At Otto’s I ordered a mashed potato, bacon and scallion pizza, which was better than I remembered. I enjoyed talking with Dad about what I thought of homeschool and who I thought was going to win the hockey game.

I'm eating a mashed potato bacon scallion slice of pizza.

When we arrived at the civic center where the game was being held, Dad said that he would buy me a souvenir to remember our time together. There were many different items which had Portland Pirates’ logo on them. I don’t understand why anyone would buy the stuffed moose and cow bells that don’t have to do anything with the team. It would make more sense to buy stuffed Portland Pirates mascots. I got the last small t-shirt, which I changed into in the bathroom.

Dad and I at the hockey game.

This is the hockey stadium.

Some hockey players would break into fights when they were slammed into a wall or were pushed out of the way of an opposing hockey player. I thought it was unprofessional that hockey players fought because they were losing the game.

Break it up! Five for fighting!

When I asked my dad about this he told me that it was a strategy to scare the other team into playing badly. Dad answered all my questions in a way that I would understand. In the end the Portland Pirates beat the Worcester Sharks 4 to 2. I loved bonding with my dad. This date really brought us closer together.

The Armory is very fancy. There are shelves of books painted on the walls, and I liked looking at them while I ate. There was one in which the spine read “Paris,” and another’s spine (which was rather thick) read “Egypt Vol. 1.” Then of course there was “Egypt Vol. 2,” 3, 4, 5, and 6. Some had painted bookmarks in them. I like that it looked like an old bookshop, even though it had a bar.

Me in front of the Regency Hotel

I ordered the cheese and fruit appetizer, which is a platter filled with different types of crackers, cheese, and a variety of fruits. I developed a taste for Gouda cheese. It’s my new favorite cheese. It was definitely worth the money. Everything was counted out: 16 crackers, 16 slices of cheese. It was “artwork on a plate!” Crackers lined the outside with cheese beside it and fruit in the middle. Mom and I talked about my manners. She said I was good at being especially “proper” and “refined.” We had a good time.

Mom and Me at the Armory

I enjoyed my lunch, especially the cheese.

Mom and I then walked to Dobrá Tea, which was quite a short walk from the Armory. We sat on cushions on the floor. We agreed to order Touareg (a mint tea) and cheesecake, both of which were very exquisite. While we were at Dobrá Tea we decided to go shopping at the mall. Mom took lots of pictures of us at Dobrá Tea. We looked up French words and tried to find reasons to say them. Mom tried to imitate the barista who served us and gradually raised the teapot to about 15 inches above the cup while she poured. It was fun watching her.

I love Dobra Tea.

The Touareg was delicious.

At the mall Mom and I looked in three different stores until I found something I liked. With the particular style I appreciate, it’s hard to find clothes I like. In Macy’s I saw a dark gray sweater dress with short sleeves and a belt. I thought it could replace my black sweater dress that is getting too small. I thought it looked even better than my black one, so we bought it. Then we walked to Sports Authorities. Mom tried on a long-sleeved shirt, which I thought was cute. She didn’t fancy it, so we drove home.

This is my new dress.

I sang songs to Mom on our drive home, adding quick, silly lines to some parts, such as “You can count on my like 1-2-3, that doesn’t make sense…” It was very amusing to Mom, and I love when she laughs. I had a good time with her.

Brent suggested I take Jenna to the Armory Lounge at the Portland Regency Hotel. He was certain that Jenna would love it because it is fancy, and she loves anything fancy and sophisticated. When we walked in she commented about the elegant atmosphere and decór. It was quiet and dark, and we had the place to ourselves. Jenna walked around before deciding on the perfect table.

Jenna and me

Jenna was sold when I pointed out the fruit and cheese plate. She loves cheese and thought it sounded very fancy. I ordered the pear and basil martini which was surprisingly good. As soon as Jenna tried her water, an expression of amazement came over her face. She asked me if some water could taste better than other water. I told her that it could, and explained to her about filtration. She exclaimed, “This is the best water I’ve ever had!”

Jenna outside the Regency Hotel

My reuben came with French fries. When I offered some to Jenna she politely declined, telling me, “This place is too fancy to eat French fries.” She also mentioned that she liked the Armory better than Texas Roadhouse where there were peanut shells dirtying up the floor and loud noises of peanut shells being crushed. She was in awe when the waitress brought her lunch. She marveled at how “artistic” the presentation was with the cheese, crackers, and fruit. She exclaimed, “I think they must have counted out everything exactly, just like I do!” She discovered a new cheese: Gouda. It is now her favorite. When I asked Jenna if she would have liked the waitress to put the cloth napkin into her lap for her, she told me that would be overdoing it; she doesn’t want anyone in her personal space. She was obviously pleased with the Armory. She has always had discriminating taste, and I loved seeing her so delighted.

Jenna ruminates over her fruit and cheese plate.

Jenna developed an interest in tea and teahouses this past year. Since she discovered Dobrá Tea, it has been her favorite place to visit. She must know the entire menu and history of teas by now, and she took the liberty of ordering for us on our date. Her favorite is the Touareg, a Moroccan mint tea. She also selected the Matcha Green Tea Cheesecake, which was delicious. I enjoyed sitting on the cushions at the candlelit table with Jenna, talking to each other and enjoying each other’s company.

Jenna finds a comfortable position to relax at Dobra Tea.

Jenna tests her Touareg tea.

Jenna and I enjoying our tea

When we were finished Jenna asked if we could go shopping at the mall. She specifically wanted a new dress (of course). She was dismayed that all the clothes in her size were so “kiddish” and “faddish,” and she wanted something more “classy.” We finally found a nice sweater dress at Macy’s that she thought was perfect. I thought it looked very nice on her as well.

Jenna blows a kiss to her reflection in the dressing room.

Jenna has had the desire to learn to speak French, and thus has independently taught herself several words and phrases through books and websites. I remember some French from high school, and we sometimes will speak French to each other. Throughout our date we did this, and we even learned some new phrases, such as “vous êtes incroyable” (you are amazing) and “je suis d’accord” (I agree). I love Jenna’s expressiveness and passion. It was nice to have this quality time with her.

During the drive to Portland we talked about Skye’s relationships with her sisters, Festibond, homeschool and what it’s like to be an adolescent girl. It was nice to get to know Skye better and have some exclusive time with her.

Otto’s was good, as usual. Skye ordered her favorite slice: mashed potato, bacon, and scallion. I got one of those and a pepperoni (the sauce is crazy delish). We continued our conversation from the drive, which was nice.

Beer and a couple slices at Otto's Pizza.

Skye and her mashed potato pie

After finishing our pizze we parked in the garage adjacent to the Civic Center. The first order of business was to buy Skye a t-shirt. She picked out a black one with the large logo on the front, which she wore during the game.

Brent and Skye at the Portland Pirates hockey game

Skye had read the rules of hockey and had an impressive understanding of the game. However, during the first fight she had a look of shock and disappointment. She exclaimed that it was unprofessional to start a fight with someone just because you’re losing a game. While she was right, of course, I tried to explain to her the intricacies of sports psychology and fighting in hockey. I think I mostly failed. She still doesn’t know why fighting is part of hockey. Neither do I.

Fight! Fight!

The Pirates won an impressive 4-2 victory. It was fun to watch a hockey game with my daughter, for which she was actually interested and knowledgable. It’s great when I find activities I can do with my girls that we both enjoy. I will be looking forward to attending many more hockey games with Skye.

It was cold outside, so we first stopped at Starbucks to get some hot drinks to go. Skye ordered the eggnog latte, and I had a flavored espresso. In retrospect, we should have gone to Bard Coffee instead where the coffee is significantly better, but at least the beverages warmed us up as we embarked on our adventure in the chilly winter air.

Skye and me at Starbucks

Skye immediately wanted to go into Coastal Maine Popcorn Company which displayed a wide variety of flavored gourmet popcorn in the window. She loves popcorn, and I think she might still be excited about eating it after not being able to consume it for about a year and a half while she had braces. She tried some samples but then decided it wasn’t worth purchasing any.

We walked into Old Port Candy Company which sells an assortment of amazing handmade fudge and truffles, as well as other tasty, fun, and nostalgiac candies. We were both amused by all the bacon-flavored treats that have recently become popular.

Skye holds a bacon lollipop, one of the many unique bacon-flavored candies at Old Port Candy Company

It was fun to laugh and joke with Skye about some of the gifts and souvenirs we saw in the plethora of gift shops.

We thought these glasses were both disturbing and funny.

Skye brings a baboon marionette to life in one of the gift shops.

Skye recently discovered that she loved reubens, so Brent recommended we go to Rí Rá, an Irish pub, for lunch. Skye was very happy with the reuben there, as well as her sweet potato tater tots. I was disappointed that the “soup of the day” was not my favorite tomato dill, but I decided the curried carrot soup was just as delicious. I ordered my favorite salad with spinach, strawberries, walnuts, and feta cheese. We had a lovely view of Casco Bay upstairs. Skye was surprised and impressed when the waiter boxed up her leftover lunch himself. It was nice to sit down in a quiet setting with Skye and talk about her interests, concerns, and ideas, and to get to know her better without the normal daily distractions.

Skye enjoyed her lunch at Ri Ra.

About to eat my soup and salad.

We continued exploring the shops along Commercial street and discussing Skye’s love for photography and marine biology. Early during our walk Skye found a necklace with a turtle hatchling crawling out of its shell and fell in love with it. We returned to the shop where she’d seen it so that she could purchase it.

Skye walking down the sidewalk in Old Port

It was really nice to have the one-on-one time with Skye and to hear her concerns and thoughts about the changes, discoveries, and challenges she is encountering as she is approaching her teenage years. I appreciated her insight, and I love that she is comfortable disclosing with me her thoughts and feelings. I had fun laughing and talking with her throughout our date, and seeing her excitement about so many things that I often take for granted. She is such a sweetheart!

I really enjoyed talking with Hayley on the drive to Portland and hearing her perspectives and opinions about various subjects and issues. I am constantly impressed with her understanding and interpretation of complex concepts, and her memory is amazing. It is fun to debate with her; and she often challenges my own way of thinking. She is so much fun to hang out with!

My little Hayley and me

When we arrived at the children’s museum, Hayley chose to go down to the theater area which included a stage, costumes, puppet theater, and puppets. She was a little shy about putting on a puppet show by herself in front of strangers, but she quickly got over it and put on an enthusiastic performance. I then joined in with her, and we had a good time doing improv with various puppet characters.

Hayley's puppet show

One of Hayley’s favorite parts of the children’s museum is the pretend town. She concocted a story that connected working as a fire fighter, getting gasoline in a car, fishing on a lobster boat, shopping at a market, collecting eggs at a farm, and working as a veterinarian all together. I enjoyed playing with her and observing the way she combined her imagination with her understanding of reality.

Hayley the fire fighter

Hayley signed up for an activity which involved making homemade peppermint stick ice cream. She was fascinated by the process and eagerly answered questions that Jamie, the museum employee running the demonstration, asked the children in the group. The kids each took turns smashing the peppermint candies that were to go into the ice cream with a large mallet. During the few minutes it took for the ice cream to be ready to eat, they drew pictures of their favorite flavors.

Hayley vigorously crushes peppermint candies.

Hayley liked the ice cream she helped make.

We both enjoyed an exhibit that explores the science of motion. It offers opportunities to experiment with momentum, friction, and energy and to make and test hypotheses. I asked if she wanted to go to the tidepool touch tank to touch and observe marine creatures and learn about their adaptions. She declined, telling me that it wasn’t that awesome compared to the New England Aquarium to which have an annual membership.

Hayley spent a lot of time in an area dedicated to the process of sustainable forestry. She later told me this was her favorite part of our visit, especially climbing in the treehouse. I told her I didn’t think it looked that exciting, to which she smartly replied “You can’t say that because you never tried it.” She had a good point. :-)

We attended a final activity which involved learning about the science of snowflakes and included a memory game and making snowflakes out of paper. Hayey was proud of her snowflake with intricate cuts and designs.

Hayley enjoyed the snowflake activity.

Hayley's finished snowflake

Because Hayley loves to bake, we decided to end our date baking cookies from recipe that she has been wanting to try from a cookie magazine she had recently purchased. She put on the apron she ordered through her art class on which there is a picture she drew of me with a sheet of cookies and Brent with his iPad. I really enjoyed (as I always do) baking with Hayley. I loved seeing her figure out the ingredients and measurements, and watching her excitement with each step of the process. I could see why she chose this particular recipe because of the complexity of rolling out the dough, the ingredients (she LOVES white chocolate), and the artistic finish of decorating the cookies.

Hayley's tongue helps her concentration.

Hayley spreads melted chocolate on the cookies.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Hayley. She is always so happy, thoughtful, and appreciative. Her enthusiasm is always contagious!

Our cookies turned out pretty and delicious!

Our first stop was the Coastal Maine Popcorn Company. There were many flavors of popcorn. Some common flavors include cheddar, garlic parmesan, and caramel. I thought it was weird that there were flavors such as buffalo wing, sour apple, and red hot cinnamon. There were huge bags of popcorn which were about two gallons! I think it’s silly that they have such huge bags; Nobody should buy that much popcorn for that price at a time.

Mom and I are at the Coastal Maine Popcorn Company

The cheddar popcorn looked really good.

Mom and I then walked to the Old Port Candy Company,a small candy store on Fore Street. Some weird, but interesting candies include chocolate covered potato chips and pickle mints. The bacon flavored items were most interesting. There is bacon frosting, mints, lollipops, and gummies. Mom had recently won a bacon balm and had given it to Jenna, which reminded me of the funny reactions and laughs when Jenna put it on. I enjoyed spending time with Mom at the candy store, and loved laughing with her when we saw weird candy.

We went to many gift shops on the way to lunch. It was enjoyable to see the many funny postcards, magnets, key chains, books, and toys because they were funny. Some items such as a fun straw, “Farts Around the World” book, and a poo log made Mom and me laugh.

Mom is taking a picture of some silly books.

This is so gross!

Mom showed me "Farts Around the World."

Mom and I went to Ri Ra’s for lunch. It’s dimly lit, open spaced, has quiet music, and was not too crowded. My mom and I were seated on the second floor by the window that we could see had a nice view of the ocean, along with some docked boats. I ordered a reuben and sweet potato tater tots. I shared my sweet and crispy tots with Mom. The reuben was crunchy, warm, and delicious. I enjoyed talking to Mom about how our day was going so far and what we were going to do after lunch. Re Ra’s is a nice place to eat and talk.

This is the view from the second floor of Ri Ra's.

Mom enjoys her carrot currie soup.

Lunch is served!

After eating at Ri Ra’s, we headed to Cool-As-A-Moose where I bought a necklace with a turtle hatchling crawling out of its shell. The necklace means a lot to me because I’m fascinated with marine biology.

This is the store Cool-As-A-Moose.

I enjoyed spending time and bonding with Mom. Her laughter to things I said and showed her really made me happy.

First we went ice skating at the Portland Ice Arena. They only take cash but dad only had two dollars in cash so we had to find a ATM machine. It was hard finding a ATM machine. We had to walk a long way to find a ATM machine and it was cold. ‘Fun’ can not possibly be the correct word for finding a ATM machine. When we found a ATM machine we went back to the ice skating rink and rented some skates.

Once we got on our skates we went out onto the rink. I held my dad’s hand tightly so I wouldn’t fall. Daddy seemed to just be pulling me around the ice so I was just gliding around. I enjoyed ice skating a lot. I asked dad many questions about hockey, like where they put the net, if he played hockey as a kid, and if he ever saw his friends fall on the ice while they were playing.

Hayley and Dad at the Portland Ice Arena

Dad supported me while skating

Hayley at Portland Ice Arena

The skates weren’t very good, because in some parts they squeezed my feet and some parts they didn’t. I got a blister because of it. We decided next time we rent skates we’re just going to buy me good skates.

After the ice skating rink we went to On The Border. I ordered the Mexican Dinner, but the taco was too spicy. So dad ordered me the cheese quesadilla. I had a good time talking to dad about what I thought of homeschooling, how I would describe Jenna and Skye, and how much fun we had on our date. A free sundae comes with every kid meal, so I got the vanilla ice cream with caramel syrup, whipped cream and a cherry. It was good.

