Summer Brunch

Good Wednesday morning!

I know you've been asking yourself, "Is she going to remember? Is she going to post a Party/Event, OR is she going to forget (again) and post another Seasonal Tradition... which would mean TWO Seasonal Traditions in one week?" You can calm down now. I remembered. Below you will find a Party/Event. You really need to work on being more go-with-the-flow!

Thanks to Jennifer and another friend (Karmen) who gave me another new website to check out, tomorrow's Weekend Family Fun will be FULL of ideas for you to try. If you ever have any ideas or suggestions or new websites, let me know. I'll post them AND give you full credit. I promise!

The Senior Trip Saga

Where is he off to now? "Austin, have you made a decision on where you will be going for your senior trip?" No pressure. Just a simple question begging for a simple response.

"Well, it's definitely Washington, D.C. Or Tennessee. And Dad mentioned something about Savannah, Georgia having a lot of historical things to see."

WHAT?!? Mikie threw another option in the mix? I specifically asked him sweetly (Code for DEMANDED THAT HE) not put another destination on the table. They are both just messing with me now. They know why I really want to know where they're going. They know it has nothing to do with packing, or running off trip suggestions from the Internet, or anything like that.

They know I want to go to Hobby Lobby and purchase stickers THAT will go with the trip THAT will go in scrapbook THAT will be made by Mom THAT will be given to Austin before he goes to college... "in the house that Jack built." (Do you remember that book from your childhood?)

If Mikie isn't careful, he'll regret toying with my emotions in a day or two... when I come back with enough stickers for FIVE different destinations AND matching paper. (And Austin will be sorry, too. I'm going to be using his trip money to purchase all those supplies.) So, there! Three can play at this game!

Please make up your mind, Austin. Please, I'm begging you!

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!

Don't forget... you have three more days to enter the Contest for a free movie rental card. All you have to do is answer the question, "What does your family do for fun during a typical summer week?" It doesn't have to be a lengthy answer. It can be short and sweet.

You can leave it in the comment section below or e-mail me at the address on the side of my blog. Either way, it counts. (So far, I've had several e-mail entries.)

Typical Week of Summer - Day 3

I've thought of two more things that make up a "typical week"... Chore Lists and Cousins. That's right. Every morning, the kids have a chore list they have to finish before fun ensues. (Now, they get days off from their chore list. Take this Friday, for instance. Austin is having his wisdom teeth pulled, and he will not have any chores for at least two or three days. See... I'm a reasonable woman!) It really isn't a work camp kind of list.

And we like to have our cousins over and go to our cousins' house and take turns spending the night with our cousins at Grandmother's house. We do this a lot during the summer. So, I've added a picture of two of the cousins, Zac and Katie. (NOTE: Cousins do not wake up to chore lists... and to be honest, when the kids have company, they are exempt from chores that day. I'm not only reasonable. I'm benevolent!)

Mid-Summer's Brunch

Every summer, have your daughter(s) help you prepare a simply scrumptious brunch for two or three special guests. They can be grandparents, great-grandparents, family, friends, etc. Watch the weather and pick a pretty day. Let your daughter(s) help with everything from setting the table with the good china and silver to helping prepare the menu. Be sure to prepare something simple enough so your helper or helpers will be able to participate in every aspect of the brunch.

Dress in your Sunday best and spend the morning giving of yourselves to your guests, making sure they are as comfortable as possible. It will be a great lesson in being a servant. Use the verse Proverbs 31:27 which says, "She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Menu suggestions:

Cranberry or apple juice
Blueberry or other favorite muffin
Egg and sausage casserole
Fresh fruit (apples, oranges, blueberries, strawberries)

NOTE: This would also be a nice party to plan for elderly neighbors. Anything that teaches your children about compassion, having a servant's heart, caring more for others than themselves, etc. will help them grow into compassionate, caring adults.

Come back tomorrow for a date that is fun and seasonal and the Weekend Family Fun section! Until then, plan something special to do with your family TODAY (simple is fine), and start thinking about this weekend. It will be here before you know it!

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.