You're About to be Redirected to the New Home of Ground Control to Major Mom: 8/29/10

Thursday, September 2, 2010

A Thomas-Themed Scrapbook. Really? Yes, really.

How crazy are we? My next scrapbook project is to use this lovely Thomas-the-Tank-Engine-themed scrapbook I got many years ago as a gift (I honestly don't remember where/when I got it). I opened it up recently after several years of it sitting with my other unused scrapbooks...and counted TWENTY available pages.

Could I possibly come up with 20 pages of Thomas?

To quote our favorite former Alaska governor: "You Betcha!" (insert wink and thumbs-up here)

We've been to enough Thomas-themed events, had enough Thomas-themed birthday parties, and gotten enough Thomas-themed toys to make a fun 20-page scrapbook. Over the years I'd slowly accumulated Thomas-themed decorative papers, stickers and die-cuts. I'd also accumulated generic-train-themed items. It was time to put them to use! My boys have attended Thomas events every year since 2003! I also have plenty of pictures of Thomas birthday cakes (3 of them), Thomas toys, and a photo collection of the Thomas-themed clothing they have...to include Grandma Fox's homemade pants and the Vans-style slip-on shoes she got in Hong Kong.

Yesterday I chose about 100 pictures from my photo files and sent them over to Walgreen's for developing. I knocked out 6 pages and it was so much fun going down memory lane! I predict that my boys won't be wanting to do this for much longer -- Jacob already has outgrown Thomas and sticks to "prototype" toy trains. Timmy still is enthralled with the magic of Thomas, and lucky for us, we found a TINY little narrow gauge tourist railroad in Alabama that hosts the event in the springtime if Timmy's still interested.

Here's the cover of the book -- it's a cool 3-D chipboard Thomas.

From 2010 09 01 Thomas Train Scrapbook

And here are the pages so far. 4 years, 4 different venues. The next page I'm doing is from 2007, not a Thomas train ride, but our trip to "Thomas Live!" in Raleigh:

This is my favorite Thomas picture! I believe this was 2006, based on Timmy's shoe's.

From 2010 09 01 Thomas Train Scrapbook

2003. The 3 pics on the left are our attempts to get J to look at the camera!

From 2010 09 01 Thomas Train Scrapbook

Trying out my new "Toy Train" font in the title.

From 2010 09 01 Thomas Train Scrapbook

In the upper right, J's laughing hysterically, not crying or screaming.

From 2010 09 01 Thomas Train Scrapbook

Labels: crafts, scrapbooking, trains

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Offutt Air Show 2010

We've done this two times before here and here, but it's worth discussing again.

It's late August at Offutt AFB -- time for an AIRSHOW!

This year's airshow lucked out with a last-minute booking of the Thunderbirds after the Coney Island Airshow was cancelled. (Don't know why, message boards have speculated it was financial). Unfortunate for an entire airshow to be cancelled, but yay for us, right? When the airshow was first announced in mid-July, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team was the headliner.

Like the past two years, the aircraft start to roll in around mid-week and we can see the air traffic from throughout my neighborhood as the aerial demo teams start to practice their shows. While the propeller planes and helicopters stay pretty close to the runway, the jets need more maneuvering space and often have to turn around over our neighborhood. Whoo hoo! So we were seeing the Thunderbirds, the F-22 and F-18 several times right from our yard! The kids at school had quite a treat during their recess on Thursday and Friday too :-)

In 2008 we watched the Thunderbirds from the local bike trail. In 2009 we watched from a local neighborhood that offered a good view. This time, the boys and I watched right there in the middle of the action.

Enjoy some of our experiences from the airshow.

These KC-135s are Nebraska Air National Guard planes from Lincoln

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

I'd never seen a Global Hawk UAS up close before, after all the times I'd forecast for them....

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

In a T-1 Navigator Trainer jet.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

Timmy couldn't quite reach the top of the game here...we won a Koozie, though....

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

A tricked-out Mustang. Check out the seating and displays inside.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

My neighbor and recruiter, Dave, is in front of this formation wearing a ballcap. He's practicing the oath of office with these 64 new recruits. They would receive the oath from the Thunderbirds pilots later that afternoon.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow