Belinda's Project 365

Day 365 - August 25, 2010

Well, I did it! I took 365 pictures in 365 days of my very simple life. I thought it would be fitting to finish the year the same way I started it... with a pedicure. I had my very first pedicure a year ago on my 48th birthday. I just had my second pedicure a few days ago. It is a lovely indulgence I thoroughly enjoy. These feet are one year older (as is the rest of my body), and although I have written "The End" (in what I have now discovered is permanent red marker), it is only the end of my 48th year of life. In the morning, I will continue the journey using these same two feet. I'm not sure where these feet will take me during my 49th year, but I'm more than a little excited to find out! Join me for Project Life beginning tomorrow, August 26, 2010. I'll have all the details for the new picture blog on A Simple Life in the morning. (And thanks for tagging along this past year. I've enjoyed the company!)

Day 364 - August 24, 2010

You've heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Well, this picture is really worth only two words... but two very important words indeed. In fact, I haven't heard these words in OVER three months. Even while I was on vacation, these two words were used, but never, ever side-by-side. Give up? NO HUMIDITY. I decided a picture of the great outdoors would have to do. (My other choice was a picture of me standing in the front yard wearing a dry shirt. That hasn't been seen in quite a while!) I will have to say "NO HUMIDITY" is more difficult to photograph than a two year-old for a Christmas card... but the end result is the same. LOVE IT!

Day 360 - August 20, 2010

There's a ball coming over the net... and it's about to get knocked into a girl's face on the other team! That's right! Roxie showed them NO MERCY! Being the youngest of the Faulkner Five has prepared her for volleyball. She is an expert at yelling "MINE" at the top of her lungs. And when Roxie yells "MINE," whether at home or on the volleyball court, people tend to listen. You'll notice teammate #33 isn't moving toward the ball, and the ref isn't getting in the way either. If there is one word Roxie was born to say, it is "MINE!"

Day 359 - August 19, 2010

I know what you're thinking. "It looks like Belinda's kitchen threw up... all over the house!" To be honest, it kind of feels that way to me, too. (Even my BRAND NEW CAMERA couldn't fit all the piles and piles of dishes/pots/pans/etc. into one photo.) And I know better. I know better than to tackle a project this large the first full week of school... the first Friday/Saturday volleyball tournament of the season... the first Sunday since school started extended-family-lunch. Yes, sir! I wasn't born yesterday. This was definitely the week NOT to start a project such as this. That being said, I did it anyway. (My goal is to have everything put neatly in place in my clean kitchen cabinets and drawers by August 31... 2011!)

Day 358 - August 18, 2010

Only eight days into school, and we have our first... PROJECT! The word causes me to have to take my "Austin Goes to College," "Josh is Driving," and "Roxie is a Teenager" medicine in larger doses than the bottle recommends. Believe it or not, 200 points are riding on this piece of white poster board. Well, I should say on what this piece of white poster board will become. A PROJECT! The only thing that causes me more anxiety than the word PROJECT... and Austin being in college... and Josh driving... and Roxie being a teenager... and turning 49 in a few days... is the word COSTUME! If Josh had to present his PROJECT while wearing a COSTUME, you would not be able to find me. I would be in my "happy place," rocking back and forth in the fetal position sucking my thumb. (And I'm not even helping with the PROJECT! Thank goodness!)

Day 357 - August 17, 2010

Not too long ago, there was a popular commercial... "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." It was a silly, shallow commercial about some hair product, I think. What I'm about to say has much more substance and meaning... "Don't hate me because I have a perfect pantry." That's right! The bottom four shelves look just as gorgeous as the top four. As we speak, I have the contents of seven other cabinets/drawers sitting all over my kitchen countertops and floors. And now I am tired, so that chore will be waiting for me in the morning. Gee, I have a lot to look forward to, don't I? (I should have just washed my hair, stood in front of a wind machine and said, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." Shallow or not, that chick probably doesn't have a big mess to clean up first thing tomorrow morning!)

Day 356 - August 16, 2010

This is the view from Austin's dorm window at JSU. I think it is a very pretty view, but I wonder if a 19 year-old man/boy ever stops to look out the window and appreciate the sky or the mountains in the distance. Something tells me probably not. At 19, View Appreciation isn't a biggie. I realize that. So I took a picture, and one day when The Boy is almost 49 years-old, he can look at the view from his dorm window at JSU and remember the good times he had during that time of his life. He'll point out every building by name to his bored, eye-rolling child and tell them to enjoy this time in their lives. It is special, and when it is over you can never go back. His child will nod, smile and pat him on the back, and say, "I know. I know." And then he'll kiss the child good-bye, climb in his Big Gold Van and drive home... hopefully, to a wife and two more younger children waiting for his return. (And his 77 year-old mother will call him that night and say, ever so lovingly, "I told you so!")

Day 355 - August 15, 2010

Moving Day! Although Austin left for Band Camp last week and took the fridge and other necessities with him, tomorrow he is officially moving into his new dorm for this year... Sparkman! This is one load. The truck has another load already packed. JSU already has a load waiting for him. I'm planning on cleaning (Code for CHECKING OUT HIS NEW LIVING QUARTERS), and then heading back in time to pick up Roxie. Busy day, but I'm looking forward to it! (I want to make sure the 8" x 10" glossy of me is in a prominent spot in his new room. All of us "helicopter" moms have 8" x 10" glossies, you know!)

Day 351 - August 11, 2010

A few months ago, I copied a portion of an article on A Simple Life about simple, old-fashioned things... like aprons. Back in the day, housewives had everyday aprons and Sunday dinner aprons. My Aunt Connie's grandmother, Granny Goss, had many aprons, and Aunt Connie was kind enough to give me two. This pretty apron is handmade and filmy. It has a floral pocket and border... hand-stitched. (It's very feminine.) My everyday apron is bright red with a ruffle. I love them both. However, I am an incredibly messy cook... which is why you wear an apron in the first place. But I couldn't bear to get something on this apron, so after cooking dinner and baking a cake (and getting dinner and cake batter on my clothes), I put this pretty apron on for Project 365. I love simple, pretty things.

Day 348 - August 8, 2010

I call this photo "Come here... NOW!" Austin's departure for college was very... hmmm... What's the word I'm looking for? Unorthodox, I guess. (That seems like a good word to use on a Sunday.) We didn't go with him to help him move because he isn't moving into his new dorm until the 16th. He begins Band Camp this evening, so he's in a different dorm from where he will be living this coming year. He took some clothes, linens, books and snacks. He'll take his "big" stuff (TV, computer, fridge, etc.) when we move him in a few days. However, he was still technically leaving for college. Roxie and Josh had to say their good-byes before church. Mikie and I were able to sit with him in our new sanctuary, but we had to say good-bye in a church hall. It felt very "undone." But this picture says a great deal. It says Roxie's new product for her hair is awesome because it is so unbelievably shiny. It says Austin needs to do something about the shine on his forehead. (Is there such a thing as "man" powder?) It says like it or not, when Roxie wants a kiss, Roxie gets a kiss. (Mikie and I are VERY worried about that one.) He's gone until Saturday, and I miss him... again.

Day 346 - August 6, 2010

I bet I know what you're thinking. "Not much going on at the Faulkner house today! She has started taking photographs of fruit. First vegetables... then appliances... then body parts (toes, forearms, etc.)... and now she's come full circle. Fruit!" What can I say? This was very interesting to me. There is a tree directly behind the sign of our middle school. It's branches are sagging under the weight of all the pears. I've been taking kids and picking kids up from that school for seven years. Seven! I have passed within inches of that pear tree thousands of times. Thousands! I never noticed. The little brother of one of the volleyball players spotted them today, scrambled out of his car, and picked several of the pears. He kindly gave one to me. It makes me wonder. What else have I never noticed before? Hmmm. "Fruit" for thought!

Day 345 - August 5, 2010

What do you do when you're supposed to have Family Night at the pool the Thursday night before school starts back... and it FINALLY rains... and rains... and rains some more? Well, you meet the cousins and the rest of the family at Waffle House, of course. (And if you're Austin, you drink three Cherry Cokes!) That was a no-brainer! After a wonderful, greasy, fried breakfast/dinner, we were ready to swap cousins for one more sleep over. Bev got Roxie and I got Zac. With football schedules, college schedules, volleyball schedules, etc., this may be the last spend the night outing for a while... so we will most definitely enjoy it!

Day 343 - August 3, 2010

Day 342 - August 2, 2010

The Grill Master! The temperature dropped to 98 degrees this evening, so we took advantage of the cooler weather (HA!), and Mikie grilled hamburgers for us. Honestly, this has not been a daily event in our lives because of the massive heat wave Alabama has had since JUNE! But it was good eatin'. We grilled corn along with the burgers. And guess what? I slathered mayo on some of them instead of butter (as per Paula Deen's suggestion). It wasn't bad, but it is hard to beat butter on corn on the cob. In fact, I will not be trying that little experiment ever again.

Day 340 - July 31, 2010

I have a HUGE sweet tooth! I mean HUGE! So when I found out I had diabetes almost three years ago, it was a shock to the system to say the least. Since then, I've also become more adept at baking and trying new recipes... easy and complicated. THIS is the old Betty Crocker Apple Crisp recipe. If you like fruit desserts, you would probably eat this in one sitting. It's that good. Served warm with vanilla ice cream... As Mikie would say, "It makes you want to slap your Mamma." I'm not really sure what that means except he says it when he really likes something. I can make fruit desserts all day long, and it doesn't bother me. However, a recipe that has the words "chocolate" or "decadent" in the title is almost too much to bear. If I ever bring a fruit dessert to your house, you can almost be certain I didn't have a finger in it testing it earlier in the day. (Let it be known, it would have been a very clean finger.) My house smells better than Yankee Candles right now... and that's saying a lot!

Day 335 - July 26, 2010

How many of you thought the first picture I posted using my BRAND NEW CAMERA would be of fresh produce? Really. How many? We made our obligatory stop at Peach Park on our way to the beach today. By the time we arrived, I had read enough of the manual to know how to perform some simple photography. Who knew what an amazing photographer I would be with my BRAND NEW CAMERA! You can actually see the fuzz on those peaches! Wait until you see the watermelon and tomato pics on A Simple Life tomorrow morning. Breathtaking!

Day 334 - July 25, 2010

IT'S HERE!!! My new super duper digital camera with two zoom lenses! Technology... I HAVE ARRIVED! Last night, Mikie surprised me with my camera. We had been told my two old lenses would fit, so he had bought me the "body." Imagine my DISAPPOINTMENT when my lenses did not fit. I slowly packed everything into the box and put it aside. I almost cried, but I wanted to show the kids how adults handle disappointment. I felt much better when Roxie started crying in my place. (It was very sweet.) Since Mikie had ordered the camera, I assumed it would have to be re-ordered. I would have to take beach pictures with the little hand-held digital once again. Heavy, heavy sigh! So imagine my surprise and squeals of delight when he walked in with my birthday/Christmas/anniversary present TODAY! He's a good man. Tomorrow I'll take a picture of him and post it using my new camera and ultra zoom! He'll look fabulous, I know!

Day 332 - July 23, 2010

How about this? Roxie and I participated in our FIRST EVER Pink Ribbon Run! I signed up for the 1 Mile Fun Run, and although I walk two miles several times a week (and every now and again three miles), it was the right decision for my first event. It was over 100 degrees (no exaggeration)! Roxie and friends ran/walked the 5K and did a wonderful, wonderful job. I was so proud of each and every one of them. It feels good to do something bigger than yourself, and I was amazed at how many young people are learning this at such a tender age. This is most definitely a photo worthy of Project 365!

Day 330 - July 21, 2010

This is Roxie after helping her brother cut the lot at the end of our street. Roxie "thought" she wanted to make some extra money this summer, so Josh was more than happy to half one of his yards with her... but it has taken it's toll. As soon as she comes in from cutting her half (once every two weeks), she heads straight to the bathroom floor to cool off on the nice air-conditioned tiles (which have been vacuumed and mopped while she is outside cutting for this very purpose). Josh doesn't know it yet, but in a few minutes Roxie is turning in her resignation for the summer. I think she needs to be a little older (and a lot bigger) to push that ol' lawn mower around.

Day 329 - July 20, 2010

It's called Ultimate Frisbee... and tonight was the championship. Josh's team didn't win the championship, but it was a lot of fun watching them try. At one point, Josh made a great catch, trash talked a player who had been knocked to the ground, held both arms up in the air and walked around strutting his stuff. Of course, it would have been more effective if the score had been in his favor, but he's just like his Mama. We strut first and worry about the score later! (I'm not saying this is "good" behavior... but it is most definitely "our" behavior. I'm so ashamed.)

Day 328 - July 19, 2010

I know you're probably wondering two things. (1) Did Belinda paint her door green instead of red; and (2) Did Belinda get another dog? The answer to both questions is a big, fat "NO!" Meet Rusty. In relation to our family, I guess I would be this dog's aunt since he belongs to my niece and nephews. He looks pretty harmless, doesn't he? When the kids received Rusty as a Christmas gift a few years ago, you could hold him in one hand... and we did. We thought he was absolutely precious. Somewhere between then (precious) and now (man eater) something happened, and no one is really sure what traumatic event occurred which turned Rusty against the Faulkner Five and Grandmother. In reality, Rusty will tolerate some of the Faulkner Five, but he wants to eat Grandmother alive. And I think he could. I'm standing on the other side of 1,000,000 volts of electricity connected to Rusty's collar. He knows it, and I know it. I also know he's contemplating taking the shock and eating my camera... and the hand attached to it. Before Project 365 is over, I thought I should introduce you to every member of my family. Even the ones who don't love me.

Day 325 - July 16, 2010

Look... at... this! I'm not a coffee drinker. I never have been. I'll drink a cup of hot tea in the winter, but coffee has never been one of my favorites. However, I have a multitude of coffee mugs... And while I serve coffee to the occasional guests and Mikie has a cup now and again, I would have to have over 72 people in my home at one time to use every mug. So imagine my joy/happiness/state of euphoria when I was given a recipe for a Coffee Mug Cake. That's right, folks. That isn't a really bad cup of coffee in that mug. It's chocolate cake! You put a little of this and a dash of that into the mug. You microwave it for THREE minutes and when you open the door, you have cake. (I got a little carried away and made eight this morning!) A little vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top and you've got yourself a really good cup of java! (I haven't been this excited since I made homemade ice cream by shaking and passing a huge ziplock bag around in a circle of girls. It's a miracle, I tell you!)

Day 324 - July 15, 2010

Fun fact for you... I love the Farmer's Market. Back in the day, I went to the one on Finley Avenue regularly. It was so much fun. But now, our little town has it's very own Farmer's Market on Thursday afternoons in the K-Mart parking lot. Perfect! Fresh fruits and vegetables only two minutes from my front door. Today was tomato day for Mikie, but I'm thinking next Thursday might be watermelon day for The Enchanting Belinda. I also saw some interesting vegetables/fruit I didn't recognize... and you know me. I'm more than willing to subject my family to a recipe calling for albino cucumbers or parsnip cookies. I can hardly wait until next week!

Day 322 - July 13, 2010

I think this is universal. (Please, please, tell me this is universal!) Behold! The remnants of our vacation. And guess what? This picture doesn't include three coolers, three loads of clothes already washed, three boogie boards, four pillows and a volleyball. I'm seriously thinking of inventing disposable vacation clothing. It would come in all the latest fashions and colors. It would be lightweight and flattering. And at the end of the day, you could throw it away in the hotel garbage can. Until I figure it out, this is what my kitchen floor will look like for one, two and perhaps, three days after we return from vacation. (This is probably the most honest I've ever been with the readers of Project 365. Don't make me regret it!)

Day 318 - July 9, 2010

The Atlantic Ocean is much more dangerous than the Gulf of Mexico. Austin found out the hard way. No. It isn't the bite of a Great White Shark. We think a broken shell got him, but the cut was deep enough to cut his beach time from three days to one. Thankfully, we were coming out of the ocean and headed to the pool when the injury occurred, so his one and only day at the beach wasn't cut short. It's much worse than it looks. Not stitch-worthy, but almost! (Fun fact for you... When the Baywatch-like lifeguards come to help, they do NOT run in slow motion. You may already know this, but I was a little disappointed.)

Day 316 - July 7, 2010

Day 315 - July 6, 2010

Day 314 - July 5, 2010

Look! I found a new game. It's called Mancala. I know I'm probably the last person in the universe to play Mancala. You probably stopped playing in the 80s, didn't you? Roxie and I went to Wal-Mart today to look for a game to play in the Big Gold Van on our ROAD TRIP, and we found this fast-paced, exciting game for only $5. IT HAS 50 PIECES, and it only cost $5! It's a bargain, I tell you. And it's easy, too. It only took Roxie two hours to teach me how to play. (She says she's never playing with me again. However, the day is still young, and Austin is due home in a few minutes. I think I have enough dirt on him to get him to play me a few dozen games!) THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE THING, and it made Project 365!

Day 313 - July 4, 2010

A few years ago, Grandmother changed her birthday from July 1 to July 4. She didn't want two big celebrations so close to each other, so for all convenient purposes, Grandmother's birthday is the 4th of July each and every year from now on. After a birthday lunch, cake and swimming at the pool, we decided to come back to the house for a little Bunco. Remember how Beverly won Bunco the night of her birthday party. Well, Grandmother won today. Something is terribly, terribly wrong. Bev and Mother have found a way to cheat at Bunco BEFORE I did. Regardless of who wins (or loses), I decided to put a pic of Bradley and Grandmother in Project 365 because it's her birthday... and she won Bunco... and I like Brad in that color green!

Day 312 - July 3, 2010

Well, we finally did it! We cooked a dinner for the Ronald McDonald House. It was a lot of fun, and very rewarding. Everyone contributed and we all climbed in the Big Gold Van and rode for about 15 minutes to deliver our meal to this wonderful place. Inez, the live-in director, gave us a tour of the house including one of the apartments. She told us some families live there up to a year while their child is being treated in an area hospital. It's a nice facility, and since it is very new it has a modern kitchen and a beautiful playground for the kids. There is a library, computers and an indoor children's area. There is a lot of light. It is a beautiful, bright place, but I cannot imagine being away from my home for several weeks, much less a year. I also cannot imagine my child being in the hospital for that length of time and not being able to be close to him or her. The Ronald McDonald House provides an excellent service, and it was an honor to be able to help in such a small way. (By the way, Inez said they need dinners provided in the summer months more than any other time throughout the year. Just saying.)

Day 311 - July 2, 2010

My guys aren't huge vegetable eaters. However, they are big fruit eaters, but I know it isn't a substitute for leafy greens. When I saw the commercial of the beautiful Mom and the happy kids downing this stuff by the glassful, I thought, "Hmmm. Fruit juice that has a helping of 'invisible' vegetable in each and every glass. Genius!" And then I went to the store and bought the apple juice (with invisible carrot juice added) for the guys to try once or twice a day. Guess what? Carrots aren't that invisible taste-wise. I mean, it is bearable. But you would have to be a pretty dumb kid not to notice your apple juice had been tampered with! Oh, well. Maybe I'll try the grape juice (with invisible parsnips added) next!

Day 310 - July 1, 2010

Day 306 - June 27, 2010

Well, I did it. I went to the theater to see Toy Story 3. Excellent, excellent movie. Of course, I'm very glad it didn't come out last year right before Austin went away to college. It may have been more than I could have taken. I asked the ticket girl if Mikie and I were the only adults going to see Toy Story 3 WITHOUT children, and she laughed and said, "No." She was right. There were tons of people there without kids. Mike and I didn't feel out of place at all. Which brings up the question... Why aren't there more quality movies like Toy Story 3 out there, and less R rated and risque PG-13 movies being made? Hmmm. I guess I'm having one of those "If I ran the world" moments. I'll leave you with my favorite Woody quote... "I can't stop Andy from growing up. But I wouldn't miss it for the world." Words to live by!

