The Lowery Adventure: Merry Christmas! (2010)

As we talked about our somewhat sporadic and certainly non-traditional year-end letters, I recalled the blog that we established and leveraged for our trip this past year (www.loweryadventure.com). We decided that there was no reason why we need to treat the blog as a point-in-time or event-based item. After all, life is a great adventure. As a result, beginning with this entry and for the coming year, we are going to attempt to provide regular posts of our activities and some photos (that way you can see more than just the one on Beth’s beautiful card).

This past year was a good one. The highlight of the year was clearly our month long trip to Europe (late May through June). We spent the month aboard the beautiful Disney Magic, visiting 14 countries and a host of cities, including Tunis, Malta, Lisbon, Berlin, St. Petersburg and Olso. This blog was originally dedicated to sharing our travel experiences and you are welcome to find the older posts and relive the adventure with us (lots of photos too).

Several times this year we visited San Diego, first for our business team meeting (Beth and Rob), then in April for a family outing and again in October (Beth and Rob). Each time we visited the San Diego Zoo; what a great zoo (family at the zoo below). Shhh, we are heading there again the first weekend in January for what will be a final trip to the zoo for many years as the boys are moving on. We also managed a few beach get-a-ways (July, August and September), a visit to the Getty Villa in Malibu, a couple of trips to San Francisco (family in February and Beth and Rob in September). March was centered around the hope of a new year for the Chicago Cubs (spring training).

Beth has been busy working on getting the house together on the inside and I have been managing the endless stream of projects on the outside. The wiffle-ball field, flag-football field, trampoline and pool are all in. We are currently working on the bbq, the fireplace and the basketball court, hoping to finish in the early part of the year. Perhaps we will provide a few photos in coming blog entries. However, the best way to experience is to visit. Please do stop by.

The boys had a busy year with swim, school and activities (below are the boys talking with Dr. Barry Asmus - world-renowned economist), although I will let them add their own blog entries summarizing their highlights. Beth is as beautiful as ever, really more so! As for me, I am a bit smaller at the end of the year than the beginning of the year, a trend I hope to continue and am looking forward to the quiet time of the season and the adventures of the new year.