2023: A year
of experiences
Our Alaskan adventure was the highlight of our year. The untouched beauty, majestic glaciers, and breathtaking scenery made our June cruise unforgettable.
From the majestic glaciers to charming ports, Alaska's untouched beauty captivated us. We joined our friends, David and Michael, one a weeklong cruise to Alaska on Celebrity Cruises, in celebration of Michael's birthday week.
(See our Alaska recommendations and tips.)
Alaska Gallery:
A Whale of a time
The whale-watching cruise in Juneau was a highlight, where we witnessed magnificent whales, including an adorable calf practicing its tail skills. The breathtaking mountainscapes and the distant Mendenhall Glacier added to the magic.
Exploring Seattle, with visits to iconic spots like the original Starbucks, Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and Chihuly Garden and Glass, complemented our adventure.
At Chihuly, this place is just beautiful. No bad photos. It was spectacular to see room after room of these stunning creations of glass, an explosion of shape and color.
We had a delicious dinner before getting ready to sail away, with James' cousin, Allison, and her partner, Russ.
Experienced both floors of the Space Needle. The line to go up in the elevators was long, but it was worth the wait. The views were wonderful but our favorite part was the new “Loupe” level, featuring the world’s first and only revolving glass floor.
We even went back for some great evening views.
In & Around Arizona
Our trip to Arizona in the spring was another memorable highlight. After James’ conference in Phoenix, we visited cities around the state, including Tempe, a chilly Sedona, Jerome, and Prescott.
The Music of our Year
The spring and summer offered the chance to experience some of our favorite artists. We attended concerts by SZA, Lizzo, and Beyoncé.
Our epic evening with Queen Bey in Louisville in July for the Renaissance tour was unforgettably fierce.
We visited Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in July, and brought Matthew’s mom with us for extra memories. We also took a daytrip to Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia.
Our anniversary
For our 6th wedding anniversary, we traveled down I-75 to Wapakoneta, Ohio, to explore the Armstrong Air and Space Museum. It's a place we've driving by many times and somewhere we’ve always wanted to visit.
For dinner, we visited a delicious restaurant in Findlay, Ohio: The Bistro. It was a tasty recommendation from our friend, Jim.
Our year in theatre
In September, Matthew returned to the Croswell Opera House as director of “The Prom.” James also assisted with graphics, projections, and photography. It was a joyous, life-fulfilling, two-week run we will never forget.
In the fall, Matthew convinced James to audition for his first show in years: “A Christmas Carol.” Matthew returned as Bob Cratchit in the Toledo Repertoire Theatre’s annual production. James was part of the adult ensemble and a dancer. It was a festive weekend of shows at the Valentine Theatre, where we were married in 2017.
Professionally, James was awarded the UToledo Outstanding Professional Staff Association Award in the spring, nominated and selected by his peers. He led a session on digital media at his annual professional development conference in Phoenix. In the summer, James was invited to join the steering committee for that conference. He attended a three-day meeting and retreat in Vancouver for the group; he later attended another meeting and conference for the group in Seattle in November. He is looking forward to presenting and enjoying the group’s planned conference this April in Boston.
In October, Matthew moved to a new project within Maritz. Matthew is now a Technical Program Manager supporting Nissan’s customer loyalty initiatives. Matthew returns to this team after almost 10 years away from the early versions of the program. It has been a pleasure for him to reconnect with colleagues he hasn’t worked with for many years.
New York, New York
We traveled to New York City in October for fall, shows, and friends. After touring Radio City Music Hall, we later decided to return in December specifically to experience Christmas in the city and see the Rockettes.
Time with family
Throughout 2023, we've cherished time with family. In December, we hosted Christmas dinner at our home. We really enjoyed having everyone over, and it was the perfect end to our year.
In the upcoming year, 2024 holds the promise of additional opportunities for travel, enriching experiences, and meaningful connections with our family and friends.
We wish you a healthy and happy 2024! We are grateful to have you as an important part of our lives.
With love,
Matthew, James, Kitty, Sonoma, & Kira