Anna doing bridge and about to put one leg in the air at gymnastics camp

This week week both kids were in camp – Jude in a half day soccer camp and Anna in a full day gymnastics camp. They both absolutely loved these camps. Jude was one of the best players in his soccer camp and he got to play with some English soccer coaches. Anna learned lots of new moves in gymnastic camp and also made new friends.

Getting ready for the swim in the Lone Tree triathlon

Yesterday, we got up bright and early to drive south to Lone Tree for a kids triathlon. It was their third triathlon and they were looking forward to it. Jude went in the 8-9 year old group and he did great. He really pushed himself hard almost to the point of exhaustion as he had the competitive juices flowing. He ended up coming second overall and he said “it was the greatest athletic achievement of his life”. He was clearly very pleased.

Jude determined to do well as he starts the bike leg

Anna was in the 6-7 year old wave and was also one of the strongest racers. Her triathlon was half the length of the 8-9 year olds but it was still a major workout for Anna.

About to take off on the swim leg at the start of the race

Jude went to meet Anna on the run and cheer her on. We also cheered her on but she was really tired at the end. But she was a trooper and came in 5th girl and 8th overall. She is not as competitive as Jude but she was happy.

Our champion triathletes

Both kids had a full day after their triathlon. Jude went to play with some school friends that turned into an all day outing with even more biking and swimming, and Anna celebrated a birthday with some of her own school friends at a neighborhood pool.

Then this morning we were up bright and early again as we drove to Kansas City. We are on our way to our annual Iowa summer trip but Marcy is looking to buy a new car after selling the Mini. There are two Ford Explorers in Kansas City and we met the dealer this afternoon and drove them both. So we are spending the night here and Marcy will try to buy one of them tomorrow.

Anna getting a turn in the front seat on the car ride to Kansas City

Anna has her coffee (decaf) and she is good to go for the swim meet at 7am.

I have spent most of the last two weeks in China for our first LendIt China Conference, just getting back Wednesday afternoon last week. I was away for 12 days and I missed everyone terribly. Marcy surprised me by bringing the kids to the airport to meet me which was such a treat.

Both Jude and Anna are on swim team this summer and the past two Sundays there have been swim meets. Today, we were hosting one at JCC so both Marcy and I volunteered to help out. Both kids enjoyed the meet and it was such a nice day we stayed at the pool for a couple of hours afterwards.

Jude enjoying a post swim meet Gatorade

On Saturday Jude and I went to the robot exhibit at the museum. Everyone else had been before and loved it and Jude was keen to go back and see it. It was pretty cool with a robot soccer game, climbing robots, self-driving cars, drones and more.

Jude gets up on stage at the robot exhibit and tries to blow a small drone aways

While Jude and I were at the museum Marcy and Anna had a little hairstyle and mani/pedi party at home. Anna painted Marcy’s nails and brushed and styled her hair, and vice versa.

Anna painting Marcy’s nails

Jude had no camps this past week but Anna had a half-day art camp which she loved. She would be happy to be on camps the entire summer and Jude would be happy to stay home all summer. We have come to a happy medium with some camps for both kids.

At the Peace Hotel in Shanghai with the 2nd tallest building in the world in the background

Twister was a big hit with the kids this week

We have had a great week on the annual July 4 trip to Keystone. The Dahlen’s came out for the week, unfortunately Baba and Grandpa had to stay home, and it has been a wonderful time. The five cousins have all played really well together and for the most part the weather has been great.

Getting ready for the start of the Keystone July 4 bike parade

The annual July 4 bike parade is always one of the highlights and this year all 5 kids rode their bikes over to participate. Ella decided to watch from the sidelines but everyone else rode in the parade. And after about we had to demand Jude stop otherwise I think he would have kept going all day.

Jude feeding the ducks at Keystone Lake

We also spent some time at the lake – it is an easy ride on the bikes now for everyone. The fish and the ducks have been hungry, Jude and Lily went on a paddleboat ride and Anna went in a kayak by herself for the first time.

Anna going for her first solo kayak paddle on Keystone Lake

One of the highlights of the week in Keystone for the kids is camp at the Keystone Science School. This year, for the first time, we had all five kids enrolled in camp. They have all enjoyed it but it has also meant that the grownups could do what we pleased this week. This has meant lots of golf for Nathan and I with Marcy and Mandy doing yoga classes, walks, reading and relaxing.

All five kids on the first morning of camp

Once again this year I have to leave a day early to head to China for our conference there. But it has been a great week that we have all enjoyed.

Anna and the twins playing by the river

Sunset in Paris

The last two weeks have been quite something. Somewhat on the spur of the moment we decided that Marcy should accompany me to France on my latest business trip. I had a couple of days in Cannes on the French Riviera and then a few days in Paris that included a weekend. We had plenty of miles and work was paying for everything so we booked a ticket for Marcy. Then the kids got to spend a week at Baba and Grandpa’s house in Iowa.

Being spoiled by Baba with pancakes, cream and sprinkles for breakfast

Marcy flew to Iowa with the kids and I flew directly to Nice, France where Marcy joined me the next day. We spent two days in Cannes attending the incredible Cannes Lions show and spending some time on the beach. We also had a formal dinner to go to while we were there with some of my business associates. It was great to be by the beach again.

At the beach in Cannes on the French Riviera

Then it was a train to Paris where I had one meeting Friday afternoon and then we had the entire weekend to ourselves. On Friday night we went for a walk from our hotel to the Eiffel Tower, about 3 miles. The sun doesn’t set until 10pm this time of year so we wandered around well into the night.

Saturday was our one full day together in Paris and we made the most of it. We got a day pass to their bike sharing program and rode bikes all over the city. We went to the Pantheon, a spectacular mausoleum where many famous French people are buried. We walked around the Latin Quarter, climbed the Arc de Triomphe, visited the Rodin Museum and then had dinner in a lovely cafe down an alley in the Latin Quarter. We finished the day in a pub watching soccer – as the European Championships were on in Paris.

Pool play with the twins

Meanwhile back in Iowa this kids were having a blast. They were getting lots of pool time and with Lily away on camp they got to play with the twins a lot. Baba took Jude and Anna to the baseball game where Jude won a t-shirt that was thrown into the crowd. It has become his new favorite pajamas, he wears it every night.

The proud new owner of an Iowa Cubs t-shirt

Marcy flew back to Iowa on Sunday night and then on Monday back to Denver with the kids. They have had camp this week with Anna in Math Camp and Jude in a Money Matters camp at the local Young Americans Bank. Both have enjoyed it immensely. Now, we are getting ready to head up to the mountains for our annual July 4 week.