| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 07:46:36 AM
I'M SO EXCITED I COULD POP!!!!
Some of you may recall that I've previously posted about my husband's WWII and WWII aviation obsession. He turns 40 on August 3, and I've been tossing around this milestone birthday with a little trepedation. For his 30th, I threw him his first ever surprise birthday party, retro styled with vintage brightly colored linens, chinese lanterns, etc and invited people from kindergarten all the way to the first year of our marriage...it looked like a USO dance and he couldn't believe it, he was so happy. So, how do you top that (and, I'm setting myself up for REAL failure for 50, girls!), but I bit the bullet--I booked him a ride on a real renovated WWII era B-17 Bomber at an airfield in Ypsilanti, MI!!!!! He and 10 other passengers will be like the "crew" for 45 minutes and experience a flight that only our Grandfathers and Great Grandfathers might have known.
It's at the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan, a small museum originally housed in the Willow Run Aircraft Factory that belonged to Henry Ford. Unfortunately, the original hangar that housed the planes was destroyed in a fire in 2004, but the museum is rebounding and this flight will also coincide with their airshow, Thunder over Michigan, in which the largest mustering of P-51 Mustangs will be there (and if it sounds like I know my planes, I don't  --I do know that the P-51 is one of my husband and another fellow farmgirl, Miss Bee Haven's favorite WWII planes). There are about 30 of these in mini model form in our study, to boot.
Anyhoo, it also coincides with our 11th anniversary, so we're just going to make a weekend out of it and get a hotel and eat somewhere nice. I'm really excited and just...cannot wait to see his face! 
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| delicia |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 7:09:40 PM
You have to be like Wife of the year. This is the coolest gift ever for him. What a genius. I think he will be thrilled. |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 6:49:25 PM
That's an amazing present! I can't wait to see pictures here or on facebook. I agree, it's so much fun to plan a perfect treat for someone you love. I get more excited about the gifts I plan for my husband than I do about the ones he gives me (not that I'm saying I don't appreciate them, of course). |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 06:17:31 AM
I think we will try to get "over there" for 50--I lived in England for several years and we'd like to get to France to see Normandy, and the cemetery and I know he'd like to see Ireland to visit relatives.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| erowease |
Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 6:52:46 PM
For 50 you should save up to take him to London to see the British Military Museum and there's an Aircraft Museum also. Or better yet take him to the D-Day beaches and the D-Day Museum in Caan France. My husband and I are World War II history buffs and loved this. It was very memorable and humbling.
Or fly him here to Seattle. The Heritage museum in Everett flys a Mustang, and a Messerschmidt. We also have the Museum of Flight and of Course Boeing. If you travel further south there is the Museum just south of Portland Oregon (McMinnville) which has the Spruce Goose. Not World War II but would still be interesting.
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| nubidane |
Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 07:21:38 AM
Gotta love a healthy hobby. Jim is currently obsessed with Alaska & says that since he is taking me to Nashville to see Kristin Chenoeweth next Weds, that we are going to the Iditarod. Somehow I think his plan is a bit more extravagent ( & cold!) but I guess it would be something else to see. I am thinking of getting him a wall length map of the state so he can see everything in full view, instead of studying an old Atlas with a magnifier. |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 07:05:46 AM
Nope, not a lurker, Lisa--he's too busy looking up WWII plane pics :)
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| nubidane |
Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 06:58:25 AM
Oh Jonni, how cool!
I hope he is not a lurker Mary Janes.
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| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 06:15:08 AM
@Janice--Ha! I'm sure you're right about that--I don't think he'll be able to focus on much except the flight! He really is going to freak out in the best possible way!
Emily, I'm debating on the "telling" part. I've worked out the days with his boss, but since my husband makes the schedule, his boss is going to just leave it "as is" (as if he's working Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and make sure the one person who's covering "knows" but is sworn to secrecy. It's a small enough place that I know it can be done. I am afraid I'm going to have to tell him at least a few days prior--I think there is some sort of release to sign, but I'd like to keep for the last minute, if I could. I'll talk to the reservations again at the museum and see if that's a possibility :)
@Joey--that's an amazing gift, too!!! My husband still talks about his surprise party from 30, so when men talk about anything more than....a day or two after it happens, it obviously resonates deeply with them :)
I will happily take lots and lots of pictures and post them for you girls. I can hardly wait and if I'm this excited, I can't imagine how he's gonna feel!
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| fille de ferme |
Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 04:16:35 AM
OH! Jonni sounds GREAT ! Please, if you can post pictures :)
KEEP A SMILE IN YOUR HEART... |
| thebyrdhaus |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 8:13:21 PM
Wow that is an amazing gift!
Patty #1840
http://ladygonegreen.blogspot.com/
A rind is a terrible thing to waste. Compost.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
-Jesus in John 6:12 NIV Bible |
| Joey |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 7:33:05 PM
What a fantastic time you will have and he will be making memories forever! He will be so surprised. Can't wait to hear how it all turns out.What a wonderful surprise and such a thoughtful thing for you to do.
For my husbands 50th he rode in a racecar on the Daytona NASCAR track. That was almost 19 years ago and he still talks about it. I'm sure your hubby will too and even with 10 yrs planning for his 50th I think this will be hard to top! Joey
Well behaved women rarely make history. |
| Emily Anna |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 5:07:28 PM
Oh my gosh, Jonni! That is an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G gift!! He is absolutely going to love it! I honestly don't know how you are going to keep from blurting this big secret out to him! I know I wouldn't be able to.....I KNOW I wouldn't be able to!! I wish we could all be there to see the look on his face! When do you plan on telling him?
Emily |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 1:58:35 PM
Well, he may not even remember what he eats or where he sleeps(he'll be walking on could nine until he's up in the air, though!). Man, oh man, Jonni. This is the ultimate! He's going to lose his mind!!!!!!
Farmgirl Sister #50
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?"
'Br.Dave Gardner' |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 12:29:36 PM
I hope so, Nini!!! I'm going to have to find the power cord to our camcorder and video his takeoff. As I said to the man when I booked the flight when everything was official, "neato torpedo!!!" and I didn't even realize that I'd said something funny until he started laughing on the other end of the line :)
Yeah, 10 years will give me some time to think until 50....maybe Ireland ;)
I just couldn't think of anything else more suitable to "who" he is in his life right now. He's always loved WWII and his family's participation (his grandfather and his 6 brothers were all enlisted and fought, only one didn't come home from Okinawa) and he belongs to the Small Scale Aviator's Modelling Club which meets once a month and is retired pilots and military guys (and my husband) and he has some models on display at the Tri State Warbird Museum, here in Cincinnati, he voraciously reads anything and everything he can get his hands on about the war, so this just seemed like a perfect extension of all of that.
The "big" part is out of the way, now to decide on a hotel and retaurant (my favorite parts!!!).
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| laurentany |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 12:25:39 PM
That sounds awesome Jonni!
Isnt it just the best feeling to find something that you just know someone will LOVE and be able to give it to them. One of the greatest gifts there is- that awesome feeling of knowing you just made someones day!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 12:16:32 PM
Jonni - that is just about the coolest, most thoughtful gift I've ever heard of! HE'S probably gonna POP! LOL!!! You GO girl! I know who to look to next time I need gift inspiration! That's awesome!!! (Oh, and, uh, at least you've got 10 years to plan for the big 50!!!) Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| pnickols |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 12:10:23 PM
that will such an amazing ride ! what a birthday present |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 11:29:00 AM
Thanks for the vote of confidence, girls! I was so excited about it last night, I couldn't sleep--I had to take a benadryl to calm myself down to keep my eyes from popping right back open!
I know he's going to be excited and I already "started" the ruse by telling him I was going to make reservations in Louisville for the 3rd at our favorite restaurant and B & B. He said, "awesome!" so I think he probably feels like I'm not doing a whole heck of a lot!
@Frannie, I would love that, honestly--I love getting it all together, working out the details, finding unique things. It's a lot of fun, especially planning special things for the folks you adore in your life!!! Just give me a chance to plan something for you, one day, lady!!!!
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| frannie |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 10:58:36 AM
really, that sounds like the most awesome birthday ever. i would say i cant believe it, but everything you do is outstanding!!!!!
really girl, you should be a party planner.
love
frannie in texas
farmgirl sister#807
home of "green"crafts,
where no scrap is left behind
(http://abunnystale.wordpress.com/)
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| ceejay48 |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 09:21:52 AM
WOW! What a gift! I'd be excited too!
Let us know how it turns out!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
the "Purple Thistle" http://www.ceejay48.etsy.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| crafter |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 08:19:18 AM
that sounds AWESOME!! and I am not sure what you will do for the big 50...start thinking now- we sisters will too!! Enjoy!!
Lori
Gernerosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need! |
| KansasFarmMomma |
Posted - Jun 12 2012 : 08:11:20 AM
What an amazing birthday present! I have photographed some airshows and those older planes are awesome.
Nicole
Farmgirl # 4209 |
