Day 198

While Matt took some of the kids fishing, Jamie did his Parlor Car Chat session on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight and Great Lodges, a trip he and Lynn took with the Underwoods back in 2016. Meanwhile, preparations continue for tomorrow's church school program including homemade playdough. And Fina continued work on the masks for her cohorts own self-executed Homecoming Party. Oh, and Matteo caught a fish big enough to keep so he and Matt cleaned and prepped it today (with champagne, lemon juice, and seasonings) for cooking another day. Tonight's movies, How Do You Know and Like Father.

Day 197

Fall decorations are sprouting up on Nana and Papa's side of the house. And still more to come and get finished. We visited three more homes on the Parade of Homes today (this is the last weekend). Horse day for Jamie. 

Day 196

David got his casts on today to start the process of fixing his "walking on his toes" issue. This will adjust the length of tendons or something like that. Matteo went fishing after school today (Monument Lake). It was one of those days. Cast after cast, renewed bait after renewed bait, lure and/or live, deeper out, closer in, for nearly 2 hours. Sometimes lucky, mostly not. Every nibble keeps him going. But... It was fun. An abiding fun. There's a life lesson here, I think, that Matteo is learning. Actually, I think he's got this. Now, whenever we tell Matteo that "he's got this," he understands something about what it takes. Even when the reel breaks.

Had the lake practically to himself.

Day 195

Only 5 days away from 200. Think of that. Another day of a few dentist and doctor trips, but tomorrow is the biggy for that. Fina spent 2.5 hours at a Goodwill with some cohorts today. AJ's still into his dance class. Curtis (CA) and Denise (TX) stopped by for lunch today. They've been doing a little getaway visiting places like the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Today they swung through Colorado Springs, visited the new Olympics Museum, and had lunch with Jamie at the Club. 

Day 194

The only action shot caught from today was reading time with the twins right after school. The quilt pictures were actually from a previous day. The wedding folks, by the way, are in Breckenridge for the next few days presumably doing lots of hiking. Jamie did the Exodus/Moses Part 1 session of his Tuesday evening God Is Good course.

Day 193

Not long after getting all the kids off to school we hear that Tracy is on her way to the ER with the baby. He's been radically fussy lately and things don't feel right down by his hernia surgery of a while ago. Took all day to find out; turns out he has another similar issue and he's got a surgery consult on Thursday. Meanwhile, Lynn has dolled up the "wedding limo" (Regusci's van) for the big day. Eric and Alex are tying the knot (literally, as it turned out) at Garden of the Gods.

This is quite clear compared to the last few smoke days.

More Fall color added.

Lynn's wedding limo accents.

Day 192

Church this morning, of course. Then a rousing curbside-pickup lunch from Red Robin. We were buried in fries. Broncos lost. Chiefs won (in another 2nd-quarter comeback). Fina joined her church youth group this evening at the coffee shop in Monument. One photo for today, but it's a goodie. AJ has joined a Book Challenge at school and has begun amassing and reading those books. Remember Hoot from last year, it's on this year's list. The family gathered around Nana reading from one of the books while everyone was enjoying a toast-and-butter dinner.

Day 191

Fina's making masks for a Homecoming Party that a few of her friends are throwing for themselves. And the twins had soccer this morning. The big event of the day was the Sisco clan coming over for dinner after a day of hiking and Ultimate Frisbee. And, Eric and Alex got their wedding quilt! 

Day 190

The Sisco clan arrived last night and we met up with them at Garden of the Gods today to scout out locations for the wedding on Monday. The littlest one also got a video phone call in with his grandma. Jamie and Lynn managed to sneak in one Parade Home before joining up with the Siscos. The day closed for Lynn and Jamie with a delightful outdoor "drinks and dinner" time with the Siscos in the backyard of the their downtown digs for the weekend.

Parade of Homes

Captains of Industry

Lots of deer around at Garden of the Gods today.

Saved the mask!

Day 189

The dogs are always a little confused in the morning: do I get something to eat, go see what Nana's doing, or AJ, or Matteo, or Papa, go poop, maybe the front door, or the baby?! So many choices, so little time. The Buncha Masks puzzle is complete! Nana and Papa visited three more homes on the Parade of Homes; we now have a new first and second place favorite. Since all three homes today were along County Line Road, we stopped at La Casa Fiesta in Monument for lunch. The twins had soccer practice this evening, and Fina had dance. All might be a little sore in the morning. And Tracy got into planning Halloween costuming 2020. Oh, and the Sisco clan made it to town safe and sound. They're staying in a "mansion" (we're told) downtown on N. Weber.