Saturday, January 28, 2023

Lexi Basketball

The day started out with a very nice sunrise light on Pikes Peak. Then it was off to an 8am basketball game for Lexi's team at the YMCA in Monument. Later that morning, AJ beat Papa in a game of Chess (sorry, no pic). He's been watching/studying chess videos.






Friday, January 27, 2023

Cheap Date, Etc.

The school week culminated with Family Dinner (topic: Joseph) and Cheap Date Improv! In the meantime, the Great Shift of 2023 continues, Jonny makes a batch of chocolate chip cookies, more puzzles get put together, and Matt cooks beef stew.

New bed and frame in Lexi/Jonny's old room (3rd level).

The TV in the 3rd-floor lounge area was moved.

Jonny wanted to make chocolate chip cookies.

He made a huge one for himself! Nirvana!


It was a particularly good beef stew.

Cheap Date Improv!
Fina: "Touch the grass!" (You had to be there.)



Saturday, January 21, 2023

A Birthday Week

Tracy's birthday was this week. I think there were more kids (and adults) at home sick than were at school this week. With everyone sick, it was something of a sparse celebration, but Nana managed to make German Pancakes for a birthday breakfast, a real Tracy favorite. She found a new recipe that's easier and works even better than the previous one. Do remember to use powdered sugar on top, not flour! The Great Shift of 2023 continues with Lexi and Jonny moving into their new room (Matt's ex-office). Lexi's basketball schedule has resumed. The snow continues and the Chiefs won their first playoff game. Family dinner was this Saturday evening and the topic was paganism.

By the way... I keep feeling bad about not updating my Christmas movie list (last posted in 2016), so to assuage my guilt a bit, there's a Christmas movie list of over 1,000 titles on IMDB.

Fina made cupcakes for Family Dinner.
Tracy's favorite flavor!

We've not tried this one before from
Hunt Cellars. Quite good!

Not at all sure what's going on here.




Lexi and Jonny's new room.


Lexi's basketball at the YMCA.


More snow...

Chiefs won!


Monday, January 16, 2023

Baking, Joseph, and the Great Shift of 2023

Not so many pics, but lots went on this past weekend...

Very excited about Pazookie baking!



AJ made Dump Cake for Family Dinner
Friday night. The topic: hell.

AJ, Nana, and Papa thoroughly enjoyed Joseph
and the Technicolor Dreamcoat produced by Starz.
They had dinner at BJ's beforehand which
prompted the Pazookie happening.

Four boys made a Pazookie! A big one!

The Great Shift of 2023. Matt's office is moving to the
third-floor landing. Lexi and Jonnie are moving into Matt's
ex-office. Leaving a bedroom for expansion...

The Pazookie crew.


Sunday, January 8, 2023

It's UCCS!

A school has been chosen! Fina is going to UCCS (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs) this Fall. So, the countdown to move-in has begun, and there's a paper chain to prove it. Milestones along the way are labeled along the chain (e.g. high school graduation, birthday, opening night, etc.).






Friday, January 6, 2023

First Few Days of 2023

Tracy got 2 or 3 puzzles done over the break. The whiteboard kept everyone posted on what each day brought, including "Go Thunder!" on the first day back to school. While at the Club for Lexi's Taekwondo class, Jonnie and Lexi discovered that the Grill has finally brought back pretzels, big and tasty ones. Remember, Lexi got a belt promotion right before Christmas (see Dec. 16)! AJ started dance classes at the Colorado Ballet Society. His first class was Broadway Dance. And yes, the new muscles the class discovered hit him about 24 hours later. And tomorrow he starts Men's Ballet. Our Family Dinner topic this Friday night was "What does 'take God's name in vain' mean?" and the menu included a baked potato bar, French baguettes and butter, and apple crumble with ice cream for dessert. The adults' favorite TV show these days is "House." And as of today, I'd say >80% of Christmas decorations are put away.










Fina helping AJ with his "new" muscles.


Tuesday, January 3, 2023

First Days of 2023

Lots going on during our last days of Christmas break... And Lexi and Jonnie got to try the new pretzels at the Club tonight while waiting for Lexi's Taekwondo class.

Sandy being a cat on the top of the couch.

We got another 2"-4" of snow.
And AJ and Griffen shoveled the entire driveway.

Jonnie and Nana made Hoth Chocolate Creme Puffs
from a Star Wars-themed cookbook.

Nothing like Torah study in 20-some degrees.

Tracy's gotten back into puzzles,
and we've all gotten back into House.

Fina made banana muffins.

Papa visited two depots in Castle Rock: more here.

St. Nick posting at the 1875 depot above, D&RG.

AT&SF Depot circa 1911.