Anna’s birthday dinner celebration at Benihana

Baba and Grandpa were here for the first part of the week while I was off on a business trip to DC. I arrived back just in time for Anna’s birthday celebration dinner at Benihana. We were going to do this Sunday night but Anna had a big day last Sunday and we decided to postpone it until Wednesday night. We had a nice family dinner and Anna had a great time.

Anna with one of the gymnasts on the DU team

We said goodbye to Baba and Grandpa on Thursday morning as they drove back to Iowa. On Friday night Jude and I went to a soccer afternoon at his school. They had a parents vs staff vs kids soccer game. I played on the parents team, it was my first real soccer game in about 30 years but it was fun. Jude also had a a great time playing on the kids team, they ended up beating the staff team which they all thought was really cool. While we were doing that Marcy and Anna were at DU watching the girls gymnastics team practice for their homecoming weekend meet.

He may be almost 12 but he still likes to sit on my lap sometimes, watching Anna’s game

It was a gorgeous fall day on Saturday and we rode down to the farmers market for lunch. Then Anna had a soccer match in the afternoon. She had another good match but their team lost again in a close game.

Anna clearing snow off the back porch in our first storm of the season

On Sunday morning we woke up to snow. We knew it was coming but it was still a bit of a shock after such a beautiful day on Saturday. We had a nice quiet morning and then I took the kids to Spider Monkey so they could get some exercise. We got home and Jude and I watched the Broncos game while Anna decided to bake some chocolate cookies with a recipe she got as part of this cooking club we got for her birthday.

Anna hard at work in the kitchen baking chocolate cookies

Anna at her birthday breakfast at “berries and cream” aka Original Pancake House

The excitement built up all week in our house as we all got ready for Anna’s 10th birthday. We had a whole weekend of activities planned. Anna had a day at Elitch’s planned with a school firend, this was her third visit this year which means she used all six kids tickets that she won earlier in the summer. This was also the first time she was tall enough to go on any ride and she was particularly excited to go on this crazy roller coaster called the Mind Eraser.

Anna with a school friend at Elitch’s

When Anna got home from Elitch’s she received a surprise. Baba and Grandpa had driven from Iowa to surprise Anna for her birthday and stay for a few days. Last night we ordered pizza and watched a movie.

Baba and Jude celebrating Anna’s birthday dinner at home

This morning we went to our traditional breakfast at a place the kids call “berries and cream”. It is actually called the Original Pancake House but we always get berries and cream when we go there and we have been going there for birthdays for almost 10 years.

Anna celebrating with her old and new school friends

Anna decided she wanted a small birthday party with just a few friends from both her old school and new school. They had a blast playing games, including four square on the street. We also setup a piñata on the play set in the backyard and that was a big hit.  We had burgers and hot dogs for lunch and then, of course, there was cake,

Anna getting ready to take a swing at the piñata.

After her own party Anna was actually invited to another party at this climbing gym. So, by the time she arrived home around 5:30pm she was exhausted. We were going to go out for a fancy dinner but we decided to wait until Wednesday when I am back from my trip.

Jude after his cross country run at Colorado Academy

Jude was a trooper this weekend. It is never easy when your sibling is getting all the attention and for the most part he was pretty good. You could see he was happy for Anna which was nice. On Saturday morning we went to a cross country meet for Jude at Colorado Academy. He ran his heart out and finished first in his team and 107th overall. Not bad considering he was competing against eighth graders.

Jude finishing his first cross country race for his school team

On Tuesday afternoon Jude had his first cross country race for his school. It was a meet with about two dozen other private schools so there were probably more than 500 kids there. I was flying home from a conference in Miami and this event just happened to be close to the airport. So, I was able to make it to see the last part of his run. He pushed himself really hard and came in the top half of finishers, not bad considering he was racing against all middle schoolers (up to eighth grade).

We had a pretty quiet weekend. On Saturday I made my first batch of green chili for the season in preparation for our neighborhood block party today, a chili cook-off. Anna played soccer on Saturday afternoon and then we came home and tested out the chili for dinner. It was too spicy for the kids but I liked it and it was a hit at the block party.

The neighborhood kids at the block party

We enjoyed the block party this afternoon. It was good to spend more time with the neighbors and the kids had a great time playing all afternoon. There was badminton, spike ball, jenga, soccer in the park and the climbing of trees. The food was really good too, with some good chili choices.

Anna, Reed and Jude at Dart Warz an indoor nerf run shooting place

I had my wisdom teeth out on Thursday night so I had a pretty quiet weekend. I was feeling low energy all weekend and didn’t want to do much of anything. Marcy took Anna and Reed to the pool on Saturday afternoon and then to Dart Warz, I had a nap while they were away.

Old friends since 2 1/2 years of age…

Today, we had a quiet day at home. I watched some soccer, football and golf and I accompanied Jude on a 5k around the park (I rode my bike).

This evening we went and saw a show at the Newman Center at DU called Potted Potter. This was a Harry Potter parody where two actors pack all seven books into a 70-minute performance. The four of is went and had a blast, it was a hilarious show that the kids enjoyed as much as us.

At the summit of Mt Sherman

This weekend Jude climbed a fourteener with me for the fourth year in a row. This time we decided to climb Mt Sherman near Fairplay, to get out of the front range and the crazy crowds on 14ers these days. We drove to Fairplay on Saturday afternoon staying at a hotel that night. We were up bright and early this morning to drive to the trailhead and we were on the trail before 8am.

Mt Sherman is a relatively easy hike as 14ers go, just over 2,000 feet of vertical and a six mile roundtrip hike. We were back to the car in 4 hours 20 minutes, the quickest 14er we have done together. Then it was off to lunch in Fairplay where Jude wanted to go to a sports bar to watch the Packers game.

Enjoying lunch and the Packers game after the hike

Friday night we went to a function at Jude’s school and then Jude had a sleepover with one of his new school friends there. Anna was up first on Saturday, that in itself is a first, and when we came down for breakfast it was all set up for us. Then she decided to make herself a giant pancake. It was all very sweet.

Anna made breakfast for everyone on Saturday and a giant pancake for herself

Anna had her second soccer game on Saturday. We all went to watch and it was another super hot day. But Anna was undeterred. She ran all over the field and was easily the best player on her team in my opinion. They lost 3-2 and Anna was hot and exhausted afterwards. But she had a birthday party to go to right after soccer so she got changed and went to Spider Monkey to play. It was quite an energetic afternoon.

Marcy took this great closeup of a bee in our backyard

I left town for Shanghai early Tuesday morning, which also happened to be our 14th wedding anniversary. We had our annual China conference and it was a whirlwind trip for me. I arrived on Wednesday night, the conference was Thursday and Friday and then I flew out Saturday lunch time. The conference went well, although it was a bit smaller crowd than last year.

While I was away both kids were sick each taking a day off school. Marcy then felt sick herself so it was a pretty miserable week all around in the Renton house.

Opening the Day 2 Keynote stage in Shanghai

I arrived home on Saturday afternoon and drove straight to Anna’s soccer game. She is playing on a new team this year in a different league and she likes it a lot. She had a really good game and her team drew 3-3. Today, we were all pretty low energy so we rode our bikes to the farmers market, caught some of the DU women’s soccer game (Anna got some free tickets) and then Jude and I watched a bit of football.

Mark, Robyn, me, Sarah, Leila and Ian outside the chapel (Mark had just cracked a joke)

This week began for me in Sydney where we laid my father to rest. It was a beautiful ceremony and I think Dad would have been happy. I had a few of my friends come and some of Dad’s old friends made the effort as well.

Great photo of Jude at his camp in Breckenridge

I returned home on Wednesday and it was a little strange because Jude was away at his 6th grade camp. At his new school all the 6th graders go to Breckenridge for three nights in the second week of school. They had lots of fun activities to help all the kids get to know each other. Jude said that he had a good time and that most of the kids in his class are nice.

The favorite ride for everyone was Shipwreck Falls and we all got really wet

This weekend we had a lazy day on Saturday. We all needed it after a pretty hectic week. Sunday we rode our bikes to Elitch’s and spent the day there. Lots of rides, bad food and some time in the water park and we made it home just before dark. Both kids were troopers, it was a full day and they did not complain much at all riding their bikes home.

