Jude towers over Marcy in his 10th grade back-to-school photo

Summer break came to an end this week. Jude started 10th grade on Tuesday and Anna started 8th grade on Wednesday. Jude was not thrilled to be returning while Anna couldn’t wait to start 8th grade.

Olive wanted in on Anna’s back-to-school photo

A traditional at Ricks on the first day of school is that every kid gets to ring the bell. This was the last time she will be doing this so Marcy and I went to school to see her.

Anna ringing the bell on the first day of school

Today, Jude and I did our annual 14er. We chose Mt Quandary near Breckenridge, the closest one to Keystone, as we had never done it. So, yesterday Jude and I drove up to Keystone to spend the night and then we were up very early (5:15am) so we could get to the trailhead by 6:30am.

On the summit of Mt Quandary at 14.265 feet

It ended up being a relatively easy hike, we agreed it was the easiest one we had done since we started in 2015 (this was Jude’s eighth 14er). We were on the summit by 9:15am and with a break at the top we were back at the car just before 12pm. Lunch at Chimayo and then back to the condo to clean up and we were home by 4:40pm.

Meanwhile Anna and Marcy went a cheerleading team bonding night. Anna had a great time, she loves everyone in her cheer team so much.

In action at the first home game of the season

Even though school does not officially start until Tuesday, the soccer season is already underway. Their first game was Thursday afternoon this past week and it was one to forget, a bad loss and Jude didn’t get many minutes of action. On Saturday, they played at home and Jude started in midfield. The whole team played much better and were unlucky to lose 1-0.

Jude taking a shot on goal – probably the best shot of the game, missed by inches

Today, Jude and I ran in the Race for Research 5k, a fundraiser for cancer research. It was our first 5k of the year and it was a nice cool morning for it. Jude did well, winning his age group again and coming in 7th place overall. I came third in the fiftysomething bracket, albeit a few minutes behind Jude.

Jude finishing the Race for Research 5k

Anna loves cheerleading so much. And she has been wanting this mat called the AirTrack, a long inflatable mat where she can practice her tumbling. We bought it for her as an early birthday present and it arrived this week. She used it a lot until she tweaked her ankle on one of the landings. But she was able to recover in time to go to cheerleading practice today.

Practicing her back handspring to back tuck

Anna is really looking forward to starting 8th grade this week, she starts on Wednesday. One of her school friends had a pool party and invited several in the class over to celebrate the end of summer break. It made her look forward to returning to school even more. And she was invited to be the 8th-grade ambassador. So on Tuesday, she will go show the incoming middle schoolers around Ricks.

Back from completing her soccer referee course

Anna has completed the work needed to become a certified soccer referee. She did an online course that took probably eight hours or more and then had a four-hour in-person training this afternoon. She enjoyed it. There were a few other girls there and most people had never refereed before, so Anna had more experience on the field.

Jude had tryouts for high school soccer this week and it looks like he will be on JV again this year which he is not unhappy about. He didn’t play his best during tryouts, if he had done so he said he probably would have made varsity.

Anna has applied to a local modeling agency as she would like to try to get work there after doing the acting and modeling course during covid. We went to the park to do a photoshoot so she could submit some new photos.

Doing a photoshoot in the park

The five kids plus Olive wandering around River Run, Keystone

Our annual trip to Keystone with the Dahlens was a little different this year. On Monday morning, I took a covid test and was positive. Jude and I both had a head cold on our Canada trip, and it turns out it was covid. So, we laid low at home for the first part of the week.

I was the only one in our family to test positive (we each took a test every morning), so on Wednesday, Marcy and Anna drove to Keystone, and Jude and I drove up first thing Thursday morning. It worked out well for him as he could attend soccer practice Monday to Wednesday.

The traditional photo under the kitchen bench

Nathan and I played golf Thursday while the ladies and Jude went shopping (Jude and Ella didn’t last that long). We rode our bikes to the farmers market on Friday and out to our favorite Mexican restaurant that evening. Then Saturday, it was time for the Dahlens to return home.

At Chihuahua Lake on a gorgeous day for hiking

Saturday, we went for a hike on the Chihuahua Gulch trail, one of our favorites. Anna decided she didn’t want to go to the top, so Marcy went back with Anna, and they walked almost the entire way home. Jude and I made it to the lake (which happens to be the place I proposed to Marcy way back in 2003).

Marcy and Anna on their hike back from Chihuahua Gulch

After we got back from our hike, we had a couple of visitors. Two huge moose came right up by the side of our place, one was right on our property within 6-8 feet of our back door.

A friendly moose comes for a visit

Last night Jude and I played nine holes at the River Course, finishing just before dark. It was the first time Jude had swung a club since last summer, and he played well. He scored his first ever par from the white tees on hole number three.

Enjoying an evening round of golf

Today, Marcy and Anna drove to Breckenridge and then it was one last meal at Chimayo for Jude and I before heading home.