Day 326

After most of the kids were deposited at school, those of us remaining went to Buttermilk for lunch. Turned out to be mostly breakfast (although there were options for lunch). We forget how fun and how good that place is, and just down the hill from us. They have a very secret ingredient (or two) they use for pancakes, waffles, etc. - and it's fabulous. Jamie discovered the espresso martini is pretty good, too. As is the bourbon syrup. Jamie stumbled onto an Immenso cigar that's been in the humidor "forever" (probably 15 or more years). Always just seemed too unwieldy, which today Jamie discovered was true. The ring size was at least 70. Matt grilled up some chicken legs (using his new grill stand for chicken legs) which we thoroughly enjoyed along with Rice-a-Roni and a Pear Valley "Inspiration." The evening included Fina waiting with bated breath for a callback from today's audition - she got the callback.

Tracy: Bragging on Fina for a moment - this week we got a foster placement of twins. One has a g-tube and we needed a way to carry all his stuff. Serafina found a tutorial on how to turn this skip hop backpack into a functional feeding backpack by using the leash that comes with it. She added a hook on the top to hang it, a strap inside to hold the bag, and a hole to thread the tube out! Now our little guy can explore his world so much easier!

The pancake is bigger than she is.

Matt's new chicken leg grill rack

Waiting for callbacks. She got called back.

Day 325

Sunday morning at TimberCreek Church! Tracy and her helpers get there at about 7:30am. Security folks (Jamie) at 8:30am, and Matt and Kids for the 11am service. Tracy got a great deal on blue square footage and made a Nursery area for the foster kids next to the PreSchool area. She also set up a mobile feeding station for mobile "direct line" feedings. Today marked the 2nd Anniversary for TimberCreek - and you thought the fly-by was coincidental. Lunch from Vaqueros, of course. Tracy also got stuff for home to create a gross-motor play area for the foster kids. Lexi liked it, too. Today's movies: Analyze That, and Finding Ohana.

New square footage.

Direct line feeding station

2nd Anniversary Sunday for TimberCreek!

They did a fly-by for our anniversary!

New gross-motor play area.

Day 324

Another beautiful day, maybe a bit windy. And Matt got the day started off right by making pancakes for breakfast; the entire batch was consumed. Matt, Jamie, and the four littles spent some time at the pool today. Meanwhile, Matteo had a handful of his friends from ECA over to watch Mandalorian in the theater room. Tracy made quiche for dinner. Jamie's now officially underway learning Hebrew: got the alphabet about down (made his own flash cards), the Great Courses material arrived a few days ago, and he's got a couple interlinear Bible (Torah) translations on the new shelves in his office. Tonight's movie: The DIG.

Jamie put in that piece.

Day 323

Another beautiful day. While the girls went to Mardel's and picked up lunch at In-n-Out, Matt and Jamie went to Bourbon Brothers. Matt had the chili and cornbread, a fave. Jamie had all new stuff: The Don (basically an old-fashioned with amaretto) and their Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and cream corn. Both were super good. Jamie went out to Flying Horse Foundation for his group which played an interesting version of "Stack the Cups" (picture below). Very interesting the cooperation it took. Fina's improv troupe did an online version of Cheap Date Night, and it was quite fun! Tonight's movie: Below Zero.

The Don (drink) and Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

No-Touch Cooperative Cup Stacking

Cheap Date Improv via MS Teams

Day 322

Beautiful, sunny, winter day in the 50s. The new set of shelves for the downstairs office arrived today, got assembled, put in place, and loaded up (so far). Matteo finished his Lego Piano recently. It was nice enough today to get two Prager/Torah sessions done outside. Lynn whipped up a great steak in cream sauce with roasted baby potatoes for lunch. Tracy had meetings all day today with all manner of support people for the new foster kids. Chicken tacos for dinner. Today's movies: Adrift (true story, appropriately slow, interesting twist); and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising.

Taking Matteo to his bus stop at sunrise.

Legos!

Torah Time

New set of shelves in between the uprights...

For the ever-growing Torah/Hebrew collection.

Day 321 (liftoff!)

More snow last night, but the kids did go back to school today. Jamie's been off Starbucks quite a few months now, and is trying coffees from smaller companies and/or local companies. Today's is Zeke's Coffee, a "small batch operation" in Maryland. Pretty good, especially with a dash of cinnamon. Dinner came from the Club tonight, and boy can they work magic! They turned french fries into fruit for all four kids. Tonight's movie: Deidra and Laney Rob a Train (we didn't make it to the end). The carrot cake barely survived the day.

One of Jamie's views during Torah Time from the fire pit.

Mr. Yellow Shirt loves the dogs, and vice versa.

Under that big black of ice (left of center) is a flowing fountain!

Day 320

Snow Day! More than a little snow shoveling for Matt and Jamie. Also means a little office sharing. Papa managed to beat AJ in a game of chess. We got two new foster babies overnight. Tonight's movie: The Stand in Paxton County.

AJ and Papa played a round.

Carrot Cake to end the day!