Dog Party

Good Monday morning!

The Showcase Pic is from my birthday lunch at Chuy's at The Summit yesterday. (The plants are so beautiful at The Summit. You almost feel like you're walking around The Botanical Gardens... with stores... and food... and traffic!)

RANDOMNESS #1 - This week's theme on A Simple Life is "Time Well Spent." That being said, the ideas shared this week will be ultra-simple, ultra-doable and ultra-fun so that your valuable, precious time can be spent with the people you love most!

RANDOMNESS #2 - Belinda's Project Life is up and running. I'll be adding the fifth picture this evening. Can you believe it? I'm already on Day Five! (Where has this year gone?)

Weekend Review - Friday night football took FOUR out of FIVE Faulkners out of the house. That was okay, because I had plenty of things to keep me busy before lunch with Mikie's parents the next day. Austin and Josh rode together and spent time with friends. Mikie and Roxie rode together and spent time with friends, too. Everyone came home happy and tired... which is how I like 'em!

Everyone got up VERY early Saturday morning and worked, worked, worked. Mikie washed the outside of the house. Austin and Josh cut two yards, I worked inside and we were ready for company by 11:00 a.m.

After Mike's parents left for home, Josh decided to fulfill his adventurous streak and left with a friend to go on a ten-mile hike. They actually hiked 11 miles, and decided in a couple of weeks they would like to go again... but only after trimming two or three miles off the total. He made it home just in time for Faulkner Family Movie Night. We watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and although it was a little "young," there were several places during the movie where we all chuckled out loud. All three of the kids decided it had some very accurate depictions of middle school... and boys!

After church Sunday morning, we all headed to The Summit to enjoy lunch at my new favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, Chuy's. Roxie and I had been a few weeks earlier, but we wanted the guys to try it out. They loved it.

Josh, having learned from his Father, made sure the waiter knew it was my birthday celebration and asked if there were any FREE food items they would like to share. They didn't disappoint. They brought me a huge wedge of cream cake. The cake is white cake soaked with three different kinds of cream and kept in the refrigerator. When a slice is served, they add strawberries to the top of this incredibly moist cake and surround it with homemade cream and caramel. (Roxie raked all the caramel off within two seconds.) My picture doesn't do it justice. It literally melts in your mouth... so good! And they wrote Spanish words around the outside of the plate with caramel, too. I don't know what it said, and I don't care. I loved it!

Oh, and get this. The kids bought me a giraffe print car plate for the Big Gold Van. And get this, too! My initials are written on the front in lime green! So if you haven't been able to recognize the Big Gold Van before, feel free to recognize me now!

The rest of our Sunday consisted of homework, laundry and a nap or two. It was a very good day!

Dog Party

In keeping with the "Time Well Spent" theme, I have a new website for you to visit when you need a fun, simple party for your kiddos. AND I'm going to share a portion of one of their parties with you today! This would be a great party for a birthday, for a friend gathering OR to have on the day you bring a new pet into the family.

Crafts - Decorate bowls. You will need plastic (human or dog) bowls. Wash bowls using them for snacks. Instruct kids to decorate only on the OUTSIDE OF THE BOWL... not in the portion where they put food! Bowls can be put aside and used later for dessert. You can serve ice cream/brownie sundaes or cake to be eaten doggie style. Look, Mom! No Hands!

Make collars and bracelets. Measure the length of elastic to fit around a stuffed dog each child has selected (see Party Favors below), and allow enough length to be able to tie the elastic. Tie a bead to one end of the string to allow for easy beading with little fingers. Do the same with elastic to make bracelets for guests. Cut and tie one bead to one end of the elastic. Put beads in several small bowls for easy reach for all guests.

To eliminate a "bead-flying-episode," you (or another adult) should tie the strings together for both the collar and the bracelets. Let the guests tie a ribbon to the collar for the leash.

Food - Use dog dishes (plastic and cheap from The Dollar Tree) for dog snacks. Set out dog-like treat snacks (Combos, Scooby Snacks, Cocoa Puffs, or Captain Crunch peanut butter flavored cereals).

Party Favors - You can be creative with what you choose. Small stuffed dogs can usually be found at The Dollar Tree or other inexpensive stores. Have a pile of stuffed dogs in a corner, and let each guest pick their own.

Once the selection of dogs has been completed, have the guests select dog names for their new (stuffed) pet. Fill out Certificates of Pet Ownership with dog name and owner name.

Games - Go on a Scavenger Bone Hunt. Use actual bone-shaped dog biscuits (medium or small size). Count out desired amount to hide and remember that number. Hide the bones inside and/or out.

Play Catch the Tail. Make sure everyone has a doggie tail tucked into their waist band or back pocket of pants. Tails should not be pinned for this activity.

Have the guests get into a line all front to back. Have them place their hands on or around the waist of the person immediately in front of them. The head person tries to catch and capture the tail of the last person. The people at the end are trying to keep the head from catching the tail. This is a fun and loud outside activity.

Play Pass the Bone. You will need a milk bone dog biscuit. Play a CD of dog music (Disney has a Dog Songs CD on Amazon, or Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men).

Have the guests sit in a circle on the floor. Pass the bone as quickly as possible around the circle to music. When the music stops, the person with the bone can sit in the middle for a round (or have them do their best dog trick or imitation), but have them continue to play.

You can have a Dog-Training Show. You will need Hula Hoops, a big beach ball and smaller ball (tennis or small beach ball). You will also need other items for obstacles. You can use chairs, jump ropes, tunnels, trapeze on swing set, etc.

Set up an Obstacle Course type of activity and have someone run through it ahead to work out the kinks.

Have the guests (one or two at a time) run through the course.

Have a Dog Barking Contest. Have each child perform their best dog imitation. Film it and play it back for the children while they wait for their parents to pick them up.

That is only a small sampling of the ideas on this website. Pick and choose what would work best with you and your child. Also, remember the more organized and "simple" the party is, the more YOU, THE MOTHER, will enjoy the party, too. Chaos causes stress, and stress is never enjoyable!

And that, my friends, is time well-spent... for you and your kiddos!

When you are stuck and can't think of anything for the party, or you need some help with games, etc., go to www.simplefunkidparties.com. Enjoy!

Have a lovely Monday. I hope the beginning of your week is absolutely wonderful. Be careful with your calendar and keep it simple. Tuesday's main course recipe will allow you to enjoy your dinner hour with your family because it is simple, delicious and can be prepared ahead of time. Again... time well spent!

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda