Jude and his school friends as blue balloon boys on Halloween night

On Halloween night Anna and Jude went their separate ways with their school friends. It was the warmest Halloween night we have ever had in Denver. I wore a t-shirt while following the boys around trick or treating. The kids had a blast and of course picked up a bucketful of candy.

Anna as Harry Potter with some school friends about to go trick or treating

Both Jude and Anna stayed home the day after Halloween. It was not really candy-induced, they both had colds. Anna’s took a turn for the worse which resulted in a trip to the doctor and a revisit to the masks and inhaler. But she was back at school by Thursday.

Jude panning for “gold” on his field trip

It is somewhat embarrassing that Jude is in fourth grade and I have not yet been on a field trip with his class. They have several a year so I decided this year I would go on one field trip for both kids. Jude’s class went to Four Mile Park in Denver this week where they got to see how pioneer life was back in the 19th century.

We had a pretty quiet weekend which was nice given how busy we have been the past few weekends. Jude’s soccer season is over now but Anna had one last game on Saturday morning.

Anna and me outside Dave & Buster’s today

Anna has been excited about going to Dave & Buster’s since I first took Jude there almost two years ago. So, today we had another Anna and Daddy date and I took her there. We had promised after she turned 8 I would take her there. She had an absolute blast. Even after building it up for months she was not disappointed in the slightest. She proved a natural at the car race. We raced against each other and by the third race she beat me fair and square. We could have stayed there for hours but we stayed just over an hour for her first trip. Next time, I think I will take both kids because Jude wants to go back.

Visiting Sunflower farm on a school trip

This week Anna’s second grade class went to Sunflower farm, a trip that they do every year. Marcy went with them and Anna got to pet the cow, played with chickens, did a zip-line and rode on a tractor.

Friday was the annual Halloween Journey festival at school and all the kids got to dress up in costume and play fun games. Jude dressed up his blue balloon man outfit which has its own built in compressor so he looks like a big balloon. Anna dressed up as Harry Potter.

At the school Harvest Festival dressed as Harry Potter

This weekend was mainly about soccer. On Saturday Anna had two games and Jude had one game that took up the entire morning. Sunday, Jude had a soccer tournament where he played four times in short 25 minute games. Jude did well, scoring his first two goals of the season – one each day.

Anna practicing before her game started on Saturday morning

During a break from the soccer we went to the pumpkin patch to pick up some pumpkins. Then Jude and Anna carved their pumpkins, something they have done every year. Marcy commented that this is really the first year that she has not really helped at all – the kids did it almost completely by themselves.

Carving pumpkins the day before Halloween

Jude’s official school photo for 2016-17 year

We received the school photos this week. While I know I am biased aren’t they just the cutest kids you have ever seen.

Anna’s official school photo for 2016-17 year

After our busy trip away it was good to have a normal weekend. Although Saturday was a little crazy with Jude playing soccer in Colorado Springs and Anna having a double header with her team in Denver. We had to go our separate ways and it took up most of Saturday.

Jude’s soccer game in Colorado Springs had a beautiful view of the mountains

Today we talked about doing some kind of outing but we ended up staying around the house all day. Jude had lots of homework to do and they both had their chores. With no Broncos or Packers game today we had the whole day free. Marcy and I filled out our voting ballots and we all got caught up on stuff around the house.

Anna raked some leaves and enjoyed playing in her big pile

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.