Outside the DMV with his new drivers license

The big news this week is that Jude passed his driving test and is now a Colorado driver’s license holder. He went to the DMV with Marcy on Wednesday and came out with a temporary license. He had his first solo drive on Friday night to pick up dinner and then on Saturday, he drove to his soccer practice. He is enjoying his newfound freedom.

The other big news is that Anna and Marcy flew to Dallas on Thursday for the big NCA national championships. Anna and the team had been working hard for the last month preparing for the big event. That is an understatement, this event had 26,000 athletes from all over the world.

With some of the team in our big rental car

After winning their last two events they had a lot of confidence going in but the competition in Dallas was the best they had ever encountered and they finished in 10th place. They were disappointed but determined to do better next time.

The Cool Cats team (Anna is third from the center on the left)

Anna also got to meet one of her idols: Gabby Butler. She is who many people consider to be the best cheerleader in the world and she was in Dallas for the big competition.

Anna meeting Gabby Butler for the first time

It was a heck of an experience and as Marcy is learning about cheer competitions, there was little downtime to hang out at the hotel or see the city. They did get to have a couple of meals outside of the event. And with their hotel in walking distance of the event venue, they were able to see a little bit of historic downtown Dallas

Marcy and Anna out and about in Dallas

Meanwhile back at home we were dealing with a sick dog. Actually, Jude was dealing with it. While Marcy and Anna flew to Dallas early Thursday morning, I was in NYC and not arriving back until late Thursday night. Olive had a bad day. She was feeling ill and pooped and threw up all over the place. Jude was on a delayed start because of the snowstorm and had to clean it all up himself. Then when he arrived home from school there was more cleaning up to do. I took her to the vet on Friday and there was nothing major wrong with her. And she is doing fine now.

Jude looking after a very sick little dog

Jude in action for his new team Real Colorado

It has been a cold and snowy year so far which means it has been difficult for Jude to get out and play. He decided to take a break from Rapids (after eight years) and try a new team, Real Colorado. They have been practicing on and off for over a month, mostly indoors and this weekend was their first competitive matches.

Jude played really well, especially considering this was his first real game of soccer since October. The team is still a little rusty and they lost their first two games but Jude just loved being back out there. He is definitely one of the better players on the team.

At Hotel Xcaret, Mexico in Playa del Carmen

I was in Mexico this week at a fintech event and it was so nice to get away to some warm weather. It was 85 degrees there each day, meanwhile, back in Denver we had 5″ of snow.

Anna decided to have some of her cheer team over for a sleepover on Friday night. They had practice on Friday night and again on Saturday morning, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Speaking of enjoyment, Marcy and I went for our very first night away from the kids where we had no babysitter. We booked a night at the Four Seasons (with points of course) downtown and had a wonderful time. The kids did fine, I think they were happy for some freedom.

Finally, for Valentine’s Day this week, Anna’s eighth grade had a fun celebration. With Marcy being the parent lead for the grade she helped organize lunch and sweets for all the kids. Anna put the gift packets together, and Marcy dropped off lunch from Illegal Pete’s. Their teacher took them to a rooftop on campus to eat lunch and it was a fun day according to Anna.

Valentine’s Day for the Ricks 8th grade

The Super Bowl party crowd

It was the annual Super Bowl party this weekend. So, as we do every year we make chili and brownies for our close friends. It was wonderful to catch up with everybody. And it was a great game until that terrible call at the end. ‘

The work continues on our back deck. The old deck has been completely dismantled and the new one is taking shape. But we can’t really use the back door still. Poor Olive can’t be in the backyard at all with all the construction material everywhere, she has to be taken out front to go to the bathroom.

Anna had cheer practice both days and she continues to get better. She practiced her moves in the park this afternoon with multiple back handsprings and round-offs on the grass.

Doing cheerleading moves in the park

Jude sits in the driver’s seat of Tony’s Ferrari

Today, we went to visit Marcy’s cousin Missy at her place in the foothills. The Dahlens were staying there for the weekend so we went up for an afternoon brunch. They have a spectacular home near Pine Junction, which is part art gallery, part mountain log home, with a cavernous wine cellar.

Missy’s husband Tony is a keen car enthusiast and he has a beautiful Ferrari. It is GTC4 Lusso, an all-wheel drive with four seats. It is almost like a family car but with a V-12 engine, it goes like a Ferrari. Anyway, Jude got to sit in the driver’s seat and then Tony took him for a short drive around the hills near their place. He loved it.

The Dahlens came back to our place where they are staying the night before returning to Iowa tomorrow.

The last photo of our back deck before the remodel

Yesterday, the work began on our back deck. We are dismantling it and redoing it as a smaller deck so our outside dining table can go down on the ground. We also ordered some gravel for under the new deck and all of us chipped in moving it into the yard.