Good Wednesday morning!
NOTE #1: I know it isn't Thursday (Weekend Family Fun), but I wanted you to know the Argo Drive-In is showing Night at the Museum 2 this week. The show starts at 8:10 and it costs $10 a carload except for Wednesday night ($5 a carload). Starting this Friday, July 3, they are going to start showing Ice Age 3. I just wanted everyone to know in case you get a chance to go the next two nights. (Also, we've been on the 4th of July before, and it was INCREDIBLY crowded with a new movie. Plan on getting there at least an hour early, or maybe even 90 minutes early. Take your dinner, bug spray and a Frisbee and just relax until the movie starts if you go this weekend.) WARNING: Always call first to make sure nothing has changed. (467-3434)
NOTE #2: Don't forget to go by Arby's today for your FREE Beef and Cheddar Sandwich with the purchase of a soft drink.
NOTE #3: If you go to the Galleria fairly often, sign up for the Godiva Reward Club. They offer coupons, etc., but the REAL DEAL is... (DRUM ROLL, PLEASE) you get a free piece of chocolate each month. That's right. You're just minding your own business, and you're shopping till you drop when you walk past the Godiva Chocolate Shop in the food court and you remember, "I GET A FREE PIECE OF CHOCOLATE THIS MONTH!" And you go inside and hand them your card... and they give you a truffle or something comparable... and you just feel better! Ahh! It's a nice, little FREE thing.
Last night, Roxie and I sat down to watch Free Willy. Do you remember that movie? (Little Known Fact: I love whales.) We borrowed the video from Roxie's friend, Ally, and turned it on. I did not remember Michael Jackson performed the title song for Free Willy. At the beginning of the video, there was Michael, singing and dancing. So amazing. So, so sad.
It was a very good movie though. It makes me want to go to Sea World again. We'll probably try to watch Free Willy 2 tomorrow night. Ally had both of them!
Where in the world is Mike and Austin?
I know you're probably ready for them to be home, too, so I'll stop talking about their whereabouts. But until they come through the door, that's the subject for the week.
Yesterday they went to the Washington, D.C. International Zoo. They were going to stay there part of the day, see a couple more monuments, the Library of Congress, etc., but they never left the zoo. All day long! (Which is how I like to visit a zoo. I don't like to rush through.) They saw one panda. We've never been to a zoo that had a panda exhibit, but I've ALWAYS wanted to see one. When we were in Memphis last fall, we didn't plan on going to the zoo, but on our last day we bumped into a family and they were talking about their visit to the zoo... and guess what? THERE'S A PANDA AT THE MEMPHIS ZOO! Argh! So close and yet so far.
But, I will live vicariously through Austin and Mikie. They saw a panda and that will have to be good enough for me. For those of you who don't know, Austin worked at the Birmingham Zoo from the time he was 13 until he was 16 with two of his friends (Daniel, Robin's son, and Andrew). He loved volunteering there.
They are tired tonight. Tomorrow is going to be an incredibly full and busy day. They are planning on seeing the Library of Congress, the Archives, the rest of the monuments, take the White House Tour first thing tomorrow morning and eat at one more famous Washington restaurant before they call it a day! "But what about the Spy Museum? Didn't you say Austin wanted to go to the Spy Museum?"
Yes. Yes, I did. They're saving the best for last (which can be a disaster if things don't work out just right), but they are going there Thursday morning before starting a two-day trek home. And while they haven't seen EVERYTHING Washington, D.C. has to offer, they have definitely made a dent. They've gone at their own slow, "plaque reading" pace without me behind them saying, "Let's go!" and taking a picture of the plaque for them to read when they get home. (Code for THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR TRIP.)
And that takes us to our Seasonal Tradition for this week.
A Different Zoo Every Year
If there is something special your family enjoys, make plans to see a different one around the same time each year or two. I put the word "Zoo" in the title, but it could be anything.
I read about a father and two sons who loved baseball. They went to different famous baseball stadiums together and had their pictures taken at each one.
Some people may love small town festivals. This would be an easy one because in our area alone, there are probably a dozen. You wouldn't have to go very far, and they all have different themes. (We've attended festivals in Cullman, Decatur, Dothan, Gardendale, Demopolis, etc., and we weren't even trying to see a different one each year.)
Josh has a goal of attending a football game at a different SEC stadium each year with his dad and brother. So far he's been to three different ones the last three years. He may miss one here and there, but it's something he plans and looks forward to each year around the same time.
My sister, Bev, and her family are trying out new campgrounds right now. They'll be going to their second "new" campground this summer in just a few days, and she has plans for them to try several others.
The kids and I love zoos. (Mikie just "likes" them.) We've been to The Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, The Atlanta Zoo, The Birmingham Zoo, and I would count the Wild Animal Safari Park near Callaway Gardens as a zoo, too. (We are close to the Montgomery Zoo and we could have gone to the zoos in Memphis and Nashville if I had planned our itinerary a little differently.) If you wanted to add Aquariums to the mix, we've been to Sea World, Atlanta, Gatlinburg and Chattanooga. (Mike and I went to one in Baltimore on our honeymoon, too. NOTE: I didn't go to sleep at the Aquarium. I LOVE aquariums!)
All of the things I mentioned above have "just happened." They haven't been planned or specifically chosen each and every year. But they could very easily have been.
I talked to a friend this week who has been to several restaurants their family has seen on Drive-Ins, Diners and Dives. We have "accidentally" been to three or four of these restaurants ourselves.
Talk to your family and "pick" a yearly destination. It doesn't have to be a major trip, and it doesn't have to cost major money. Here's a list of some ideas. Feel free to add some of your own (and share with us if you like).
Zoos
Aquariums
Small Town Festivals
County Fairs
College Football Games (Away)
Minor League or Major League Baseball Games (Away)
Water Parks
Farms
State Capitols
Campgrounds
Botanical Gardens
Have a beautiful Wednesday. I'm loving this humidity-free week. I'm not expecting it to last very long... but I am loving it! Check in tomorrow for Weekend Family Fun, another update on Mikie and Austin, and a very "doable" date.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Slow Cooker Apple Cake
Good Tuesday morning!
And it is good, too, isn't it? I'm registering Josh as a Sophomore this morning, and I heard the air conditioning was on at the high school. Yea! We're heading to the pool later. Josh has a birthday party to attend. Roxie has Girls' Night Out tonight. They are happy with "summer" happenings all around. I am hanging in there until all my chicks are under one roof again. It is a good Tuesday.
NOTE - Click onto Nitty Gritty under my Blog List and read Jody's post for today. It makes you think. It makes you cherish the little things. It helps put things in perspective. It is a "must read" for today. Don't waste a moment!
NOTE TO LEANNA - I couldn't resist. I am watching Jon & Kate one more time today. (I wasn't able to catch it last night.) It wasn't a new show. It was bits and pieces of the last five years... and I wanted to see the babies. That's all! Just the babies! And if you know me (just a little bit) you know that is the truth. I imagine it will be a sweet show, but I'm pretty sure it will be extremely sad knowing what has happened to their family since the beginning. I'll let you know if I'm right tomorrow.
I posted pictures of my twinkly lights and Tiki torches today. Mike's probably "shaking in his boots" right about now. Don't worry. There are still people in my life so I'll have some people pics soon... Or at least the dogs.
Where in the world are Mikie and Austin?
Well, yesterday they went to the Smithsonians yet again. It is amazing to me that I actually gave birth to a "plaque reader." It must be a dominant gene on Mike's side of the family. They had the Capitol Tour scheduled for 1:20, and they enjoyed that, but they had been told it wouldn't be as good as some of the other things on their itinerary. They finished the evening by going to yet another Smithsonian (Space and Rocket) and had dinner at the Ebbitt Grill. Very, very full day. But Mike said the weather was very good... not humid and not too hot, so they are not miserable walking to and fro.
Oh, and they saw a motorcade, and guess who was in one of the cars? That's right. Technically, they saw the President of the United States of America. (Austin asked a nearby policeman, and I think he confirmed it was the President.) Not only did Austin take a picture of the line of cars... he videoed it, too. My heart is swelling with pride!
Mike said Austin was taking pictures by the hundreds. I don't even care if he's exaggerating and he's only taking them by the dozens. I am thrilled. I guess you know what will be in next week's Gallery. Hundreds and hundreds (or dozens and dozens) of Washington pictures. Oh, and don't forget the 4th of July pics. I may just have a picture blog next week.
Little Known Fact - When Mike and I went to Washington on our honeymoon some 21 years ago, I had the energy of a dead gnat. I don't remember my wedding being very stressful, but for some reason or another it completely, totally zapped me. Mike and Austin have seen more in two days than we saw in eight on our honeymoon. I absolutely couldn't wake up! And about two hours into anything we were seeing (a Smithsonian, Ford Theater, White House Tour, etc.), I was looking for a chair, ottoman or the Lincoln Bedroom to rest my weary bones.
Mike even took a picture of me at the Natural History Museum on a bench at the bottom of some escalators. He had gone to the bathroom, and when he returned I had my head thrown back, mouth wide open, one shoe off and was ASLEEP IN PUBLIC. He took a picture or I would never have believed him. I was mortified. But, as he pointed out, I was never going to see those people again. (That fact made it easier for me to fall asleep on our way back to our hotel in Alexandria, Virginia on the Metro each day... and on our way into Washington, D.C. the next morning... and outside the FBI building... and waiting for our lunch at the Ebbitt Grill. You get the picture. I was very, very tired.
Slow Cooker Apple Cake
You will need the following:
1 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 medium-sized cooking apples, chopped
1/3 cup eggbeaters
2 teaspoons vanilla
1. Combine flour, sugar and cinnamon.
2. Add apples, stirring lightly to coat.
3. Combine eggbeaters and vanilla. Add to apple mixture. Stir until just moistened. Spoon into light greased slow cooker.
4. Cover. Bake on high 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Not bad, huh? And it will make the whole house smell wonderful, too. Now, as promised, the SECOND "recipe" for today.
Giant Bagel Bite Pizzas
You will need:
1 bag plain bagels
1 jar pizza sauce
1 package pepperoni
1 cup shredded cheese (your favorite)
Parmesan cheese
1. Cut bagel in half and spread pizza sauce over each half.
2. Add pepperoni and cover with shredded cheese.
3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
4. Sprinkle a few more drops of pizza sauce on top of the Parmesan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
Fun to eat AND fun to make (for any age).
Have a wonderful Tuesday. Do something fun and summery today... even if it's a picnic in the backyard under some shade trees (with lots of bug spray) or catching lightning bugs tonight. Simple pleasures are the best (and cheapest)! I'll have a Seasonal Tradition for tomorrow's post. Hopefully, it will not be late (like today's post was). Sorry about that.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
And it is good, too, isn't it? I'm registering Josh as a Sophomore this morning, and I heard the air conditioning was on at the high school. Yea! We're heading to the pool later. Josh has a birthday party to attend. Roxie has Girls' Night Out tonight. They are happy with "summer" happenings all around. I am hanging in there until all my chicks are under one roof again. It is a good Tuesday.
NOTE - Click onto Nitty Gritty under my Blog List and read Jody's post for today. It makes you think. It makes you cherish the little things. It helps put things in perspective. It is a "must read" for today. Don't waste a moment!
NOTE TO LEANNA - I couldn't resist. I am watching Jon & Kate one more time today. (I wasn't able to catch it last night.) It wasn't a new show. It was bits and pieces of the last five years... and I wanted to see the babies. That's all! Just the babies! And if you know me (just a little bit) you know that is the truth. I imagine it will be a sweet show, but I'm pretty sure it will be extremely sad knowing what has happened to their family since the beginning. I'll let you know if I'm right tomorrow.
I posted pictures of my twinkly lights and Tiki torches today. Mike's probably "shaking in his boots" right about now. Don't worry. There are still people in my life so I'll have some people pics soon... Or at least the dogs.
Where in the world are Mikie and Austin?
Well, yesterday they went to the Smithsonians yet again. It is amazing to me that I actually gave birth to a "plaque reader." It must be a dominant gene on Mike's side of the family. They had the Capitol Tour scheduled for 1:20, and they enjoyed that, but they had been told it wouldn't be as good as some of the other things on their itinerary. They finished the evening by going to yet another Smithsonian (Space and Rocket) and had dinner at the Ebbitt Grill. Very, very full day. But Mike said the weather was very good... not humid and not too hot, so they are not miserable walking to and fro.
Oh, and they saw a motorcade, and guess who was in one of the cars? That's right. Technically, they saw the President of the United States of America. (Austin asked a nearby policeman, and I think he confirmed it was the President.) Not only did Austin take a picture of the line of cars... he videoed it, too. My heart is swelling with pride!
Mike said Austin was taking pictures by the hundreds. I don't even care if he's exaggerating and he's only taking them by the dozens. I am thrilled. I guess you know what will be in next week's Gallery. Hundreds and hundreds (or dozens and dozens) of Washington pictures. Oh, and don't forget the 4th of July pics. I may just have a picture blog next week.
Little Known Fact - When Mike and I went to Washington on our honeymoon some 21 years ago, I had the energy of a dead gnat. I don't remember my wedding being very stressful, but for some reason or another it completely, totally zapped me. Mike and Austin have seen more in two days than we saw in eight on our honeymoon. I absolutely couldn't wake up! And about two hours into anything we were seeing (a Smithsonian, Ford Theater, White House Tour, etc.), I was looking for a chair, ottoman or the Lincoln Bedroom to rest my weary bones.
Mike even took a picture of me at the Natural History Museum on a bench at the bottom of some escalators. He had gone to the bathroom, and when he returned I had my head thrown back, mouth wide open, one shoe off and was ASLEEP IN PUBLIC. He took a picture or I would never have believed him. I was mortified. But, as he pointed out, I was never going to see those people again. (That fact made it easier for me to fall asleep on our way back to our hotel in Alexandria, Virginia on the Metro each day... and on our way into Washington, D.C. the next morning... and outside the FBI building... and waiting for our lunch at the Ebbitt Grill. You get the picture. I was very, very tired.
Slow Cooker Apple Cake
You will need the following:
1 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 medium-sized cooking apples, chopped
1/3 cup eggbeaters
2 teaspoons vanilla
1. Combine flour, sugar and cinnamon.
2. Add apples, stirring lightly to coat.
3. Combine eggbeaters and vanilla. Add to apple mixture. Stir until just moistened. Spoon into light greased slow cooker.
4. Cover. Bake on high 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Not bad, huh? And it will make the whole house smell wonderful, too. Now, as promised, the SECOND "recipe" for today.
Giant Bagel Bite Pizzas
You will need:
1 bag plain bagels
1 jar pizza sauce
1 package pepperoni
1 cup shredded cheese (your favorite)
Parmesan cheese
1. Cut bagel in half and spread pizza sauce over each half.
2. Add pepperoni and cover with shredded cheese.
3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
4. Sprinkle a few more drops of pizza sauce on top of the Parmesan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
Fun to eat AND fun to make (for any age).
Have a wonderful Tuesday. Do something fun and summery today... even if it's a picnic in the backyard under some shade trees (with lots of bug spray) or catching lightning bugs tonight. Simple pleasures are the best (and cheapest)! I'll have a Seasonal Tradition for tomorrow's post. Hopefully, it will not be late (like today's post was). Sorry about that.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Indian Braves Party
Good Monday morning!
The Showcase Pic today is of Roxie and Hannah. Just a pretty summer picture of two pretty summer girls.
The Gallery is starting off a little slow this week, but that means it will only get better. The first picture is of the bagel pizzas we made over the weekend. I'll put them in the recipe section tomorrow along with the other summer offering. I can't put it by itself because it is too easy, and that would be cheating.
Brad and Josh spent the day together Saturday playing X-Box and swimming. Nothing extraordinary, but fun for them. Although it hurts that everyone is growing up, I have to admit it is nice when Austin and Brad can go to each other's house for visits. Since we live a little over 20 minutes from Bev, it does help with the picking up and dropping off of the cousins. It also helped pass some of the time for Josh since Austin is gone.
Josh helped me set up my new Tiki torches, and except for one which burned to the ground (I accidentally poured the flammable liquid on the outside of the bottle) the rest look pretty good.
Roxie and Hannah took over the afternoon slot at our house. We made bagel pizzas and they helped me with the twinkly lights in my magnolia tree. (That's right, Mikie! Twinkly lights in the magnolia tree. For those of you who don't know, Mikie has something against too many twinkly lights. I think they make everything right in the world, but what do I know.)
Where in the world are Mikie and Austin?
Here's a little play-by-play...
Friday - Mike and Austin left JSU headed for Washington, D.C. a little before noon. They went through Tennessee and ended up in Wytheville, Virginia around 10:00 p.m. CST Friday evening. Austin drove 1/3 of the way while Mikie napped, so I don't know if they were trying to get to Wytheville, Virginia or that's just where they wound up. They were not tired, and they figured they had only four more hours before reaching Washington on Saturday. They also received a phone call on the way telling them they were going to have a White House Tour after all. It seems someone knows someone who knows someone, etc., etc. That was the only thing "missing" from the itinerary and Wednesday morning they're in, baby!
Saturday - After a quick run by Virginia College to look at the stadium (I have no idea why), the boys went the scenic route and enjoyed the rest of the day riding through the Shenandoah Valley.
Little Known Fact: I play the harmonica. My favorite song to play on the harmonica is Oh, Shenandoah. Does anyone remember the old Jimmy Stewart movie of the same name? I loved that movie when I was a kid, mainly because I loved Jimmy Stewart. I wanted Austin to watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (starring Jimmy Stewart) before he left, but we ran out of time. But I digress. They said it was beautiful, and Austin even said he would love to see it in the fall. Yes! I've instilled some autumnal lovin' in that boy after all.
They are staying in a little hotel in Arlington, Virginia and Sunday is a Smithsonian Day. (I also wanted to watch both of the Night of the Museum movies with him before he left so he would be up to speed, but we ran out of time. But I digress again.) They sound happy and well.
NOTE: If you ask me to play the harmonica for you, I will always refuse. There was a time when I would have played for you, but I saw myself playing in a mirror once and it wasn't pretty. Not pretty at all. That's why I play in private. I started playing when I was 16 years-old. That is probably one of those things that fall under the category TMI (Too Much Information). I understand.
Sunday - They went to two Smithsonians yesterday (Natural History and American History). They LOVED them. When they called around 9:00 Washington time, they were sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial looking at the Reflecting Pool. Pretty cool, huh?
That's pretty much it for their weekend... Unless they're hiding something from me. If they come back with pictures of Mount Rushmore, I guess we'll know they got me. All I can say is THERE BETTER BE PICTURES!
Indian Braves Party
Introduce the boys and girls to Native American culture with this fun-filled party. The young braves will enjoy wearing their colorful feather headbands, playing Indian games and making Indian crafts. The theme, from Joshua 1:9, centers on bravery. "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Suggested Size: 5 to 10 kids
Suggested Time of Day: Morning or afternoon
Type: Boys, girls or mixed
Ages: 2 through 5
You will need:
Construction paper
Feathers
Plywood
Fabric
Poster board
Toothpicks
Food
INVITATIONS -
Cut 5" triangles out of poster board and tape three toothpicks at the top of each. Cover the triangles with fabric and cut small flaps to open in the middle. The party information will be written inside the tepees and should read as follows:
Chief __________(Child's Name)____________ invites young braves to a powwow.
Date:____________
Time:____________
Location:___________________________
RSVP to Squaw:_____________________
DECORATIONS -
Make a tepee using three 5' plywood boards. Attach them together at the top using rope. Put a bed sheet around the frame or purchase some fabric to staple to the frame. Place the tepee in the backyard or in the main room for the party.
For the front door of your house, make an Indian face out of poster board. Add black construction paper hair and a headband with a feather. Draw the eyes, nose and mouth. On the headband write the word "How."
Inside your house, place arrows made from poster board or purchase inexpensive toy arrows from the toy store. Hang the arrows on the walls to point the way to the activities. Party colors are red, black and turquoise. Purchase balloons, streamers and paper goods in these colors.
If you have access to large rolls of paper or fabric, you could make a large triangle tepee to put on the front door. Cut it in the middle for the children to walk through as they enter the party.
SCHEDULE -
15 Minutes - Arrive and dress up
20 Minutes - Indian games
20 Minutes - Powwow
15 Minutes - Open Presents
15 Minutes - Free play
Arrive and Dress Up - Greet each young Indian with a "How." Give him an Indian headband made out of construction paper and paper feathers. After presenting your guest with his headband, tell him to follow the arrows to join the rest of the kids. During arrival time, have the following activities for the kids.
1. Indian Vests - Make Indian vests out of brown grocery sacks. Cut a slit up the front of the sack and cut around the bottom of the sack to make the hole for the head. Cut an arm hole on each side and fringe on the edges of the sack. Let the kids decorate and color their vests with markers.
2. Indian Names - Help the children think of Indian names to call themselves. Each child should think of his or her talents and relate them to an animal. They can come up with names such as Running Horse, Fast Deer, or Singing Cow. Write their Indian names on their headbands and vests. (NOTE: When we had this party, Mike picked the name "Chief Pickabugga." As you can imagine, the boys loved it. Me... not so much.)
3. War Paint - Apply Indian war stripes using lipstick and eye pencils.
Indian Brave Games - Direct the children in several running races. Give stickers as prizes to be placed on the vests of everyone who finishes. Give the first place winner a feather for his headband.
The games can be simple races to prove their bravery and speed. Start off with a running race. Then have the kids hop from start to finish. They can race running backwards and then running sideways. You could also make a race in which they roll to the finish line.
Give the kids a small ball made of crumpled-up foil (the Indians used roots from trees), and kick the ball from start to finish.
Play Bear Hide and Seek. Have one child become the bear who hides while all of the Indians count to 20. Then all of the Indians seek the bear. When someone spots the bear, he shouts, "I found the bear," and everyone runs for home base. The first person to touch home base becomes the next bear.
Powwow - Tell the young braves to all sit Indian style in a circle. Introduce the children to some Indian food, such as beef jerky, cornbread, popcorn and berries. Let the kids have a small portion of each. Serve the birthday cake with a tepee and Indian figures on top. (See cake ideas below.)
Use this time to tell the boys the Indians were very proud of their bravery. Say, "It was a great honor to be considered a brave Indian. What does it mean to be brave? Do you know the Bible encourages us to be brave with God's strength? Listen as I read what God told Joshua before the Israelites were about to go into the Promised Land."
Read Joshua 1:9. Have the verse written on a colorful poster even if the children cannot read yet. Ask the children if they want to be brave. Tell them to remember God can give them the courage they need when they are following Him.
Open Presents - Put all of the presents in the tepee. Tell all the children to sit in front of the tepee. When you call a name (do not forget to use the Indian name), that child should go into the tepee and come out with his present and give it to the birthday child.
Free Play - Allow the kids to play with their ponies and bow and arrow sets. You may also want to set out some small plastic cowboy and Indian figures. You also have time to play Bear Hide and Seek again.
FOOD -
Beef jerky
Cornbread
Berries
Popcorn
Water bottles (Indians drank a lot of water)
Cake
Cake - Use your favorite recipe or mix to bake a rectangular cake. Ice the cake with vanilla or chocolate icing. Make several tepees on the top of the cake using ice cream cones (upside down) with toothpicks sticking out of the top. Place some of the plastic Indians on the top of the cake. Make a lake using blue icing. Put a paper canoe in it. (I made this cake for Josh's 4th birthday. It was easy AND very cute.)
FAVORS -
Favor bags - Use brown paper lunch sacks and cut fringe on top
Headbands, feathers and vests
Bow and arrow sets
Plastic Indian figures
Stone arrowheads
Beef jerky
Microwave popcorn for later
This party was a huge success. The games were great because when it was time for the Powwow, snacks and opening presents, the boys were tired and calm.
Also, the party was taken from Parties With a Purpose by Karol Ladd. Although I have tried over the years to order more of these books, I have been unable to find them in print. However, when I checked on Amazon.com last night, they did have them for sale (new AND used). If you have children (small up to teenagers), this is the book for you. It has over 80 parties for every sex and every age group. I personally used ten parties out of this book for my own kids (and I recommended many more to friends and family.)
I hope you have a splendid Monday. I am going to be working at home today (much needed). Josh is cutting a yard (as always), but has Ultimate Frisbee to look forward to tonight, and Roxie is working at the library until 2:00. I'll have an update on Mike and Austin's leg of their trip today on Tuesday. I'll also have a recipe that is just lovely in the good ol' summertime... especially if you like fruit. (And I'll add the simple instructions for the Giant Pizza Bagel Bites if you haven't already guessed.)
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
The Showcase Pic today is of Roxie and Hannah. Just a pretty summer picture of two pretty summer girls.
The Gallery is starting off a little slow this week, but that means it will only get better. The first picture is of the bagel pizzas we made over the weekend. I'll put them in the recipe section tomorrow along with the other summer offering. I can't put it by itself because it is too easy, and that would be cheating.
Brad and Josh spent the day together Saturday playing X-Box and swimming. Nothing extraordinary, but fun for them. Although it hurts that everyone is growing up, I have to admit it is nice when Austin and Brad can go to each other's house for visits. Since we live a little over 20 minutes from Bev, it does help with the picking up and dropping off of the cousins. It also helped pass some of the time for Josh since Austin is gone.
Josh helped me set up my new Tiki torches, and except for one which burned to the ground (I accidentally poured the flammable liquid on the outside of the bottle) the rest look pretty good.
Roxie and Hannah took over the afternoon slot at our house. We made bagel pizzas and they helped me with the twinkly lights in my magnolia tree. (That's right, Mikie! Twinkly lights in the magnolia tree. For those of you who don't know, Mikie has something against too many twinkly lights. I think they make everything right in the world, but what do I know.)
Where in the world are Mikie and Austin?
Here's a little play-by-play...
Friday - Mike and Austin left JSU headed for Washington, D.C. a little before noon. They went through Tennessee and ended up in Wytheville, Virginia around 10:00 p.m. CST Friday evening. Austin drove 1/3 of the way while Mikie napped, so I don't know if they were trying to get to Wytheville, Virginia or that's just where they wound up. They were not tired, and they figured they had only four more hours before reaching Washington on Saturday. They also received a phone call on the way telling them they were going to have a White House Tour after all. It seems someone knows someone who knows someone, etc., etc. That was the only thing "missing" from the itinerary and Wednesday morning they're in, baby!
Saturday - After a quick run by Virginia College to look at the stadium (I have no idea why), the boys went the scenic route and enjoyed the rest of the day riding through the Shenandoah Valley.
Little Known Fact: I play the harmonica. My favorite song to play on the harmonica is Oh, Shenandoah. Does anyone remember the old Jimmy Stewart movie of the same name? I loved that movie when I was a kid, mainly because I loved Jimmy Stewart. I wanted Austin to watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (starring Jimmy Stewart) before he left, but we ran out of time. But I digress. They said it was beautiful, and Austin even said he would love to see it in the fall. Yes! I've instilled some autumnal lovin' in that boy after all.
They are staying in a little hotel in Arlington, Virginia and Sunday is a Smithsonian Day. (I also wanted to watch both of the Night of the Museum movies with him before he left so he would be up to speed, but we ran out of time. But I digress again.) They sound happy and well.
NOTE: If you ask me to play the harmonica for you, I will always refuse. There was a time when I would have played for you, but I saw myself playing in a mirror once and it wasn't pretty. Not pretty at all. That's why I play in private. I started playing when I was 16 years-old. That is probably one of those things that fall under the category TMI (Too Much Information). I understand.
Sunday - They went to two Smithsonians yesterday (Natural History and American History). They LOVED them. When they called around 9:00 Washington time, they were sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial looking at the Reflecting Pool. Pretty cool, huh?
That's pretty much it for their weekend... Unless they're hiding something from me. If they come back with pictures of Mount Rushmore, I guess we'll know they got me. All I can say is THERE BETTER BE PICTURES!
Indian Braves Party
Introduce the boys and girls to Native American culture with this fun-filled party. The young braves will enjoy wearing their colorful feather headbands, playing Indian games and making Indian crafts. The theme, from Joshua 1:9, centers on bravery. "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Suggested Size: 5 to 10 kids
Suggested Time of Day: Morning or afternoon
Type: Boys, girls or mixed
Ages: 2 through 5
You will need:
Construction paper
Feathers
Plywood
Fabric
Poster board
Toothpicks
Food
INVITATIONS -
Cut 5" triangles out of poster board and tape three toothpicks at the top of each. Cover the triangles with fabric and cut small flaps to open in the middle. The party information will be written inside the tepees and should read as follows:
Chief __________(Child's Name)____________ invites young braves to a powwow.
Date:____________
Time:____________
Location:___________________________
RSVP to Squaw:_____________________
DECORATIONS -
Make a tepee using three 5' plywood boards. Attach them together at the top using rope. Put a bed sheet around the frame or purchase some fabric to staple to the frame. Place the tepee in the backyard or in the main room for the party.
For the front door of your house, make an Indian face out of poster board. Add black construction paper hair and a headband with a feather. Draw the eyes, nose and mouth. On the headband write the word "How."
Inside your house, place arrows made from poster board or purchase inexpensive toy arrows from the toy store. Hang the arrows on the walls to point the way to the activities. Party colors are red, black and turquoise. Purchase balloons, streamers and paper goods in these colors.
If you have access to large rolls of paper or fabric, you could make a large triangle tepee to put on the front door. Cut it in the middle for the children to walk through as they enter the party.
SCHEDULE -
15 Minutes - Arrive and dress up
20 Minutes - Indian games
20 Minutes - Powwow
15 Minutes - Open Presents
15 Minutes - Free play
Arrive and Dress Up - Greet each young Indian with a "How." Give him an Indian headband made out of construction paper and paper feathers. After presenting your guest with his headband, tell him to follow the arrows to join the rest of the kids. During arrival time, have the following activities for the kids.
1. Indian Vests - Make Indian vests out of brown grocery sacks. Cut a slit up the front of the sack and cut around the bottom of the sack to make the hole for the head. Cut an arm hole on each side and fringe on the edges of the sack. Let the kids decorate and color their vests with markers.
2. Indian Names - Help the children think of Indian names to call themselves. Each child should think of his or her talents and relate them to an animal. They can come up with names such as Running Horse, Fast Deer, or Singing Cow. Write their Indian names on their headbands and vests. (NOTE: When we had this party, Mike picked the name "Chief Pickabugga." As you can imagine, the boys loved it. Me... not so much.)
3. War Paint - Apply Indian war stripes using lipstick and eye pencils.
Indian Brave Games - Direct the children in several running races. Give stickers as prizes to be placed on the vests of everyone who finishes. Give the first place winner a feather for his headband.
The games can be simple races to prove their bravery and speed. Start off with a running race. Then have the kids hop from start to finish. They can race running backwards and then running sideways. You could also make a race in which they roll to the finish line.
Give the kids a small ball made of crumpled-up foil (the Indians used roots from trees), and kick the ball from start to finish.
Play Bear Hide and Seek. Have one child become the bear who hides while all of the Indians count to 20. Then all of the Indians seek the bear. When someone spots the bear, he shouts, "I found the bear," and everyone runs for home base. The first person to touch home base becomes the next bear.
Powwow - Tell the young braves to all sit Indian style in a circle. Introduce the children to some Indian food, such as beef jerky, cornbread, popcorn and berries. Let the kids have a small portion of each. Serve the birthday cake with a tepee and Indian figures on top. (See cake ideas below.)
Use this time to tell the boys the Indians were very proud of their bravery. Say, "It was a great honor to be considered a brave Indian. What does it mean to be brave? Do you know the Bible encourages us to be brave with God's strength? Listen as I read what God told Joshua before the Israelites were about to go into the Promised Land."
Read Joshua 1:9. Have the verse written on a colorful poster even if the children cannot read yet. Ask the children if they want to be brave. Tell them to remember God can give them the courage they need when they are following Him.
Open Presents - Put all of the presents in the tepee. Tell all the children to sit in front of the tepee. When you call a name (do not forget to use the Indian name), that child should go into the tepee and come out with his present and give it to the birthday child.
Free Play - Allow the kids to play with their ponies and bow and arrow sets. You may also want to set out some small plastic cowboy and Indian figures. You also have time to play Bear Hide and Seek again.
FOOD -
Beef jerky
Cornbread
Berries
Popcorn
Water bottles (Indians drank a lot of water)
Cake
Cake - Use your favorite recipe or mix to bake a rectangular cake. Ice the cake with vanilla or chocolate icing. Make several tepees on the top of the cake using ice cream cones (upside down) with toothpicks sticking out of the top. Place some of the plastic Indians on the top of the cake. Make a lake using blue icing. Put a paper canoe in it. (I made this cake for Josh's 4th birthday. It was easy AND very cute.)
FAVORS -
Favor bags - Use brown paper lunch sacks and cut fringe on top
Headbands, feathers and vests
Bow and arrow sets
Plastic Indian figures
Stone arrowheads
Beef jerky
Microwave popcorn for later
This party was a huge success. The games were great because when it was time for the Powwow, snacks and opening presents, the boys were tired and calm.
Also, the party was taken from Parties With a Purpose by Karol Ladd. Although I have tried over the years to order more of these books, I have been unable to find them in print. However, when I checked on Amazon.com last night, they did have them for sale (new AND used). If you have children (small up to teenagers), this is the book for you. It has over 80 parties for every sex and every age group. I personally used ten parties out of this book for my own kids (and I recommended many more to friends and family.)
I hope you have a splendid Monday. I am going to be working at home today (much needed). Josh is cutting a yard (as always), but has Ultimate Frisbee to look forward to tonight, and Roxie is working at the library until 2:00. I'll have an update on Mike and Austin's leg of their trip today on Tuesday. I'll also have a recipe that is just lovely in the good ol' summertime... especially if you like fruit. (And I'll add the simple instructions for the Giant Pizza Bagel Bites if you haven't already guessed.)
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Weekend Happenings
Good Friday morning!
NOTE TO ROBIN - Yes, Mike and Bev both serve a purpose in my life. One does not replace the other. However, they BOTH read my blog. Really, Robin. Ask your Alaskan friend to comment. That would be so much fun! No pressure, of course.
Guess where I wrote Friday's post from? Come on, guess! I was at Jacksonville University's library. Austin and I were at Orientation ALL day long, and he had one more meeting (two hours for me to kill). I decided to go to the library and read magazines (one of my favorite activities), and I saw this row of computers with no one on them. So I began working on my blog!
What can I say about yesterday? First, I had SEVEN MEETINGS, not SIX, like I posted yesterday. I just wanted to make that clear.
The first hour was great. The Go Team (kind of like Ambassadors at Gardendale) put on an hour long play/skit of all things freshmen will experience. It was funny, musical and very entertaining. It held my interest like a two year-old at a Wiggles concert. "This is going to be okay," I thought to myself. "This isn't going to be over my head or boring." I allowed myself to be lulled into a sense of false security.
Austin left and the next session (a/k/a meeting) was given by a woman and it was about parents. She called us "helicopter parents." You know... hovering. She even suggested we not call the kids all the time. I quickly tuned her out.
On to session three... Nine parents met with the advisor who will be handling our kid's schedule. He was very nice. He was very informative. I tried very hard to listen to every word that came out of his mouth, and then I heard, "...so after I go to registration with your child tomorrow, you can pick them up." What?
Not only am I NOT a meeting person... I am NOT an "ask questions at the meeting" person. I usually get very angry with the people who ask questions at the meeting because that means the meeting will last longer. But I felt my hand raise high over my head. "Yes," he acknowledged me.
"I never ask questions," I started. No one cared. "Why isn't the parent going with their child to registration?"
"Is there a particular reason you think you need to be there?" he responded, not unkindly, but maybe slightly irritated.
I know he did not expect me to go into the lengthy story of the day Austin was born, and what I physically and emotionally went through giving birth to him, but I wanted him to understand the FULL extent of our bond. That and the fact if he messed up his schedule, Mike and I would have to PAY to change the classes next week.
"I think we'll be able to handle it," he said, again, not unkindly, but maybe slightly smug.
You didn't have to be a brain surgeon to understand that these people were planning on treating these freshmen like "adults." Absurd!
Okay. I would not consider that session a success... Mainly, because I didn't get what I wanted. I needed to go to lunch before we had another meeting... I mean session.
Lunch was okay. Because of my diabetes I couldn't eat the mashed potatoes or the mac and cheese or the homemade roll or the peach cobbler. That pretty much left chicken, carrots and green beans. Oh, and they didn't have a Diet Dr. Pepper so I had to have a Pepsi Zero. Just shoot me now!
After lunch, we had my favorite session. Austin decided he wanted to try the Communications Major session. It was fascinating. I loved it. Austin loved it. I can totally see him doing something like this... if he wants to. I refuse to be a "helicopter." Austin was really pumped up about it, so I encouraged him. (Oh, by the way, I am now registered in Communications 101. I'll be with Austin Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 11:00. Not being a "helicopter." Just trying to expand myself... I want to be a better blogger, and this class should help.)
The next session was a student panel where six kids sat in front of us and answered all the questions we could think of. Mostly, they talked about how important it was for us, as parents, to give the freshmen freedom.
Session Six was an administrative panel where nine adults talked about all the things we, as parents, needed to know about the different departments at the school. I think I lost consciousness on administrative panel member number four.
Then we went to our final session which was a reception. Sugar cookies and sweet, sweet red punch. I admit it. I took a sip of the punch. I have the red mustache to prove it.
And then Austin was in his final session. Parents weren't allowed because it was just for the kids so they could ask questions they wouldn't ask in front of their parents. All I can say is Austin Faulkner better not have had his hand waving.
Out of the SEVEN MEETINGS, I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed TWO of them. That is excellent for me. I consider yesterday a success.
To all of you out there who have sent children off to college, I admire how you pulled it off without being called a "helicopter." For those of you who still haven't experienced this monumental task, I would advise you to take your child, run to Montana, buy a farm and just keep everyone with you in a compound-like environment. I really think that's the way to go.
In reality, it was a good day. I loved the campus and the faculty I met. Everyone seemed very nice and helpful. Austin seemed more at ease, too, which is very important to me and Mikie. We want him to adjust well and be happy.
NOTE: It did help that the Baptist Campus Ministries table in the lobby has Ultimate Frisbee three nights a week and they have an intramural basketball team. Austin was thrilled about that, too.
Weekend Happenings
I'll be keeping up with Mikie and Austin on their excellent adventure. Roxie is having friends over Saturday. Sunday we'll visit grandparents and great-grandparents. Low-key, but fun. We'll probably have a mini-Faulkner Family Movie Night Sunday night and stay up late. We'll just have to see what comes up! I'm getting more and more spontaneous in my old age... Have you noticed?
Book
I haven't read these yet... I'm going to the bookstore to buy them TODAY. Let me know if you've read anything helpful regarding the Empty Nest subject. The subject is hitting me right in the face this week.
1. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters: 101 Stories About Surviving and Thriving When the Kids Leave Home by Jack Canfield, etc.
2. When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parent's Survival Guide by Carol Barkin.
3. You Can Be the Happy Mom of an Empty Nest by Darlen Cooper.
Have a fantastic Friday and weekend. Let me know if you do anything different with your family you would like to share. My blog is always open to ideas!
Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.
NOTE TO ROBIN - Yes, Mike and Bev both serve a purpose in my life. One does not replace the other. However, they BOTH read my blog. Really, Robin. Ask your Alaskan friend to comment. That would be so much fun! No pressure, of course.
Guess where I wrote Friday's post from? Come on, guess! I was at Jacksonville University's library. Austin and I were at Orientation ALL day long, and he had one more meeting (two hours for me to kill). I decided to go to the library and read magazines (one of my favorite activities), and I saw this row of computers with no one on them. So I began working on my blog!
What can I say about yesterday? First, I had SEVEN MEETINGS, not SIX, like I posted yesterday. I just wanted to make that clear.
The first hour was great. The Go Team (kind of like Ambassadors at Gardendale) put on an hour long play/skit of all things freshmen will experience. It was funny, musical and very entertaining. It held my interest like a two year-old at a Wiggles concert. "This is going to be okay," I thought to myself. "This isn't going to be over my head or boring." I allowed myself to be lulled into a sense of false security.
Austin left and the next session (a/k/a meeting) was given by a woman and it was about parents. She called us "helicopter parents." You know... hovering. She even suggested we not call the kids all the time. I quickly tuned her out.
