Day 275

Jamie's play, It's a Wonderful Life: the Live Radio Play, filmed today - it's in the can. "Airs" starting December 17th, tickets here. We got a box from Megan and Jamey today - what a hit. Beanie babies and all kinds of fun stuff. Everyone got a huge kick out of it. And everyone gravitated to just the right beanie baby; a little miraculous. Check out the Santa decorating our little Christmas tree. Plays Christmas music, too, and the arrangements are really quite good. The best thing today... The kids got to meet Santa today and we got a first-time-in-a-while photo of all the kids together.

Box from Megan and Jamey - quite the hit!

One of AJ's favorite games, Wingspan!

Look who's decorating our little tree!

Day 274

Last day of e-learning for the week! The foster twins headed out to another foster care situation. We wish them so much good fortune! Final dress tonight for It's a Wonderful Life (more). Jamie had to create a new little make-up kit as his "Sound of Music Box" is locked in at First Company from the March shutdown, right after the second performance of God's Favorite.

That cigar reamer is the bomb!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Matteo's commercial art project - a cereal box design.

Day 273

E-Learning Day number.... Oh, who knows. More of it. We finished up delivering all the TimberCreek Church Kids Christmas bags. Another rehearsal for Jamie tonight. Filming is Saturday and that's it. Get tickets to watch it online here.

Matt is sending back rave reviews of the Beaver Creek Lodge
and its Alpine+Antlers restaurant.

Dinner time after a long day of remote learning is
Lunchables and shirts optional. It's a win! We are all
in the same room still smiling and laughing.
(Also let’s not forget 2 are missing from the photo,
the high schooler and army boy)

Day 272

Hump day. And a birthday! And lots of e-learning continues. At least we hope they're learning something. Just saw news that some area school districts were considering the continuation of e-learning into January. The lack of wisdom and courage in our leaders is astonishing. Nana and Papa had a great "outdoor" lunch at P.F. Chang's in a tent they put up in the parking lot. Toasty warm. Loved the Korean Bulgogi Lettuce Wrap. Matt's out at Beaver Creek Lodge for a book-finishing retreat; says it's an amazing place. Lynn and Jamie are planning a stay out there next week...

View at Matteo's school-van stop at 7:15am.

Santa's workshop

P.F. Chang's

On the parking lot.

Two "smoked" drinks at P.F. Chang's.

Happy Birthday! from P.F. Chang's, card and all.

And from a real store.

AJ made the top for Jonny.
Still needs the stick trimmed.

Tada! Fina's handiwork, a pillow case.

Matteo and Papa were in line 50 minutes. Not bad.

AJ made cherry dump cake.

Nana made beef stroganoff from scratch.

Day 271

E-learning continues. Tonight's movie was Alien Xmas; don't bother. Puzzle work has been very limited since the foster twins arrived and e-learning began.

AJ's helping Jonny with a school project. Making tops.

Day 270

Monday. The good news is that Matteo went back to in-person school. He said it was a great day! But that did leave 5 at home doing e-learning. This Monday did go a little smoother than last Monday. Jamie started tech week this evening which culminates in final filming on Saturday (see It's a Wonderful Life on the Theatrics page).

Chick-Fil-A is always a hit.

AJ beat Papa.

They were cackling with each other the whole time.

Day 269

After online church in the morning (TimberCreek), many of us met up at Fox Run Park for some coffee, hot chocolate, and a little fellowship. Tracy had her Kids Bags ready to go with various Christmas activities for families including an Advent calendar and the makings of a birthday cake for Jesus. Nana's working on a little something-something in the quilting workshop. We had take-out dinner from the Club tonight (prime rib!) and Jamie followed a horse-drawn sleigh onto the Club grounds - being pulled by two of the horses (percherons) Jamie "knows" from the Foundation. The Teroldego from Wolff Vineyards went quite nicely with the prime rib. And maybe the best news of the day, the Chiefs/Broncos game was actually pretty good (not a wipe out).

Ready for pick up at our 1pm gathering at Fox Run.

In Santa's workshop...