Mindless Monday

Good Monday morning!

The Gallery isn't FULL of pics this morning. Austin invited two friends home for the weekend, and I'm just a little hesitant to take a bunch of pictures of college men until I get to know them better. I don't want to scare them away!

I did, however, take several pics during the Super Bowl Party, so we'll start the week off with those.

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! - In only two weeks, I will post my 600th post. SIX HUNDRED! WOW! On the day I post my 600th post (Friday, February 18), I will announce the winner of the Contest. It will be so easy to win it is embarrassing, I tell you.

All you have to do is read A Simple Life Monday through Friday (February 14 through February 18). Every day during the week of February 14, I will use a color word SOMEWHERE in the post. (I imagine the word "red" will probably be somewhere in Monday's post... because of Valentine's Day and all).

After you read Friday's post, you will need to send me a comment in the Comment Section, an e-mail or Facebook message giving me the list of colors mentioned in the posts that week.

Your entry should look something like this:

Monday - Red
Tuesday - (The color word I use in the post that day.)
Wednesday - (Same as above.)
Thursday - (Are you getting the idea now?)
Friday - (Please say you understand!)

The FIRST person who leaves me a comment, e-mail or Facebook message with the five correct color words in the correct ORDER will win... A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE! How about that? Pretty cool, huh?

I'll post the rules again Wednesday and Friday. But remember, the contest begins Valentine's Day!

RANDOMNESS #1 - It's going to be a busy week. I've been asked to speak to a Girls' Night Out group tonight on Christ-centered traditions, dates, etc. (basically, everything on the blog)! I am SO looking forward to this evening. It's one of my favorite things to do.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Roxie's surgery is scheduled for Thursday morning, and while she says she isn't nervous, I know she is... and I'm nervous for her. Since they aren't putting her to sleep, I asked if I would be allowed to sit with her and hold her other hand. THANK GOODNESS, they said no. They are going to give her a mild sedative. (Don't think I'm heartless. I would most definitely hold her other hand, but chances are I would need to be heavily sedated, which makes things more difficult for Mikie when he has to get both of us loopy chicks into the house.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Even though I have never considered myself a "Great Teenager Mom," I hope I am improving. It is definitely one of my main goals in life. I thoroughly enjoyed our house full of teenagers this weekend... and I'm thoroughly enjoying my medium Diet Dr. Pepper in my totally quiet house this morning.

Today's Top Ten List is a little surprising... even to me.

Top Ten Reasons I Love Teenagers

10. I believe having teenagers and being around teenagers (especially the female of the species) helps keep your mind from turning to complete mush. The 25 different mood swings in only 15 minutes is an exercise in your mental ability to JUST KEEP UP! (I LOVE that I'm probably a "little" sharper because I am around teenagers.)

9. I LOVE teenage conversations. They are so random, yet interesting. (For example, did you know if you put a bar of soap in a sock and hit someone with the soap sock, it will not leave a bruise? I KNOW! It's fascinating, isn't it? I'm planning on trying it out on Mikie sometime this week.)

8. I LOVE female teenagers are already almost identical to the women they will become.

7. I LOVE male teenagers are already almost identical to the men they will become. (It took me 49 years to learn that, but it's true.)

6. I LOVE female teenagers are interested in hair, clothes, make-up and accessories.

5. I LOVE male teenagers are interested in female teenagers and food.

4. I LOVE the teenage sense of humor. (Mainly because I "get" the teenage sense of humor.)

3. I LOVE how little it takes to make teenagers happy. Really... they only want to chill, watch TV, play X-Box, shop and eat. They aren't very complicated. (Complicated comes later when you ask them to take out the garbage, do the laundry, cut the grass, etc., etc. That's when it gets complicated!)

2. I LOVE sitting around the dinner table 30 or 40 minutes after all the food is gone, talking and listening and learning about what is important to teenagers. (I really, really LOVE this one.)

1. I LOVE hugs from teenagers (male and female) that I don't instigate. So sweet. So genuine. So appreciated.

Who knows? I might make a "Fair to Middlin' Teenager Mom" yet!

Have a fantastic Monday. Since it's Mindless Monday, that is all I have for you today! However, tomorrow is another story. I have a fun new recipe for you to try with your kiddos. I also have more Randomness, and more photos for The Gallery.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda