Just Keep Smiling, Austin's 27th Birthday Party, My Favorite Things RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE, Pinterest Stuff (Fun Family Traditions that Foster Togetherness for March, Bunny Tail Trail Mix AND Bunny Bait)

Good Wednesday afternoon!

RANDOMNESS #1 - Just Keep Smiling (LIVE with the Characters on Safari) - I went to this show for the first time last year with Courtney and Judith...

And I was hooked.

I will be attending this event even when the grand-tots become grand-adults and no longer want to spend a Saturday morn or afternoon with their 80 year-old Nana B.

It is JUST that good!

The original plan was to go to one show with both grand-tots and parents, but work schedules, out-of-town obligations and other things prevailed, and Roxie and I ended up attending the 10:00 a.m. show AND the 2:00 p.m. show.

Judith, Courtney, Courtney's Mom (Donna) and Courtney's niece (Sara Grace) came to the 10:00 a.m. show.


Courtney and Princess Sara Grace.


Princess Judith.

Not only is the show OUTSTANDING, but it is not difficult at all to get all of the pics and autographs you want from any or all of the characters.


Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Judith and Sara Grace.


Moana is a personal favorite of Judith's...


And Sara Grace feels the same way about Rapunzel.




Judith thought this particular Just Keep Smiling Helper was quite princess-like, and insisted on having a picture made with her.

Isn't she lovely?








The Shy Princess and the Sassy Princess.

Both beautiful and very sweet!

At 2:00 p.m., Austin, Melia and RT met us. You never know how a one-year old is going to react to the lights, sounds, dancing, larger-than-life characters...

But Little Man did just fine, thank you very much.

In fact, on several occasions he tried to make his way to the stage.

And who could blame him. This is just a smattering of all the characters who were present in Gardendale this past Saturday.


























While the show is geared for the younger crowd, Austin and Roxie sang along...


A lot.


Melia dressed Little Man in a cute t-shirt which had the Disney Princes smocked on the front.

He wore it well.


If there is a picture of RT, there is usually a blurry spot somewhere.

The two go hand-in-hand.

In this case, Anna and Elsa were on the move, and I'm sure it was because they were trying to keep up with RT.

The rest of his pics are on Austin and Melia's camera, so I will try to get a couple more of him up in the next post.

Before I move on, I wanted to share Just Keep Smiling Foundation's purpose with you.

"The Just Keep Smiling Foundation is a non-profit organization that seeks to assist families with critically ill children. We strive to do so by providing financial aid for immediate needs, offering emotional support based on personal knowledge of a child’s serious illness or death, and sharing spiritual insight that conveys the solace, grace and strength found in God."

The scripture they use on their website is Lamentations 3:20-21. "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail."

JKS is an amazing organization run by equally amazing women, and any time you can attend one of their events, I highly recommend you do so.

Excellent!

RANDOMNESS #2 - Austin's 27th Birthday Party - Austin turned 27 this past week, and Melia hosted a big family gathering (12 strong) to celebrate.

I cannot wrap my head around Austin being three years away from 30, but there it is...

In writing.

I even checked his Birth Certificate, and it assures me it is true.

Heavy, heavy sigh.







After the eating of the cake, the young ones played a little one-on-one in the living room.


We knew better than to call traveling.

It just makes him run faster.


And I am about 100 percent sure Judith made this shot.

Nothing but net!


Judith had extra pretty hair this particular day, but it made her look like a four year-old to me.

I cannot take having a 27 year-old son and a four year-old (lookin') granddaughter all in the same week.

I just cannot!

My Favorite Things RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE

1. I am enjoying the knitting of newborn baby toboggans lately. I knit about two to four a week and while I do not know that many newborn babies at the moment, they will come in handy in the next few years, I think.

2. I am loving re-watching the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible movies. I hope he keeps making them well into his 80s and 90s.

3. I am embracing all things British. I guess it started with Downton Abbey and The Great British Baking Show and has progressed to The Crown. I love being able to have a spot of tea and a scone while watching a really good British show on the telly.

Pinterest Stuff

Fun Family Traditions that Foster Togetherness

March

Cook a pot of Irish stew
Celebrate National Meatball Day (March 9) by watching Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs AND...
Eat spaghetti and meatballs for dinner
Celebrate National Plant a Flower Day (March 12) by painting flower pots and planting favorite spring seeds
Eat green cuisine on St. Patrick's Day

Bunny Tail Trail Mix

Annie's Snickerdoodle Bunny Cookies (2 bags)
Salted Peanuts
Mini Marshmallows
Milk Chocolate M & M's
M & M's Mini-Malted Eggs

Just pour all of the ingredients into a big mixing bowl. (Try not to eat too much as your stir!)

Bunny Bait

You will need the following:

2 standard-size bags of Simply Salted or Tender White popcorn (I use Orville Redenbacher brand.)
2 cups pretzel sticks, broken in half
1 small bag milk chocolate M & M's, pastel colored
1 small bag white chocolate M & M's, pastel colored
1 (12 ounce) bag white candy coating
1 (12 ounce) bag pink candy coating

1. Pop popcorn according to package directions. Place in an extra large bowl and remove any kernels you can. (Or you can use 2 large bowls.)

2. Pour pretzels and both M & M's over popcorn in bowl. Toss to combine.

3. Melt white candy coating (according to package directions) until fully melted.

4. Gradually drizzle over popcorn mixture while tossing to coat everything. This takes a minute. Keep tossing to fully coat everything.

5. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Quickly pour warm popcorn mixture evenly onto the prepared pan. Let stand 10 or 15 minutes to set.

6. Melt pink candy coating according to package directions. Drizzle melted pink coating evenly over the top of set mixture in pan. Let set again for 10 to 15 minutes.

7. Once set, break mixture apart and serve!

NOTE - You can store leftovers in Ziplock bags. It will keep up to three days.

Have a grand week, my friends! I'll be back soon with more, more, more.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda