Amazing Hiking in Boulder

While the moms were at an all-day translation seminar, the dads took the kids to Boulder to go hiking. They were amazing -- Luka, Ada and Axel all hiking on their own, up and back, to the Royal Arch in Boulder at Chatauqua: 5 hours round trip! Luka and Ada did it effortlessly as they played along the trail to get to their goal, and Axel was determined to do it on his own, and not once did he say "Carry me, Daddy!" He also insisted on using one of Reynald's trekking poles the entire time!

Will these guys climb Everest next?

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Luka (5-1/2 years old) Kayaking - Boulder Creek Festival


Axel (2-1/2 years old) Kayaking - Boulder Creek Festival


Axel Kayaking at Boulder Creek Festival - Go, Ax!



Axel Skiing at Ski Cooper


Luka and Axel Singing Frère Jacques

Reynald at 4,350 meters (14,265 ft) on top of Quandary Peak getting ready to ski down a 3,000 foot face. He looks like he is loving it, doesn't he? (This was taken April 20.)

Joan, Eve, Corinne after running 9K in the Title 9K
Mother's Day at the Boulder Reservoir

Joan, Eve, Corinne
Axel, Ada, Luka
Title 9K Mother's Day Race

Luka, Axel peeking out of their big
cardboard box house in backyard

Luka and cardboard box fun

Axel and cardboard box fun

Axel, Eve, Luka
Mother's Day Tea at School

Luka and Easter Fun

Luka, Axel licking the beaters

Axel saying "yum, yum"

Axel with his ski face on

Luka and Axel and their Mr./Mrs./Ms. Potato Head creations

As Luka finishes up his first year of Kindergarten, this is the first time we have dealt with the end of the "school year" (well, since we were kids). He will have a special graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 29th and will then start "camp" at school where they do tons of field trips (Denver Art Museum, NCAR, Fountains, Pottery Making and more!), until we leave for France. He is excited about camp and about France! He is really a "big" boy now. He is reading so well and also loves numbers. He is going to attend a new public school in the district next year that is dedicated to integrating arts into the daily curriculum.

Axel is growing so much too, he changes day by day. He is such a great talker and very perceptive. He adores reading and singing and dancing, so we are excited about him going to the arts school someday too! He was really sad ski season was over, but next year will come fast enough. He loves talking to his grandparents on Skype and can't wait to see them!

Both Axel and Luka (and Mmommy and Ddaddy) were so happy to have Grandma (Eve's mom) visiting us in early May. Mommy had to work too much, but otherwise it was a wonderful visit! Grandma and Mommy had a great 9K race on Mother's Day.

See some recent pictures above.

Luka is Double Axel's Age Today

We have been waiting for this day: the only time in their lives when Luka will be exactly twice as old as Axel.

Luka was 2,044 days today - Saturday, May 24, 2008, and Axel was 1,022 days old!

In other words, Luka was 5 years, 7 months and 5 days old and Axel was 2 years, 9 months, 2 weeks and 4 days old.

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Life Lessons Important to Learn

On my run the other day, I heard a podcast of This American Life's episode 355: The Giant Pool of Money that aired on May 9, 2008. You can find it here to download and listen or read their summary: Giant Pool of Money. 

This is a must-listen show. It discusses the how and why of the current economic crisis, including the US mortgage crisis and how it relates to the little guy, the Wall Street guy, the world pool of money, and everyone in between. 

It is fascinating and horrifying at the same time. However, I think it has several general life lessons in it as well. Not to be paranoid, but they are truisms. Here they are: 

1) never trust anyone else to make big decisions for you; you must make decisions on your own that can affect your well-being, and take the time, care and responsibility of doing so. As the old saying goes, no one is gong to do it for you, so you'd better look out for yourself. 

2) Never, ever, ever blindly follow the crowd. Be an independent thinker. Even if the whole world is doing it, it does not mean it is right. Be guided by your own moral compass. As the story recounted in this podcast clearly shows, following the crowd can contribute to the general malaise of human kind, and fighting against it, can, at times, make more difference than you could ever imagine - to you and to all of humanity. 

Listen to this podcast and learn about the makings of the current economic mess we are in, as well as learn something about basic human nature.