Celebrating the last day of school with some cream from the can

While not officially the last day of school for Jude, he treated Friday as if it was. That is because there are no formal classes this coming week and the fact that he is not actually going to school makes it feel like the last day. We humored him and he celebrated with Dusty Millers and some cream straight from the can.

Cheering on the graduates from South High School

Marcy noticed on Nextdoor that they were looking for volunteers to help with the South High School graduation parade this past week. She signed us all up for it and we had to make sure and stand on the corner just three blocks from our house. This ended up being really fun. We cheered on all the graduates as they drove by in a procession of hundreds of cars. It was actually quite emotional for everyone involved.

Anna and our neighbor doing a sleepover in the back yard

On Friday night Anna and our neighbor decided they wanted to sleep in a tent. So, we setup our big tent in the backyard and they made an evening of it. They watched a movie and were in bed by 9:30pm. It was an early morning with both kids waking up before 6am complaining it was really cold outside.

Anna shopping at Target this week

We didn’t do much this weekend. We gave the kids a bit more leeway than usual with screens as the school year was winding down. Marcy did a bunch of yard work and I had a lot of work to catch up on. The big outing for Jude and I was to the shoe store to buy new hiking boots, so we can go for another hike next weekend. I also took Anna to Target for a project she designed for her and Marcy. Anna’s plan is for them to come up with a make-over look for each other. Anna chose an outfit for Marcy and did her make-up. Marcy has yet to choose Anna’s look, so that will happen next week.

At the top of South Boulder Peak

Jude and I decided it was time to hit the trail on Saturday. He had barely left our zip code in over two months so we knew it would be good for him to get out. We chose South Boulder Peak because it is relatively close (a 35 minute drive) and it a challenging hike with around 3,300 feet of elevation. While it was crowded because of a holiday weekend when we made it to the summit we managed to find a secluded spot for lunch. Going down was much harder than going up, at least for me. By the end of it I had very sore knees and toes.

Getting a little air on the bike jump near our house

The kids have been spending a lot of time at this bike jump just 200 yards from our house. It is part of a flood plain with a bike trail through the middle of it and relatively steep sides perfect for making a jump. They even spent some time trying to improve the jump with shovels and water. They often head there after dinner with the neighbors.

Jude near the end of his 10k

Today is normally the Bolder Boulder, a popular 10k that happens every year in Boulder. Because it was canceled they encouraged everyone to do their own 10k race. I was planning on doing it with Jude but I was still feeling sore after our Saturday hike, so I did our regular 6k course instead. Jude did great on the longest run of his life coming home in 48:21, a solid time for a 13-year-old.

The rest of the weekend was spent mostly at home. I baked my weekly loaf of bread, and did the Peloton. The Peloton has become quite a regular thing in our family, with most of us using it at least three times a week, as well as doing their classes for other things. And yesterday I watched my first sports event in months, “The Match” a golf match with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. It was very entertaining.

Anna getting ready for her school Zoom party

On Wednesday this past week Anna’s school had a “Decade Party” where you come dressed in fashion from a decade of your choice. Anna chose the ’80s and put on the big hair and makeup that was typical of that decade. While she said it was fun, we could tell it was a poor replacement from an in-person party.

Olive decided she would join Marcy as she was reading her book

Jude was really looking forward to getting a haircut

Things are finally starting to open up in here in Denver and Jude has been dying to get a haircut. It is the longest his hair has been in years. So, this week we booked him in to the hairdresser and he was a happy camper.

Sporting his new haircut

We broke up the online school monotony this week for Anna by inviting a friend to study with her for the day. It was good weather so they actually set up their tables on the upstairs balcony and did Zoom calls in the fresh air. Anna really liked studying with a friend.

Doing sign language class on the hammock

It was another quiet weekend. No one ventured very far from home. The kids played with the neighbors, I baked my weekend sourdough loaf and we ate every meal at home as usual. Jude has been taking to going to the park by himself with his soccer ball just to juggle and kick goals. Sometimes Marcy and I join him but he is just as happy to go by himself.

Today, Anna had an actual birthday party to go to with a school friend. There were five kids invited and the parents had to ok it obviously but instead of a drive-by party which she went to a few weeks ago this one was a drop off, regular birthday party. When I picked Anna up I could tell she had a blast. It was so great for her to get this little bit of normalcy back into her life.

Relaxing with a book and Olive on the hammock

Anna doing a painting during Art class

The kids are getting doing a little bit better with “digital school”. Neither of them like it but they are resigned to the fact that this will be how their school year will finish. One of Anna’s favorite classes is Art and this week she decided to do her painting outside. She set up her easel and paints in the backyard and enjoyed the sunshine while she worked.

Most mornings this week Anna and Marcy would get out early before school and go for a bike ride around Wash Park. Jude and I would go for a run and we would see them on their ride. It good for them to get some exercise before school with no physical school happening.

The start of the neighborhood bike race with Anna in her Broncos jersey

Speaking of biking today the neighborhood kids decided to have a bike race. There are some bike trails near the park and they made up a course and ran a relay, family against family. The kids all raced hard and it was great to see the friendly competition.

Jude finishing up the neighborhood bike race

Jude mowed the front lawn yesterday and Marcy looked out at him and saw him on his hand and knees staring at the ground for about five minutes. He had found a grasshopper and was watching it closely. He then caught it and showed it to us.

Jude discovered a grasshopper while mowing the lawn

Marcy decided for Mother’s Day she wanted to stay around the house. She played with the kids, did a yoga class and a walk and then we both watched the big bike race. We managed to keep her out of the kitchen most of the day, Anna made her morning coffee and emptied the dishwasher first thing, and I cooked dinner. We had some nice Omaha Steaks which were delicious.

About to sit down to Mother’s Day dinner

Anna and Elsie taking on the slip ‘n’ slide

We had our first round of hot weather this week as the temperature hit 85 degrees on Thursday. So, Marcy dusted off the Slip ‘n’ Slide and set it up in the front yard. Anna and Elsie jumped in right after school.

Anna has been missing her school friends terribly so this weekend she made care packages for many of her friends. This included a card and homemade body butter, sugar scrub and foot cream that she has been working on for a couple of weeks. She then drove around this weekend delivering them to six of her friends. We kept the appropriate social distance but Anna was SO happy to see them in person again.

Jude has decided to take on the Peloton. He has committed to doing the Gold Challenge this month which is 150 miles on the bike. He is intending to do 5 miles a day every day for the month, he is 3 for 3 so far. Anna has said she will go for the Silver which is 100 miles.

Olive loves to lie on our bed

Olive loves quarantine. All of us are pretty much always home so she gets more attention than usual. She is one happy dog.