What a handsome young man all dressed up for Cotillion

Today Jude started Cotillion classes. This is a class for 4th graders (they have other ages but you have to be in at least 4th grade) where they learn manners, social graces, etiquette, respect and formal dancing and dining. Marcy discovered this while talking with a mom of a boy on Jude’s soccer team and we decided it would be great for Jude. He has been complaining about having to go but he was a good sport and did it anyway. I think it helped to have a friend who was also doing it – one of his classmates from school.

It is a six week course on Sunday afternoons and now that football season is over our Sundays are wide open. While Jude didn’t have great things to say about his first class by the way he talked we could tell he enjoyed it. So far, it seems to be quite a confidence builder. One of our hopes for both kids is that they are comfortable in their own skin. As they begin to navigate the awkward tween and teen years, this class looked like a good opportunity to learn how to manage social situations. These lessons are better received from people other than us.

The kids had this week off school so on Wednesday night (after Jude’s soccer practice) we drove up to Keystone to stay for a few days. The snow had been great with Keystone having one of their best years in a long time.

Anna on a pile of snow at the bottom of Keystone Mountain

The kids skied with Marcy on Thursday, went ice skating on Friday and then all of us went skiing on Saturday. It was really cold but the snow was pretty good. While both Jude and Anna are excellent skiers Saturday was not a great day. We took them down a run that was a little beyond them and they both got very upset and ended up taking their skis off and sliding down the last part of the run. They were both very unhappy with us. That and the bitter cold made for a relatively short ski day.

Anna showing off her new tennis racquet (and the no shoe look)

Somehow we lost Jude and Anna’s tennis racquets after last summer so we bought them new ones this month. The old racquets were probably getting too small for them anyway. Anna was so excited when the box showed up she wanted to go and hit the ball around right away. The courts at South High School are just a five minute walk away so we went down there to test out the new racquets.

Anna wearing her Valentine’s Day gift to all of us

Tuesday was Valentine’s Day and Anna was the most excited person in the house for this holiday. She had made this elaborate “paper dress” that she had hidden in the basement and she brought it out on the big day – it was a present for all of us. She has such a sweet heart and she does love her family.

Having a little picnic in the park

One afternoon this week Anna decided she wanted to have a picnic in the park. So, she packed up a basket with some snacks and headed down to the park. One of the many things we love about our new house is that it is only three doors down from the park. Anyway, she took my umbrella and had a little picnic. She was soon joined by some of the neighbor kids and they had some fun climbing the trees.

Anna with one of the DU gymnasts

On Saturday night Jude had one of his school friends over for a sleepover. I took both boys our to a local sports bar for dinner while Anna and Marcy went to the DU gymnastics meet. Anna now goes to gymnastics class there and she was really impressed by how good the DU gymnasts were. She especially liked being able to mingle with them afterwards and get their autographs.

Valentine’s Day shopping

Anna is very much into Valentine’s Day this year. She bought her best friend a friendship gift and she has been making Valentines all week it seems. They have to make two Valentines for school, one to give out to someone in the class and another to someone not in the class but who could really use some cheering up. Anna is very excited for Tuesday.

A spontaneous outfit Anna tried on before bed

We had the warmest day of the year so far on Friday, it was almost 80 degrees here in Denver. It was so warm that we decided after dinner to go for a walk around the park. It was also a full moon which made for a beautiful evening outing.

Anna trying to climb a tree on our warm evening walk

Despite the fact that the Superbowl is behind us and football season is completely over, in Jude’s bedroom it lives on. He has played at least a dozen “Superbowls” with his football helmets this past week. This is an “eenie-meanie-minie-mo” game where he pits teams against each other in a modified playoff format. He will then record the Superbowl on a sheet of paper, drawing the logos of both teams and signifying who won. This game has provided literally hundreds of hours of entertainment for Jude over the past year and his interest in it shows no signs of waning.

Jude with his football helmets about to start a new “season”

On Saturday while Jude was playing at a friend’s house Marcy took Anna shopping. They only do this occasionally, but Anna just loves it. She loves trying on new clothes and accessories and this time Anna came home with a new outfit (not these sunglasses though).

Trying on matching sunglasses on their Saturday shopping excursion

Anna takes a selfie just before the Superbowl party starts

The highlight of the week was our annual Superbowl Party. Jude was talking about it all week and he was so excited when the day finally came. He had some friends over from school and we had our regular crowd. I cooked chili most of Sunday and Marcy made the house look perfect as well as baking the best brownies in the world. Anna was in charge of decorations – she blew up about 20 balloon and put streamers all around the house.

While most of the party didn’t like the final outcome it was a great game and it was good to see an exciting finish. Not much else happened this week. The weather was beautiful this weekend so we spent a bit of time outside but the main focus for Marcy and I was getting everything ready for the Superbowl party.

Anna showing her fashion style