Marcy had been talking about this trip for years. She wanted to go back to Cleveland, where she was born, to visit her family and see the places where she grew. The excuse came when it was time to celebrate her grandpa John’s 100th birthday. Now, he has been dead for more than 20 years but Marcy really wanted to go and celebrate his life with her extended family there.

At the gravesite of Marcy’s maternal grandparents

So, we left Denver Thursday afternoon for a long weekend in Cleveland. Friday, we had to ourselves so we went to visit the cemetery where Marcy’s grandparents are buried. Then we went to the place where Marcy grew up and Marcy had a trip down memory lane wandering around the property. In the afternoon we went to Vermillion, which is the place where Marcy’s grandfather kept his boat. The kids got to play in Lake Erie before we went to the same ice cream place that Marcy often visited after her day on her boat with her cousins and grandfather.

Playing in Lake Erie at a beach in Vermillion

Friday night was spent at Uncle Don and Aunt Linda’s house back in Avon Lake where all of Marcy’s Cleveland family gathered. There were four other kids similar in age to Jude and Anna and Jude was delighted that this time there were a couple of boys in the mix.

All the kids playing on a giant chair at a restaurant on the river

Saturday, we went downtown to the Cleveland Aquarium in the morning before meeting everyone for lunch at this great restaurant right on the river. Then we went to West Side Market which is a Cleveland institution and again a place where Marcy’s grandfather used to frequent. Saturday night was spent at the home of Marcy’s cousin Kim and her family. Another fun night was had as more stories about Grandpa John were told.

Zbin Landscaping is the family business that has been in Marcy’s Cleveland family for 100 years

This morning was our last morning and we went to brunch in Rocky River. This is the town where Zbin Landscaping has been operating for close to 100 years. The restaurant was literally right next door.

The Zbin family of Cleveland with the Renton family of Denver

The time was over quickly and we were all sad to leave. Marcy loved connecting with the Cleveland family and the kids had a great time too. We invited everyone to Colorado but I could easily see another trip to Cleveland in our future.

Anna doing her gymnastics performance at the end of camp

Well the first two weeks of summer break have just flown by. I spent most of last week in Dublin for a conference so we missed last week’s update.

The first week of summer break Anna had gymnastics camp at DU that she just loved. Meanwhile Jude was in a morning tennis camp with a friend from school but he had the afternoons free. He has joined the First Tee summer golf program so I have taken him out a couple of times. Last weekend I took Jude to the local course and he had his first ever regulation sized 9 hole round. He did well, although the par 5’s were challenging. The most important thing is he enjoyed it and wanted to do it again.

Jude playing his first 9 holes on a regulation golf course at Overland

We have rejoined the JCC for the summer and the kids have already had a few days at the pool. I joined everyone yesterday and we had a great time. Both kids have become strong swimmers over the past year and they wanted to race. Anna is now the fastest in the family at freestyle and Jude is the fastest at breaststroke.

Anna fooling around by the pool at the JCC

Today was Fathers Day and Marcy made me a lovely breakfast of french toast and bacon. Then we went for a long family bike ride downtown. It ended being 12.5 miles, the longest ride the kids have ever done but they both did well. It helped that it was not very hot. After we got home Jude and I watched some World Cup soccer and then the US Open golf. We ended with a dinner at my favorite Mexican place, Benny’s.

Climbing the rock outside REI on our Fathers Day bike ride

Jude enjoying his “end of elementary school” ice cream cake

The countdown began over a month ago. Literally. Both kids created paper countdown chains and had been cutting off a paper link every school day. Then on Friday the long awaited day arrived and school was out for the summer. They were both mostly excited but with some sadness because they knew they were moving on to different schools next year. Jude is officially done with elementary school now and he wanted an ice cream cake to celebrate so Marcy ordered the beautiful soccer themed cake pictured and he loved it.

Jude showing off his bowl he made in woodworking class

On the last day of school it was time to clean out the lockers and bring everything home. Then it was on to the end of year celebrations. Anna’s class had a pool party and Jude had a popsicle party in the park. Then I took Jude and a friend to lunch and back to our house while Anna hobnobbed from the 3rd grade to the 6th and 8th grade pool party (with a friend who had a sibling in 6th grade).

This weekend Jude had a soccer tournament. I was pretty sick with a head cold for most of the weekend so Marcy took Jude to his first game, where he received MVP, while I stayed in bed. I managed to rally for his second game and saw his team’s only win of the weekend with Jude scoring a good goal.

Jude played table football with Anna

Today, Jude played one soccer game in the morning and then we had the afternoon to ourselves. We watched a couple of British Baking Shows, our new favorite family show, and just hung out at home. Jude introduced Anna to his table football game with some adjusted rules. It was a fun game and it was good to see the kids playing together.