Anna’s birthday cake in our Orlando hotel room

It was delayed a week because of the hurricane but we made it to Orlando for our trip to Harry Potter World. I came straight from London, having just finished our LendIt Europe conference. I met up with everyone on Thursday night. Then on Friday we went to Universal and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Both Jude and Anna were excited. It was nice to see Jude get into being a kid again after shunning most childlike things over the previous few months. Harry Potter world is divided into two parts. There is Diagon Alley where all the wizarding stores are and then there is Hogsmeade with the Hogwarts School. They are connected by the Hogwarts Express which you take from Kings Cross Station just like Harry did in the books.

Waiting for the Hogwarts Express on platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station

The favorite attraction for the kids was Hogwarts. It was really cool with a giant replica of the building from the movies with many of the rooms as well. Then there was a great ride that we all loved where you essentially get to fly around with Harry and Ron and even get involved in a Quidditch match. We did that ride about 7 times.

There was also many roller coasters and the rest of Universal Studios to explore. We did a little of this but we spent most of our time in Harry Potter World. The good thing is that the height cutoff was 48″ for most of the rides and Anna is now 49″ – it was only the crazy roller coasters that she couldn’t go on. But they both enjoyed the Hippogriff roller coaster outside Hogwarts.

Riding the Hippogriff roller coaster together

Universal was really crowded every day and so we decided on Sunday to rent a car and go to the beach. We drove to New Smyrna Beach where Marcy was able to see the house where her Uncle Lynn and Aunt Judy lived (and where she lived one summer). We then went down to the beach which was nice although the water was not that clean because of the recent hurricane. But give our kids sand and water and they enjoy themselves.

On the beach at New Smyrna

On the last day the kids got to buy the special gifts that they had decided on. Jude chose the chess set – it is based on the chess pieces in the first movie. They are very ornate and he loved them. He and Anna played with them on the last night in Florida. Anna decided to get the quills and ink so she can practice her penmanship.

Playing chess by the hotel pool on the last night

Anna waking up to a table full of presents on her birthday

We were supposed to be in Florida this weekend. But the first hurricane to hit Central Florida in 11 years changed our plans. Anna was initially very upset but we just delayed our vacation a week and she got to spend her birthday at home.

Anna was so excited to be turning 8. She had her birthday celebration at school on Thursday and then finally the big day came on Friday. Anna woke up to a table full of presents as you can see here. Then Marcy and I took her out of school for a special birthday lunch at Park Burger.

Anna’s birthday cheesecake

Marcy had made a cheesecake at Anna’s request instead of a birthday cake. So, we had the neighbor kids come over and sing her happy birthday and have some cake. That evening Anna decided we would order pizza and watch the Sound of Music in the basement.

Speaking of our neighbors, it was a something of a bittersweet day on Friday. Our kids and their kids have become great buddies over the last 3+ years. And Friday was their last day in their new house. They are moving and we are all sad.

Our neighbors spent so many hours on our playground but now they are moving

The other big news this week is that we will be moving soon as well. We placed an offer on a house in Wash Park and it has been accepted. We just have to sell our house first – it went on the market on Friday night and we already have had a few showings.

The funny thing is that we had just decided to stay put for a while after thinking about it very seriously when we found out our neighbors were moving. But Marcy was still getting the emails of new houses when they came on the market – this one came up and we both loved it.

If all goes well we will be moving at the beginning of November. And so far so good. We are already under contract to sell our house for full price, in less than 48 hours after it was listed.

Jude on the attack

It was quite the week. While I flew out to New York early on Monday morning for four days Marcy had to deal with sick kids. Jude woke up Monday with a bad cough and didn’t go to school for two days. Then by Thursday Anna had caught it and she had to stay away. But they both made a good enough recovery to be in their school Michaelmas play on Friday.

At the end of the school Michaelmas play singing the chorus together

Jude was pretty much better by Tuesday afternoon, though he did have to miss soccer practice. And then on Wednesday they had a class field trip to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs which Jude really enjoyed.

Anna in her new birthday dress at the 2nd grade fall birthday party

Marcy’s parents came out this week for a special Grandparents Day celebration at the school, which included the Michaelmas play. Then Jude had the first of his three soccer games on Friday night which they came along to. Then today, we had Anna’s birthday celebration. The second grade had a joint celebration for all the fall birthdays, including Anna.

Jude discovered a small snake at the Botanic Gardens in Chatfield

We all drove out to the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield south of Denver. They had a corn maze and the kids all spent some time wandering around in there. They also had a bounce house and other fun kids activities.

Anna’s birthday month has arrived and we allowed her to open her presents from Sydney as well as something from us. She loved all her clothes and was excited to try them on.

Anna in her new mermaid blanket that we bought her for her birthday

Finally, tonight after starting book 1 more than 2 1/2 years ago we read the final pages of book 7 of the Harry Potter series. Just in time for our trip to Harry Potter world in Florida for Anna’s birthday.

Anna standing on the two oxen at the Zoo

This week was a first for Jude. On Friday night he went to a sleep over at one of his good school friend’s house. He was excited about it and it sounded like it all went really well. These are the friends that he plays with most at school and they all get along well. And for having four 9-year-olds in the one bedroom they apparently slept quite well.

On Saturday Jude did not have any soccer but Anna had two games. She played great in both games, scoring two goals in the fist one and playing goalie for a half in the second one and making some great saves. That night we hosted a dinner at our place with several of the fourth grade parents and that was quite a good night.

Today we went to the ski place to exchange out Jude and Anna’s skis and boots for the upcoming season and we got their free ski passes. Then this afternoon we rode our bikes to the zoo. It was a perfect fall day, cool but sunny and a great time to spend at the zoo.

Jude may be almost 10 but he still loves being held by him Mom

Finally, today my father Jack turned 90. He is has been in a nursing home for about nine months but he is still in reasonable health and in good spirits. My sister took him out for lunch on the weekend to celebrate and posted this photo below on Facebook. And we all called him today and sang him happy birthday. We also booked our tickets back to Sydney this weekend, we will be celebrating with him in person in a couple of months and Jude will be turning 10 in Sydney.

Grandpa Renton on his 90th birthday

At the Colorado Rapids soccer game with Jude

This weekend both kids played soccer on Saturday and then I had a special “date” with each of them. On Saturday night Jude and I went to a Colorado Rapids soccer game. It was a good game and Jude had a blast, he loved seeing Tim Howard the USA goalkeeper in goals for the Rapids.

Anna driving a go-kart at the indoor track

Several weeks ago Anna went go-kart racing for one of her friends birthday and she loved it. She has been asking to go back ever since. So, this morning I took her there on an “Anna and Daddy date”. She participated in four separate six minute races and by the end she was going around the track quite fast and was loving it. Then afterwards we went out for a special lunch near downtown.

At the Lowdown Brewery for a lunch date

Anna getting into the Bronco spirit on the opening day of the football season

On Friday Jude’s 4th grade class went on a field trip to South Park City in Fairplay. It is a re-creation of a Colorado mining town from the 1880s. Jude said it was the best field trip he had ever been on as he found it fascinating.

Jude at South Park City in Fairplay

Back at school Jude decided to let his friends bury him in the sand where Marcy snapped this photo as it was time to go home.

In the sandbox at school

Today was hot and sunny, a perfect day for our lemonade stand and toy sale. The kids went through their toys over the summer break and decided which ones they no longer wanted. So, the idea was to have a lemonade stand and sell the toys as well. The lemonade stand went really well but the toys were a harder sell. We only sold a small percentage of what was on offer so it is off to Goodwill for the rest of it.

The lemonade stand and toy sale

Anna, Jude and Santi loved helping with the campfire

On Friday afternoon we left from school to go camping in Rocky Mountain National Park with another family from school. We did the drive over Trail Ridge Road to Timber Creek Campground and arrived there about 6pm. The other dad had gone early to secure us a couple of camping spots and he also did us the great favor of putting up our tent.

The kids were really excited to go camping and it took them a while to get to sleep the first night. The stars were simply amazing, the most I have seen in many years. The first night there was no moon and it was a clear night so you could actually see the Milky Way.

On Saturday we went for a hike just a few miles down the road from the campground. But the weather was not good and we arrived to a deluge of rain and hail. After waiting it out for almost an hour we decided to give the hike a try. After about 45 minutes the rain was getting heavy so we decided to turn back. The kids were wet and cold and wanted to warm up. So, we drove to the town of Grand Lake which was just a few minutes away.

Riding the go-karts with Anna in Grand Lake

The rain cleared when we got to Grand Lake but we ended up spending the afternoon there. They had go-karts and putt putt golf so the kids were happy. Then it was back to our campsite where it had rained but thankfully it cleared long enough for us to have a good dinner and a night by the campfire.

Rocky Mountain National Park is renowned for its wildlife and as we were driving near our campsite we saw a small herd of elk. Then on Saturday night a fox came visiting our campsite looking for food.

Jude and Santi played football as we were packing things away.

Sunday it was time to pack up our campsite and head home. We went via Trail Ridge Road again and stopped at the Visitor Center there which is above tree line at almost 12,000 feet and had spectacular views.

On top of Mt Bierstadt – Jude conquers his second 14er

This morning Jude and I were up before dawn to do our second fourteener together. We left home just before 6am and headed to the Mt Beirstadt trailhead and hit the trail at 7:20am. It was a spectacular day with not a cloud in the sky. It was a little slow going early as there had been a frost the night before and everything was icy but within an hour most of it had melted and made the summit right at 11am.

Jude is definitely getting stronger as he was faster than on the way down after we got past the technical parts. And best of all he loved it. His favorite part: the view from the top (mine too). You really feel like you are on top of the world from the summit of a 14er.

It was all smiles for the first day of school this week

After more than 10 weeks of summer break it was back to school on Tuesday this past week. Both kids were really looking forward to it – they were both excited to be entering the next grade. And despite a full summer they were actually getting a little bored of being away from the stimulation of school. They slipped back into the swing of things right away and it seems like it has been a relatively easy transition.

Marcy and Tina flexing their muscles before setting out to tackle the Beast

On Saturday we all headed up to Breckenridge for the annual Spartan Races. Once again Marcy was tackling the Beast – which is a crazy 14 miles long with 30 obstacles along the way such as crawling under barbed wire, carrying heavy logs up a steep hill, climbing ropes or dunking yourself in freezing water. It is not for the faint of heart. Marcy and Tina finished in just over five hours and they were both so exhausted they cried at the end. Although Marcy has recovered well and was moving around ok today.

Jude flying over obstacles in the kids Spartan race

For the kids they had a 1 mile obstacle course featuring many of the same obstacles just kid-sized. Both Jude and Anna finished the race well and Anna was so excited she decided to do the little kids 1/2 mile race afterwards. So, she picked up two medals.

Anna climbing the rope in the kids Spartan race

Showing off their medals after the race

We couldn’t wait around for Marcy to finish because Jude had his first soccer game of the season at 3pm. So, we drove back to leave Marcy and Tina to complete their tortuous race. Jude had a great soccer game. His team won 6-0 with Jude setting up one of the goals and he played really well throughout the game.

Cheering on Jude at his soccer game

Today was a quiet day at home after a very busy day for everyone yesterday. Jude and I played some soccer at the park and we had a short family basketball game.

Anna sporting her new hairstyle

The last week of school vacation turned into a pretty busy week even though we spent it mostly at home. We started off at the hair salon. After growing it out for over a year Anna decided that before school started she wants to get most of it chopped off. We all think it is an adorable new ‘do.

Climbing the walls, or at least the doorways, at home

The kids learned a new trick this week courtesy of our neighbors. They showed Jude and Anna how to wedge your feet into a doorway and climb up. As you can see Jude got pretty high.

All dressed up

Marcy and I went to a wedding on Saturday for our good friends Rich and Maggie, the first wedding we have been to in a decade or more. So, Marcy and I both got dressed up so Anna decided she wanted to get dressed as well. She really wanted to wear a tie so I tied it around one of my winter jackets for an interesting look.

After the 5k many years of students gather around Mrs Clark

This morning we all ran a 5K in Wash Park, it was a charity event for some friends of ours from school. Jude did great, running his heart out to finish in 32 minutes while Anna took it a bit slower with her school friends. Marcy and I also completed the race well. Afterwards, we ran into Mrs Clark who taught both Jude and Anna two years of pre-school.

After the boat ride where we all get drenched

The city of Denver has a reading program encouraging young kids to read. If you go to the library and show them how much you have read they give prizes – both Jude and Anna won a free ticket to Elitch’s. So, today was the day we went. After finishing the 5K, we quickly went home and got on our swim stuff and headed to Elitch’s. It was quite the day. Anna is over 48″ now which brought so many of the rides in play for her now. I went on a couple of very intense roller coasters with her.

It was a long day and a busy weekend. We should all sleep well tonight.

Getting ready for a cousins water balloon fight

It was another full week in Iowa with lots of fun activities. There was a trip to the zoo, to Living History Farms, an indoor trampoline place and more. With the Olympics on there was a lot of watching swimming and gymnastics. One night I took Jude out on one of our Jude and Daddy dates – we went to putt putt golf and then dinner at a sports bar.

A trip with Grandpa in the Jaguar

By the end of the week our kids were ready to get home. Jude especially was getting homesick, so on Saturday we made the long drive back. We had to drive in separate cars because Marcy had the new car she bought in Kansas City.

Jude’s favorite thing to do, soccer in the backyard

Today was just a relaxing day spent at home. The kids stayed home all day enjoying some time with their favorite toys, activities and the neighbor kids. Anna decided she wanted to mow the lawn, even though the mower was pretty heavy for her, and even harder with the grass so long from being away, she managed to do a great job.

Anna mowing the lawn for the first time