Boo at the Zoo Date

Good Thursday morning!

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! - Roxie made the second cut on the basketball team. We find out tomorrow night if she makes it officially. Very, very exciting!

The Gallery Pics include two more of Josh as a toddler. He just got cuter and cuter, didn't he?

And I found an old picture taken of me in the early 80s. A lot of hair and a polyester blouse (which, by the way, I like much better than all the spandex in all the clothes today). If I wanted every crease, bulge and bump to show in an ever-so-tight spandex shirt or blouse... Well, I would have worn it in the 80s when I didn't have creases, bulges and bumps. That being said, I thought it was kind of funny.

What Not To Blog... a Blog Makeover Contest - No pressure here, but I've had several entries so far. Look at my sidebar and click on Contest Rules for info about entering.

Austin Update

We had a good time at JSU this past weekend. The band does a completely patriotic show, which is so needed at this time in our nation's history. It will literally make you cry.

And then after you cry for a few minutes, the band starts dancing a little while they play a fast patriotic song, and seeing Austin dancing makes me laugh. Don't get me wrong. He dances like me and Mikie. He dances with abandon if not with much grace! The main thing is he loves being a Marching Southerner. Loves it! And he was more than thrilled when his high school band director and his wife came to the game Saturday. They are JSU Alum and Mr. S even served Austin a bottled water in the stands. It's great to make new friends and begin a new life... but old, familiar friends are the best, aren't they?

He joined a lot of activities the first three weeks of school... college newspaper, Baptist Campus Ministry Praise Team, Baptist Campus Ministry intramural football team, etc. These things, in addition to his classes and Southerner schedule (and playing pick-up racquetball games and ultimate frisbee games on the quad) left him a little tired at the end of the day. Hmmm. I wonder why?

Anyway, without any coaxing from me, he has put the Praise Team on hold until after football season (not Bible Study, but Praise Team and Praise Team practice) and he's not going to continue with intramural football because he always has to leave the game early to make it to Southerner's practice. Two good things, but things that were leaving him more "tired than inspired," if you get my drift.

So now he's a newspaper reporter averaging one to two articles a week in the newspaper, taking his classes (and doing well), attending Bible Study on Tuesday nights, practicing every night with the Southerners, and playing ultimate frisbee and racquetball whenever the opportunity arises. That's a pretty full week.

College life seems to be agreeing with him for the most part. However, when he comes home for the weekends, it is so nice because it feels like he never left. We fall back into the same rhythm we had as a family before he rode off into the sunset in the little red pick-up truck. I know that will change over time. I'm just glad it's a transition for us (Code for ME), and it's not all at once. My already-fractured heart couldn't take a complete break. (I mean, it probably could, but I doubt I would be very pleasant to live with... right, Mikie?)

He's happy, and I'm happy that he is happy...

But I miss him... and he needs a haircut.

Weekend Family Fun

Again, the first two items were taken from the Bargain Mom website. I'll give it to you once again. She has many, many things to offer (bargain-wise) each week for you and your family. It's a must-check website! Go to http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom... TODAY!

McWane Science Center - The McWane Center is having a Dino Day October 12 to celebrate Columbus Day and the children being out of school. With the price of admission you'll get to participate in the following:

Fossil making
Pasta skeletons
Coloring contests
Dino egg hunt throughout the museum

Plus, you'll get to see a giant Tylosaur skull.

Roam the Alabama Dinosaur exhibit and dig up prizes in the dig pit. There will also be a children's book character, Danny's Dinosaur, from the book Danny & the Dinosaur for storytime in Just Mice Size.

Dress up in dinosaur clothes and get a prize.

Go to www.mcwane.org for more information.

Of course members get in free. Non-member admissions are $11 for ages 13 to 64; $8 for ages 3 to 12 and seniors 65 and older; and 2 and under are free. That's the price for the museum only, it doesn't include IMAX movies.

My guys would have LOVED this when they were little. What a fun way to spend a day out of school.

Oak Mountain - Oak Mountain State Park's Alabama Wildlife Center will host the Audubon Teaches Nature 2009-2010 series.

The series features the park's natural history and the beauty of central Alabama. Each program begins at the Alabama Wildlife Center with refreshments and ends with a nature walk within the park, so be sure to bring binoculars, cameras, hiking shoes and field guides.

The classes will be once a month at 1:30 p.m. in the Alabama Wildlife Center. You will meet in the front observation room for cider and cookies. The program begins at 2:00 p.m.

Here's the schedule:

October 18 - An Introduction to the Spiders of Alabama
November 15 - Nature Photography - Capturing Birds and Critters in Photographs
January 17 - Birds on Parade - Close Encounters with Alabama’s Birds of Prey
February 21 - Caves and Cave Life - All About Alabama’s Underground Wonders
March 28 - Return of the Spring Migrants - Catching the Yucatan Express
April 11 - The Confederate Daisy in Alabama
May 23 - Swamp Life at Ebenezer

The Alabama Wildlife Center is located at 100 Terrace Drive inside Oak Mountain State Park. Admission for this activity is free after Oak Mountain State Park admission which is $3 for adults; $1 for children 6 to 12; and $1 for senior citizens 62 or older.

Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch - I have a website for you to go to if you're interested in trying a different pumpkin patch this weekend. It's not too far away in Clanton, Alabama. They have a very good website with pictures, prices and times of operations. Go to www.grandolepumpkinpatch.com.

The best thing about a pumpkin patch located in Clanton is when you are finished, you can go to Peach Park and enjoy some homemade ice cream or even a wonderful barbecue lunch or dinner before heading home. (Their barbecue is excellent!) It would make a wonderful fall day trip for you and your family.

Boo at the Zoo Date

Take your date for a fun evening at Boo at the Zoo. There is so much to do. Of course, this is a great thing to do with the entire family, but depending on the kids' ages and your budget, you can take the oldest this year, and the remaining kids in the years to come. One-on-one time at an event like this is very relaxed when there is just one child to watch and experience the Birmingham Zoo at night.

Here are some of the activities offered at Boo at the Zoo:

Ride every ride with the new “All-You-Can-Ride” $10 wristband
Trick or Treat Ghost Town
Grave Yard Express (two trains operating to make sure lines move fast)
Ghoul Skool
The Mad Scientist's Loco Laboratory
Children's Zoo Watering Hole
Animal Shows
The Misadventures of Sheriff Shortstuff (an interactive theatrical production in the Auditorium
Alien Reptile Experience in the Reptile House
The Not-So-Scary Hallows Hayride
Freaky Fun House
Ghost Rollers

Wear your favorite costume for the 18th Annual Boo at the Zoo. Ride the Grave Yard Express, Ghastly Carousel and Ghost Rollers. Enjoy live entertainment each night in the auditorium with a one-of-a-kind performance called The Misadventures of Sheriff Shortstuff. And don’t forget to walk through the new Alien Reptile Experience in the Reptile House!

Animal exhibits will be closed for Boo at the Zoo. The Zoo will close at 4:00 p.m. on each day of Boo at the Zoo.

All tickets are $7 (includes tax) for both members and non-members.

There is an additional cost for Ghoul Skool, Grave Yard Express, The Misadventures of Sheriff Shortstuff, The Not-So-Scary Hallows Hayride, Freaky Fun House and Ghost Rollers. (This is another good reason to make it a one-on-one date. You'll be able to participate in more of the activities if you aren't paying for two, three, four or more other people. A date would be much more affordable for this activity.)

For dates and times, go to www.birminghamzoo.com.

Have a great Thursday. Tomorrow we'll check on the Weekend Happenings of the Faulkner Five... it won't be quite as busy as last week (I hope). I'll have a book for your perusal (good word), and a few more pics of this and that and Josh. Oh, and I almost forgot... TV Reviews (Survivor and Amazing Race).

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

Sincerely,

The Ever-Enchanting Belinda

Cullman County Fair and Fall Colorfest

Good Wednesday morning!

REMINDERS!

1. Belinda's Project 365 is still going strong. I haven't missed a day in 42 days. I'm smokin'.

2. Click on "Contest Rules" on my sidebar for info about the one-year anniversary of A Simple Life. My friend, RO, came up with a name for the contest... "What Not to Blog... A Blog Makeover" Contest. I like it, don't you? After you read the rules, enter the contest!

3. I've added two more Gallery Pics of Josh as a babe.

4. If you want to try a new chocolate cake recipe (that looks WONDERFUL), click on Big Mama under My Blog List and check it out. I love cakes that start with a cake mix. I'll be trying this one next week since we still have Butterscotch Bread Pudding in the fridge, but I wanted you to know about it in case you're supposed to make a chocolate cake from scratch sometime this weekend!

Wednesday Wisdom - Today's quotation is short, but accurate. "Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.” William Cullen Bryant. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Actually, I rarely say anything quote-worthy. I admire people who say things which will be repeated for generations to come. When I say, "I like autumn because there's a lot of pretty leaves, and I love pumpkins," I pretty much know 100 years from now that's not going to be on a calendar somewhere. I'm just thankful there are people who can eloquently express what I'm feeling.

Josh's Birth Day Story - Part Three

Bringing Joshua home from the hospital was much less traumatic than Austin's trip home. For one thing, we only had to drive to Gardendale rather than Cullman. For another, we were experienced parents now, having successfully raised an almost three year-old little boy. We knew what we were doing!

The addition of Joshua to our family went pretty smoothly. Austin was attentive and protective, and Joshua thought Austin was the most entertaining person around.

Until Roxie arrived, the first three years of Josh's life consisted of liking and doing anything and everything his older brother liked and did. "What's your favorite color, Josh?"

"Orange," he would reply... Austin's favorite color.

"What's your favorite food, Josh?"

"Pizza," he would reply... Austin's favorite food.

"What's your favorite animal, Josh?"

"Tiger," he would reply... Austin's favorite animal.

"This kid is never going to have a personality of his own," I complained to Mike one evening. "I don't know of one thing he likes that is different from Austin."

For some reason the closer it came for Roxie's arrival, Josh decided to become his own person. I watched him as he and Austin colored one day, both holding an orange crayon in their hands. Josh stopped coloring, and put the orange crayon down. He picked up a black one and slowly started coloring.

"What are you doing?" Austin asked, amazed.

"I like black," Josh replied without looking up. And as the week wore on, we discovered he liked macaroni and cheese better than pizza; and his favorite animal was a dinosaur and not a tiger; and his favorite superhero was Spiderman and not Batman. Once he got started, he definitely had a mind of his own. He still does.

I've never really thought of him as a "middle child." We've always told him how fortunate he is to be both a little brother AND a big brother. Roxie and Austin will never get to experience both. And he has the privilege of having a brother AND a sister. Roxie will never be able to say that!

There was a time I would have said, "Why Joshua? Why does Josh have to have this illness?" But because of his special placement in our family, right smack in the middle, it has become apparent after nearly four years that once again God knew exactly what he was doing.

When Josh first became sick, Austin was old enough (15) to physically help with Josh (sleeping in Josh's room at night from time to time, camping outside the bathroom for one or two hours at a time allowing me to get some much needed rest, playing with his friends who would come over but had to wait until Josh was able to come out of the bathroom... basically being a great big brother).

Roxie was young enough to understand her brother was sick (9), but still demand her time in the family and help us keep everything in perspective.

"That has nothing to do with OCD, Josh! You're just being a big old butt!" Music to my ears. Roxie helped keep everything "normal."

As I said last week, Austin was my total obsession and Roxie was my heart's desire. But Josh... Josh is my heart. He always has been. I understand him and he understands me. It doesn't mean I love him more because I don't. It's just part of God's wonderful plan. You may have one child or you may have 20 children... They all bring something different to the table.

And Josh brought a black crayon, a dinosaur and mac and cheese.

Cullman County Fair

I'm sorry about this one, guys. It slipped right past me. I remembered it being an October fair, but it is always held in September. Put this one down for next year (and I'll give you a bonus seasonal tradition today).

When we lived in Cullman, we went to the County Fair. It was similar to fairs held long ago. Yes, there were rides galore, food, entertainment, etc., but the exhibits were what made this fair special and a little old-fashioned (which is a good thing, I think).

Arts and crafts, quilts, produce, food and farm animals... a lot of farm animals. Every "thing" and every "animal" in competition for one thing, and one thing only... the blue ribbon. I was always mesmerized by the pigs and hogs. They were huge! And it always reminded me of Charlotte's Web. I was always secretly looking for a spider in the corner of the exhibit.

It has been many, many years since we attended, but it would make an excellent, fun fall tradition for you and your family. It is a fair in a very safe environment. For more information, you can check out their website at www.cullmancountyfair.org. (Run off the home page and keep it in front of your September calendar for 2010 so you won't miss this fun event next year.)

However, since we DID miss the fair, I'm going to offer the idea of attending a different fall festival each autumn season. This year's pick is...

Fall Colorfest

This fall festival is held the third weekend in October each year in Mentone, Alabama. It's hard to improve on Mother Nature's show this time of year, but Mentone folks give it a shot! Storytelling, sing-a-longs and dancing fill the crisp, cool air on Friday evening while children roast marshmallows around a huge bonfire. Saturday and Sunday are filled with live entertainment all day long, while local artists and craftsmen display their hand-crafted wares. The Saturday afternoon parade and activities on Little River add to the festive atmosphere. Their website is www.mentonealabama.org.

Pick an old-fashioned county fair or a fall festival at a different location each year to try. The main thing is to experience something you might have done as a child with your own kids. And, as always, to spend time, time, time enjoying everything Alabama has to offer during this wonderful time of year.

Have a great Wednesday! Don't forget to enter the contest. Don't forget tomorrow is our day for Weekend Family Fun and a date. Don't forget Survivor is on tomorrow night. Don't forget to make plans (in pen) this weekend with family and friends.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda