May 7, 2022
Happy 11th birthday Liz! Age 10 was spent honing your animation skills, getting really interested in Lord of the Rings, some amazing experiences in the South Pacific, and moving into a new house. This day was spent celebrating with breakfast doughnuts, lunch with Gay and Ed, and having 2 friends over for the first time in a long time. There's so much about Liz to celebrate. Our birthday gifts to her were a replica One Ring and this, an original oil painting of Spamton G. Spamton as Mona Lisa. It was what she wanted.
Happy 11th birthday Liz! Age 10 was spent honing your animation skills, getting really interested in Lord of the Rings, some amazing experiences in the South Pacific, and moving into a new house. This day was spent celebrating with breakfast doughnuts, lunch with Gay and Ed, and having 2 friends over for the first time in a long time. There's so much about Liz to celebrate. Our birthday gifts to her were a replica One Ring and this, an original oil painting of Spamton G. Spamton as Mona Lisa. It was what she wanted.
May 20, 2022
Fifth grade graduation day! Her virtual class did an online escape room and watched a movie together. After she was done, we kicked off our "Walk to Mordor" LOTR challenge that we're going to do together. Very fun times ahead!
July 31, 2022
The summer has been great so far, with lots of Roblox, going out on the boat, watching Lord of The Rings ad infinitum, and swimming at Gay and Ed's. Today, Ed and Lizzy smelted some alloys and forged a few daggers. Who knew an 11 year old girl would like blacksmithing so much?
Fifth grade graduation day! Her virtual class did an online escape room and watched a movie together. After she was done, we kicked off our "Walk to Mordor" LOTR challenge that we're going to do together. Very fun times ahead!
July 31, 2022
The summer has been great so far, with lots of Roblox, going out on the boat, watching Lord of The Rings ad infinitum, and swimming at Gay and Ed's. Today, Ed and Lizzy smelted some alloys and forged a few daggers. Who knew an 11 year old girl would like blacksmithing so much?
August 15, 2022
With school starting at the end of August, we decided to take the week off to do fun things together, since we aren't taking a summer vacation this year. Monday started off spending the day with Gay and Ed, which was a lot of fun.
August 16, 2022
Tuesday was a first for Lizzy, we did a Titanic themed Escape Room. We got out with 11 minutes to spare - she was (not surprisingly) pretty good at it.
With school starting at the end of August, we decided to take the week off to do fun things together, since we aren't taking a summer vacation this year. Monday started off spending the day with Gay and Ed, which was a lot of fun.
August 16, 2022
Tuesday was a first for Lizzy, we did a Titanic themed Escape Room. We got out with 11 minutes to spare - she was (not surprisingly) pretty good at it.
After escaping, we had dinner outside at a restaurant.
We finished the evening by watching our first feature film in a movie theater in over 2 years, the new Thor film. We quite enjoyed it, and the theater was practically empty.
August 17, 2022
Today was the zoo at Lizzy's request. Our favorite things were feeding the giraffes and Mi-Kal the bear who was playing with his toys in the water.
Today was the zoo at Lizzy's request. Our favorite things were feeding the giraffes and Mi-Kal the bear who was playing with his toys in the water.
We followed up the zoo with a late lunch at (the practically empty) Sugar Factory.
August 18, 2022
Today's fun was the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Monet exhibit at The Lume. It was WONDERFUL! We had such fun.
Today's fun was the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Monet exhibit at The Lume. It was WONDERFUL! We had such fun.
August 19, 2022
Today we took it easy and took the boat out in the afternoon. Liz brought her iPad, and spent part of the time in the water, and part of the time on the bow playing games while covered up.
Today we took it easy and took the boat out in the afternoon. Liz brought her iPad, and spent part of the time in the water, and part of the time on the bow playing games while covered up.
October 1, 2022
We had purchased 3 tickets to go see Ringo Starr in Michigan back in April, and after months of waiting, our date to go see his performance was approaching. However, a few weeks prior, we learned that Tommy had to go to Germany for work this weekend, so Ed graciously agreed to accompany Lizzy and me to Michigan, and to attend the show with us. We dropped off our pets, and collected Ed to start our drive up north.
We had purchased 3 tickets to go see Ringo Starr in Michigan back in April, and after months of waiting, our date to go see his performance was approaching. However, a few weeks prior, we learned that Tommy had to go to Germany for work this weekend, so Ed graciously agreed to accompany Lizzy and me to Michigan, and to attend the show with us. We dropped off our pets, and collected Ed to start our drive up north.
For our first (and only) stop, we went to Gene's Root Beer stand for lunch. It was wonderful!
We then enjoyed our leisurely drive north, arriving at our hotel in New Buffalo around 4:00 pm. We got to our room, dropped our bags off, and headed to Lake Michigan for a bit. Despite the cold water temperature, Liz couldn't resisit getting her feet wet.
After some fun lakeside, we grabbed dinner, then went back to the hotel to get ready for the show. We eagerly headed to the venue about an hour before showtime, parked, and proceeded to get checked-in to learn...the show was cancelled. We were so disappointed. It turns out Ringo had contracted COVID (get well soon, Ringo!), so obviously he couldn't perform. We headed back to the hotel, and decided to go swimming in the SUPER CHLORINATED POOL to make the best of the situation.
October 2, 2022
Despite the disappointment of the prior evening, we enjoyed a lovely and bucolic drive home Sunday morning, enjoying little traffic and the pleasure of Ed's company on our drive home. Despite not seeing Ringo, we had a memorable time.
Despite the disappointment of the prior evening, we enjoyed a lovely and bucolic drive home Sunday morning, enjoying little traffic and the pleasure of Ed's company on our drive home. Despite not seeing Ringo, we had a memorable time.
October 10, 2022
Lizzy had a 1 day Fall Break, and spent it with Gay and Ed. The park was a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon!
Lizzy had a 1 day Fall Break, and spent it with Gay and Ed. The park was a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon!
October 20, 2022
We went to the beautiful Scottish Rite Cathedral to hear a string quartet perform Halloween classics by candlelight. It was a very fun evening!
We went to the beautiful Scottish Rite Cathedral to hear a string quartet perform Halloween classics by candlelight. It was a very fun evening!
October 27, 2022
A lovely autumn walk in the woods.
A lovely autumn walk in the woods.
December 31, 2022
We hosted a little NYE gathering at our house and, since there was one gala night we didn't get to do on the ship (during that second week), Liz wore her golden gown that she hadn't gotten to wear on board. I think she looked stunning!
We hosted a little NYE gathering at our house and, since there was one gala night we didn't get to do on the ship (during that second week), Liz wore her golden gown that she hadn't gotten to wear on board. I think she looked stunning!
January 21, 2023
We attended a wonderful Chinese New Year celebration at a friend's house, and her outfit was perfect.
We attended a wonderful Chinese New Year celebration at a friend's house, and her outfit was perfect.
February 10, 2023
I'm lucky enough to have every other Friday off of work, and with Liz's flexible school schedule, she asked if she could work ahead this week so we could have a fun Friday. We went to a newly opened cat cafe, and she spent an hour playing with adoptable cats. Nacho climed into her lap and trapped her on the floor for a good 20 minutes.
I'm lucky enough to have every other Friday off of work, and with Liz's flexible school schedule, she asked if she could work ahead this week so we could have a fun Friday. We went to a newly opened cat cafe, and she spent an hour playing with adoptable cats. Nacho climed into her lap and trapped her on the floor for a good 20 minutes.
After, we went back home and got changed for dinner and a stage production of Diary of Anne Frank. Dinner was good (she ordered wagyu, of course) and then we had front row seats for the performance. It was perfect timed, as she had finished reading Diary of a Young Girl a few weeks prior. All in preparation for visiting the Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam this upcoming autumn.
February 27, 2023
Virtual Reality play occupational hazard.
Virtual Reality play occupational hazard.
February 28, 2023
The colors in her hair are so gorgeous.
The colors in her hair are so gorgeous.
March 30 - April 11, 2023
California Spring Break
May 5, 2023
For Lizzy's 12th birthday, our gift to her is horse riding lessons for the summer. Her first lesson was today, and it was a great success!
California Spring Break
May 5, 2023
For Lizzy's 12th birthday, our gift to her is horse riding lessons for the summer. Her first lesson was today, and it was a great success!