Slumber Party Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pics are up and running. Today you get to see the Capitol through the eyes of Austin, as well as the Space and Rocket Museum and his first (and maybe last) lobster. (Austin wasn't as much of a lobster fan as he thought he would be.) Some of my favorites are coming up tomorrow. I bet you've already guessed those will be the Zoo pics.

I hope everyone is having a good week. Today's a great day because Roxie is coming home, and for about two hours I'll have everyone in my family together again... and then Josh is spending the night with his cousins at Grandmother's house. Heavy, heavy sigh. But he's coming home Friday, so the weekend is MINE! Don't get me wrong. Everyone can have a good time and visit friends, family, etc., (and friends and family are more than welcome here) but Friday, Saturday and Sunday, everyone is sleeping under the same roof. And get this! We're eating a bunch of meals together. And guess what else? It's written in stone. That's right. It is OFFICIAL! (I'm tired of having only two out of three kids home at one time. It's going to be a long four years, isn't it?)

Yeah! I'm going to be the perfect example of what a pre-empty-nester SHOULDN'T be. (I say "pre" because I'm not officially an empty-nester until Roxie leaves for college... in six short years.)

But today is a good day. I will not ruin it by counting down the days, hours, minutes, seconds until August 7 at 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time when Austin has to report for Rookie Band Camp. Classes do not start until the 21st, but he has to be there extra early. (I hate Rookie Band!)

Oh, well. I guess we should get to the business at hand. Weekend Family Fun is a little bit shorter than last week's list, but there is still plenty to do. As always, if you know of anything to add, let me know through the comment section or e-mail me so I can add it by Friday's post.

Weekend Family Fun

Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic - The clinic is Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. It is similar to the Home Depot Clinic. This weekend's project is a treasure chest. (If your child is old enough, after they build their treasure chest, you could plan a pirate movie night and watch Pirates of the Caribbean or for younger kids, Veggie Tales... The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything Movie.)

Argo Drive-In - Friday and Saturday night they are having a double feature (Ice Age 3 and Night at the Museum). As usual, it is $10 a carload and the movies are starting around 8:20. Take plenty of bug spray, food, drinks and have a good, CHEAP time.

The Dollar Movie - Hannah Montana, The Movie (G) and Monsters vs. Aliens (PG) are still showing this weekend at The Dollar Movie in Hoover. It's a great deal if you haven't seen these two movies yet.

I know it isn't a weekend "thing," but don't forget to check the websites for the free movies at the Rave Theaters and Regal Theater (Trussville) on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10:00.

Sports Nut (Part 2) by Becky Freeman

It was Friday football on a beautiful October evening in Texas. The crisp air, the band playing something patriotic and snappy, the Buffaloes' red uniforms contrasted with the blue of the other team's, looked so lovely against the green field. (We women notice these things.)

All was bright and beautiful -- until Zeke, a junior, went down on the football field. And did not get up.

As the paramedics rushed forward, Scott took the steps down to the field two at a time, bounded over the tall fence, and rushed to our son. I ran along behind him, my heart in my throat. Then I came face to face with the fence. What to do, what to do?

I stopped for a fleeting second and thought, "If I climb this fence and Zeke's okay, I'll embarrass my son for the rest of his mortal life. If I don't, I'll have to fight every mothering instinct in me that's telling me to go to my hurting child."

What can I say? I'm a mom. I climbed!

When I got to the sidelines, Scott looked up and caught my eye, motioning for me to return to The Mother Spot -- on the other side of the fence. He told me Zeke had dislocated his elbow, and I should run get the car and meet them at the hospital with insurance forms in hand.

I retraced my steps on legs of pure rubber; then, once again, I came to the fence. In the moments since I'd left it, it had GROWN. Try as I might, I could not get over the thing. So the cheerleaders gathered around me in pyramid formation and shoved me up and over the fence. I landed so hard that I injured my knee and couldn't get up. A kind man and good friend, Dane Woodall, had to help me off the field and drive me to the hospital. (Dane also discreetly pointed out that there was a gate not five yards from where I'd taken my undignified tumble.)

The feeling in my knee came back a while later, and though it was terribly sprained, I felt nothing until the next day -- nothing hurt that night but my heart.

Eventually, I hobbled over to the emergency room to see my son.

"Mom?" he asked as he lay, in terrible pain, arm out-stretched and wrapped in splints. "Why are you limping?"

I hopped on one leg until I was where I longed to be -- with my arms around my child.

"I'm fine," I replied. "It's just a minor sports injury. No big deal."

Zeke looked confused, but I didn't explain. I just leaned on the clean white pillow, then stroked and kissed his cheek.

"I'm okay, Mom," he said courageously. "God was with me."

I forget that sometimes. But what a comforting thought. I can't be with my children, can't always protect them, though, Lord knows, I want to. Yet God's presence knows no bounds. He can be Father, Mother, Friend and Brother to my kids -- at least until I can hobble in to give them a kiss on the cheek.

Come back tomorrow for Part 3 from Peanut Butter Kisses & Mud Pie Hugs.

Slumber Party Date

This is easy, but it requires Mom to be willing to follow the Slumber Party Rules set by her daughter. What would your daughter want to do if she had a slumber party with several of her favorite friends? After you ask this question, listen to the answers. They will vary depending on age and interests, but usually it will include a list something like this:

1. Have pizza delivered.

2. Paint fingernails and toenails.

3. Try a different hairdo.

4. Wear a facial mask.

5. Have a makeover.

6. Pick one or two movies. (Remember, their choice).

7. Plan a snack menu. (Make the snack with her if possible.)

8. "Sleep" in your favorite pajamas in the den on air mattresses with sleeping bags and pillows while you watch your movies.

9. STAY UP SUPER LATE.

10. Work on scrapbooks.

11. Get in the car around 10:00 and go for milkshakes at a local drive-thru.

12. Play flashlight tag in the front yard.

13. Jump on the trampoline at 11:00 at night.

14. Tell scary stories.

15. YOU GET THE IDEA!

And then, whatever is on the list, JUST DO IT! Just you and your girl! If you have more than one girl, make sure to schedule their Slumber Party Date for the next weekend so there won't be major jealousy problems. Close the door, and pretend you're a little girl again who has been invited to a wonderful slumber party. Remember the excitement, the anticipation, the thrill of being able to "stay up all night."

Be flexible and have a great time. (Plan it for a Friday night, so you can catch up on your beauty sleep Saturday. Remember, you're not a little girl anymore! Our "bounce back" ability is definitely limited the older we get. Mine is virtually non-existent.)

If you have boys, they would enjoy the same type date with Dad. Their list will be a little different from the girls, but a Slumber Party Date is just as much fun for your little guy as it is for your little girl.

On Tuesday, I will have three or four easy and fun Slumber Party Recipes for you to use for your date (or your next "real" slumber party). I found a great book at a yard sale for $1 called The Sleepover Cookbook... but that's something to look forward to next week!

Have a safe, fun Thursday. The weekend is right around the corner and the possibilities for family time are limitless. Check back tomorrow for a nice summer book, Part 3 of the Sports Nut, pictures from the Washington Zoo and a Weekend Update for the Faulkner Five. You can just cut the excitement with a knife, can't you?

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

30 Things To Do in July

Good Wednesday morning!

Well, it has happened again! Not only did I lose my glasses (FOUND), my keys (STILL MISSING), Austin's second Chick-Fil-A work shirt (HANGING IN THE WRONG CLOSET), my summer lipstick (ROXIE PROBABLY HAS IT IN OXFORD USING IT DURING HER GRANDPARENT VISIT), etc., etc. (TOO EMBARRASSING TO ADMIT I LOST), but I cannot find two of my four Becky Freeman books. This is very odd because I was reading one of them again last week, and I keep them in one of two places.

You may be asking yourself, "Is her house in such a shambles she cannot see the things she's missing?" Nope, that's not the problem. It ain't perfect, but I've had company twice in the past week, so everything has been put away... and I'm not a "throw everything under the couch because someone is coming over" person. I'm a "put it in the place it belongs or throw it away" person. It's the "throw it away" part that gets me in trouble.

I love Garbage Day (Wednesday) because that means bags and bags of things are leaving the house. Love that! And when I get things together for Hannah Home (once or twice every four months), I don't stop until I have a minimum of five boxes or bags. It's THRILLING, I tell you, to fill my front porch with things we no longer need or use, and then see a big truck with large men pick the items up and leave with them... Well, it just takes my breath away! Except for scrapbook supplies, one day I would love to be considered a minimalist. (NOTE: I'm not saying I AM a minimalist. It is just a dream I have.)

I'm also am not a big fan of the "do-dad" in my home. (I have absolutely no idea how to spell that word. I can't even remember if I've ever seen it in print.) I enjoy them everywhere else. I love collections of anything and everything in someone's home or store or restaurant or bed and breakfast. At one time in my life, I had "do-dads" on every surface of my home... pictures, angels, seasonal items, candles, etc., but the older I've gotten the more I appreciate an empty surface... in my home. Now, I have A picture and AN angel on A table top, or A candle on A counter, but rarely do I have SOME or MANY or A LOT. (And being a HUGE picture person, you would think you would come in my home and actually see framed pictures hanging from the ceiling. Nope. I like them in the books.)

In saying all of the above, it does not mean my tabletops do not get cluttered. I live with four other people, and I personally am the world's worst to come in and put things down on the obligatory "catch-all" table. Three of the other people who live here are unable to throw things away without my prodding, urging and threats. (Josh keeps things down to a minimal.) Several times a year, I give the kids two Wal-Mart bags apiece and tell them to fill one up with "throw away" items and fill the other up with "give away" items. Within seconds, Josh brings his bags. Two days later, Roxie and Austin are still agonizing over what to give away or throw away. Mikie doesn't have a ton of stuff, but what he does have he has had for well over three decades now. And don't ask him to get rid of it!

All the rambling you have just waded through has one purpose... I can't share the Becky Freeman graduation story today. Heavy sigh. It's good, too. It's funny AND it will make you cry. I love the combo of emotions. Heavy sigh, again.

