Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

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ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT! ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT! Roxie made the basketball team. Several of her friends from the volleyball team also made it, so she's going into this new experience with some buddies. She's very excited since basketball has always been her favorite sport. Let's see. I'm going to need a lot of basketball stickers and more maroon and gray paper. When I had a little girl 13 years ago, I didn't know I was going to need so much maroon and gray paper for scrapbooking. It wouldn't have been my first pick!

Yesterday morning after walking, I went through the drive-thru at our local Chick-Fil-A to get my Diet Dr. Pepper, and there on the menu sign was a tiny pumpkin. One just big enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

No one was around. Just me and my car. It would have been so easy... But I resisted the temptation. Stealing is stealing no matter how small.

I went back through the drive-thru yesterday afternoon to buy Roxie some fries, and there it was. So instead of taking it to a loving home, I took a picture of it and used it for yesterday's Project 365 photo. I also used the last three paragraphs to explain why it's on my Project 365 blog. (Is that cheating? I wonder.)

I now feel the urge to go through the drive-thru even MORE often to check on the status of the tiny pumpkin sitting helplessly on top of the menu sign. I don't think everyone has my moral compass and amazing self-control. (I'll let you know Monday, if it made it through the weekend!)

Three more Gallery Pics of Josh and that finishes up his Birth Day Week. Thank you for bearing with me as we went down Memory Lane with Roxie and Josh whose birthdays are so close together. I happen to love looking at baby pictures... any baby pictures. But I've been told everyone is not like me. Hmmm. Go figure.

Weekend Happenings

Okay. This is the way our weekend is shaping up. EVERYTHING depends on the weather.

Scenario #1 - If the weather is good (Code for NO SOLID RAIN BEGINNING FRIDAY NIGHT AND ALL DAY SATURDAY), Austin will be in Georgia playing for two Band Competitions. Roxie and Josh will be attending the Homecoming game Friday night and parties afterward.

Saturday, no matter what the weather, Josh will be watching college football ALL DAY LONG. However, if the weather is good, he will be cutting some grass in between games. Roxie will be attending a birthday party Saturday evening.

Sunday finds the Faulkner Five having a lazy day. Again, everyone going in different directions and meeting Sunday night after church for Amazing Race.

Scenario #2 - If the weather is bad (Code for RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, RAIN), Austin will come home Friday night and go to as much of the Homecoming game as the weather allows. He will join his Dad and brother in the all day watching of college games on Saturday. And on Sunday, he will do whatever he desires until Amazing Race that evening. Also, in Scenario #2, I will be doing a lot of college laundry. Scenario #1... not so much. (I'll take the laundry!)

That's it for us. We'll have to wait and see how correct James Spann is about the upcoming monsoon.

TV Reviews

Amazing Race - I will say after watching Amazing Race Sunday night, I have no desire to go to Vietnam. None! Nada! It was crowded and hot and sticky... and did I say crowded? The older couple were last to check in and so they were eliminated. I must say, even though they were an older couple, the woman didn't seem to get the concept of "race." They completed each task thoroughly, but speed never really entered into it. And with that being said, they didn't seem too disappointed about being eliminated. I mean, there were no tears or anything like that.

I'm still liking the guy friends (one has Asperger's) and the Harlem Globetrotters. I tend to like the teams who get along and don't fight along the way. I don't know why. I would definitely be one of the whiners/fighters if I were ever to race. I guess I admire people who are able to avoid that part of the race and just enjoy the moment... the adventure. Again, not me!

Survivor - Good show. My rocket scientist isn't exactly the smartest contestant on the show... and he's definitely not going to make it to the end, but he's going to be there for a little while longer, so I have nothing to be ashamed of by picking him on my first impression alone. I wish I had picked the short, balding villain. He is quickly becoming my fave to win, even though he is so very cocky. And if you've ever watched one episode of Survivor, you know the cocky guy RARELY wins. But this guy could do it because he's cocky AND smart. Killer combination.

Mike and I had to watch it by ourselves tonight because Roxie and Josh had a ton of homework. They'll catch it sometime this rainy weekend.

Oh, and the person they did vote off... I'll just say good choice. Very good choice! (And that way I won't give anything away for anyone who hasn't seen the show yet.)

Book

This week's book is A Mother's Manual for Summer Survival by Kathy Peel and Joy Mahaffey. I know it is no longer summer, but this paperback book is on sale on Amazon.com, and it is pretty wonderful. It is inexpensive and has a ton of ideas, so it would be something good to go ahead and order now, look through at your leisure and be ready to try some of the ideas in June (which will be here before you know it).

The beginning of the book has charts (which I LOVE). The charts include Summertime Developmental Objectives with columns for Intellectual, Physical, Spiritual and Social-Emotional objectives. There are Weekly and Monthly Planners for June, July and August. There are also examples of how to fill out these charts. It is all very self-explanatory.

After you get past the charts (did I mention I LOVE the charts), there are chapters such as 16 Hours in the Car Without Sedatives which gives you travel ideas (and a Trip Planner chart); Making the Most of TV; Reading Resources; Family Fitness; Fun Around the Table; etc., etc.

There is also a chapter called 300 Things to do When Kids Say, "I'm Bored!" I'm going to give you five of these each day next week to give you an idea of what this little book has to offer. (And after I've given you 25 things, there will still be 275 things left to do. Amazing!)

Order the book today and be one step ahead of the rest of the moms when summer rolls around in 2010.

Have the most fabulous weekend! Go Rockets! Go JSU! War Eagle! (Did I forget anyone?) Oh, yes. Go Steelers! (Do they play this weekend?) If it is going to rain all day Saturday where you live, I highly recommend sleeping late. I actually think we might be able to do this! Very, very exciting! Next week will be FALL, FALL, FALL all week on the blog. Don't forget to enter the contest. The bowl is quickly getting full, but you have until Thursday, October 15 at midnight to enter. I have a special guest recipe Tuesday. It's going to be pretty delicious! Also, I'll be posting pics in Belinda's Project 365 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (Of what, I do not know!) Check in next week if you get a chance.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda