Day 246

When the weather is on the brisk side, the fire pit is just the thing. Jamie loves listening to Dennis Prager's Torah lectures by the fire. Our foster baby got picked up this morning by his forever family and soon, I think, we'll be getting those twins. In the meantime, Tracy and Matt went off for a couple's weekend in Denver. Nana and Papa went to Walter's Pizza while Fina met some friends for lunch at Subway. Lynn likes the teal wall. Fina joined us after our respective lunches for some Josh and John's Ice Cream. Nana not only prepped taco salad dinner but also poop-scooped the dog's astro-turf run! And lastly, Fina's making her own dress which is coming along nicely (see below). The final all-play activity of the day was watching the new Mandalorian episode with popcorn. Today's after-bedtime movie: The Christmas Star.

Listening to Prager's Torah lectures...

Lynn likes the teal wall...

 

Wall map at Walter's Pizza. We're red, Walter's is blue.

Taco salad and clean dog run!

Fina's making a dress...

Day 245

Not many pics today. The "Puzzle Puzzle" was completed. We're still not sure what the after-puzzle puzzle is, but pictured are some close-ups for clues. There are 8 mysteries per the instructions... Ravensburger Escape Puzzles.

Day 244

Veterans' Day. And yes, we got our little flags out first thing in the morning. Rob posted the picture of Papa Bill in his flight gear; he always said he "flew a desk" in the Philippines. Papa Robob was a paratrooper, also in the Asian theater. Sandy sent Jamie the quilt for his office after he marveled at the big circle made up of tiny squares. Prep is underway for the first foster baby to leave for his forever home this coming weekend and the arrival of two new foster babies, twins. One has some medical issues so Tracy got the therapy ball (pictured below) to bounce on with him. Pictured last is a puzzle puzzle, meaning once you get it put together, you have to solve yet another "puzzle" using the clues in the picture (or something like that). Today's movie was Deck the Halls.

Papa Robob

Papa Bill

Day 243

We awoke to snow on the ground (and on Pikes Peak) and a birthday breakfast celebration! The celebration included most of the kids getting up an hour earlier than normal to accommodate the birthday boy's 7am departure for school. Nana, Papa, and Matt had lunch at the Club (always fun). Bummer news... Kansas is out for Thanksgiving. So is the add-on trip to the Cosmosphere in Hays, KS. One of the kid's schools says anyone traveling to certain states with high COVID levels must quarantine for 14 days after returning from one of those states. Kansas just hit those levels. Tracy is already booking more local getaways between now and Christmas, "got to get out of this house for a bit." Dinner at the birthday boy's request was Fettuccine Alfredo and garlic bread (thank you, Olive Garden).

A Fina project.

He made his own birthday cookies!

Day 242

Fina is way out ahead with decorating for Christmas! Nana, Papa, and occasionally Lexi and Simba had a televideo with Vickie and Rob. All are hanging in there. And Vickie is retiring in 20 school days! Soon we'll have only Rob's schedule to work around for fun and excitement.

Ready for foster twins if need be.

Day 241

It's Sunday, so off to TimberCreek Church for the morning, including the two new babies for the weekend (respite care). Fuzzy Tacos for lunch (what a name, but good tacos). It was another fairly quiet day with much attention around the babies, and Christmas movies (including Christmas Chronicles and Die Hard). Fina went on a double date to the Zoo (she said the colder air made for active animals!). And Matteo's church youth group (middle school) met at our house in the evening.

Childcare at the Church.
All of the Kids program is in the gym.

Day 240

Saturday! Matt took the kids to the pool while Tracy and Nana made the baby swap. There was a little respite exchange between the baby we've had most of the year and two other babies in foster care. Also while most of the clan swam, Jamie ran a Parlor Car Chat wherein Karl Hovanitz (of Bitter Creek Western fame) talked about a Davenport trench locomotive they've restored at Norgrove Railway. We watched more than our share of movies afternoon and evening, including some Christmas movies.

Here's the status of the election. Most mainstream folks believe Biden has won the presidency. Trump is fighting in court over election process issues. We'll see. But let's say today Biden is declared the president-elect. Let's put down some markers... Gasoline is currently $2.99 per gallon and $3.08 per gallon diesel in CA. Milk is $4.47 a gallon, interest rates are 2.65 percent for a 30 year mortgage. The stock market closed at 27,848, even though we have been fighting COVID for 9 months. Our GDP growth for the 3rd Quarter was 33% (a record). We had the best economy ever until COVID and it is recovering well. We have not had any new wars or conflicts in the last 4 years. North Korea has been under control and has not been testing any missiles. Isis has not been heard from for over 3 years. The housing market is the strongest it has been in years. Homes have appreciated at an unbelievable rate and sell well.

A Davenport 2-6-2 trench locomotive.

Where'd all the hair go? Hint: different baby.

Lexi did all kinds of drawings for the new babies.

One down center, one in the crib upper right.