Day 409

Sunday morning was all about TimberCreek Church, as usual. The afternoon and evening included more pieces to AJ's very extended birthday weekend. Today, it was Olive Garden and making dump cake. While about half of us had a good time at Olive Garden, the other half didn't. They've got such a screwy reservation system/policy that we would have had to wait over 30 more minutes after showing up for our appointed time and Tracy couldn't see doing that with the five littles so she and Fina (and the five) aborted Olive Garden. The good news, though, it was "the best meal of my life" for AJ: unlimited breadsticks with alfredo sauce, calamari, and cheese pizza with alfredo sauce. Maybe we should call him Alfredo. To be clear, kudos to the waiter, boo-hiss to the front desk (cost the company 7 meals). Then on to dump cake. AJ wanted to "do it all" with only supervision from an adult. And that's the way it went down! That is good stuff, and with a la mode to boot!

I don't think I've ever seen candles in the ice cream before...
It was pretty cool.

Day 408

It was a HUGE day. First up was a birthday breakfast for AJ. You know, where you can eat all your favorite sugary cereals, have donuts, etc. It's a hoot! And open a few presents. AJ was hoping for a laptop, he got a LeapTop; a pretty funny Mom-prank (a real laptop is coming). Next up was AJ's baseball picture day and a game. Then a trip to the shooting range with Dad for AJ. Matteo chose to go to a friend's birthday party at Sky Zone (indoor trampolines). Both had a grand time as you might imagine. By mid-afternoon, the Compound's focus was totally on tonight's Prom 2021. Decorating and setup continued unabated till the first ring of the doorbell. You'll have to ask Fina for a link to the photo gallery (which won't be ready for a day or so).

A LeapTop! He gave it to Lexi.

AJ's team is "The Yard Goats"

Prom prep

It will soon be time to change these out; we hope.

Prom prep

Prom is winding down

Day 407

Last day of online school for the twins (who have been quarantined out of school all week)! Lexi joined Papa and AJ for the walk to school this morning. She was quite taken by all the dandelions along the way, mostly those on "Dandelion Hill" as she calls it (along North Gate just down from Silverton). Jamie's horse volunteering today at Flying Horse Foundation included mounted work with the kids for the first time. Tonight's movie: The Zookeeper's Wife (another excellent real-lifer).

The day's opening activity.

From "Dandelion Hill"

Matt had grilled sausages to go with these shishito peppers.

Last day of online school (quarantined).

Looks like fire in the sky, too. Cramming in a little more
Torah at fireside before Shabbat starts (at sunset). Of course,
Torah study is perfectly acceptable on Shabbat,
but not fire building (so no cigar, either).

Day 406

The twins were promised lunch at Buttermilk Restaurant if they did well on their school work in the morning. They did; we went! Jonnie was grinning the whole time and boy, did they pack the food away. Dessert, too! I guess they do like this place. David and I got some tic-tac-toe in as well. Our waitress remembered us having breakfast there a few weeks ago on the way to the Royal Gorge Railroad. Fina (and Mom and Nana) continued with Prom Prep; two days to go! Nana spent parts of the last couple of days organizing our bathroom cabinets and drawers. We can find stuff now. Nana and Papa went to Cheap Date Improv Night at the school; always a hoot!

School for the quarantined twins.

See the ice around the hose? The rocks are ice-encased, too.

Another ice sculpture by the fountain.

Prom prep. It'll be at the house Saturday night.

At Buttermilk!

Waffle, ice cream, strawberries, chocolate, whipped cream.

Lasted 4 minutes.

Cabinet organizing.

Cheap Date Night Improv. Fina is seated far right.

Jonnie preps his place setting at Buttermilk.

Day 405

Late start day for school (except Matteo). And it was a very cold walk to school with AJ. A little work got done on the puzzle. And Nana finished up altering Fina's dress for prom and made progress on a runner (pictured) for the same event (this Saturday!). Lexi and Jonnie had swim lessons as usual for a Wednesday these days. 

AJ made my day. He came out and joined me at the fire, as he often does. But rather than a couple-minute conversation, this one went quite a while. He told me how he and a friend at school had quite the conversation about Passover. AJ recounted for me what he told the friend, and it was spot on! He remembered (mostly) the bitter herbs including what each meant. He remembered the blood smeared over the door and what that meant. He remembered Moses at the "bush that was burning but wasn't burning down." He went on to tell of playing 20 Questions at church with Bible character names on their backs. As fate would have it, his tag was Moses. His first question was about the burning bush. Yes. His next question was did he take slaves out of Egypt. Yes. The teacher wanted to know how he knew so much. Grandpa. He asked me if we could do more stuff like the Passover Seder. Yes!

Temps were below freezing.

Ready for a spankin'?

Day 404

Interesting sky and views after last night's snow. Even a "snowbow." Today was the twin's first workday of their quarantine from school this week. Oh, how we dislike this Zoom stuff. The fire had to burn its way out of the snow for Torah Time today. And Lynn had her first knitting class at the Club! The day ended for the Fosters with a phone call to the Siscos to plan their early-June New Mexico adventure. Oh, and how about that Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey at Walter's! Shhh, don't tell Rob, it's a surprise...