Jude enjoying time with his two favorite pets

Jude was off school this week on fall break and he took advantage of his free time to play Minecraft, his latest video game obsession. He had one play date with a friend and also played catch in the park with Marcy a lot as well as jumped on the trampoline.

Anna had her school social on Friday night and she tried out her Halloween costume (a vampire). She seemed to have a fun evening. We were up early on Saturday with Anna having an 8am soccer game in Wheatridge. Jude had a full day of refereeing, his last of this season. He continues to enjoy it and of course loves that he is getting paid $8 a game.

Food group at our house

Our quarterly food group dinners are a long standing tradition. They actually originated in the early 90’s soon after I moved over here and then after a multi-year hiatus we started back up again around 2001. We have been doing these dinners once a quarter since then. It was our turn to host this weekend and Rick decided to take a photo to send to his kids who are off at college. The fajitas and rhubarb crisp were a hit.

Olive and Pickles enjoy the left over chicken from food group

Anna’s 11th birthday dinner at Elway’s

Anna turned 11 on Monday and we agreed that she could take the morning off school for a special spa morning with Marcy which Anna loved. So, she did a half day at school and then we all went out for a special birthday dinner. Anna chose Elway’s because she loves their steaks and it didn’t disappoint. It was a sumptuous meal. Then, we came back home for dessert which was a seven layer rainbow cake that Marcy and Anna worked on all day Sunday.

Anna’s 11th birthday cake

We had our first snow storm of the season this week, just 3-4 inches that only really stuck to the grass. It was a little crazy because we went from 82 degrees on Wednesday to 32 degrees on Thursday. Olive loved playing in the snow, she was running around like crazy and burying the face in the snow.

Olive loves the snow

The snow was pretty much melted by Saturday and so Jude had a full day of refereeing while Anna had regular gymnastics class. On Sunday, Jude and I went to the Broncos game. It was a beautiful day so we rode our bikes to the game, it only took a little over half an hour. It was a good game and the Broncos came away with a win which was fun.

At the Broncos game on a gorgeous fall afternoon

Meanwhile, Anna’s friend Reed came over and they worked on Halloween decorations most of the afternoon. They did a fantastic job, it is easily the most decorated we have ever had the house.

Anna and Reed showing off their Halloween handiwork

Finally, Jude reached a milestone tonight. He lost his very last baby tooth and will now have a full set of adult teeth hopefully for the rest of his life. He has perfect teeth and so will likely never require a trip to the orthodontist.

With my good friend Richard in Bristol

I spent the last week of September in London for our annual LendIt Europe event. It was a draining week but a great success and then afterwards I took a day off to head to Bristol to visit my good friend Richard and his fiancee Jackie. I got home last Sunday afternoon.

At the top of the Manitou Incline

Monday I took the day off work and Marcy and I drove south to do the Manitou Incline again. I was feeling really jetlagged and had just come from a week at sea level so I struggled a bit but Marcy powered up the 2,768 steps in 45 minutes. We had a really nice Mexican lunch afterwards in Manitou Springs.

Anna with her new electric scooter

Over the summer Anna earned over $100 in her lawn care service and she had to goal of buying an electric scooter. It arrived on Friday and she was really excited to take it for a spin. We are not sure about it, though, because it seems a bit small for her.

Jude pushing it hard at the finish of his cross country meet

On Saturday morning Jude had a cross country meet at Colorado Academy. He ran really well, he said he pushed it as hard as he ever has, and he finished in the top 50 of a 350 person race. And he was first in his school again. Jude decided to take the day of soccer refereeing because of the race.

Jude visits the dentist and gets a pumpkin

Fall is really in the air here with most of the week bringing cooler weather. Anna put a few Halloween decorations up today. Also, this afternoon she had her very first Girl Scouts meeting. It was at Lair of the Bear so they went for a hike and Marcy took Olive along. Anna loved it and she is keen to join this group.