The annual trip to Perkins for breakfast with Baba

The kids have had a fun-filled first week in West Des Moines, Iowa. While it was a little rainy at the start of the week the weather has been great for the most part and the kids have spent a good deal of time in the pool. They also got to play lots of games with their cousins as well as watch movies and while some of the typical places they go are closed due to the coronavirus they have had a busy week.

Movie time with popcorn

There was the annual trip to Perkins with Baba and a visit to Jordan Creek to feed the ducks.

Feeding the ducks at a local lake

One day, Anna, Chloe and Ella prepared all three meals for us. It was a colossal undertaking that was weeks in the planning with Anna bringing a bunch of stuff from home. They named their “restaurant” Gallery Kitchen with Anna and Chloe as cooks and Ella as the waitress. They did a great job and worked really hard both cooking everything and cleaning up.

Celebrating Baba’s 70th birthday

Baba turned 70 earlier this month so one night we had a belated birthday celebration with her that included ice cream cake.

The traditional photo of the five cousins by the pool

Yesterday, I played some golf with my brother-in-law and today Marcy and I went for a long walk downtown. We were going to stay at a hotel for a couple of nights but decided not to risk it with the coronavirus making a comeback. So, we did a 12-mile walk along bike paths most of the way. We were tired and thirsty by the time we were done.

Tonight we had dinner at the Dahlens, homemade pizza which was delicious. Olive enjoyed playing in the backyard, particularly with the new doggie pool we bought.

Chloe and Anna watching Olive in her new pool

The traditional jump into the pool on arrival to Baba and Grandpa’s house

Yesterday we drove to Iowa for our annual summer trip. The kids have been so excited about it for weeks and were so happy to hit the road. Olive came along for the first time and she actually did really well. It was a relatively uneventful trip and we pulled in to West Des Moines at 8:30pm. Baba was waiting on the corner with a welcome sign and the kids were so thrilled to see her. After a quick hug to grandpa it was into the pool, fully clothed as is the tradition.

All wet after falling in to the pool

Olive didn’t know quite what to make of the pool. She was barking at both kids and leaning over to get closer to them. Then she fell in. We found out she could swim but she was a little freaked about it and has not risked going that close to the pool since.

The twins were up early to greet Jude and Anna

We thought the kids would sleep in because neither of them got a good night’s sleep the previous night but they were both up early and were in the pool with the twins before Marcy and I got out of bed. And they have been in and out of the pool all day today. Of course, there was lots of great food and treats as well and they spent the day between the Dahlen’s house and Baba and Grandpa’s house.

The five kids had a wresting match

Before we left Anna wrapped up her school year. She did a great video on the music of slavery for history that we both worked on quite hard. Then there was a “drive by” celebration at the school for Mr. Kevin, one of Anna’s favorite teachers, that Anna had an integral role in organizing and she had a great time seeing him and some of her friends. It was great to end the school year with a little bit of physical connection.

Anna giving Mr Kevin a hug to celebrate his 25 years teaching at Ricks

Anna having a tea party while babysitting

Anna took a babysitting class back in February and was looking forward to earning some money in her new vocation. Then came the pandemic and suddenly that was not an option. But our hairdresser, Shannon, had a four-year-old and was looking for some help. So, today Anna had her first babysitting job and it was at our house.

Marcy helped out a little with lunch and setting up the slip’n’slide in the backyard. They played on the trampoline, played with both Olive and Pickles and Anna set up a tea party picnic. Anna said she had a great time and she was delighted to be paid for her time when it was finished. She celebrated by going to the gas station to get some candy.

Enjoying some Glacier ice cream courtesy of Baba

Speaking of celebrating, Baba said both kids should go out and get some ice cream, her treat, to commemorate the start of summer break. They were delighted to go to their favorite ice cream place, Glacier, where they enjoyed their special treats.

Ice cream at Glacier courtesy of Baba

It was another hot weekend and Marcy worked in the yard for most of it. Jude hurt his foot while playing soccer in the park so he was a little less mobile than usual. This was our last weekend in Denver for a while (we drive to Iowa on Saturday) so we spent the entire weekend at home.

Anna loves her new Pride swimsuit

Historic Tallman Ranch on our Windy Peak hike

Jude and I decided to do another hike in the mountains this weekend. We went a little further into the mountains mainly to escape the crowds and try something new. We decided on Windy Peak outside Golden and it was a beautiful hike. On the way down we passed historic Tallman Ranch with buildings from the 1870s when a Swede named Anders Tallman settled there. The home he built and several of the surrounding buildings are still standing today. Jude and I both thought this was  fascinating learning about their life.

Celebrating the end of school with a root beer float

While Anna doesn’t officially end school for two more weeks, because of online school Ricks extended the school year by two weeks. But Anna is staying on for a couple of classes and we let her wrap up the year as long as she does all the assigned work. So, Friday we had a little celebration to say goodbye to fifth grade. It was a crazy finish to the year and I think everyone is glad to be done with online school.

Digging the hole for his time capsule

This week, being Jude’s first week of summer break, he decided he wanted to capture this moment in time. So, he decided to create a time capsule and bury it in the backyard. This wasn’t just any little hole. He worked hard to dig down two feet. And he is gathering the items for his time capsule and will bury it this week. Anna thought this was a great idea and decided to do one herself. They intend to dig these up in five years time in the summer of 2025.

Relaxing with “Little O”

We didn’t do much else this weekend. Marcy spent almost the entire weekend doing yard work, Jude played soccer in the park and Anna had a sleepover at a neighbors house. Also, Marcy spent some time at the vet as Olive has not been feeling that well this week. She was throwing up a lot and had some GI discomfort, and so we wanted to get it checked out. They thought it might be a chicken allergy. By Sunday afternoon she was doing much better.