From the Heart, Blog Linkage, Easter Egg Hunt AND Easter Day

Good Monday morning!

I am well aware we talked about the 2021 plan for A Simple Life in January.

To recap, I was going to try to post much shorter blog posts two or three or four times a month instead of the wordy/picture-heavy posts I have given you the last decade or so.

Turns out, it is very difficult for me NOT to write the long posts.

Very difficult indeed.

Please bear with me today while I try (very hard) to keep this April post UNDER 45,000 words and 52 photos!

Wish me luck!

From the Heart - Here are a few quotes from Ann Voskamp which I read today regarding Easter.

"On the night when Jesus was betrayed, He gave thanks. If Jesus can give thanks in that, you can give thanks in everything."

"If Jesus can dip from the same bowl as Judas, we can share the same table, the same space, with anyone, with grace."

Blog Linkage - If you have any time today, go to https://annvoskamp.com and read her blog post entitled, "WHY THIS IS THE STORY WE ALL HAVE TO GO AND SPEAK."

RANDOMNESS #1 - Easter Egg Hunt - Mike and I hosted our family Easter celebration last Sunday, and below you will find a few photos from that day.

Eden was all about the egg hunt this year. She needed a little assistance at the beginning, but by the end, she was pretty independent.

ME was much more interested in quality over quantity...

And in the end, an egg in each hand was all she really needed.

Some of the Egg Hiders were a little over-the-top when it came to finding the "perfect" hiding places for some of the eggs, but we decided to forgive them after they helped the tiny people retrieve them from tree branches and other ridiculously high places.

RT loves cars, so if anyone came across red plastic eggs (all of which contained cars), they knew he was the only one who could pick them up.

And Judith loves fingernail polish, so if anyone came across purple plastic eggs (all of which contained polish), they knew she was the only who could pick them up.

And so on, and so on.

Since ME was only interested in two empty plastic eggs (and her empty bucket)...

That was all she needed to be perfectly happy.

And just in case you were wondering, Eden was in the corner with her back turned opening her yellow eggs which contained yogurt-covered raisins.

Simple pleasures are truly the best.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Easter - Mike and I went to church with The Chick in Auburn this Easter Sunday, and the other kids sent me several Easter pics from their celebrations today...

And you'll find those below.

Austin and family...

Josh and family...

Mike and Roxie.

We did take a pic with all three of us, and our faces all looked pretty good. However, Roxie was wearing a floral print...

And Mike was wearing plaid...

And I was wearing a blouse covered in vertical stripes.

It was all I could do to sit beside them in church, much less post a photo of the three of us together.

* * * * * *

Okay. From beginning to end, it took 50 minutes to put this post together, so that is much better than I've done in the past.

I am going to try to finish the LONG post I've been working on the last three or four weeks which contains Maine stuff, Eden's second birthday party, etc., etc. before June!

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

P.S. Someone's playing soccer, and I will try to get that SHORT post up in the VERY NEAR FUTURE!

Quotable Quotes, Blog Linkage, Nana B Stuff (Ways to Spend TIME with Tots During a Pandemic), RT and His New Sister AND Eden is ONE

Good Tuesday morning!

Quotable Quotes - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Blog Linkage - Go to www.dillardfamily.com for lots of indoor and outdoor things to do with small children during this time of quarantine. This blog is written by Jill (Duggar) Dillard of 19 Kids and Counting fame.

I did many of these activities with my kids when they were small, and I'm using them again a generation later.

Nana B Stuff

Ways to Spend TIME with Tots During a Pandemic

Outside, Outside, OUTSIDE

I call it hiking, but basically we are going to a couple of places in town with creeks, walking trails and wide open fields of green, green grass. Rain boots are not mandatory, but if you and/or your Tots have them, they absolutely do make everything better.

For this past week of quarantine, I have had the Tots on different days, and we have thoroughly enjoyed being outside in the fresh air for two hours or so.

Also, not only is this a great, healthy way to spend time together, but for every hour spent running and splashing and throwing things in the water, you are almost 100% guaranteed an hour of naptime...

And I'm talking the Tots' naptime.

Not just Nana's!

As always, I've turned it into a "To Do List" instead of just a "go-with-the-flow" type activity...

Because it kinda fits my mood!

1. Pick up is around 10:00 a.m., and we immediately go through the Chick Fil-A drive-thru for our picnic lunch.

NOTE FROM ENCHANTING BELINDA - I am not only practicing quarantining...

I am stimulating the economy!



2. There are at least two "playgrounds" in our area without playground equipment. So far, these two places have been my pick to take the kids because even if other people are there, it is not hard (at all) to keep a massive amount of distance between them and us.

3. If it has been raining a lot where you live, Puddle Jumping is a must.





4. If there is a place to safely toss small sticks, rocks, pinecones and/or flowers into a creek, that too is great fun for the five-and-under crowd.







5. Add Dandelion Blowing...



Racing Aunt Ro...



6. Creekside Hugging...





7. After Picnic Hugging...





8. And Duck Hunting to the list of things to do in the great outdoors WITHOUT coming into close contact with other people.



RANDOMNESS #1 - RT and His New Sister - Last Monday, the first official business day of Coronavirus Quarantine, Austin and Melia had a beautiful baby girl.

She weighed the same exact amount as her Big Brother when he was born (7 pounds 10 ounces). She even favors him greatly in her tiny, precious face.

However, she has very dark blackish hair covering her little head which is totally different from RT.

Needless to say, she is loved and adored, and we are thrilled she is here, safe and sound.




As you can tell from the pictures Melia's Dad (Boss) took, RT's more than a little in love with his new sister.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Eden is ONE - That's right! Little Miss Eden with the red hair and the big dimple and the ready smile turned ONE just a few days after her newest cousin arrived on the scene.


Courtney planned a very cute party with an obligatory Smash Cake...

And even though Eden had never partaken of birthday cake before, she turned out to be a pro when the time came for her to eat it.

NOTE FROM ENCHANTING BELINDA - She kind of takes after her Nana when it comes to cake.


It's been a very sweet year with this little girl.

I will have more birthday photos in my upcoming post!

Please stay safe during the following days and weeks. I am praying the Pandemic will end sooner than later for our country and the world.

Take care.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

"How long is this social distancing supposed to last? My husband keeps trying to get in the house."

Weekend-Wrap Up, Blog Linkage, Pinterest Stuff (Library Dates), Quotable Quotes

Good Tuesday morning!

RANDOMNESS #1 - I did a little Prom Picture Postin' Work this weekend. While it was hard to not go ahead and post a few photos on Facebook, I was strong!

And because I was so strong, you now have an ABUNDANCE of Prom pics to wade through before you get to the few words I have to offer today.

Enjoy!


Roxie and Ally... Pre-hair and make-up.


Roxie... Almost done!


Josh and Roxie.


Austin and Roxie.

Josh and Austin were TOLD to be ready for a picture at 2:30 Friday afternoon...

And they wisely did as they were told.


The really important one... Hunter and Roxie.


Ally, Pasha, Hunter and Roxie.


Roxie and Ally.


Our school has a Senior Prom, and since Roxie is only a Junior, she went as Hunter's guest.

Hunter and friends decided to dress in white tux, and they looked particularly dashing.

The chicks supplied the color and the bling.

Good looking bunch, isn't it?



Mike and Roxie.


Grandmother and Roxie.

Fun fact for you... Grandmother has gone to five out of six grandkids' prom photo shoots. (She has only gone to five out of six because Zac isn't "prom age" yet. That time will be here before we know it!)


Hunter and Roxie.

The back of Hunter and Roxie.

If I haven't told you before, I'll tell you now.

Roxie picks out dresses, tops, etc. depending on how the back of the garment looks.

And, as you can see, this particular dress had a very pretty back.


Could these guys be any cuter?


Here are a few more of Roxie and Hunter.




Roxie and Taylor.

I call this one, "The shoes have got to go!"



Roxie and Cool Hunter.


Cool Chicks!

After pictures, the group went to Brio's for dinner, and then they all had a great time at the 2014 Gardendale High School Senior Prom.

The End!

RANDOMNESS #2 - It is officially Spring Break Week!

Since I am the parent of "adult-age" children, these are the only specific "special" things I've planned for the week:

1. We went to Mugshots for dinner Sunday night and then saw Divergent. (Good dinner and very good movie!)

Josh didn't read the Family Newsletter I gave to everyone the beginning of the month, so he forgot to get off work for our Sunday Evening Spring Break Kick-Off.

I'm still a little miffed at him.

Or maybe the word "furious" is a better fit for how I feel about his absence.

Yes. Definitely "furious."

And, yes. I started a monthly Faulkner Family Newsletter.

And, no. It didn't work too well.

2. Mike is taking off Wednesday and Thursday to take any and all available Faulkners fishing... both days.

3. Wednesday night, we're watching Saving Mr. Banks AND eating TV dinners around the television.

Because that is what families did during that period of time when Walt Disney lived.

Walt Disney ate TV dinners all the time.

I bet.

And then the kids/adults are in charge of the rest of their Spring Break.

Between you and me, I think they've got a handle on it!

Quotable Quotes

"Two things to remember in life. Take care of your thoughts when you are alone, and take care of your words when you are with people." Anonymous

Blog Linkage

1. If you are interested in throwing a Lego Party for one of your kiddos one day, go to www.littlefamilyfun.com and read the last few posts. She does a step-by-step tutorial about everything you will need to make that Lego Party a huge success.

2. It has been awhile, but one of my favorite blogs has had new posts recently. Go to www.bluelilyphotography.com to catch up with this family of four as they travel the world taking beautiful pictures of other families. Fun posts and lovely pics.

3. Go to eighteen25 under My Blog List and click on the post entitled, "[past projects] Easter/Spring." Good, good stuff.

Pinterest Stuff

Library Dates

These ideas were pinned (and re-pinned) under the title of "mini-adventures." That caught my eye immediately.

Then I read the word "library," and I was hooked.

I think one or two of these at a time would make a great date for a book-loving kiddo in your house.

End it was an ice cream treat, and you've got yourself a winner.

1. Look for the biggest book in the library. Take your picture with it.

2. Browse the travel section, find a place you want to visit, make some plans.

3. Go to the cookbook area, choose a recipe, go the store, get the ingredients and cook it that day. (I LOVE this one.)

4. Choose a random CD, listen to it all the way through.

5. Scan the books of quotes. Find a good one and write it outside on the sidewalk with chalk.

6. Bring paper and colored pencils. Draw from the easy I-Can-Draw-Books for an hour. (I thought this would be fun, too.)

7. Take a present to the librarians.

8. Leave a thoughtful review on a post-it note in a book you really loved.

9. Hunt for authors with your same last name.

These ideas come from a blog entitled www.mamascout.com. I have visited it once, and I plan on stopping by again and again.

If you live in the central part of Alabama, I hope you have a fantastic Spring Break week. Here are few things I'll be posting about this coming Friday:

1. I have a $6 Mate-Date for you to try. Mike and I went on this date Saturday afternoon, and it was fun. (Pics will be included.)

2. I have pics of Brad's 22nd Birthday Celebration and his new home.

3. Maybe I'll have some fishing pics by Friday, too.

Take care, and I'll talk to you the end of the week.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda