Live from Tormville!

photo of the day with ten minutes to spare

To date - I've only missed one day of 2012 for photo taking. What I've fallen behind on is getting them uploaded and shared. 

This was yesterday's one and only photo. While I brought my camera to last night's graduation parties - I left it in the Jeep. It was at 11:45 pm that I realized I hadn't taken a single photo all day long. So this is it - I was heating up some water for my hot water bottle to lay under my clogged ear when I went to bed. 

It works. 

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Today is field day. I'm hoping the rain holds off. While I'll wait to do my volunteering when I don't have a preschooler - I do like to walk up the hill to cheer them on and take a few photos

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Busy weekend this weekend. Still not sure if Greg will be home for it. We should know by tomorrow. This is typical. 

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My knee flared up again yesterday. I squeezed in a half hour nap with a bag of frozen peas on it - that seemed to give it enough kick to make the evening rounds. 

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My dad is 69 today. Seems I should probably bring him a pie or something. 

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Six days left of school - counting today. We're getting anxious for summer. 

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I have no idea what we're doing this summer or what direction we're headed when, if any. 

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I should go get a few things done before the first round of Field Day (Wendy is in the before lunch slot/Brian is in the after lunch slot) 

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be good

 

getting there.....

I scored major points with my boys yesterday. 
Brian: Mom! How did you think of that? It's so cool!!
Mom: Well, I was looking at the Marbleworks and looking at the stairs at the same time,
and the idea hit.
That's just how it happens.

Brian: I hope that happens to me sometime!!!

It will

Anyone else have full calendars this last seven days of school? 

I'm treading water. Every single day on our weekly wipe off refrigerator calendar is filled with red. Red stands for must-do. Blue is optional - there is no blue this week. Today alone we have five must-do's, with the first appt at 8:45 am. 

After school make up tests, end of year assignments, field days, picnics, graduation parties, showers, Sunday School picnic, last week of volleyball..... they all happen with a very short amount of time. 

I'm ready for summer and lazy bedtime schedules.

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Today begins a cold front - we won't see 80 again for at least the next 10 days. It's also windy which means very little ballooning, but lots of great laundry drying. I never did tackle the muddy laundry yesterday (instead - more red: haircut appt, dentist appt, etc....)  Today I'm hoping to get the first load out on the line before that 8:45 appt. 

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I'm still taking it easy on my knee - I can feel it especially at the end of a long day, like the one we spent at Greenfield Village. I am, however, still going down on the scale.  I'm down 14.6 pounds since the middle of April. *pumps fist*  The goal this time is to KEEP it off.  The Fitbit helps to keep me focused and helps me keep track of how much I'm really moving during the day. Yesterday I didn't move nearly as much as I would have guessed that I did - so it helps to keep the eating in perspective. A quick peek at how many steps I've taken/how active I've been lets me know if I can have a piece of dessert at the party or not. 

It also helps me to pace my walking - to try and get some of my 10,000 steps earlier in the day so it doesn't become impossible to achieve by the end of the day. 

We're walking to the 8:45 appt this morning. 

be good! 

Meanwhile, from my husband's files...

They got home late last night after a long weekend of four wheeling and a twelve and a half hour drive back to our driveway. Fun was had, and so was mud. I have a substantial laundry pile to tackle today which is timed perfectly with a warm and windy forecast.  oh yay. 

I think most, if not all, of these photos are grandpa's. Of the files loaded onto my husband's laptop - there are about a dozen photos and a couple hundred videos - some only five seconds long.  I watched 90% of them last night. 

 

Definitely looks like they had a good time. 

Of all the videos that I watched - this one is my favorite. The guys laughing at the beginning are my husband and his brother Ken and the arrr-arrr-arrrr-ing at the end is my husband. I'm fairly certain that it must be Derek behind the wheel (correct me if I'm wrong) and by the sounds of it, he got a good dose of uncle teasing over the weekend. 

Good fun. 

eta: the video should be viewable now - sorry 'bout that

Civil War Remembrance * Greenfield Village 2012

We spent our Memorial Day at Greenfield Village. I woke up the kids at 9am (Tuesday morning is going to hit us like a brick wall) with a goal to head down for a few hours before it got too hot. Because it was so hot, I packed light. I only brought my fixed 50mm 1.4, and a small water bottle for each of us - no lunch/snacks. We weren't planning to stay real long. 

(To see all my posts from The Henry Ford - click this link, and there are pages, including several Memorial Days. Be sure to click the hard to see green arrow at the bottom of the page) 

We got there 20 minutes after opening, and it was already too hot. This is Mark, just a few minutes in. Time for the summer buzz.  And the fur that he is sitting in?  Horse fur. True story. The mane was still on it and everything. 

Santa Claus told us so. (That really is Santa Claus) 

We always enjoy listening to the Dodworth Saxhorn Band.  

Mark was amazed with how small the tent was. He was wondering if he could fit in it. 

We've seen this How I Got Over Presentation at the Susquehanna Plantation a few times, and it's always wonderful.

Past noon now, the kids had to go to the bathroom - my least favorite part of the day when going single parent style. Someone clued my little boys in that the image of the woman on the bathrooms is NOT a superhero, so now they insist they must go in the real men's john. 

There are no family bathrooms within the village. Who is with me that this is the hardest part of going someplace/traveling/doing anything without two adults of opposite sex. Seriously - *shudder*. Anyway - the last two times we've gone we've used the bathrooms in the way back near where the carousel USED to be. I can keep the door open and play my protector role well. 

Anyway - that taken care of, we then decided we were going to stay longer than a couple of hours and that we needed to eat. I would normally have packed a lunch, and it killed my frugal self that I didn't - but we called it a treat and ate at A Taste of History. I told the young kids tales of how we used to do that more often when Allan was an only child. 

This horse wanted to eat me. 

Our meal done, and timed just right to make it to the 2:00 Cavalry Demonstration in Walnut Grove. 

The blond horse didn't like the shooting, and once she started rearing - the other two started as well. 

At 3:00 a siren sounded, and the whole entire Village observed a moment of silence for those who have served, and for those who have sacrificed their lives for our country. It was very moving to have the whole village go quiet like that. I totally cried. 

Following the moment of silence, it was the Artillary Firing Demonstration - we stayed for a few rounds of canon firings. One of the horse riders taught us a trick - if you hold your mouth wide open when they fire, your ears won't pop. Nifty. 

Still timing things perfectly - we made it to the Camp Chase Fifes and Drums for their 3:30 performance as we were making our way back to the parking lot. 

While it was hot, we were glad we went. Saturday or Sunday just didn't work for us this year. Out of the parking lot, Mark fell sound asleep by the time we got back on 96. I was nervous that I'd have to carry my 52 pound baby into the house at George's where we went for supper on the grill - but as soon as we pulled in the driveway he woke up with "I have to go pee!!!" 

It was a good full day.  We settled in at home about four hours ahead of Greg and Allan. On Tuesday I'll be doing muddy laundry and another dentist run. 

Tuesday morning is going to hit like a brick wall....

Memorial Day

my husband's older brother

This past few days Facebook has been full of posts reminding us what Memorial Day is really about. That it's not about cook-outs and fireworks, it's about remembering. Something that anyone who has ever lost someone to the service of our country is accutely aware of.  

We remember every single day. We remember when we salute the flag, we remember when we hear of another young man or woman joining the service, we remember when famlies are welcoming their loved ones home, we remember when we sing the National Anthem. and we remember with an ache in the pit of our guts when we hear the 21-gun salute. Memorial Day parades are tough.  In so many ways, it feels like just yesterday, and in so many ways it feels so long ago. 

I've been grateful this year and last that my husband is spending this weekend with his other brothers and his brother Tom's son. We carry him always in our heart and memories. 

I left this photo full size to make it easier to click and read. 

I borrowed this one from book - it comes with this caption: 

 

Tom Tormanen 1989 aboard the USS Enterprise
Caption from group "Marine Detachment, USS Enterprise CVN-65"
Tormanen giving Whitt a buzz cut with Sgt. Armstrong schooling Fortes, Regalado, Barf

and others in the background. And Rocky Main slowly going blind drawing fantasy stuff.

 

 

a sneak and a funny

The boys might have taken my extra six foot table with them this weekend, but that didn't stop me long. I pulled out the card table to dine on, and I'm using the kitchen table to play catch up. I've got a few layouts done, a few cards done, and next up I'll be making a few dozen graduation cards - the parties start full speed ahead next week. 

The layout above? A sneak peek of Technique Tuesday's June Studio AE.  Love this set - looks like the whole set is up on site already - take a look! 

And a funny. I was going to pass on these two folding chairs at a garage sale yesterday, simply because they are almost too little for my boys.  I went back for them, and I'm glad I did - for a buck a piece, they provided hours of entertainment yesterday from playing train, to stands for the dinosaurs, to playing short guys at the computer. 

Here Brian just said: I can put my foot behind my head
Mark responded: I can put my foot behind your head too.

 

Operation Write Home Memorial Day *Sketch* Blog Hop

 

 

I thought I'd take part in this year's Memorial Day Blog Hop using the new $2.99 USA Seal from Technique Tuesday, and a tipped sideways Sketch 57 from great selection of OWH card sketches. 

Last I heard, there were 142 creative card makers signed up for this holiday hop, so make sure to take some time this weekend to follow the link to the blog hop and check out at least a few! 

Remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. 

 

 

And they're off

Dresser, WI - watch out.  (These guys will be there by 7am, where they'll meet up with three of Greg's brothers, a brother-in-law, his dad and four family-owned Jeeps) 

Their goal this year is to make a bigger appearance in the annual video. Greg and Derek are in last year's official video at minute 1:05 - on the other side of the mud watching the action. (It's Greg and Derek's second year, and the first year for the other three) 

 

I just hope they don't get too much of that mud in my new van, or on my extra 6 foot table that they up and swiped. 

hmph. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch - we'll be eating pizza, staying up late, garage saling, heading down to Greenfield Village for the Memorial Day festivities and having fun. We don't let the grass grow long under our feet when we're left behind.  

All About Mark

Yesterday was very Mark focused. 

Does it get any better than splashing in the fire hydrant?  I think not.  I had been at my clothesline folding clothes and thinking - huh, that wind has really picked up, as my first thought was the noise I was hearing was the trees rustling. 

But then I looked and there was no wind. 

huh. 

And then it clicked. I threw down my laundry and went hauling into the house hollering for Mark, "Mark!!  Come Quick!!!" and we tore out the front door together, me grabbing my camera along the way. (My camera never goes in a bag - it's always ready to go) Him, having no clue where we were running to, but totally trusting....

Mark was all, "For real? I can play in that, for real?"  Mark will ask, "for real" even after he asks, if he can have a cookie and I say yes. "For real??"

For real! Even the city guy said so. 

The neighbor girl across the street saw him playing and came out to join his fun. They'll be walking up to kindergarten together next year and her mom and I are going to do this kind of stuff ourselves. It's already planned. 

The middle and high school kids made it home in time, but it was done just before the elementary kids were to come home. Brian was SOOOOOO mad. We had a little lesson in appreciating someone elses joy instead of drowning it with anger and self pity. 

As the high schooler came home, the preschooler went about trying to chase him down for an after school (soaking wet) hug. Lots of laughs

Dried off, a quick supper, it was then time to get ready for preschool graduation. I had been out here taking pictures of the spiffed up lad when I realized that his shoes were on the wrong feet. He usually doesn't care, but I suggested that he should care for graduation. 

Graduation was amazing. I had made suggestions all day long to Mark that he shouldn't yawn through the ceremony, that we would really love him to sing all the songs that we know he knows. He yawned at my suggestions. 

Then, about a half hour before we went out the door I also put essential oils on his feet.  Valor (for courage and confidence) and Joy (for nerves and, well, joy). And he blew us, his teachers, and the other parents who remember how he performed for the Mother's Day brunch just two weeks ago - Away. 

In the class recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, his voice carried the loudest. He sang all the songs, did all the hand movements and didn't even cry or fuss when his cap fell off half way through and landed under the bleachers. I wish I'd taken Wendy's video camera. We were stunned.  This was exactly one of the reasons we signed this kid up for preschool in the first place. 

We were blessed with two wonderful teachers. His yawning avoidance tactic came back before we got a picture of him with the other teacher. 

Way to go Mark, way to go!

Now to find some great boredom busters for him for the next couple weeks until the bigs are done with school. As for today - he'll be getting a cavity taken care of. 

Not quite as much fun as yesterday. 

be good! 

A few more pictures - as promised. I always scroll through the front page of my blog just to make sure I'm keeping things well-rounded and not too balloon heavy, kid heavy or layout heavy. This weekend I have hopes of bulking up the layout side. I have a few on my desk right now...

I forgot to mention with my boy's picture last night a little funny: On our way to Denny's house, which they'd never been to, I mentioned that Denny has a caboose in his yard. For the locals, his was one of the ones mentioned in the paper last fall when they did a feature on the area cabooses. 

They immediately asked - "And does he sell ice cream????" 

The caboose that sells ice cream was one of the other cabooses featured, and is a frequent summer hot spot for us. They were sorely disappointed to learn that Denny does not keep ice cream in his caboose.

I also went and got my tire fixed this morning. It took longer to get it fixed than it did to get four new ones put on yesterday. They asked if I had driven onto a construction sight. I said no. I didn't mention that I chase balloons. 

You can see my boys in the left corner of this one. I tell them they have to pick a spot and stay through until the balloon is in the sky. They are pretty good about it.  

hey - have you seen a balloon?

I mentioned that I hadn't planned to follow this night since they had enough people and I had my little boys, but we did end up following in our van. We lost the balloon several times - here they are asking if there were any open areas in the back of that sub where he might have landed, that aren't visible to the road. 

They must have radio'ed or called at this point, because Denny was already several miles south from where we'd been looking.  

At this point, near the boys bedtime, I decided to just head out on my own and see if I could track them without following the chase vehicle. It's sometimes easier to track in a vehicle that's not pulling a trailer because it's so much easier to turn around if you take a wrong turn. 

I did end up picking up the trail, but left my camera in the van for the rest of the evening so I could help keep the balloon out of the trees. 

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'bout it. 

Today we have volleyball, preschool graduation, an ice-cream social and dehydrating more fruit - and, of course, we've already completed the tire fix it and the Meijers run. 

It just stays busy.