Sure do!

"Sure do" is one of IEM's newest expressions.

It's a common Michigander phrase, similar to the Minnesotan/Dakotan "You Betcha!" Ask him if he wants some more applesauce and you might get a "Sure do!" Eat out at a restaurant and ask if they have, say, something on the menu that they don't and you'll likely get a "Sure don't!"

We've enjoyed a beautiful day here in A2. My mom tends to chuckle when I tell her that "it sure was warm here today, it was in the 50s!!!" But hey: The 50s "sure do" seem warm compared to the low 30s we had last week. I'll take this for as long as it lasts.

We had a very busy weekend. Friday evening, we joined the Fellows in celebration of Anthony's birthday. A late evening but a good one. Anthony and his wife Cindy are delightfully funny and fun to be around. Their daughter is a sports superstar and a sweet kid...IEM adores her. Good people all around.

Saturday, IEM had his first swimming lesson at the Y. He likes to call it "Huh-why" almost like he's trying to say Hawai'i. Very cute. His goggles broke beforehand but Zack said he did fine. IEM seems to like his instructor, a college boy named Jason. And it gives him something to do for the next 10 weeks on Saturday morning.

Saturday evening, Zack and I had a sitter so we decided to go to Hill Auditorium and hear the Michigan Men's Glee Club sing. Hill is a beautiful venue with almost pitch-perfect acoustics. The "opening act" was a boys' choral group from a high school in a nearby town. Zack and I both commented that we thought it was pretty amazing for a high school to be able to find 50 boys willing to sing at such a level. They were very good and many of the boys' families were there.

One such family was seated two rows behind us...parents and three boys. One of the boys looked to be no older than IEM. And he was a talker. Now remember: The Hill has great acoustics so you can imagine how loud his already loud whispers were.

During one song, I did turn my head to see if the parents were trying to shush him when all of the sudden this collective gasp went out in the crowd.

I whipped my head around to see one of the singing boys face first on the stage. Zack said he just fainted, fell face first off the top riser and crashed into a music stand. It took a second or two for the choral director to realize what had happened and he rushed over to the boy. The boy's mom rushed out of the crowd as did several men who were, I presume, the doctors in the house.

It was absolute silence in there for about five minutes. Finally, they walked him off the stage and to the U-M hospital with a broken tooth and cut lip. Ever hear someone tell you to not lock your legs if you're standing for some time? Well, definitely don't.

Other than that, the performances were great and we left at intermission to go get some dessert before heading home.

Sunday, we went to Dearborn to Greenfield Village, part of what is now known as "The Henry Ford." The Henry Ford Museum (www.hfmgv.org) is a complex on the outskirts of Ford's headquarters and main research and manufacturing facilities. IEM and I explored the Village (visit the website for the best idea of what it's all about), rode the carousel twice and took a horse and carriage ride. EPM and her daddy did basically whatever entertained her for 30 seconds. But she did eat a good lunch and take a nap in the car while Zack read his magazine, waiting for me and IEM. I would say IEM's favorite thing was the real steam engine roundhouse where he got to see not only steam locomotives but a tow train. "Oooh, Mommy, just like Harvey!!!" he exclaimed, citing one of his Thomas characters.

Oh and I got my hair cut on Friday. Took it up to my shoulders and shaped it up. I just couldn't take it long anymore. The winter static and flyaways were setting in and it needed some life.

That's it...promise some photos soon. After our downloading disaster last week, I'm just making sure I've got the time to properly download photos and go through all of the steps.

Thanks for stopping by.