Day 378

Lexi has been working on a book lately. Nana's been hot on her quilt project for Easter. And the chocolate treat for the day is Chocolate and Peanut Butter Drizzled Popcorn. The day started out with a hot game of Monopoly: Star Wars with Papa, AJ, David, and Lexi. And Lexi held her own! Tonight's movies: Philomena (another good "real-lifer") and Rose Island.

Day 377

More snow overnight. More shoveling in the morning. The fire pit had to burn its way out of the snow. The kids have gotten into a chocolate cookbook they've checked out of the school library a zillion times (Nana finally ordered a copy for the house), Hershey's Sweet Treats & More. Today is AJ's and Lexi's day to make what they picked out, S'More Pies. Tomorrow David goes after some chocolate-drizzled popcorn treat. Nana got hold of some pics of the twins earlier this year when they did their marketplace project at school. They made and sold tops (you can see them in the pics below). AJ went all the way out to Peyton, CO today for an all-afternoon play-date with a friend from church. Had a great time! Picking up AJ at 5pm got him swept up in errands Nana and Papa had to do and ended with the three of them at Marigold Cafe and Bakery, a fine French restaurant off Garden of the Gods Road on Centennial Blvd, for dinner. The three of them had a grand time and AJ held his own at a white linen tablecloth place! We heard all kinds of stories, but shhh, mums the word. What happens at Marigold stays at Marigold. Oh, the biggy of the day... Papa learned of a Prager trip to Israel in the Fall and in a couple hours, it was booked!

S'More Pies

Marketplace at school earlier this year.

At Marigold Restaurant

Marketplace at school earlier this year.

Marigold's 2012 award-winning "Strawberry Shortcake"

Day 376

First thing in the morning, Matteo jumped into making a batch of sugar cookies. Those provided a lovely dessert for Tracy's PB&J sandwich lunch. AJ, David, and Papa (with Lexi helping Papa) played a rousing game of Monopoly: House Divided. Despite Lexi's help, Papa got creamed, David did OK, and AJ won. Matt got some steaks and asparagus going for dinner. Tonight's movie: Airplane (1980). Not coincidentally, Jamie heard David Zucker on the radio today, one of the movie's writers. He said that this movie probably couldn't be made today given the level of PC nonsense.

Airplane

Day 375

Woke up to another 6-or-so inches of snow. We got ourselves dug out in time to make an 8am doctor's appointment. Games and activities most of the day (see below). Today's movies: Tropical Thunder and Wish Man.

Prom prep.

Tracy: Never again.

In-n-Out for lunch. A crowd pleaser.

Had to burn its way out...

Well-groomed (the dogs).

Day 374

Off to church. Relatively nice day, but turned on us right after church. Our head security guy thought this was the hat for Jamie! Vaqueros for lunch! Fina is planning a Prom here like she did last year. Today was mask-making day for that party. Tonight's real-life movies were: The Boy That Harnessed the Wind (a little slow, but a good story) and Kill the Messenger (we fell asleep).

Day 373

We started the morning with Pente. We've got Matteo, AJ, and David well on their way to solid play. "GO" is next... Turned out to be a very warm day for March, so off to the pool we went! Dinner from the Club, too. Fina's cotton candy machine arrived so she had to get it set up and try it out. Tada, cotton candy. It's for the Prom event she'll be hosting at our house in April. Tonight's movies: Jiu Jitsu (sci-fi, a long way from our "real life" recent trend) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (far afield as well).

Day 372

Tried the Urban Egg coffee this morning - pretty good. The two white dogs went to the vet for a major teeth cleaning and one extraction. They survived. Lexi and Jonni are planning a chocolate extravaganza. Jamie had his volunteer time at the Flying Horse Foundation. Tonight's movie: Walk, Ride, Rodeo.