Visiting Sunflower farm on a school trip

This week Anna’s second grade class went to Sunflower farm, a trip that they do every year. Marcy went with them and Anna got to pet the cow, played with chickens, did a zip-line and rode on a tractor.

Friday was the annual Halloween Journey festival at school and all the kids got to dress up in costume and play fun games. Jude dressed up his blue balloon man outfit which has its own built in compressor so he looks like a big balloon. Anna dressed up as Harry Potter.

At the school Harvest Festival dressed as Harry Potter

This weekend was mainly about soccer. On Saturday Anna had two games and Jude had one game that took up the entire morning. Sunday, Jude had a soccer tournament where he played four times in short 25 minute games. Jude did well, scoring his first two goals of the season – one each day.

Anna practicing before her game started on Saturday morning

During a break from the soccer we went to the pumpkin patch to pick up some pumpkins. Then Jude and Anna carved their pumpkins, something they have done every year. Marcy commented that this is really the first year that she has not really helped at all – the kids did it almost completely by themselves.

Carving pumpkins the day before Halloween

Jude’s official school photo for 2016-17 year

We received the school photos this week. While I know I am biased aren’t they just the cutest kids you have ever seen.

Anna’s official school photo for 2016-17 year

After our busy trip away it was good to have a normal weekend. Although Saturday was a little crazy with Jude playing soccer in Colorado Springs and Anna having a double header with her team in Denver. We had to go our separate ways and it took up most of Saturday.

Jude’s soccer game in Colorado Springs had a beautiful view of the mountains

Today we talked about doing some kind of outing but we ended up staying around the house all day. Jude had lots of homework to do and they both had their chores. With no Broncos or Packers game today we had the whole day free. Marcy and I filled out our voting ballots and we all got caught up on stuff around the house.

Anna raked some leaves and enjoyed playing in her big pile

Anna’s birthday cake in our Orlando hotel room

It was delayed a week because of the hurricane but we made it to Orlando for our trip to Harry Potter World. I came straight from London, having just finished our LendIt Europe conference. I met up with everyone on Thursday night. Then on Friday we went to Universal and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Both Jude and Anna were excited. It was nice to see Jude get into being a kid again after shunning most childlike things over the previous few months. Harry Potter world is divided into two parts. There is Diagon Alley where all the wizarding stores are and then there is Hogsmeade with the Hogwarts School. They are connected by the Hogwarts Express which you take from Kings Cross Station just like Harry did in the books.

Waiting for the Hogwarts Express on platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station

The favorite attraction for the kids was Hogwarts. It was really cool with a giant replica of the building from the movies with many of the rooms as well. Then there was a great ride that we all loved where you essentially get to fly around with Harry and Ron and even get involved in a Quidditch match. We did that ride about 7 times.

There was also many roller coasters and the rest of Universal Studios to explore. We did a little of this but we spent most of our time in Harry Potter World. The good thing is that the height cutoff was 48″ for most of the rides and Anna is now 49″ – it was only the crazy roller coasters that she couldn’t go on. But they both enjoyed the Hippogriff roller coaster outside Hogwarts.

Riding the Hippogriff roller coaster together

Universal was really crowded every day and so we decided on Sunday to rent a car and go to the beach. We drove to New Smyrna Beach where Marcy was able to see the house where her Uncle Lynn and Aunt Judy lived (and where she lived one summer). We then went down to the beach which was nice although the water was not that clean because of the recent hurricane. But give our kids sand and water and they enjoy themselves.

On the beach at New Smyrna

On the last day the kids got to buy the special gifts that they had decided on. Jude chose the chess set – it is based on the chess pieces in the first movie. They are very ornate and he loved them. He and Anna played with them on the last night in Florida. Anna decided to get the quills and ink so she can practice her penmanship.

Playing chess by the hotel pool on the last night

Anna waking up to a table full of presents on her birthday

We were supposed to be in Florida this weekend. But the first hurricane to hit Central Florida in 11 years changed our plans. Anna was initially very upset but we just delayed our vacation a week and she got to spend her birthday at home.

Anna was so excited to be turning 8. She had her birthday celebration at school on Thursday and then finally the big day came on Friday. Anna woke up to a table full of presents as you can see here. Then Marcy and I took her out of school for a special birthday lunch at Park Burger.

Anna’s birthday cheesecake

Marcy had made a cheesecake at Anna’s request instead of a birthday cake. So, we had the neighbor kids come over and sing her happy birthday and have some cake. That evening Anna decided we would order pizza and watch the Sound of Music in the basement.

Speaking of our neighbors, it was a something of a bittersweet day on Friday. Our kids and their kids have become great buddies over the last 3+ years. And Friday was their last day in their new house. They are moving and we are all sad.

Our neighbors spent so many hours on our playground but now they are moving

The other big news this week is that we will be moving soon as well. We placed an offer on a house in Wash Park and it has been accepted. We just have to sell our house first – it went on the market on Friday night and we already have had a few showings.

The funny thing is that we had just decided to stay put for a while after thinking about it very seriously when we found out our neighbors were moving. But Marcy was still getting the emails of new houses when they came on the market – this one came up and we both loved it.

If all goes well we will be moving at the beginning of November. And so far so good. We are already under contract to sell our house for full price, in less than 48 hours after it was listed.

Jude on the attack

It was quite the week. While I flew out to New York early on Monday morning for four days Marcy had to deal with sick kids. Jude woke up Monday with a bad cough and didn’t go to school for two days. Then by Thursday Anna had caught it and she had to stay away. But they both made a good enough recovery to be in their school Michaelmas play on Friday.

At the end of the school Michaelmas play singing the chorus together

Jude was pretty much better by Tuesday afternoon, though he did have to miss soccer practice. And then on Wednesday they had a class field trip to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs which Jude really enjoyed.

Anna in her new birthday dress at the 2nd grade fall birthday party

Marcy’s parents came out this week for a special Grandparents Day celebration at the school, which included the Michaelmas play. Then Jude had the first of his three soccer games on Friday night which they came along to. Then today, we had Anna’s birthday celebration. The second grade had a joint celebration for all the fall birthdays, including Anna.

Jude discovered a small snake at the Botanic Gardens in Chatfield

We all drove out to the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield south of Denver. They had a corn maze and the kids all spent some time wandering around in there. They also had a bounce house and other fun kids activities.

Anna’s birthday month has arrived and we allowed her to open her presents from Sydney as well as something from us. She loved all her clothes and was excited to try them on.

Anna in her new mermaid blanket that we bought her for her birthday

Finally, tonight after starting book 1 more than 2 1/2 years ago we read the final pages of book 7 of the Harry Potter series. Just in time for our trip to Harry Potter world in Florida for Anna’s birthday.