However, I do happen to have two other Becky Freeman books, so to keep me from being labeled a complete and utter LIAR, I'll just have to share a different favorite. This next article (a three-parter) is all about sports and parents... another place I can relate to in this season of my life. (Have you noticed I'm still big into the "capitalize everything" mode? I'm not yelling at you on the blog... I'm just OVER-EMPHASIZING.)

Sports Nut by Becky Freeman

Last night, I sat high on the bleachers during a high school ball game, in pouring rain, huddled next to my friend Rose. Rain dripped from our lashes and noses, and our hair looked like used carpet mats. Between chatting about our kids and this book, and watching the Buffaloes play football in mud up to their shins, something came from somewhere above my head and landed, with a heavy thud, in my lap.

"Oh, my goodness," Rose said, laughing incredulously. "What's that in your lap?"

"Rose," I said, my eyes wrinkled in stunned curiosity. "It looks like a huge wedge of pizza. Extra thick crust."

Rose just sat kind of blinking in confusion, and finally I mused aloud, "You know, this is a first for me. I got quite a shiner on my forehead last year from a cheerleader slinging hard candy. But I've never been pelted by a pizza."

I tossed the pizza between the bleachers to the ground below, and began to pick pepperoni out of my hair. "What we mothers won't endure for our kids," I thought, as I sat soaking in the rain, smelling of mozzarella and tomato sauce.

Through wind and rain and black-of-night games, we moms trudge ever forward toward the hard, cold bleachers -- holding Styrofoam cups of bad lukewarm coffee in one hand, old quilts in the other -- braving the elements (and now, flying pizza) for two universal purposes. We want to be there to cheer should our child score a point; and we want to be ready should they need our medical insurance card and a ride to the emergency room.

Sometimes I think this whole "parents and kids and sports" thing is insane. There's danger involved on the field for our kids and in the stands for us parents. But as long as our children choose to live in the center of life's arena, rather than watch from the sidelines, their choices will always carry some risk, along with the glory. We parents get to experience, vicariously, their agonies and ecstasies. I'll never forget Zeke's high school football years. Particularly vivid are the agonies...

Tune in for Part Two tomorrow... and if you are out today, see if you can pick up a copy of Peanut Butter Kisses & Mud Pie Hugs by Becky Freeman. Such a good, good book.

30 Things To Do in July

Are you wondering what to do the rest of the month because you have already done EVERYTHING ELSE two or three times in the month of June? Well, here's a little list taken from Family Fun several years ago that might be helpful. As far as being considered a Seasonal Tradition, you could put this list up on the fridge every July 1 and check off what you have done, and try to complete the rest of the list by the time school starts. (Of course, make the list fit your family... and make it FUN.)

1. Brainstorm a long list of family trivia questions for a game night with relatives.

2. Go out to eat at an ethnic restaurant and order a new dish for everyone to try.

3. Start a family journal and encourage everybody to contribute at least one entry a day.

4. Throw a pool party and ask your guests to bring a dish for a potluck picnic.

5. Hide pennies around the yard for a scavenger hunt. (Or if you really want some enthusiastic hunting, hide quarters!)

6. Invite your children to document a typical summer day by taking photos with a disposable camera.

7. Pick up a botany guide and see how many plants and flowers you can identify at a public garden.

8. Pack trail mix and thirst quenchers and pedal along a local bike path or scenic roadside.

9. Spin a sequel to your kids' favorite bedtime story by taking turns adding one sentence at a time.

10. Use colored chalk to transform your driveway into a giant family comic strip.

11. Introduce your kids to a classic game, like backgammon, cribbage or charades.

12. Visit your town's historical society and look for old photos of your neighborhood.

13. Take a hike locally or at a nearby state park.

14. See who can create the most new words using only the letters in your family name.

15. Head to the bowling lanes with another family and compete family vs. family and then kids vs. adults.

16. Have a make-your-own-sundae party for your kids and neighborhood friends.

17. Make your own concentration card game using two photos of each family member.

18. Have a backyard campout and roast hot dogs and marshmallows on sticks.

19. Start a card game tournament. (Pick your favorite game.)

20. Transform plain white t-shirts into tie-dye sensations.

21. Organize a neighborhood video, puzzle or game-board swap.

22. Check out the newest exhibit at the nearest science of art museum.

23. Teach your kids your favorite childhood jump rope jingle, marble game or hopscotch.

24. Come up with a secret code and leave cryptic messages around the house.

25. Pick up some fresh ripe garden tomatoes and try out a new salsa recipe.

26. Plan a summer supper of all your family's favorite hors d'oeuvres.

27. Photograph local landmarks, then use them to make postcards to send to out-of-state relatives.

28. Make a home video of your kids lip-synching their favorite tunes.

29. Help your kids and their cousins stage a talent show for the family.

30. Use sketches and magazine cutouts to create a collage that depicts your family's summer fun.

You could start this today! Change it to fit your family. Mark off the things you have already done, and then get busy. Keep the list, and add to or delete from year to year as the kids get older and their interests change.

Have a wonderful Wednesday. (It's Garbage Day, you know!) I'll have a date for two tomorrow, along with Weekend Family Fun.

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