Bring Your Own Meat Party

Good Monday morning!

NOTE TO NEWBIES: I know there are some Newbies to the blog, so I'll quickly go over a few things. On the side of the blog, you will see I post a Party/Event on Monday, Recipe on Tuesday, Seasonal Tradition on Wednesday, Date (for spouse or child) on Thursday, and Book Review on Friday. (This rarely, rarely changes.) On Thursday, I post anything I've found over the past few days for Weekend Family Fun... always looking for the inexpensive or free, if possible. On Friday, I post Weekend Happenings of the Faulkner Five, as well as a TV Review of our favorite shows. It's a little sparse in the summer, but when our favorite shows are on, I can have six or seven reviews a week (Survivor, Amazing Race, Celebrity Apprentice, Jon & Kate, 24 and LOST).

Every week there will be new pictures at the top of the blog. I do not always add a new picture ever day, but even if the pictures are the same, the post is always different. After a week, the pictures at the top of the blog, move to the bottom and new pics take their place.

Again, the above RARELY changes. What I post before the Party/Event, Recipe, Seasonal Tradition, Date or Book can be about anything or everything. Some weeks I choose a topic. For example, this week I will be talking about Childhood Memories. I've had an entire week dedicated to Blind Dates, Weddings, Trips, etc., etc.

I will speak ad nauseum about my three kiddos and their activities, as well as my Mikie. (It's my blog. I have that right.)

The more you read, the more you will realize it is indeed a simple little life. No glitz or glamor here. (Unless you count the week I wore Roxie's glitter powder everywhere... but only because she used the glitter powder with MY blush brush to heavily apply it on herself one day, and I didn't notice I looked like Tinkerbell for a week.) I honestly try to not to look too hard when I'm applying my make-up! No need to be depressed before I head out!

This blog is about anything and everything regarding balance (God, Family, Others). Doesn't that look simple when you see it in writing. However, we all know, looks can be deceiving.

I willingly and eagerly take any and all suggestions you may have for family fun. Just drop me an e-mail (see side of blog for address) or leave a comment. Anyone can tell you, I always try to give credit where credit is due. (Code for I WON'T TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR GRANNY'S FAMOUS APPLE PIE RECIPE. CREDIT GOES TO GRANNY!)

Oh, and one more thing. I NEVER, EVER (almost) post on weekends. I've posted once on Saturday and once on Sunday since I started blogging last October.

Thanks for dropping by, and I hope you'll come again.

NOTE TO ROBIN: Congratulations, Contest Winner! Robin will receive her handy dandy movie rental gift certificate this week. It's been purchased, and is in my purse waiting for the moment I see her. Thanks for playing, and I'll be having another contest in about 40 posts or so to celebrate my 200th blog post.

Wisdom Teeth Update

Is there anything funnier than Austin Faulkner after he's had a little anesthesia? I know the answer to this one!! NO!

When they called me to the recovery area after he had his teeth pulled, I laughed so hard I had tears rolling down my face. And when the little nurse came in to give me the instructions before we could go home, I couldn't stop laughing, so it was also VERY embarrassing. I can't share with you all the things he did and said, because then it would embarrass him. However, after asking his permission, the following is what he has allowed me to write on my blog:

1. Every time the nurse asked him how he was doing, he would try to give her a thumbs up, but he could only make it point to the side. He would look at his sideways thumbs up and start chuckling.

2. Every few seconds he would reach over and try to take my glasses off because he thought they were his glasses. When I told him he had his glasses on, he would touch them with his whole hand, give me a sideways thumbs up and start chuckling.

3. He told me he had read all 20 of the plaques on the wall. Then he said, "I'm just messin' with you, Mom. I know there are only two plaques." Again, chuckling. Me, hysterical, because there was only one plaque on the wall.

4. I would normally never put this on my blog because I don't like the word, and I don't like the kids saying it even though it's more slang than curse, but the story isn't the same without out it.

He was sitting quietly, and I was trying to compose myself, when all of a sudden he sat up and started moving his arms up and down in a wavy motion. "Do you know what I am?" he asked, excitedly.

"Austin, be still," I replied (sweetly, yet firmly).

"I'm an octopus. Do you know why I'm an octopus?" he asked again. By this time, I had started losing what little composure I had regained, and had started to laugh again. When he saw me laughing, he started patting the sides of my face with the back of his hands and arms... you know, like an octopus would do.

"No, why are you an octopus?" I asked, gasping for air.

"Because this sucks. Get it. An octopus has suckers on it's... it's... Oh, I'm just messin' with you, Mom."

Again, the nurse came in to try to give me the instructions, and I was bent over double in the seat laughing.

They finally sent us home with a pamphlet of instructions. I'm pretty sure we were disturbing the other patients.

That being said, Austin is doing great. This was his first ever "surgical procedure," and while it is considered "simple" and "common," I'm glad it's over and he's okay.

Oh. I did do something I'm not very proud of. While he was coming out from under the anesthesia, I questioned him about his senior trip choice. (You know. Sort of like on 24, but without me head-butting him until he gave me the answer I wanted. Jack Bauer would have been proud.) He looked at me (as if he understood what I was saying), motioned for me to come closer (as if to whisper in my ear), and yelled, "We're going where there are octopusssss. Nah. I'm just messin' with you, Mom." And then he put his head back on the chair and started chuckling. (And that's when I almost head-butted my baby.)

The Gallery is a little low today. The pic is of Sleeping Beauty. Roxie stayed up all night Friday night at a slumber party, and by 6:30 Saturday night, this is what she looked like. She's so sweet when she's asleep. (There will be more pics as the week goes on.)

Senior Trip Saga

Oh, no. The final destination of the Senior Trip Saga has not been decided. Well. I think it HAS BEEN decided, but I haven't been let in on the little secret. Mikie and Austin now think it would be hilarious to send me pictures from their phones every day and let me guess where they are... Kind of like "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" (Which, by the way, I love when it's Matt Lauer. Not so much when it's Mikie and Austin.)

If anyone out there can get any information out of either one of them, it would be appreciated.

Childhood Memories - Part 1

Vacation Bible School begins this week. When I was growing up, we didn't have Upwards camps, church camps, weeks at the lake, weeks at the beach, weeks in the mountains, pool memberships, etc. We had Vacation Bible School.

We would stand on the steps of our church in Trussville, and at exactly 9:00 o'clock, the doors would open. In the distance you could hear the Vacation Bible School Marching Song being played. The first three people marching in were the lucky "older" kids who got to hold the American Flag, the Christian Flag and the Bible Flag. Next, the youngest to the oldest children's classes would march in and take their seats in the pews. You could cut the excitement with a knife!

We would say our three pledges, and sing our Vacation Bible School song. (I still remember all the words to all four of these things.) Then the Vacation Bible School principal, Miss Ida Mae Mashburn, would give a small devotion, instructions, pray and dismiss us to our classes. Our wonderful classes.

We had mission stories that ended with a cliff hanger every day. We had Bible stories. We had application stories (again, with a cliff hanger every day). We had wonderful crafts.

As you got older, the crafts became more difficult and you would work on one for the entire week. (I specifically remember a colored popcorn kernel rooster I made one summer. It was my favorite craft EVER. It was beautiful. I carefully glued the colored popcorn kernels in the appropriate spots along the painted lines of the rooster on heavy cardboard. A masterpiece.)

Recess was fun, but it wasn't the highlight of Vacation Bible School. Snack time consisted of iced oatmeal cookies and bright red Kool-Aid sitting under a big oak tree in the parking lot with friends and neighbors.

And there was the offering. I cannot remember if it was "boys against the girls," but I do remember we had a specific amount we tried to raise each year for missions.

Friday night was commencement night. All the parents would come and the church would be packed to capacity. We would be dressed in our Sunday best on the steps of the church, and when they opened the door, we would march inside, say our pledges, sing our song, and Miss Ida Mae Mashburn would tell of the events of the week. After it was over, we would go downstairs to the classrooms and we would have snacks. (You guessed it! Iced oatmeal cookies and red Kool-Aid.)

And there in my classroom was the most beautiful colored popcorn kernel rooster ever created. Yes... There were other roosters around the room, but none compared to the one I bestowed upon my Mother and Daddy. They were so lucky to have a daughter so much more advanced craft-wise to produce such an amazing craft product. (I think the rooster theme went with the story of Peter denying Jesus three times and hearing the rooster crow.)

Vacation Bible School was a mainstay of my childhood years. I loved it. I missed it when it was over. I looked forward to it when the school year ended. In my child-like mind, nothing tasted better than iced oatmeal cookies with red Kool-Aid. It was the ultimate summer pleasure.

I often wonder if it holds the same importance in a child's mind today as it did those many years ago. There are so many other things offered by the church, community, etc. Do these other things make VBS less significant?

I asked Austin what his favorite summer activity was in his elementary years yesterday. After I listed many of them (slipping VBS in the middle), Austin said spending the night with Grandmother and Granddaddy and going to the pool.

That's fine. I totally understand, and I'm glad spending time with his grandparents was his favorite childhood summer memory. However, I know my one and only answer if I was asked the same question would be Vacation Bible School.

Bring Your Own Meat Party

I bet the title of this one got your attention, didn't it? This party has not been given yet. It is for my Senior Boys Cooking Class. They've mastered beef, chicken and pasta, but in August, my deck will be the site for our last class... Grilling and Homemade Ice Cream.

I had planned on letting Mikie teach them how to grill hamburgers and hot dogs and chicken kabobs, but a couple of the guys asked for steak. I started "teaching" them about budgets and how steaks for nine young men with voracious (good word) appetites was not in anyone's budget, when one of them suggested a BYOM Party. Perfect.

Tables will be set simply with plates, knives and forks. (I'll put napkins on the table just for show.) Baked potatoes will be cooking in the oven. While Mikie works with four or five of the guys at a time, I'll have the others inside working on two different homemade ice cream recipes.

The perfect "man" meal... steaks, baked potatoes, homemade ice cream with toppings and sweet tea. I beg you to try to beat this combo.

Other than food, what will make this a party, you may ask? Is it my well-placed Tiki torches? Is it my newly purchased twinkly lights lining the deck? Is the beautiful black, green and red umbrella recently purchased for my picnic table? Well, those things certainly lend themselves to a festive party.

Don't tell the guys, but I'm asking the dads to show up for ice cream and a father vs. son football game at the lot before the sun goes down. What a great surprise for the boys! What a huge, unselfish act of love by the dads... assuming they agree to come! (I'll have a tube of Ben-Gay for each participant... over the age of 40! Always have to have party favors, you know.)

I'll be writing more about this one in August!

Have a great Monday. Tomorrow's recipe is a quick and easy lasagna. (Those two words don't usually go together when you're talking lasagna... "quick" and "easy.") And I'll have another precious Childhood Memory to share. Feel free to add one of your own memories if you like.

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