October
Mike and I went to Rhode Island and Connecticut, states 47 and 48 for me, for a weekend right before Halloween. We rode bikes all around Newport, ate a delicious apple cider donut at an old-fashioned farm in the country somewhere, and explored a coastal state park in Connecticut. We ate calamari at Iggy's Doughboys, something that has been on my list since I saw it in the 2020 Democratic National Convention (the delegate from Rhode Island was accompanied by a chef from Iggy's). Also pizza at Frank Pepe's, which Mike judged to be very tasty indeed. Henry and I also did a pumpkin train ride with my siblings and nieces and nephews. Very fun! And I went to my first tailgate at Purdue with Liam, Popi, Maria, Kelsey, Emma, and Elly. Boiler up!
November
Thanksgiving happened. Liam came home for it. Max got his senior pictures taken downtown. Bike season ended, and snow season started. Ugh.
December
I started the month with my very first girls trip! My friend Kelly and I went to Savannah for a long weekend. We stayed at an oceanfront condo on Tybee Island and had a blast. There was a holiday parade (so weird to be warm for that) and tons of holiday lights viewing. We rode bikes all over the island one day, and did a full day of exploring Savannah by trolley as well. We ate SO MUCH good food. Would 100% recommend.
Mike and I spent a weekend in Indy for my cousin Stephen's wedding, which was at an absolutely gorgeous venue downtown. I had so much fun catching up with all of my cousins.
Before we knew it, it was time for the holidays! We spent a lot of time with our favorite people. Gifts were exchanged. Liam got his wisdom teeth taken out right at the beginning of break, so we kept it pretty low-key. I did get to go to a couple of holiday light walks, though: Illumination at the Morton Arboretum with Aunt Rita, Kent and Popi, and Lights at Fernwood with the boys and our cousin James. Oh, and I turned 49 in there too.
January
Here we are in a brand-new year! Henry has joined the wrestling team. I was definitely NOT prepared for how brutal and bloodthirsty it would be. I also apparently missed the part of the parent handbook where I was supposed to spend a decade learning every single wrestling technique so I could scream them at my child from the bleachers. Oh darn. He really seems to like it, and I like that he's happy. Max has been busy making college plans (more on that soon), working, and starting his last semester of high school. Where has the time gone?? Liam has finally discovered a class that is hard enough to even give him pause: thermodynamics. He seems like he's really enjoying the challenge, though. Meanwhile, Mike and I are just waiting for this endless winter to end. We're tired of being cold. I want to be on my bike, and he wants to be in his garden. Soon, friends. So soon.
