BenSpark Family Adventures

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02504 The other day I saw an offer for a Devastator figure for $7 on TEMU. It looked decent enough so I figured, what the heck. I picked it up and when it arrived it was not to bad overall. It is certainly cheap but once it is assembled into the Devastator figure it looks good for display. I put it in with the rest of my Transformers figures and right behind the original Constructicons that form the real Devastator. Not a bad find for $7.

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02503 Andy turned 14 today. I was asleep all day and it wasn't until dinner that I even got to wish them a Happy Birthday. Mem and Grandfather came up today from the Cape. They took Andy and Eva out to Michael's, Savers and An Unlikely Story. Andy got this really cool mechanical dragon figurine at Michaels ad some items to create  a steampunk Nerf gun. That is Andy's latest project.  Allison and I caught up with everyone at House of Fortune to enjoy dinner together. We got a huge meal that was really tasty. The kids have decided that House of fortune is the place for most celebrations. I also learned tonight that my supervisor and his family know Jason and Stephanie very well and have for many years.  We came back to the house so that Andy could open their gifts and enjoy a nice carrot cake. The cake was Andy's choice, they really like that type of cake. Andy got some nice things for their birthday, a new flannel hoodie, a metal 3D puzzle, some patches ...

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02502 Tomorrow is Andy's birthday. I usually take Andy for breakfast but tonight Allison and Eva were off at a concert so Andy and I went out for dinner in place of breakfast tomorrow. We went to Box Seats for dinner and Andy got a piece of carrot cake for dessert. We had a nice time hanging out. Andy has been rewatching Stranger things before the new season starts. They finished watching it tonight and had forgotten certain parts that hit hard. I'm looking forward to the next season as well. It is great having some programs that we enjoy together.

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02501 Tonight was Blue Pride Night at AHS.Allison and I went over with Andy to take a look at what there was to offer. There were tables set up for clubs, performances by the chorus, cheer team and band and we could go into lots of the CTE areas. We visited the garage, carpentry area and we tried to go to culinary but there was nothing open for that last night. That sort of stank because that is what we were most interested in. The school has so many programs for the students. It seems that the programs are very open and depending upon a students interest there is so much to do. Andy was recognized by a former Brennan student when we went by the drama club table. They said, "Don't you do lights at Brennan". Andy replied yes and then they said, "We have lights here, too". So I grabbed a pamphlet for Andy to look at. Andy may do that in High School too but wasn't taking a pamphlet on their own. We could certainly tell the difference in how thi...

The folks from Lumibricks sent me their latest building set, the Izakaya for free to build and review. Opinions are 100% my own. I've built a few sets from Lumibricks (formerly FunWhole) in the past and they are really fun and interesting. The photo above is of the Izakaya and also The Apartment. they are both part of a Cyberpunk theme called Neoncity. At this time there are also two additional buildings that you can build and add to this whole theme, the Game Stack and the Floating Train Station. The great things about these sets is that they light up. As you build you are also adding lights and wires and ways to illuminate the amazing build. Once you're done building you fire up some power and the lights blaze up. With Neoncity sets you get some incredible Nenon effects light signs and even neon tube lights. That is one of the coolest things about these sets is how the lights are incorporated into the build. Some very innovative bricks were made in order to thread the wiring...

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02500 Over the past two years Andy has show some major improvements in responsibility. Andy initially had Eva's old phone which was totally paid off but one day on a trip back from the cape the phone got lost. We've never seen any evidence of it anywhere since that day. So I picked Andy up a very cheap motorola phone. It was the absolutely cheapest phone that Xfinity offered.  It was like $100 total. And that served Andy well for two years.  Andy turns 14 on Saturday and it is time for a better phone. Last week Andy told Allison that they were interested in a new phone because the one they have right now is completely full and cannot add apps or anything at this point. It was a cheap phone with very little memory. Andy requested a Google Pixel phone. So, I ordered andy a new Pixel 9a. That is the lowest end Pixel phone but it is 3 times as powerful as Andy's current phone. I waited for the phone to arrive all day and once it did I worked on getting it activ...

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02499 Tonight was the Fall Art show at Feehan. Because Eva is a senior all of her projects are displayed in the same spot together. Allison and I met up with Eva after school at the Doran Center to see the show. The little notes with green on them are acknowledgements from teachers and staff. Eva had four of them on her still life of buttons.  During Baccalaureate Mass Eva will have a senior art show that everyone in the family can attend. There she can display all of her projects throguh all four years at Feehan.