Day 105

Exactly 6 months to Christmas. The baby did not get released today, so they'll be up in Denver until tomorrow (at least). Tinker Crates arrived today, so that kept the twins busy this afternoon, along with the older two boys to some degree. The HVAC guys were here for four hours and we're now all set for summer. And it was smooth as silk. They've been here enough now that they knew where everything was, what the system areas were, brought enough of the right air filters, etc. Pool time was 9-noon but some of the kids were slow to rise so that got delayed. Nana did pool duty while Jamie took Matteo home (got sick on the way over) and made the second round trip to get Jonny to his final Summer Reading session (online). Tomorrow we turn in the materials. Jamie watched some of This Means War. Kind of a blustery afternoon, too bad we didn't get much rain out of it. Matt spent a couple hours on the phone this evening with his aunt. Jamie spent three hours on a zoom table reading of a play called "How to Build an Ark." First Company Theater recently chose an excerpt from this larger play as a winner in their 1-Acts Contest. It was an interesting approach in this day and age to pull people together this way, do a reading, and provide feedback to the playwright who is still "tuning" the play. Matt made a run to their accountant folks this afternoon, but alas, Tracy's signature was needed. The trip wasn't in vain, however, as Matt was pleased with some business advice and services offered.

Day 104

Today's big news is that the surgery went well in Denver. It was a pretty busy day for the kids here, too, and therefor their adults. Ballet, Summer Reading, first day of AJ baseball (he was so excited), pool, puppy grooming, oh, and we're supposed to feed them all once in a while. AJ was the last to leave the ball field, shocking. He waits till everyone has left, no one else to talk to, and then starts packing up. And for a catcher, that's a lot of packing. AJ and Nana got pizza on the way home and the rest ate at the pool. No movies tonight, but Lynn and Jamie did catch an episode of Hart of Dixie before sleep.

In-n-Out is out of the ground!
Seen on the run to ballet for Fina.

The puppies got a professional grooming.

Not much progress when Tracy is out of town. It's been like this since she left.

At the pond on Flying Horse Ranch. It's volunteer day for Jamie.
A Blue-eyed Darner, I think, but there are a surprisingly
large number (~20) of other similar-looking dragonflies.

We had the 5-8pm shift. 

Fina was quite excited about this purchase.

Matt and Jamie had quite the conversation on the deck after pool time.
It's been a while since they've done that.

That's a marshmallow. Only healthy snacks around here.

Day 103

Wow, only two photos today. It was pretty quiet, not by design but just how it turned out. The pool was the best example... First time back in over a week because of the surgery quarantine. We were quite excited. Never got in the water due to lightning. We hung around, had lunch, twiddled our thumbs, all quite patiently and quietly, then bailed when it was clear the pool was not going to re-open during our 1-4pm time slot. I'm sure the kids were thinking they'd rather be playing video games than sitting doing nothing at the pool. There were a few goings on, like Fina's ballet and Jonny's online reading, but mostly it was pretty quiet. Hot dogs for dinner. And we watched a couple more episodes of NUMB3RS.

The baby loved having Lexi's artwork at the hospital.

Day 102

Final stringent lockdown day for most of the family. The baby goes off for his procedure tomorrow. The kids got some play in this morning with wheeled devices. Good thing as it rained and thundered off and on the rest of the day. Fina gets back to the actual Colorado Ballet Society studios for a class tonight! Smashburger for dinner. Tonight's adult entertainment was to continue with NUMB3RS.

Jamie has really gotten into this book.
He's using it to update an online course for the AG Methodist Church. 

Lexi continues twirling to the baby's delight.

At home now from Fina's Ballet.

Evening snack.

More little squares are done...

Day 101

As usual, we "attended" church along with all the other TimberCreek folks. The dads wanted Baconators from Wendy's, so that's what we did for breakfast. It's Fathers Day, after all. Fina made some very fun Fathers Day gifts. Papa got a new gun from California, Bug-a-Salt; too fun! Jamie started in on his new Creation lesson for the Arroyo Grande, CA Methodist folks; scheduled for early July. It'll be an excerpt of sorts taken from his "Is God Expanding, too?" course from way back when. Daddy Matt prepped some great tri-tip and sauted some mushrooms. Throw in some rice pilaf and pico de gallo and, voila, dinner. Tonight's shows: several episodes of NUMB3RS and Family (for the Fosters). There might have been fudge for dessert.

I wonder what it will take to call this lockdown over and get back to much less frequent posts and titles that do NOT start with "Day."

"At church."

Bug-a-Salt. Got him! Thanks California Fosters!

Only the best for these Dads!
Words cannot express how much we like this mug.
One for Jamie. One for Matt.

More Lexi twirling and baby belly laughing.

That's what she was making the other night (Day 98) - Slime.

The layout of the quilt is just starting to take shape.
Nana's been cutting out "millions" of fabric triangles the last week.

Day 100

Day 100, what?! This was deemed so significant that the fathers got their Fathers Day gift early: a Regusci wine glass by Yeti. And it's the best! Particularly when full of Regusci wine.

But wait, that was much later in the evening. Let's start at the beginning of the day... Jamie spent all morning prepping for and delivering a Parlor Car Chat session about the Central Coast Railroad Festival (a link to a recording is here). Matt took the boys fishing most of the morning. While that was happening, the moms were dealing with a dog that managed to soil up most of the house (well, it seemed like that). Lots of cleaning and extra laundry took place. The dads were both hungry for tacos for dinner, so Vaqueros it is! Tonight's movie: My Blue Heaven, largely filmed in San Luis Obispo County, CA, ya know.

Today's interesting tidbit: Thinkr.org. From their website, "We summarize the key ideas from new and noteworthy nonfiction. Read or listen in just 10 minutes per title." Free trial, then $10/month. No affiliation.

Jamie's Parlor Car Chat (recording link is here).

The culprit. After cleaning up, he was very shy and quiet for a long time.

Whatchya doin'? "Stuff."

"How many days?!"

Day 99

Tomorrow is Day 100. We should have been putting a bottle of beer on the wall each and every day! Lexi was very excited about picking the first cherry tomato, until she tasted it. "No, thanks." The boys went up to Palmer Lake for some more angling. By evening, everyone was into their hobbies, again. Dinner was week-in-review, and bubbly. Tonight's movie: That Thing You Do.

Another fishing day at Palmer Lake. Considerably chillier than yesterday.

The D&RGW hasn't owned anything here since 1988.

Thunderstorms this afternoon

Now there's a Fathers Day gift!

Tracy started a 3,000 piece Harry Potter puzzle.

Nana started in on her next quilt.