Anna convinced me to go on the “Brain Drain” where you do about 10 loop-the-loops

Today, we decided to go see this street art fair in the River North district near downtown. Again we rode our bikes and had lunch on the way. It turned out that even though the festival officially started today, it wouldn’t get moving until later in the day. So on the ride home we passed Coors Field where the Rockies were playing. It was the 6th inning and we decided to all go in to watch the end of the game. It was a close game and we all had a great time (the Rockies won 9-8). This was a great way to do a family baseball outing.

At the Rockies game

Anna’s first day of fourth grade

Both kids have started new schools this past week. Anna was very excited and somewhat nervous for her new school. After being at Waldorf for seven years this was a big change for her. A new learning system, new people, new teachers, new campus, it was all new to her. While she liked her first day by day four she was really missing her old school. After a weekend break with a lot of time to chill at home, she seems ready to go back and give it a go.

Anna got to ring the school bell on her first day of school

Jude had an extra three days of school vacation as his school did not start until Thursday. So he and Marcy had a little fun together before he began middle school on Thursday. He also liked his new school and had a great first two days.

Jude on his first day of sixth grade

I am down in Sydney for my father’s funeral which is tomorrow. I have caught up with some friends and family already and we are preparing for the service tomorrow.

With my niece Sarah on Saturday night

Chloe, Lily, Ella and Anna head off to Keystone Science School camp

Monday morning began in Keystone with four of the kids heading off to camp. Jude decided he did not want to do Keystone Science School camp this year so he was a free agent all week. The four girls all had a great time in camp and as it was the last one of the summer it was very much a celebration.

Jude went bowling in Vail

Jude did a variety of activities this week. Marcy took him on a long bike ride one day, fourteen miles around Lake Dillon from Keystone to Frisco, he did tennis lessons, mountain biking, a golf lesson and he went bowling one day. Nathan and I took him golfing for nine holes at the River Course at Keystone one day which he really liked as well.

Anna, Ella and Chloe go canoeing on Keystone Lake

Saturday was our last full day together. In the morning the weather wasn’t great but Jude and I went for a short hike before settling in to watch the Arsenal game. The others went to River Run and tried to stay dry. The weather cleared up in the afternoon and we all went down to the lake. There was some canoeing and kayaking as well as playing on the sand beach. Keystone even provided free s’mores for the kids.

Enjoying smores after dinner at Keystone Lake

We used to take photos of all the kids under the kitchen counter when they could stand underneath it easily. They are all too big for that now but Marcy took this photo to keep the tradition going.

All five cousins under the kitchen counter

This week was a rough one for me. My father had been in decline for some time but after a minor hip operation 10 days ago he went downhill fast. Every day, I would check in with the hospital expecting the worst. Then on Friday morning our time my brother called me to say our father had passed away. He had a good innings, he was almost 92. Regardless it has been a very difficult time for me. I will be heading back to Sydney on Thursday night for the funeral.

Me and dad at the nursing home in 2016

Jude and Anna enjoy their treats at Elitch’s: Dippin’ Dots and Funnel cake

I have been away for much of the last two weeks. The kids were in camp this past week, it was called Avid4Adventure and they both really enjoyed it. This was Jude’s only non-soccer camp of the summer and we are glad he had a good time.

The kids had been asking about Elitch’s all summer. I had promised them I would take them, so Saturday was the day. We got there before it opened and were one of the first people in the park. They went on plenty of rides in the morning and then headed to the water park in the afternoon.

On the Shipwreck Falls ride you get wet, really wet

We couldn’t stay as late as we wanted at Elitch’s because we had to head to Keystone on Saturday evening. Marcy had stayed home to help get the house ready and pack for our trip.The Dahlens drove out from Iowa on Saturday and we met at the condo on Saturday evening.

Jude, Chloe and Ella in the paddleboat with Anna kayaking in the background on Keystone Lake

We had a pretty quiet first day of the vacation. Jude watched some of the Arsenal game in the morning and then we went down to Keystone Lake in the afternoon. We ended the day watching the PGA Championship golf.