Chloe, Lily, Ella and Anna head off to Keystone Science School camp

Monday morning began in Keystone with four of the kids heading off to camp. Jude decided he did not want to do Keystone Science School camp this year so he was a free agent all week. The four girls all had a great time in camp and as it was the last one of the summer it was very much a celebration.

Jude went bowling in Vail

Jude did a variety of activities this week. Marcy took him on a long bike ride one day, fourteen miles around Lake Dillon from Keystone to Frisco, he did tennis lessons, mountain biking, a golf lesson and he went bowling one day. Nathan and I took him golfing for nine holes at the River Course at Keystone one day which he really liked as well.

Anna, Ella and Chloe go canoeing on Keystone Lake

Saturday was our last full day together. In the morning the weather wasn’t great but Jude and I went for a short hike before settling in to watch the Arsenal game. The others went to River Run and tried to stay dry. The weather cleared up in the afternoon and we all went down to the lake. There was some canoeing and kayaking as well as playing on the sand beach. Keystone even provided free s’mores for the kids.

Enjoying smores after dinner at Keystone Lake

We used to take photos of all the kids under the kitchen counter when they could stand underneath it easily. They are all too big for that now but Marcy took this photo to keep the tradition going.

All five cousins under the kitchen counter

This week was a rough one for me. My father had been in decline for some time but after a minor hip operation 10 days ago he went downhill fast. Every day, I would check in with the hospital expecting the worst. Then on Friday morning our time my brother called me to say our father had passed away. He had a good innings, he was almost 92. Regardless it has been a very difficult time for me. I will be heading back to Sydney on Thursday night for the funeral.

Me and dad at the nursing home in 2016