Day 305 - June 26, 2010

I did not take this picture. I was not even present when this picture was taken. Roxie spent the night and day with her cousin, Monica, and during a walk in the woods, they saved this tiny creature from Monica's dog. It is a baby bunny, and it was so new it's eyes were still closed. After a few text messages discussing the pros and cons of raising a newborn baby bunny, I finally put my foot down. Two beagles and a baby bunny do not a happy animal family make! Much unhappy texting later, my phone became silent. I was very nervous as I went to pick her up. Would she still have the bunny in the crook of her arm? Would I fall in love with the baby and feed it with an eye dropper for several weeks until it was strong enough to eat real bunny food? Would Monica's mom, Amy (my cousin), actually put me in that position? No. I didn't have to worry. Amy and the girls had returned this tiny fellow back to it's home (without the dog), and left so it could be reunited with it's mom. I'll never admit it to Roxie, but part of me is a little sad. (Before I get too sad, I guess I should unpack her overnight duffel to make sure there isn't a baby rabbit rolled up in her pajamas. Uh... I better go unpack now. I can assure you if she's packed the bunny in the suitcase, it will be on the blog bright and early Monday morning!)

Day 304 - June 25, 2010

For some reason, these look like unshaven man legs... but these legs are mine. I took the picture to prove I went bowling tonight (see the ugly bowling shoes), but now I am depressed about how my legs look from this angle. I promise. They are as smooth as silk... and much more thin and shapely than they appear in this horrible photograph. Fun fact for you... I was on the B-Team Bowling Team in high school. Since I was the only one who tried out and didn't make the team, they "created" a B-Team Bowling Team just for me. I don't recall ever bowling for the high school team. But, hey. I was pictured in the annual! Tonight I bowled 127 AND 118 in my ugly bowling shoes with Mikie and friends. It was a good night. (I have to go soak my arm now... and reshave my legs. I'll talk to you tomorrow.)

Day 303 - June 24, 2010

I know. It looks like giant Asian people live here, doesn't it? (And I can say that because Roxie had some lovely Korean friends in elementary school... and they had the tiniest, little shoes and feet. The Faulkner Five do NOT.) When the boys were little and in and out, in and out, in and out of the house, we got in the habit of leaving shoes at the door. Their friends also left their shoes at the door. You can see old habits die hard. This is the foyer WITHOUT company shoes... and to be honest, I made Roxie put her two pair of flip flops away before I took the picture. It just looked too much like a used shoe store! This is part of our daily lives... giant shoes at the front door!

Day 302 - June 23, 2010

As we've determined in earlier pictures on Project 365, I'm a walker. I've been a walker for over 11 years now. Tonight, Roxie and Ally decided they wanted to become runners. In fact, their exact words were, "I want to run." I have never "wanted to" run. That isn't to say I haven't run on occasion. I have run after (and caught) little boys who thought it was funny to run ahead of me in a parking lot. I ran around a small lake a couple of years ago when Josh had a 4-wheeler wreck, and passed several people along the way. I guess it goes without saying I run whenever chased by a bird, squirrel or baby Komodo Dragon. But in my whole life, I have never "wanted to" run. I guess that might be one of the main differences between 13 year-olds and 48 year-olds. They run for the fun, and because they can. I walk for necessity, and because I must. (Oh. And I NEVER smile before, during or after my walk. I guess that's another difference.)

Day 301 - June 22, 2010

Look! One of my neighbors gave me a real pineapple. Don't you think that is an unusual, yet fun, piece of fruit to receive... especially when you live in Alabama. Now if I lived on the island of Oahu, I'm sure this would be an everyday occurrence. But in our little part of the world... Well, I can honestly say this is the first pineapple I've been given. I wouldn't have been more surprised if she had put a lei around my neck and offered to teach me to hula. See how an ordinary Tuesday in Alabama can turn into something "a little more?" (Maybe tomorrow she'll give me a mango or a star fruit. That would be exciting, wouldn't it?)

Day 299 - June 20, 2010

Today is Father's Day. I took this picture at Bass Pro Shop... a place Austin, Roxie and Josh's Dad loves to visit. Over 24 years ago, when Mikie and I were just best friends, I taught five year-old Sunday School at Shades Mountain Baptist with my friend, Celeste. One Sunday, our lesson was about the fishermen who kept throwing their nets into the sea and coming up empty-handed. That is, until Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Suddenly there were so many fish the nets broke. I asked Mikie to come by that Sunday morning with some fishing gear to show the kids so we would have a visual to get our point across. I remember looking out of our Sunday School class window and seeing Mikie in full fisherman garb (vest, tacky hat with lures on it, fishing pole over his shoulder, tackle box and a large net) walking across our church parking lot. My heart skipped a beat. When he entered our Sunday School room, he sat quietly in the corner while we told our story, and then the spotlight was on him. He opened his tackle box and let the kids see all the goodies inside. He let them take turns casting with his rod and reel. And then he pulled out the big net. He had the kids "build" a boat using chairs. He had the children sit on one side of the boat. He stood in the middle of the boat, and when I said, "Hey, guys! Why don't you try throwing the net over the other side of the boat," he cast the net on top of the kids. They loved it! Then he let them have a turn casting the net. He was wonderful. I knew then and there he was going to make a wonderful husband/daddy/granddaddy one day. Now, I'm not saying Mike is the best Dad in the world. I know that would make many of you upset and outraged because you believe you have the best Dad in your family. However, for our three kids, he was (and is) the best possible Dad God could have ever given them. I have yet to meet anyone who could even come close. Happy Father's Day, Mikie! You're an amazing Dad, and I love you!

Day 297 - June 18, 2010

What is a die-hard Disney fan/preschool mom of teenagers to do? My kids grew up... but Disney/Pixar continues making these great movies (Toy Story 3), and they expect us to sit around and do "mom of teenager" type things. It isn't fair, I tell you! So I compromised. My kids decided Toy Story 3 was not "uncool," and they went with various groups of friends. I supplied the pizza before the movie... and the Little Green Men cupcakes. Do you remember them from the Pizza Planet "Grab a Toy" game in the first movie? Do you? What can I say? The instructions were in the July issue of Family Fun (a Disney publication, by the way), and I couldn't resist. My kids and their friends didn't complain. They thought it was funny. And I'll take "funny" over "pathetic" any day of the week!

Day 296 - June 17, 2010

I call this shot "View From a Pavilion." Yes, I am sitting in the shade, but if you wring the water out of my t-shirt and shorts you would swear I had been swimming the majority of the day! It's fun watching all the little ones play in the shallow end while their moms sit on the steps and watch them. If the kids are in the pool, the moms are in the pool. I remember those days. I have moved to a new level. I have a choice. I can wear a swimsuit and get in and out whenever I feel the need (and the kids are not an issue), OR I can sit under the pavilion with my pals, Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens and Family Fun. Today I made a rookie mistake. I sat in my soggy clothes with my magazines when I should have enjoyed the cool, refreshing water in the pool. I hate rookie mistakes!

Day 295 - June 16, 2010

This happens every year. My kiddos give me three hanging baskets for Mother's Day. It doesn't matter what kind of flowers they give me, because birds will soon begin building a nest in ONE of the baskets. Within a few days of receiving my Mother's Day gifts, I go outside to water the baskets, and two birds fly out. After I satisfy my curiosity and check on the eggs, the next few weeks are spent carefully tapping on the basket in the morning (allowing Mom and Dad to leave for a few minutes), and ever so carefully watering in the far corner... away from the eggs. A few days from now, I will have five baby birds in my basket... and watering will get trickier still. Mom and Dad will swoop around my head and chirp angrily as I water. (Again, I am very careful.) I'll watch the little birds grow and grow, and one morning I will walk out and the nest will be empty... and I will be sad. Because you see, I will have watched the Empty Nest Syndrome (from beginning to end) take place in only a few short weeks. It will be over about the same time Austin leaves for his second year of college, Josh begins his Junior year and Miss Roxie enters 8th grade. Birds aren't the only ones flying by. Time is flying by, too.

Day 293 - June 14, 2010

Tell me this wouldn't make you happy if you found this on your pillow after a long day at work! You know it would! This is gift number 11 (out of 49) for Mikie. Don't worry. There's more. (I've also put bows on a new tube of toothpaste and the clean towels and underwear I folded earlier today.) Tomorrow I'm hiding things he needs, and just before he hits his breaking point, I'll give them to him. Car keys (with a bow attached), cell phone (with a bow attached), left shoe (with a bow attached)... I'm telling you, this is so much fun!

Day 292 - June 13, 2010

Can you believe it? Mikie is 49 years-old today. Unbelievable. In honor of his 49th birthday, Mikie is going to receive 49 gifts this week. Anything with a bow on it constitutes a gift. That will include cards, gifts, outings AND a Milo's cheeseburger with onions! Milo's is one of Mikie's favorite places to eat, so this is his 8th bow (gift) for today. There will be bows scattered here and there between now and next Sunday when we celebrate his birthday and Father's Day with his family. (He may be getting older, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun!)

Day 291 - June 12, 2010

This was once part of my everyday life. I remember it well. It wasn't considered a "fine-dining" experience unless there was a ball pit and a series of slides, tunnels and windows which looked down on the world. The anticipation of going into the maze was so great, it was hard to concentrate on eating your hamburger, French fries and Coke. Food was secondary to the fun (and massive amounts of germs) awaiting your child in the giant play "thing." And remember the frustration when you called for your child to come out of the maze because it was time to go home... and they wouldn't budge? Do you remember crawling head first into the tunnels made for FIVE year-old bodies, asking the other kids to rat out the location of the boy in the orange shirt only to be told, "He's at the very top... and he said he wasn't coming down!" Oh, yes. I remember it well. And while I miss the nights of Happy Meals with the special toys, I cannot honestly say I miss crawling up, up, up into the "Maze of Germs." I don't think I miss that at all!

Day 288 - June 9, 2010

This is a HUGE thorn in my side. This is a cable... that connects X-Box LIVE to my computer... and when X-Box LIVE is running, the Internet is DOWN. When I have complained about this little black cable (the thorn in my side) to people outside of my family unit, I have been bombarded with words like "router" and "wireless" and "more cable." It makes my head hurt. I just want things the way they used to be... with me and all my wants and desires being met! Until that happens (AND IT WILL HAPPEN), I will remain the ever-patient, self-sacrificing Mom I've always been. (But I will continue to whine on my blog... incessantly!)

Day 284 - June 5, 2010

Ta-Da! Meet the winners of the third Mystery Bag Party... Dawn, Frankie, Terri, Evelyn, Kelli and Lana. It took them all of two minutes to decide on their group name... The Party Girls! The Soul Sistas and The Cheetah Girls took at least 20 minutes before picking out a moniker! We enjoyed lunch at Another Broken Egg Cafe, a short and sweaty photo shoot at the Botanical Gardens and then a little Yogurt Mountain to help us cool down. We were lovin' some Yogurt Mountain! It was a sweet group of chicks. We'll be having the fourth Mystery Bag Party Contest on my 500th post... which will be here before you know it! Thanks for participating, Party Girls. It was fun! (And our new motto is... "What happens in Mountain Brook, stays in Mountain Brook!")

Day 283 - June 4, 2010

FINALLY! She's back! And not a moment too soon. Being the only female in a house full of males isn't always fun. I didn't realize how much of the dinner conversation I never understood... or how much of it revolved around sports, quotes from sports' shows, scandals in the sports' world, etc., etc., etc. Oh, to be able to talk about hair and mascara and Justin Bieber and hair... again. Roxie had a fabulous time with Grandmother and Zac, but when all is said and done, she belongs here. The Faulkner Five ride again!

Day 281 - June 2, 2010

Well, it has come to this. X-Box Live allows Josh to play his favorite games with his favorite people... without them actually being in the house. This is monumental. The food bill alone is going to be cut in half. Now if I can invent Tanning Live where Roxie can lay out and tan with her friends using a just a headset, I'll have it made! Not really. I'm not a machine person. I like to actually interact with other human beings from time to time. But I can also see the huge benefit of X-Box Live when Austin and Brad both are in college. It will definitely be a good connection for Josh to have with his brother and cousin. X-Box Live... You rock! (Sorry. I'm still channeling Bret Michaels.)

Day 280 - June 1, 2010

This is most definitely an "almost" daily part of Josh's life this summer. He earns his keep by cutting lawns... and he makes pretty good money doing so. While he and Austin shared the lawn cutting duties the last few years, since Austin's hours have picked up at the Chick, Josh is getting to cash ALL the checks. And does he take his mother out to eat once a week or buy her pretty things with all of his cash? Nope. He buys himself X-Box Live to play with his cousin and Austin when he moves back to college in the fall. I must have done something wrong. Heavy, heavy sigh.

Day 279 - May 31, 2010

I was once a "true blue" Jon & Kate Plus 8 fan. I loved their show. I loved watching the kids. I loved watching their everyday adventures. It was one of the things I looked forward to weekly. But last year, as things became increasingly "uncomfortable," I decided to move on. And it wasn't an easy decision. After all, I was a very close personal friend. Remember when they came to the Southern Women Show two years ago, and they signed an autograph for me... and we talked until a Security Guard escorted me away. Yes, we were very close. I didn't watch Kate on DWTS, and I avoided watching them speak on TV. I thought it was over. But then, I saw this in the store today. All of the kiddos. And I realized that was the reason I watched in the first place. I miss the kids... especially the boys. So if Kate Plus Eight can stay focused on what the show is really about... Well, I may have to watch a show or two just to see how the little guys are doing. You know... since I'm practically a relative!

Day 276 - May 28, 2010

Do you know what teenage girls like to do almost as much as shopping... and sleeping over... and watching chick flicks... and texting... and shopping some more? That's right. Between the ages 12 and 13, girls start wanting to work on their tans. It is very important. Now when I was growing up, we used suntan lotion that was greasy and smelled like coconuts. It was lovely. Now, the girls have to use 30 to 50 SPF sunblock which makes tanning much, much, much slower, but ever so much safer. As you can see, Roxie has the sunblock (which basically defeats the idea of getting a tan), a Mountain Dew, beach towels AND sticker letters. This is a new idea since I was a sunbather. You put a sticker on your leg, and at the end of your tanning session, you can actually see how much of a tan you received when you remove the sticker. It's brilliant, I tell you! Tan away, Roxie and Allyson. Just be sure to re-apply sunblock every 15 to 20 minutes!

Day 275 - May 27, 2010

You know I love going to the movies. We've covered that. But in recent months (maybe longer), they've started putting little areas in theaters for photo-ops. I LOVE THAT! Even if it isn't a movie you're interested in (and to be honest, I'm thinking we probably won't be seeing whatever movie these weird little guys represent), it is so much fun to have your picture taken with the "props." It's brilliant, I tell you. (And although you cannot tell from looking at this pic, Roxie, Hannah and Ragan saw Letters to Juliet. (I couldn't find the photo-op for that movie anywhere... and believe me, I looked!)

Day 274 - May 26, 2010

I know what you're thinking... What on earth! Let me explain. I watch Celebrity Apprentice. The two finalists on Celebrity Apprentice were Holly Robinson-Peete (whose charity was Autism) and Bret Michaels (whose charity was Diabetes). Okay. This is where the story gets a little bizarre. Bret Michaels is a hard core rock and roller. He is the frontman for a group called Poison. He wears a bandanna, a cowboy hat, eyeliner and long straight blonde hair. I don't think I've ever heard one of his songs, and I doubt if I would ever let Roxie, Josh or Austin have one of his songs on their I-Pods. That being said, Bret has had a really, really difficult six weeks. First, he had emergency appendix surgery. It wasn't life threatening, but for a diabetic, it wasn't a walk in the park either. Next he had a brain hemorrhage (unrelated to the appendectomy). He had a 50% chance of survival. He survived. Last week, he had a small stroke. The doctors called it a warning stroke and after tests discovered he has a hole in his heart. Again, this was all unrelated to the appendectomy AND the brain hemorrhage. Being a conservative mom, I had been rooting for Holly to win all along. But the last challenge was to create a new Snapple flavored tea, commercial and brochure, etc., etc. Bret created Trop-A-Rocka... a fantastic tasting DIET tea (which doesn't taste diet at all). Have I forsaken all that is good and decent in the world of music and switched over to a group called Poison. No. (Barry Manilow and The Beach Boys can breathe a sigh of relief.) But do I admire a really sweet Daddy of two little girls and a survivor... Yes. Yes, I do. So when my walking buddy, Kim, gave me two bottles of Trop-A-Rocka Diet Snapple today, I was thrilled to say the least. I guess this picture is my tribute to one of my favorite shows... Celebrity Apprentice. Rock on, Bret!

Day 270 - May 22, 2010

Mikie and I had an "unexpected" date night. We knew Roxie and Austin were going to be out Saturday evening, but Josh had been asked to a party and had forgotten to mention it until Saturday afternoon. What to do? What to do? We decided to go with the quick classic "Dinner and a Movie." We were in the mood for Hamburger Heaven and while we waited on our order, I played Ms. Pac Man and Mikie played a little Gallaga. We are sooo old! Back in the day, Mikie and I ended a lot of our dates with a good pinball competition before heading home. (I LOVE pinball!) We were both a little rusty, but we held our own for about 15 minutes or so. (Well, Mikie did. Technically, it was over for me in seven minutes flat.) One of my dreams (other than owning the giant RV to drive around town) is to have a pinball machine in the den. Maybe when Mikie turns 50... That would be a great gift, wouldn't it?

Day 268 - May 20, 2010

Roxie went to a painting class at church tonight. (It is set up like Sips n Strokes, but the church sponsored it.) When I left her a few minutes ago, the room was filled with blank canvases, just like this one. When I pick her up two hours from now, it will be a masterpiece. When each of my kids were born, I thought about all the things I would teach them. I thought about what they would be when they grew up. I thought about how they would look. To me, they were a blank canvas. I did not know what would be on the canvas when they were 19 and 16 and 13 years-old. I could only imagine. "For You did form my inward parts; You did weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:13-14. I love watching The Artist at work, don't you?

Day 267 - May 19, 2010

This doesn't happen every day, but it does happen every year at this same exact time. The kids start throwing away their notebooks, binders, etc. as soon as they finish the final exam for that particular class. It's out of there, baby! To be honest, this isn't Roxie's notebook for one specific subject. It's her agenda. Her planner. Her school calendar which has all of her assignments written in the pages. It's gone! She has one test per class left... and she has assured me she can remember which test is which day in which class. Even though the agenda is the LAST thing I would throw away, I am aware Roxie has much more brain matter working for her than I do. I think she'll be able to finish out the year without this little notebook. (I hope.)

Day 266 - May 18, 2010

I shall call this photo "No Longer Lemonless." I'm making Easy Lemon Chicken tonight for dinner, and I went to the grocery store... and I forgot the lemon. Fun fact for you... I like to make lists for lots of things, but I do not like to make lists for the grocery store. Since I have very limited access to human interaction on any given day, I fear my brain is turning into mush. So, when I go to the grocery store, I try to remember everything I need without writing it down. Inevitably, I forget at least one (sometimes ten) items. But the point is, I'm exercising the ol' brain. I'm trying. And to be honest, I rarely forget any personal items I need. It's usually something for Mikie or one of the kids that doesn't make it in the buggy. My idea may be flawed, but then so am I... just a bit!

Day 265 - May 17, 2010

I know what you're thinking. She blogs. She exercises. She hauls kids in the Big Gold Van. She bakes. And now this! She's an artist, too! Well, you would be wrong. I'm not actually an artist. In fact, I probably couldn't paint a zebra-striped cross if you paid me mega-bucks to do so. Nope. Roxie is the artist in this family. I took her and a friend to Sips N Strokes, and they both created masterpieces. I'm showing you the painting today because Roxie talks about being an interior designer ALL the time. That is very much a part of our daily lives. She's planning on remodeling her room for her 14th birthday with a Paris theme, and it sounds pretty cool, too. The kid doesn't get it from me. Let's face it. I was decorating with ceramic ducks in my early 20s. A contemporary Paris theme with an accent wall painted dark, dark purple has never entered my mind... ever. Maybe she could remodel my bedroom... with an autumnal theme. Yeah. That's the ticket!

Day 264 - May 16, 2010

So today was MY Mother's Day Celebration. After receiving my customary hanging plants for the front porch as my Mother's Day gift, we ate at Another Broken Egg Cafe in Mountain Brook. The kids had never been, and although they refused to try the blackberry grits, they loved everything else. We ended the day at the RAVE watching Iron Man 2. It was a lovely gray, drippy kind of day, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. To be the perfect Mother's Day picture, I really should have all three kids in the frame, shouldn't I? However, as I have learned over the past 19 years, two out of three ain't bad! I have a Josh pic for A Simple Life tomorrow. Don't worry.

Day 263 - May 15, 2010

It's Date Night! Mikie and I went to The Garden Party Silent Auction at the B & A Warehouse downtown. It was a very cool and hip venue, so Mikie and I fit right in, of course. We bid on three things... (1) a weekend getaway to Sewanee, Georgia; (2) a Japanese maple tree; and (3) a dinner for two at Zea Rotisserie Grill. We left with nada! But we did have fun eating at the different food "stations" situated around the warehouse. My favorite new food was hummas with olive tapenade on a piece of mini toast. (I would not normally eat anything made with olives, but I tried a tiny bit and it was delicious!) They had a sliders table, a fish and chips table, and a shrimp and grits table. Very eclectic. Thankfully (or not), MIke sat right beside me during the real auction of big items (mink coat, trip to Los Angeles and Disney Land, etc.). One false move of my arm, and I could have been on a plane to see Mickey, baby! Mikie's not a big PDA person... except during a live auction. He definitely feels the need to hold my hand the whole time. I gave the date a 9... or do I hear 10? Ten going once, going twice, SOLD to the very cool couple in the back eating hummas on toast and fish and chips! Fun date!

Day 262 - May 14, 2010

Classic. We've seen it a million times on Funniest Home Videos. You put the rubber band around the handle of your sink "squirter," and when someone turns on the regular faucet, they get sprayed in the stomach area instead. Today was "Company Day," which in the Faulkner household means "Mom is getting ready for company so do not get in her way!" So which Faulkner child would be foolish enough, brave enough or just plain ol' dumb enough to risk the Wrath of Mom by playing a silly practical joke on her... on "Company Day?" You have three guesses. If you guessed Josh, you would be correct. For some reason, it didn't tick me off. (Believe me. I'm just as surprised as you are!) I even laughed a little. Maybe I'm becoming more mellow. (Or maybe my medication is finally kicking in.) Either way, like I said at the beginning... It's a classic!

Day 261 - May 13, 2010

Do you know what this is? It's a can of rutabagas... in the garbage can. I was curious, so I bought some rutabagas, found a pretty easy recipe and was going to try them for dinner one night this week. However, my friend, Joan, told me not to try them. She said they had a horrible smell... worse than cabbage cooking (and that's a pretty bad smell). So I had to ask myself... Was it worth smelling up the house to try something new which probably tasted as bad as it smelled? Let's face it. On a good day when you walk into my house it doesn't smell like homemade apple pie and vanilla (unless, of course, I've just purchased 12 apple pie and vanilla scented candles). Sometimes it smells like Pine-Sol, but that's just because I pour half a bottle in each toilet and sink in the house to give it that clean smell. (It's the least I can do.) But to make my home stink on purpose when I have been warned... Well, I guess that's a no-brainer. (That's $.84 down the ol' trash chute!)

Day 260 - May 12, 2010

Josh has some really good qualities, as most 16 year-old boys do. However, he is the roughest kid I have ever met when it comes to binders, books, and lunchboxes. In the binder department, these are the only two still intact. The other three are in two or three pieces in his locker. His Geometry book is missing the front and back covers. (He'll be paying for that one at the end of the year.) We solved the lunchbox problem by letting him buy his lunch every day. This is one of the signs that the end of school is almost here. All of Josh's books are disintegrating. (On the other hand, Austin's books are in pristine condition. You cannot even tell they've ever been read, much less read three or four times apiece. Guess who isn't allowed to borrow one of Austin's books? EVER!)

Day 259 - May 11, 2010

This is a picture of Roxie and Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson has been a very important part of our lives. He was Austin's band teacher in middle school. He was Josh's band teacher in middle school (and he also gave Josh private tuba lessons during his illness to help him "keep" up with his classmates if and when he was able to return to school). Lastly, he was Roxie's band teacher in middle school. To say he is "good at what he does" is such an understatement. Our band program is great, and it is great because of Mr. Thompson's dedication and passion and ability to teach. But do you know what I like best about Mr. Thompson? He's retiring at this early age to spend HUGE amounts of time with his two young children. After he has given so much of himself to the children of our little town, I respect him so much for wanting to be the best Dad he can possibly be. He's a man to be admired... and he's definitely a man who will be missed.

Day 258 - May 10, 2010

When one of the kids stays home from school sick, we like to watch movies and play games. For several years, the only game Roxie would play when she was sick was Sorry. We would play game after game after game of Sorry during her sick day... and she always won. (I eventually threw Sorry away. And I didn't feel bad about it either.) With Josh, we played Yahtzee. Lots and lots of Yahtzee. Yahtzee is my FAVORITE game, and I always beat Josh. (One day I think Josh threw Yahtzee away. And I don't think he felt bad about it either.) Now the sick kids and I play ERS. It's a fast-moving card game which involves slapping. I love games which involve slapping. (I also enjoy games which end with me putting the Big "L" on my forehead and performing the "I'm the Winner, You're the Loser" Dance... for the entertainment of the child who just lost, you understand.) As you can imagine, after playing ERS with the sick kids for the last nine days, after Josh goes back to school tomorrow I am going to have to burn these cards. (Oh, and by the way... I just asked Josh what ERS stood for and he said "Egyptian Rat Slap." Can that be right?) Whatever it stands for, it's a fun game. Come over sometime when you're not feeling well, and I'll teach you how to play!

Day 257 - May 9, 2010

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Here I am in all of my Big Flower Glory... precariously perched on my deck railing. This picture could have ended very badly. While today isn't MY official Mother's Day, I still get my flower and take pics with the kids. I am so looking forward to May 16, 2010... the Faulkner Five Mother's Day. (Gee. I hope they bought my card this week. There won't be any left after tomorrow... or else they will all be on sale for $.25. Either way, I hope everyone has a wonderful time with moms, families and friends today. Enjoy!)

Day 256 - May 8, 2010

And then there were two! That's right. Mikie came down with the stomach virus this morning. Josh has had it since Thursday, and Roxie started it off last Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. But Austin and I have remained strong. Against all odds, we are still standing. And if all goes well, tomorrow I will attend church wearing my huge purple corsage. I realize by posing for this picture... laughing in the face of Mr. Stomach Virus... declaring myself strong... Oh, good grief! Who am I kidding? We all know this isn't going to end well, is it? (I hope tomorrow's Picture of the Day isn't of me on the couch in my red silk pajamas... deathly ill... wearing a big ol' purple corsage. Let's face it. The odds ain't on my side!)

Day 255 - May 7, 2010

Cool bracelet, huh? Can you see the little basketball beads on top of the silver, white and maroon beads? Can you? I had this made for Roxie as a gift IF she made the volleyball team, so it was supposed to have volleyball beads, too. However, volleyball beads are not very easy to find. Go figure! Also, I couldn't wait to see if she made the team, so the bracelet is hers one way or the other. And Miss Bethnee (the maker of the bracelet) is still looking for the volleyball beads, so it may have a different look in a day or so. This bracelet is SO Roxie to me... very girly, but very sporty, too. I love it... and so did she!

Day 254 - May 6, 2010

Day 253 - May 5, 2010

Day 252 - May 4, 2010

This is where you will find Roxie tonight... watching for the "cut list" for the volleyball team. It is very nerve wracking. Even though the Coach tells everyone the list may not be posted until 6:00 a.m. the following morning, everyone who walks by the computer clicks on to check (up to midnight) each night of tryouts. Last year, I would wake Roxie up each morning with the news. On the morning she made the team, Mike and I both walked into her room which immediately upset her because she thought we were coming together to comfort her. Needless to say, we've learned our lesson. One parent will bring the news each morning... good or bad!

Day 251 - May 3, 2010

I shall call this photo "Sick Chick." Roxie missed the first day of volleyball tryouts because of a stomach virus. Mike and I cannot even remember if Roxie has ever had a stomach virus before. While she wasn't running a fever today, she was still not 24 hours clear... and she was horribly weak. After a talk with the Coach, she gets to try out with the 6th graders tomorrow. The only thing worse than beng sick is being sick AND worried because you're unable to do something VERY IMPORTANT. Good luck tomorrow, Roxie!

Day 250 - May 2, 2010

Things were looking good. It was very cloudy, but the wind had stopped. The Botanical Gardens were practically empty. It was going to be a good afternoon. And then the first big plop of rain hit my head. And then another. Melia, Austin, Brad and Stephanie were troopers. We kept walking and shooting until the rain became "sheet-like" in nature... and then we took pictures in the Bamboo Forest. We knew it was over when the sheets were accompanied by lightning and thunder. We stayed under a very nice pavilion for a few minutes, but when it became apparent to me (the kids knew it was useless), the boys ran ahead to move the cars to the entrance, and the girls slowly trudged through rain and puddles and mud under the two umbrellas Melia and Stephanie had brought. Starbucks had never been so warm and inviting. We drank our coffees, ate our pastries and decided to declare the day "fun" with one roll of film taken and ten more pics on the digital. (And they want to go back! Yes!)

Day 249 - May 1, 2010

Thankfully, this is NOT a daily part of our lives. However, when April and May roll around each year, school projects abound. This is Josh's Geometry Project which is due Monday. He'll be finished in plenty of time (unless something unforeseen happens... like a massive allergy attack... or the beagles eat it... or something significant like that.) The very word "project' sends shivers down my spine, but I try not to let the kids sense my panic. (That's what my "Austin Goes Away to College, Josh is Driving and Roxie is a Teenager" meds are for... to keep them in the dark as long as possible.)

Day 247 - April 29, 2010

If you've known me two minutes, you know I LOVE new traditions! One of the dads suggested we let the balloons go after our Volleyball Banquet last fall. The girls had a ball. It was a way of saying good-bye to the season. So when we had our Basketball Banquet tonight, it was suggested we continue this new tradition, and the girls released the balloons again. This Banquet was a little more bittersweet than the Volleyball Banquet because the 8th graders will be in high school next year. We had to say good-bye to many of our new friends... and we never like to say good-bye.

Day 244 - April 26, 2010

Not a picture I ever wanted to use on Project 365, but it accurately depicts what is on our minds today at the Faulkner household. Josh pulled out in front of a very large truck this morning on the way to school. Thankfully, he walked away from what could have been a very serious accident injury-free. No bruises, no bumps, no cuts, no stiff neck. Nothing. The driver of the other truck was fine, too. Josh came into our bedroom this morning before he left and said, "Can we have school prayer?" School prayer is something we've done IN the van on the way to school for years and years. When Austin started driving, Roxie, Josh and I would include him in our prayers on the way to school. When Josh started driving, Roxie and I included Josh, too. This morning, Mike and I stood with Josh and prayed for protection, as well as other things. Less than two minutes later, Josh was in a wreck. Please don't ever tell me God doesn't answer prayers, big or small. I most definitely would have to disagree with you!

Day 243 - April 25, 2010

Poor Austin. Some people say "Poor Austin" because they think his mother has never bothered to put sunscreen on him. However, that isn't true. I have always SLATHERED sunscreen on The Boy. I use the highest SPF. I've even used the newborn baby sunscreen because it is thicker. This lovely Talladega redneck tan came after THREE applications of Coppertone Sport 70 SPF. Three! I say "Poor Austin" because this is his tan line for the Summer of 2010... and there's nothing we can do about it. His fate has been sealed.

Day 242 - April 24, 2010

You would have to know me two minutes to know how distraught I was earlier today. Look closely. The blue vacuum cleaner on the floor is in pieces. I took it apart myself because it wasn't working properly. I fiddled with it. I put it back together. And that's when the smoking began. (Not me... the vacuum.) I'm not a genius, but I knew to pull the plug. I started toward the bathroom to finish getting ready because, Tornado Warning or not, I was going to buy a vacuum IMMEDIATELY. But then I rememberd the wet vac we keep in the basement. It's big. It's cumbersome. It's missing some pieces. (Note the homemade filter Josh put on the back of the vacuum.) But the suction on this thing is CRAZY! I love it! It literally lifts the carpets and rugs off the floor. Is my back hurting because I have to bend WAY over to vacuum? Yes. Are my ears ringing because it has a very loud high-pitch whine? Yes. But am I happy because my carpet is COMPLETELY dirt-free? Oh yeah, Baby! (Mikie had to work today or he would probably have fixed the blue vacuum in two seconds. He has a little project waiting for him when he gets home!)

Day 241 - April 23, 2010

Roxie and I went to our first crop together as mother and daughter. We met up with our friends, Evelyn and Ally, and we had a really good time. Roxie has decided it is a definite "do again." These girls may look bright-eyed and ready to scrap, but in reality they were already fading fast. They lasted three hours and created some really cute pages before putting down their pics, fixing themselves a cup of coffee and heading upstairs to finish the evening watching television. By the time the crop was over, they were ready to go again. Maybe we'll drink the coffee at the beginning of the next crop we attend. Yeah... That makes a little more sense!

Day 238 - April 20, 2010

Thankfully, this isn't part of my everyday life. Mike's job requires about three out-of-town trips a year. But, as with all things, there are pros and cons. Let's start with the cons, shall we? Two of the trips always fall very close together, so they are almost like one long trip. Another con would be missing Mikie. On the pro side, he loves to travel and his trips are always in great cities so they are very enjoyable for him. The pro for me would be Roxie and I have "spend the night" time while he's away. (She says I snore now, so it's not as much fun for her as it used to be. I personally don't believe her. It's a known fact "enchanting" people do not snore.) But like it or not, Mikie and the suitcase are leaving on a jet plane in the morning. He will be missed.

Day 237 - April 19, 2010

These are a few of my favorite things. I collect angel ornaments for my living room Christmas tree, but I also have a set of the Willow Tree Angels which represent each season. In order from left to right, I have Spring, Thank You, Summer, Winter and Autumn. (I know Thank You isn't a season, but it was a gift from a sweet friend, and along with my Autumn Angel, it is my favorite.) Over the years, I have had several "collections." For a while, I collected refrigerator magnets from all over the world. Not from my travels, you understand. I have some very well-traveled friends who contributed to my stash of magnets over the years. There was a time when my apartment was filled with ducks. (I'm not sure where that idea came from.) And today I suppose you could say I collect photographs. But I love my little angels, and I especially love my Angel Christmas Tree, so I guess this is a collection of sorts, too. I like the simplicity of the Willow Tree figurines. At this time in my life, they fit my "mood." I like simple, uncomplicated and low maintenance. (And I think they're pretty, too.)

Day 236 - April 18, 2010

Okay. So it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. College men will let you take a picture if you ask them nicely... after you've fed them a huge meal... with a dessert... and sent them back to the dorm with more food. They'll even wash your car, polish your silver and clean the gutters. (Not really. I don't think there's enough food in the world!) We had a good weekend with Nick and Austin. He's a very good storyteller, singer and all-around good guy. He's never been to Birmingham before, so I made a pretty big list of suggestions for a fun weekend in The Magic City. They chose the $1 movie in Hoover Friday night, and they made a midnight Krispy Kreme run Saturday night. That's it! No Magnolia Festival. No Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Museum. No Vulcan. No Dreamland Barbeque. The $1 movie and Krispy Kreme! Well, at least it gives us an excuse to have him over again next fall.

Day 235 - April 17, 2010

HA! You can take pictures of 19 year-old college men... as long as they don't know it... and their backs are turned... and they're totally engrossed in an X-Box game... and you throw them a cookie when they ask you what you're doing standing behind them. I'm all about finding the loophole. It comes from my prior experience as a legal secretary. But that's another story for another day. Today's story... Nick, Austin and Josh enjoying some "uninterrupted" guy time while I cook a HUGE dinner. (Tomorrow's story/picture of the day will probably be me taking a much needed nap. I don't know about you, but I cannot wait until tomorrow's Picture of the Day!)

Day 234 - April 16, 2010

As promised, here is a picture of my giant white azalea bushes. Shhh. Be very, very quiet. These are sensitive bushes. If we scare them, they may not bloom again until 2013. You may think it was a slow day around here, but you would be wrong. Austin brought a friend from JSU home for the weekend, but I don't know the rules about taking pictures of college men for my picture blog. Does anyone out there know the picture blog etiquette rule and how it relates to 19 year-old men? Anyone? Oh, well. If I don't receive some clear-cut ground rules, I guess I'll be taking pictures of the shrubbery all weekend. Enjoy!

Day 233 - April 15, 2010

Ahhh... It's that time of year again. Volleyball tryouts are coming up in about two weeks, and Roxie is working hard. Volleyball tryout week is one of the most stressful weeks of the year. It's even worse than the week before Christmas or the week before high school graduation. Every night for four nights the girls come home and wait for the Internet posting of the first cut... second cut... third cut... final cut. Some nights we didn't get the results until after midnight. Mike and I are pros now. We know naps are necessary the week of volleyball tryouts in order to stay up late enough to check the "cut" list. (And I am ready, willing and able to take a nap each and every day of tryouts if it will help Roxie. As I've said many times, I'm a giver!)

Day 232 - Aptil 14, 2010

These are all the rage in the middle school crowd. Southern Belle shirts are fun, sassy and have a variety of wise sayings. "Live, Laugh and Love" wasn't Roxie's first choice, but she didn't like the saying on the blue shirt, and the saying she liked best was on a fuschia shirt (and she refuses to wear fuschia)... so she had to settle a bit. I don't know if they sell these shirts in the North. And if they did, I don't know if our northern friends could truly appreciate what it takes to be a real Southern Belle. It's a lifelong commitment, and one not to be taken lightly. And just so you know, a real Southern Belle doesn't have to wear a T-shirt to announce the fact to the world. It's pretty obvious!

Day 231 - April 13, 2010

Isn't this beautiful? Every year, the first thing you see when you turn onto our street is this lovely azalea border. It lasts all of two weeks, but I look forward to the blooms all year long, and I miss them when they disappear. Azalea bushes are what spring in the South is all about. We have azalea bushes in front of our house, but they haven't bloomed yet. They are the giant white variety. Four years ago, on April 8 a tornado hit our house and our street. At the time, our azaleas were budding, but still had a week or so to go before actually blooming. After the tornado, they didn't bloom even though they were one of the few things around our home which had not been "touched" by the tornado. Trees down, trampoline wadded into a ball, truck crushed, roof damage, deck damage, driveway damage, etc., etc. We had it all. Well, almost. Our azaleas should have been fine. We didn't think much of our non-blooming season that year... too much clean up to do. But the next year, we noticed our azaleas were budding, but once again no blooms appeared. Apparently, shrubbery can go into shock after a traumatic "nature" event. (Go figure. We were going to have to hire a "Bush Whisperer.") The third year, our azaleas bloomed a little... which brings us to this year. They are heavy with buds, and I cannot help but think this is the year they fully recover from that horrible day four years ago. (I mean, seven years ago I caught five little boys doing what little boys do when they get too busy playing to come inside to use the bathroom... on our azalea bushes... and they bloomed that year. I think the "five boys relieving themselves" incident would be far more traumatic in my book. But then again, I'm not an azalea bush!)

Day 230 - April 12, 2010

Take a look at my new "favorite" thing. Except for pistachio ice cream (which I tasted, but did not care for) and pistachio congealed salad (which is okay, but not something I yearn for), I have never eaten a whole pistachio nut. I LOVE them! I also love the packaging... Wonderful Pistachios! The nuts are delicious, but I think the word "Wonderful" in the title may have something to do with the success of this little nut. It makes you wonder how popular parsnips would be if the bag said, "Magnificent Parsnips." Hmmm. (I really don't think it would help the parsnip. I really don't.)

Day 229 - April 11, 2010

That's right. I've completely lost my mind and have allowed Austin to become an Indy race car driver... or a Grand Prix race car driver. I don't even know the correct terminology. I do know this is just a photo-op car at the Indy Grand Prix held in Birmingham today. Pretty cool, huh? Mike and the guys had a great time attending this event. Hopefully, it will become an annual Father/Sons outing... and if not, at least they had today. Part of our everyday life... Nope. But definitely a "first" for the male part of our family. Thus, it is Project 365 "worthy."

Day 228 - April 10, 2010

Trampoline pictures are fun. Kendall and Roxie look like models using a really bad wind machine. We gave Kendall her birthday gift last night... spend the night and go to the movies (The Last Song). I was WAY too depressed to take pictures after the movie, but I'm a little better today. And as you can see, the girls "bounced" back from the saddest movie ever made very, very well. We bought the trampoline for all the kids a few years ago, but Roxie and company are still getting a lot of use out of this giant toy. Thus, this fun"ny" photo!

Day 227 - April 9, 2010

Well, here they are... in all of their prom glory. Aren't they beautiful? We took the pictures at Samford, and the grounds could not have been more lush and colorful. And the subjects couldn't have been more photogenic. I have to say, the second prom is much more relaxing than the first. Of course, I have the boy. He came home, washed the truck, took a shower and put on his fancy duds and he was ready to go. Melia had the manicure thing and the pedicure thing and the hair and make-up thing. She looked absolutely lovely. Someone should have proms for parents. The husbands could all wear tuxedos and the wives could all wear beautiful gowns. We could all go somewhere fancy to eat. But by 10:00 p.m., I'm going to be in pajama mode... and I don't care if I'm at a restaurant or the prom itself. At 10:00, the pajamas are coming out! (Maybe the parents should have their prom in the middle of the day. Just saying.)

Day 226 - April 8, 2010

I know this blog is supposed to show a daily depiction of my life, but this NEVER happens! Sparkle is almost airborne. Her ears are flapping. She appears to be chasing Copper... and gaining on him. I don't know what has gotten into her. I guess even dignified, 56 year-old (in human years) beagles can come down with Spring Fever. I had planned on taking a picture of an azalea bush today, but we may never see the likes of this again in our lifetimes. I shall call this picture "Frisky Sparkle... and Crazy Copper."

Day 225 - April 7, 2010

I love clouds. I love the kind of clouds you see in this picture with spots of blue peeking out here and there. But I especially love a sky filled with gray clouds. I like waking up to a weather forecast which calls for a 10 to 30 percent chance of rain, BUT it will be cloudy ALL DAY LONG. I call these perfect days "Gray Days." I get my camera ready, because on a Gray Day everything is prettier. Flowers, trees, snow, grass, kids who don't squint because of the bright sunlight. Yes... I love a cloudy day, but I fear I am in the minority. Since that is the case, I'll keep my opinion to myself... but you'll know when you wake up and the skies are dreary and gray, I'm probably a little happier than you.

Day 224 - April 6, 2010

This isn't a daily event in our lives, but I guess it should be. Five seconds after Sparkle has her bath, she is white and soft and smells very un-beagle-like. Ten seconds after her bath, the white has turned a soft brown color and she smells very much like a beagle again. (Copper's bath results do not even last five seconds. He's a boy, you know.) I took Sparkle to the vet a few years ago to check on a cut on her paw. "You really need to bathe your animals more often," he told me in a condescending tone. "Hey! I took three kids to school this morning bathed, coiffed, ironed, fed and their teeth were even brushed. Two of them even gargled! Sparkle's favorite 'spot' is in the dirt under the steps leading up to our deck. Personally, I think I do a pretty good job!" I didn't really say that. It was one of my "in my head" conversations. I think I mumbled, "I'm sorry," picked up my beagle and went home. The kids bathed her that evening... and she immediately rolled in the dirt spot under the steps leading to our deck. I do the best I can!

Day 223 - April 5, 2010

Mike and I are too hip and cool for words. (Do people still say "hip" and "cool?") He's been wearing "torn" jeans for years. We didn't know any better, and we called them "work" jeans, but now he can wear these pants out to eat or various other social events and no one will say a thing! To keep up with my fashionista hubby, I am now the proud owner of a pair of gladiator sandals. METALLIC gladiator sandals, no less! Tomorrow I'm planning on spilling some bleach on a pair of my capris to give them that ever-so-popular "splattered" look. We're usually five to ten years behind current fashion trends, but I think this may be our year!

Day 222 - April 4, 2010

Easter Pictures can be almost as stressful as the obligatory Christmas Card Picture. But they are just as important. Yes, they are. This picture (and the other two dozen or more I'll be sharing on A Simple Life next week) tells a story. Here... I'll help you "read' between the lines. First, this picture tells you The Enchanting Belinda was really into yellow and black this Easter. However, because I know the guys no longer enjoy dressing alike, I allowed Josh to wear the bright blue for a little color "pop." (For the record, he IS wearing black pants. There had to be a "tie-in" with the theme.) Second, it shows this family is growing up. Josh is catching up to Austin in height, and Roxie looks more and more like a teenager than a little girl. Mikie's still as handsome as ever, but you can see a little gray around the temples indicating he's no longer in his 30s. Third, the smiles are real. Josh is happy today. Austin was just "goosed" by his Dad to help him relax (which in turn makes Mikie smile), and Roxie got exactly what she wanted in her "teenage" Easter Basket. Our family knows everything could change in an instant. We're not promised tomorrow. Someone could become terribly ill before morning. We've lived through those moments. But today... this moment in time captured by this little picture... Well, this is good. And for that, I am thankful. Happy Easter.

Day 220 - April 2, 2010

I was called and asked out on a date this evening. Now usually, I would not accept a date for Friday night when the invitation was issued Friday afternoon. It's the rule, you know. But I made an exception for this guy. And after 22 years, I'm just glad he still asks! I normally do all the Easter shopping myself, but tonight Mikie and I did it together, and it was fun. We ran into friends at Books-A-Million and talked a little while before we headed off to Wal-Mart to finish the majority of the shopping. Was it the MOST fun date ever? Maybe not... but it was time well spent. Hey, Mikie! I'm free next Friday night, too! (Did that seem a little too desperate? I don't want to scare him off.)

Day 219 - April 1, 2010

You may remember on Day 168 I posted a picture of this particular Movie Gallery. I said it was on Project 365 because it was a place I visited often... at least once a week. Well, what am I supposed to do now? There is no longer a movie rental store in our area! I know. I know. I will have to learn about Netflix and Pay Per View and the Red Box thing at Wal-Mart. But I loved this store. I knew all the people who worked there. They would save a movie for me if I called. It was one of the few places I had never had a panic attack while shopping. It's very sad. First 35mm film, and now this. I don't know how much more I will be able to take.

Day 218 - March 31, 2010

No. This isn't the mailbox I saw a truck knock into the air the other day. This is my mailbox. One of my FAVORITE things to do each and every day is check the mailbox after our mailman leaves. Will there be a letter... a card... a magazine... a package? You just never know. I am literally a little sad on Sundays and major holidays when the mailman doesn't deliver. And when the United States Postal Service recently announced they were thinking about doing away with Saturday mail delivery... Well, let's just say I was more than a little upset. You would think such an important fixture in my life would be much prettier, wouldn't you? I think I'm going to have to ask Mikie for a "pretty" mailbox for my birthday. Maybe something with a little color or personality. (I would ask for the new mailbox for Mother's Day, but I've already asked for a big turkey fryer and an even bigger propane tank to go with it. But that's another story!)

Day 217 - March 30, 2010

When Roxie was playing volleyball and basketball last fall, these chicks came to A LOT of games. They were very supportive. Ragan is now playing tennis for the school team, and we most definitely wanted to return the favor. Ally, Savanna and Roxie (quietly) cheered Ragan to victory in her doubles match. Tennis is a little different from basketball where yelling is not only acceptable, but expected. Tennis is much more dignified. Loud whispers ("Way to go, Ra!") and silent thumbs up signals were the main show of approval. I liked it. It's fun going home after a sporting event and not having to take an Excedrin Migraine.

Day 216 - March 29, 2010

Most of you know about my on-going love affair with my slow cooker. However, you may or may not know presentation is not always high on my list of accomplishments. I want the food I prepare to be lovely to look upon, but more importantly, it must be edible. So if it doesn't look that great, BUT it tastes really good, I'm a pretty happy camper. Tonight's meal is pepper steak served on a bed of white rice. For me, this is a twofer because with the red peppers, green peppers, yellow peppers, carrots and mushrooms served on white... Well, it's a feast for the eyes, I tell you! And then the fact it also tastes really, really good (if I do say so myself) makes it a "home run" in terms of successful dinners at the Faulkner household. So allow me to brag just a bit this evening. You've seen pictures of my bare feet, my paintball masked face, my lit deer in the living room, my insane dog (Copper), and various other "more than honest" snapshots of my life. Just this once, let me show you something I prepared that not only tasted good, but looked good, too! Thank you.

Day 214 - March 27, 2010

Oh... my... goodness! You only have to know me two minutes to find out how much I LOVE characters at amusement parks. It is most definitely one of my FAVORITE things... even at 48 years of age. So imagine my excitement when we entered Six Flags Over Georgia and we saw WONDER WOMAN! There she was in all of her Wonder Woman glory (complete with the "golden lasso"). I'm told the invisible plane was located directly behind her. Lucky me! I got a twofer in this picture! This was a great beginning to a very fun-filled day of roller coaster ridin'. (And yes. I am a roller coaster rider. Tomorrow I'll have the list of coasters I conquered on A Simple Life.) Without a doubt, this was my favorite photo of the day. Wonder Woman! Oh, and Hannah and Roxie.

Day 213 - March 26, 2010

We are brilliant, I tell you! Roxie had a band competition scheduled for 7:30 a.m. CST in Atlanta Saturday morning. The bus was going to leave at 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning. After the competition, the band and chaperones (also known as "parental units") were going to spend the entire day at Six Flags riding roller coasters. Let's do the math, shall we? Wake up at 2:00 a.m. to get ready to leave the school at 3:30 a.m., and spend the day chaperoning 7th and 8th graders at Six Flags... hmmm. Neisa and I decided to go to Atlanta Friday afternoon, eat at the Marietta Diner (FABULOUS) and sleep in the hotel where the competition was going to be held. I guess I should mention we reserved a room. I didn't want you to think we slept in the lobby or anything like that. (What was the word I used at the beginning of this little narrative? Oh, yeah. BRILLIANT, baby!) Needless to say, we enjoyed our Friday evening in Atlanta, and I'll have more details on A Simple Life tomorrow. Today's pic is simply Roxie and Hannah... rested and well-fed.

Day 212 - March 25, 2010

Spring has officially sprung! The trees in our little town are beginning to bloom. Yellow daffodils are swaying in the breeze. Before long, our cars will be covered with a light yellow dusting of "bee dust." Spring is my third favorite season (behind autumn and winter). It might be a little higher on the list if it wasn't for the season that always follows... SUMMER! I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I've had to "learn" to enjoy summer because otherwise I'm wishing one quarter of my year away. And when you're 48 years-old, you don't need to be wishing any days away. But today it is March 25, 2010. It is spring. And it is beautiful. Today is good.

Day 211 - March 24, 2010

Primping. This is a HUGE part of our daily life. Well, not my daily life... but definitely Roxie's. And when there is a friend over (in this case, Hannah) there is primping times two. And if you have five or more girls over at the same time... well, forget it. There aren't enough mirrors in the house for the primping that must take place. Being 48 years-old, it's easy to forget how much time it took to get ready to go anywhere when you were 13 years-old. Every hair in place. Outfit just right. Matching earrings, shoes, accessories... Oh, the energy it takes to be 13. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. I think I need a nap!

Day 209 - March 22, 2010

Behold! I bought a new Easter outfit. I haven't had a new Easter outfit in several years. By the time I finish buying the kids' clothes, new shoes, haircuts. Easter treats, etc., I usually decide my blue dress with the sheer blue jacket is just perfect for one more year. But this year I wanted something new. Something fresh. Something bright. So what do I walk to in the store... the black and gray skirt (with a TINY bit of yellow) and the black three-quarter length sleeve sweater. But wait! The sweater was too low cut. I needed something to wear underneath. So off I went looking for a gray cami. And then I saw it. The yellow ruffle top. Ruffles everywhere. I liked it very much, so I bought it, too. Ruffles are "in" this spring. They are on all the clothes. However, what sales people neglect to tell you is the following: THINGS APEAR TEN TIMES LARGER IN RUFFLES! Yeah. That's a pretty important little fact to leave off the sales ticket, don't you think? I'm still debating. If you happen to see me Easter morning in my new Easter outfit, and I AM wearing the yellow ruffle shirt, would it kill you to say, "My word! Those ruffles practically make you disappear!" If you do, there might be a chocolate Easter Bunny sitting on your doorstep when you get home. Just saying.

Day 208 - March 21, 2010

I'm doing it! I'm living the dream! I'm saving THOUSANDS of dollars by clipping these coupons. Actually, it's going to take a little longer... but today I officially started! (Thanks to my friend, Lana, I've been doing the CVS thing for awhile, and I do pretty well, but your can't really buy a whole month's worth of groceries at the local drugstore. Well, I guess I could if everyone in the family agreed to stop eating meat and produce.) And don't worry. I'll let you know how I'm progressing about a month from now. By then, I'll probably have saved enough to buy my new RV. You'll know because I'll post a picture taken with my new state-of-the-art digital camera I buy with some of the other money I've saved. Oh, it's going to be good to be rich!

Day 207 - March 20, 2010

I come home from four days camping around a fire. I wash 42 loads of laundry to get the campfire smell out of our clothes, our coats, our pillows, our underwear, etc. I then proceed to tell Mikie we need wood because our old friends from Hoover are coming over for dinner, and I want to roast marshmallows and make s'mores over my firepit for their two girls and our kids. And guess what? I now have two more loads of laundry to do tonight because we smell like "camping" again. (Would it have killed me to make a pan of brownies?)

Day 206 - March 19, 2010

This is something Mikie and I like to play when we have a few minutes alone... so it most definitely isn't a daily event. Games with names like Canasta or Bridge or Chess or Backgammon have always scared me. In my mind, they require a certain amount of mental ability. And let's face it, after three kids, it takes all my mental ability to get them from Point A to Point B most days. But even though it looks intimidating, it is really very easy. And even though it is very easy, I hardly ever win. I wonder why? Hmmm. It is my favorite "grown-up" game. (And since the kids were still away this morning, Mike and I played a few more games before we closed it up! And once again, he won each and every game. (I need to figure out a way to cheat!)

Day 205 - March 18, 2010

Day 203 - March 16, 2010

Today we headed to Talladega for the test trials. (For all of you non-racing fans out there, myself included, 21 of the biggest names in racing come to test their cars before the big race a few weeks from now.) It's fun and it's FREE and I could have TOUCHED Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton. They came into the stands for a Question and Answer session. (I did get a bunch of pictures for my "Famous People" scrapbook... and I'll post them on A Simple Life sometime this week.) Instead of posting a picture of a famous race car driver I will probably never see again, I decided to post a picture of Josh, Roxie, Ally, Kelci and Bryant. (They are thankfully part of my everyday life!)

Day 200 - March 13, 2010

I call this one "View From a Tent." We arrived at Wind Creek around 2:00 Saturday afternoon. The sun would shine... for ten minutes. The clouds would roll in with 25 mph gusts of wind... for ten minutes. And finally, there would be large cold raindrops falling on us... for ten minutes. This cycle continued well into the night. We found ourselves (the Faulkner Five) huddled together in the Tuggle's pop-up camper. (I don't know if they have named their family, but they could be known as the Tuggle Five. We don't mind sharing the "Five" part of our name at all.) Ten people eating in a pop-up... FUN! (Surprisingly, it really was!)

Day 199 - March 12, 2010

Look closely, my friends. Before long, these little canisters of 35mm film will no longer exist. I was in Wal-Mart today buying camping supplies when Mikie called. "I'm at Sam's. You'll have to buy film at Wal-Mart because they no longer sell it at Sam's." I gasped. "How can this be? I won't be getting my new state-of-the-art digital camera until August of 2010. They simply cannot stop making 35mm film." Was anyone else hot? Was the room spinning? I ran to the very SMALL film display in Wal-Mart. There were four packs of 35mm film... on CLEARANCE! Was anyone else having trouble breathing? I had run into my friend, Tonya, and her family earlier. They were doing a little last-minute shopping for their upcoming vacation. I found her again. "Tonya! Sam's isn't selling 35mm film any longer! And Wal-Mart has all their film on CLEARANCE!" She quickly went into "Calm Belinda Down" mode. "It's okay. I know I have at least two canisters of 35mm at home. You can have those." Her husband, Mitchell, chimed in, "When do you get your new camera?" Tonya muttered under breath, "Not until August." Breathing was becoming more difficult. "Do you think they'll still have film in August?" I asked, desperately needing reassurance. "I bet they won't," Mitchell said, without hesitation. (Let the record show, I used to like Mitchell. Now... not so much.) I said good-bye to my "digital camera possessing" friend and made my way to the front of the store. Mikie's lucky. I almost bought an $800 state-of-the-art digital camera this afternoon... which was not in our camping budget. Yeah. He's a lucky, lucky man.

Day 198 - March 11, 2010

This is my track. I'm a walker... remember? But it has really been cold and snowy and rainy and did I say... COLD this winter, so I walk inside on the track with my friend, Kim. It takes 24 laps to make two miles. That's a lot of laps. It only takes four laps to make two miles at the outdoor Civic Center track. I know two miles IS two miles, but mentally the 24 versus the four laps is killing me. As much as I love cold weather and gray days (and I DO love cold weather AND gray days), I am missing the four laps at the Civic Center in the fresh air. Soon I'll be there again. Until it becomes 100 degrees in July... and then I'll be walking on the inside track for air conditioning purposes!

Day 197 - March 10, 2010

I love this store at The Galleria. I stop by every time I go shopping. I love the smell, the fancy chocolates in the window, the pretty packaging of the boxes of chocolate waiting to be purchased, the different shaped chocolate suckers... Ahhh! I've mentioned it on A Simple Life before. I'm a member of the Godiva Chocolatier Club. It is free to join, and every month I walk in this delightful and delicious store and they GIVE me a free piece of chocolate of my choice. That's right. It's FREE. And I don't have to buy anything. I was there today, and they gave me my March piece of chocolate... Dark Espresso Caramel Creme. Oh... my... goodness! If you join only one club your entire life, I think this should be the one. I know what you're thinking. "Belinda, I thought you were diabetic!" And I will snippily reply, "What's your point?" Join! Today!

Day 196 - March 9, 2010

Guess what I did tonight? That's right. I went to a Coupon Class. Starting tomorrow, bright and early, I will begin saving $150 a week on groceries. Well, not tomorrow. Obviously, it's a little more complicated than I first thought. Thankfully, our teacher, Carmen, is a living, breathing example of how coupon clipping works successfully. She not only gave us a lot of handouts (one of my favorite things), but she explained organizing coupons, stacking coupons and stockpiling. What am I going to do with all the extra money? I know. I'm going to buy the biggest, state-of-the-art RV known to man... and drive it through the carpool line. And I'm going to save for that zip-lining tour through the South American rainforests. And I'm finally going to Orlando to swim with the dolphins... several times. Yes, I'm going to put that money to good use. (Mikie will probably want to use it for food, shelter and clothing, but what would be the fun in that?)

Day 195 - March 8, 2010

I'll be honest. I don't usually like to use initials when I'm writing or texting. I like to spell out the whole phrase. LOL and JK and TTYL bother me. It takes me too long to process the meaning. There is one exception though. GNO. I see those three letters and I start to get excited. GIRLS' NIGHT OUT! The second set of Mystery Bag Party Girls (The Cheetah Girls) met at Costa's tonight for a little reunion, and it was delightful and delicious. Dana, LeAnna, me, Patti, Jonella and Angie enjoyed good food and fellowship. The only things missing were Tonya and Yogurt Mountain. Next time, girls. Next time!

Day 194 - March 7, 2010

Roxie is not a "sweet" person. She doesn't like candy bars or chocolate or cookies or cake. She doesn't care for pies or bread puddings or banana foster. There are only two exceptions... just two. Suckers (any shape, size or flavor) and ice cream with caramel... better known as Pralines and Cream. Is this really my child? In the day, I would eat anything if it had been previously rolled in sugar. I don't know how she's going to survive her teenage years and early 20s hating chocolate. I cannot comprehend.

Day 193 - March 6, 2010

Two words... blackberry grits! My friend, Jennifer, was right. If you go to The Broken Egg Cafe in Mountain Brook Village, you must try the blackberry grits. They were SO good. So far, Mikie and I are five out of five on our weekly dates. This morning we tried something different than our usual Original Pancake House, and we were not disappointed one bit. I love trying different things, especially when they taste as good as these grits. However, Mikie's Mardi Gras Omelet was not to my liking. I glanced over all the ingredients and didn't see anything that would offend, but something wasn't right. "I don't know why I don't like those, but I don't," I told him. He grinned and said, "It might be the crawfish." Ya think??? I didn't remember seeing that in the description. But Mikie LOVED it, so that's all that matters. I eat what is on my plate... he eats what is on his plate. Good date!

Day 192 - March 5, 2010

This is my tree with twinkly lights. I love twinkly lights, and not just during Christmas, but all year long. If I walk into a restaurant or a store or someone's home and there are twinkly lights, I breathe a very "girly" sigh. In my favorite movie, You've Got Mail, there is a scene in which Meg Ryan's character decides the solution to her problem is simply to add more twinkly lights. It made perfect sense to me! But back to reality. In a house which entertains many teenagers (male and female), I have found bright lighting is always better. When my kids have all left the nest and started families of their own, do not be surprised if you drive by one night to find my house lit room by room with hundreds... nay, thousands... of beautiful twinkly lights. (Another thing I love about twinkly lights... you look at least ten years younger sitting in a room surrounded by this type lighting. Just saying.)

Day 191 - March 4, 2010

Look what I get to pick up every day at 3:00 p.m. It's hard to believe, but next year will be my last year in the carpool line. When Roxie is a Freshman at the high school, Josh will be a Senior and they will ride together. Shortly after she becomes a Sophomore, she will turn 16, and she'll be driving. I have been in the carpool line since Austin was in 3 year-old preschool. That is 16 years, folks. So when I retire in a year, I will have put in 17 years of service in the carpool line. Will someone throw me a retirement party? Will I get a gold watch? I mean, my record is pretty good. I have yet to knock down a crossing guard. (I probably shouldn't have said that. I'll probably ACCIDENTALLY knock one down tomorrow!) My "job" is coming to a close. Thank goodness it's happening in stages. I don't think Mikie would be able to stand me if it all happened at once!

Day 189 - March 2, 2010

This is my antique 35mm camera. I know this is an inanimate object, but I have a very special connection with this piece of equipment. In August of this year, I will have owned this camera ten years. The camera I had before this one was a very nice camera, too, and I used it from the time Austin was a tiny baby until he was nine years old. I absolutely wore that camera out. After almost ten years, this one is still going strong. To be perfectly honest, if I thought film was going to last another five years, I wouldn't even consider replacing my beloved camera. I would use it until it literally fell apart. However, technology has overtaken me once again. When Josh was born, people told me I probably wouldn't be taking as many pictures because no one takes pictures of the second child. I snapped away. When Roxie was born, the same people told me I would probably FORGET to take pictures of her because no one takes pictures of the third child. Again, I happily and crazily continued documenting every second of her life, too. I started taking pictures when Mikie and I married 22 years ago, and every year I find there is more to document. Every time I catch a memory on film (big or little), I breathe a sigh of relief. I'll never have to forget that moment, or that look, or that occasion. I think this is probably one of the most important things I use each and every day, and my life is richer and sweeter because of all the memories I have collected.

Day 187 - February 28, 2010

Day 186 - February 27, 2010

We went paintballing today. Mike and I took Josh plus eight others to Fort Red Rock in Bessemer. Talk about awesome! That's me in the mask. Did I shoot innocent teenage boys point blank with paintballs? Did I threaten NOT to feed them if they shot back? Did I learn how to breathe in this hideous mask? Actually, I had to wear the mask to take pictures INSIDE one of the war zones. There's an old house in the middle, and photographers are allowed on the second floor to take pics IF they wear the proper gear. I actually did get hit (just a little). The best part of getting hit is being able to scream, "I've been hit! I've been hit! Man down!" Come to think of it, I may have been the only one who really yelled those words. The "manly" men take their hits and quietly walk off the field. Not me! I made them carry me off on a stretcher!

Day 185 - February 26, 2010

Back in the day, this was one of my favorite places in the whole wide world. The Galleria! I took a vacation day when this particular mall opened around 25 years ago. My friend, Kelley, and I spent the entire day here... from the minute it opened until they politely asked us to leave at closing time. I lived less than three or four minutes away. I could see it from the balcony of my apartment. I would meet friends and eat in the food court and walk around window shopping three or four times a week. I absolutely loved this place. But times have changed, and I probably don't visit here more than six or seven times a year... and I'm only 25 minutes away. It's a little sad. Anyway, Mikie brought me here for our weekly date tonight, and we walked around and talked. We always ended our dates at The Galleria with an order of Boardwalk Fries and a Coke. Alas, Boardwalk Fries is no more. But I have sweet memories nonetheless.

Day 184 - February 25, 2010

Guess where I went today? I was in Trussville visiting my MamMa for her birthday. As we were driving home, I took a little detour and told Josh to snap away. This is the high school I graduated from in 1979... 31 years ago. Can that be right? If you look to the right of the main building, the first set of windows you see belonged to my Geometry class. The second floor of the main building is where my Business Office Education classes were held. Did you know I went to County competition for shorthand and typing. I placed 1st in County, but I didn't place in District. (If I had placed in District, I would have gone to State and then Nationals... in San Francisco. I cracked under the pressure.) There are a lot of memories in these buildings. A lot of them were not that great. My high school years were not my best, but they were not horrible either. When Austin graduated high school, I told him, "You are not who you are going to be in four years when you finish college." And that is so true. I am SO NOT the same person I was in high school. (Thank goodness.) But with one barely out of high school, one in the middle of high school and one "chomping at the bit" to get into high school, it's good for me to remember what it was like. (Although thinking back 31 years tends to give me a headache.)

Day 183 - February 24, 2010

Well, it has come to this. I have entered the "supplement" stage of my life. That means my body is not producing "stuff" it used to produce, and I have to take "supplements" to make up for my body's laziness. But to be honest, I don't think my body ever produced Fish Oil. In fact, I'm almost certain. Fish Oil is good for heart health, joint health (arthritis) and a couple of other things I need. As you can see by my clever photography, the pills are the size of a quarter... albeit an oblong quarter. And I'm supposed to take three a day. I have a concern though. I know when I eat Italian two or three times in a a two-day period (which almost NEVER happens), I smell like garlic. I mean, I think the smell comes through the pores on my skin. It's that strong. What if I take these gigantic Fish Oil pills for a week and I start to smell like a flounder, but I can't smell it? What then? If for any reason I walk past you, and I smell like I've been working at Top of the River (in the kitchen), do me a favor, okay? Just quietly whisper, "Nemo." I'll get the message.

Day 182 - February 23, 2010

Why do I look so happy? My first baby is 19 years old today. I should be sobbing. I should be sitting on my bathroom floor rocking back and forth, back and forth. I should be counting gray hairs and wrinkles. I should be walking up to young mothers with little boys and telling them, "Enjoy this. They will be grown before you know it!" I should be shopping for some new sweaters that aren't "baby poop" green. (See Day 181.) I COULD be doing all of those things, but instead I chose to spend the evening with my firstborn and enjoy the young man he has become. At 8:58 p.m. on this very night 19 years ago, I was "snoring like crazy," as Mikie likes to tell the story. But that's okay. I was "snoring like crazy" with a beautiful, new 9 pound 6 ounce baby boy in the crib beside my bed. Life was sweet, but I had no idea how much sweeter it would become. Happy Birthday, Austin!

Day 181 - February 22, 2010

This is a picture of me and my grandmother, MamMa. MamMa will be 89 this Friday. Every Christmas, instead of giving her grandchildren a wrapped gift or an envelope with money, she tells us she is going to treat us to a dinner in January or February at a nice restaurant. It is wonderful. It isn't hectic, and it's another time all the cousins (her grandchildren) get to sit down and visit away from the holiday season. MamMa has five grandchildren and four grandchildren-in-law... but she doesn't count that way. If you asked her, she would tell you she had nine grandchildren. I admire many things about MamMa, but I think she is the best mother-in-law I have ever met. She has two biological children, but if you didn't know differently, when she talks about Harold, Tootsie, Don and Connie you would assume she had four children. I want to be the kind of mother-in-law she has been all these years. And there's a chance, you know. I do have some of her genes!

Day 179 - February 20, 2010

Happy Mardi Gras... a few days late. Tonight we feasted on chicken gumbo, red beans and rice, moon pies and King Cake. I made a HUGE bowl of potato salad, but it never made it to the table. That's one reason I never cook ahead. I forget about the dish the next day. Kelci and her sister, Ally, supplied these beautiful Mardi Gras masks (which Roxie and Kelci modeled for me). It is not the norm around here, but I thought it was definitely a picture for Project 365. I'm contemplating putting the Mobile Mardi Gras Parade on my list of "100 Things To Do Before I'm 90." I think attending a parade where people chunk moon pies at you on the side of the street might be worth looking into. I'll let you know what I decide.

Day 178 - February 19, 2010

Okay. Ignore the fact I'm obviously having a bad hair day (and I didn't realize it until this picture was taken)... and ignore the fact I wear this sweater A LOT... and ignore the fact I look like I'm not wearing make-up (because I am)... and ignore the fact I am indeed "golden" (great lighting at Subway). The sole purpose of this picture is the Coupon Book I am holding in my hands. This is most definitely a huge part of our family's day-to-day existence. It answers many of life's questions. Where do you want to eat? Check the Coupon Book. Do you want to bowl or see a movie? Check the Coupon Book. Where should we set up a new banking account? Check the Coupon Book. Remember the 8 Ball toy we played with when we were kids? You would ask the question, turn it over and it would give an answer. I think the Coupon Book is this generation's 8 Ball.

Day 177 - February 18, 2010

Well, well, well. What have we here? I remember saying, "Roxie, let me take a picture of you for Project 365," and then all of a sudden EVERYONE was trying to get in on the action... including Mikie! No problem. Friends are always welcome on Project 365. Evelyn, Ann, Mikie and I were all attending the band concert held at our new high school tonight. Band concerts are always a good time to see friends during the week. (Oh, and the music is very, very good, too.) Evelyn, Ann and Mikie... consider yourselves immortalized!

Day 176 - February 17, 2010

I know this will offend some people, but I feel the need to be honest. Okay. Here goes... I don't care for Target. There... I said it. What a weight off my shoulders. I've been carrying that huge burden around for a couple of years now. Whew! Now for another confession. Even though I do not care for Target, I go there at least once a week. It takes me exactly 4 minutes and 22 seconds to do what I have to do in the store. I quickly look at the $1 section in the front of the store for scrapbook and/or other little things I absolutely would DIE without. I then go down the long aisle toward the food section and look at the end of each row for any marked down items. Upon reaching the food section, I immediately turn around and make my way back to the front of the store where this little treat is always waiting for me. It is the Choxie (rhymes with Roxie) dark chocolate espresso truffle bar. Look at it! It is HUGE! And I am "allowed" to eat 1/2 of that big bar... even with diabetes. No. I do not care for Target, but as long as they carry Choxie (rhymes with Roxie), I will go.

Day 175 - February 16, 2010

Ta-Da! The new high school is officially open for business. Josh walked into this magnificent building today. (This is such a tiny, tiny portion of the school. It is huge and clean and state-of-the-art.) We've been waiting a long time for this day, and even though I no longer attend high school, or any other kind of school for that matter, I am excited for our community and all the children who will pass through these halls. It is a big day. (Oh, and when I said I didn't attend any type of school, I didn't mean Sunday School. Mike and I go to Sunday School. Well, we're directors of the Middle School Department, but that should count for something. Please say it counts for something!)

Day 174 - February 15, 2010

Because it is one of my favorite places on earth, I assume everyone feels the same way. For Zac's birthday gift, we took him to Chick-Fil-A, and then we went to THE MOVIES! Percy Jackson and the Olympians is excellent. Zac, Josh, Roxie and I gave it a big thumb's up. Roxie and I had a fun surprise in store for us. As we were waiting for the movie to begin, our cousins, Amy and Monica, and their friend came in and sat down two rows behind us. What started out as a party of four turned into seven and we "packed out our pew!" (That's a Southern Baptist term.) We missed Katie (softball game), Brad (working at Target) and Austin (back at JSU), but I think we enjoyed it enough for everyone!

Day 173 - February 14, 2010

Let the Valentine's Banquet begin! Pink eggs, pink biscuits, pink gravy, pink tea, candy, cards, EXPENSIVE paper Valentine's Day china... Oh, and don't forget candles. You must have candles. I didn't know if we would all be in attendance this year. We were fortunate. Austin came back from his mission trip around 7:45, and we had our feast at 8:15. This will be a tradition I will be sad to see end. We're taking it on a year-by-year basis, so tonight I am very happy we were able to celebrate as the Faulkner Five once again. You may be asking why there are six places set. Valentine's Day coincided with the "12 Days of Zac" and he is spending the night with us as part of Day 8! How lucky can one 12 year-old be? Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Day 172 - February 13, 2010

Today's picture is of Mike and his Dad. Mr. Faulkner will be 83 Monday, February 15. February is a big birthday month in our family. My Dad's birthday is the 1st. Mr. Faulkner's birthday is the 15th. Zac, my nephew, celebrates his birthday on the 19th. Austin was born on the 23rd, and my grandmother will be 89 on February 26. Throw in Valentine's Day and President's Day and the Faulkner Five have a very busy month... and it's the SHORTEST month of the year, too. That's okay, though. We know February is a month we will be spending a lot of time with family... and that's a good thing. A very good thing.

Day 171 - February 12, 2010

I know what you're thinking. "Of all the beautiful pictures Belinda could have posted today, she picked a snowy picture of people... and we can't even tell who they are." Well, there's a reason for that. We went sledding on a hill beside our new church property. The hill was pretty long and steeper than we thought. What you cannot tell from looking at this picture is the identity of the two people. The man is Jamin, our Youth Minister. The person sledding toward him at warp speed and putting on her brakes is his wife, Melaney. Jamin's job during this snow day activity was to STOP all the people before they actually got close to the fairly busy street behind him. He did a good job, too. He even made a dive or two to stop some of the kids. And then came Belinda! That's right. I rode a sled. Just like Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation. Unlike Melaney who used both feet and her hands to try to help her husband out, my feet never left the sled and my hands never let go of the rope. Jamin made a grab for the back of my jacket as I FLEW by him. "Jamin, Jamin, Jamin, Jamin!" (That was what I was saying as I went past. I think he was saying "Whoa!") To make this incredibly long story a little shorter, I'll let you in on a little secret. Jamin wasn't keeping everyone out of the road. What you cannot see from the top of the hill is the ditch with running water in front of the road. Innocent sledders would have hit the ditch BEFORE they ever got to the road. This was not an every day occurrence in my life. I can count on one hand the times I've been on a sled in 48 years. But because it was something "special" and even a little "exciting," it made Project 365. And I'll take this opportunity to say, "Thank you, Jamin." I think going head-first into the water-filled ditch would have definitely put a damper on my sledding experience. (Just call me Clark. Clark Griswold!)

Day 170 - February 11, 2010

I'm in "hog heaven" (whatever that really means). Mikie and I went on a date to Books-A-Million tonight and spent a little over an hour browsing through our favorite sections. We sort of separate as he goes toward American History, and I wander into the Children's Section, the Travel Section, the Cooking Section, the 75% Off Section and finally... the Magazine Section. Our reading preferences may be different, but we always end up at the coffee bar for a little talkin' and a little people watchin'. It's a good date, and nine times out of ten when we go to the movies or out to eat, we stop by the local bookstore for some atmosphere. It's fun, simple and we both enjoy going there. (If they had a Book of Plaques, I probably would never see my "plaque-reading" hubby ever again.) Hmmm. Now there's an idea for a new book!

Day 169 - February 10, 2010

Well, I've picked my Sunday night class for the winter. (I know, I know. I'm three weeks and an introduction behind, but it took me awhile, okay?) I'll be attending "5 Conversations You MUST Have With Your Daughter" by Vicki Courtney. You shall be my accountability partners. I will take another picture of the book when I have finished... and it will be dog-eared and highlighted and will have been read cover to cover. And upon completion of this book, I will be an expert at talking with Roxie about (1) You are more than the sum of your parts; (2) Don't be in such a hurry to grow up; (3) Sex is great and worth the wait; (4) It's okay to dream about marriage and motherhood; and (5) Girls gone wild are a dime a dozen... dare to be virtuous. (It sounds good, doesn't it?) I also want you to know this book photographs very, very thin (kind of like me). Truth be told, it has 261 pages. I just wanted you to know I wasn't reading a pamphlet. It's a full-sized book!

Day 168 - February 9, 2010

There are five places in my little town I visit at LEAST once a week... and this is one of them. I love movies. I always have, and while my favorite place to watch a movie is in a dark theater with a large Coke and a giant box of chocolate-covered raisins (my pre-diabetic days), renting from the Movie Gallery and watching at home is a close second. However, today's rental wasn't a movie. Today's rental was the last DVD of the 5th Season of LOST. I had to review before I watch the two episodes Josh and I have taped this season. And then I have to be tested. And when I am tested, I will fail. Of the few things I absolutely know beyond a shadow of doubt... if LOST had been a subject in high school, I would have failed.

Day 165 - February 6, 2010

Yum. French Crepes from The Original Pancake House on Southside... no sugar added! Mike and I have made a pact of sorts to have a weekly date... with each other. We've done pretty well with the monthly dates while the kids have been growing up. However, everyone is older now (including us), and we feel it's time to step it up a notch. He was a little worried about the "economy" thing, but we've planned several "no money" dates, too. This Thursday, we're scheduled to go to Books-A-Million to browse for an hour or so and have a little coffee. It's a good goal, and I hope we'll be able to stick to it for the next few years. As always, all we can do is try.

Day 164 - February 5, 2010

I just wanted to share a "new" favorite. Since my diabetes diagnosis, I'm "allowed" to have 45 carbs per meal with two or three 15 carb snacks throughout the day. It is SO HARD to find low carb, real-tasting chocolate. This stuff is good. It is only 10 carbs per pudding cup. That means I can eat 1 1/2 cups for one of my snacks... or 2 cups since no one can really eat just 1 1/2. And if I wasn't an adult, I could eat 4 1/2 cups for lunch... or 5 cups since no one can eat just 4 1/2. But I am an adult, and I refuse to eat 5 chocolate mousse pudding cups for lunch. That would be pitiful. Right? Even if I was having a really, really bad day and chocolate was the only thing which would help. Pitiful. I asked Austin to help me by eating the rest of the cups, but when he reached out to take the carton from me, I hit him with a spoon on his knuckle. I feel bad. (I think I'll have a pudding cup!)

Day 163 - February 4, 2010

I know I have shown a picture of my table before, but tonight there are only four place settings. Although we're fortunate and blessed Austin comes home on the weekends, this is still the way the table looks the MAJORITY of the time. And while I am so very, very thankful for the four place settings I do put out each night during the week, I have to admit I am missing me some Austin tonight. This is Day 163, and this is an accurate depiction of a weeknight dinner at our home. Heavy, heavy sigh. (I'm going to have to put on my Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson t-shirt to cheer myself up a little.)

Day 162 - February 3, 2010

Day 161 - February 2, 2010

This was a much needed get-together with the ladies from the first Mystery Bag Party at Habaneros. Melaney, Janet, me, Jenny, Melissa and Jill had a wonderful time of fellowship. (We missed SueAnn!) I'm happy to report we solved several of the world's problems over salsa and chips tonight. We'll be sending out memos to several "people in charge" in the next week or so. The older I get (and believe me, I'm getting older by the minute), the more convinced I become that the key to female relationships is continuing to learn about each other, praying for each other and sharing new experiences. Ladies from the second Mystery Bag Party... You're next!

Day 159 - January 31, 2010

We get together for a big family "Breakfast Casserole and all the Fixins'" meal the end of January/first of February every year. Pancakes, cheese grits, muffins, biscuits and gravy, fruit and the star of the show (The Breakfast Casserole) put the smiles on these faces today. Plus, Roxie and Josh taught everyone how to play "Signs." I have to admit, I was the last one to really "get it," but once I did I was AWESOME! This is our sixth year to come together for this special meal, so it definitely deserves to be in my Project 365.

Day 158 - January 30, 2010

Well, the second Mystery Bag Party was a great success. The girls were especially excited when the limo showed up to take us to our secret destinations. (Just kidding! I'm sure the bride and groom sitting in the limo with six women they didn't know leaning against it didn't find this picture as funny as we did!) Angie, Tonya, Jonella, Patti, Dana and LeAnna were great sports, and I'm looking forward to a third Mystery Bag Party in May. Watch A Simple Life in April for contest details! Again, sponsoring contests on A Simple Life has become a pretty big part of my life... and it looks like hosting Mystery Bag Parties has become a seasonal event. That means "documentation" on Project 365!

Day 156 - January 28, 2010

Guess who came over to play today? We have a neighbor who brought her puppy to visit for a little while. Meet Bella. Sweet, tiny, OBEDIENT, non-shedding Bella. Quiet, non-jumping, non-howling, "comes-when-you-call" Bella. Yeah. She's a sweetheart, all right. I guess her only flaw is the fact she isn't (and never will be) a beagle. It isn't her fault. She doesn't need to be ashamed. (Heavy sigh.) But a beagle she will never be. I know how she feels. I feel her pain. I've had to learn to live with the fact I will never be a supermodel. (Another heavy sigh.) Not everyone can be a beagle... or Christie Brinkley. Life's funny that way.

Day 155 - January 27, 2010

I bet you think when I have a really slow day, I just take pictures of appliances. I bet you think if nothing exciting happens in my life tomorrow, there will be a picture of the refrigerator or dryer or curling iron for Day 156. I bet you think my life is so dull and uninteresting, I have to take a picture of a slow cooker. Unfortunately, most of that is true. However, I LOVE my slow cooker, and I have LOVED my slow cooker for well over 22 years. It is the one cooking appliance I feel totally at ease when using. (A wok would terrify me. I'm not kidding.) I use my slow cooker at least once a week. Tonight, simmering in the slow cooker you would find the pork chop and field peas recipe I gave you last Tuesday. (I'll let you know how it turns out!)

Day 153 - January 25, 2010

I'm a dinosaur. That's right. I still use 35mm film in my 35mm camera and I take my 35mm film to Wal-Mart for processing. I ask them every time I put film in, "How much longer before you STOP developing 35mm film?" And they always kindly reply, "You've got a little longer, Ms. Faulkner. Just a little longer." It scares me, I tell you. I'm just trying to make it to August 26, 2010. The life of my 35mm camera is around ten years, so I wanted to keep it exactly ten years to make sure I got my money's worth. (To be perfectly honest, with the volume of pictures I take, my camera is really 30 or 40 years old... in "camera years.") Pictures are most definitely, almost always, a daily part of my life... and have been for about 23 years now!

Day 152 - January 24, 2010

As our anniversary weekend came to a close, I was saddened to leave our little cabin on the mountain. One of the things I loved best about the cabin (along with 999 other things) was the stash of magazines kept there. I am, and always have been, a magazine freak. I love them. Although I only subscribe to one (FamilyFun) and I have two gift subscriptions (Southern Living and Better Homes & Gardens), Real Simple is on my Top Ten List of favorite magazines. However, I cannot subscribe to ten or more magazines. It would be almost sinful. (Unless, of course, you subscribe to ten or more magazines in which case I am very envious... which again is pretty sinful.) Magazine subscriptions aside, simple pleasures are the best, and I wonder how often we miss everyday pleasures in our busy lives. "Simply" put, I enjoyed ALL of the little things this past weekend... magazine reading by the fire included!

Day 151 - January 23, 2010

I bet most of you don't remember what you were doing exactly 22 years ago on January 23, 1988. Mikie and I remember. We were getting married. We always spend our anniversaries "away," usually for one night at a nearby hotel. This year, we celebrated in a beautiful cabin in Mentone, Alabama. We had a very romantic dinner at a gourmet restaurant called the Wildflower Cafe. It was very eclectic and fun. If I had known 22 years ago what I know now... I most certainly would have walked down that aisle at Shades Mountain Baptist in front of family and friends and said, "I do!" Mikie's just one of so many examples of blessings I've received when I've done things God's way and not my own. Happy Anniversary, Mikie!

Day 150 - January 22, 2010

Here's a little known fact about me. I am an AMAZING fire starter. I know what you're thinking... "That looks like one of those Duraflame Logs you buy at Wal-Mart and light at both ends." You would be correct. But even without the fire-starter soaked log, I can build a fire anytime/anywhere... as long as the wood isn't wet and I have matches and a nice dry firepit. It's just one of those things in which I excel. I mean, if there was an Olympic Event in "Fire Starting," I bet I would walk away with the Bronze for sure! Or maybe 4th Place. Definitely 4th Place. (What metal is 4th place? Gold. Silver. Bronze. Tin? Yeah. I think it's tin.)

Day 148 - January 20, 2010

This is my January flag. If you've read A Simple Life, you've seen my flag pictures over the last year, but I wanted to add this picture to Project 365 for documentation purposes. I LOVE using the monthly flags. It is one of my favorite things to do each month. I know what you're thinking. "If it's really one of her favorite things to do, why is she putting her January flag out January 20 instead of January 1?" Gee whiz. You people are relentless! I got busy, and I let this little "chore" slip my mind. But it's out there now... for 11 whole days. Then I get to put out my February flag. You should see that one!

Day 147 - January 19, 2010

This is a little something that hangs around all year long. It is on the doorknob of my bedroom door which leads out to our deck. This is my hope. This is my dream. And unfortunately, this is my disappointment year after year after year living in Alabama. I want snow. I want 3" accumulation WITHOUT loss of power. For once, I want school to be cancelled the night before, wake up and actually see a blanket of the white stuff. I want it to stick. I want it to stay UNDER 32 degrees all day long. I want to throw snowballs and watch Mike and the kids freeze as they build a snowman. I want to REALLY, REALLY sled down a hill like Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation. I want it badly. So badly, I leave this little snowman up 12 months of the year. I think it was 62 degrees in Alabama today. The Faulkners may have to move to Tennessee. Soon!

Day 142 - January 14, 2010

This is a hard one. When I went to the hospital for my first heart attack/stroke/panic attack three years ago, I was initially diagnosed with diabetes. Actually, the beginning of diabetes. I went to all the classes, learned all I could from books and hospital seminars, and I am now successfully controlling my blood sugar with diet and exercise. I also stopped eating these. I didn't stop occasionally taking my kids to Krispy Kreme for fresh baked glazed doughnuts, but I do not partake. However, I still press my nose against the glass and watch the conveyor belt... with all of the other five year-olds. My doctor told me the other day I was lucky. I probably wouldn't have been diagnosed for five to ten more years if it hadn't been for my first heart attack/stroke/panic attack visit to the hospital. I think my definition of "lucky" is a little different than hers. (In case you're wondering... I am bitter. Very, very bitter. I'm not even going to pretend.)

Day 141 - January 13, 2010

What are we going to do without Simon? I can't say we're die hard American Idol fans. Every season we start watching the auditions. (We love the auditions.) But as the season progresses, we watch less and less and less. I think it's because once the final 24 hit the stage, Simon's vote no longer counts. He's the reason we watch the auditions. If he says someone is good... they are GOOD! If he says someone is bad... you better believe they are BAD! While I think he can be mean from time to time, I find that his is the only opinion I really care about as far as the talent goes. Sad as it is, the Faulkner Five may be saying good-bye to American Idol at the end of this season. I love Simon too much.

Day 139 - January 11, 2010

This is an every day event during the winter months. We call it "The Running of the Beagles." On bitterly cold nights, Sparkle and Copper sleep in an unfinished room downstairs in the basement on their little doggie bed. In the morning, I let them out of the basement and they run up the stairs, through the den to my bedroom door which is a direct path to their "world." At night, it is just the opposite. I know what you're thinking. Where is Sparkle? While Copper runs from Point A to Point B, Sparkle tends to make pit stops at any and all Faulkners along the way for some lovin'. At this particular moment, she is receiving affection from Roxie before she makes her way to Mikie in the recliner and then to me holding the camera. Copper has finished "The Running of the Beagles" long before Sparkle ever makes it to the den. (Please notice not one of Copper's four feet are on the ground. He is airborne most of the time. I find that interesting, don't you?)

Day 136 - January 8, 2010

Since I've been featuring some crafty things on A Simple Life this past week, I thought I'd share one more thing in Project 365. Roxie and I knit scarves. I have 1,000,000 of them. (Actually, I have nine, but I've made others and given them away.) Knitting is a very relaxing and useful craft. No matter how cold it gets in Alabama, if I'm wearing one of my scarves, my neck is sweating. Always. My sister, Bev, can knit anything. Before Roxie turns 16, I imagine she'll be as talented as my sister. I'm happy just knitting row after row after row until I have enough length to make a scarf. It's one of those little things that makes me happy. (Next week I'm going to show you my butter churn and my loom. But first, I have to find out exactly what a loom is... Hmmm.)

Day 135 - January 7, 2010

What's missing from this picture? Hmmm. Sugar... check. Vanilla... check. Eggnog (instead of half-and-half)... check. Bowl big enough for a quart or more of snow... check. SNOW... I SAID SNOW! How am I supposed to make Snow Cream without the SNOW? It still isn't over. It's 3:03 p.m. CST and the bowl is sitting on the picnic table waiting to collect clean snow. (No "yellow" snow for us.) If anything major develops, I may have to change the Picture of the Day. But I have a feeling this may be it!

Day 134 - January 6, 2010

I received a call from my friend, Melaney, this afternoon. I had a different Picture of the Day planned, but she pointed out the fountain in our little town was completely frozen. It was a much, much better Picture of the Day. Even I had to admit that. So I left the warmth of hearth and home and drove the 1.2 miles to the fountain... made three kids move who were playing around the fountain... waved at their mother who was sitting in her car watching... and took the photo. Melaney is a genius. This definitely is the ONLY picture which would possibly do!

Day 133 - January 5, 2010

And he's gone... again! I let my guard down. I enjoyed him being home day after day after day. And then today... he packed his things, climbed in the red pick-up truck, and drove to JSU. Again, with that big, goofy grin on his face. That's it. I've had it. Growing up... college... marriage... all of it is VERY over-rated. Now the grandchildren part... Well, I can see the benefits of that part. But there is just so much a mother's heart can take before you finally get a grandchild, don't you think? Honestly, if he would just look a little sad when he leaves it would thrill me to pieces. (And, yes. I have already taken the maximum dose of my "Austin Goes to College" medication for the day. Thanks for asking!)

Day 132 - January 4, 2010

It's time. This should have been my Picture of the Day 130 days ago. This is The Big Gold Van. It has a television set, track lighting, and the back seat folds out into a twin bed. It has leg room for boys who are 6'4" and 6'2", respectively. It has a radio that puts all of the country music in the back of the van. It's a rockin' van! I will drive it until it will drive no more... and then it will be time for Mikie to buy my next vehicle. The biggest RV known to man. The kind you drive... not the kind you pull. And if The Big Gold Van breaks down tomorrow, you'll see me in the car pool line in the biggest RV known to man (sooner than later). I'll be the one smiling because I have my very own bathroom in my vehicle! (And just so you know, my carbon footprints are gigantic!)

Day 131 - January 3, 2010

Day 130 - January 2, 2010

I almost didn't make it. It is 11:51 p.m. on January 2, 2010... but we were very busy tonight. This is The Hope Quartet (Rodney, Billy, Mikie and David). These guys sang together in their teens and even cut a record at one time. Tonight they held a concert in Oxford and it was absolutely FABULOUS! They haven't sang together "offically" in 30 years, but it didn't seem like 30 years tonight. It seemed like only yesterday. There were probably over 200 people in attendance, and it was just a wonderful, sweet time as we listened to old songs, stories and testimonies. It was one of those "moments" Mikie and these guys will never forget... and neither will their families.

Day 129 - January 1, 2010

New Year's Day. What you do on this day represents what you will be doing each day of the new year. Austin wouldn't mind hunting every day... if he actually saw a deer. He wouldn't even mind wearing camo every day... if they made it in JSU's colors. But he would mind eating turnip green soup every day for an entire year. While it's a good New Year's Day kind of meal (turnip greens and black eyed peas in one bowl, not to mention a lot of sausage), it's not pizza. And every one knows a college boy has to have pizza many, many times during the new year. (Oh, and Austin hasn't forgotten his manners. I made him put the cap on for the picture to hide his massive hat hair.)

Day 128 - December 31, 2009

Day 126 - December 29, 2009

Look what I made! Eggs in a Hole! I used my new The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook, and I made an authentic cowboy dish. Seriously though, this is part of my life the last few years. I like to try new recipes. I like to read new cookbooks. I like to bake... even though I can't eat sweets any more. (Well, I do have a bite now and again.) I would not consider myself a good cook, but every now and then I have a success story to share. And today it is Eggs in a Hole. You may make these every other day, but this is a first for me, and they turned out very, very well. Tomorrow, I will try a recipe from Julia Childs' cookbook... not!

Day 125 - December 28, 2009

This is one of our Christmas presents. Josh and Austin wanted a Bowflex, and Santa delivered. This isn't it's final resting place... we have a room for it on the other side of the wall, but some prepping has to be done before the guys move it again. You know your kids are getting older when Christmas morning instead of having EVERYTHING in place and wrapped, you have a box with a letter and a picture in it saying, "Your gift is in a neighbor's basement." And you really know they're growing up when you make them walk over, knock on the nieghbor's door and move it to their basement themselves because you don't want to bother any of the other dads Christmas Eve or Christmas Morn. Thankfully, they were thrilled and didn't think about it the same way I did... that they were almost grown and the fact the gift wasn't set up in our own basement would have been a disaster not so very long ago. Oh, well. On the bright side, the Faulkner Five ought to have some really nice, big muscles in the near future. Well, maybe three out of five.

Day 124 - December 27, 2009

This is something I look forward to each and every year. Celeste, Kelley, Alesia and I have been friends for over 24 years. We were singles together at Shades Mountain Baptist. We dated together. We married within a few years of each other. We had babies together. My Austin and Alesia's Andrew were born three days apart. The day she checked out of the hospital with Andrew, I checked in to have Austin. We had the same labor and delivery room. Kelley's Trey came eight months later. The rest of the kiddos just kept a-comin'... nine in all. Alesia moved to Georgia about 16 years ago, so we try to get together at Christmas when Alesia is in town to visit family. To be honest, usually we have three out of four, but today we were 100 percent... and it felt good. We are the best kind of friends. We have history... and nothing takes the place of having history with another woman, does it?

Day 123 - December 26, 2009

Well, it's official. The Wii has landed. Mike's parents received a Wii System for their Christmas present. Mrs. Faulkner actually squealed with delight. (We have it on video.) It was fun watching everyone from 13 to 82 enjoy their turn bowling, golfing and playing tennis. The only "slightly bad" incident in an otherwise lovely day was when I accidentally hit my great-nephew (Matthew) in the head with my hand/controller while bowling. He didn't even cry. I think he was totally stunned Belinda the Great smacked him in the head. Thankfully, after his nap he didn't seem to remember what had happened and he loved me anyway. (That, or there may be some short-term memory loss.) But being the glass half-full person I'm always telling you I am... I decided to remember the spare I bowled AFTER the head smack, and not the fact I struck my beloved great-nephew on the noggin. (It's a coping mechanism, and it's the only way I'll be able to sleep tonight.)

Day 122 - December 25, 2009

I let Roxie pick through the hundred or so pictures on my camera to choose the Picture of the Day. She liked this one, and so did I. When the boys (and girls) were little, my Mom's living room was filled wall-to-wall with toys and wrapping paper. Now the living room is filled with wall-to-wall teenagers. (Well, not Zac. He'll be 12 in February, so he's our only non-teenager... and I love him for that!) We are blessed with four very sweet, very different young men in our family. I miss the little boys, but these guys can be a lot of fun, too. They are definitely a huge reason our Christmas was "merry" this year.

Day 121 - December 24, 2009

Today's picture is a tradition Roxie and I share each Christmas Eve. We get Christmas manicures every year... this is our fourth year! This year we decided to add breakfast and cookie deliveries to the mix. Fun. You cannot tell, but Roxie has the tiniest little candy cane on her fingernail. I have the tiniest wreath on mine. (HELPFUL HINT: We go in the morning so we do not have to do dishes or toilets Christmas Eve. We don't want to mess up our nails. It is understood by the menfolk in our home they are in charge of dishes and toilets... which is how I believe it should be 365 days a year!)

Day 120 - December 23, 2009

Yes, it is Christmas Eve Eve. I don't know why Kelci and Roxie aren't wearing red and/or green. I don't know why they are not baking cookies, or watching a Christmas movie, or caroling the neighbors. I don't know why this close to Christmas they are participating in the most un-Christmasy thing EVER... Rock Band! But I do know they are having fun... and as soon as they finish, I'm going to make them drink eggnog and dress up in traditional "Bethlehem" garb and deliver homemade goodies to our neighbors. Yeah! That's the ticket!

Day 119 - December 22, 2009

I have a couple of collections. I collect thousands upon thousands of pictures. I collect many scrapbooks which hold the thousands and thousands of pictures. I collect angel ornaments for my angel Christmas tree. I collect Disney ornaments for my Disney Christmas tree I will put up when I have grandchildren. And I collect Christmas music boxes. I have almost 20 now. This one acts as a calendar as well as a music box. It is one of my favorites. I put them all over the house during the holidays and at any given time when the kids or their friends are over you can hear the tinkly melody of one or more Christmas carols playing somewhere in the house. It's nothing extraordinary, but special to me. Thus, it is my picture of the day!

Day 118 - December 21, 2009

School's out! What to do? What to do? Movie with some friends? That sounds good. Dinner at Cici's Pizza? That sounds good, too. Kendall and Roxie enjoyed "Old Dogs" very much. (So did I.) It's hard to admit John Travolta has aged, but it happens to the best of us. It's also hard to watch a movie which stars John Travolta, but he doesn't dance. When I mentioned that to Roxie, she couldn't believe the old guy was once THE dancer who made disco and the white polyester shirt and pants famous. "What's disco?" I am older than dirt... but so is John Travolta! (And Robin Williams practically has one foot in the grave!) But I digress. It was a fun way to spend a Christmas Vacation Day.

Day 117 - December 20, 2009

It's working! We're BONDING! The Christmas Puzzle Table is a success. Well, at least with some of the Faulkner Five. We've all been in and out of the room (except for Josh), but Austin is by far the die-hard puzzle guy in the group. Roxie is a close second though. And we have to give Melia credit for helping Austin find border pieces... but she talks... to me... while she works. And Austin must have silence to work on a puzzle. It's really very annoying. Our goal is to have our puzzle finished by New Year's Day. Any and all family and friends are welcome to help us reach our goal!

Day 116 - December 19, 2009

Christmas at the Palisades in Oneonta... Roxie and Josh's #1 Favorite Christmas Festivity. Every year, we rent a lodge with a fireplace and have a Christmas dinner with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and great-grandparent. We play games, have contests, walk around in the freezing cold looking at the lights, and drink hot chocolate. This is just a sampling of the nine great-grandchildren on my side of the family... Katie, Roxie, Tyler, Abbie and Monica. I have to be honest. The only reason Tyler is in this picture is because I mentioned all the boots the girls were wearing. Like any good Bradley offspring, the boy is wearing his cowboy boots. He didn't realize it was a chick pic. He thought it was a boot pic. And I didn't dare correct him! He's our family baby, and he's welcome in any picture... anytime and anywhere!

Day 115 - December 18, 2009

Day 114 - December 17, 2009

Ahhh! One of the most meaningful Christmas traditions EVER! (We've been doing this for years and years.) A piece of chocolate every morning the month of December counting down the days until Christmas morn. Don't let the picture of the dancing polar bears decorating a Christmas tree throw you. This is serious stuff. Every morning, I put a chocolate advent calendar from Cracker Barrel in the bed with each of the kids... and they roll over, open the appropriate square and wake up with a piece of chocolate melting in their mouth. Now that's the way to start a day!

Day 113 - December 16, 2009

I mentioned my Christmas Card goal on Day 12 of Project 365... in September when I received my first two cards. My goal is 75 cards. So far, I have 39 cards and two and a half door frames covered with Christmas greetings. By the time next Friday rolls around, I hope to have met my goal and have five or six of my door frames covered. This is a HUGE part of my life. Each and every mail day beginning the day after Thanksgiving, I go to my living room window (numerous times) and watch for my mailwoman. (I love her!) It's just one of those things that makes me happy. (It doesn't take much, does it?)

Day 112 - December 15, 2009

Bet you didn't expect this one, did you? We played Dirty Santa at Mike's office party tonight, and he won BIG time! I love this hat. It just screams, "Wear me, Mikie! Wear me all the time!" His office party is one of the highlights of our Christmas season. He is blessed to work with some of the nicest people I've ever met, and I look forward to being with them this time each year. (By the way, I won a bottle of Sparkling Peach Juice with Happy New Year's blowers. I was very happy with my gift and have set it aside for our New Year's Eve celebration.) I will have to admit I would be the proud owner of a box of chocolate truffles if it wasn't for this diabetes thing... but I'm happy just the same!

Day 110 - December 13, 2009

Day 109 - December 12, 2009

This is my bed after Roxie makes it up for me. (We trade. I make up her bed because it is a day bed and it is very difficult to tuck in tight around the edges, and she makes my bed which is much, much easier.) But it never fails... Whenever she makes my bed, she does something a "little different" with the pillow arrangement. I never know what imaginative pillow creation I will find, but I'm always pleased. She says one day she'll be an interior designer. I say she'll always have a job at Disney making up beds and leaving mouse ear towels and other artsy things as bed decor for the guests.

Day 108 - December 11, 2009

Look at all the "little girl pink." Roxie and I went shopping for a little friend for Christmas. It is so much fun shopping in the toy section again! I can remember the exact day and time when each of my kids outgrew the Wal-Mart toy department. It is imprinted on my brain as a day of mourning! Check out the pink boots. Roxie picked those. As always, I had to be the practical one, so I chose the all-white tennis shoes which will go with everything. But in my heart, I'm so glad she grabbed the pink boots. Every little girl should have a pair of pretty pink boots. (Big girls, too! Don't be surprised if you see me in a pair of pink boots in the very near future. You'll know it's me because there will be a 13 year-old teenage girl following 50 paces behind me with her eyes rolled ALL the way back in her head.)

Day 107 - December 10, 2009

"Mom! I'm HOME!" Yes, Austin is home for exactly one month. And this is exactly how he and his brother, his sister and their dad always run in the door! Wildly happy to be back in the arms of their mother (and in Mikie's case, wife)! It's actually embarrassing to be loved so very much, but I've learned to live with it. (Don't tell anyone, but I made him come in five different times to get this one shot. I have a feeling the next time he comes home for any length of time, he'll sneak in through a basement window.)

Day 106 - December 9, 2009

Back in the day, I was an avid cross-stitcher. (Prior to being an avid scrapbooker.) These are two of my finest creations. While Mike's stocking is a "scene," Austin's stocking is solid, 100% cross-stitch... every last square. These stockings became "movie stockings" a few years ago. On Christmas morning, everyone knows they will have a RAVE movie gift certificate, their favorite candy bar, their favorite sucker and a pack of their favorite gum. We use all of these items for our "Day After Christmas" tradition of going to a blockbuster movie. Instead of hanging the stockings together, they hang on each person's doorknob until Christmas Eve when they join the rest of the gifts under the tree. This is a big part of 1/12 of my year, and as such I believe it deserves a spot on my Project 365 blog.

Day 103 - December 6, 2009

Well, it finally happened. Charlotte, Faith and I were all together at the same time. Of course, I had to go to Faith's house when I knew Charlotte was going to be there to take this picture, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do! Actually, Roxie, Katie and I went on the Christmas Home Tour, and when I arrived at Faith's home (which was on the tour), imagine my delight to find she had a "Caroling Room." That's right! Shelley, Larry, Jackie, Charlotte and Faith serenaded us with a lovely Christmas carol. It was absolutely beautiful (as was the house). I'm just sorry it took me 103 days to have a picture of the three of us on my Project 365 blog. Let's not wait another 103 days, girls... Okay?

Day 102 - December 5, 2009

I know I'm posting today's picture very early, but let's face it... snow in Alabama! Nothing is going to beat this image December 5, 2009. Not Christmas decorations, cousins playing X-Box, completed pre-fab gingerbread houses, cute beagles... NOTHING! We'll be busy for the next hour or so consuming the five loaves of bread and three gallons of milk we bought at Walmart during the Snow Shower Frenzy of 2009. (If this was a Monday, school would have been cancelled... for three days.) Can you tell? I love Alabama.

Day 101 - December 4, 2009

This may look like an ordinary "Melia and Austin in front of the Christmas tree picture," but you would be wrong. This is our family's 5th Annual Christmas Movie Night, and Melia was our special guest. We draw a name out of a bowl every Thanksgiving, and that person gets to pick the Christmas movie we will be watching the next week. So far, five males have gotten to choose the movie. Five! The only names left in the bowl for the next six years are the five girls in our family and Mikie... and I have a feeling Mikie's name might be taken out of the bowl next year. And by the way... Tommy chose "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." (The Jim Carrey version. A good movie, but not what I, the Enchanting Belinda, would have picked. And although I sound a little bitter, even to me, I'm not. Really.)

Day 100 - December 3, 2009

Yes, we keep our beagles outside, but our deer get to stay in the living room. This fellow shows up in different rooms every year. He lived in Austin's room for a while, but I brought him downstairs to peek around the corner at our Christmas tree. I think it says I have whimsy to put a lit deer in my living room. The kids say its embarrassing. They want me to put him outside beside my inflatable JOY, but everyone knows a lit deer and a big, red inflatable JOY do not a set make. Let's have some class, people!

Day 99 - December 2, 2009

I love to set the table with Christmas china every day during the month of December, so this is a big part of our lives 1/12 of the year. Breakfast and dinner (and when school is out, lunch) will be served on the Christmas china. It even makes a hot dog more festive. Yes, these plates have seen everything from turkey and all the fixings to chili cheese crispitos to Domino's Pizza to Chinese Chicken. My goodness! I didn't realize how ethnically diverse our Christmas meals had become. I feel very cosmopolitan! (And to tie everything together, the centerpiece is filled with miniature Disney ornaments. "It's a small world after all.")

Day 97 - November 30, 2009

This is a sad little picture. Instead of a picture of Christmas decorations and lights and "pretty" things, this is a picture of my poor un-pedicured toes and my TV set. (I'm watching Little People, Big World... I'm a big fan.) My jaw hurts, and in just a few minutes with the help of my good friend, Mr. Loritab, I will be snoring in the chair NOT watching anything. Today's dental work was pretty yucky, and it was not the way I wanted to end November, but tomorrow is December 1. A new month. A new beginning. And hopefully, a pedicure some time in the very near future.

Day 95 - November 28, 2009

This is our 15th year cutting down our very own christmas tree at Pine Hill Tree Farms. Fifteen years! The six years of our marriage prior to moving to Gardendale, Mikie and I either cut our own trees from a neighbor's yard while he was sleeping, or we supported our local Boy Scout Troop by buying one from their lot. But this has been an excellent tradition. Picking out a tree... everyone taking a turn sawing... feeding the reindeer bananas... riding the tractor-pulled wagon to the top of the hill... drinking free hot chocolate while the workers wrapped the tree... All of those things are embedded in our minds as the FIRST thing we do as the Faulkner Five to signify the beginning of the Christmas season in our home. It's a tradition, and one I hope we will continue for many, many years to come. (And I was just kidding about cutting down our neighbor's trees while he was sleeping. Really. It was just a joke.)

Day 93 - November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Day. I have so much to be thankful for, but this guy is always at the top of the list. Mikie has been a great husband for the past 21 (almost 22) years. I tell my kids ALL the time to wait on God and marry the person He has specifically chosen for them. Don't settle. Don't try to make a square peg fit into a round hole. Marrying the person God wants you to marry will always be worth the wait. (Of course, I believe Mikie held things up a year or two dating every girl on the face of the planet while he got to know me, but that probably sounds a little bitter, doesn't it?)

Day 92 - November 25, 2009

Day 91 - November 24, 2009

The Faulkner Five went to the movies tonight. An excellent movie. Austin and Josh had both read the book, and they were very anxious to see The Blind Side. It did not disappoint. It makes you want to reach out and do more for others. It makes you want to cheer for the underdog. It makes you want to watch the Ravens play on Monday Night Football so you can watch Michael Oher become the greatest left tackle to ever play in the NFL. It really, really does. I want to be there when the Ravens win the Super Bowl and Michael Oher says, "I'm going to Disneyland!" (I've just put it on my list of things to do before I'm 90.) In case you haven't noticed, I highly recommend this movie.

Day 90 - November 23, 2009

Do you remember when you would tip-toe into your baby's room and watch him/her sleep. I could have watched them for hours. And now, these huge (the brothers) and semi-huge (the sister) people are sleeping all over the house... But I still love watching them. They don't seem as "old" when they are sleeping, do they? (For the record, if one of the kids tip-toed in my room and took a picture of me sleeping, they would pay dearly. For some reason, I think I probably don't look younger when I'm sleeping. Just a hunch!)

Day 89 - November 22, 2009

If I could have personally picked the kids I wanted in my little family, I would most definitely have chosen Austin, Roxie and this guy. Josh is doing very well. We take one day at a time, and right now we are having a lot of good days in a row. Although Thanksgiving is technically a few days away, I can honestly say I am very thankful we are able to look back over the last four years and see some of the ways God has used Josh's illness for His glory. I haven't always been able to say that, but today, Sunday, November 22, 2009, I can sincerely thank God for showing our family some of the good things which have come out of some very, very dark months and years. We are beyond blessed... and we know it!

Day 88 - November 21, 2009

Day 87 - November 20, 2009

Day 85 - November 18, 2009

He may look like an ordinary little scarecrow, but this fellow has a purpose. It is a well-known fact I kill all living plants within a few feet of me. Thus, it was no surprise to family and friends when the pot of mums I bought less than two weeks ago withered and DIED. It's still autumn. I still need something to sit on the pedestal overlooking my giant pumpkin. So off to Hobby Lobby I go, and for 80% off the original price, I buy Bernie, the Scarecrow. He requires no watering. All I have to do is set him on his pedestal again (and again) after a stiff breeze blows him over. He's going to help me finish my autumnal celebration on my front porch. (Watch the guy who stole the tiny pumpkin from Chick-Fil-A come by and snatch Bernie. That would be my luck!)

Day 84 - November 17, 2009

Me and my sister. Different eyes... different hair... different skin tones... different personalities. People cannot even tell we're related, much less sisters. But she joined the family when I was four years-old, and we've been sisters ever since. I look exactly like my mother and grandmother, and Bev looks exactly like my Dad and his side of the family. We found out four years was a pretty big age difference while we were growing up, but we were fortunate enough to have all of our children close together, and we discovered being mothers at the same time finally gave us some common ground. That, and we're two of the best aunts in the world! We're blessed to be sisters and friends.

Day 81 - November 14, 2009

This picture hurts my heart... literally. It's not bad enough Austin went away to college and Josh started driving. Now Roxie has turned into someone I barely recognize. I like her. Actually, I love this new person who likes to shop, watch chick flicks, try new recipes, scrapbook with me and critique my outfits, hair and make-up. She is an amazing young lady. But how can I not miss my tiny little girl with fat cheeks, sparkly brown eyes and sturdy little legs used to keep up with everything "The Brothers" were doing. If I look really, really hard, I can still see her. She's still there. My little Roxie.

Day 80 - November 13, 2009

Day 79 - November 12, 2009

If it is Thursday night, it is SURVIVOR NIGHT at our house. We all groan in unison when someone tries to be the leader the first day. We know he's a goner. We always look for the two obligatory "crazy" people that somehow made the cut to be on Survivor in the first place. Up until our last camping trip, Roxie was going to be on Survivor when she became old enough. However, sleeping in a cold, wet tent with smelly brothers changed her mind. Now she is happily waiting for the time she is old enough to sign up for The Amazing Race! We'll see. We'll see.

Day 78 - November 11, 2009

Date Night! Mike and Roxie went to see A Christmas Carol. I can't watch 3D movies. They give me a headache. But Mike and Roxie were all set to get the "nerd" glasses and enjoy the 3D special effects... until Mikie found out it costs $3 extra per ticket. That's $12 a ticket to go to a movie, guys. I hate to sound ancient, but when I was Roxie's age, weren't movie tickets only $1.50? I need to do some research. (They had a wonderful time. I love that Roxie is a Daddy's Girl. It's one of the best things you can possibly be.)

Day 77 - November 10, 2009

Hurricane Ida... ALL DAY LONG! I have to be honest. Before Josh became ill, this was my favorite kind of day. A blustery, rainy, gray November day was wonderful. However, when this kind of day became a nightmare for Josh, I found myself praying for sunshine 365 days a year. Thankfully, today didn't bother Josh in the least, so I was able to enjoy Tropical Depression Ida. (She was demoted.) I even got out in the wind and the rain to buy a diet peach tea from Arby's. This drink is one of life's simple pleasures... along with blustery November days.

Day 75 - November 8, 2009

No, this isn't the "best" picture of Austin I've ever taken. This is strictly to mark the end of the first week of No"shave"ember. As the top of Austin's hair grows back after a misunderstanding with his new Korean barber in Jacksonville, he decides to let the lower part of his face grow patches of auburn-colored whiskers here and there. You cannot tell in this picture, but the chin whiskers are a little curly, while the other patches along the sides of his face are straight. It will be very interesting to see what next week's growth will look like. Personally, I'm hoping it itches so much he'll shave it off the day before our Christmas Card picture is taken. (I hope! I hope!) Also, I do not care for this new "holiday." No gifts. No decorations. No songs. Just a bunch of scruffy-looking young men. I think we can do away with No"shave"ember... and the sooner, the better.

Day 73 - November 6, 2009

And then there were five. Five plates. Five forks. Five glasses (not pictured). Five Faulkners sitting around a dinner table... eating breakfast. I know I promised a people picture, but the guys have already gotten comfortable, Roxie and I look a little worn and weary from our all-day field trip, and Mikie... Well, Mikie looks just fine. Setting the table used to be a chore, but a few years ago I realized it was a privilege and a blessing. And to have five chairs filled with the people I love around the dinner table is a good thing. A very, very good thing.

Day 72 - November 5, 2009

Pumpkin, Oh Pumpkin! Wherefore art thou, O Pumpkin? If you'll remember, on Day 44 I took a picture of a tiny little pumpkin sitting on the drive-thru menu of Chick-Fil-A. It stayed there less than 30 days. I checked on it at least every other day. Obviously, someone without my moral fiber took the tiny little pumpkin. How could they? (I was planning on taking it on November 15 if it was still there.) I had every intention of putting a "people" picture up today, but I was so upset about the missing pumpkin, this is what I used instead. Tomorrow, a photo with people. I promise.

Day 71 - November 4, 2009

This is an important part of my life. This is the fourth church I've attended in 48 years of life, and I've been a member here for 16 years this January, 2010. It's a sweet place of worship, and it's been a wonderful place to raise our family in our Christian faith. I've learned many, many things in this building. It is quite possibly one of the most important places I go during the week. (And don't worry. It isn't really leaning. That's my camera's fault. Mikie... I NEED a new camera! It's time!)

Day 69 - November 2, 2009

This is Roxie at the Tip-Off Tournament tonight. Mike and I were sitting on the front row and she had to throw the ball in. I was actually this close to her. If she had been ten years younger (three or four), I would have taken the opportunity to gently tug on her ponytail, or give her a little pat on the back, or whisper, "You go, girl!" But in the world of middle school basketball, all of those things are TOTALLY unacceptable. She would have administered the death glare, and I would have been banned from coming to any other basketball games. So like any good parents of middle school basketball players sitting WAY too close to their daughter while she throws the ball in... we looked away and pretended we didn't know her. (Thirteen year-old girls should come with a very large color-coded rule book for parents. Believe me. We need all the help we can get.)

Day 68 - November 1, 2009

This is my twin sister, Beverly, and my niece, Katie. (We're really not twins. It was a little joke.) We took a little walk around the lake near my Mom's house today after our fall lunch. It was the perfect November 1 kind of day. Cool, crisp air (no rain), leaves crunching under our feet (no mud) and leaves fluttering all around. Beautiful. Katie is number four out of our six cousins, and she is now driving. That's four out of six. It makes Bev and me a little sick. Just a little. It also makes us feel old. A LOT!

Day 67 - October 31, 2009

Do you want to meet a nice lady? This is Melissa (friend to Karmen and Ragan). She offered to let Roxie and Ragan wear Wilma and Betty costumes she had made prior to this year. The costumes were too big for the girls, so she altered them... on a sewing machine. She told me to bring Roxie over at 2:30 Halloween Day and she would fix her hair so she would look exactly like Wilma Flintstone. I had never met this woman before this picture was taken... but I love her! (No. I mean it. I really, really love her! She is my new best friend, but she doesn't even know it yet.) She made Roxie and Ragan's day (and mine, too). Yabba-Dabba-Dooo!!!!

Day 65 - October 29, 2009

Look! A picture of a person. Don't worry. Austin hasn't gone "cowboy" on us. He's going to be a country singer tonight at the Baptist Campus Ministries' Halloween Party. There's a flannel shirt, boots and guitar involved, too. (Believe it or not, the hat fit much better when he bought it a few months ago and he had hair. It sits a little lower nowadays.) I rode to Gadsden to see him and share a milkshake for a few minutes this afternoon. You'll be glad to know he hasn't changed much since Monday morning.

Day 64 - October 28, 2009

Okay. We're back to taking a lot of pictures of inanimate objects again. ("People" pictures tomorrow. I promise.) However, this is part of my daily life. Well, one of the items is part of my daily life. I love the vacuum. I love the noise. I love the end result. I love making track marks which all go in the same direction on the carpet. I've always liked vacuuming. The same cannot be said for dusting. And it doesn't really make sense, does it? I can see the end result when I dust, too. I don't have to use any elbow grease. I just have to gently rub a rag over square furniture. I don't even break a sweat when I dust. (Who am I kidding? I keep my house so cold, I could have a blacksmith shop in the back and not break a sweat.) For better or worse, this is today's picture. Tomorrow... THE LAUNDRY ROOM! (Not!)

Day 63 - October 27, 2009

Sadly, it has come to this. I am a "key loser." It is one of my 42 flaws I spoke of recently on A Simple Life. I can never find my keys. Yes, I have tried putting them in the same place every day... but where is that place? Finally, after much pleading from the children, Mikie broke down and bought me this attractive lime green key chain bracelet which I am to wear all day, every day for the rest of my life. The worst part of this story is I am also an "eye glass loser." The kids, seeing how well the key chain bracelet is working, are now looking for a matching eye glass necklace for me to wear every day, all day long for the rest of my life. My destiny is sealed. I will not be remembered as The Enchanting Belinda as I had once hoped and dreamed. I will instead go down in history as The Tacky Fashion Disaster FORMERLY Known as The Enchanting Belinda. So terribly, terribly sad. (Oh, and I know that looks like a lot of loose skin on my forearm, but I assure you it is the camera angle. Really. It is.)

Day 62 - October 26, 2009

Probably not what you were expecting, was it? These are my walking shoes. I walk on an outside track, so they look much older than they really are. Walking has been part of my life for the past 11 years. That doesn't mean I haven't taken the occasional break, but for the most part I have walked. I walk two miles three to five days a week (closer to three than five). I have two walking buddies at the moment which is wonderful because I HATE walking alone. I HATE IT, HATE IT, HATE IT! People have told me to try listening to an I-Pod when I have to walk by myself, but the ear pieces are too big for my small, delicate ears. (I'm not kidding. They kill my ears.) So if you see me walking, I am ALWAYS with someone... never alone. And that, my friends, is a big part of my life!

Day 61 - October 25, 2009

Today's picture is of Monica and Roxie. Monica is Roxie's cousin. Their birthdays are a couple of weeks apart (more or less), and they like to celebrate together each year. This year it was decided the celebration was to be held at Red Robin... Yummm! It was also decided that lunch was fine... exchanging gifts was fine... drinking out of the curvy glasses was fine... being sung to by waiters while eating free ice cream was fine... but shopping was the most "fine" thing of all. So after a delicious meal, shopping we went. A good time was had by all. I remember being 13 about 1,000,000 years ago. I also remember having a cousin I thought hung the moon (Becky), and any time spent with her was just wonderful. Roxie is fortunate to have two such cousins in her life... Katie AND Monica. Cousins are wonderful beings, but when they happen to be cousins and friends... Well, you just can't beat that combo. Cheers to two beautiful new teenagers!

Day 60 - October 24, 2009

As promised... Austin and Melia's JSU homecoming pic. We had wanted to take it at the top of the JSU library with the campus in the background, but alas and alack, they closed at 5:00. Thus, the incredibly attractive parking lot shot. It's okay though. They are pretty enough to forgo the perfect background. Austin's hair didn't come in as much as I would have liked, but I do have hope for our Christmas card pictures. It was a wonderful day, and we enjoyed spending it with Melia and her family. (Don't worry. When I scrapbook all the pictures, I'm cropping the cars OUT!)

Day 59 - October 23, 2009

I'm hanging in there! My third football game in one week.. and one more to go. I have to admit, this was a great game. We won, and Josh has never looked better on the sidelines as he did tonight. I almost wore my fall blouse, but I knew I was going to take one more bleacher picture and I wanted you to see I have exactly three fall/winter shirts... not just one. And yes, I name all of my clothes. Underneath my coat, I am wearing my ugly gray fleece. I like having names for all my garments. I would be one of those women who still wore Days of the Week underwear if they made them in my size. But I digress. Good ballgame. One more to go. The picture of the day tomorrow will probably be Austin and Melia dressed up for homecoming instead of me in the bleachers again, but you never know. (I'm wearing my pumpkin turtleneck and you haven't seen it yet!)

Day 58 - October 22, 2009

Well, there he is... about to take his first solo drive 2.18 miles away from our driveway. Away from our home. Away from the people who love him most on this earth. Away from the mother who brought him into this world, fed him (a lot), washed his clothes, and watched him grow. Breathing... very... difficult! Why is it during the time when we need to spend the most time on our knees praying (a/k/a the teenage years), they are already starting to wear out? I see knee replacements in my very near future!

Day 56 - October 20, 2009

This is a picture of me and two friends (Charlotte and Julie) in the bleachers of the SECOND football game I will be attending this week. (That's two out of four football games!) I had planned on sitting with Julie during the game all along. It's how our friendship began... sitting on bleachers. And later we added walking in the morning to the mix... You know, to counteract the hours of sitting on the bleachers. Charlotte was a lovely surprise this evening. My spirits had been sagging this Tuesday, October 20, but Charlotte sat down behind us and offered encouragement and insight and conversation which lightened my mood greatly. I appreciate and admire Julie for her honesty and her perspective on so many things. I appreciate Charlotte for her ability to say such sweet things so eloquently. How did an evening I wasn't really looking forward to turn into such a good, good night? Day 56 ended on a very good note! (Did you see the pun, Charlotte? The evening ended on a good "note." I crack me up!)

Day 55 - October 19, 2009

After complaining about all the rain... and then the warm days... and then the rain again... It was nice to be able to complain about the cold. And we did! We watched the last JV game in Trussville. Josh played a good bit, so it was worth the frigid temps. We lost in the 4th quarter 6-0, but Josh was still thrilled. He loves the game. He loves to play. And we thank God he is able to be on the team this year... whether it's 90 degrees or 40 degrees. If he's happy and doing well, Grandmother and Mom are happy and doing well. (Well, we might be a little better if we could feel our noses and feet, but that's beside the point, isn't it?)

Day 54 - October 18, 2009

There's definitely a story here. Austin went for his first non-Gardendale haircut. He went to a place in Jacksonville, and everything was going very well. A little Chinese woman was cutting his hair, and when he THOUGHT she asked him if he wanted it a little shorter, he said, "Yes. Just a little." What she must have heard was, "SHAVE IT! SHAVE IT ALL OFF!" He may be able to be in the Christmas Card picture. We'll have to see how fast it grows out. (He was excited because the haircut was only $9, and he figured it would be four more months before he needed another cut. I'm thinking five.) His Grandmother still thinks he's handsome... and so do I. This falls under the category of "Life Lessons Learned at College," I'm sure.

Day 53 - October 17, 2009

War Eagle!!! My weekend plans TOTALLY changed. My Saturday night date with Mikie turned into an Auburn opportunity for him (and Josh) which could not be passed up. Roxie's plans remained unchanged, and she, too, headed to Auburn for the day with a friend. Austin's plans remained the same with a Band Exhibition in Georgia. Which left me. Poor, poor, little me. What is it I'm always saying on A Simple Life... be flexible? Yeah. Well, that works a lot better in writing than in real life. But I'm proud of myself. I got everyone ready to go, fed the guys a good hearty lunch, and then planned the rest of my altered Saturday. Cooking, cleaning, scrapbooking and a little Christmas shopping... maybe a chick flick. Oh, and a nap. A fall, gray-day nap. The very best kind! I hope everyone has a great October 17, 2009!

Day 52 - October 16, 2009

You knew it was coming eventually. I mean, I took the picture of them on the actual tree, so it was just a matter of time before I took a picture of them on the ground... with a carefully placed acorn to add that little autumnal "something." That's right. This was a "staged' shot. I helped nature out a little. So shoot me! I was lucky the rain stopped long enough in Alabama to even go outside for such a picture. (And I may as well go ahead and admit it... I was wearing my obligatory dark green fall blouse while taking the picture.)

Day 51 - October 15, 2009

It may only look like a bowl with folded sheets of paper in it... Well, actually that's exactly what it is. This has become a small part of my life this past year. Blog contests. This is the fourth one I've sponsored since A Simple Life began October 16, 2008. I like contests. I've entered quite a few this past year, but to no avail. I'll keep trying though. Tomorrow morning, I'll be picking a lucky winner out of this lime green bowl. It's all I can do to keep from picking a name tonight, but the rules clearly state blog readers have until midnight tonight to enter. And you know me and rules!

Day 50 - October 14, 2009

I told you I had people in my life. Since Austin has been going to JSU, the two times he hasn't gotten to come home for the weekend because of band commitments, we've met him at Jack's in Gadsden in the middle of the week to hold us (Code for ME) over until the next weekend. Josh was sick today, so he was able to come along for the ride. It was a good afternoon, but as always, it's hard watching him drive away... whether it's from our driveway or the parking lot of Jack's in Gadsden. (The good news... only three more days until we get to see him again!)

Day 49 - October 13, 2009

Another sign of fall... burgundy mums. The burgundy mums are my favorite. Well, the burgundy and the dark rust mums. I think they are absolutely beautiful. You're probably wondering why there are so few "people" pictures in my daily life. (I'm beginning to wonder about that, too.) But this project is supposed to be an accurate depiction of my daily life (good and bad, exciting and boring, things I like and dislike, etc.), and I really, really LOVE fall and everything associated with FALL. Thus, the autumnal pictures. Tomorrow... a "people" picture. I promise.

Day 48 - October 12, 2009

A couple of years ago, I made a goal to try a new recipe once a week. Needless to say, there have been many, many weeks I haven't kept that lofty goal, but this week I did! I tried Amy's Pineapple-Banana Cake. The bite I had was very good, very moist, very Hawaiian. I've never been to Hawaii, but if I were to go I imagine most of the food would taste like this. And instead of smelling autumnal (pumpkin and cinnamon candles), tonight my house smells Polynesian. Different from it's usual October 12 smell, but I like it just the same.

Day 46 - October 10, 2009

Here's a picture of me and some of my "peeps." Roxie would die if she knew I used the word "peeps." So uncool. However, these are some of the moms of some of Roxie's girlfriends (Code for MY PEEPS). Nesia belongs to Hannah, Karmen belongs to Ragan and Dawn belongs to Savanna. I, of course, belong to Roxie. We are sitting on the bleachers at the ice skating rink celebrating Savanna's 13th birthday. Here's a little photo tip... If you have the picture taken looking down on your subject (in this case, me and my peeps), it completely does away with extra chins and other uncomplimentary things I won't mention here. I've started carrying a step-ladder in the back of the big gold van in the event I want my picture taken. By the time I'm 50, I'll probably be using an extension ladder. By the time I'm 60, Mikie will probably be taking my picture while he's standing on top of the roof!)

Day 45 - October 9, 2009

High School Homecoming... Who knew 7th graders dressed up for High School Homecoming! I don't think I did 1,000,000 years ago when I was in 7th grade. Roxie and friends had fun wearing new fall dresses and meeting their friends for pictures and fun at the game. And we won which made it an even better evening. Oh, and the horrible storms which were supposed to sweep through our small town and totally ruin yet another football game never really materialized. So it was a good night for everybody concerned.

Day 44 - October 8, 2009

This 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. Just big enough to fit in the palm of my hand. No one was around. Just me. It would have been so easy... But I resisted the temptation. Stealing is stealing no matter how small. I went back to the drive-thru this afternoon to buy Roxie some fries, and it was still there. So instead of taking it to a loving home, I took a picture to use for today's Project 365 photo. I love pumpkins... no matter where they turn up!

Day 41 - October 5, 2009

Happy Fall, Y'a'll! When I start receiving 75 or more Christmas cards each year, I am going to start sending Happy Fall, Y'all cards. They're all the rage, you know. And they'll just be of me because there is NO WAY my family would ever pose for a Happy Fall, Y'all card AND a Christmas card picture. By the way, I know I'm wearing the same shirt on Day 40 and Day 41, but it was clean... I promise. That, and it has falling leaves all over it so it's my official Happy Fall, Y'all shirt. Kind of like my Barry Manilow blouse. And if you look closely, you'll notice I have most definitely aged one day!

Day 39 - October 3, 2009

Josh has a goal. He wants to attend an Auburn game at every SEC stadium before he graduates. Today, he and Mike went to the Tennessee/Auburn game at Neyland Stadium... his fourth SEC stadium. Next year, he's planning on going to Kentucky. Now, is he going to make his goal? Yes, but probably not before he graduates high school. I think we'll change the goal a little. "He wants to visit every SEC stadium before he graduates COLLEGE." There. That will work! (That look on his face is total concentration. He had a fantastic time.)

Day 38 - October 2, 2009

This is a place I've probably visited over 1,000,000 times (or more). When Josh was so sick, Mike would come home and I would run out for 15 or 20 minutes and just walk up and down the familiar aisles. I know there were three years I went at least once a day without fail. I didn't always buy anything. I just needed to get away, and this was the closest, safest place to go. Now they've changed all the aisles, and they've painted all the walls, and they've put pet supplies where the shoes used to be. It is very disconcerting. Instead of being a place I can run in and find something I need in a matter of minutes, it is now a major ordeal. I don't like it. I don't like it at all. (Can you tell I was a little grumpy today?)

Day 37 - October 1, 2009

I call this my "10:30 p.m. Load of Laundry." I wash it five to six times a week. Sometimes there are a few more pieces, but this is the basic load. Josh comes home around 6:00 or 6:15, but between dinner, homework, showers, etc. his bag doesn't get emptied until 9:30 or later. Thus, the "10:30 p.m. Load of Laundry." This means I stay up until around 11:00 to make sure everything is hung up to dry. I know what you're thinking... "Why doesn't she wash at 6:15 when he gets home?" Hey! I'm an incredibly busy, vital wife, mother and woman. I've got better things to do with my time than wash one tiny load of laundry every evening at 6:15. (The truth is, by 6:15 every evening, I'm on auto-pilot. I forget every single night to get it out of his bag and wash it when he walks in.) I am, in truth, not a busy, vital wife, mother and woman... By 6:15 each evening, I am a barely walking, talking zombie! I have got to get out more.

Day 35 - September 29, 2009

Are you jealous? This is my portable fire pit. It's made of copper and wrought iron and tonight we tried to cook hot dogs and roast marshmallows over the flames. However, everything has been so WET the last two months, it was hard to keep a large blaze going. Oh, we roasted hot dogs, but we could only do two at a time, and we had to eat in shifts... which doesn't exactly lend itself to a "family-bonding" dining experience, does it? But we tried. We got an A+ for effort. (That's what I'm telling myself anyway.)

Day 34 - September 28, 2009

Look closely. Do you see the line on Mikie's glasses that looks like a spaghetti noodle? It's a rubber band. His glasses broke this morning, and he went straight to the eye doctor, but because he has to have new lenses it will be a WEEK before he gets his new specs. Until then, he's Rubber Band Man... literally. I know what you're thinking. Glue, welding... nothing else worked. The lady at the doctor's office said he was pretty clever. All I know is he's going to look great at his meetings this week. We're praying "week" meant new glasses by Friday... not next Monday.

Day 33 - September 27, 2009

Well, you knew Roxie was going to be in the picture somewhere, didn't you? I mean, it was her family birthday party... thus, ending the four day celebration known around the world as Roxie's 13th Birthday. (At least I hope it's over. I've got to get ready for Josh's 16th Birthday Celebration next week!) Her Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Guy, Aunt Becky and cousin Jared joined us for the festivities, and Roxie was thrilled as always. As far as she's concerned, the more family the better... because that usually means more gifts! I can read her like a book.

Day 32 - September 26, 2009

I bet you thought today's picture would be another Roxie/Volleyball/Birthday photo, didn't you? Well, it is NOT. Zac is my 32nd picture of the year!. He's a very supportive cousin, and he cheerfully attended Roxie's tournament. (Katie did, too. Her picture will be on the regular blog Monday along with other tournament pics.) His favorite part of the tournament was the big buffet luncheon the Bragg parents set up outside (dinner-on-the-grounds style). He said volleyball was his favorite sport... because the food was so good.

Day 31 - September 25, 2009

You had to know today would be another picture of Roxie. It is her acutal birthday, after all. This was supposed to be a volleyball made entirely out of cupcakes. However, it looks like a very plain, ordinary, lumpy white flower. Before the county tournament tonight, Roxie and her teammates ate dinner at Jim & Nick's and this was our dessert. Thankfully, it tasted delicious. Also, thankfully, her real birthday cake for Sunday's family party is being made by an Ace of Cakes-type chef. We'll show the picture of that cake on Sunday's post!

Day 28 - September 22, 2009

This is Turnip Green Soup. The last few years have found me trying more and more new recipes... Baking more complicated desserts (I learned how to make real meringue)... Failing many times (must I mention the parsnip incident again)... But every now and again hitting one out of the park! I am, and will always be, a copier. So Julie, my friend, you will forever be on my Project 365 blog because you shared your Turnip Green Soup recipe with me and it was a success. I may never be known as a great cook, but let it never be said I didn't try!

Day 20 - September 14, 2009

Day 19 - September 13, 2009

Four out of six of the grandchildren made it to Grandparents' Day at my Mom's church. Katie was sick and Austin was in Tallahassee. Grandmother missed the two, but she certainly enjoyed the four that were able to come to services and "dinner on the grounds." We watched some younger grandparents having their pictures taken with their little grandchildren. Everyone was trying to make them look the same way, smile at the same time and just generally be happy. I remember how hard those pictures were to take. This picture was super easy. I threatened the four grandchildren to "smile, or else," and snapped away. What I wouldn't do to have six little ones looking six different directions, picking their noses, some smiling, some crying... but all there. Heavy sigh! Well, there's always next year!

Day 18 - September 12, 2009

Do you know what this is? That's exactly right. It's one of those new motion-detector Glade Air Fresheners. I had it in the foyer, but every time Mikie and Josh walked by it would "give a squirt" and freak them out. The only reason I can figure it's outside Josh's bedroom door on the floor is because Mikie is trying to get it to squirt Josh when he walks out in the morning. That's Mikie's idea of a joke. That and honking the horn every Sunday morning as Roxie and I walk in front of the van to leave for church. (There's no way to really take a picture of that, but I wanted you to see what I live with.) The air freshener is going back in the foyer... TONIGHT!

Day 9 - September 3, 2009

Do you know what she's thinking? Can you tell? Let me enlighten you... "The Boy" goes to college (where there is no grass to cut or rake), and comes home on the weekends when everything is finished! I, on the other hand, must maintain perfectly coiffed hair, pick out outfits for the week, AND practice volleyball Monday through Friday. Plus, I AM A GIRL!!! And then there's "The Other Boy" who practices football until it's dark, is covered in bruises AND is pretty sure he has a broken rib who claims he is "physically unable" to help with the yard work. What is wrong with this picture???

Belinda's Project 365

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Day 365 - August 25, 2010

Day 364 - August 24, 2010

Day 363 - August 23, 2010

Day 362 - August 22, 2010

Day 361 - August 21, 2010

Day 360 - August 20, 2010

Day 359 - August 19, 2010

Day 358 - August 18, 2010

Day 357 - August 17, 2010

Day 356 - August 16, 2010

Day 355 - August 15, 2010

Day 354 - August 14, 2010

Day 353 - August 13, 2010

Day 352 - August 12, 2010

Day 351 - August 11, 2010

Day 350 - August 10, 2010

Day 349 - August 9, 2010

Day 348 - August 8, 2010

Day 347 - August 7, 2010

Day 346 - August 6, 2010

Day 345 - August 5, 2010

Day 344 - August 4, 2010

Day 343 - August 3, 2010

Day 342 - August 2, 2010

Day 341 - August 1, 2010

Day 340 - July 31, 2010

Day 339 - July 30, 2010

Day 338 - July 29, 2010

Day 337 - July 28, 2010

Day 336 - July 27, 2010

Day 335 - July 26, 2010

Day 334 - July 25, 2010

Day 333 - July 24, 2010

Day 332 - July 23, 2010

Day 331 - July 22, 2010

Day 330 - July 21, 2010

Day 329 - July 20, 2010

Day 328 - July 19, 2010

Day 327 - July 18, 2010

Day 326 - July 17, 2010

Day 325 - July 16, 2010

Day 324 - July 15, 2010

Day 323 - July 14, 2010

Day 322 - July 13, 2010

Day 321 - July 12, 2010

Day 320 - July 11, 2010

Day 319 - July 10, 2010