Monthly Archives: November 2024

Jude Turns 18!

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Chocolate cake on his birthday

Yesterday there was a major milestone in our family. Jude turned 18. Yes, it has been 18 years since Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2006, when Jude was born at Swedish Hospital in Denver.

In many ways that feels like yesterday but in other ways it feels like Jude has always been with us. As parents it is a little surreal. We now have another adult in the family and soon he will be leaving home and finding his way in the world.
The day started off like most Saturdays these days with some soccer on TV. Arsenal was playing and as Jude hoped they scored a comfortable victory in their Premier League match. It was a great way to start off the birthday celebration. Anna was working at the JCC so we celebrated with birthday cake when she came home.

Dinner at the Buckhorn Exchange

Jude decided he wanted a steakhouse dinner for his birthday and we suggested the Buckhorn Exchange, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Denver, established in 1893. They are a Denver institution with Presidents and a whole host of famous people who have dined there. And the decor is quite something with dozens of mounted animals on the walls. Jude loved it.

Mother and son after a satisfying meal

Today, we were up bright and early to drive to Iowa for Thanksgiving week. We left just before 8:30am and made excellent time to arrive here before 7pm CST. We will be staying here all week.

Jude Ends His High School Soccer Career

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Jude defended well against a great striker from Regis

When Jude started the varsity soccer season at South High School he had one major goal: to make the playoffs. And he was able to achieve that with the team coming in 27th in 5A. They were matched up against Regis Jesuit who came in fifth in the regular season. While South were able to hang with Regis for the first 20 minutes of each half, in the end they were much too good and defeated South 5-0.

The 2024n South Varsity Soccer team after their final game of the season

Jude was not that disappointed. He played really well and was able to handle a striker headed to a D-1 school. And they all played their heart out so they knew that there was nothing more they could have done. The four years went by so fast and it is hard to believe that Jude has played his last high school soccer game. He had a great run with two years on JV and then two years on Varsity.

Maggie, Isla and Anna dressed up as characters from the Wizard of Oz

Halloween was a low key affair at our house this year. We had the neighborhood kids parade and then we had a few kids come by but it was not busy. Anna got dressed up and went trick-or-treating with some school friends. We only saw her briefly that night.

Anna’s Avalanche team at Blue Debut

There was not much going on this weekend. On Sunday Jude had soccer tryouts with Réal and Anna had the annual Blue Debut where all the Cheer Athletics teams do their routine in front of an audience but it is not scored. Anna was filling in for her old Frost team from last year and she also performed with her regular team: Avalanche.