Hayley's beautiful smile

I ordered two meals!

Hayley's sundae

Dad carried me around in and out of the ice skating rink and On The Border because I had the blister. He’s very generous. I love going on the date with him.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at the Portland Ice Arena we discovered that it’s a cash-only operation and I only had $2. We walked down the hill to a credit union with a drive-up-only ATM. So we walked a bit further and found an ATM that would dispense the cash we needed. It was a chilly walk that took time away from skating, but it was nice being together. I gave Hayley a piggy-back and shoulder ride much of the way, which she enjoyed.

Hayley and Brent

The guy in front of me to rent skates got the last pair of men’s hockey skates in my size, so I was given figure skates. I swallowed my pride and laced them up before lacing up Hayley’s skates.

Hayley and Portland Ice Arena

Hayley held my hand as we made countless left turns around the ice. It felt a bit like a NASCAR race. Hayley was uneasy on her skates, but I held her up each time she lost her balance. We talked about me playing hockey as a kid, how the lines are painted under the ice, how the hockey net is secured to the ice, and wondered how much advertisers pay for ad spots on the rink walls.

Holding hands for support

After about forty minutes Hayley asked to leave the ice. Her rental skates had rubbed the skin on her ankle bone raw. I helped her off the ice and out of her skates, then carried her to the car.

For lunch we ate at On The Border in South Portland, since Margaritas was closed. Hayley ordered a taco, which she realized after a few bites was too spicy, so I ordered her a cheese quesadilla. The margarita and guacamole were wicked delish.

Hayley and I played tic-tac-toe on her kid’s menu. Our conversation was deep and meaningful; we talked about her relationships with her sisters, how she likes homeschooling and what activities she might like to pursue in the next year. It was great to get to know my youngest daughter in a way that might not happen except for our exclusive time together.

Tic-tac-toe

Hayley ordered a sundae from Sarah, our waitress, which she enjoyed. Then we drove home.

Hayley's On The Border sundae

Festibond dates are a special time to be together and get to know each other in an intimate way that isn’t really possible during the rigors of daily living. Hayley and I had a great time on our date. We hugged, held hands, talked, laughed and told each other many ties how much we love each other. Hayley is an amazing person, and I’m proud to be her dad.

We bowled at Bayside Bowl for an hour. Jenna used the lane bumpers, but got good enough that she wasn’t using them much. She asked for lots of bowling tips, and I gladly gave her my best advice. One thing I love about Jenna is her dedication to perfection and perseverance. Many times she made her approach only to stop, reset and try again. She makes me very proud.

Brent's perfect bowling form

Jenna did very well at bowling

After two games Jenna was tired of bowling, even though we still had sixteen minutes left of the hour for which we’d paid. She sat and enjoyed her Shirley Temple while I bowled alone.

Jenna's Shirley Temple

While we bowled, Jenna and I shared many high-fives and hugs. It was great fun.

Jenna and Brent at Bayside Bowl

After bowling we enjoyed a meal at one of Jenna’s favorite restaurants, Texas Roadhouse. We both ordered steak. After a few bites, Jenna said she was full. We talked about her relationships with her sisters, homeschool, playing the violin, and many other topics. It was great to get to know her better, and to learn the things about her she wouldn’t otherwise share.

One of the fun aspects of Texas Roadhouse is that they offer free shelled peanuts, and let the guests throw the shells on the floor. Jenna is generally very clean and conscientious, so throwing anything on the floor isn’t really in her DNA. I encouraged her to give it a try, and after a protracted protest, she relented and flung a shell on the floor several feet away. Then she giggled. It was fun.

My strawberry margarita at Texas Roadhouse

When I had finished eating Jenna ordered a Big Ol’ Brownie, then proceeded to eat the entire thing. I guess we’d talked long enough for her to regain her appetite.

Jenna and her Big Ol' Brownie

On the way home Jenna sang me lots of songs, which was indescribably wonderful to hear. She has a gorgeous voice, and is very expressive with her singing.

I love Jenna very much. She’s a wonderful person with a fun personality and many admirable qualities. It was great to have a daddy-daughter date with her as part of our Festibond tradition.