Skye asked if we could walk around Old Port in Portland together and visit the shops in the area for our Festibond date. I hadn’t explored Old Port very much aside from some of the restaurants there, and I thought it sounded like fun. I had a wonderful time hanging out with my oldest daughter, who has recently passed me up in height. She borrowed my shirt, sweater, and shoes for our date together.

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

On December 29, 2010, I went on a date with my mom, which is part of our Festibond tradition.

First we went to the Palace Diner and I got a blueberry pancake. When I told Mom that chefs were better than cooks and said that Kyle was definitely a chef, she thought it was funny and put it on the blog she wrote about our date.

My blueberry pancakes at the Palace Diner

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Part of our Festibond tradition includes each of us girls going on a date with Mom and Dad separately. At first I suggested to Mom that we go play pool for our date. After finding out I was too young to play pool at the billiard rooms, I decided I would like to go see a movie and go to dinner.

Dad, Hayley, and I drove up to the mall to meet Mom and Jenna after their date together. We met them at Claire’s because that was where Jenna and I were going to get our ears pierced. Jenna and I picked out the exact same earrings to get our piercings. Jenna looked very calm for a girl going to get her ears pierced for the first time. I felt like I was in Hawaii on a hot day because boy, was I nervous. I was aching to get the piercing over with. I had gotten them pierced before, but the holes had closed up. As much as I wanted to seem tough I couldn’t help remembering the painful pinch that made me wince while getting my ears pierced the first time.

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I love that Brent and I have included dates with each of the girls in our Festibond tradition. Skye first suggested we play pool for our date together. She loved going to Hooters and Side Pockets in Wichita where they had pool tables, but unfortunately the few places with billiards here in the Portland area have age limits. Skye’s second choice was to see the movie “Little Fockers.” She really likes Ben Stiller and has seen many of his movies.

Kirsten and Skye

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Brent and I take each of the girls out on dates as part of our Festibond tradition. The idea for my date with Jenna came to me easily. Recently she has been asking to go to a spa. She has her own unique style whether she’s coordinating her outfits or trying different hairstyles, and she loves painting her fingernails. Getting a manicure together was the perfect Festibond date for us. Jenna was very excited when I suggested it. I wasn’t familiar with the day spas in the area, so I asked for recommendations on Twitter. Our friend Adam suggested Fabu Salon and Day Spa. His girlfriend Kristin highly recommended it. I set up an appointment for Sunday afternoon.

Showing off our French manicures

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As part of our Festibond tradition, Brent and I separately take each of the girls out on a date. Yesterday Hayley and I had our date together. She has been roller skating before, as her friends have had roller-skating birthday parties. She decided she wanted to try ice skating. I thought it seemed like a perfect winter activity, especially living in Maine.

Hayley and me at the Family Ice Center in Falmouth

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[audio:hayley_kirsten.mp3]

Hayley: Would you rather be rich or poor?

Kirsten: Rich.
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[audio:kirsten_jenna.mp3]

Kirsten: Where is your favorite place to go to visit in Maine?

Jenna: Trails in the forest.
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It was my turn to prepare the refreshments for Family Night this week. Kirsten helped me with the idea (and every other aspect). Our first go we filled the cups too full and they overflowed and collapsed the cups while baking. Our second attempt was far more successful. Cheap, simple and delicious.

Just fill ordinary ice cream wafer cups half full with ordinary cake batter. Bake. Frost. Decorate.

Kirsten basically did everything. She knows where all the stuff is and how to operate her gizmos. I tried to do it, but she wouldn’t let me.

Kirsten helping

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Kir's MRI, January 27, 2009

Kirsten picked up a compact disk today that includes digital files of all her MRI scans. It’s cool to cycle through them like a video exploration of her cranium.