Jude and Anna in the hammock on our back porch

This week’s post covers the past two weeks. Last Sunday was Father’s Day and it was a lovely day. We went for a bike ride and played some tennis in the morning and in the afternoon I watched the US Open golf. The kids even joined me for an hour or so. Then Marcy cooked a great dinner which we all ate outside.

Playing golf in the backyard on Father’s Day

Having dinner outside on Father’s Day

Robyn and Mark bought Marcy and I a hammock for our wedding over 10 years ago. We have been meaning to use it and so when I was away in London before Father’s Day Marcy bought a hammock stand and put it up on our back porch. It was my Father’s Day present and it is so incredibly comfortable. I have to often compete with the kids as to who gets to use it.

Jude and Graham (our next door neighbor) wrestle in the front yard

One of the good things about this summer so far is that the kids have been spending a lot of time with our neighbors. Every day we are home they play together and for the most part they all get along great. Graham is six and looks up to Jude, but Anna also joins in most games and loves spending time with them. It is a shame they are going to be moving soon.

Jude getting ready for his next race at the swim meet

Today was the first ever swim meet for Jude and Anna. They both wanted to join the JCC swim team and so they have been going to training a couple of afternoons every week. They were both a little apprehensive about their first swim meet but they ended up having a great time. They both swam well, tried hard and enjoyed themselves.

Anna in her freestyle race at her first swim meet

Anna with her Kindergarten graduation cape

Tuesday of this past week was a special day for Anna – her graduation from Kindergarten. It seems like she has been in Morning Glory forever. She has actually been a student there the past two years but with Jude in this same class the two years before that she has been around this class for four years. But she was thrilled to be moving on to first grade – she is ready.

They had a beautiful graduation ceremony where each child sat in the front of the class and showed off the weavings they had made. The teacher then told a few anecdotes and gave each child a “graduation cape”.

On a Jude and Daddy date hiking on Green Mountain

Jude had one extra day of school, finishing on Wednesday. Then, on the first day of summer vacation I woke Jude up early (at 5:30am) and went on a Jude and Daddy date. It was Jude’s choice to do this hike and he loved it. We did an hour hike around Green Mountain and then to breakfast at Snooze, Jude’s favorite breakfast place. The hike was gorgeous. With all the rain we have had the mountain was truly green and the wildflowers were out in full force.

On Friday we headed up to Keystone for the weekend. It was our first visit for several months and the reason for going up was that Marcy was doing a Spartan Race in Breckenridge on Saturday. A Spartan race is an obstacle course that involves ropes, walls, water, mud, fire and this case snow and some pretty severe elevation changes. Marcy and her friends were doing the “Beast” – the longest course at almost 13 miles and 30+ obstacles.

Rachel, Marcy & Tina – the night before the “Beast”

Friday night we all went up to the top of Keystone Mountain for dinner and to enjoy the views. It was the first time they had Friday Afternoon Club this year and with pretty decent weather we gave it a try. While it was a little chilly the kids as well as the grownups all had a great time.

Jude running in the Kids Spartan race

Saturday, it was over to Breckenridge for the Spartan Race. Jude and Anna were enrolled in the kids race which was a half-mile version of the Spartan obstacle course. They had to maneuver over fences, crawl through the mud, throw a spear and run. Jude was very determined to do well and he ended up coming in sixth place for his race. Anna also did very well in the race.

Anna going over an obstacle during the kids Spartan race

Anna, Griffin, Jude and Brody- muddy kids after their Spartan race

We had Marcy’s friend, Tina, and her family staying with us for the weekend. Their kids also went in the Spartan kids race. After their race we saw the mom’s off on the Beast and then we all went over to Peak 7 at Breckenridge where they have the kids area. The race is not much of a spectator sport as everyone goes off up the mountain on the obstacle course and we knew we wouldn’t see Marcy and her friends again for several hours. So, we had lunch and the kids went on the roller coaster there before lightning closed everything down.

Marcy gives Anna & Jude thumbs up just before she finishes the Beast

We then went to the finish line of the Spartan course and waited. After about an hour or so we spotted Marcy coming in looking pretty good considering everything she had been through. The kids and I cheered her on over the last few obstacles, which were all extremely challenging. Marcy just got done when the race had a long lightning delay. So, we didn’t see Tina and Rachel for some time.

Eventually, everyone made it in and we had some elated but very tired racers. I was really proud of Marcy. She had been feeling a little under the weather the couple of days before the race but she came through the race feeling strong. I am sure she will be sore for a few days but she had a blast and wants to do it again next year.

Tina and Marcy – what an effort

Anna doing great on the climbing wall at REI

We had quite the active weekend. It started off on Saturday morning with a trip to REI. I have been in need a new bike for some time and now that I am biking to work quite a lot I decided it was time.

One of the great things about a trip to REI is their climbing wall. Members get to climb for free and we have been wanting to do this for a long time. Jude and Anna both did really well on the wall. Anna eschewed the beginner route, going for something more challenging, and she still made it all the way to the top. Jude needed a climb a little more challenging than Anna and he made it up with relative ease.

We watched Star Wars (Episode IV) on Saturday afternoon and then we all hopped on our bikes (I had my new bike) to ride to a friends party.

Anna and Jude running down the Mt. Galbraith trail just outside Golden

Sunday we decided to enjoy the gorgeous weather and head to the mountains for a family hike – our first one of the year. It was just under a 3 mile hike and the kids did really well. They had enough energy that they actually ran the whole way back to the car – we couldn’t keep up with them.

Jude showing his determination trying to score a touchdown

After hiking we drove straight to Jude’s flag football game. It was his last game of the season and it was his best game ever. He scored one rushing touchdown and would have had another if not for a poor refereeing decision. But most importantly he enjoyed himself and he said he would like to play again in the fall.

Gray blankie has been relegated to the window sill in our closet

The biggest news of the week was Anna’s appointment with the speech therapist – we went to see her to start the process of weening Anna from her thumb sucking. This person was someone recommended by Anna’s kindergarten teacher and she was amazing. Since the appointment Anna has not sucked her thumb once. Not even for a second. She gave Anna a whole kit of stuff to support her in this process and Anna has had to call her every morning to check in with her.

While it has been a difficult process for Anna, she has done remarkably well. I expected going cold turkey like this after 6 1/2 years of sucking her thumb would mean many sleepless nights. But that has not been the case. This is why we have the photo of blankie here because while Anna is going through this process blankie needs to be out of sight.