Well…it was.  Cold, that is.  And rainy.  I wouldn’t call the month “bad” because…hey!…we got to see a lot of folks that are very important to us!  But the weather prevented us from doing a lot of things we would have liked to do, and as a result, our photo collection is sparse.  In fact, the gloomy weather must have had an adverse effect upon my thinking skills.  We had a beautiful day in Albany hiking with Peter and Mona, but did I take any pictures?  No!  I blew it!

So.  Let’s look at what we do have.  First, we arrived in the area and immediately caught up with the kiddies.  Yes!  Paris adores her time with her siblings, and this visit was no different.  We managed to get ‘em all!  Can you believe it?  And…we even met the lovely Michelle.  Cameron finally introduced us to his date after what…18 months?  “Hey Cameron!  Do we embarrass you?”  Hmmm…maybe we don’t now, but gimmie a minute, okay?

Michelle!  This is the young lady who will someday suffer my hands around her neck because she and Cameron text each other incessantly!

I’m kidding, Cameron…put the weapons down.  Here is the lovely Michelle sitting with the hairy version of Cameron:

Fast forward.  We hit Sami’s house, we hit Grammy’s house, we hit Oma’s house, and we descended upon Peter and Mona’s house.  We were all over the place during the first two weeks of June, and it rained non-stop.

Kristin had her prom.  Kristin had graduation.  Christopher graduated.  And Cameron’s birthday is Monday!  We had a lot to celebrate!

Since I had to leave a little earlier than expected, we celebrated Cameron’s birthday on Thursday.  Here are the greatest girls in the Universe enjoying lunch!

I have no idea what is happening here.  Obviously hairy Cameron has become hairless Cameron, and Herb has got some hair action going with that napkin.  Cameron thought it was funny…

And here, the Hairless One opens yet another birthday card.  He looks frustrated!  I guess it does get difficult opening such a large number of cards with checks and cash falling all over the place.  Such work!

We’re not following any chronological order here, so let’s jump back to our Broadway excursion.  Paris (and Mary Kate, Karen and I) ventured into the City to see The Little Mermaid. Fantastic!

Walking in the City!  When Mark, Kristin and Cameron were little, they used to beg me to “go walking” in the City.  We were never allowed to take a cab no matter how cold, how windy, or how rainy it was.  They loved — absolutely loved! — walking in the City.  Cameron was just a baby, so he got pushed around. What did he care?  I have pictures of all of us on the Empire State Building.  Alone.  It was so damn cold that no other person was silly enough to go up 100 stories in the snow and wind.  And when we came down?  “No cab!”.  We had to walk to our next destination and to our car.

So here are Paris and Mary Kate doing a little “walking”.  Paris isn’t as big a fan of New York City compared to her siblings, but she knows how to get around.

And what’s this?  Get ready!  Line up!  We’re here!

Cameras are not allowed in Broadway theaters, but I had mine ready.  We were in the second row, and I had some prime shots lined up.  But the seats were a mixed blessing.  I was in clear view of several Camera Nazis and ultimately, I decided against any photos because I figured it was a bad idea for Paris to see me being escorted out of the show.  It might have left a blight on her day.  I did find some promo shots online and, though not great, they give you a sense of the stage scenery and setting.  It was very impressive!

The “water” is colored sheeting of some sort with light tubes on the top to give it shape and a boundary. It rose and fell in realistic waves.  The performers all wore custom made (and costume appropriate) “heelies”.  If you have kids, you know the shoes I’m talking about.  The large wheel embedded in the heel allowed the actors to glide across the stage like fish gliding through water.  They even had to “wiggle” to get moving (just like a real fish).  Ursula (bottom left) was elaborate and brilliant!  The photo doesn’t do justice to the human-sized octopus moving convincingly across the stage.

Ariel was the show favorite, of course. And then Sebastian (no pix, but he’s the crab). But Paris’s favorite “off” character was this guy –

He’s the chef tasked with making dinner for Eric (the prince) and Ariel.  And he decides to make fish.  For a mermaid.  Pretty funny…

Last night in town!  At least for Dad, anyway…

Carnival!  Paris loves carnivals — what kid doesn’t?  And she has perfect, carnival companions…Kristin and Cameron!  The girls get ready to do some violent, multi-directional, torturous ride from Hell…

The operator wisely put Kristin on the outside.

Here they are getting on some other Death Trap.  This thing was called “Hurricane” (or something)…Paris is all smiles here, but in the end, she decided it was a “terrible, terrible” ride…

Why?  Well…would you ride something that goes round and round at high speed that some stoned, illegal bolted together the night before?  Look at this damn thing…

I don’t want to put unneccessary fears in the heads of any of my kids, but I think Paris is starting to figure out what makes sense in life and what doesn’t.

Speaking of which…I just got off the phone with Paris moments ago.  She’s having a blast with Tonte Stephanie at the Warwick house.  She’s got a few more days of New York before she comes home.

Mark is on a training block doing a little sailing.  As it turns out, he’s doing multiple, short trips instead of one long one.  His first was not his cup of tea.  They sailed from USNA to Baltimore, down to Solomons Island, and back to USNA.  He tells me that “Monster (the energy drink) plus no sleep plus waves at night are not a good combo.”  He didn’t lose his dinner, but it was close.  Apparently they sail through the night and the boat has to be manned (obviously).  He also complains that sleep is impossible because “tacking and jibing is loud and rolling into the wall tends to wake you up”.  One mid was hospitalized after hitting his head while trying to sleep.  Poor kids.  Getting paid to sail…

Hey!  Future Plebes!  Mark suspects that some day, when he might actually be responsible for some of you, that some of you may find this site.  Whenever he tells you to stop whining, refer him to this post!

(He will most certainly make me take this down…)

Kristin in Florida in three weeks!  Mark soon after.  Cameron soon after that!  Yeah Baby!

]]> http://trunzo.com/2009/06/27/june-mega-trip/feed/ 0 http://trunzo.com/2009/06/23/kristin-graduation/ http://trunzo.com/2009/06/23/kristin-graduation/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:06:56 +0000 Jay http://trunzo.com/?p=743 It’s graduation for the Big Sister!  Tonight was Kristin’s Big Night!  The rain held off, spirits were high, and the pomp was fantastic!

We even had visitors from far and wide — who could miss this?  C’mon!  Tonight’s celebration caps off 12 years of hard work!  First, Aunt Lynn is on the scene and getting ready to scream her head off when Kristin’s name is called…

If you remember last year’s post when Mark graduated, you’ll remember the subject of this next shot.  The Bagpipers!  God I love these guys and girls!  I couldn’t get a good shot of them going in, but let’s pretend, okay?  Let’s pretend that instead of seeing the pipers close the ceremony, we’re seeing them open it.

Okay, on to the good stuff.  As graduations go, not many include speakers we want to hear (sorry).  The speakers rarely do much more than drone on and on while spewing nonsense we wouldn’t allow our kids to utter in public.  Can someone donate a public speaking course?  God!  It was torture!  The Class of 2009 wanted out, and I can’t say that I blame them.  As the ceremony came to a close, chaos erupted.  Families reuniting, friends screaming for (and at) friends.  Kristin promised to find us quickly, and she didn’t disappoint.  Looking, looking…

Found us!  Here’s a shot of a proud Grandmother with her two granddaughters…one the Graduate!

Hey!  And look who else we found!  Susie!  (If she didn’t have parents, we’d adopt her…)

Let’s talk friends.  This is a great time to celebrate with friends that have been there and with new ones too.  Tonight, we were happy to meet Frank.  Recognize him?  Yep…you do…from Kristin’s Prom pictures.  Check this out — Kristin, Paris, Frank and Susie:

More friends.  Kristin, this is Andrea, right?

Let’s not forget the family shot.  Somebody wanna tell me how I got so damn old?

Here’s another shot of the old guy with a handsome young guy and two beautiful daughters –

And finally, it’s time to say goodbye for the night.  Kristin is off to a Project Graduation Party.  The graduates leave directly from the graduation ceremony and once on site for the party, they can’t leave.  It’s a safe, sane, and very fun way to spend the evening!  She’ll get to sleep sometime around 8 tomorrow morning!  Paris doesn’t do goodbyes so well when it comes to family and close friends, and here she’s giving Kristin one last hug before tomorrow –

We’ll see you late tomorrow morning, right Kristin?  Noon at worst?

Kristin?

Okay, whatever…

Congratulations!  We’re proud of you!

Love you !

Dad

Kristin graduates on Tuesday (the 23rd).  We’ll have pictures up soon after.  But until then, check out her little sister’s graduation!  Paris celebrated the conclusion of kindergarten on May 29th!  I know, I know…it seems likes ages ago, right?  But I had some video issues, and although I’m not thrilled with the quality of this one, I’m happy enough to feel comfortable sharing it.

Our videographer was none other than our favorite midshipman.  He managed a week with us after his training block in Mayport, FL.  We expect to see him again in about a month.  Kristin will be with us at the end of July, and our resident golf stud (Cameron) will hit Paradise in early August.

Okay!  Video!  It’s just under seven minutes, folks, and it should load up very quickly.  Hit “play” and you’re off!  Be sure to watch to the end!  It gets better as it goes along, and we also slip in some “credits” for a nice gift to help Paris celebrate.  A gift?  “From whom?” you might ask…

…check it out and see –

Mark graduated on June 25th.  Our experience since then makes the graduation seem almost insignificant.  Of course, it’s not insignificant at all!  He finished fourth in his class, he earned a ton of academic awards and recognition, he was a 12 season varsity athlete, and he was Captain of four varsity teams.  The Cross Country teams he led were County Champions twice and performed well at the State level.  The Track team enjoyed similar success in what was billed as a year of rebuilding.  And of course, his “part-time” sport of Fencing was a blast!  He finished 9th in the State Championship but ultimately was ranked 6th in the State.  It was a successful High School career.

Graduation marked the transition to the “real deal”.  We’re going to have some stories to share as the next few years go by.

But first, a side note: one of the coolest things about Mark’s High School is their bagpipers.  These kids are incredible!  Led by the bagpipers, the school band is so good, that every year they’re invited to march in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  In fact, they’re so freakin’ good that this past year they were invited to take the #1 slot in the parade — that is an incredible honor!  They’re the group right behind the Grand Marshall.  Incredible!

Of course, the bagpipers led the way in and out of graduation.  I had to jump in front –

The young man on the left is a long-time friend of Mark’s (of everyone’s frankly…great kid).  He leads the bagpipers, and he received about $8 billion in scholarships because he plays multiple instruments very, very well.  He also earns $90 a quarter hour when asked to play the bagpipes at an event.  I wish I were him.

Okay!  A few photos –

Kristin was working, so she couldn’t join the family photo.  Next year it’s her turn!

Paris worships the ground Mark, Kristin and Cameron walk on — can you tell?

And of course, how could we finish without a nice picture of Mark and Susie?  We couldn’t…so here we go:

Congratulations Mark!  (By the time he’s allowed to see this, it will seem like a million years ago…)

This part of the Trunzo family isn’t big on the concept of an eighth grade “graduation”.  We don’t see this event as the completion of anything — it’s more of a beginning.

So as callous as it may seem, we don’t celebrate the “accomplishment” as much as the “opportunity”.  This is the beginning of a time when a whole new world of opportunities open up for our kids.  Cameron is still sorting through the tremendous opportunities he has ahead of him, and tonight, he started it off in style.  ”Cameron” Style…

This is what Cameron thought of the event.  See what I mean by “Cameron” style?  He’s not easily impressed.

This is the big moment!  He’s a little more interested now.

A Happy Camper.  He kept asking me when he could go back to his friends.  Cameron…always been his own dog…

Dad and Cameron.  Important note for our close friend Sami — that’s a linen Fashion-Nazi, my friend.  Anyone else that can figure that out gets bonus points.

And save the best for last…Karen and Cameron.  When Cameron was three, he announced to anyone that would listen that he had “his Mommy, his Daddy, and his Karen”.  There…I embarrassed him.  She’s certainly saved his ass more times than I have.

Congratulations Cameron!

Paris makes her entrance.  The sunglasses were her idea…

Anxiously awaiting…

Finally!  After all these years of hard work!  Diploma in hand!

The girls celebrate!  Kristin still keeps her Nursery School diploma framed in her room…

On to kindergarten!