Anna in her hyena outfit for her school play

On Friday afternoon I left work early to head to school for Anna’s second grade play. It was called, “Who’s in Rabbit’s House?” and the kids were all excited about performing it for the parents. They had already done several performances for other grades in the school and this was their finale. Anna did really well and enjoyed acting as a hyena on the prowl.

Anna showing her snowboarding skills on the sledding hill by our house

They had been talking about this Saturday snow storm all week here in Denver. On Friday night we had a parents night with the fourth grade. It had started snowing by the time we left the party and it continued to come down all night and throughout the day on Saturday. Soccer was obviously canceled so we spent most of the day at home.

As happens most of the time after a snowstorm here we awoke on Sunday to beautiful clear skies. Many of the neighborhood kids had gathered at the sledding hill by our house and had sleds and snowboards out. Anna put her ski pants on over her nice dress and joined them for about an hour. Jude decided to stay home to watch the Arsenal game on TV, and save his energy for the main event of the day: ninjas.

Jude and David enjoying themselves on the obstacle course

Sunday afternoon was spent at DU in their main area. The Wolfpack Ninja Warriors were in town and they had lessons, demonstrations and a competition. Basically, it is an obstacle course with all kinds of challenging exercises. Marcy signed up Jude and Anna for the kids program and some of their classmates joined in as well. We all walked over from our house to the arena. They all had a great time doing the obstacles. Jude was particularly obsessed with this one climbing wall where you had to run and jump to try and get to the top. He spent literally an hour non stop on this exercise.

Jude focused on making it up the wall

Anna had two friends from school there who actually watched the TV show and who knew many of the pro athletes. They recognized many people and all the stars were gracious enough to pose for photos with the girls. Anna also saw the person she met when she went to a demonstration about a year ago.

Anna showing her strength and skill on the climbing log

Anna and Riley go to their first baking class

The kids went back to school on Wednesday with just over five weeks left until summer break. Both kids were happy to be returning to school.

We had a pretty busy weekend. Saturday morning we had a meeting with the 4th grade parents at school. Then Jude had a soccer game about an hour’s drive north in Longmont. Anna was supposed to have a soccer game in Denver but it was canceled after we had a bit of rain Friday night. Then we went to Marcy’s gym to workout and then it was out to dinner at a local burger place.

On the roof of Marcy’s work with beautiful views of the mountains

Sunday morning Anna had a baking class with one of her friends from school. Marcy and Anna rode their bikes to the class while Jude and I stayed home to watch the FA Cup semi final with Arsenal and Manchester City (Arsenal won 2-1). Anna made some cupcakes and a delicious apple strudel. And she tried her hand at chocolate cake when she arrived home.

Sunday afternoon Jude had his final cotillion class for the year. This was a special event downtown at the Brown Palace Hotel. All the family was invited except for younger siblings which was disappointing for Anna although she ended up having a makeup soccer game so it worked out ok.

At the Brown Palace Hotel about to start the final cotillion class

Jude has not loved cotillion but he has been a good sport about it for the most part. The final cotillion class was a dance. The kids all danced together for a while showing off the moves they have learned during the class. Then the parents were invited to join in and Jude danced with Marcy for a while. Jude did not really love the dancing part, even with Marcy, but he did everything just the same, and by the last dance they were laughing and having fun.

Jude and Marcy on the Cotillion dance floor

Hiking at Mt. Falcon during Spring Break

The kids were off school this week on Spring Break. Marcy planned very little for the week, as we were all looking forward to slowing down for a while. There was a hike up Mt. Falcon, and a couple sleepovers, Anna went to a birthday party and of course, there was the usual week time activity of soccer practice (twice a week for both kids) and gymnastics and sewing classes for Anna. I was home on Tuesday so I hung out with them a bit and took them to lunch while Marcy went to work.

The annual ritual of dyeing Easter Eggs…with Jude being goofy

Then, of course, there was Easter. Both kids were as excited as ever for Easter. Anna made some presents for all of us and on Saturday they got out all the dye and spent the morning decorating Easter eggs.

On an Anna and Daddy date at Red Rocks

Saturday afternoon I took Anna on one of our “Anna and Daddy” dates. It had been a long time and Anna decided that she wanted to go hike at Red Rocks and then go to Casa Bonita for dinner. This was the same thing we did a couple of years ago when Anna first went to Casa Bonita – this is the restaurant where they have the cliff divers. We got there early (around 5pm) to avoid the long lines and Anna had a blast as always.

Jude focused on filling his basket in our backyard Easter Eggs hunt

Easter morning arrived and the kids were quite excited. They had a full Easter basket by the fireplace with all kinds of goodies Marcy had picked up. After a wholesome breakfast it was time for the Easter Egg hunt in the backyard. There were dozens of eggs in the backyard, enough for several baskets full. Both kids were focused on filling their baskets as quickly as they could.

All the Easter Eggs lay open on the dining room table – chocolate and cash abounds

The rest of Easter Sunday was spent playing in the park and working in the yard. While Jude and I played Frisbee with the neighbors Marcy and Anna went to the store to get some plants. We didn’t really like what the builder had done and many of our shrubs were dead and dying. So we ripped them up and planted some new ones.

Jude on the attack

Today marked the official beginning of the Spring soccer season with both kids having multiple games this weekend. Jude had a game each on Saturday and Sunday while Anna had two games yesterday. Jude’s drew one game and lost the other while Anna’s team lost one and won the other. But more importantly they both had a blast. Anna particularly is enjoying soccer much more this year. She is on a new team with some of the girls in her class and loves it.

Anna playing her first game of the season

Jude and Anna have been playing soccer in the backyard quite a bit the last couple of weeks. Jude has even been giving Anna some instructions which she really appreciates. It makes a nice change from the bickering that has become a big part of their interactions lately.

On the big blue bear’s paw outside the convention center

This morning we went to the annual Denver Car Show. This has become an annual tradition where I take the kids to see all the cars. Jude loves the sports cars while Anna likes to sit in pretty much any new car. We were only able to stay for a an hour and a half because we had to get Jude to his soccer game.

Sitting in the back of a new Ford F-150 pickup

This afternoon I watched my favorite TV show of the year – the Masters golf tournament. I had to watch the recording because of Jude’s soccer match but it was a fantastic day. I even got Jude all excited about it, he watched many hours of golf with me this weekend. We were all rooting for Sergio and Jude got so nervous at the end that he kept pacing around the room. Even Marcy and Anna watched the final holes and we all cheered when Sergio got it done.

At Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

We have never been as a family to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. In fact, in 25 years in Colorado I had never been at all. Jude and Marcy went on a field trip earlier in the school year so today it was a crisp Spring day and so we decided to do an afternoon road trip. It is only an hour’s drive from our place.

Jude and Anna love to climb on the rocks

It really is a spectacular place, many of the rock formations are stunning. The only drawback is there is very limited places for climbing. You need ropes and a permit if you want to climb most of the rocks. We did find one area where the kids could climb a bit which was moderately satisfying for them. But they really wanted to just try to climb up the steep rock faces.

Jude really wanted to climb this rock

We spent a couple of hours just wandering around one of the main areas of the park on a paved path and then it was back home in time for dinner.

Anna liked jumping off the rocks

Not much else happened this weekend. Anna had a birthday party on Saturday and we went to see the senior project presentations at the school on Saturday night. And then Jude received one of his favorite books in an Amazon delivery today. He had been looking forward to it immensely. It is a Big Nate graphic novel and I have never seen Jude laugh so much while reading a book, so Marcy had to snap this photo.

Jude laughs out loud hysterically at this graphic novel