Day 380

Nice, gentle start to the day. Then things started to happen. Prep began for a Passover Seder. Yes, the Seder celebration and remembrance of the Exodus is a uniquely Jewish activity (for about 2,000 years now), but the story of the Exodus (older than that!) is certainly part of the Christian faith as well. And since Jamie's so immersed in the Torah these days (which includes Exodus), why not! We did a very abbreviated, kid-focused Seder. We watched two short videos (What's the Passover/Seder? and an animated Exodus story). Then we dove into the Seder foods ("bitter herbs") and closed with a hunt for the afikomen (pieces of matzah for dessert). Matzah does eat a bit like cardboard, but it's fabulous with butter. Not sure if that's kosher but quite sure it's really good; AJ-approved, too. Check out the lego version of the "Parting of the Red Sea" at the bottom. We actually didn't get to this activity, but Jamie had to try it later. Actually, this was Jamie's second Seder experience. The first was in college when invited by a Jewish freshmen friend to attend a campus Seder. He'll never forget it, made quite an impact. When we were all done, AJ bursts out with "Best Seder ever!" His only Seder, of course, but we love his enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Tracy, Fina, and some friends with their Moms went shopping for Fina's prom dress. You'll recall she's throwing a Prom here at the house for her cohorts later in April. And Fina found her dress!

Graupel (also called soft hail or snow pellets)

The kids shoveled the "grass" in the courtyard.
There's been snow in there for months.

Chef Jamie (spaghetti tonight)

Grating horseradish, one of the bitter herbs
for the Seder. Nana made the Seder charoset, too.

Passover Seder

(grape juice)
"Next Year in Jerusalem!" (actually this Fall for Nana/Papa!)

Parting of the Red Sea? Led by Trooper Moses?

Day 379

Today it was Jonnie's choice from the Hershey's Sweet Treats & More cookbook. And his choice was "Two Great Tastes Chocolate Pudding" (peanut butter and chocolate). AJ filmed the whole thing on his GoPro from Christmas. Morning activities included a game of HORSE out on the basketball court. Matteo and AJ definitely did better than David and Papa. It was horse day for Papa, during which we got a 20-minute snow blizzard both at home and at the ranch. Tonight's movies: Fractured and Rememory.

Look at that form!

Our group did obstacles (center and left).
The other group did mounted work (right).

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).