Jude with a kitten at Lily’s friend’s house

On Tuesday we all took an Uber ride to the airport (in a Tesla no less) and I went off to New York to work while Marcy and the kids went to Iowa. I then joined everyone when I flew from New York to Des Moines on Friday night.

The Iowa kids were in school so Jude and Anna got their grandparents to themselves through Friday. They went to the zoo, the Science Center, helped Grandpa work on his car and had many indulgences. On Friday night the big kids (Lily, Jude and Anna) all went with Uncle Nathan to see the Iowa Wild hockey team play and they stayed to the very end – not making it home until 10pm. They all had a great time.

Anna with one of the new kittens

On Saturday I took the kids to Glow Golf and then they went to a friend of Lily’s who had a cat that had just had kittens. They loved playing with the little kitties.

Today we had a wonderful morning at the park – the weather was warm and there was not a cloud in the sky. We played some soccer and before we knew it was time to have a quick lunch and be off to the airport.

The kids enjoying a group goodbye hug

While there is always some arguing and bickering the kids all love to hang out with each other and are always sad when it is time to go. While we were at the airpot Lily sent us this sweet picture she had drawn for us.

Lily’s love picture of her family

Our outdoor table is showing at least 18″ of snow from this week’s storm

They initially said it was going to be a minor storm – just 2-4″ on snow. They they changed it to 6-10″ and finally as it was in full swing they said it would be 12-14″. The official total downtown was around 19″ and I think we easily had that much at our house. At one stage every major highway out of Denver was closed as we endured the worst snowstorm for several years.

The good news was that none of us had to go anywhere. The kids were on Spring break, I decided to work from home and so we rode it out here. In the afternoon Marcy took the kids to the museum which was open but closing early. I didn’t leave the house all day except to do some shoveling and to go for an evening walk.

Jude checking out the snow in shorts, t-shirt and boots

The snow was thick and heavy, a joy to shovel… And many of the trees in the neighborhood suffered some damage with downed branches – we had a few decent sized branches down for the old spruce tree in our backyard.

Taking an evening walk in the knee-deep snow

After dinner that night we decided to take an evening walk to enjoy the quiet and check out the snow. So, we all dressed up in our snow gear and ventured outside. The kids were really into it, literally diving into some of the snow drifts. It was certainly a storm to remember.

Jude on top of what we thought was a snow drift but ended up being some small trees.

Our neighbors built an igloo in their front yard which the kids thought was very cool

I had my 50th birthday the day after this big storm. I decided I didn’t want a big celebration, instead just a nice quiet dinner with the family. Marcy brought the kids downtown to the office where we enjoyed some birthday pie before taking a nice pre-dinner walk. Then we went to Ocean Prime, an upmarket steakhouse on the same block as the office. It was one of the best meals I have had in a very long time.

After a sumptuous 50th birthday dinner at Ocean Prime

Today was Easter. The kids were very much looking forward to it and they woke up excited to find out what the Easter Bunny had brought. There were eggs all around the living room and throughout the backyard.

Some highly focused Easter Egg hunting on a cold Easter morning

They received a nice Easter bounty of chocolate, candy, books and toys. Anna got a nice doll house cupboard and a miniature tea set while Jude got a new bike. He actually knew all about this because he has grown out of his old bike. And today was a beautiful sunny day, although it was a little brisk so he was able to test it out. We all went for a family bike ride this afternoon.

Jude taking a first ride on his brand new 27-gear bike

At the Denver Car Show in front of a beautiful Jaguar F-Type

On Friday afternoon the kids began their annual two-week Spring Break. Both kids were excited to be done with school for a while. There are no major plans this week other than a day trip to the mountains for some skiing and then my birthday celebration on Thursday. But next week I head to New York while the kids and Marcy head to Iowa.

On Saturday I took the kids to the Denver Car Show. I have taken Jude a few times but this was only Anna’s second trip I believe. Jude has been really into cars lately so he had a blast naming all the cars and checking our his favorites. After a while, though, they both got a little crabby and were sick of it so we were out of there in under two hours. My favorite was seeing the Aston Martin while Jude liked the BMWs and Lamborginis. Anna liked the ride we took in a Jeep – they had an obstacle course setup and they took us around the “track” in a Jeep Wrangler.

Jude playing his beloved table soccer game

Soccer has become a big part of Jude’s life. We begin each weekend these days watching the English Premier League. He is a big fan of Arsenal, and given that it is a very popular club, its games are usually on TV here. He follows along with the other scores throughout the weekend and he has memorized where all 20 teams are on the table. He has even started to take an interest in the Spanish League where one of his favorite players, Christiano Ronaldo, plays.

He also likes to play soccer. Today was a gorgeous sunny day, although it was a little brisk, but perfect for a game of soccer. Jude and I went to the local park to play for an hour. He then came back home and played with his table soccer game. Then before dinner he went outside to kick the soccer ball about by himself. As I said, it has become a big part of his life. And it will become ever more so when their Rapids season begins in a week or so.

At the top of Keystone about to head down Diamondback , a black run

We left Denver right after school on Friday and headed up to Keystone. It was our first trip since January and it was great to be back up here. One of Jude’s school friends and his family joined us on Friday night and for a day of skiing on Saturday.

The three kids after their ski day on Saturday

Saturday was actually not a great ski day. It hadn’t snowed here for a couple of weeks and it showed. Everything was really icy and our second run of the day, down Mozart, was the worst run I have had in over a decade. It was a sheet of ice the whole way down. By the afternoon it had softened a little but we were all ok with calling it a day just after 2pm.

Saturday night we had about 3″ of snow and we awoke to a beautiful sunny day. Despite losing an hour to daylight savings we were on the slopes just after 10am and we had a great ski day. The snow was much better, it was warm and sunny and the kids did great. They have both now been on many steep black diamond runs and have handled them well. And on the blue runs Marcy commented this afternoon that they went as fast as she liked to ski.

Apres skiing with popcorn, Kombucha and Star Wars. Life is good.

We decided to stay up here Sunday night to really make the most of the weekend. It has felt like a mini vacation.

Anna fits perfectly in the A-frame of our swing set

Jude proudly shows off his graduation certificate from vision therapy

Jude started vision therapy a couple of years ago at the suggestion of his teacher. This was not so much because of poor eyesight, in fact Jude’s vision is 20/20. The problem was that his eyes were not converging properly onto one image. Marcy has taken Jude on the 30 minute drive on a regular basis for the past two years. The homework has been intensifying and when he took his test recently he passed with flying colors. We were all very proud of him because this was not easy for him.

Anna with her lyre at the class play

Meanwhile, Anna has been working on her class play for many weeks. The play was the story of Snow White and Rose Red and the entire first grade class had to learn every word of the 5-minute play. Then, in front of all the parents they all recited the play while some students acted out characters, and others played the lyre. Anna really enjoyed the whole process of learning all the lines and acting out the story. She recited the lines to us one night over dinner as part of her homework. After the play they did some singing and some more playing on their lyre.

Jude working on his adobe house class project

As for Jude he been very busy as well at school. He has been working hard on his first major class project. Everyone in the class had to build a shelter of some kind. After much discussion and research Jude chose to build an adobe house made of clay. We found a video online with step by step instructions and Jude went to work. Parents were not allowed to help do the actual work, it had to be the work of the third grader. Jude had to learn all about his dwelling so he could answer questions about it when they presented to the other grades. He worked hard on this and did a nice job with it.

Celebrating Sarah’s first birthday in Sydney

Unfortunately, I missed all of these major events as I was away in Australia for a week or so. The timing was disappointing for me but I was also very glad to get a trip in. We just moved my dad into a nursing home and he has not been well. And it just so happened that I was invited to Sydney to speak at a peer to peer lending conference so I jumped at the chance to go. Also, my little niece, Sarah, turned one while I was there so I was able to celebrate her birthday in person. It was also good to catch up with a few friends as well.

My old mate Enio and I at the Opera Bar in Sydney

Jude attacking the waves in Cancun

We had a great week at the beach in Cancun. The JW Marriott was a beautiful resort, both kids said it was the best place we have stayed in and wanted to come back again next year. We may come back again some day but I will need to save my Marriott points again.

The kids loved the beach. Jude would literally spend hours in the ocean “attacking the waves” as he put it. He would only be 15-20 feet out from shore where the waves would start breaking. He would jump over the waves and try to avoid being pummeled into the sand. The surf was pretty messy and wild so he got slammed into the sand a few times. But he would shake himself off and do it again. Anna preferred to stay closer to shore but she also loved jumping over the waves as they broke on shore.

Taking the jet ski out to the boat for parasailing

One of the highlights of the trip was the parasailing. They could only take three people at a time so Marcy and kids went. It was quite amazing to watch them from the beach. They went up so high – easily 100 feet in the air. All three of them enjoyed it but said it was really scary being up that high. I was certainly glad when they returned without incident.

Anna, Marcy and Jude heading high up into the air as the parasailing begins

On our last full day in Mexico we decided to go to Isla Mujeres, an island just 8 miles off the coast. We caught the ferry and then rented a golf cart to get around the island which is only 4 miles long by 1/2 mile wide. They had a beautiful beach on their north coast called Playa Norte where we spent the morning and lunch.

Jude and Anna in the pristine waters of Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres

We decided to take a drive down to the southern tip of the island to check out the Mayan ruins. While the ruins were a little disappointing – they were destroyed by a hurricane in 1988, the point itself was spectacular. It reminded us of some of the rugged  rock formations on the Australian coast although the rocks themselves were different.

At Punte Sur on Isla Mujeres

They had a really cool walkway that went around the rocks on the south point which also happened to be the most easterly point in Mexico.

Jude and Anna sitting at the most easterly point in Mexico on Isla Mujeres

Our trip was over too soon but by Friday the kids were actually exhausted after a big week of activity. And the fact we all walked over 5 miles on our trip to Isla Mujeres the day before. So, the last morning they barely wanted to go into the surf. Just some relaxing time in the hot tub and the pool and then we were off to the airport home.

Anna showing off her new braids that she had done on the beach

We were all sad to leave. It was a great vacation and the kids are already looking forward to their next trip to the beach.

Recreating an iconic photo from five years ago in Mexico

Roller blading to the local park

All week the weather has been warming up. After a cold January and a decent amount of snow this warming trend was quite welcome. This weekend we hit 60 degrees and so we all wanted to get outside. Yesterday, we went to the local park in the afternoon. It was the first time all year that we could do that. Marcy and Anna went rollerblading and Jude and I played soccer.

Jude playing soccer in his Arsenal gear

The fact that both Jude and Anna were outside being active this weekend was quite an achievement. Anna was quite sick this week – she actually missed school every day except Monday. She was vomiting and then had a nasty cough. We started her on nebulizer treatments and Marcy ended up taking her to the doctor because her cough was persisting and we were supposed to be heading to Mexico on Sunday. The doctor gave Anna the all clear although did suggest we continue with Anna’s treatment.

Watching a Harry Potter movie on the flight to Mexico

We were all up bright and early today to catch the 8am flight to Cancun. We were all very excited for this trip to get some beach and pool time and for the warm weather. As soon as we arrived the kids had their swimsuits on and they were down to the beach. The water was quite rough and not really conducive to swimming but the kids had a blast just playing in the shore break.

The beach! Jude and Anna were so happy to be back in Mexico

Anna showing off her orange and blue hair

As we have done every year now for more than a decade, we hosted a Superbowl party at our house today. We were all very excited about the Broncos playing in it and Anna was excited about entertaining so many kids. She spent a lot of time putting up decorations and she even put in some orange and blue hair.

Our youngest Bronco fan getting ready for the big game

It was a very exciting game and the basement at our house was jumping and loud. One of the visiting kids even requested ear plugs we were so loud. It was great to see the Broncos come out on top.

Other than that it was a pretty quiet week. I went to New York for a couple of days. We had a pretty big storm on Tuesday and the kids had a snow day. Yesterday the kids went to a birthday party and today we all went to church.

Jude getting ready for the third grade play

Every year at school each grade puts on their own school play. This year Jude’s class put on the story of Moses. It was quite a production with many rehearsals and performances. Marcy volunteered to be a helper for the play so she was quite involved. Unfortunately I missed the performance as I was away in London.

I arrived home on Friday night and we were going to head up to the mountains for another weekend of skiing. But they was a big storm up there and driving was going to prove hazardous so we decided to stay at home. We had no plans other than Anna’s ice skating lesson on Saturday. We made it a family outing as they have free skating for everyone after the lessons.

Anna helping me skate after her lesson

It was a nice day yesterday so we decided to ride our bikes to the zoo. Unfortunately, the cold front moved in a little earlier than we expected and it dropped 20 degrees very quickly. So, we rode home in the freezing cold.

Anna sewing her new dress

We have been listening to more of the Little House on the Prairie books and been watching the TV series as well. Both kids are captivated by the stories. Anna was motivated to make her own dress, just like Ma does in the stories, and she has been hard at work on it this weekend.

Grandpa reading stories to Jude and Anna

On their annual trip to Mexico Baba and Grandpa came through Denver again and stayed a couple of nights this week. The kids were thrilled to have them visit. As Anna said to me tonight on our walk to the store as we were discussing this past week: “I just love Baba and Grandpa so much.” It is a real treat for the kids to have them stay at our place and the kids get them to themselves.

On Friday morning they were off south to New Mexico as they continued their long drive from Des Moines to Cabo San Lucas. Then Friday afternoon we packed the car and headed up to Keystone for a ski weekend.

Jude and Anna about to go down a black diamond run through the trees on the Outback

Along with what felt like half of Denver, we hit the slopes at Keystone on Saturday. It was the most crowded I had ever seen Keystone and so we spent quite a bit of time in lift lines. But the weather was gorgeous and the snow excellent so we weren’t complaining. Jude really wanted to do his first black diamond run so I took him down one on the second run of the day. Not to be outdone Anna wanted to give it a try. So, we did a long steep run through the trees on the Outback. Jude and I split off with Anna and Marcy halfway down this run but let me tell you, it was a challenging run. Everyone came through with flying colors albeit a little exhausted.

Anna about to do some snowshoeing leaving from our driveway

This morning Anna woke up with a nasty cough so we decided to not let her go skiing. I was feeling a little sore myself so I was happy to stay home with her. By mid morning, she was feeling much better so she donned the snowshoes and went “hiking” around the big snow piles in the parking lot. She enjoyed herself, even getting the sled out at one stage.

Jude and Marcy warming their feet by the fire at the Outpost Lodge

Meanwhile, Jude and Marcy were up the mountain bright and early. We wanted to leave before midday to avoid the storm that was coming and to watch the Bronco game. Jude had a great morning of skiing. Both he and Anna continue to improve every time they go out.

I had recorded the AFC Championship game so when we got home after unpacking the car Jude and I settled in to watch it. It was a very exciting game and even Marcy settled in to join us. It was a real nail-biter all the way to the end but we were all pleased the Broncos won and are heading to the Superbowl again.