Holiday Activity Calendar

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from Roxie's Volleyball Banquet last night. Even though basketball season is in full swing, it was fun taking a walk down "Volleyball Memory Lane." They are a sweet bunch of girls.

RANDOMNESS - Last night, I ordered pizza (which is my custom once every one or two weeks depending on the family schedule. While I was placing my order, the young man asked me for my phone number. I complied. My information was pulled up on the computer. "Oh. Have you still got that giant Santa Penguin in the front yard?"

"Yes. Yes, I do! But he isn't inflated today because of the heavy wind and rain. Do you want me to plug him in so the delivery person can find the house?"

"Uh, no, ma'am. Not necessary. We ALL know where you live."

Mission accomplished!

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!

Share your favorite Thanksgiving holiday memory, and I'll put your name in a bowl for a drawing. The prize... THE NEW CHICK-FIL-A CALENDAR WITH ALL THE MONTHLY COUPONS!

The rules are as follows:

1. You only have to share one Thanksgiving memory, and it can be from any Thanksgiving. Not just Thanksgiving 2010.

2. You can leave the memory under the Comment Section of A Simple Life, on Facebook OR e-mail me!

3. You have until midnight on Thursday, December 2 to leave your memory and name.

4. I will draw the winner of THE NEW CHICK-FIL-A CALENDAR WITH ALL THE MONTHLY COUPONS first thing Friday morning!

Happy Thanksgiving AND Merry Christmas!

Wednesday Wisdom - I'm sure most of you have heard about the passing of actor, Leslie Nielsen, this week. He was, by far, one of my favorite actors as far as comedy goes. I ABSOLUTELY got his humor... which was absolutely so simple to "get." And as we've already discussed in GREAT detail, I'm a simple kind of chick. Here are a few of my favorites quotes from some of his best movies.

Frank: It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girl dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day. (The Naked Gun)

Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious... and don't call me Shirley. (Airplane)
(I laughed for an hour the first time I heard this. I am NOT kidding.)

Frank: Now, Jane, what can you tell us about the man you saw last night?
Jane: He's Caucasian.
Ed: Caucasian?
Jane: Yeah, you know, a white guy. A moustache. About six-foot-three.
Frank: Awfully big moustache. (The Naked Gun 2 1/2)

Frank: This is Frank Drebin, Police Squad. Throw down your guns, and come on out with your hands up. Or come on out, then throw down your guns. Whichever way you wanna do it. Just remember the two key elements here: One, guns to be thrown down; Two, come on out! (The Naked Gun)

Classic!

Holiday Activity Calendar

This has been mentioned before (in less detail) on A Simple Life, but it's a good one, so I'm going to re-visit this tradition with you today.

I'm taking the information directly from the December 2010 Family Fun Magazine. It comes from Mande and Dave Mischler. It's definitely doable year after year after year... and fun.

"We parents brainstorm 24 festive things to do in December, such as ice-skating or watching a Christmas movie. Then we tuck one idea into each pocket of the Advent Countdown Calendar. Every morning, the kids take turns picking a note from the Calendar and unveiling that day's surprise."

The beauty of this tradition is the fact several days in this 24-day period already have something fun and festive planned. Local Christmas parades, decorating Christmas cookies, school parties, church programs, Christmas concerts, family get-togethers, etc.

After you have written down all the things "already planned" the month of December, it is simple to "fill in the blanks." It can be something as elaborate as watching a live performance of The Nutcracker to riding around local neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights.

"A handful of traditions make the lineup every year, such as building a gingerbread train, baking snowman pizzas and decorating Santa-shaped pancakes. And it just doesn't feel like the holidays until we've snuggled up with mugs of hot chocolate and read The Night Before Christmas."

See. The activities do not have to last all day or cost a lot of money.

"We like to use some of our activities to encourage kindness. For example, one note in the Calendar always says, 'Secretly do something nice for a friend.' That day, the kids might leave a plate of cookies for a neighbor or a small bag of candy for a classmate. We've also baked cinnamon ornaments for our grandparents and gone caroling on our block."

Start today, December 1, and make it your own! Have fun!

Have a lovely Wednesday. It's Encouraging Wednesday. Think about one or two people who may need a kind word of encouragement today... and give it to them! I'll have Blog Linkage and a fun Christmas date first thing tomorrow morning. Don't forget to enter the Contest. It will only take a minute or two, and it's an easy way to win something FREE!

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda