Marcy baked cookies. We had a lazy afternoon with some chess. Then it was Indian takeout for dinner. Marcy had a nice day, I think, despite the weather.

Playing some chess by the fire on a cold and snowy Mother’s Day

Finally, I just want to mention my mother. She passed away three weeks ago so this was obviously my first Mother’s Day without her. She was never far from my thoughts today and I often felt her sweet and loving presence. I told the kids that this Mother’s Day would be a difficult one for me and they have been great about it. At dinner tonight Jude proposed a toast to my mum and I just loved that he was that thoughtful. Happy Mother’s Day to you mum, I really miss you.