On to session three... Nine parents met with the advisor who will be handling our kid's schedule. He was very nice. He was very informative. I tried very hard to listen to every word that came out of his mouth, and then I heard, "...so after I go to registration with your child tomorrow, you can pick them up." What?
Not only am I NOT a meeting person... I am NOT an "ask questions at the meeting" person. I usually get very angry with the people who ask questions at the meeting because that means the meeting will last longer. But I felt my hand raise high over my head. "Yes," he acknowledged me.
"I never ask questions," I started. No one cared. "Why isn't the parent going with their child to registration?"
"Is there a particular reason you think you need to be there?" he responded, not unkindly, but maybe slightly irritated.
I know he did not expect me to go into the lengthy story of the day Austin was born, and what I physically and emotionally went through giving birth to him, but I wanted him to understand the FULL extent of our bond. That and the fact if he messed up his schedule, Mike and I would have to PAY to change the classes next week.
"I think we'll be able to handle it," he said, again, not unkindly, but maybe slightly smug.
You didn't have to be a brain surgeon to understand that these people were planning on treating these freshmen like "adults." Absurd!
Okay. I would not consider that session a success... Mainly, because I didn't get what I wanted. I needed to go to lunch before we had another meeting... I mean session.
Lunch was okay. Because of my diabetes I couldn't eat the mashed potatoes or the mac and cheese or the homemade roll or the peach cobbler. That pretty much left chicken, carrots and green beans. Oh, and they didn't have a Diet Dr. Pepper so I had to have a Pepsi Zero. Just shoot me now!
After lunch, we had my favorite session. Austin decided he wanted to try the Communications Major session. It was fascinating. I loved it. Austin loved it. I can totally see him doing something like this... if he wants to. I refuse to be a "helicopter." Austin was really pumped up about it, so I encouraged him. (Oh, by the way, I am now registered in Communications 101. I'll be with Austin Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 11:00. Not being a "helicopter." Just trying to expand myself... I want to be a better blogger, and this class should help.)
The next session was a student panel where six kids sat in front of us and answered all the questions we could think of. Mostly, they talked about how important it was for us, as parents, to give the freshmen freedom.
Session Six was an administrative panel where nine adults talked about all the things we, as parents, needed to know about the different departments at the school. I think I lost consciousness on administrative panel member number four.
Then we went to our final session which was a reception. Sugar cookies and sweet, sweet red punch. I admit it. I took a sip of the punch. I have the red mustache to prove it.
And then Austin was in his final session. Parents weren't allowed because it was just for the kids so they could ask questions they wouldn't ask in front of their parents. All I can say is Austin Faulkner better not have had his hand waving.
Out of the SEVEN MEETINGS, I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed TWO of them. That is excellent for me. I consider yesterday a success.
To all of you out there who have sent children off to college, I admire how you pulled it off without being called a "helicopter." For those of you who still haven't experienced this monumental task, I would advise you to take your child, run to Montana, buy a farm and just keep everyone with you in a compound-like environment. I really think that's the way to go.
In reality, it was a good day. I loved the campus and the faculty I met. Everyone seemed very nice and helpful. Austin seemed more at ease, too, which is very important to me and Mikie. We want him to adjust well and be happy.
NOTE: It did help that the Baptist Campus Ministries table in the lobby has Ultimate Frisbee three nights a week and they have an intramural basketball team. Austin was thrilled about that, too.
Weekend Happenings
I'll be keeping up with Mikie and Austin on their excellent adventure. Roxie is having friends over Saturday. Sunday we'll visit grandparents and great-grandparents. Low-key, but fun. We'll probably have a mini-Faulkner Family Movie Night Sunday night and stay up late. We'll just have to see what comes up! I'm getting more and more spontaneous in my old age... Have you noticed?
Book
I haven't read these yet... I'm going to the bookstore to buy them TODAY. Let me know if you've read anything helpful regarding the Empty Nest subject. The subject is hitting me right in the face this week.
1. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters: 101 Stories About Surviving and Thriving When the Kids Leave Home by Jack Canfield, etc.
2. When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parent's Survival Guide by Carol Barkin.
3. You Can Be the Happy Mom of an Empty Nest by Darlen Cooper.
Have a fantastic Friday and weekend. Let me know if you do anything different with your family you would like to share. My blog is always open to ideas!
Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Water Park Date
Good Thursday morning!
WOW! Busy Wednesday and Thursday! But I have to admit, Wednesday was my fault. Who sets up three doctor's appointments in one day? It's over now, but I have to admit I will not do that again. (It was similar to taking all three kids to the eye doctor at the same time... all three needing new glasses... spending over $700... having to call Mikie... bad day... VERY bad day. I thought I was being a good time manager. Not!)
If you read the Birmingham News, Roxie's picture was on the FRONT page with her two friends who took the babysitting class with her. The article will be in today's paper, and I do not know if there will be another picture. It was quite a thrill. We'll sign autographs for a limited time only.
I have added pics of my niece and nephew and Roxie at the pool. Bev requested (even though she was the birthday girl) to not be photographed, and I obliged. That counts as part of her present, too, because usually I would have clicked away!
NOTE TO ROBIN - It is very obvious to me that you like your Alaska Facebook friend more than you like your Gardendale blogging friend. I am not going to ask you to choose, because I'm pretty sure I would be left behind. I'm sorry I don't have an exciting, moose-filled life like your Alaskan friend. I'm sorry I write about the familiar, perhaps boring, life of a Gardendale resident. I hope you'll be very happy with your new Alaskan buddy. (Let me know if she has CONTESTS on her Facebook. I think we both know the answer to that one!)
I guess there's only one way to truly resolve this... See if she'll read my blog! All will be forgiven. I don't have an Alaskan blog reader yet. How "cool" would that be? Just think about it.
Due to the unforeseen (Code for POORLY PLANNED) "busyness" of Wednesday, I WILL NOT be sharing an Erma story with you today... maybe tomorrow. But no promises. I'm going to be in Orientation meetings all day, you know.
Weekend Family Fun
Movie at Amphitheater - There will be a free movie at the Gardendale Amphitheater Friday, June 26 (Mamma Mia). The movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. Chick-Fil-A will have a vendor booth there, and you can bring your chairs, blankets and picnic things as well.
The Ultimate Gift at the Summit - The Ultimate Gift will be shown for free at The Summit this Sunday at 3:00. Seating is limited, so you will need to be a little early to get a seat.
4th of July Celebration in Trussville - From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. there will be a 4th of July Celebration sponsored by First Baptist Church Trussville. There will be games, inflatables and fireworks at 9:00 p.m. Brushfire and Three On a String will be performing, also. There will be food vendors (Chick-Fil-A, Dreamland, etc.), but feel free to bring a picnic if you like. This event will be held on the mall in Trussville. (I'll remind you about this one next week, too, with a little more information.)
DON'T FORGET!
Get your free Chick-Fil-A Sandwich tonight between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Register for free bowling in Vestavia (Monday through Friday until 5:00 p.m.). You can bowl two free games. You have to pay $1.25 for shoe rental.
Water Park Date
I don't know about you, but I was always VERY nervous when I took several kids to a water park (White Water in Atlanta, Splash Beach in Alabama Adventure, etc.). It's hard to keep up with kids in water with that many attractions (Lazy River, Wave Pool, Water Slides, etc.). Plus, it can get pretty pricey taking all the kids at one time.
This would be a GREAT one-on-one date. Affordable and enjoyable. You don't have to worry about where the other kids are every minute. You don't have to worry about keeping everyone together in one area even though some of the kids are big enough to ride the water slides while others need to stay in the wading area. You don't have to worry about riding a slide with one child, while the other children are doing who knows what! You can keep all your attention on your date... and you can have a ball.
If you go to a place like Alabama Adventure, you need to prepare the child that the date is for ONE side of the park only. You can go to the amusement side another time. There's plenty to do on a hot summer day at Splash Beach, and you and your child can go home tired, happy and cool. And they LOVE having Mom or Dad all to themselves at a place like this... They don't have to wait their turn to do the activity they want to do.
Save up a little money, and take your date to a nearby water park. Oh, and have a wonderful time!
Have the best Thursday you can possibly have. Try to find somewhere cool and stay there. (I highly recommend the air conditioning vent system.) Remember me at all the Orientation meetings today. I am not a "meeting" person. I avoid meetings. I loathe meetings. I rarely attend one meeting, much less the SIX meetings they have listed I have to attend as a parent of a new freshman. (WHY DO I HAVE TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS? I HAVE ALREADY BEEN A COLLEGE FRESHMAN!) Don't get me wrong. I want to be there with Austin while he gets acclimated, but the way the MEETINGS are set up, I will see him at 8:30 and then again at 4:30. We won't even have lunch together! (Why can't the parents watch movies or something in a nice, dark, cool building if they aren't going to let us spend the time with our kids?)
Whew! Where did that come from? I don't know about you, but I feel better now... except for having to attend the SIX meetings. Don't get me started again!
Tomorrow will be the usual Weekend Happenings and a book for you to read (while attending a meeting at Orientation or sitting on your air conditioning vent).
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
WOW! Busy Wednesday and Thursday! But I have to admit, Wednesday was my fault. Who sets up three doctor's appointments in one day? It's over now, but I have to admit I will not do that again. (It was similar to taking all three kids to the eye doctor at the same time... all three needing new glasses... spending over $700... having to call Mikie... bad day... VERY bad day. I thought I was being a good time manager. Not!)
If you read the Birmingham News, Roxie's picture was on the FRONT page with her two friends who took the babysitting class with her. The article will be in today's paper, and I do not know if there will be another picture. It was quite a thrill. We'll sign autographs for a limited time only.
I have added pics of my niece and nephew and Roxie at the pool. Bev requested (even though she was the birthday girl) to not be photographed, and I obliged. That counts as part of her present, too, because usually I would have clicked away!
NOTE TO ROBIN - It is very obvious to me that you like your Alaska Facebook friend more than you like your Gardendale blogging friend. I am not going to ask you to choose, because I'm pretty sure I would be left behind. I'm sorry I don't have an exciting, moose-filled life like your Alaskan friend. I'm sorry I write about the familiar, perhaps boring, life of a Gardendale resident. I hope you'll be very happy with your new Alaskan buddy. (Let me know if she has CONTESTS on her Facebook. I think we both know the answer to that one!)
I guess there's only one way to truly resolve this... See if she'll read my blog! All will be forgiven. I don't have an Alaskan blog reader yet. How "cool" would that be? Just think about it.
Due to the unforeseen (Code for POORLY PLANNED) "busyness" of Wednesday, I WILL NOT be sharing an Erma story with you today... maybe tomorrow. But no promises. I'm going to be in Orientation meetings all day, you know.
Weekend Family Fun
Movie at Amphitheater - There will be a free movie at the Gardendale Amphitheater Friday, June 26 (Mamma Mia). The movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. Chick-Fil-A will have a vendor booth there, and you can bring your chairs, blankets and picnic things as well.
The Ultimate Gift at the Summit - The Ultimate Gift will be shown for free at The Summit this Sunday at 3:00. Seating is limited, so you will need to be a little early to get a seat.
4th of July Celebration in Trussville - From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. there will be a 4th of July Celebration sponsored by First Baptist Church Trussville. There will be games, inflatables and fireworks at 9:00 p.m. Brushfire and Three On a String will be performing, also. There will be food vendors (Chick-Fil-A, Dreamland, etc.), but feel free to bring a picnic if you like. This event will be held on the mall in Trussville. (I'll remind you about this one next week, too, with a little more information.)
DON'T FORGET!
Get your free Chick-Fil-A Sandwich tonight between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Register for free bowling in Vestavia (Monday through Friday until 5:00 p.m.). You can bowl two free games. You have to pay $1.25 for shoe rental.
Water Park Date
I don't know about you, but I was always VERY nervous when I took several kids to a water park (White Water in Atlanta, Splash Beach in Alabama Adventure, etc.). It's hard to keep up with kids in water with that many attractions (Lazy River, Wave Pool, Water Slides, etc.). Plus, it can get pretty pricey taking all the kids at one time.
This would be a GREAT one-on-one date. Affordable and enjoyable. You don't have to worry about where the other kids are every minute. You don't have to worry about keeping everyone together in one area even though some of the kids are big enough to ride the water slides while others need to stay in the wading area. You don't have to worry about riding a slide with one child, while the other children are doing who knows what! You can keep all your attention on your date... and you can have a ball.
If you go to a place like Alabama Adventure, you need to prepare the child that the date is for ONE side of the park only. You can go to the amusement side another time. There's plenty to do on a hot summer day at Splash Beach, and you and your child can go home tired, happy and cool. And they LOVE having Mom or Dad all to themselves at a place like this... They don't have to wait their turn to do the activity they want to do.
Save up a little money, and take your date to a nearby water park. Oh, and have a wonderful time!
Have the best Thursday you can possibly have. Try to find somewhere cool and stay there. (I highly recommend the air conditioning vent system.) Remember me at all the Orientation meetings today. I am not a "meeting" person. I avoid meetings. I loathe meetings. I rarely attend one meeting, much less the SIX meetings they have listed I have to attend as a parent of a new freshman. (WHY DO I HAVE TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS? I HAVE ALREADY BEEN A COLLEGE FRESHMAN!) Don't get me wrong. I want to be there with Austin while he gets acclimated, but the way the MEETINGS are set up, I will see him at 8:30 and then again at 4:30. We won't even have lunch together! (Why can't the parents watch movies or something in a nice, dark, cool building if they aren't going to let us spend the time with our kids?)
Whew! Where did that come from? I don't know about you, but I feel better now... except for having to attend the SIX meetings. Don't get me started again!
Tomorrow will be the usual Weekend Happenings and a book for you to read (while attending a meeting at Orientation or sitting on your air conditioning vent).
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summertime at the Alabama Theatre
Good Wednesday morning!
First things first... I have a few shout-outs this morning!
NOTE TO BEV - Happy Birthday! As your gift today, I will tell everyone who reads this post you are 34 years-old. It's a great gift! I hope you enjoy it. (I already gave her a "real" gift at her birthday party a few days ago. I didn't want you to think this was all she was going to get from her older sister! Let's see... If she's 34 then I'm 38! It's a good day.)
NOTE TO JENNIFER - The bike trails sound fun. We've ridden as a family a couple of times at Callaway Gardens, and on a beautiful trail in Tennessee once during a camping trip. We might try it again in the fall. (That's when I love to ride.)
Also, I will take your comments about Facebook under advisement. I am thankful that you are able to be faithful to both the blog and your Facebook friends. (I really have been thinking about getting a Facebook page to have another way to communicate with Austin while he is away at school. I think I will also learn to Twitter. If Mikie is reading this right now he is hyperventilating. Can you go check on him, please?)
Oh, and I liked your suggestion about how Roxie can start getting babysitting jobs. I'm going to let her read it today.
NOTE TO JARED - You know if Brandi starts a Facebook page with Matthew updates I'll be there. Keep me informed!
NOTE TO LEANNA - No, ma'am! I will NOT be a digital scrapbooker. But, of course, when they stop making film, paper, photo splits, stickers, etc., what choice will I have? It makes me sad. (I know there are digital scrapbookers out there who create beautiful pages. I'm just a glue and scissors kind of chick. No offense intended.)
NOTE - If you get a chance, click on Lisa's Blog under my Blog List and read yesterday's post about a little boy named Spencer. Read what Lisa is doing for this little guy, and if it is something you think might be a good idea to share with your kids, have them help out in this small (but wonderful) way. I'm not going to say any more. I want you to read it for yourself.
I've added a couple more lake pics to the Gallery for your perusal. (I used that word all the time when I was a legal secretary. Long ago, I tried to use it in regular conversation, but I couldn't pull it off. I sounded a little too snobbish with my Southern accent and my nose in the air. But it's a good word, and I will use it in the blog from time to time because you know I'm not a snob.)
Babysitting Class - Roxie is officially a "Babysitter." She's a tired babysitter. That class was very intense, but she's glad she took it. I don't know if she could have lasted three days. She's going to work on her flyers today. She's a lot like me. She likes to use adjectives to describe herself and her skills. I may have to edit it here and there. (She'll love that!)
Football Practice - So far, Josh is doing well with football practice. It is difficult OCD-wise, but he has done everything he is supposed to do (and more at home). He's off today! He has a small lot to cut, but compared to football practice in this heat, he considers himself fortunate.
DON'T FORGET - Go by Arby's some time today and get your free regular roast beef sandwich with a soft drink purchase. Dinner just became so much easier to plan on Wednesday nights!
Well, I told you I had a whole lot of randomness this week. I wasn't kidding, was I? Tomorrow (after the randomness), I will share another funny story from my Erma book. I just want to leave you with a smile on your face!
And now for our cool (Code for INDOORS) summer tradition.
Summertime at the Alabama Theatre
I know I talk about movies a great deal, but I have always LOVED going to the movies. When I was a little girl, there weren't as many kid movies (or theaters for that matter) as there are now. When there was a Disney movie coming out, we would go downtown to the Alabama Theatre. I remember very vividly watching Herbie, The Love Bug at the Alabama Theatre, and then walking outside when it was over and Herbie was sitting parked in front of the Theatre. It was thrilling, I tell you. (My first real celebrity.)
Well, the Alabama Theatre has a summer calendar on their website (www.alabamatheatre.com). They show wonderful movies most Saturdays and Sundays from June through August. For instance, this Saturday (June 27) they are showing Lady and the Tramp at 2:00 and The Sound of Music at 7:00. Saturday, July 18, they are showing The Jungle Book at 2:00 and Gone With the Wind at 7:00. Of course, these are just two examples. There are many more movies on the website.
Along with all the other fun things you do as a family in the summer, this would be a great annual tradition to add. It isn't free, but it is memorable and fun (and air-conditioned). Especially when the old organ comes out of the floor, and you have the sing-along before the movie begins. It takes you and your family back to another place in time.
Take a minute, pick an old movie and go back in time at the beautiful Alabama Theatre this summer.
Tomorrow's date is, of course, fun. Hopefully, it will be something you can try with your son/daughter this summer. I'll also have some Weekend Family Fun listed. As always, if you know of something going on, feel free to leave it in the Comment Section or e-mail me, and I will add it to the list. You'll get the credit!
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
First things first... I have a few shout-outs this morning!
NOTE TO BEV - Happy Birthday! As your gift today, I will tell everyone who reads this post you are 34 years-old. It's a great gift! I hope you enjoy it. (I already gave her a "real" gift at her birthday party a few days ago. I didn't want you to think this was all she was going to get from her older sister! Let's see... If she's 34 then I'm 38! It's a good day.)
NOTE TO JENNIFER - The bike trails sound fun. We've ridden as a family a couple of times at Callaway Gardens, and on a beautiful trail in Tennessee once during a camping trip. We might try it again in the fall. (That's when I love to ride.)
Also, I will take your comments about Facebook under advisement. I am thankful that you are able to be faithful to both the blog and your Facebook friends. (I really have been thinking about getting a Facebook page to have another way to communicate with Austin while he is away at school. I think I will also learn to Twitter. If Mikie is reading this right now he is hyperventilating. Can you go check on him, please?)
Oh, and I liked your suggestion about how Roxie can start getting babysitting jobs. I'm going to let her read it today.
NOTE TO JARED - You know if Brandi starts a Facebook page with Matthew updates I'll be there. Keep me informed!
NOTE TO LEANNA - No, ma'am! I will NOT be a digital scrapbooker. But, of course, when they stop making film, paper, photo splits, stickers, etc., what choice will I have? It makes me sad. (I know there are digital scrapbookers out there who create beautiful pages. I'm just a glue and scissors kind of chick. No offense intended.)
NOTE - If you get a chance, click on Lisa's Blog under my Blog List and read yesterday's post about a little boy named Spencer. Read what Lisa is doing for this little guy, and if it is something you think might be a good idea to share with your kids, have them help out in this small (but wonderful) way. I'm not going to say any more. I want you to read it for yourself.
I've added a couple more lake pics to the Gallery for your perusal. (I used that word all the time when I was a legal secretary. Long ago, I tried to use it in regular conversation, but I couldn't pull it off. I sounded a little too snobbish with my Southern accent and my nose in the air. But it's a good word, and I will use it in the blog from time to time because you know I'm not a snob.)
Babysitting Class - Roxie is officially a "Babysitter." She's a tired babysitter. That class was very intense, but she's glad she took it. I don't know if she could have lasted three days. She's going to work on her flyers today. She's a lot like me. She likes to use adjectives to describe herself and her skills. I may have to edit it here and there. (She'll love that!)
Football Practice - So far, Josh is doing well with football practice. It is difficult OCD-wise, but he has done everything he is supposed to do (and more at home). He's off today! He has a small lot to cut, but compared to football practice in this heat, he considers himself fortunate.
DON'T FORGET - Go by Arby's some time today and get your free regular roast beef sandwich with a soft drink purchase. Dinner just became so much easier to plan on Wednesday nights!
Well, I told you I had a whole lot of randomness this week. I wasn't kidding, was I? Tomorrow (after the randomness), I will share another funny story from my Erma book. I just want to leave you with a smile on your face!
And now for our cool (Code for INDOORS) summer tradition.
Summertime at the Alabama Theatre
I know I talk about movies a great deal, but I have always LOVED going to the movies. When I was a little girl, there weren't as many kid movies (or theaters for that matter) as there are now. When there was a Disney movie coming out, we would go downtown to the Alabama Theatre. I remember very vividly watching Herbie, The Love Bug at the Alabama Theatre, and then walking outside when it was over and Herbie was sitting parked in front of the Theatre. It was thrilling, I tell you. (My first real celebrity.)
Well, the Alabama Theatre has a summer calendar on their website (www.alabamatheatre.com). They show wonderful movies most Saturdays and Sundays from June through August. For instance, this Saturday (June 27) they are showing Lady and the Tramp at 2:00 and The Sound of Music at 7:00. Saturday, July 18, they are showing The Jungle Book at 2:00 and Gone With the Wind at 7:00. Of course, these are just two examples. There are many more movies on the website.
Along with all the other fun things you do as a family in the summer, this would be a great annual tradition to add. It isn't free, but it is memorable and fun (and air-conditioned). Especially when the old organ comes out of the floor, and you have the sing-along before the movie begins. It takes you and your family back to another place in time.
Take a minute, pick an old movie and go back in time at the beautiful Alabama Theatre this summer.
Tomorrow's date is, of course, fun. Hopefully, it will be something you can try with your son/daughter this summer. I'll also have some Weekend Family Fun listed. As always, if you know of something going on, feel free to leave it in the Comment Section or e-mail me, and I will add it to the list. You'll get the credit!
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Confetti Caramel Bars
Good Tuesday morning!
NOTE TO JENNIFER - I'm so glad the placemat worked out... even if the All Day Daddy Date didn't. Mike told me about the doughnuts and the biking shorts. It may not have worked out, but it was pretty funny. And I like the family bike ride on Father's Day. Do you have the bike ride in the morning, or do you have a picnic lunch? Do you ride around your neighborhood, or are there any bike trails near your home? That sounds fun. (Not "heat of the day" fun, but early morning/late afternoon fun.)
NOTE TO ROBIN - Ah, I remember it well. Austin still remembers it, too. The target practice with a BB gun was the ultimate for a 5 year-old boy. And then to cook over an open fire. Guns and fire! I tell you, Pin-the-Tail-On-the-Donkey was never the same after your Cowboy party. "Well, this is fun... but you know I've been to a party where we shot guns... a lot!" And I still remember the Wanted Poster invitation. I have pictures of Austin cooking his hot dog over the fire and pulling on gigantic cowboy boots in the Boot Relay in his scrapbook. Good party... good party. (Imagine Andy Griffith saying, "Good cracker... good cracker.")
Now, as far as Facebook goes, you are going to have to choose. It's Facebook or the blog. You have until noon today to decide. (Or sometime in July if you're busy.) As the Soup Nazi on Seinfield would say, "NO FACEBOOK FOR YOU!" We bloggers lose more readers to Facebook than Reality TV. It's a dilemma, I tell you!
You'll notice a new picture in the Gallery of my Yard Sale gift from Lana. I know what you're thinking. "That's a Thanksgiving Day flag!" Well, just so you know, I think the sentiment is what is important here... "Free Ham." You've got to love a flag that is so politically-economically-correct. So it will hang for a few days... mainly to see if anyone notices that Crazy Belinda has hung a Thanksgiving Day flag in the middle of June (and when I say anyone, I mean Mike and the kids). We'll see, we'll see.
This week will probably be "Topic Free." The reason for this being an excess of randomness going through my brain. That can be enjoyable or not, but it does help clear my much-muddled mind from time to time.
Washington, D.C. - The trip is shaping up nicely. Austin has chosen the Spy Museum, International Zoo, two or three of the Smithsonians, and the Monuments as his "must sees" at this particular time. Mike asked and added the Archives, Library of Congress, Arlington Cemetery, Gettysburg and the Ford Theater. They are also planning on catching a movie or two in the evenings (Transformers, etc.), and they are eating at some great Washington restaurants. They leave this Friday. I cannot believe it is going to be June 26 THIS FRIDAY. My goodness, this summer is flying by.
Roxie is finishing up her second day at the American Red Cross Babysitting Class being given at our church. When she is finished this afternoon, she will be certified in CPR and she will know how to handle any and all babysitting emergencies with the ease and skill of someone three times her age. (That's what she thinks. That was NOT in their brochure.) However, for a little entrepreneur, it is a good thing to have under her belt. She's going to design a flyer and pass it out to a few "would be" customers, and we'll see what happens. Although she's almost 13 (September), people may want to wait until she's a little older, and I totally understand that! There's also a pic in the Gallery of her when I picked her up at 3:00 yesterday. It was obviously a violent class.
Austin has Freshman Orientation this Thursday (all day), so we are gearing up for that event. I'll be going with him to Orientation, and then he and Mike will go to registration Friday morning. They'll leave for their trip after they register. I have a TON of questions. So does Austin, but he doesn't know it yet. Rookie Band Camp begins August 7, and it's pretty intense (time-wise) until school starts the end of August.
I've started setting up the "Shrine" in his bedroom. He'll probably have to move to another room in the house by mid-July so I'll have more room to set up pictures, memorabilia, etc., etc. Actually, Josh may have to move to the living room to make room because I think the "Shrine" may be a two room deal before I get finished with it. Does anyone know someone who makes shadowboxes for a 6'4" graduation cap and gown and a drum major uniform? If so, let me know. (Some of his stuff is SO big. That's why I need the two rooms. I'm also thinking of charging admission for people to view the "Shrine." You know... like a mini-Austin Faulkner Museum. Mikie will love that. Josh and Roxie... not so much!)
TV Review
Jon & Kate - I am sadder than sad. I had hoped so much they could work everything out, but, as expected, they announced they were legally separating. I feel bad for the kids AND the parents. It's an awful thing. It's also odd how so many people feel they know them personally. I feel that way from watching their show. Will I continue to watch the show? I don't think so. As much as Roxie and I have enjoyed it in the past, I think it has become too depressing for both of us. I know I don't want to watch the episodes which show the kids realizing their family has changed in such a huge way. However, I do appreciate the fact that both Jon and Kate seem determined to want to keep the children their number one priority... and I don't doubt they will.
And that, my friends, is the last TV Review for the summer. I'm signing off until Survivor, Amazing Race, 24, etc. come back in the fall. No more TV for me for a while!
Confetti Carmel Bars
You will need the following for this sweet, sweet dessert:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup butterscotch-flavored chips
1 1/2 to 2 cups assorted candies and nuts (such as candy corn, candy-coated chocolate candies and salted peanuts)
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar, 1 cup butter, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour. Press evenly in bottom of ungreased 13" x 9" pan. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until light brown. Cool 20 minutes.
2. In 1-quart saucepan, heat corn syrup, 2 tablespoons butter and butterscotch chips over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted. Remove from heat. Cool 10 minutes.
3. Spread butterscotch mixture over crust. Sprinkle with candies and nuts. Gently press into butterscotch mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours until butterscotch mixture is firm. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows, or cut into triangle shapes.
Is your mouth watering? It should be. This is good stuff. Come home, Mikie. There's a pan waiting for you!
Tomorrow's Seasonal Tradition is perfectly cool for this hot, humid, heavy weather we're experiencing right now. I think you'll like it! Check back if you get a minute in your busy, summer day.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
NOTE TO JENNIFER - I'm so glad the placemat worked out... even if the All Day Daddy Date didn't. Mike told me about the doughnuts and the biking shorts. It may not have worked out, but it was pretty funny. And I like the family bike ride on Father's Day. Do you have the bike ride in the morning, or do you have a picnic lunch? Do you ride around your neighborhood, or are there any bike trails near your home? That sounds fun. (Not "heat of the day" fun, but early morning/late afternoon fun.)
NOTE TO ROBIN - Ah, I remember it well. Austin still remembers it, too. The target practice with a BB gun was the ultimate for a 5 year-old boy. And then to cook over an open fire. Guns and fire! I tell you, Pin-the-Tail-On-the-Donkey was never the same after your Cowboy party. "Well, this is fun... but you know I've been to a party where we shot guns... a lot!" And I still remember the Wanted Poster invitation. I have pictures of Austin cooking his hot dog over the fire and pulling on gigantic cowboy boots in the Boot Relay in his scrapbook. Good party... good party. (Imagine Andy Griffith saying, "Good cracker... good cracker.")
Now, as far as Facebook goes, you are going to have to choose. It's Facebook or the blog. You have until noon today to decide. (Or sometime in July if you're busy.) As the Soup Nazi on Seinfield would say, "NO FACEBOOK FOR YOU!" We bloggers lose more readers to Facebook than Reality TV. It's a dilemma, I tell you!
You'll notice a new picture in the Gallery of my Yard Sale gift from Lana. I know what you're thinking. "That's a Thanksgiving Day flag!" Well, just so you know, I think the sentiment is what is important here... "Free Ham." You've got to love a flag that is so politically-economically-correct. So it will hang for a few days... mainly to see if anyone notices that Crazy Belinda has hung a Thanksgiving Day flag in the middle of June (and when I say anyone, I mean Mike and the kids). We'll see, we'll see.
This week will probably be "Topic Free." The reason for this being an excess of randomness going through my brain. That can be enjoyable or not, but it does help clear my much-muddled mind from time to time.
Washington, D.C. - The trip is shaping up nicely. Austin has chosen the Spy Museum, International Zoo, two or three of the Smithsonians, and the Monuments as his "must sees" at this particular time. Mike asked and added the Archives, Library of Congress, Arlington Cemetery, Gettysburg and the Ford Theater. They are also planning on catching a movie or two in the evenings (Transformers, etc.), and they are eating at some great Washington restaurants. They leave this Friday. I cannot believe it is going to be June 26 THIS FRIDAY. My goodness, this summer is flying by.
Roxie is finishing up her second day at the American Red Cross Babysitting Class being given at our church. When she is finished this afternoon, she will be certified in CPR and she will know how to handle any and all babysitting emergencies with the ease and skill of someone three times her age. (That's what she thinks. That was NOT in their brochure.) However, for a little entrepreneur, it is a good thing to have under her belt. She's going to design a flyer and pass it out to a few "would be" customers, and we'll see what happens. Although she's almost 13 (September), people may want to wait until she's a little older, and I totally understand that! There's also a pic in the Gallery of her when I picked her up at 3:00 yesterday. It was obviously a violent class.
Austin has Freshman Orientation this Thursday (all day), so we are gearing up for that event. I'll be going with him to Orientation, and then he and Mike will go to registration Friday morning. They'll leave for their trip after they register. I have a TON of questions. So does Austin, but he doesn't know it yet. Rookie Band Camp begins August 7, and it's pretty intense (time-wise) until school starts the end of August.
I've started setting up the "Shrine" in his bedroom. He'll probably have to move to another room in the house by mid-July so I'll have more room to set up pictures, memorabilia, etc., etc. Actually, Josh may have to move to the living room to make room because I think the "Shrine" may be a two room deal before I get finished with it. Does anyone know someone who makes shadowboxes for a 6'4" graduation cap and gown and a drum major uniform? If so, let me know. (Some of his stuff is SO big. That's why I need the two rooms. I'm also thinking of charging admission for people to view the "Shrine." You know... like a mini-Austin Faulkner Museum. Mikie will love that. Josh and Roxie... not so much!)
TV Review
Jon & Kate - I am sadder than sad. I had hoped so much they could work everything out, but, as expected, they announced they were legally separating. I feel bad for the kids AND the parents. It's an awful thing. It's also odd how so many people feel they know them personally. I feel that way from watching their show. Will I continue to watch the show? I don't think so. As much as Roxie and I have enjoyed it in the past, I think it has become too depressing for both of us. I know I don't want to watch the episodes which show the kids realizing their family has changed in such a huge way. However, I do appreciate the fact that both Jon and Kate seem determined to want to keep the children their number one priority... and I don't doubt they will.
And that, my friends, is the last TV Review for the summer. I'm signing off until Survivor, Amazing Race, 24, etc. come back in the fall. No more TV for me for a while!
Confetti Carmel Bars
You will need the following for this sweet, sweet dessert:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup butterscotch-flavored chips
1 1/2 to 2 cups assorted candies and nuts (such as candy corn, candy-coated chocolate candies and salted peanuts)
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar, 1 cup butter, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour. Press evenly in bottom of ungreased 13" x 9" pan. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until light brown. Cool 20 minutes.
2. In 1-quart saucepan, heat corn syrup, 2 tablespoons butter and butterscotch chips over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted. Remove from heat. Cool 10 minutes.
3. Spread butterscotch mixture over crust. Sprinkle with candies and nuts. Gently press into butterscotch mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours until butterscotch mixture is firm. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows, or cut into triangle shapes.
Is your mouth watering? It should be. This is good stuff. Come home, Mikie. There's a pan waiting for you!
Tomorrow's Seasonal Tradition is perfectly cool for this hot, humid, heavy weather we're experiencing right now. I think you'll like it! Check back if you get a minute in your busy, summer day.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Farmer Party
Good Monday morning!
The Showcase Pic this week is, of course, the kids and Mike Father's Day evening. We decided to make Dreamland a Father's Day tradition (especially since we haven't been since Father's Day last year). And, as everyone knows, after three years it isn't just a coincidence... it's a TRADITION!!
The Gallery Pics are a mix of Saturday at the lake with Mike's family and some more Father's Day pics. Nothing spectacular... just the Faulkner Five.
NOTE TO JONI: Thank you so much for trying to figure out ways to help me with my numbers. Yes. If you turn off your computer and log back on to "A Simple Life," it will indeed increase my numbers... but it counts as a "0" as far as pages read, etc. You absolutely do not have to do that... but I appreciate the offer. You're an excellent "blog friend" (and you're a good "real person friend," too).
NOTE TO LEANNA: Yeah, baby! I'm watching Jon & Kate tonight. It doesn't sound good, does it? I hope we're all wrong and they've figured out a way to work things out... but we'll see. I'll probably just do my TV Review tomorrow, and get it over with. You can let me know what you thought of the show in the Comment Section if you get a chance.
NOTE TO LANA: I'm putting my present up today, so the picture will be in the Gallery tomorrow. I like to try to have a new picture every day, and that one will do nicely, I think. Thank you for the gift. I will enjoy it for years to come.
Saturday Happenings - Saturday was incredibly hot in Alabama. There's no other words to use. Well, actually there are, but the two I chose sum it up pretty well. I'm just going to share a few moments/events that stand out in my Alabama sun-fried mind...
1. My great-nephew, Matthew, was so sweet and smart and funny and pleasant... even taking into account the heat and not getting his full nap. He's walking, talking, reading (yes... reading). He knows all his "parts" (nose, ears, mouth, etc.), and he has excellent manners (please, etc.). All of the above, and he's not even 18 months yet. I'm telling you... the boy is a genius. But more than anything else, he's just plain cute.
2. Tubing was a huge hit since it was so hot. We had several "funny" happenings on the tubes, but a couple stand out. We were pulling Jared, our nephew (who is a different Jared from Jared, our nephew and father of great-nephew, Matthew... anyone confused?). Mike was driving and, as always, I was sitting backward in the boat watching for the hand signals associated with tubing. Thumbs-up means "faster" (unless it's Roxie), thumbs-down means "slower" and the hand slicing across your throat means "stop." (The hand slicing across your throat while screaming simply means "stop now.")
Because it was Jared, Mikie was a little merciless... which I've noticed men tend to be while pulling other men on the tube. There was a group/gathering/herd of ducks on the water. I knew the minute Mike Faulkner saw the ducks exactly what he had in mind. The boat turned and he maneuvered it back and forth until not only was he heading for the group/gathering/herd of ducks, but Jared was also bouncing and getting enough air to not notice he was heading in that direction. Mike squealed with delight (code for LAUGHED LIKE A MANIAC) when Jared hit the water (on the tube) in the middle of the ducks. While I give Jared complete credit for not hitting a duck, I will have to say the ducks were pretty amazing. They weren't even fazed when a tube carrying a man landed in their midst. They didn't even flap or quack. Those were pretty calm ducks.
3. The second "funny" had to do with Josh. We were letting the line get tight, and we rode by a trot line. For people who do not know what a trot line is (like me until yesterday), it is a brightly colored floatation device. Attached to the floatation device is a long fishing line with hooks. People put them out in the morning and come back at the end of the day and collect their trot lines. Hopefully, they will have fish on the end.
As we drove slowly past this particular trot line, Mike saw it go under the water. That meant there was a fish on the end. He started laughing and yelled back to Josh to pick up the floatation device. Josh started pulling the line up... and the line started fighting back. His eyes were huge as he continued to pull and then lift up a pretty large catfish. "Get a picture, Mom. This is the biggest fish I've ever caught," he yelled. I obliged, but used my big paparazzi camera so there is no fish picture to share today. And there isn't a picture of Josh's face when we told him to put it back. It was a sad, sad face. Of course, Mikie thought this was hilarious, too. (Mike laughed a lot on Saturday.)
Father's Day was a nice day. The sermon Sunday morning was excellent. It talked about the four things a father should be: present, protective, personal and permanent. At the end of the sermon, Pastor Kevin showed a clip from the movie The Rookie with Dennis Quaid. It's a true story about a man who always dreamed of playing major league baseball and finally got the chance in his 30s. (Great movie, by the way.) The scene shown at church was Dennis Quaid's character and his father. Although they had never had a good relationship, it was a scene full of forgiveness and finally, finally neither one saying the wrong thing. Anyway, it was enough to make me change my mind about Faulkner Family Movie Night Sunday night, and we rented The Rookie instead of what I had originally planned.
As I said above, we ate at Dreamland before heading home for the movie. It was a good day. (And by the way... Mike is all four of the "Ps" mentioned above and more.)
Farmer Party
The theme for this party is found in Genesis 8:22. God promises there will always be a seed time and harvest.
Suggested Size - 5 to 10 kids
Type - Boy or girl
Age - 2 to 5 years-old
This party is best held outdoors. Your backyard or a local park would be great locations. If it rains, never fear.... this party will work just as well indoors.
Do you have any overalls? Wear them and aks all guests to wear them (or bluejeans) if possible.
SCHEDULE - 90 minutes
15 Minutes - Arrive, Play Horseshoes, Yardstick Horses
20 Minutes - Hayrides, Milk the Cow
10 Minutes - Chow Down
20 Minutes - Devotion, Harvest Game
10 Minutes - Open Presents
10 Minutes - Free Play
HORSESHOES
Make horseshoes out of colored poster boards, taping pennies to the two ends and middle of each horsehoe to give it weight. You can let the kids try to throw the horseshoes into a laundry basket from a marked line. The poster board horseshoes works great with the 2 and 3 year-old crowd. (You can also use a child's plastic horseshoe set.)
YARDSTICK HORSES
Make the horses using poster board and yarn for the head and mane. Let the kids play on these until you are ready for the organized games. It may be hard to get the kids off the horses because they are such fun. Tell them the horses must go back in the barn for a while, and put the horses out of sight until you are ready to use them again at the end of the party.
HAYRIDES
Put some hay in a small red wagon or wheelbarrow and let some of the other adults give the children hayrides around the yard. FUN! This will be their favorite.
MILK THE COW
Use a rubber glove and make a pin prick in each finger tip. Pour a small amount of milk into the glove. Twist the top of the glove and hold it tight while you let the children take turns squirting the milk out of the fingers of the glove into a pail. (I used this activity, but I used an old sawhorse as the "cow." Just tie the glove under the sawhorse and have a milking stool and a pail so the kids feel like they are really milking a cow.)
CHOW DOWN
You will serve farm snacks and a pig cake. Lay some quilts or red checkered tablecloths on the ground to have a picnic. You can also serve farm snacks in a produce basket lined with red napkins or bandannas.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SNACKS
Apples, peaches or berries
Carrot sticks
Homemade biscuits
Cheese and/or ham slices
Bacon
Pig Cake
PIG CAKE
This is a super easy cake. Make a yellow cake using 1-8" round. (You don't want this to be a tall cake.) Use light pink icing.
For the snout, cut the top off a cupcake (do not discard) and put the cupcake upside down in the middle of the top of the cake. Ice it pink, also. Use brown M & Ms for the nostrils and eyes.
For the ears, cut the top of the cupcake in half. Ice both pieces pink and put them on the cake plate touching the edge of the cake for ears.
With the remaining batter, you can make cupcakes or a plain iced 8" round. Easy and very pig-like.
DEVOTION
Ask the kids if they know some of the jobs farmers have. They may mention milking cows, planting seeds, picking apples and corn or baling hay. Ask them if they know who really makes all the wonderful crops grow. Make a poster with pictures cut from magazines of different fruits and vegetables. Print the words from Genesis 8:22 on the poster.
The Bible says God has made a wonderful cycle. The farmer plants the seeds in the spring, and by fall, the crops have grown. We call the crops that grow the "harvest." God is the one we depend on for the crops to grow. Do you suppose the farmers thank God when they have a good harvest. Shouldn't we thank Him, too?
Pray with the children to thank God for the harvest and the crops.
HARVEST TIME
Around the yard, you should place enough construction paper apples for each child to gather (at least five per child). Attach a small candy to each apple to make the game more exciting (or use real apples). When you give the signal, the kids will hunt for apples in the yard. Their limit is five. Tell them after they have found five, they have to come sit down. Let them eat at least one of their candies while they wait on the others.
OPENING PRESENTS
Have the birthday boy or girl sit in a chair beside a wheelbarrow holding the presents. Have the other children sitting on a bandanna with their name on it (taped to the floor) arranged in a semi-circle. Call out each child's name to give their gift by saying, "Farmer Kristen. Get your gift out of the wheelbarrow to give to the birthday boy!"
FREE PLAY
1. Riding yardstick horse
2. More hayrides
PICTURE SUGGESTION
Have a bale of hay sitting next to a tree somewhere in the yard. Take each child's picture sitting on the bale of hay (wearing a straw hat, holding a piece of straw in their teeth, etc.)
SUGGESTIONS ON FAVORS
1. Favor containers - Produce baskets
2. Yardstick horses
3. Straw hats and bandannas
4. Plastic farm animals
5. Packet of vegetable seeds
6. White plastic cup with cow spots painted on it
7. Red Apple
8. Candy from Harvest Game
Taken from Parties With a Purpose. (I've tried to find it, but I think this book is out of print.) I used this party for Josh's 2 year-old birthday. It was a big hit with him, Austin and his cousins. Easy, fun and inexpensive... PERFECT COMBO!
Have a fabulous Monday. Try to stay cool. Personally, I'm planning on sitting on an air conditioning vent all day! Tomorrow I have a simple, yet yummy, recipe to try.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
The Showcase Pic this week is, of course, the kids and Mike Father's Day evening. We decided to make Dreamland a Father's Day tradition (especially since we haven't been since Father's Day last year). And, as everyone knows, after three years it isn't just a coincidence... it's a TRADITION!!
The Gallery Pics are a mix of Saturday at the lake with Mike's family and some more Father's Day pics. Nothing spectacular... just the Faulkner Five.
NOTE TO JONI: Thank you so much for trying to figure out ways to help me with my numbers. Yes. If you turn off your computer and log back on to "A Simple Life," it will indeed increase my numbers... but it counts as a "0" as far as pages read, etc. You absolutely do not have to do that... but I appreciate the offer. You're an excellent "blog friend" (and you're a good "real person friend," too).
NOTE TO LEANNA: Yeah, baby! I'm watching Jon & Kate tonight. It doesn't sound good, does it? I hope we're all wrong and they've figured out a way to work things out... but we'll see. I'll probably just do my TV Review tomorrow, and get it over with. You can let me know what you thought of the show in the Comment Section if you get a chance.
NOTE TO LANA: I'm putting my present up today, so the picture will be in the Gallery tomorrow. I like to try to have a new picture every day, and that one will do nicely, I think. Thank you for the gift. I will enjoy it for years to come.
Saturday Happenings - Saturday was incredibly hot in Alabama. There's no other words to use. Well, actually there are, but the two I chose sum it up pretty well. I'm just going to share a few moments/events that stand out in my Alabama sun-fried mind...
1. My great-nephew, Matthew, was so sweet and smart and funny and pleasant... even taking into account the heat and not getting his full nap. He's walking, talking, reading (yes... reading). He knows all his "parts" (nose, ears, mouth, etc.), and he has excellent manners (please, etc.). All of the above, and he's not even 18 months yet. I'm telling you... the boy is a genius. But more than anything else, he's just plain cute.
2. Tubing was a huge hit since it was so hot. We had several "funny" happenings on the tubes, but a couple stand out. We were pulling Jared, our nephew (who is a different Jared from Jared, our nephew and father of great-nephew, Matthew... anyone confused?). Mike was driving and, as always, I was sitting backward in the boat watching for the hand signals associated with tubing. Thumbs-up means "faster" (unless it's Roxie), thumbs-down means "slower" and the hand slicing across your throat means "stop." (The hand slicing across your throat while screaming simply means "stop now.")
Because it was Jared, Mikie was a little merciless... which I've noticed men tend to be while pulling other men on the tube. There was a group/gathering/herd of ducks on the water. I knew the minute Mike Faulkner saw the ducks exactly what he had in mind. The boat turned and he maneuvered it back and forth until not only was he heading for the group/gathering/herd of ducks, but Jared was also bouncing and getting enough air to not notice he was heading in that direction. Mike squealed with delight (code for LAUGHED LIKE A MANIAC) when Jared hit the water (on the tube) in the middle of the ducks. While I give Jared complete credit for not hitting a duck, I will have to say the ducks were pretty amazing. They weren't even fazed when a tube carrying a man landed in their midst. They didn't even flap or quack. Those were pretty calm ducks.
3. The second "funny" had to do with Josh. We were letting the line get tight, and we rode by a trot line. For people who do not know what a trot line is (like me until yesterday), it is a brightly colored floatation device. Attached to the floatation device is a long fishing line with hooks. People put them out in the morning and come back at the end of the day and collect their trot lines. Hopefully, they will have fish on the end.
As we drove slowly past this particular trot line, Mike saw it go under the water. That meant there was a fish on the end. He started laughing and yelled back to Josh to pick up the floatation device. Josh started pulling the line up... and the line started fighting back. His eyes were huge as he continued to pull and then lift up a pretty large catfish. "Get a picture, Mom. This is the biggest fish I've ever caught," he yelled. I obliged, but used my big paparazzi camera so there is no fish picture to share today. And there isn't a picture of Josh's face when we told him to put it back. It was a sad, sad face. Of course, Mikie thought this was hilarious, too. (Mike laughed a lot on Saturday.)
Father's Day was a nice day. The sermon Sunday morning was excellent. It talked about the four things a father should be: present, protective, personal and permanent. At the end of the sermon, Pastor Kevin showed a clip from the movie The Rookie with Dennis Quaid. It's a true story about a man who always dreamed of playing major league baseball and finally got the chance in his 30s. (Great movie, by the way.) The scene shown at church was Dennis Quaid's character and his father. Although they had never had a good relationship, it was a scene full of forgiveness and finally, finally neither one saying the wrong thing. Anyway, it was enough to make me change my mind about Faulkner Family Movie Night Sunday night, and we rented The Rookie instead of what I had originally planned.
As I said above, we ate at Dreamland before heading home for the movie. It was a good day. (And by the way... Mike is all four of the "Ps" mentioned above and more.)
Farmer Party
The theme for this party is found in Genesis 8:22. God promises there will always be a seed time and harvest.
Suggested Size - 5 to 10 kids
Type - Boy or girl
Age - 2 to 5 years-old
This party is best held outdoors. Your backyard or a local park would be great locations. If it rains, never fear.... this party will work just as well indoors.
Do you have any overalls? Wear them and aks all guests to wear them (or bluejeans) if possible.
SCHEDULE - 90 minutes
15 Minutes - Arrive, Play Horseshoes, Yardstick Horses
20 Minutes - Hayrides, Milk the Cow
10 Minutes - Chow Down
20 Minutes - Devotion, Harvest Game
10 Minutes - Open Presents
10 Minutes - Free Play
HORSESHOES
Make horseshoes out of colored poster boards, taping pennies to the two ends and middle of each horsehoe to give it weight. You can let the kids try to throw the horseshoes into a laundry basket from a marked line. The poster board horseshoes works great with the 2 and 3 year-old crowd. (You can also use a child's plastic horseshoe set.)
YARDSTICK HORSES
Make the horses using poster board and yarn for the head and mane. Let the kids play on these until you are ready for the organized games. It may be hard to get the kids off the horses because they are such fun. Tell them the horses must go back in the barn for a while, and put the horses out of sight until you are ready to use them again at the end of the party.
HAYRIDES
Put some hay in a small red wagon or wheelbarrow and let some of the other adults give the children hayrides around the yard. FUN! This will be their favorite.
MILK THE COW
Use a rubber glove and make a pin prick in each finger tip. Pour a small amount of milk into the glove. Twist the top of the glove and hold it tight while you let the children take turns squirting the milk out of the fingers of the glove into a pail. (I used this activity, but I used an old sawhorse as the "cow." Just tie the glove under the sawhorse and have a milking stool and a pail so the kids feel like they are really milking a cow.)
CHOW DOWN
You will serve farm snacks and a pig cake. Lay some quilts or red checkered tablecloths on the ground to have a picnic. You can also serve farm snacks in a produce basket lined with red napkins or bandannas.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SNACKS
Apples, peaches or berries
Carrot sticks
Homemade biscuits
Cheese and/or ham slices
Bacon
Pig Cake
PIG CAKE
This is a super easy cake. Make a yellow cake using 1-8" round. (You don't want this to be a tall cake.) Use light pink icing.
For the snout, cut the top off a cupcake (do not discard) and put the cupcake upside down in the middle of the top of the cake. Ice it pink, also. Use brown M & Ms for the nostrils and eyes.
For the ears, cut the top of the cupcake in half. Ice both pieces pink and put them on the cake plate touching the edge of the cake for ears.
With the remaining batter, you can make cupcakes or a plain iced 8" round. Easy and very pig-like.
DEVOTION
Ask the kids if they know some of the jobs farmers have. They may mention milking cows, planting seeds, picking apples and corn or baling hay. Ask them if they know who really makes all the wonderful crops grow. Make a poster with pictures cut from magazines of different fruits and vegetables. Print the words from Genesis 8:22 on the poster.
The Bible says God has made a wonderful cycle. The farmer plants the seeds in the spring, and by fall, the crops have grown. We call the crops that grow the "harvest." God is the one we depend on for the crops to grow. Do you suppose the farmers thank God when they have a good harvest. Shouldn't we thank Him, too?
Pray with the children to thank God for the harvest and the crops.
HARVEST TIME
Around the yard, you should place enough construction paper apples for each child to gather (at least five per child). Attach a small candy to each apple to make the game more exciting (or use real apples). When you give the signal, the kids will hunt for apples in the yard. Their limit is five. Tell them after they have found five, they have to come sit down. Let them eat at least one of their candies while they wait on the others.
OPENING PRESENTS
Have the birthday boy or girl sit in a chair beside a wheelbarrow holding the presents. Have the other children sitting on a bandanna with their name on it (taped to the floor) arranged in a semi-circle. Call out each child's name to give their gift by saying, "Farmer Kristen. Get your gift out of the wheelbarrow to give to the birthday boy!"
FREE PLAY
1. Riding yardstick horse
2. More hayrides
PICTURE SUGGESTION
Have a bale of hay sitting next to a tree somewhere in the yard. Take each child's picture sitting on the bale of hay (wearing a straw hat, holding a piece of straw in their teeth, etc.)
SUGGESTIONS ON FAVORS
1. Favor containers - Produce baskets
2. Yardstick horses
3. Straw hats and bandannas
4. Plastic farm animals
5. Packet of vegetable seeds
6. White plastic cup with cow spots painted on it
7. Red Apple
8. Candy from Harvest Game
Taken from Parties With a Purpose. (I've tried to find it, but I think this book is out of print.) I used this party for Josh's 2 year-old birthday. It was a big hit with him, Austin and his cousins. Easy, fun and inexpensive... PERFECT COMBO!
Have a fabulous Monday. Try to stay cool. Personally, I'm planning on sitting on an air conditioning vent all day! Tomorrow I have a simple, yet yummy, recipe to try.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Weekend Happenings
Good Friday morning!
Weekend Happenings
Busy weekend for the Faulkner Five. Friday will be quiet, but Saturday... WATCH OUT! We're going tubing! We're looking forward to spending the day with Mikie's family on the lake (especially great-nephew, Matthew). Sunday is for Mikie and we have a couple of surprises for him late Sunday evening (since we don't have church Sunday night). It should be a fun, family-filled weekend. The best kind.
Addition to Weekend Family Fun
If you live in the Gardendale area, there is a Free Movie Night at the Gardendale Civic Center Amphitheater. This week they are playing Nancy Drew. It begins at 7:30. Chick-Fil-A will be there with food for snacks or dinner (not free... but good). You can take your lawn chairs, blankets and bug spray and enjoy a movie under the stars. (And Nancy Drew is a very good movie. Roxie and I loved it when it came out a couple of years ago.)
TV Review
Jon & Kate - I'm going to give it one more try next Monday night, and then I think I'm going to have to let Jon & Kate go. It's not "real" anymore. While there wasn't any palpable tension Monday night, there was no feeling of family either. The entire show was about Jon and Kate getting motorcycles. They brought in another TLC show (American Chopper... is that right?). It's almost as if they are trying to distract everyone about what's going on with Jon and Kate by bringing in a lot of surprise guest stars. (Last week, they brought in the Ace of Cakes cast.)
Anyway, I miss seeing the kids. They are there, but more in the background than the forefront. Like I said, one more week and unless something major changes, I'm going to have to let this one go.
Vacation Mishap #5 - Food Poisoning From a 5-Star Restaurant
I may have told this story before, but in case I haven't (or you've forgotten), this one definitely falls in the Mishap category.
Mike and I celebrated our 20th anniversary 18 months ago. We decided to spend a few days in Charleston, South Carolina. It had something for both of us. History and plaques galore for my plaque reader and beautiful homes, scenery, etc. for me. It is definitely a "walking" city, which we both love, too.
We stayed in a very old and beautiful bed and breakfast on the edge of downtown Charleston. Gorgeous. We were very pleased with our accommodations. This was definitely going to be an anniversary we would never forget. (Boy, were we right!) The first full day in Charleston, we put on our walking shoes and we walked... and walked and walked and walked. We had chosen two restaurants we wanted to try while we were there, but for some reason, instead of stretching it out over two or three days, we had lunch at our first pick and dinner at our second pick on the first day. Both restaurants were five star and the food was delicious. However, on our leisurely walk back to the bed and breakfast, Mike mentioned he wasn't feeling quite right.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I don't know. My stomach is a little upset," he said.
We walked a little faster and made it back to our room. Within 30 minutes, Mikie was sick. And I don't mean a "little bit" sick. I mean "throwing up a lung" sick. After a couple of hours, it wasn't getting any better. He didn't have a fever, so we had to conclude it must be food poisoning.
He had eaten shrimp and grits (a famous Charleston staple) for lunch, and then for supper he had done something we both had questioned when talking to the waiter. He had ordered the pork.
"How would you like that cooked, sir?" the waiter had asked.
"What do you mean? I want pork cooked well. Very well," he responded.
The waiter then gave us a five minute description of this particular pig and how it had been raised, killed and later prepared for this particular five star restaurant. "Most people eat this dish medium rare," he finished.
I looked at Mikie and shook my head ever so slightly to indicate, "If you eat pork medium rare, you will die." We had been married 20 years. He knew exactly what I was thinking... mainly because he was thinking the same thing.
"Well, I'll have it prepared medium well," he compromised.
The snooty waiter left, his suggestion having been tossed, and I leaned over to Mikie. "Are you sure?"
"Medium well should be fine for pork. It will be delicious, I'm sure," he said, sounding very convinced.
When the meal was brought to our table a little later, it was beautiful. Mike declared the medium well pork fabulous, and we enjoyed our dinner. Little did we know two hours later he would be so very, very sick... and so very, very loud.
Something I learned about Mikie soon after we got married was he was not a quiet sick person. He wanted to be heard. Something else I learned soon after Mikie and I got married (and excuse me if you're eating... which you shouldn't be doing so close to a computer anyway), before he gets sick (like food poisoning) he yells. "She must have meant to type 'moans loudly,'" you're probably thinking to yourself. Nope. He yells. And then he gets sick. It's really quite awful. I've been known to leave the house when he has been sick before because the yelling is so incredibly loud it gives ME a headache... and there's no sense in both of us feeling badly.
But I was in Charleston, South Carolina, and it was the middle of the night, and we were in a tiny, thin-walled bed and breakfast (next door to honeymooners, I might add). There was nowhere to run. Finally, around dawn, the sickness subsided. The yelling stopped and the moaning took over.
"Could you please go downstairs and ask them to fix me a piece of toast with coffee and water?" he asked.
"Of course, Babe. As soon as the other guests have finished breakfast and left the dining area I'll slip on down there," I said sweetly.
"I'm pretty sure I'm totally dehydrated. I really need the fluids."
"Of course you do. And as soon as everyone clears out, I'll run downstairs to the dining room and get you everything you need."
"I'm pretty sure I'm going to die soon. I think I need it NOW," he declared.
"Mikie, I love you. However, you kept this whole bed and breakfast awake last night yelling every time you got sick. They're going to know I'm your wife. It's going to be totally embarrassing."
"More embarrassing than me crawling down the stairs and into the dining room on my hands and knees... and telling them my wife WOULDN'T get me a cup of coffee," he threatened.
"Okay. Okay. I'll go," I said, albeit begrudgingly.
I went out the door. In the hallway before I headed down the stairs, I heard my name being whispered, "Belinda... Belinda."
I walked over to the window where my name was being called. "Hey, Mikie. Are you whispering?"
"Yes," he whispered again. "Could you hear that?"
"Oh, yeah," I said. "So I imagine the pre-sickness yelling and the post-sickness moaning is definitely the topic of discussion downstairs right about now."
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and I made my way to the dining room.
As I walked in, the conversation died and everyone turned to look at me. I smiled weakly, walked over to the lady in charge of breakfast and asked for water, coffee and toast.
"Is your husband okay?" one of the guests asked me.
"Oh, yes. It was just a little food poisoning," I responded. "He's much better this morning."
"We thought he was dying," one of the honeymooners said.
"Well, if you asked him, he would agree with you," I said, trying to appear cheerful and failing miserably.
The eight people sitting around the breakfast table looked tired, but they were kind and concerned. True southerners. As they filed past me on their way to a "fun day in Charleston," they each offered their condolences and told me to tell Mikie they hoped he felt better soon. I was touched.
The woman in charge of the kitchen brought me what she thought I had asked for... orange juice, hot tea and a toasted English muffin. I didn't want to push it, but I knew I had to take up at least ONE thing Mike had actually requested. I decided to keep the English muffin, traded the orange juice for water and poured a cup of coffee while she was in the back getting the water.
"An English muffin," Mikie whined. "I don't think I like English muffins."
Did I mention after the pre-yelling and post-moaning comes the eternal whining. Yep... Mikie's a keeper! NOTE: And I need to mention, he's a much better nurse than I am!
And that, my friends, is my last Vacation Mishap for the week. Aren't you glad?
New National Holiday #6 - My final National Holiday is a good one, I think. There were times when the kids were babies (and sick) that I actually did this. From now on, June 19 will be known as "National Stay in Your PJs All Day... Day." As I said above, there were definitely times when I had babies that none of the family made it out of their pajamas (during stomach viruses, etc.). However, I can't really say it was a fun time. It was more of a survival time.
This holiday would be all about fun though. Movies, games, junk food galore... no grass cutting, no dropping off or picking up, no work schedules to worry about. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
No, no, no. Don't thank me. It's been my pleasure to fill June with these fun, easy holidays. But as much fun as it has been to make your June even more wonderful, I must now retire from creating new National Holidays. It's time to move on to something else. Enjoy... and don't worry. I'll remind you next year when these holidays roll around again. I'm pretty sure there won't be a Hallmark Card display to help you remember!
Book
Today's book for Dad is Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. Mike has read this book two times, and has really enjoyed it. He is planning on giving Austin a copy of the book before he leaves for college. Since I haven't read it (yet), I'll give you a little snippet from the book cover.
"Every man was once a boy. And every little boy has dreams, big dreams: dreams of being the hero, of beating the bad guys, of doing daring feats and rescuing the damsel in distress. Every little girl has dreams, too: of being rescued by her prince and swept up into a great adventure, knowing that she is the beauty.
"But what happens to those dreams when we grow up? Walk into most churches, have a look around, and ask yourself: What is a Christian man? Without listening to what is said, look at what you find there. Most Christian mean are... bored.
"In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge invites men to recover their masculine heart, defined in the image of a passionate God. And he invites women to discover the secret of a man's soul and to delight in the strength and wildness men were created to offer."
Wow! Whether you and your husband have daughters, or you have sons, too, this is a book for Dad for Father's Day. (And after Dad finishes the book, Moms with sons should read it, too. I'm starting it tomorrow!)
Have a fun Friday and a wonderful Father's Day weekend. I'll be back Monday with new pics, a few new ideas and some random thoughts here and there. Be sure to make Dad feel loved and appreciated.
Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.
Weekend Happenings
Busy weekend for the Faulkner Five. Friday will be quiet, but Saturday... WATCH OUT! We're going tubing! We're looking forward to spending the day with Mikie's family on the lake (especially great-nephew, Matthew). Sunday is for Mikie and we have a couple of surprises for him late Sunday evening (since we don't have church Sunday night). It should be a fun, family-filled weekend. The best kind.
Addition to Weekend Family Fun
If you live in the Gardendale area, there is a Free Movie Night at the Gardendale Civic Center Amphitheater. This week they are playing Nancy Drew. It begins at 7:30. Chick-Fil-A will be there with food for snacks or dinner (not free... but good). You can take your lawn chairs, blankets and bug spray and enjoy a movie under the stars. (And Nancy Drew is a very good movie. Roxie and I loved it when it came out a couple of years ago.)
TV Review
Jon & Kate - I'm going to give it one more try next Monday night, and then I think I'm going to have to let Jon & Kate go. It's not "real" anymore. While there wasn't any palpable tension Monday night, there was no feeling of family either. The entire show was about Jon and Kate getting motorcycles. They brought in another TLC show (American Chopper... is that right?). It's almost as if they are trying to distract everyone about what's going on with Jon and Kate by bringing in a lot of surprise guest stars. (Last week, they brought in the Ace of Cakes cast.)
Anyway, I miss seeing the kids. They are there, but more in the background than the forefront. Like I said, one more week and unless something major changes, I'm going to have to let this one go.
Vacation Mishap #5 - Food Poisoning From a 5-Star Restaurant
I may have told this story before, but in case I haven't (or you've forgotten), this one definitely falls in the Mishap category.
Mike and I celebrated our 20th anniversary 18 months ago. We decided to spend a few days in Charleston, South Carolina. It had something for both of us. History and plaques galore for my plaque reader and beautiful homes, scenery, etc. for me. It is definitely a "walking" city, which we both love, too.
We stayed in a very old and beautiful bed and breakfast on the edge of downtown Charleston. Gorgeous. We were very pleased with our accommodations. This was definitely going to be an anniversary we would never forget. (Boy, were we right!) The first full day in Charleston, we put on our walking shoes and we walked... and walked and walked and walked. We had chosen two restaurants we wanted to try while we were there, but for some reason, instead of stretching it out over two or three days, we had lunch at our first pick and dinner at our second pick on the first day. Both restaurants were five star and the food was delicious. However, on our leisurely walk back to the bed and breakfast, Mike mentioned he wasn't feeling quite right.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I don't know. My stomach is a little upset," he said.
We walked a little faster and made it back to our room. Within 30 minutes, Mikie was sick. And I don't mean a "little bit" sick. I mean "throwing up a lung" sick. After a couple of hours, it wasn't getting any better. He didn't have a fever, so we had to conclude it must be food poisoning.
He had eaten shrimp and grits (a famous Charleston staple) for lunch, and then for supper he had done something we both had questioned when talking to the waiter. He had ordered the pork.
"How would you like that cooked, sir?" the waiter had asked.
"What do you mean? I want pork cooked well. Very well," he responded.
The waiter then gave us a five minute description of this particular pig and how it had been raised, killed and later prepared for this particular five star restaurant. "Most people eat this dish medium rare," he finished.
I looked at Mikie and shook my head ever so slightly to indicate, "If you eat pork medium rare, you will die." We had been married 20 years. He knew exactly what I was thinking... mainly because he was thinking the same thing.
"Well, I'll have it prepared medium well," he compromised.
The snooty waiter left, his suggestion having been tossed, and I leaned over to Mikie. "Are you sure?"
"Medium well should be fine for pork. It will be delicious, I'm sure," he said, sounding very convinced.
When the meal was brought to our table a little later, it was beautiful. Mike declared the medium well pork fabulous, and we enjoyed our dinner. Little did we know two hours later he would be so very, very sick... and so very, very loud.
Something I learned about Mikie soon after we got married was he was not a quiet sick person. He wanted to be heard. Something else I learned soon after Mikie and I got married (and excuse me if you're eating... which you shouldn't be doing so close to a computer anyway), before he gets sick (like food poisoning) he yells. "She must have meant to type 'moans loudly,'" you're probably thinking to yourself. Nope. He yells. And then he gets sick. It's really quite awful. I've been known to leave the house when he has been sick before because the yelling is so incredibly loud it gives ME a headache... and there's no sense in both of us feeling badly.
But I was in Charleston, South Carolina, and it was the middle of the night, and we were in a tiny, thin-walled bed and breakfast (next door to honeymooners, I might add). There was nowhere to run. Finally, around dawn, the sickness subsided. The yelling stopped and the moaning took over.
"Could you please go downstairs and ask them to fix me a piece of toast with coffee and water?" he asked.
"Of course, Babe. As soon as the other guests have finished breakfast and left the dining area I'll slip on down there," I said sweetly.
"I'm pretty sure I'm totally dehydrated. I really need the fluids."
"Of course you do. And as soon as everyone clears out, I'll run downstairs to the dining room and get you everything you need."
"I'm pretty sure I'm going to die soon. I think I need it NOW," he declared.
"Mikie, I love you. However, you kept this whole bed and breakfast awake last night yelling every time you got sick. They're going to know I'm your wife. It's going to be totally embarrassing."
"More embarrassing than me crawling down the stairs and into the dining room on my hands and knees... and telling them my wife WOULDN'T get me a cup of coffee," he threatened.
"Okay. Okay. I'll go," I said, albeit begrudgingly.
I went out the door. In the hallway before I headed down the stairs, I heard my name being whispered, "Belinda... Belinda."
I walked over to the window where my name was being called. "Hey, Mikie. Are you whispering?"
"Yes," he whispered again. "Could you hear that?"
"Oh, yeah," I said. "So I imagine the pre-sickness yelling and the post-sickness moaning is definitely the topic of discussion downstairs right about now."
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and I made my way to the dining room.
As I walked in, the conversation died and everyone turned to look at me. I smiled weakly, walked over to the lady in charge of breakfast and asked for water, coffee and toast.
"Is your husband okay?" one of the guests asked me.
"Oh, yes. It was just a little food poisoning," I responded. "He's much better this morning."
"We thought he was dying," one of the honeymooners said.
"Well, if you asked him, he would agree with you," I said, trying to appear cheerful and failing miserably.
The eight people sitting around the breakfast table looked tired, but they were kind and concerned. True southerners. As they filed past me on their way to a "fun day in Charleston," they each offered their condolences and told me to tell Mikie they hoped he felt better soon. I was touched.
The woman in charge of the kitchen brought me what she thought I had asked for... orange juice, hot tea and a toasted English muffin. I didn't want to push it, but I knew I had to take up at least ONE thing Mike had actually requested. I decided to keep the English muffin, traded the orange juice for water and poured a cup of coffee while she was in the back getting the water.
"An English muffin," Mikie whined. "I don't think I like English muffins."
Did I mention after the pre-yelling and post-moaning comes the eternal whining. Yep... Mikie's a keeper! NOTE: And I need to mention, he's a much better nurse than I am!
And that, my friends, is my last Vacation Mishap for the week. Aren't you glad?
New National Holiday #6 - My final National Holiday is a good one, I think. There were times when the kids were babies (and sick) that I actually did this. From now on, June 19 will be known as "National Stay in Your PJs All Day... Day." As I said above, there were definitely times when I had babies that none of the family made it out of their pajamas (during stomach viruses, etc.). However, I can't really say it was a fun time. It was more of a survival time.
This holiday would be all about fun though. Movies, games, junk food galore... no grass cutting, no dropping off or picking up, no work schedules to worry about. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
No, no, no. Don't thank me. It's been my pleasure to fill June with these fun, easy holidays. But as much fun as it has been to make your June even more wonderful, I must now retire from creating new National Holidays. It's time to move on to something else. Enjoy... and don't worry. I'll remind you next year when these holidays roll around again. I'm pretty sure there won't be a Hallmark Card display to help you remember!
Book
Today's book for Dad is Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. Mike has read this book two times, and has really enjoyed it. He is planning on giving Austin a copy of the book before he leaves for college. Since I haven't read it (yet), I'll give you a little snippet from the book cover.
"Every man was once a boy. And every little boy has dreams, big dreams: dreams of being the hero, of beating the bad guys, of doing daring feats and rescuing the damsel in distress. Every little girl has dreams, too: of being rescued by her prince and swept up into a great adventure, knowing that she is the beauty.
"But what happens to those dreams when we grow up? Walk into most churches, have a look around, and ask yourself: What is a Christian man? Without listening to what is said, look at what you find there. Most Christian mean are... bored.
"In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge invites men to recover their masculine heart, defined in the image of a passionate God. And he invites women to discover the secret of a man's soul and to delight in the strength and wildness men were created to offer."
Wow! Whether you and your husband have daughters, or you have sons, too, this is a book for Dad for Father's Day. (And after Dad finishes the book, Moms with sons should read it, too. I'm starting it tomorrow!)
Have a fun Friday and a wonderful Father's Day weekend. I'll be back Monday with new pics, a few new ideas and some random thoughts here and there. Be sure to make Dad feel loved and appreciated.
Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Dating Daddy All Day
Good Thursday morning!
WARNING! WARNING! Perhaps you like the cereal I'm about to warn you about. You may have 15 boxes of this product in your pantry right now. But if you haven't purchased it yet, I would definitely recommend skipping High School Musical Cereal. And I'm a big cereal person. I love ALL kinds of cereal, from sugary to bran. I am NOT a picky, picky cereal person. However, when I walked into K-Mart last night and saw a clearance shelf with Zac Efron looking at me (so cute), and saw the box was marked $.50... Well, I just couldn't help myself. Let me just say, that is $.50 I will never get back! As always, I'm just trying to help bring families closer together! (I've added the picture to the Gallery so you'll know it if you see it!)
Weekend Family Fun
The following events were taken from http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/. (Remember... Jennifer gave us this website a couple of weeks ago. This website was full of good "things to do" this weekend.)
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera - Dads get in half-price ($6) with a child ($8) this Saturday, but only for the 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. excursion.
Montgomery Zoo - Dads get free admission this Sunday for Father's Day (with a child's paid admission, of course).
McWane Center - Dads get free admission this Sunday for Father's Day (with a child's paid admission).
Krispy Kreme - Dads get a free glazed doughnut Saturday or Sunday this weekend... just for being a Dad! (We're definitely doing this one!)
Tannehill State Park Trade Days - Tannehill will have over 300 vendors in the park this weekend. Adult admission to the park is $3. For more info, go to their website at www.tannehill.org.
Vacation Mishap #4 - I Swam in a Tropical Depression... and Lived to Tell About It!
This particular vacation happened after marriage, but before children. I didn't want you to think I was a bad "Mom Example." Basically, I was just an idiot.
Mike and I had gone to the beach with six other friends and had camped at Gulf Shores State Park. Mike and I were the only married couple, so I stayed with the chicks in a camper, and he and the guys stayed next door in a pop-out. We had a very, very good time. However, on one of our last days on the beach it was very dark, very threatening. The waves were huge though, and some of us couldn't resist a little body surfing.
As you can imagine, the undertow was unbelievably strong. I'm an okay swimmer. Mikie, Scott and Billy probably fall into the "good swimmer" category (maybe a little better than good... I don't want to offend anyone). My friend, Celeste, had been on the swim team her entire young life and later was a lifeguard. My friend, Kerry, was an Eagle Scout... so I assume that means he was an expert swimmer, too. (I'll have to ask him next time I see him.) Two of the girls stayed on shore, but the rest of us hit the waves. And we had a ball. You absolutely did not need a surfboard. The waves would actually carry you and throw you onto the sand.
We had been "playing" in the ocean for quite a while, and it was very exhausting just standing in the waves and undertow. As happens when you are in the ocean during a storm, before I knew it I was more than knee-deep in the water. I was suddenly chest-deep... and struggling. I had been standing next to Kerry and Celeste watching the antics of the other three guys when suddenly they were several feet in front of me.
I yelled their names, and they turned around. I still remember the look in both of their eyes. I was in trouble. "SWIM!" they both yelled. And as I swam as hard as I could, they both reached and grabbed and reached and grabbed some more until one of them had my hand. A few seconds later, the other one had the other hand, and together we kicked, swam and fought the current to get back to shore.
We were so, so fortunate to survive such a stupid, stupid act. God was (as always) watching out for all of us that day. (I would kill one of my kids if I knew they had done something so stupid. I know I'm using the same word a lot here... but nothing else fits quite as well.)
To this day, whenever several of us get together and we start talking about "the good ol' days" and the trips we took together, someone will say, "Remember when we swam in the storm?" And Celeste, Kerry and I shudder and shake our heads.
But we learned a VALUABLE lesson. It has never happened since and will never happen again. And as parents, I think we have all instilled the "Rules of Swimming in the Ocean" deeply in all of our kids. I know checking the flags is the FIRST thing we do every morning before we start a day on the beach... and we definitely do not question the flags.
Sorry. It wasn't a humorous story, but it was most assuredly one of the worst Vacation Mishaps I ever experienced. Tomorrow I'll have something a little "lighter." I promise.
New National Holiday #5 - Okay. This one is a little self-serving, even for me. However, June 18 will from now until the end of time be "National Tell Someone About 'A Simple Life' Day." Now before you think too badly of me, remember I'm a numbers person. My goal is to have 1,000 hits in one month before the blog is a year old (October 16). So far, the most I've gotten is 868 a month. That is SOOO CLOSE! Again, you don't have to clean your house or fix a meal for this holiday. If you want to, you could even tell the person you call June 17 on "National Call the First Person Who Pops In Your Head Day." That's right. Make it a "twofer." I don't mind. I'll let you know if we break 900 this month. (Right now, we're doing pretty well!)
Dating Daddy All Day
This one takes a little planning. What you are trying to do is accomplish ONE date per child in ONE day. This date will work best if you have multiple children... but not 8 like Jon and Kate or 18 like the Duggars. We're talking two to five kids. We want it to be enjoyable, but not exhausting.
Depending on the number of children you have, help them plan the same number of outings in one day. They do not have to be individually expensive or individually time-consuming.
For example, if our kids were younger, the "Dating Daddy All Day" would go something like this:
1. Because Mikie likes Milo's, Roxie would take her Daddy to Milo's for lunch after church. They would then return to the house.
2. Because Mikie loves to fish, Josh would take his Daddy to Wal-Mart and let him pick out one or two lures for his tackle box. They would then return to the house.
3. Because Mikie loves doughnuts, Austin would take his Daddy to the closest Krispy Kreme for a FREE doughnut and cup of coffee. They would then return to the house.
4. We would end the "Dating Daddy All Day" with a movie and popcorn all together in our den... because he loves that activity, too.
Make a list of what your Daddy likes/loves. Then assign a child to a particular activity on the list. Remember, all of these "gifts" are surprises until the child gets in the car with Daddy to tell him where to point the car.
Have fun with this one, and make it a Father's Day he'll talk about for days to come.
Have a spectacular Thursday. Go to Chick-Fil-A between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. tonight and get your free chicken strips. (I don't care if you do have to wait 45 minutes... IT'S FREE!) Tomorrow I'll share a couple of good Father's Day books, the TV Review of Jon & Kate, my last Vacation Mishap (not the last one I ever had, but the last one I'll be sharing this week), and my last New National Holiday. It's already the weekend. Can you believe it?
Next week, I'll tell you what we did for Mikie for Father's Day. Since he reads the blog, I can't let the secret out just yet.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
WARNING! WARNING! Perhaps you like the cereal I'm about to warn you about. You may have 15 boxes of this product in your pantry right now. But if you haven't purchased it yet, I would definitely recommend skipping High School Musical Cereal. And I'm a big cereal person. I love ALL kinds of cereal, from sugary to bran. I am NOT a picky, picky cereal person. However, when I walked into K-Mart last night and saw a clearance shelf with Zac Efron looking at me (so cute), and saw the box was marked $.50... Well, I just couldn't help myself. Let me just say, that is $.50 I will never get back! As always, I'm just trying to help bring families closer together! (I've added the picture to the Gallery so you'll know it if you see it!)
Weekend Family Fun
The following events were taken from http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/. (Remember... Jennifer gave us this website a couple of weeks ago. This website was full of good "things to do" this weekend.)
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera - Dads get in half-price ($6) with a child ($8) this Saturday, but only for the 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. excursion.
Montgomery Zoo - Dads get free admission this Sunday for Father's Day (with a child's paid admission, of course).
McWane Center - Dads get free admission this Sunday for Father's Day (with a child's paid admission).
Krispy Kreme - Dads get a free glazed doughnut Saturday or Sunday this weekend... just for being a Dad! (We're definitely doing this one!)
Tannehill State Park Trade Days - Tannehill will have over 300 vendors in the park this weekend. Adult admission to the park is $3. For more info, go to their website at www.tannehill.org.
Vacation Mishap #4 - I Swam in a Tropical Depression... and Lived to Tell About It!
This particular vacation happened after marriage, but before children. I didn't want you to think I was a bad "Mom Example." Basically, I was just an idiot.
Mike and I had gone to the beach with six other friends and had camped at Gulf Shores State Park. Mike and I were the only married couple, so I stayed with the chicks in a camper, and he and the guys stayed next door in a pop-out. We had a very, very good time. However, on one of our last days on the beach it was very dark, very threatening. The waves were huge though, and some of us couldn't resist a little body surfing.
As you can imagine, the undertow was unbelievably strong. I'm an okay swimmer. Mikie, Scott and Billy probably fall into the "good swimmer" category (maybe a little better than good... I don't want to offend anyone). My friend, Celeste, had been on the swim team her entire young life and later was a lifeguard. My friend, Kerry, was an Eagle Scout... so I assume that means he was an expert swimmer, too. (I'll have to ask him next time I see him.) Two of the girls stayed on shore, but the rest of us hit the waves. And we had a ball. You absolutely did not need a surfboard. The waves would actually carry you and throw you onto the sand.
We had been "playing" in the ocean for quite a while, and it was very exhausting just standing in the waves and undertow. As happens when you are in the ocean during a storm, before I knew it I was more than knee-deep in the water. I was suddenly chest-deep... and struggling. I had been standing next to Kerry and Celeste watching the antics of the other three guys when suddenly they were several feet in front of me.
I yelled their names, and they turned around. I still remember the look in both of their eyes. I was in trouble. "SWIM!" they both yelled. And as I swam as hard as I could, they both reached and grabbed and reached and grabbed some more until one of them had my hand. A few seconds later, the other one had the other hand, and together we kicked, swam and fought the current to get back to shore.
We were so, so fortunate to survive such a stupid, stupid act. God was (as always) watching out for all of us that day. (I would kill one of my kids if I knew they had done something so stupid. I know I'm using the same word a lot here... but nothing else fits quite as well.)
To this day, whenever several of us get together and we start talking about "the good ol' days" and the trips we took together, someone will say, "Remember when we swam in the storm?" And Celeste, Kerry and I shudder and shake our heads.
But we learned a VALUABLE lesson. It has never happened since and will never happen again. And as parents, I think we have all instilled the "Rules of Swimming in the Ocean" deeply in all of our kids. I know checking the flags is the FIRST thing we do every morning before we start a day on the beach... and we definitely do not question the flags.
Sorry. It wasn't a humorous story, but it was most assuredly one of the worst Vacation Mishaps I ever experienced. Tomorrow I'll have something a little "lighter." I promise.
New National Holiday #5 - Okay. This one is a little self-serving, even for me. However, June 18 will from now until the end of time be "National Tell Someone About 'A Simple Life' Day." Now before you think too badly of me, remember I'm a numbers person. My goal is to have 1,000 hits in one month before the blog is a year old (October 16). So far, the most I've gotten is 868 a month. That is SOOO CLOSE! Again, you don't have to clean your house or fix a meal for this holiday. If you want to, you could even tell the person you call June 17 on "National Call the First Person Who Pops In Your Head Day." That's right. Make it a "twofer." I don't mind. I'll let you know if we break 900 this month. (Right now, we're doing pretty well!)
Dating Daddy All Day
This one takes a little planning. What you are trying to do is accomplish ONE date per child in ONE day. This date will work best if you have multiple children... but not 8 like Jon and Kate or 18 like the Duggars. We're talking two to five kids. We want it to be enjoyable, but not exhausting.
Depending on the number of children you have, help them plan the same number of outings in one day. They do not have to be individually expensive or individually time-consuming.
For example, if our kids were younger, the "Dating Daddy All Day" would go something like this:
1. Because Mikie likes Milo's, Roxie would take her Daddy to Milo's for lunch after church. They would then return to the house.
2. Because Mikie loves to fish, Josh would take his Daddy to Wal-Mart and let him pick out one or two lures for his tackle box. They would then return to the house.
3. Because Mikie loves doughnuts, Austin would take his Daddy to the closest Krispy Kreme for a FREE doughnut and cup of coffee. They would then return to the house.
4. We would end the "Dating Daddy All Day" with a movie and popcorn all together in our den... because he loves that activity, too.
Make a list of what your Daddy likes/loves. Then assign a child to a particular activity on the list. Remember, all of these "gifts" are surprises until the child gets in the car with Daddy to tell him where to point the car.
Have fun with this one, and make it a Father's Day he'll talk about for days to come.
Have a spectacular Thursday. Go to Chick-Fil-A between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. tonight and get your free chicken strips. (I don't care if you do have to wait 45 minutes... IT'S FREE!) Tomorrow I'll share a couple of good Father's Day books, the TV Review of Jon & Kate, my last Vacation Mishap (not the last one I ever had, but the last one I'll be sharing this week), and my last New National Holiday. It's already the weekend. Can you believe it?
Next week, I'll tell you what we did for Mikie for Father's Day. Since he reads the blog, I can't let the secret out just yet.
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Daddy Placemats
Good Wednesday morning!
NOTE TO MIKIE - Of course I would have let you back in the car if you had been in "trouble" on that dark Georgia night so many years ago. Wouldn't I? Now, I'm wondering. I guess we'll never know, will we?
I've added a couple of pics of Roxie and her friend, Ragan. After a fun evening with the "girls" at Girl's Night Out hosted by our church, she spent the night. I just love the summer schedule, don't you? I cannot believe it is already June 17. I'm determined to squeeze the most out of every day because everyone knows summer days go by a lot faster than fall, winter and spring school days, don't they?
Josh has an off day from Football Practice. Even though he has a yard or two to cut with Austin, he considers it an ultimately easier day than Football Practice. I was walking out of his room a couple of days ago (with a huge armful of laundry, of course) and above his door was the sign pictured above. The words on the sign were "Work Ethic, Determination, Consistency, Heart, Toughness, Mindset." I don't know about you, but those are pretty impressive words where I come from.
Since Josh has been sick, he has plastered the walls of his room with all kinds of pictures of athletes. Beside some of them, he writes the word that best describes the athlete or the athlete's ability he admires most (leadership, accuracy, etc.). I asked him why he had chosen the words in the sign above his door, and he grinned and told me it was what he was striving for. "Did you copy this, or did you come up with this on your own?" I again questioned him.
"Nope. I picked those words. Pretty good, huh?"
Pretty good, indeed. I wondered what six words I would put above my door to "strive for." The words I would see each day as I headed out my bedroom door to "who knows what." I came up with "Simplify, Patience, Endurance, Kindness, Empathy, Child-Like." Words to strive for! It was not as easy for me as coming up with New National Holidays. What words would you pick? You don't have to respond. It's just one of those "Hmmm" questions. Something to ponder.
Vacation Mishap #3 - Strep Throat
Our Disney trip was magical. At 40 years of age, it was the first time I had ever been to Disney. Austin was 10, Josh was 7 and Roxie was 4. Great ages for all of us.
After we got some good news about the van (it was fixed, and we didn't have to immediately go home because the repair cost had used ALL our vacation money), we relaxed and started enjoying our "adventure."
It could not have been better. The crowds were not bad since it was November (during school). The weather was warm/hot, but not sweaty hot. We saw everything we wanted to see and did everything we wanted to do, plus so much more. And then Tuesday night came.
After a busy, but fun day, we headed to the hotel to get ready for the Authentic Hawaiian Luau we were going to that evening. Like everything else we had experienced, it did not disappoint. However, something wasn't right. Tired... yes. Throat a little scratchy... yes. Feverish... nope. Achy ALL over... nope. Eyes burning out of my head... nope. Okay. So I had a little scratchy throat, and I was tired. It wasn't the end of the world. I would survive. WRONG!
We all went to bed pretty early because we wanted to get up and start the next day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. However, around 4:00 a.m. I woke up with a golf ball sticking out the side of my neck. (I'm not kidding!) When I get strep, as I occasionally do, it starts out with a scratchy throat that turns into a golf ball... on one side of my throat. Yep. I had strep all right. A full-blown case.
I crawled into the bathroom with my Unofficial Guide to Disney book, and looked up medical emergencies in the back. Z-Pack... Z-Pack... Not listed. Okay. What do you do at Disney when you are sick? I read all my options, and then picked the one that best fit my particular situation. I NEEDED a Z-Pack. I did not need to spend a day in the emergency room off Disney property. I did not need to spend half a day in the infirmary on Disney property. I had to be at Chef Mickey at 8:15 a.m.
The answer to my problem was evident. I had to call my doctor (RIGHT AWAY) and tell them where I was and what I had and how much medicine I needed. I had to emphasize the importance of them calling the pharmacy Disney used (whose address and phone number were in the Unofficial Guide to Disney), and leaving me a prescription for a Z-Pack. I had to sound sick enough to make them follow my instructions, but not so sick they called back to tell me to get to a doctor. A very fine line.
The next step was to call the pharmacy to warn them my doctor would be calling and they would need to IMMEDIATELY deliver the drugs to my hotel by noon that same day. (Keep in mind, all of the calls were being made at 4:45 a.m. on the bathroom floor of my Disney hotel room.) The Unofficial Guide to Disney said the pharmacy was in Kissemmee, but delivered medication to Disney several times a day for a $20 charge. (I didn't care. It could have been $50. I would have still tipped the guy who brought me drugs!)
Tap. Tap. Tap. "You okay?" a sleepy Mikie whispered through the door.
"No. I'm dying. I have strep again," I whispered back and he slipped in the door.
"What are we going to do?" Isn't he sweet? This was the man a few nights earlier I would not have let back in the van if the people he had been talking to on that dark road in Georgia had attacked him. But instead of asking "What are YOU going to do?" he said "we." Good guy.
I let him read the paragraph in the book, and told him I had already made the calls. We would do everything we had planned on doing and come back to the hotel at noon so I could take my first dose of drugs. He felt my forehead. "You already have your high fever," he informed me.
"Yeah. Well, I'll just have to take a lot of Tylenol until I get the good stuff," I replied.
"You know. I'm getting a sinus infection. I think I'll call my doctor and order a Z-Pack, too. That way the pharmacy can deliver both orders by noon," he said. He was right. He was indeed getting a sinus infection. And he can get really, really sick with a sinus infection. I've seen it happen.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" I hissed. "The pharmacy is going to think we're hooked on Z-Packs. They'll notify our doctors, and they'll cancel MY drugs."
"Okay, okay. First of all, people don't get "hooked" on Z-Packs. Second, the pharmacy doesn't care if TWO people in our family need a Z-Pack. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes more than one person in a family of five gets sick at the same time."
That was true. It took a minute or two for it to sink in, but sometimes more than one person at a time does indeed get sick.
"All right. You can call your doctor and leave a message. But this better not mess up the delivery of my drugs," I warned.
With calls made, kids up and dressed, we made our way to Chef Mickey. Boy, was I sick. We enjoyed everything though. Even through the pain and the fever, I was determined to enjoy and experience EVERYTHING Disney. We left Chef Mickey and made our way to the Indiana Jones show at MGM. When they asked for a volunteer from the audience, the kids were begging Mikie to jump up and down and get on stage. However, I knew he couldn't leave because of ME. I was fading fast. We watched the show with my head in his lap, and then it was time to go to the hotel for our medication.
Uh-oh. Josh, our character spotter, saw some characters about two miles away. Off we went. When we reached our destination, we saw a few more characters... and then a few more. We were really big into getting autographs and having our pictures made with any and ALL characters. My one prerequisite for going on this trip was seeing Pooh. I had to see Pooh, and as of that time, we had not spotted him yet.
I was sitting on the ground with my head against a building while the kids got Alice in Wonderland's autograph and picture when Josh saw Pooh... only a million miles away. "Come on, Mom," they all yelled. "It's Pooh!"
With the last bit of strength I had, I walked, stumbled, tripped over to Pooh. The picture of me and Pooh is really kind of pitiful. I have my head on his shoulder and he had both of his hot, furry arms around me... holding me up. If you couldn't see my face (and I was a three year-old), you would think it was a sweet picture. However, being a 40 year-old with a 104 degree fever, it loses something.
"Okay, guys. Let's get back to the hotel for some pizza in the room," Mike said. And then we thankfully went back to the hotel. At the front desk of the hotel were two bags of drugs. I quickly took my first dose (as did Mikie), and got into bed. Mike and the kids ate pizza, watched Disney movies and spent the rest of the early evening at the pool.
The next day, I was still sick, but better. And as I took my next four doses of my Z-Pack over the next day and half, I became better and better and better still. So much so that I was able to FULLY enjoy the remainder of our trip.
Tomorrow we leave Disney and go to yet another destination for our next Mishap. Join me, won't you?
New National Holiday #4 - This one is easy. Every June 17 from now on will be known as "National Call the First Person Who Pops In Your Head Day." That's not so hard. No big meals to prepare. No cleaning the house from top to bottom to get ready for a multitude of guests. No money to spend. Just wake up, and call the first person whose name comes to mind. It might be an old friend, a relative, a neighbor, etc. It doesn't matter. Just give them a little telephone call, and tell them you were thinking of them and just wanted to say "Hi."
What a nice, relaxing holiday. Try it. I'll bet you like it.
Daddy Placemats
Every year the week before Father's Day, find as many pictures as you can from the past year of the kids with Dad. Have all the kids crop and trim the pictures. Place the pictures on a pre-cut poster board (the size of a large placemat), and glue the pictures on the poster board (no white showing). Cover the placemat with clear contact paper front and back.
Serve Dad his Father's Day meal on his special placemat. You can use it every day during the year, or just special days (Sunday dinner, birthday, etc.), but be sure to replace it with a new one the following Father's Day.
It's a great gift he will enjoy AND look forward to receiving as part of his Father's Day celebration every year.
NOTE: If you have a lot of pictures, you can put pictures on both sides of the placemat. (You know what that's called, don't you? A twofer!)
ANOTHER NOTE: This would work as a great Mother's Day Tradition/Gift, too. Just a thought!
Have a happy Wednesday. Tomorrow I will have the usual... Weekend Family Fun, Vacation Mishap #4, New National Holiday #5 and, of course, a Father's Day Date. Come back and check in if you have a minute.
Take care, and I'll talk to you soon. Oh, and have a Happy Call the First Person Who Pops In Your Head Day!
NOTE TO MIKIE - Of course I would have let you back in the car if you had been in "trouble" on that dark Georgia night so many years ago. Wouldn't I? Now, I'm wondering. I guess we'll never know, will we?
I've added a couple of pics of Roxie and her friend, Ragan. After a fun evening with the "girls" at Girl's Night Out hosted by our church, she spent the night. I just love the summer schedule, don't you? I cannot believe it is already June 17. I'm determined to squeeze the most out of every day because everyone knows summer days go by a lot faster than fall, winter and spring school days, don't they?
Josh has an off day from Football Practice. Even though he has a yard or two to cut with Austin, he considers it an ultimately easier day than Football Practice. I was walking out of his room a couple of days ago (with a huge armful of laundry, of course) and above his door was the sign pictured above. The words on the sign were "Work Ethic, Determination, Consistency, Heart, Toughness, Mindset." I don't know about you, but those are pretty impressive words where I come from.
Since Josh has been sick, he has plastered the walls of his room with all kinds of pictures of athletes. Beside some of them, he writes the word that best describes the athlete or the athlete's ability he admires most (leadership, accuracy, etc.). I asked him why he had chosen the words in the sign above his door, and he grinned and told me it was what he was striving for. "Did you copy this, or did you come up with this on your own?" I again questioned him.
"Nope. I picked those words. Pretty good, huh?"
Pretty good, indeed. I wondered what six words I would put above my door to "strive for." The words I would see each day as I headed out my bedroom door to "who knows what." I came up with "Simplify, Patience, Endurance, Kindness, Empathy, Child-Like." Words to strive for! It was not as easy for me as coming up with New National Holidays. What words would you pick? You don't have to respond. It's just one of those "Hmmm" questions. Something to ponder.
Vacation Mishap #3 - Strep Throat
Our Disney trip was magical. At 40 years of age, it was the first time I had ever been to Disney. Austin was 10, Josh was 7 and Roxie was 4. Great ages for all of us.
After we got some good news about the van (it was fixed, and we didn't have to immediately go home because the repair cost had used ALL our vacation money), we relaxed and started enjoying our "adventure."
It could not have been better. The crowds were not bad since it was November (during school). The weather was warm/hot, but not sweaty hot. We saw everything we wanted to see and did everything we wanted to do, plus so much more. And then Tuesday night came.
After a busy, but fun day, we headed to the hotel to get ready for the Authentic Hawaiian Luau we were going to that evening. Like everything else we had experienced, it did not disappoint. However, something wasn't right. Tired... yes. Throat a little scratchy... yes. Feverish... nope. Achy ALL over... nope. Eyes burning out of my head... nope. Okay. So I had a little scratchy throat, and I was tired. It wasn't the end of the world. I would survive. WRONG!
We all went to bed pretty early because we wanted to get up and start the next day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. However, around 4:00 a.m. I woke up with a golf ball sticking out the side of my neck. (I'm not kidding!) When I get strep, as I occasionally do, it starts out with a scratchy throat that turns into a golf ball... on one side of my throat. Yep. I had strep all right. A full-blown case.
I crawled into the bathroom with my Unofficial Guide to Disney book, and looked up medical emergencies in the back. Z-Pack... Z-Pack... Not listed. Okay. What do you do at Disney when you are sick? I read all my options, and then picked the one that best fit my particular situation. I NEEDED a Z-Pack. I did not need to spend a day in the emergency room off Disney property. I did not need to spend half a day in the infirmary on Disney property. I had to be at Chef Mickey at 8:15 a.m.
The answer to my problem was evident. I had to call my doctor (RIGHT AWAY) and tell them where I was and what I had and how much medicine I needed. I had to emphasize the importance of them calling the pharmacy Disney used (whose address and phone number were in the Unofficial Guide to Disney), and leaving me a prescription for a Z-Pack. I had to sound sick enough to make them follow my instructions, but not so sick they called back to tell me to get to a doctor. A very fine line.
The next step was to call the pharmacy to warn them my doctor would be calling and they would need to IMMEDIATELY deliver the drugs to my hotel by noon that same day. (Keep in mind, all of the calls were being made at 4:45 a.m. on the bathroom floor of my Disney hotel room.) The Unofficial Guide to Disney said the pharmacy was in Kissemmee, but delivered medication to Disney several times a day for a $20 charge. (I didn't care. It could have been $50. I would have still tipped the guy who brought me drugs!)
Tap. Tap. Tap. "You okay?" a sleepy Mikie whispered through the door.
"No. I'm dying. I have strep again," I whispered back and he slipped in the door.
"What are we going to do?" Isn't he sweet? This was the man a few nights earlier I would not have let back in the van if the people he had been talking to on that dark road in Georgia had attacked him. But instead of asking "What are YOU going to do?" he said "we." Good guy.
I let him read the paragraph in the book, and told him I had already made the calls. We would do everything we had planned on doing and come back to the hotel at noon so I could take my first dose of drugs. He felt my forehead. "You already have your high fever," he informed me.
"Yeah. Well, I'll just have to take a lot of Tylenol until I get the good stuff," I replied.
"You know. I'm getting a sinus infection. I think I'll call my doctor and order a Z-Pack, too. That way the pharmacy can deliver both orders by noon," he said. He was right. He was indeed getting a sinus infection. And he can get really, really sick with a sinus infection. I've seen it happen.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" I hissed. "The pharmacy is going to think we're hooked on Z-Packs. They'll notify our doctors, and they'll cancel MY drugs."
"Okay, okay. First of all, people don't get "hooked" on Z-Packs. Second, the pharmacy doesn't care if TWO people in our family need a Z-Pack. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes more than one person in a family of five gets sick at the same time."
That was true. It took a minute or two for it to sink in, but sometimes more than one person at a time does indeed get sick.
"All right. You can call your doctor and leave a message. But this better not mess up the delivery of my drugs," I warned.
With calls made, kids up and dressed, we made our way to Chef Mickey. Boy, was I sick. We enjoyed everything though. Even through the pain and the fever, I was determined to enjoy and experience EVERYTHING Disney. We left Chef Mickey and made our way to the Indiana Jones show at MGM. When they asked for a volunteer from the audience, the kids were begging Mikie to jump up and down and get on stage. However, I knew he couldn't leave because of ME. I was fading fast. We watched the show with my head in his lap, and then it was time to go to the hotel for our medication.
Uh-oh. Josh, our character spotter, saw some characters about two miles away. Off we went. When we reached our destination, we saw a few more characters... and then a few more. We were really big into getting autographs and having our pictures made with any and ALL characters. My one prerequisite for going on this trip was seeing Pooh. I had to see Pooh, and as of that time, we had not spotted him yet.
I was sitting on the ground with my head against a building while the kids got Alice in Wonderland's autograph and picture when Josh saw Pooh... only a million miles away. "Come on, Mom," they all yelled. "It's Pooh!"
With the last bit of strength I had, I walked, stumbled, tripped over to Pooh. The picture of me and Pooh is really kind of pitiful. I have my head on his shoulder and he had both of his hot, furry arms around me... holding me up. If you couldn't see my face (and I was a three year-old), you would think it was a sweet picture. However, being a 40 year-old with a 104 degree fever, it loses something.
"Okay, guys. Let's get back to the hotel for some pizza in the room," Mike said. And then we thankfully went back to the hotel. At the front desk of the hotel were two bags of drugs. I quickly took my first dose (as did Mikie), and got into bed. Mike and the kids ate pizza, watched Disney movies and spent the rest of the early evening at the pool.
The next day, I was still sick, but better. And as I took my next four doses of my Z-Pack over the next day and half, I became better and better and better still. So much so that I was able to FULLY enjoy the remainder of our trip.
Tomorrow we leave Disney and go to yet another destination for our next Mishap. Join me, won't you?
New National Holiday #4 - This one is easy. Every June 17 from now on will be known as "National Call the First Person Who Pops In Your Head Day." That's not so hard. No big meals to prepare. No cleaning the house from top to bottom to get ready for a multitude of guests. No money to spend. Just wake up, and call the first person whose name comes to mind. It might be an old friend, a relative, a neighbor, etc. It doesn't matter. Just give them a little telephone call, and tell them you were thinking of them and just wanted to say "Hi."
What a nice, relaxing holiday. Try it. I'll bet you like it.
Daddy Placemats
Every year the week before Father's Day, find as many pictures as you can from the past year of the kids with Dad. Have all the kids crop and trim the pictures. Place the pictures on a pre-cut poster board (the size of a large placemat), and glue the pictures on the poster board (no white showing). Cover the placemat with clear contact paper front and back.
Serve Dad his Father's Day meal on his special placemat. You can use it every day during the year, or just special days (Sunday dinner, birthday, etc.), but be sure to replace it with a new one the following Father's Day.
It's a great gift he will enjoy AND look forward to receiving as part of his Father's Day celebration every year.
NOTE: If you have a lot of pictures, you can put pictures on both sides of the placemat. (You know what that's called, don't you? A twofer!)
ANOTHER NOTE: This would work as a great Mother's Day Tradition/Gift, too. Just a thought!
Have a happy Wednesday. Tomorrow I will have the usual... Weekend Family Fun, Vacation Mishap #4, New National Holiday #5 and, of course, a Father's Day Date. Come back and check in if you have a minute.
Take care, and I'll talk to you soon. Oh, and have a Happy Call the First Person Who Pops In Your Head Day!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
Good Tuesday morning!
I've been thinking about it for six months now, and I've made my decision. I am going to take the Becky Higgins' challenge and document my life... one picture a day... for 365 days. I didn't want to start January 1, because I knew I would be SOOO busy documenting Austin's graduation and the other "normal" things going on around here. I didn't want to complicate my "simple" life. However, after following Crazy for Crafting's 365 Project Blog (see my Blog List), and talking to Carol (a/k/a Crazy for Crafting), I have decided to start on my 48th birthday which will begin in August. I will post a picture and a small explanation for the picture (a/k/a journaling) each day until I turn 49 years-old (Lord willing).
This will be on a different blog than A Simple Life. You will be able to click on it (if you are interested) on my sidebar. It will be called Project 365. Why am I giving you all this information more than two months from my birthday? I'm trying to hold myself accountable. I've already told Carol (a/k/a Crazy for Crafting), but I need more than just one person to keep me focused for a whole year of my life.
Will I stop scrapbooking a page a day? Will this take the place of my albums? Uh, no. This will hopefully make me appreciate each day a little more and perhaps, remember the good more than the bad (I have a tendency to do the opposite). I'm a little apprehensive, but right now, I'm a lot excited. (For the record, I know that last sentence is not grammatically correct.) More on Project 365 in a couple of months.
Josh had his first official summer football workout. Bless his heart. Bless my nose. They work out from 8:00 to 11:00 three days a week. Of course, the first day of this workout in Alabama was 90 degrees. When asked why he puts himself through this "torture" (my word, not his), he said, "Because I love football." (He also loves Ultimate Frisbee. He and his brother (and now Cousin Brad) are on church teams that play every Monday night this summer. I have added a picture of the three of them BEFORE they left to play. Austin had his "game face" on. (It didn't work. His team lost... but it was a good face!)
Next week I'm going to watch them play incognito in the big gold van. I don't think anyone will notice me!
Roxie was "just dying" to be a library volunteer this year, so I dropped her off at 9:30 yesterday morning. I picked her up around 3:00. She would volunteer each and every day. In fact, that's what she wrote on her volunteer sheet, but thankfully, I found it and changed some things before she turned it in. One day a week is plenty for a 12 year-old.
You'll also notice another pic in the Gallery today. I bought a Boston fern for $8. (Doesn't that sound reasonable?) I call it "Fernzilla... The Fern That Ate Boston." Am I wrong, or is this the biggest fern you have ever seen in your entire life. Look at it now, because in a few days it will be a dead fern under my tender care. (Code for I'M NOT GOOD WITH PLANTS... THEY ALL EVENTUALLY DIE WHEN THEY COME TO MY HOUSE!)
Vacation Mishap #2 - When the Lights Went Out in Georgia
Well, it had finally arrived. Our first family trip to Disney. After saving for six years, we were on our way to visit the Mouse. We had planned to leave after school on a Friday in November, spend the night halfway to Orlando, wake up early and drive the rest of the way to Disney. In theory, not a bad plan.
There was no way to know (especially after we had our car serviced from top to bottom before the trip) the van would not make it to Orlando. Someone, somewhere, had missed the fact that something was terribly wrong with the van.
We were going to drive until midnight and get a room in Valdosta, Georgia. We had no idea there was a convention and some kind of sporting event (I cannot even remember what kind) that had every hotel within two or three hours of our original "sleeping destination" booked solid. That being the case, we were driving on a lonely, dark road in the deep woods of Georgia very late at night when the engine became hot... red hot.
I'm always of the mind to keep on goin' until the motor actually blows up in your face, but Mikie stops when he sees a needle heading the wrong direction on the dashboard. Even when it's in the deep, dark woods of Georgia very late at night.
We saw a light in a convenience store ahead and pulled into a parking lot. Mike and I could see someone inside, and although the door was locked, we knocked until they came to the door... and told us they were closed. Minutes later, the only light for miles around went out, and a little car left from behind the store. We were VERY, VERY much alone.
New plan. We would let the engine cool down and then try to make it to an actual town. At least if we were stranded in the van all night in a real town, perhaps there would be a police station or a fire station nearby.
Five minutes passed. Ten minutes passed. We decided to give it another ten minutes before we cranked it up again when we saw headlights coming in our direction. At this point, I wasn't interested in anyone stopping to help us unless they were in full uniform... and I didn't even care what kind of uniform. Just someone responsible enough to have been given at one time in their life a uniform of some sort. A car with two young men pulled in front of our van. Hmmm. This did not look good.
And then we saw more headlights coming our way from the same direction as the first car. Once again I hoped (AND PRAYED) for a uniform-wearing man to appear, and once again, my heart sank as the car pulled in behind our van. Now we were wedged in between the two cars. I had no idea who was in the car behind us.
Mikie looked at me, and said, "Lock the doors. I'm going to get out and ask them how far it is to the next town."
Hmmm. This next new plan wasn't looking good to me either. I was wishing we had gone with my gut and driven until the engine had just blown up. That way, we would have gotten a man with a uniform AND a fire hose; thus, serving two purposes... rescuing us AND a little fire safety lesson for the kiddos.
Mikie got out of the van, and walked the two steps to the car in front of us. The man rolled down his window to talk to him. Things looked okay. He didn't look like a murderer... yet. And then to my IMMENSE relief, a little boy's head popped up from the back seat of the car. And then another! Yes! Yes! It was a family! And they were lost. Hallelujah! And the car behind us? They were with those two men and their two little boys looking for a place to sleep in order to see the sporting event I spoke of earlier. They had kids in their car, too.
I can't remember if Mikie was able to help them with directions or not. I know they weren't able to help us with the van. But, as I stated above, they did not kill us either. (Find the joy in each day, folks. It's very important!)
Long story a little shorter, we started the van and made it to a small hotel about an hour away before the engine started heating up again. We were closer to Disney than we had thought we would be (only three hours away), but we were in a very sick van. We decided to drive to Disney, put the van in the Disney auto shop and go on with our vacation. (Can you even begin to imagine how much money that was going to cost? I mean if a Coke is $5, how much is an overheating engine going to be?)
We were getting off the exit that leads to the signs that say "Disney World" when the van started overheating yet again. Mike pulled to the side of the road and we waited the obligatory 30 minutes until the engine cooled down. It was torture. I COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE SIGN!! I could have walked through the entrance... we were that close.
We eventually made it to our hotel, and as soon as we checked into our room, Mike left with the van to go to the Mickey Mouse Mechanical Garage (or something like that). Surprisingly, it was not uber expensive. Could we have gotten the van repaired more cheaply at home? Oh, yeah. But it was several thousand dollars less than what we expected, so we were happy. Well... semi-happy.)
Tomorrow's Mishap is from the same trip, so there will be a little more Disney before we move on to Mishap #4.
New National Holiday #3 - I hereby declare June 16 of each and every year "National Free Shopping at Wal-Mart Day." What do you think? Does that not sound wonderful. Of course, there would have to be rules. I think one hour and one buggy would be fair. (We don't want them to go bankrupt, do we?) And, of course, we would need to divide the day up. People whose last names begin with A-C would shop from 8:00 to 9:00. D-F would shop from 10:00 to 11:00, etc., etc. You get the idea. It would take a little bit of organizing, but in the end, I think this would also be a Holiday EVERYONE would look forward to once a year.
I'm telling you... I think I have a gift for coming up with new and exciting National Holidays. Who knew? Tomorrow's is just as exciting and fun as the last two days have been. (Moms, did you get your foot rub yesterday? I had a little trouble finding the kids all day long, but that's okay. I'm willing to try again next year!)
Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
I haven't tried this one yet, but I'm planning on making this for Thursday night's dinner. Austin is off Thursday night, and pizza is his favorite.
You will need:
1 loaf (1 pound) unsliced French bread
1 pound ground chuck
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
1 jar (14 ounce) pizza sauce (any variety)
1 large tomato, chopped (1 cup)
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
2 cups finely shredded pizza cheese blend (8 ounces)
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut bread loaf horizontally in half. Cut bread halves crosswise in half to make 4 pieces (to fit on a cookie sheet). Arrange on large ungreased cookie sheet and set aside.
2. In a skillet, brown beef and onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain.
3. Stir in pizza sauce. Spread beef mixture over bread. Sprinkle with tomato, bacon and cheese.
3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until pizza is hot and cheese is melted.
Doesn't this sound good. I love French bread pizza, and this sounds easy enough for even little ones to help fix. If you try it before Thursday night, let me know what you think. Otherwise, I'll let you know how the Faulkner Five rate the recipe.
Have a lovely Tuesday. Tomorrow's Seasonal Tradition is all about Dad, so check in for an idea for that very special man (or men) in your life. I'll also have another Mishap and one more National Holiday. (The list is shaping up nicely, don't you think? I hope you're marking these dates on your calendar. I know I'm definitely looking forward to June next year... knowing all these wonderful holidays will be coming up!)
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
I've been thinking about it for six months now, and I've made my decision. I am going to take the Becky Higgins' challenge and document my life... one picture a day... for 365 days. I didn't want to start January 1, because I knew I would be SOOO busy documenting Austin's graduation and the other "normal" things going on around here. I didn't want to complicate my "simple" life. However, after following Crazy for Crafting's 365 Project Blog (see my Blog List), and talking to Carol (a/k/a Crazy for Crafting), I have decided to start on my 48th birthday which will begin in August. I will post a picture and a small explanation for the picture (a/k/a journaling) each day until I turn 49 years-old (Lord willing).
This will be on a different blog than A Simple Life. You will be able to click on it (if you are interested) on my sidebar. It will be called Project 365. Why am I giving you all this information more than two months from my birthday? I'm trying to hold myself accountable. I've already told Carol (a/k/a Crazy for Crafting), but I need more than just one person to keep me focused for a whole year of my life.
Will I stop scrapbooking a page a day? Will this take the place of my albums? Uh, no. This will hopefully make me appreciate each day a little more and perhaps, remember the good more than the bad (I have a tendency to do the opposite). I'm a little apprehensive, but right now, I'm a lot excited. (For the record, I know that last sentence is not grammatically correct.) More on Project 365 in a couple of months.
Josh had his first official summer football workout. Bless his heart. Bless my nose. They work out from 8:00 to 11:00 three days a week. Of course, the first day of this workout in Alabama was 90 degrees. When asked why he puts himself through this "torture" (my word, not his), he said, "Because I love football." (He also loves Ultimate Frisbee. He and his brother (and now Cousin Brad) are on church teams that play every Monday night this summer. I have added a picture of the three of them BEFORE they left to play. Austin had his "game face" on. (It didn't work. His team lost... but it was a good face!)
Next week I'm going to watch them play incognito in the big gold van. I don't think anyone will notice me!
Roxie was "just dying" to be a library volunteer this year, so I dropped her off at 9:30 yesterday morning. I picked her up around 3:00. She would volunteer each and every day. In fact, that's what she wrote on her volunteer sheet, but thankfully, I found it and changed some things before she turned it in. One day a week is plenty for a 12 year-old.
You'll also notice another pic in the Gallery today. I bought a Boston fern for $8. (Doesn't that sound reasonable?) I call it "Fernzilla... The Fern That Ate Boston." Am I wrong, or is this the biggest fern you have ever seen in your entire life. Look at it now, because in a few days it will be a dead fern under my tender care. (Code for I'M NOT GOOD WITH PLANTS... THEY ALL EVENTUALLY DIE WHEN THEY COME TO MY HOUSE!)
Vacation Mishap #2 - When the Lights Went Out in Georgia
Well, it had finally arrived. Our first family trip to Disney. After saving for six years, we were on our way to visit the Mouse. We had planned to leave after school on a Friday in November, spend the night halfway to Orlando, wake up early and drive the rest of the way to Disney. In theory, not a bad plan.
There was no way to know (especially after we had our car serviced from top to bottom before the trip) the van would not make it to Orlando. Someone, somewhere, had missed the fact that something was terribly wrong with the van.
We were going to drive until midnight and get a room in Valdosta, Georgia. We had no idea there was a convention and some kind of sporting event (I cannot even remember what kind) that had every hotel within two or three hours of our original "sleeping destination" booked solid. That being the case, we were driving on a lonely, dark road in the deep woods of Georgia very late at night when the engine became hot... red hot.
I'm always of the mind to keep on goin' until the motor actually blows up in your face, but Mikie stops when he sees a needle heading the wrong direction on the dashboard. Even when it's in the deep, dark woods of Georgia very late at night.
We saw a light in a convenience store ahead and pulled into a parking lot. Mike and I could see someone inside, and although the door was locked, we knocked until they came to the door... and told us they were closed. Minutes later, the only light for miles around went out, and a little car left from behind the store. We were VERY, VERY much alone.
New plan. We would let the engine cool down and then try to make it to an actual town. At least if we were stranded in the van all night in a real town, perhaps there would be a police station or a fire station nearby.
Five minutes passed. Ten minutes passed. We decided to give it another ten minutes before we cranked it up again when we saw headlights coming in our direction. At this point, I wasn't interested in anyone stopping to help us unless they were in full uniform... and I didn't even care what kind of uniform. Just someone responsible enough to have been given at one time in their life a uniform of some sort. A car with two young men pulled in front of our van. Hmmm. This did not look good.
And then we saw more headlights coming our way from the same direction as the first car. Once again I hoped (AND PRAYED) for a uniform-wearing man to appear, and once again, my heart sank as the car pulled in behind our van. Now we were wedged in between the two cars. I had no idea who was in the car behind us.
Mikie looked at me, and said, "Lock the doors. I'm going to get out and ask them how far it is to the next town."
Hmmm. This next new plan wasn't looking good to me either. I was wishing we had gone with my gut and driven until the engine had just blown up. That way, we would have gotten a man with a uniform AND a fire hose; thus, serving two purposes... rescuing us AND a little fire safety lesson for the kiddos.
Mikie got out of the van, and walked the two steps to the car in front of us. The man rolled down his window to talk to him. Things looked okay. He didn't look like a murderer... yet. And then to my IMMENSE relief, a little boy's head popped up from the back seat of the car. And then another! Yes! Yes! It was a family! And they were lost. Hallelujah! And the car behind us? They were with those two men and their two little boys looking for a place to sleep in order to see the sporting event I spoke of earlier. They had kids in their car, too.
I can't remember if Mikie was able to help them with directions or not. I know they weren't able to help us with the van. But, as I stated above, they did not kill us either. (Find the joy in each day, folks. It's very important!)
Long story a little shorter, we started the van and made it to a small hotel about an hour away before the engine started heating up again. We were closer to Disney than we had thought we would be (only three hours away), but we were in a very sick van. We decided to drive to Disney, put the van in the Disney auto shop and go on with our vacation. (Can you even begin to imagine how much money that was going to cost? I mean if a Coke is $5, how much is an overheating engine going to be?)
We were getting off the exit that leads to the signs that say "Disney World" when the van started overheating yet again. Mike pulled to the side of the road and we waited the obligatory 30 minutes until the engine cooled down. It was torture. I COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE SIGN!! I could have walked through the entrance... we were that close.
We eventually made it to our hotel, and as soon as we checked into our room, Mike left with the van to go to the Mickey Mouse Mechanical Garage (or something like that). Surprisingly, it was not uber expensive. Could we have gotten the van repaired more cheaply at home? Oh, yeah. But it was several thousand dollars less than what we expected, so we were happy. Well... semi-happy.)
Tomorrow's Mishap is from the same trip, so there will be a little more Disney before we move on to Mishap #4.
New National Holiday #3 - I hereby declare June 16 of each and every year "National Free Shopping at Wal-Mart Day." What do you think? Does that not sound wonderful. Of course, there would have to be rules. I think one hour and one buggy would be fair. (We don't want them to go bankrupt, do we?) And, of course, we would need to divide the day up. People whose last names begin with A-C would shop from 8:00 to 9:00. D-F would shop from 10:00 to 11:00, etc., etc. You get the idea. It would take a little bit of organizing, but in the end, I think this would also be a Holiday EVERYONE would look forward to once a year.
I'm telling you... I think I have a gift for coming up with new and exciting National Holidays. Who knew? Tomorrow's is just as exciting and fun as the last two days have been. (Moms, did you get your foot rub yesterday? I had a little trouble finding the kids all day long, but that's okay. I'm willing to try again next year!)
Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
I haven't tried this one yet, but I'm planning on making this for Thursday night's dinner. Austin is off Thursday night, and pizza is his favorite.
You will need:
1 loaf (1 pound) unsliced French bread
1 pound ground chuck
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
1 jar (14 ounce) pizza sauce (any variety)
1 large tomato, chopped (1 cup)
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
2 cups finely shredded pizza cheese blend (8 ounces)
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut bread loaf horizontally in half. Cut bread halves crosswise in half to make 4 pieces (to fit on a cookie sheet). Arrange on large ungreased cookie sheet and set aside.
2. In a skillet, brown beef and onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain.
3. Stir in pizza sauce. Spread beef mixture over bread. Sprinkle with tomato, bacon and cheese.
3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until pizza is hot and cheese is melted.
Doesn't this sound good. I love French bread pizza, and this sounds easy enough for even little ones to help fix. If you try it before Thursday night, let me know what you think. Otherwise, I'll let you know how the Faulkner Five rate the recipe.
Have a lovely Tuesday. Tomorrow's Seasonal Tradition is all about Dad, so check in for an idea for that very special man (or men) in your life. I'll also have another Mishap and one more National Holiday. (The list is shaping up nicely, don't you think? I hope you're marking these dates on your calendar. I know I'm definitely looking forward to June next year... knowing all these wonderful holidays will be coming up!)
Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
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Friday...
Finally, some new basketball action shots.
The JV team had two 40-minute games Friday, so I thought I would just go ahead and start filming now!
And here's the obligatory Bryant Tuggle pic. He's a HUGE supporter of our baskeball team. Always has been... always will be. Well, until he gets his own driver's license!
Saturday...
We spent the day with the cousins Saturday. Monica, Amy, Roxie and I shopped at Brookwood, ate at Yolo's and went to the movies (Pirates 4). It was a great day, but the best part was our celebrity sighting...
That's right! Will Ferrell! (Please feel free to use your imagination. I know we did!)
Sunday...
Mikie's 50th Family Birthday Celebration! Everyone knows 50 year-old men LOVE the Green Lantern...and their wives really like Ryan Reynolds! (How cool would it be to have your picture on a birthday party plate package? Another goal, perhaps?)
What do you give a 50 year-old guys for his birthday? Cards... filled with money, Ricky Skaggs' concert tickets, a True Grit DVD and a Red Devil's Food Cake with Divinity Icing (from his Mom). It was a very good day!
Lovely Melia gave him the True Grit DVD. (I LOVE that movie!)
And it wouldn't be a birthday without a hug from Roxie!