Jude being a teenager next to his mom

Yesterday Jude turned 13. He has building up to this day all month and he woke up very excited. He got to choose how we celebrated. He decided a pancake breakfast at home and then on to his favorite pastime, Minecraft on his Nintendo Switch. We watched some Premier League and Jude played with Olive in the park.

Showing off his birthday present, an iPhone 8

The big gift that Jude got for his birthday was a brand new smartphone. We bought him an iPhone 8, something he has been really wanting. He is the second last kid in his class of 25 at school to get a smartphone and at 13 we feel like Jude is ready. He has had a flip phone for a couple of years now and understands the importance of looking after it. We have a long list of rules for this phone, it is not a play toy, it is to be used primarily for communication.

Jude decided for lunch he wanted to go to Mustard’s, a hot dog place right by DU that is walking distance from our house. We played some table tennis at home and then some tennis at the local courts in the afternoon. And we went and bought an ice cream cake which we had in the afternoon. For dinner Jude wanted takeout Noodles & Co. and then we watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He said it was a very satisfying birthday.

Singing Happy Birthday to Jude

Today, we spent the whole day at home. No one had any commitments so we used this time to switch out Anna’s bed. She wanted her old bed that she had on Fairfax Street which had been in the basement. So, we switched beds, which took most of the afternoon and into the evening with Marcy doing the bulk of the work.

Anna working the store at her school book fair

I was in Philadelphia for a conference Wednesday to Friday this week so I missed a couple of things. Anna had a book fair at school and she helped to staff the book store. There was also an open house at South High School I missed as we continue to explore high school options for Jude.

We didn’t have much planned this weekend. Anna had gymnastics on Saturday, I took Jude to putt putt and both of them played with the neighbor kids. Last night we had family movie night and Anna chose Oceans Thirteen.

Anna and Elsie drawing caricatures in the park

Today, Jude played an epic game of football in the park with the neighbor boys while Anna and Elsie decided they would try to raise money for girl scouts by drawing caricatures. So, they set up shop in the local park and solicited business from the people out walking. They had one nice customer who was a good sport and waited around quite some time while the girls finished her portrait.

Snuggling with Olive on the couch

This past week was a big one for Olive. She had her surgery to make sure she can never have babies. She has to take it easy for 10 days so no walks and no running or jumping. And she has to wear a cone to bed. But the surgery itself hardly phased her. She slept great the first night and she seemed to be in no pain at all. The only trouble is she REALLY wants to run and play, she is still a puppy after all, but we have to keep her sedated much of the time.

Olive tries desperately to get Pickles to play with her

Jude racing in the Halloween school cross country at St. Mary’s dressed as Thing 1 & Thing 2

The week started off with the last school cross country meet of the season. This was the Monster Dash, a costume race and all of Jude’s school team dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2. Jude ran well, coming in fourth, despite not having his regular running shoes (they were misplaced).

Yesterday, Jude was invited to his first Bar Mitzvah service and party for one of his school friends. Jude went to the service at the Jewish Community Center in the morning and even though it was two hours long he said he quite liked it. In the evening they had a party at a really fun place with indoor beach volleyball courts, table tennis and pool. Jude had a blast and didn’t want to leave until the bitter end at 10:30pm.

Doing piggy back races at her friend’s birthday party

Meanwhile Anna had a birthday party at Xtreme Challenge Arena, a kids fun activity place where they do all kinds of challenges including “flying” through the air in the Superman challenge. After an hour they went back for more games and dinner at her friend’s house.

Jude enjoys a quiet Sunday watching soccer and football

Jude had low energy today after his late night. So, he spent way too many hours watching soccer and football today. At least he was able to spend some quality time with Olive and Pickles. We did get to the park once with Olive and both Jude and Anna raked some leaves in the afternoon. They also spent some time on the trampoline with the neighbors this afternoon.

Pickles found the perfect hiding place

We end with some cutie animal photos.

Olive looks so cute after her time at the groomers

Jude, Anna and Olive enjoying the snow day

We started this week with a snow storm that resulted in a late start on Monday, an early close on Tuesday (or a full day off in Anna’s case) and then a full snow day on Wednesday. This was from two separate snow storms that left a total of about 8″ of snow. The kids did some sledding and played some Minecraft. They were so thrilled to have snow days so early in the season.

Playing with Olive at the park

Thursday was Halloween and both kids had been planning their outfits for weeks. Jude was Megan Rapinoe (the US women’s team soccer player) and Anna was a vampire. Marcy was, apparently, an intergalactic sorceress.

Getting ready to trick or treat on Halloween

Both kids decided to go trick or treating in Park Hill, back in our old neighborhood. Anna went out with some friends from her old school and actually knocked on the door of our old house. Jude went over to see a friend from camp and trick or treated just a few blocks away from Anna. I picked them up quite late, around 9pm.

Anna and friends trick or treating in Park Hill

This weekend I had Ridhwan yesterday. Meanwhile Marcy took the kids on a hike. Today, Jude and I ran in the Day of the Dead 5K in Wash Park. Jude ran well but I think all the candy from the last couple of days caught up with him as he was a minute slower than the 5K he ran over the summer while my time was about the same. But we both had a good time and Jude ended up coming second in the 10-14 year old age group.

Jude running strong in the Day of the Dead 5K

Jude enjoying time with his two favorite pets

Jude was off school this week on fall break and he took advantage of his free time to play Minecraft, his latest video game obsession. He had one play date with a friend and also played catch in the park with Marcy a lot as well as jumped on the trampoline.

Anna had her school social on Friday night and she tried out her Halloween costume (a vampire). She seemed to have a fun evening. We were up early on Saturday with Anna having an 8am soccer game in Wheatridge. Jude had a full day of refereeing, his last of this season. He continues to enjoy it and of course loves that he is getting paid $8 a game.

Food group at our house

Our quarterly food group dinners are a long standing tradition. They actually originated in the early 90’s soon after I moved over here and then after a multi-year hiatus we started back up again around 2001. We have been doing these dinners once a quarter since then. It was our turn to host this weekend and Rick decided to take a photo to send to his kids who are off at college. The fajitas and rhubarb crisp were a hit.

Olive and Pickles enjoy the left over chicken from food group

Anna’s 11th birthday dinner at Elway’s

Anna turned 11 on Monday and we agreed that she could take the morning off school for a special spa morning with Marcy which Anna loved. So, she did a half day at school and then we all went out for a special birthday dinner. Anna chose Elway’s because she loves their steaks and it didn’t disappoint. It was a sumptuous meal. Then, we came back home for dessert which was a seven layer rainbow cake that Marcy and Anna worked on all day Sunday.

Anna’s 11th birthday cake

We had our first snow storm of the season this week, just 3-4 inches that only really stuck to the grass. It was a little crazy because we went from 82 degrees on Wednesday to 32 degrees on Thursday. Olive loved playing in the snow, she was running around like crazy and burying the face in the snow.

Olive loves the snow

The snow was pretty much melted by Saturday and so Jude had a full day of refereeing while Anna had regular gymnastics class. On Sunday, Jude and I went to the Broncos game. It was a beautiful day so we rode our bikes to the game, it only took a little over half an hour. It was a good game and the Broncos came away with a win which was fun.

At the Broncos game on a gorgeous fall afternoon

Meanwhile, Anna’s friend Reed came over and they worked on Halloween decorations most of the afternoon. They did a fantastic job, it is easily the most decorated we have ever had the house.

Anna and Reed showing off their Halloween handiwork

Finally, Jude reached a milestone tonight. He lost his very last baby tooth and will now have a full set of adult teeth hopefully for the rest of his life. He has perfect teeth and so will likely never require a trip to the orthodontist.

With my good friend Richard in Bristol

I spent the last week of September in London for our annual LendIt Europe event. It was a draining week but a great success and then afterwards I took a day off to head to Bristol to visit my good friend Richard and his fiancee Jackie. I got home last Sunday afternoon.

At the top of the Manitou Incline

Monday I took the day off work and Marcy and I drove south to do the Manitou Incline again. I was feeling really jetlagged and had just come from a week at sea level so I struggled a bit but Marcy powered up the 2,768 steps in 45 minutes. We had a really nice Mexican lunch afterwards in Manitou Springs.

Anna with her new electric scooter

Over the summer Anna earned over $100 in her lawn care service and she had to goal of buying an electric scooter. It arrived on Friday and she was really excited to take it for a spin. We are not sure about it, though, because it seems a bit small for her.

Jude pushing it hard at the finish of his cross country meet

On Saturday morning Jude had a cross country meet at Colorado Academy. He ran really well, he said he pushed it as hard as he ever has, and he finished in the top 50 of a 350 person race. And he was first in his school again. Jude decided to take the day of soccer refereeing because of the race.

Jude visits the dentist and gets a pumpkin

Fall is really in the air here with most of the week bringing cooler weather. Anna put a few Halloween decorations up today. Also, this afternoon she had her very first Girl Scouts meeting. It was at Lair of the Bear so they went for a hike and Marcy took Olive along. Anna loved it and she is keen to join this group.

Jude after refereeing the son of Peyton Manning (red arrow), he meets him after the game

Jude had his third day of refereeing. He is doing U9’s, so kids born in 2011, and it just so happens that Peyton Manning’s son is playing in this league. Jude and I both saw him before the game although we didn’t bother him. But after the game Peyton walked across the field and Jude introduced himself. It was a thrill for him to meet one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

Hanging out on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder

Anna had Monday and Tuesday off school so on Tuesday she and Marcy went and got their nails done and did a trip to Boulder, where they visited the Liberty Puzzle Factory, and the Celestial Seasonings Factory as well.

Jude after the finish of his cross country race

Friday afternoon Jude had a cross country race. I went and saw him run and he did well. He wasn’t feeling 100% but he still finished in 40th place out of 100 boys in the “A” flight (including 6th-8th graders) and was the first from his school to finish.

Jude playing with Olive at the park

Saturday night we went to the DU women’s soccer game. Anna’s Skyline soccer team played a scrimmage during the half time show and then Anna and her friend Clara were ballgirls in the second half.

Today, Jude had soccer tryouts for Colorado Select, but after from that it was a pretty quiet day. He and I watched the second half of the Arsenal game, a little bit of the Broncos game and then he had about three hours of homework to do. Marcy and I put the ping pong table together (Marcy did most of the work) and the four of us played on it just before bed.

Jude taking a break from refereeing

Baba and Grandpa came to visit this week, on Thursday afternoon. It also coincided with my arrival back in town after a very quick trip to London. I went straight from the airport to Jude’s school soccer game. His team had an easy win (10-1) and Jude scored three goals (a hat trick) including a penalty to start off the scoring.

Grandpa giving Olive some love

Baba and Grandpa went to see Jude referee on Saturday – he had a full day of four games. He was a little tired by the end of the day but he said he enjoyed it and he felt fine. Grandpa also spent a lot of time on Friday and Saturday helping us install a new toilet and some other odd jobs around the house. Marcy loves having help and advice in all the projects around the house.

Jude running away from the spray at Elitch’s

Today we thought about going to a Rockies game but instead I decided to head to Elitch’s. I had promised Anna I would take her before the end of the year and today was going to be a nice day. So, we invited Anna’s friend, Reed, and the four of us went off to Elitch’s. Anna and Reed liked to do the wild and crazy rides so they went off for a lot of afternoon while Jude and I did a few more of the reasonable rides which I appreciated. The big hit with all four of us was Shipwreck Falls where you get completely drenched.

After getting drenched on Shipwreck Falls