It was a beautiful sunny day at the Broncos game

Today was the season’s opening home game, and we got our free tickets for this game. It was a warm, sunny day and we were in the sun all afternoon, so we were hot. The game was a good one for the Broncos, getting their first win of the season, so it was a fun afternoon.

Jude in action as a referee

Yesterday, both kids had their first games refereeing this season. They were both at the same field at the same time which made it handy. And it was good for Anna because she had a rough first game with some aggressive parents and Jude was able to provide some support for her after the game.

Anna’s cheerleading team, the Cool Cats (Anna is middle right)

Anna is on a schedule of a long cheer practice on both Saturday and Sunday now. She continues to love it so much and loves her team. They work really hard and she is pretty exhausted when she gets home. But she always looks forward to every practice and would be happy to do it every day.

Anna doing a “scale” at home

Jude practices juggling a soccer ball every single day. Here is a video of him doing it today.

In the ER after my bike accident

On Tuesday morning, I rode my bike to work like I have done 1,000 times before. It is only 2.5 miles, and a good chunk of it is through our local park. On Tuesday morning, as I was half a mile from work, a car cut right in front of me as he turned into a parking lot. There was nothing I could do. I barely had time to hit the brakes. I hit the car and then fell to the ground. I was a bit beaten up but ok.

Thankfully, some people saw it, and they called 911, and the ambulance showed up in just a couple of minutes. I texted Marcy, and she came to pick me up. The EMTs strongly suggested I head to the ER, so Marcy drove me there. I couldn’t really put any weight on my left leg, but the X-Rays revealed nothing broken, thankfully. Needless to say, though, it has been a sedentary week for me. But I am on the mend.

Yesterday was cold and rainy, and both kids were supposed to be refereeing their first games of the season. But all games were canceled. So, it ended up being a quiet weekend. Anna had cheer practice, and Jude spent time in the park practicing soccer. Marcy and I went shopping for a rowing machine.

On the summit of South Boulder Peak

Yesterday Marcy and I celebrated our 18th anniversary. We decided to go for a hike not too far from home, so we chose South Boulder Peak. It was going to be a hot day, but we didn’t think it would be that bad. We reached the summit, hiking up 3,000 feet of elevation in three hours. It was nice and cool up at 8,300 feet.

We realized we didn’t bring enough water, and it kept getting hotter and hotter on the way down. Marcy was fine, but I was struggling, as was Olive. The last hour was brutal, 95 degrees, no shade, and no water, although we luckily stumbled across a creek that made Olive a very happy camper. We all made it back in one piece and had some cold sparkling water waiting for us in a cooler in the car. Phew.

That night we ordered sushi and shared a bottle of nice champagne. It was a delicious end to a challenging day.

Sunset on the beach at Dana Point

Last week I spent three days in California for a work conference we hosted. The event went really well, although attendance was lighter than we had hoped. But we stayed at the Ritz Carlton right on the beach at Dana Point. It was spectacular. My room looked out on the ocean and had a fire pit outside my doors. The room came with a Smores kit that I did not use but brought home for the kids, and they made it their dessert on Saturday night.

Roasting marshmallows on the grill for their S’mores

Apart from our anniversary hike, it was a pretty quiet long weekend. We cleaned the garage and now have two cars in there for the first time in over a year. It was hot every day, but Jude still made it to the park for soccer practice each day, and Anna went for her daily walks.

Jude towers over Marcy in his 10th grade back-to-school photo

Summer break came to an end this week. Jude started 10th grade on Tuesday and Anna started 8th grade on Wednesday. Jude was not thrilled to be returning while Anna couldn’t wait to start 8th grade.

Olive wanted in on Anna’s back-to-school photo

A traditional at Ricks on the first day of school is that every kid gets to ring the bell. This was the last time she will be doing this so Marcy and I went to school to see her.

Anna ringing the bell on the first day of school

Today, Jude and I did our annual 14er. We chose Mt Quandary near Breckenridge, the closest one to Keystone, as we had never done it. So, yesterday Jude and I drove up to Keystone to spend the night and then we were up very early (5:15am) so we could get to the trailhead by 6:30am.

On the summit of Mt Quandary at 14.265 feet

It ended up being a relatively easy hike, we agreed it was the easiest one we had done since we started in 2015 (this was Jude’s eighth 14er). We were on the summit by 9:15am and with a break at the top we were back at the car just before 12pm. Lunch at Chimayo and then back to the condo to clean up and we were home by 4:40pm.

Meanwhile Anna and Marcy went a cheerleading team bonding night. Anna had a great time, she loves everyone in her cheer team so much.

In action at the first home game of the season

Even though school does not officially start until Tuesday, the soccer season is already underway. Their first game was Thursday afternoon this past week and it was one to forget, a bad loss and Jude didn’t get many minutes of action. On Saturday, they played at home and Jude started in midfield. The whole team played much better and were unlucky to lose 1-0.

Jude taking a shot on goal – probably the best shot of the game, missed by inches

Today, Jude and I ran in the Race for Research 5k, a fundraiser for cancer research. It was our first 5k of the year and it was a nice cool morning for it. Jude did well, winning his age group again and coming in 7th place overall. I came third in the fiftysomething bracket, albeit a few minutes behind Jude.

Jude finishing the Race for Research 5k

Anna loves cheerleading so much. And she has been wanting this mat called the AirTrack, a long inflatable mat where she can practice her tumbling. We bought it for her as an early birthday present and it arrived this week. She used it a lot until she tweaked her ankle on one of the landings. But she was able to recover in time to go to cheerleading practice today.

Practicing her back handspring to back tuck

Anna is really looking forward to starting 8th grade this week, she starts on Wednesday. One of her school friends had a pool party and invited several in the class over to celebrate the end of summer break. It made her look forward to returning to school even more. And she was invited to be the 8th-grade ambassador. So on Tuesday, she will go show the incoming middle schoolers around Ricks.

Back from completing her soccer referee course

Anna has completed the work needed to become a certified soccer referee. She did an online course that took probably eight hours or more and then had a four-hour in-person training this afternoon. She enjoyed it. There were a few other girls there and most people had never refereed before, so Anna had more experience on the field.

Jude had tryouts for high school soccer this week and it looks like he will be on JV again this year which he is not unhappy about. He didn’t play his best during tryouts, if he had done so he said he probably would have made varsity.

Anna has applied to a local modeling agency as she would like to try to get work there after doing the acting and modeling course during covid. We went to the park to do a photoshoot so she could submit some new photos.

Doing a photoshoot in the park

The five kids plus Olive wandering around River Run, Keystone

Our annual trip to Keystone with the Dahlens was a little different this year. On Monday morning, I took a covid test and was positive. Jude and I both had a head cold on our Canada trip, and it turns out it was covid. So, we laid low at home for the first part of the week.

I was the only one in our family to test positive (we each took a test every morning), so on Wednesday, Marcy and Anna drove to Keystone, and Jude and I drove up first thing Thursday morning. It worked out well for him as he could attend soccer practice Monday to Wednesday.

The traditional photo under the kitchen bench

Nathan and I played golf Thursday while the ladies and Jude went shopping (Jude and Ella didn’t last that long). We rode our bikes to the farmers market on Friday and out to our favorite Mexican restaurant that evening. Then Saturday, it was time for the Dahlens to return home.

At Chihuahua Lake on a gorgeous day for hiking

Saturday, we went for a hike on the Chihuahua Gulch trail, one of our favorites. Anna decided she didn’t want to go to the top, so Marcy went back with Anna, and they walked almost the entire way home. Jude and I made it to the lake (which happens to be the place I proposed to Marcy way back in 2003).

Marcy and Anna on their hike back from Chihuahua Gulch

After we got back from our hike, we had a couple of visitors. Two huge moose came right up by the side of our place, one was right on our property within 6-8 feet of our back door.

A friendly moose comes for a visit

Last night Jude and I played nine holes at the River Course, finishing just before dark. It was the first time Jude had swung a club since last summer, and he played well. He scored his first ever par from the white tees on hole number three.

Enjoying an evening round of golf

Today, Marcy and Anna drove to Breckenridge and then it was one last meal at Chimayo for Jude and I before heading home.

Wandering around the streets of Québec City

This past week we spent in Québec on our annual RV trip. We flew into Montreal very late Sunday night (actually it was early Monday morning), thankfully we had a booked our first night at the Airport Marriott. We picked up our RV around noon on Monday and we were off. Our first stop was Québec City where we wandered around the old town for a couple of hours. Then it was on to our first night in Saguenay Fjord where we would be spending the week.

At the Notre Dame du Saguenay Statue overlooking the fjord

Our first full day was spent hiking to the Notre Dame statue in Saguenay Fjord National Park. It was a bit longer than we expected and it rained quite a bit but it was a beautiful hike with spectacular views of the fjord.

Our one night of fine dining at Auberge La Fjordelaise

That night we booked a fine dining establishment in L’Anse St Jean called Auberge La Fjordelaise which was fantastic, our best meal of the trip. It was a B&B run by an elderly French couple who spoke no English but we communicated ok with Jude practicing his French, and Marcy for that matter.

Jumping off the pier at Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux

The next day we moved camp to the other side of the fjord, staying in a more rustic setting at an RV Park called Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux. As the name suggests, this was an adventure park as well as a campground and was everyone’s favorite place on the trip. They had a pier for jumping off, sea kayaking, a ropes course, volleyball and more.

Sea kayaking on the fjord

We spent more of our time on the beach. The water was cold (well under 70 degrees) but the kids didn’t seem to mind. Marcy joined in as well but I wasn’t feeling that great so I stayed out of the water. Although we all went seak kayaking one afternoon, which was a blast.

At the Beluga whale viewing area

The next day we had lunch in the cute town of St Rose Du Nord, and then we stopped at Baie Sainte Marguerite to see if we could spot some beluga whales. There was a 4-mile out and back hike to a viewing area, and sure enough we saw a flew spouts from blowholes in the distance that were undoubtedly whales.

Outside our RV, a converted ambulance

Our last day was spent mainly driving back to Montreal although we did manage a quick stop at Montmorency Falls near Québec City. Then it was to our hotel in Montreal for our last night. We just wandered around the city and grabbed some dinner.

On a hike to the top of Mount Royal (where Montreal gets its name)

Montreal is one of the few cities in the world that has a mountain, really a large hill (740 feet elevation), on the very outskirts of downtown. It took less than an hour, this morning, for us to walk from our hotel to its summit. That was our last adventure before heading home this afternoon.

I should also mention that Jude and I were in England the previous week. Jude was at his International soccer camp north of London and I was on a work trip to London. Jude loved his camp, particularly meeting kids from all over Europe. The counselors/coaches were great and he said he got a lot out of it. But we were both really tired with less than 24 hours at home between trips. The lack of sleep didn’t help fend off a cold that we both experienced during the first part of the Canada trip.

One reason we were happy to return to Denver was to see Olive and Pickles, who stayed home with our housesitter. Both animals seem happy to have us home.

Jude about to board his flight to London

Saturday night was always going to be interesting. We had Anna returning from her camp in Pennsylvania, Jude was flying to London, and so was I, but on a different plane. We were arriving or leaving within an hour of each other. Or so we thought.

We found out Jude’s flight was delayed first. Then Anna’s flight was delayed by an incoming storm. My flight was on time, so I said goodbye to Jude and Marcy. Luckily Jude’s and Anna’s flights were on the same course within 100 yards of each other. Jude finally made it onto the plane and then Anna was the last person off the plane on her flight as she was the unaccompanied minor. Then they were both able to watch Jude’s plane leave.

Happy to see each other after a week away

Not only was Jude late leaving Denver, but his plane also took the long way to London and ended up being almost three hours late. I went to Terminal 5 and called the camp a couple of times to make sure this was all going to be ok. They assured me it was. So, I left the airport ready to return if there was a problem. After a little mix-up once Jude got to the arrivals hall, everything worked out and he was on his way to camp at the Oundle School about two hours north of London. We can’t wait to find out how it goes.

Anna and her campmates right after throwing chalk at each other

On to Anna’s week in Pennsylvania. This is a camp she chose herself, back when she was still doing gymnastics. Even though she is more into cheer these days, she still said she loved the camp. And there is a huge crossover as all the floor gymnastics is very similar to cheer.

Anna practicing on beam

Anna said she loved her counselors and made some new friends among her campmates. But I could tell when I chatted with her this morning that she was pretty happy to be home. It was a big deal doing two flights by yourself, each way, and then being so far from home for a week.

Anna won the kindness award at her camp

Our crazy travel schedule continues with Jude and I returning on Saturday and then Sunday we leave for Montreal where we are spending next week in an RV.

In her seat on her first solo flight (Anna sent us this selfie)

Today was a big day for Anna. We left the house at 6am to head to the airport for Anna’s trip to Allentown, PA for her first gymnastics camp. Anna seemed pretty calm about the big day. She was flying to Atlanta first for a two-hour layover and then on to Allentown. I stayed at DIA until she took off, as I was instructed to do.

Leaving Denver for Atlanta

When you are 13 years old, you are officially an unaccompanied minor and so Delta representatives were with Anna the whole turn during her layover. They even gave her a free lunch coupon which she spent at Wendy’s. The trip all went smoothly except for a little hiccup at the end that was sorted out fairly quickly. Anyway, she is at camp now and we won’t hear from her again until Saturday.

Getting ready to go see Minions: The Rise of Gru

Of course, we began this week in Des Moines. The kids all went to see the new Minions movie and Jude dressed up like many teenage boys are doing, although he dropped the jacket given how hot it was outside. They also spent time bowling and more time in the pool.