Jude enjoying his birthday donut

On Thursday Jude turned 11 years old. For the second year in a row he celebrated his birthday in Sydney. It was Thanksgiving Day but obviously they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia. Jude called the shots on Thursday. We went out to his favorite breakfast place in Manly, Three Beans, and after that he wanted a donut. Then we spent the rest of the day on the beach. That night we met up with his Australian family for dinner and another birthday celebration.

Everyone singing Happy Birthday to Jude at dinner

We visited Luna Park, Sydney’s amusement park, this week where the kids got to go on some rides and eat some fairy floss (the Australian term for cotton candy). We incorporate a visit to Luna Park on every trip and it is a small place so the kids know every ride well. Unfortunately, the roller coaster called the Wild Mouse, was under repair which is one of their favorites.

Riding the big slide in Coney Island at Luna Park

We took a trip out to my good friend Richard’s farm one day this week. We have missed him on our last couple of visits so it had been almost three years since our last visit there. The big draw for the kids, apart from their backyard pool is the alpacas. Richard breeds alpacas for their wool and has about 30 animals on his farm near Sydney. He has 100 more on another farm further west. The kids got to feed the alpacas and pet them a little although they are not super friendly.

Herding the alpacas on Richard’s farm

We spent some time pretty much every day on the beach. The swim from Manly to Shelley Beach is about a half mile, and Marcy and I did that several times. Jude loved playing catch with a tennis ball and kicking a beach soccer ball as well as going in the ocean. Jude even did an open water swim over about 300 yards to Shelley Beach one day. Anna loved catching waves on her boogie board and playing in the sand. In fact, she spent probably more time just playing in the sand than in the water. We had lunch on the beach many times and made the most of the good weather we had.

Anna catching a wave on her boogie board

It was all over too quickly and we arrived back in Denver on Saturday afternoon. It was a quiet day today as we were all pretty jet-lagged. Although to the kids credit, they slept great last night and we hope they will be well rested for back to school tomorrow.

Anna completely buried in a huge hole on Manly Beach

On the Manly Ferry into Circular Quay

We have taken advantage of the beach every day this week. The weather has been pretty good for the most part so we have made a point of spending as much time at the beach as we can. But we have also spent time doing other things.

Lunch at the Sydney Oyster Bar

We all love catching the Manly Ferry into the city. It is a half hour ride with some of the nicest views in Sydney, particularly of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. We spent half a day in the city walking around the Botanic Gardens and then heading to our favorite lunch place, the Sydney Oyster Bar which is right on the water near the Opera House.

Watching the Australian Soccer Team beat Honduras to make the World Cup

A couple of weeks ago Jude was tooling around on the ESPN app and we noticed that the qualifying game for the World Cup was going to be in Sydney while we were there. We went to a World Cup qualifying game for the US in Denver earlier in the year but this was a big game in Sydney, the final qualifying game. The winner got to go to the World Cup next year, the loser did not. It was a very exciting game but Australia came out victorious in the end, 3-1. Jude and I both had a great time.

Anna showing her surfing skills

On Thursday the Miers kids came to visit and they brought their old surfboard, this was the same board that we borrowed when we were living here for six months in 2012. Anna wanted to go out so both Alicia and Emily went out with her and helped her catch some waves. She did well, getting up a few times and catching many waves with their help. We also bought some boogie boards for the surf and Anna has taken a liking to that as well.

Out with my old college friends

As I do an every trip I organize a gathering with my old college friends. This time we met up in the city on Friday night at my favorite Sydney night spot, the Opera Bar, right by the Opera House. It was a very enjoyable evening catching up with everyone.

The entire Renton clan together for Robyn & Mark’s engagement party

Back in August I noticed a post on Facebook that my sister Robyn was engaged. I called her immediately and found out the great news. Her partner of 20+ years had popped the question (not sure what took him so long :-)). They had their engagement party at the Baulkham Hills Sports Club and my Dad was able to make it so we had everyone there. Mark’s extended family was all there as well.

Anna getting friendly with Gally one of Robyn and Mark’s horses

After the engagement party lunch we drove out to Robyn and Mark’s farm out near Bargo. The kids had been really looking forward to this visit, they are very fond of their aunt and uncle and they love all the animals. Unfortunately, the horse they used to ride passed away a while ago and the other horses are not suitable for riding by young kids. So, they had to be satisfied with just petting the horses.

Jude petting Bud, their young and frisky horse

Anna and Jude hitting the beach on our first day in Sydney

On Thursday afternoon we left Denver for our annual trip to Sydney. The kids were super excited about this trip, particularly about spending time on the beach and with their little cousin Sarah.

The now traditional visit to mum’s grave on our first morning

After an uneventful trip we landed in Sydney on Saturday morning their time (still Friday afternoon in Denver). We rented a car and headed straight for the cemetery where my mother is buried. We have done this every visit since she passed away in 2014 and it nice to spend some time there honoring and remembering my mum. It still feels strange that we don’t get to see her on these visits.

Anna, Sarah and Jude

Saturday afternoon my brother and his family came over to our place at Manly. Anna said the thing she was most excited about for this trip was seeing her cousin Sarah, who is almost three. Both Jude and Anna enjoyed playing with her and then we all decided to go for a walk along the beach and to dinner.

Today, we went to visit my dad in the morning at the nursing home. He has aged in the year since we last saw him but he was in a good mood when we saw him. We sat and chatted with him for a while and I could see that cognitively he has declined a bit in the past year. But he is not doing badly for 91.

Visiting my father, Grandpa Jack, at the nursing home

This afternoon we spent some more time on the beach and then went to visit an old friend from high school and his family. They have a boy just a year younger than Jude and they had a blast playing on the tennis court there. Anna played with their second eldest girl who is about three years older. They both want to go back.

Reed and Anna about to go Trick or Treating in our neighborhood

Tuesday was Halloween night and the kids were excited to get into their costumes and head out trick or treating. Anna dressed up as a huntress and Reed created a homemade plague doctor outfit which was truly impressive. Jude went his own separate way over to his friend’s house for trick or treating. They both scored an impressive stash of candy but like we have done every year they were allowed to keep a few pieces and the switch witch came and took the rest in exchange.

The Grim Reaper (Jude) and Blockhead (Santi) ready to hit the neighborhood on Halloween

This weekend we were up early again for Jude’s soccer game, his last one of the season. His team lost against the white Rapids team but Jude played quite well. He will hopefully find out soon whether or not he moves up to white next season.

Anna and me at the Air Force Falcons football game

After Jude’s game I went on an Anna and Daddy date, something we had not done in a while. Anna has shown some interest in the Air Force Academy so I decided to take her to a football game there. We went and saw the Air Force Falcons take on the Army Black Knights although football was only of secondary interest to Anna. She enjoyed the pre-game entertainment the highlight of which was an Air Force jet flying very low over the stadium. We left at half time and went to the Visitor Center there which was nestled right up against the mountains. The whole campus is just beautiful.

Anna doing a cello recital with her teacher

Today, we were up early again, this time for Anna’s soccer. She had an indoor tournament at the same place Jude did last weekend. After that we came home briefly and then Anna had her very first cello recital. She was very brave as she was the first student up in front of about 100 people and she did great. She played the song from memory and didn’t miss a note as far as I could tell.