K-Fed (Britney Spears ex) Who knew he had a sense of humor?

“Grab your coat, and get your hat, Leave your worry on the doorstep Just direct your feet, To the sunny side of the street.”

by teresa

Today, at Ben's school it is CRAZY HAT DAY. Ben has lots of hats....but no crazy hats. So he decided to wear his ODU skull cap(it's his favorite) and his ODU sweatshirt to match.
Crazy? No.
Cute? YES!

How old are you again? And what's your name?

by teresa

One thing they never tell you about child raising is that for the rest of your life, at the drop of a hat, you are expected to know your child's name and how old he or she is. -Erma Bombeck

We went to a restaurant the other day and the hostess asked, "how old are the kids" so she could write the correct charge down on the ticket.

I swear it took me about ten seconds to come up with the answer.

How pathetic is that?

Does this happen to you too? Also, most of the time I call Nick...Be-Nick and I call Ben...Ni-Ben.

Always using some blend of their brothers name and their own together.

And every now and then I refer to one of the children using our dogs name.

It's not like I have an entire team (hello Mary) of children.

It's only the three.

You would think it wouldn't be so hard to pull up their personal information from my young*cough* *cough* 36yr old brain.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. ~Mark Twain

by teresa

Today is CRAZY MIX-MATCH DAY at Ben's school.

He had a good time last night putting together his outfit.

Although...a little panic did set in this morning as he was getting out of the car.

"What if no one else remembers?", he asked.

I guess the fear of being the only one in school looking like that popped into his head. I assured him there would be many other kids participating.

Lord...I hope I'm right!

We got spirit....yes we do! We got spirit...how 'bout you?

by teresa

It is spirit week at Ben's school.

Everyday has a silly theme....today is BACKWARDS DAY.

After he got on the bus I started wondering...how's he gonna get out of his coat?

hee hee

I think tomorrow is MIX-MATCH DAY. I'll make sure to post pictures of the outfit he puts together.

We finished the Edward Tulane book last night. How sweet it was. I have had it for a year...and never pulled it out. Shame on me! I highly recommend it for young readers.

*Read-a-thon update:Ben's total (with 4 days to go) is 1,168 minutes. He has raised $56.00.

I can't sleep...again

by teresa

What do you do when you can't sleep?
Eat?
Read?
TV?
Clean?
Lay in bed staring at the ceiling?

It's 3:00am...and I have read most of the book "Girl With A Pearl Earring", I emptied all the hampers around midnight and started washing clothes, I finished the NewYorkTimes crossword puzzle, and I even watched some movie with chinese subtitles. I'm really starting to regret that nap I took after church.

“Pressure can burst a pipe or pressure can make a diamond.”

by teresa

Not much time to blog today.


We were at the church from 9:30am to 4:00pm.


Kai's game, Ben and Kristian's game, Nick's game and a couple of games that we stayed to watch because we knew the kids on the teams.


We did use a break in between games to grab lunch with the family (Chris' parents and mine) at the chinese buffet.


We won all the games...but Nick's was the most exciting. He suprised us all by scoring, rebounding and stealing any ball that came near him. We were like..."who is this kid?" And we were worried the pressure , speed and intensity of the game would be hard for him. HA!
We had no less than 4 people come up after the game and tell us how impressive he was. Makes a momma proud!

I took lots of pictures (#1 is Kai running, #2 is Ben bringing the ball down the court, #3 is Kristian and Ben celebrating after a play, #4 is Nick about to go up and take that kids shot)...but my favorite is a picture of Ben and Kristian giving each other five during the game (after a super play).


That's what it's all about!

These hands are lethal weapons

by teresa

The belt test lasted FOUR hours!

The boys really worked hard...and they are pooped.

Nick now has a blue belt...and Ben a green belt.

Now we are off to basketball practice. Ben should sleep well tonight!

The kids are out of school today (teachers workday).

We slept in....that was nice.

I trimmed Ben's hair and then he took a 40 minute shower!

Lauren is still asleep (and probably will be for another 5 hours:).

We have been reading all morning. Mostly the bible. The boys both have a belt test this afternoon and have many many verses to have memorized.

We finished Bridge to Terabithia the night before last. It was awesome. Ben closed the book...sighed...and said "that was the best book I ever read". The book is pretty hard for a second grader to read. Some of it is in "backwoods slang"...but I helped him through it. Also...some curse words (hell and damn)...which I noticed and changed to other words when translating.

It dealt with love, bullying, child abuse, using your imagination and loss. Very deep things...but put in a way all kids will understand.

Last night Ben started the book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. We are about 50 pages into it...and it is very good. Click the title to read about it.

I finished The Red Tent last night. Have any of you ever heard of it....or read it? Amazing....that's all I can say. It is a library book....so I will buy it next time I'm in Barnes & Noble so I can read it again and again. *although the characters are biblically based...it is fiction*

I'm gonna go and charge the camcorder and camera batteries for the belt testing.

Have a blessed day!

Oh...and I forgot to give you guys a read-a-thon update.

Ben has now read 970 minutes.

Hooray for reading!

It's snowing!

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”

by teresa

Yesterday was Lauren's last day teaching. Her teacher cadet class is over and has now been replaced with Marine Biology for the last semester.
The kids made a big, colorful card for her (with all their signatures) and she cried having to say goodbye to them (she said she was able to hold it in until she got to her car).
The teacher she was under gave her a sweet gift (a candle with apples around it) and also the gift of how to be a good, kind,loving christian teacher.
Lauren spent Tuesday evening out shopping for "her kids" and Ms. Bland. She said she HAD to buy them all something. They must have made a strong impression on her...because she doesn't part with money very easily. She bought some sweet teachery things from Lifeway bookstore...and lots of goodies from the dollartree for the kids.
Ms. Bland wrote a glowing recommendation for her with things like "excellent scholastic ability, work ethic, dedication, dependability..." "high level of learning, performance and fun." "strong classroom management skill, strong student engagement skills, strong communication skills".
We are so proud!

I got $15.....do I hear $20?

by teresa

When I got the mail yesterday....there was the sweetest card from my friend Melanie mixed in with all the junkmail.
It really blessed me....thank you Mel!
Also...she had a $15 check enclosed to go to Ben's read-a-thon.
How nice was that?

Ben was soooo thrilled when I showed him the money. He picked out a gallon size ziplock bag to hold his earnings.
Now we need to fill it up!
So reach deep down in those pockets (you hearing me Nanny's and Grandaddy's) and give, give, give. Even a dollar would be much appreciated. 100% of all money raised goes into programs and supplies for the children.
And you know Ben takes this very seriously. He will certainly be working hard to earn all donations.











Just yesterday....he read 210 minutes!! Just yesterday.
10 minutes of Curious George in the morning before the bus....30 minutes of the bible after school...from 7:00 to 8:15pm....then from 10:00-11:30pm (I thought he was asleep...but he came down and said, "mom...stop watching tv and come up and READ !")
He is reading Bridge To Terabithia to me.....and he just wouldn't go to sleep.
I kept telling him he was going to be so tired in the morning if he didn't put the book down. He said..."just dress me for school now....then in the morning you can just get me up and put me on the bus". hahaha
The book is very good....and I can't wait to see how it ends tonight.

His grand total so far (with 6 days down...8 days to go) is 655 minutes!
Go Ben Go!

Like mother...like daughter!

by teresa

Kaden (17 months now) said her first sentence.

For awhile now she has been saying things like:
Nanny
Mommy
All our names (except instead of Teresa....she says Sah-see)
Down
No
Please
Dog

But this was the first time she had strung words together coherently.

She had gone into her sisters room and found a headband. She brought it to Katy...handed it to her....and lowered her head for it to be put on.

When her mommy had finished sliding it into place she smiled and said....

"Am I pretty?"













"Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she."

Laundry

by teresa

All I did today was laundry.
Nine tubs. Washed, dryed and put away.
There is still a tub in the dryer...in the washer...and two more waiting in the basket.
So here I sit...at ten to midnight(I put the first tub in around 7:00am this morning). Determined to finish this taskbefore I go to bed!
I obviously did no laundry over the weekend. So every hamper in the house was full. Also someone wiped their makeup covered hands on my cream colored shower curtain (I wonder who it was?). And the bathroom rugs had a strange stain on them that fell in the category of... I don't want to know. So there was seriously laundry in a pile past my knees.

I only got a break when I left the house for an hour and a half to take the kids to karate.

Oh...I did vacuum too. Chris and I finally broke down and got a new vacuum yesterday. So I moved all the furniture and broke that puppy in. I can safely say...there is not a speck of dirt, dust or dog hair anywhere in my house (at least in the places I can reach).

Also to add to the fun my hubby complained that he couldn't find some certain pair of socks to take on his trip tomorrow. Of course they are in the basket waiting to be washed. "where's my socks?" I swear I felt like screaming when he said they weren't in his drawer.
I wore a dang groove in the floor on the path from the dryer...upstairs to the bedrooms. But what good is it when the blue socks aren't in the drawer when your husband needs them?

Note to self......go to Sams club tomorrow and buy a gross of mens dress socks.

by teresa

What a scare we had tonight.

Katy took Ben, Kai and Kristian to a movie this afternoon. It was sold out so they went to a later one.

Around 6:30pm (well after Katy was supposed to be home) her boyfriend (who's apartment is directly across the street) looked out his window and noticed Katy walking around inside her apartment.

He ran across and went up to her door. He knocked......and no answer. He knocked and knocked...still nothing.

He then ran down to the parking lot and looked for her car.....it wasn't there.

He freaked!

Someone was in the apartment...and it wasn't her.

He went across the street and looked up.....he saw a man looking out Kristian's bedroom window.

Yikes!

He was scared and ran up to his apartment to get a weapon and his friends(who were upstairs watching football.

They bolted across the street and waited outside the apartment. One by the door...one in the front...one in the back.

But no one ever came out.

Once Katy came home the guys looked all through the apartment and found no one. He must have bolted when he saw Josh run up to his apartment.

Nothing was taken.....but that scares me even more.

What would he be doing in there...if not to take something?

And at a time when she could be home anytime?

Also...the door was locked. Not broken into. The person must have had a key.

Please pray for their protection....and the protection of everyone in the apartment complex.

The police were very dismissive when Katy called. Because nothing was taken they were like "well what would you like US to do lady?"

AARRRRRRGGGGHHH!

How about get off your lazy, donut eating butts and come over and at least take a report you nimrod! Make my sister and her three precious kids feel safe in their own beds.

I can't help thinking what if.

What if they had made the earlier movie and she had arrived home earlier and surprised the man?

What if he had come last night when Ben spent the night with Kristian and Kai?

What if he comes back?

She will be reporting it to the apartment office first thing in the morning. I will make sure to let you know when we know anything more.

Read-a-thon

by teresa

This weekend Ben read alot.

The books were:
Curious George at the Parade
Curious George visits the toy store
Curious George goes to a movie
Curious George and the pizza
The dot
Ish
Part-time dog
The dog who cried wolf
Beatrice doesn't want to
Mouse Soup
Blizzard of the blue moon
Dragons

He read in the mornings....after playing....before bed....at Nanny's...at Katy's...and most of Sunday afternoon.

He read to Kai, Kristian, to me and to himself.

He had accumulated 355 minutes so far.

Go Ben go!

I've been tagged....and your next!

by teresa

The Page 123 meme...

I was tagged by Lisa to do this.

Here's how it goes.

1. Grab the book closest to you.

2. Open to page 123, look down to the 5th sentence.

3. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.

4. Include the title and the author's name.

5. Tag 3 people


In a period of twenty-four hours, fourteen missles hit Tehran. Since we had moved the children back into their room again, that night I pulled a small couch into their room and stayed awake reading until three in the morning. I read a thick Dorothy Sayer mystery, safe and secure with Lord Peter Wimsey, his faithful manservant and his scholarly beloved. My daugher and I were woken up at dawn with the sound of a nearby explosion.

Reading Lolita in Tehran
by Azar Nafisi

I tag Zephra, Mrs. Schmitty and Melissa.

Actually...anyone reading this post can do this.

I would love to hear what you are reading.

That means you Kitty, Jackie, Christin, Cherie, Melanie, Leslie, George, Jim, Beth, etc.

I know your there...

Read-a-thon day one

Frog and Toad Together
Bridge To Terabithia(three chapters)

105 minutes

Go Ben!

Blown away!

What a neat story.
Click on the link in the article to see the video.

by teresa

With Chris out of town last night there was a battle for his spot next to me in our bed.

In the end...Lauren won.

Ben had fallen asleep in there....but Lauren moved him to his own bed and climbed in beside me.
And let me say...she's a kicker, cover hog and a snorer.

Guess what today is?
The beginning of ....Read-a-thon!
Remember last year?
To kick it off Ben's school is having an assembly with a professional storyteller (how cool is that job) also Ronald McDonald is visiting the school today with some goodies. Ben is super excited and can't wait to begin.
We...I mean Ben is soooo gonna win this year. I'll make sure to post our progress as the contest continues.

by teresa

Lauren had a sweet story from teaching kindergarten today.

This week they have been reading books about people who had big dreams in their life. Inspirational books going along with MLK day.

Today after a story the teacher asked, "What was Dr. King's dream?"

This sweet little red-haired boy (one of Lauren's favorites) raised his hand. He is slightly autistic, studders and has a raspy voice.

The teacher called on him and he answered, "That brown and white could be together!"

100% of the shots you don't take... don't go in.

by teresa

Last night's basketball practice went well.

Nick got some good shots off. Even a steal and a basket. He was absolutely giggly about it in the car.

Kai's practice was a hoot to watch. Six...5yr olds dribbling in circles...balls bouncing all over the place...granny shots...and many trips to the bathroom. That poor coach! Actually, Kai made a couple of baskets. He was the most skilled on the team. He dribbled pretty good, shot about 50%, and knew how to catch a pass(with his hands...not his face). A couple of the other kids actually kicked the ball a couple of times. Have mercy!

Here's some highlight photos of the evening.










I took Kai home after practice because Kaden was not happy about sitting and watching and not running around. So I told Katy to go...and I would bring him home. When I pulled up Katy came running out. She called out to someone across the parking lot to come over(she lives in an apartment complex). It was Josh. Have I mentioned Josh yet? No? He is my sisters current boyfriend(of 4 months) and they expecting a baby (yep...that's #4 for her) in about 26 weeks. I hadn't met him yet. He came to the car and we spoke for a minute. He said he heard my husband and I wanted him to come over (Chris wants to have a sit down with this guy) and he said he would love too. He seemed nice. I need to plan a dinner for the four of us....once we are back on a regular meal plan. Oh yeah...we are doing this for 21 days. So unless Josh likes water and spinach....he's gonna have to wait to come over.

Well I'm off to battle the laundry. If you don't hear from me in two days...send out a search party.

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.

by teresa

Ben has a nemesis.

It is a bird.

A pretty red-bellied robin.

A pretty red-bellied MOMMA robin!

We all know how us mommas can be when it comes to protecting our babies...do we not?

Well....this particular momma bird has set up housekeeping in the bushes beside our porch.

I hear her scurry around beneath the foliage from time to time...never making herself seen to me. The same goes for Chris, Lauren and Nick.

However...Ben is a different story.

Something about my beautiful, blue-eyed boy....chaps this girls feathers!

Whenever he ventures outside on his own...this hostile nester comes out of her shrubbery sanctuary and dive bombs him like the Japanese at Pearl Harbor!

We usually know this has occurred because we hear Ben screaming and then he runs back inside huffing and puffing and babbling something that sounds like...."bird...big bird...my head...wouldn't stop!"

Last week when we were getting in the car for church she did it in my presence. Swooped down from out of nowhere and pecked him on the head and flew off. He was like...."SEE...SEE...I TOLD YOU!"

Oh it's on now girlfriend!

All week I have made sure to bump that bush whenever I am walking by. Just to tick her off. :)
I also had a few words with her (momma to momma)...just to let her know I wasn't going to stand for more of her avian antagonism.

Our little chat must have fallen on deaf ears (birds have ears...right?). Because the other day Ms. Bird (I say Ms. and not Mrs. because I don't think Mr. Bird is around anymore...can you blame him?) got mad....and in her anger she got careless. Chris was getting in his car...and Ben was on the porch....and I was in the doorway (holding the storm door open talking to Chris). The bird got upset at us loitering in her territory....and tried to fly straight into Ben's head. Unfortunately for her.... Ben was behind the storm door I was holding open.

BAM! She hit that door so hard it pushed Ben and I back a bit.

Ohhhh! That's gotta hurt!

She flew off...and hasn't picked on Ben since.

Teresa 1.....Bird...0!

*accio chocolate covered creme filled donut*

by teresa

For those of you who were concerned...I actually slept decent last night.

I went up around 11:30...and was asleep within minutes(without the aid of pharmaceuticals).

I even awoke refreshed at 6:15am.

I had a meeting at Nick's school early this morning...went to breakfast with Chris...ran some errands...did some laundry...typed up PTA minutes...played guitar hero(I am getting good)...cleaned out my car and gave the dog a flea bath.

The kids are now home from school and outside playing basketball. Tomorrow is our first Upward practice and the kids (and Chris) are very excited. The league coordinator called yesterday and said the uniforms and gear are all in. The colors are purple and gold(for every team in the league). The shirts are reversible...so one team flips to the gold side when the other has purple. Pretty cool idea.

I just realized something. The kids are off Monday. *boo hoo* For some reason they have been getting on my nerves at a higher level than usual lately. The things that used to just annoy me...now make me want to cast a stupify spell on the entire house....leave for a week...and then return refreshed. And by the way...if you don't know what a stupify spell is...well shame on you! :)

ooohhhh.....I'm telling!!!!!

by teresa

Nick is on restriction.

No need to ask why...he's an 11 year old boy(and the middle child).

That's all you need to know. :0)

I digress....

He is on restriction from all electrical/battery operated enjoyment.

Which means...no computer,PSP,PS2,TV,DVD,Stereo,NintendoDS,VideoNow,etc.

It has only been TWO days and he is already going through withdrawls(last night was especially hard since his favorite show mythbusters was airing).

Ben dropped the dime on a little plan Nick had cooked up to continue his usage without our knowledge.

Nick gave him $5 to sneak him the nintendo ds. He was also paying him a dollar if he would be lookout while he snuck in our room to watch tv.

He knows his brother is a money horder(and will do just about anything for a buck)....he just forgot that 7yr olds cannot be trusted to keep a secret for more than 10 minutes (15 tops).

Big mistake!

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one.

by teresa

Last time I looked at the clock before dozing off was 2:00am.

I layed on the couch watching Six Feet Under till I could no longer keep my eyes open. So I hurried upstairs...layed down...and NOTHING!

The tv show kept playing over and over in my head. I couldn't make it stop. It is a good show....but I don't need to relive it 100 times over.

When I read before bed this happens too. The characters and plots spin around in my head...replaying all I've taken in over and over again.

I woke up around 5:00am with Ben stepping on my face (I had flipped around to the other end of the bed...I do this to get closer to the fan sometimes) climbing into our bed.

I did fall back to sleep pretty quickly (of course with only an hour left to sleep).

And for more great news....Lauren AND Ben are sick this morning!
Both having tummy and nausea issues.
Should be a fun day.

Nothing cures insomnia like the realization that it's time to get up.

by teresa

Kai's birthday party was a hit.

About 80 people came to the dinner at church (spagetti...yummy) and they all sang Happy Birthday to him.

He looked like a deer caught in headlights when the entire fellowship hall sang out to him.

It's funny how most kids (and adults) don't even like the attention they get at a birthday party.

He got many great gifts and appreciated them all. That's rare for a child of his age. Most of the time they barely glance and what they have opened before reaching for another. I think his favorite thing was a Connect Four game from Nanny Jackie and George. He actually yelled out...CONNECT FOUR!!!...as he ripped off the paper. The kid LOVES board games and card games.


















Katy told me after the kids go to bed... her and her boyfriend Josh will be up late playing connect four. She said he is getting tired of playing Uno spin (which we gave Kai for Christmas) everynight.

I am home ...and about to sit down and read. Eventhough I went to bed kinda early last night...I didn't fall asleep until after 1:30am. I am really having a hard time dosing off lately. I just lay there and think. Think about everything from grocery lists...to books I'm reading...to Nick (sigh) and Ben and Lauren...to giving the dog a bath(fleas...in January...what the?)...from my prayer lists to errands that need running. It's truly exhausting me. Maybe I should look into a sleeping pill. Any suggestions?

by teresa

Pretty boring day here.

I bought Kai's birthday gift (his 6th b-day is tomorrow)...did a couple of loads of laundry (but left about five in the hamper), took the boys to karate....and that's about it.

I have had little motivation to clean the 1/2 inch of dust lining every surface of my house. What in the world is wrong with me? I'm the neat freak...right? A place for everything...and everything in it's place.

I may need to get to bed early tonight (I've been up past midnight reading for the last few evenings)....and hit Starbucks in the morning for a little pick me up (or two).

Tomorrow I MUST clean the house, run to the dry cleaners, pharmacy, library and the grocery store(to get Kai's cake). We are having his party at church tomorrow night...and he is going to be so surprised. He is having another party with his dad and their family in two weeks.

Well...I'm off to bed....and I'm leaving all my books downstairs!

I love my husband, my children . . . but inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up.

by teresa

Well people....today has finally come.

It has been THREE weeks since Chris' vacation began.

Three weeks of another person sharing MY home. You do realize it's My home from 8:30-2:30...right?

Having to share my computer.

Watching a gazillion college basketball games (instead of TLC's A Baby Story).

Him laying in the bed after I made it.

Putting a glitch in my daily routine.

I'm just kidding (a little bit). We had a nice time watching movies , running errands together, eating out just the two of us, enjoying our kidless days.

So I thought I would try to put the feelings I have about Chris returning to work (and me reclaiming my space).....to music.

I found the perfect song that captured the emotion I was feeling sitting here...all alone.

So click....and enjoy!

Ahhh...just STICK IT!

by teresa

Ben has a new obsession. Post it notes. We noticed his fondness for them one night when visiting with Nanny Jackie. He was carrying them around with a pen...asking us what we would like from the kitchen (and then jotting down our orders and rushing them back to us). So we (I mean Santa) decided to put some in his stocking. A big muticolored cube. Well...ever since Christmas our house has gone sticky note crazy. Every morning when I wake up I find some in new places. Bathroom mirror (with a note to brush teeth), Ben's dresser (with his days tasks listed....wake up, get dressed, eat, go to school,etc.), on the door frame (a reminder to play with Kai), shredded up like confetti on the floor (when he and Nick decided to have a New Years party in their room...sigh). Sometimes they are stuck together...to make a super long post it note banner. When Chris and I went to bed last night we found Ben asleep in our bed...with a post it on our headboard (over his head) reading...Hi..My name is BEN! Also we noticed a whole post it cube stuck onto his headboard. He told me this morning he put it there in case he thinks of something in the night...he can jot it down for the morning. I just went in to put some clothes away and he had written on one... decorate the best buddies club for Kai's birthday. So I guess after church he will be heading over to mom's to put up some festive decorations (Kai's b-day is Wed.). I bet he will be packing his sticky notes...just in case the occasion calls for a little adhesive action!

not tonight ...I have a headache!

by teresa

I had a huge headache this morning. Right behind my eyes. Pounding...blinding...nails in your eyes kinda headache. Chris was sweet to get up with the kids at 6:30am (on his last day of vacation) and get them off to school. He brought me up some ibuprofen and I slept until after 10:00.

The kids are over a friends for dinner...so Chris and I went out for chinese...alone. How nice!

Lauren is working until 8:00pm...then some of her friends from church are coming over to "hang".

I think I will get in my sweats...grab my pint of Ben & Jerrys (did I mention my sweet hubby picked my up some icecream to make me feel better) and watch Ugly Betty online (since I missed it last night).

Tomorrow the boys have basketball evaluations for the new league at church(Chris and Lauren are coaching a kindergarten and a 2nd grade team together)...an ODU game...and a birthday party to go to.
Busy busy busy.

Like totally...fur sure

by teresa

I saw this on Leslie's blog and had to post it.
I could relate to EVERY single one of these!

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's if:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried tostart a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)
12. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the bigscreen..and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirtin a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. (She'sTruly Outrageous.)
21. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all The Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nosefell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inlineskates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. Don't worry, be happy
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do..getting yelled at by younger hip members of the family)
46. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
47. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
48. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
49 You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales
50. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
51. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
52. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"
53. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "SavedBy The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.
54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
55. You just sang those words to yourself.
56. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
57. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
58. You remember when mullets were cool!
59. You had a mullet!
60. You still sing "We are the World"
61. You tight rolled your jeans.
62. You owned a bannana clip.
63. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
64. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
65 You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
66. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

I am so guilty of most of these things. Especially the banana clips (I had one in every color), and jordache jeans (mine were two tone...with zippers at the bottom). I had Michael Jackson posters in my room , lime green jelly shoes and had a crush on the karate kid! Oh the shame!

Shopping therapy...it's a good thing!

by teresa

My day...in pictures.


















Today was shopping day. And not just any shopping day.....Christmas giftcard shopping day! Thank you mom, Jackie and Katy. Chris even tagged along....although I don't think he realized what he was in for. He kept whining and sighing real loud when I would look at the same sweater four times over. In Steinmart he helped me pick out a pretty necklace...and played with the sunglass display. He did manage to find himself a comfy chair in Barnes & Noble to plop in (you guys know I can take awhile in a bookstore). I came home with a great black purse (that has a light that comes on when you open it up...how cool), silver heart necklace, pair of khaki dockers(you can never have too many pairs of khaki pants), a book, red leather purse accessories, Eragon nintendo ds game, pretty collage picture frame, and pants for Chris. We also stopped for a long lunch on the way home. What a nice time. He only has 2 more days of vacation left. Tomorrow we will spend most of the day watching Six Feet Under (which came in the mail today...yippee)...and vegging on the couch.

by teresa

Oh Christmas Tree...
Oh Christmas Tree...
It's back in the attic, with thee!

The tree is down and packed away. I still have to un-christmas my kitchen and the outside of the house. but that's for another day.

I also finished the hu-mon-gus pile of laundry that had accumulated over the past weekend. Tomorrow I will move on the bed linens and the dogs bed (that thing is stinky).

Chris and I went shopping (for the hour I could pry him away from the television coverage of the Ford funeral) for a pair of basketball shoes for Nicky. All I got to say is....basketball shoes...are UGLY! Big, chunky, crazy colors. I didn't like anything. So I defered to Chris...and he chose some blue and white ones. They're alright...I guess.

Once Ben got home from school and finished homework...he and Chris headed out back for some b-ball practice. Then Nick came home and both boys went to karate class. The boys are both outside right now playing basketball (Nick wanted to try out his new shoes). What a sight. They are both in their pajamas and basketball shoes. I would take a picture....but I think Nick would go berzerk if I put a photo on the internet of him in his snoopy boxers.

Chris is at church (with about 5 other guys) putting together some portable basketball goals. Four goals actually. They met up there around 7:00pm. So he should be home around 10:00pm. 10:00pm Friday! I don't know why the church didn't just get the goals already put together. What a pain it is going to be to assemble them.

Ok...I'm off to bring the boys upstairs for quiet reading time. Nick has some accelerated reader points he needs to catch up on....and I have a book that Ben is going to love. Nick and I read it together a couple of years ago...and I think Ben will love it just as much as his brother did. You should check it out.

I'd like mornings better if they started later.

by teresa

It's 6:00am.

I'm tired.

Did I mention that I have been sleeping past 9:00am everyday while the kids have been off?

Didn't get up till 10:38am yesterday morning.

6:00am is way different than 10:30.

I'm just saying.

Happy New Year......The Green Family

by teresa

We had a great night. Went to The inlaws for dinner (yummy pulled bar-b-que, beans, slaw and chips) and sat around chatting and laughing about things of old and things of new. Remembering our loved ones who have passed on...but have left impressions on our lives never to be forgotten. Crazy things we did as kids...and things that our kids do that drive us crazy now (what goes around comes around). We came home and made our fire. Unfortunately Lauren bailed on us to attend a youth group function....but I ate her share of marshmallows :0) We sat around it with the boys for a long time (until my eyes were burning from the smoke). We talked about things we could do better in 07 (be more active, read more, show love to others,etc). Mom, Nick, Ben and I lasted until midnight. Chris just couldn't hang. He ended up going to bed at 11:40pm. How can you go to bed with only 20 minutes left? We went outside and yelled Happy New Year and banged on our pots and pans. 2007. Wow. It's hard to believe. The boys have gone up to put on pjs and I am heading after I post this. I am sad that school will be starting Tuesday. We have had such a fun time with the kids (and Chris) off this past week.
















A New Year’s Prayer from us to you...

May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.