While the Boys Camp...

While the boys were camping overnight up in the mountains (Mt. Herman area), the rest of the fam checked out the new Dave and Busters off Briargate. Everyone seemed to be having their own perfect activity.

Lexi's School Conference

Had a great parent-teacher conference with Lexi this morning. Lexi actually drove the whole thing, walking us through the various projects and studies she's been doing lately.

We went to the Book Sale at the Library, too.
We got this book for her classroom.

Lexi's castle (which she refers to as "the pickle")

This was the biggy. Her Roller Coaster
demonstrating kinetic/potential energy.

Another Overnight Blizzard - by Surprise

It caught many of us off-guard. It started out ever so gently at Lexi's first soccer practice of the year. It was snowing ever so lightly when we arrived, but soon it built up volume and horizontal speed to where the practice was cut short about 15 minutes. By the time we got home, it was a full-on blizzard. Then about 9pm or so we get a call from Fina - she's abandoning the drive to get home from Peyton; too dangerous in a 2WD little vehicle. Tracy and Papa headed out into what turned out to be about the worst winter driving either had ever done. Whiteout conditions. Winds up to 60mph. There were several times we were at a dead stop in the middle of the road waiting for things to die down so we could see anything.

First the good news. All is well with the abandoned car.
Two days later it moved out of there with only a little mud issue.
Good thing the policeman directed her into that space.
Had no idea there was a steep grade to a pond on both sides!

Tracy's/Papa's whiteouts looked like this.

Good thing Nana made more Rice Krispie Treats.

Afterward in the garage.
The car had a layer of ice all around!

Road closures the next morning.
Fina's car was left about smack-dab in the center

About where Fina's car was left

The 3 Ps: Purim, Pi, and Patrick

The theme of our Family Dinner this week was "The 3 Ps: Purim, Pi, and Patrick." Purim was March 13-14, and celebrates God saving the Jewish people from Haman in the Persian Empire. While the Purim story is read or told from the Book of Esther, each time Haman's name is spoken, tradition has it that everyone makes noise or does something to "obliterate" Haman's name from the record. We chose to shoot toy guns at Haman! Dinner was Irish Stew for St. Patty's Day and dessert was.... Pie! Check out the Pi Day flag. By the way, the pies came from a newly discovered Dutch Bakery down on Fillmore: Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery. The two pies and the Challah bread were great. Thanks for the tip from our Life Group at church.

The target, Haman (the bad guy)

Tracy assembled a new shelving unit before dinner!

Irish Stew

Happy Birthday, Ms. Minion

Happy Birthday to our favorite Minion!

Wine Festival at the Broadmoor

Nana and Papa got to spend a delightful weekend at the Broadmoor to attend the annual Wine Festival that supports the Colorado Springs Conservatory where Antonio attends for music and theater training. Everything you see below is at the Broadmoor. All the photos are here.

La Tavern

This 1880, 38-star, parade flag was flown at a
reception for President Grant.
I saw it at The Great Republic,
an antique shop at the Broadmoor Resort.
Check out Jamie's Flags website.

Round One: Central Coast Wines!

Brian Talley was amongst the Central Coast vintners!

View from the Del Lago restaurant.

Antonio was part of the Conservatory's musical
entertainment at the Gala/Dinner.

Also from the Del Lago restaurant.

One of the many fascinating displays in the hotel.

The Penrose Heritage Museum is great!

The Golden Bee is a British-style pub at the Broadmoor.

Live painter at the Gala.

Antonio is up there in his pink jacket (left pillar).