Anything With a Bow Party

Good Monday morning!

The Showcase Pic today is of Roxie and Josh. We took Mikie to Milo's (a favorite) for his birthday lunch, and I got a few shots, but I liked this one... a lot.

The Gallery Pics are from the rest of Mikie's celebration. Although it is a WEEK-LONG party around here, these photos were taken on his actual birthday. I'll be adding as the week progresses.

Weekend Review

We may have to start a Movie Review section on the blog. Between the five of us, we are seeing most of the summer blockbusters. Josh and friends saw Prince of Persia Thursday evening and really liked it. Last night, Austin, Josh and Roxie saw Karate Kid... and really, really liked it! Of course, the opening of Toy Story 3 is fast approaching, and several of the Faulkner Five are making plans to see that one. (I'm sure it's safe to say we're going to really, really, really like that one!)

Pool parties, mowing yards, sleeping late, working at the Chick and being lazy described our Friday and Saturday... which was exactly how we like it! But Sunday... Well, Sunday was an event in our household. Mikie turned 49 years-old! I know. I am married to such an old man!

He had a fun day... which will turn into a fun week... which will end next Sunday on Father's Day and another birthday party at his Mom's house. I'm pretty sure his 50th birthday party will pale in comparison. (Not really! I've already started planning next year's monumental milestone! You should be receiving a "Save the Date" card in the mail within the next week or so!)

Mikie's party is featured below, so I'll be going into "beyond boring" detail in just a second.

It was a good weekend, and I'm hoping for a good week. We don't have much planned except for a lot of pool time and summer football begins for Josh. We'll be gearing up for my baby sister's birthday party scheduled for next Saturday. (Did I mention June and July are BIG birthday months in our family? Well, they are!)

I hope your weekend was safe and fun and time well spent with family and friends.

Anything With a Bow Party

Let's face it. When birthdays start getting on up there, coming up with something new, exciting and fun gets a little harder. Okay. So it gets a lot harder. The Surprise Party has been done on the 30th and the 40th and will probably be repeated on the 50th and 60th. All those little years in between can easily get forgotten in the "busyness" we call life. But sometimes (not always, but sometimes) it's the grown-ups in our lives who might need something fun or silly or exciting.

Guess what? I have a suggestion!

Mikie will have 49 "gifts" this week. That's right. That is a big number, isn't it? And I know what you're thinking? "HOW MUCH MONEY DOES IT COST TO GIVE SOMEONE 49 GIFTS?" Surprisingly, if you follow the rules, not much. Not much at all!

When Mikie woke up yesterday morning, I told him he would be receiving 49 gifts over the next seven days. He moaned and groaned... a lot. The money issue was weighing heavily on him. But I quickly wiped away all of his worry.

Not everything was expensive. In fact, many (if not most) of his gifts cost $2 or less.

The only rule... If there is a bow attached to it, IT is a gift!

Yesterday, he received eight gifts. I quickly attached a bow to each and every card and package my family brought in yesterday. His special birthday dessert (peach cobbler and homemade ice cream) had a bow attached to it. His Milo's hamburger had a bow attached to it. And so on, and so on, and so on.

Today, he will receive five more "things" with bows attached to them, and I will have some of them pictured as the week progresses. (I can't go into great detail right now since he hasn't received the rest of his "gifts," but I'll be letting you know as the week moves on.

Again, just use your imagination. Acts of kindness (a nice clean car), a funny card each day, favorite treats left on their pillow at night, unexpected notes or visits from friends and family just to say "Hi. I was thinking about you today," etc. can all be considered gifts. If you can stick a bow on it, it counts!

Have fun with this one. Do NOT spend a lot of money, but let your loved one's birthday week unfold with bow after bow after bow.

(And just so you know, Mikie... I'M going to need more than 49 bows in August on my special day to cheer me up. Just saying!)

Have a wonderful Monday. I have a GREAT homemade ice cream recipe for you tomorrow (donated by friends). I'm pretty sure you haven't tried this one before! And as always, you never know what else might pop up on A Simple Life, so visit again.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda