boo

by teresa

Happy Halloween to all.
Or....happy harvest day...fall fest...or whatever you call it.

Me and the family will be spending the evening at our church sampling chili (it's a contest) , gorging ourselves on hot dogs, cotton candy and whatever Reece cups I can get my hands on. They are my favorite!

Yesterday I took my niece Kaden to the pumpkin patch. She had a blast...and wore me slam out! I don't know how Katy does it. She ran from the bouncer to the slide to the fire truck back to the jumper to the tunnel back to the jumper....and so on. The only way she would jump is if I got in it with her. That was comical. There were no pictures taken of that I can assure you. I kept tumbling over to the inside corner of the stupid thing. Like a turtle on it's back.
When it came time to pick a pumpkin she went straight for the big ones. I suggested a few(smaller ones)...she would look them over and inform me that "they had boo boos". Which meant they had a stain or were dented. Only a perfect pumpkin would do. She pulled the wagon around until she found one she wanted. I put it in...and she insisted on pulling it back to the stand to be weighed (30+ lbs) all by herself. She hugged it and when I asked her what it's name was...she said..."Sam".
Very cute.

Pumpkin patch

by teresa

Last night Chris and I noticed that all Lauren's car windows were rolled down.
How strange.
We called over to mom's to ask her why.
Here's how our conversation went.





















Me: Lauren...why are your windows rolled down?

Her: Uhhh....I threw up in there.

Me: WHAT?!!??

Her: Well actually...me AND Christina threw up in there.

Me: Your so weird. What happened?

Her: *laughing hysterically* Well, after church Christina and I went to lunch with some people...after lunch we were driving to Hunter's house and Christina sneezed. Snot came out of her nose and it made me puke. Then she saw me puke...and it made her puke. So we just kept puking.

Me: Grooosssss!!!!! You are so sick!!! Did you clean it up(this is a reasonable question for this girl)?

Her: When we got to Hunter's we borrowed their shopvac and cleaned up the car. We sprayed lots of fabreeze and rolled the windows down to air it out. That's why the windows are rolled down.

As gross as this is...I still don't think it's as funny as when she peed while driving (in Chris' car) because her friend made her laugh too hard. Then to "clean" it up she poured her drink on it. The next day Chris sat in the mess on the way to work. Funny stuff!

I really can't talk. When Chris and I were teenagers he was teaching me to drive a stick shift. I got so mixed up...and the car was jerking and lurching. I laughed so hard I peed my pants(in his car). He must have really liked me to keep me around after that.

Party time

by teresa

All three of our soccer games were rained out today.
What a disappointment.
We were up early....the whole team out there...ready to play.
We waited and waited.
But after four straight days of rain our soccer fields were flooded.

Later in the day it finally cleared up...sunshine...rainbows...and mud.
Lots and lots of mud.

We watched the movie Evan Almighty yesterday. I highly recommend it for you and the kids. It's clean (no cursing, boobs or violence), has a positive message and is pretty funny. Our boys were glued to the tv.

Tonight our friends from soccer are hosting a Halloween party for the kids. It starts at 6:30...so they should all be in a sugar coma by 9:00.
I'll make sure to take lots of pictures.

Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.

by teresa

Why are my children not perfect like yours?

What is your secret?
Time outs?
Restriction?
Sedatives(for you and them)?
Cattle prods?
Shock therapy?
Lobotomy?

I'm losing it over here people!

Most of the time my kids have pity on me and only act bad one at a time.
You know....if one is being horrible...the other two are angels.

But not this week.
This week all three are pushing me to the limit.
Heck....they have pushed me so far past "my limit"...that the light from "my limit" will take a billion years to reach the Earth.

Give me a break! And I'm not talking about a kitkat bar!

I like things neat. Neat and tidy. And not just physical things. Emotional things too. Everyone needs to be happy, sweet and confident. When they are the opposite (angry, disrespectful and anxious) it throws my whole world off kilter.

I'll take the purple straight jacket in an XL please.

by teresa

Not good.
Ben whined and lingered upstairs too long this morning.
When I came down he was dressed (save his shoes).
But apparently it takes him ten minutes to walk from his room to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
I kept calling up to him..."Ben, the bus will be here any time now!"
He came down and threw himself on the couch....still no shoes on.
In the middle of yet another rant about his brothers hour later wake up than his...we heard that familiar diesel engine chugging up the street.
I looked out the door..and sure enough...it was his bus.
Come...and gone.
Ben jumps up....grabs his shoes (which are still not on his feet) and chucks them across the room.
He turns to me with tears in his eyes and says...."SEE WHAT YOU DID MOM!"

by teresa

Ben has such a hard time getting up for school in the morning.
Not every once in a while either.
Every. Single. Morning.

It doesn't matter what time he goes to bed.
Early. Late. Right on time.
Still whines, moans and begs when I get him up for school.

It's not what you think. He loooooves school!
He also looooves the bus. So when I suggest that he sleep in...and I'll drive him myself....he refuses adamently.

I know what he's feeling. Getting up at 6:30am for school...is ridiculous.
It is still dark...and every day he accuses me of changing the clock.
"look...it's still dark!" "You must have changed the clock!"
Grrrrr....what a grump.

Today, as his bus was coming down the street and he was walking out the door he turned to me and said, "School should NOT start this early....you are on the PTA ...you should speak up and get that fixed!"

by teresa

We are about to close mom's pool.

Dad's brother Timmy, Nick and Josh are going to do the deed.

Chris is in DC today so will not be able to help.

Dad would always complain each fall that he had to do it by himself. But that was only cause he would sneak and do it while we we at church or something.

He knew no one could ever do it right "his way"...so it was best to let him do it alone .....and then give him accolades afterward.

It's so warm here..we could still swim in it.

But with fall here....my trees are shedding around the pool, in the pool and everywhere else. *sorry dad*

This picture reminds me of my daddy. He would rake all the leaves (every last one) from his yard....and then dump them over my fence. He would say," They came from your tree...I was just putting them back!"

We are wanting to take down the six foot privacy fence in between our yards so it will be easier for Nick (our newly appointed handyman and groundskeeper) to access Dad's garage and mom's yard work.

We will need to have a wedding for KiKi (ruler of mom's yard) and Shorty (ruler of our yard). So they can cohabitat...without living in sin.

by teresa

Last night Chris and I went to a viewing for nine minutes.
That's not long...but it's all I could take.
My granddaddy's sister passed this week and I wanted to honor them (as they did us last month) by going and telling them how sorry I am that their parent died.
I walked in the funeral home and felt a huge elephant climb on my shoulders. All the tears...long faces...grief. It was heavy...and sucked the breath out of me. Daughters with the same sad eyes as me, grandchildren with the same look of loss as my kids, a husband with the same sorrow as my mom.
I said a few hello's as I made my way to "the room". She lay there as lovely as always...and at peace...free from disease and pain again. Her husband greeted me from a chair by her side. I remarked at how beautiful she was...then I noticed she had a blue purse by her side. I asked him about it and he said tearfully...,"It was her favorite...she would never go anywhere without it."
*sigh*
I teared up, turned around and walked out the front door.
I miss my dad so much....and that was just too much...too soon.

It made me tired. More tired than I have been lately (and that's very, very tired). I came home and went to bed...at 8:00pm. I dreamed that I was home alone..and an intruder broke in. It (I never saw what it was) tackled me in my hallway (actually it was mom's hallway) and wouldn't let me up. That's it. No hitting...screaming...robbing. Just pushed me face down and wouldn't let me up. The only thing I kept yelling out for was...GRANDDADDY!
Weird.

Did I tell you that mom got my Daddy's truck all fixed up? Scratches, dings and rust off. Paint touched up. She also got a personalized plate(I won't give the exact lettering) that says "MISS*YOU*JIMMY". It sits ther in the driveway...kinda like a shrine :)
He would love it!

by teresa

We had such a hectic evening.
Two soccer picture appointments and two soccer practices in two different locations. At the same time!
Before and after all this Nick had to finish up his history project.
He was finally done with homework and project around 11:00pm.

I dropped by Katy's this morning and surprised her with Starbucks. Her and Josh got me a giftcard for my birthday. I think she bought it knowing I would spend it on her. She loves the caramel frappachinos (extra caramel/extra whip). I wish I would have taken my camera to catch her huge smile when she opened the door and saw me (and her sweet beverage) standing on the porch.

Before I go I wanted to show you this funny email someone sent me today.
Enjoy!

Sisters Mary Catherine, Maria Theresa, Katherine Marie, Rose Frances, & Mary Kathleen left the Convent on a trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and were sight-seeing on a Tuesday in July.

It was hot and humid in town and their traditional garb was making them so uncomfortable, they decided to stop in at Patty McGuire's Pub for a cold soft drink.

Patty had recently added special legs to his barstools, which were the talk of the fashionable eastside neighborhood.

All 5 Nuns sat up at the bar and were enjoying their Cokes when Monsignor Riley and Father McGinty entered the bar through the front door They, too, came for a cold drink when they were shocked and almost fainted at what they saw.

Happy Birthday Kristian!

by teresa

Today is my niece Kristian's 9th birthday. We love all Katy's kids to the moon and back. But Kristian is special. Katy was a teen mommy...still in high school when she had Kristian. So Chris and I (along with mom and dad whom she lived with) became extra mommy's and daddy's to her. Extra hands, hugs and support. I was her childcare provider...and once Ben was born (4 months later) there wasn't many times that they weren't together. The two of them are more like brother and sister than cousins. We "feel" as though she is ours too. A strong bond...never to be broken. So on this ninth year anniversary of her birth...we want to say, "Kristian, we adore you." "Happy Birthday...and stop growing up so fast!"

oooohh....I'm telling!

by teresa


My nephew Kai is a mess.
They should make a sitcom of his life.
"Leave it to Kai" *like Leave it to Beaver*
I could create an entire blog of the bizarre and knucklehead things he does each day.
Like kicking a man in the head who was standing by the bleachers we were sitting on, or yelling "hey big momma!"...to the heavy set cashier at the 7-11 or peeing in the yard in front of company. It's endless.


Yesterday...in his frustration over the neighbors telling him to keep it down(the kid is constantly screaming, yelling, whooping and growling loudly) he got embarrassed......and threw a rock through the window.


Oh no!


He got in big trouble by Katy.....and you don't want to be in big trouble by Katy.


Later in the evening, mom picked up Katy's kids to drive over to Kristian's game. She said Kai got in the car all droopy faced. He said, "Nanny....I had a bad day!" Then he proceeded to explain to her what happened. She gave him a lecture on being good...and making Jesus happy with our decisions...and obeying mommy....and controlling his temper. He sorrowfully agreed.

After a minute of silence he spoke up.
"Nanny?"
"Yes honey?"
"You got a hundred bucks I can borrow?"


This cracked me up!
Apparently Katy had explained to him that it would cost a hundred dollars to fix the neighbors window.

The whole time mom was thoughtfully lecturing him and it looked as if he was remorseful......he was working up the nerve to bum a hundred off his granny.

pretty in pink

by teresa

My niece Kristian's 9th birthday party was Saturday (her bday is Wed.). It was a cookout at Katy's house. Hamburgers, hotdogs and smoked sausages...mmmmm. The weather was perfect for sitting outside (high 60's) and the company was even better. Friends from school, soccer and family. I think Kristian had a blast...and we enjoyed honoring (spoiling) her with gifts and hugs. Chris and I bought her a book (of course), pink and white heelys, a lip gloss ring and lotion(pink buttercream icing lotion). But I ended up keeping the lotion because it was just too awesome. It smells just like icing and my hubby has a sweet tooth! So I decided to hang on to that little treasure. I also took her to the beauty shop and got pink stripes in her hair. They were having a breast cancer awarness deal. For $10 (all of which is donated to a local cancer walk) they put a little pink in your hair. It's bright pink for the first week...then turns pastel pink for the next month or so. Too cool!

by teresa

We have been busy around here.
Lots going on.
Some good...some not so good.
But...that's how it is in normal families.
We can't be perfect all the time. Right?

I think I'll take a couple days off from blogging...so I can give everything around here my undivided attention.

When things calm down...I will make time to sit and catch up with you.

I'll be back soon!

*feel free to miss me*

by teresa

Lauren and Kaden had a great trip to the zoo. She did take the stroller...but said she let her get out and run around most of the time. Lauren said of all the animals there....her favorite things were the ducks. Not the elephants, lions or monkeys. The ducks...which you can see anywhere around town. She would squeal and give chase. Also...the kid has no fear. If there was an animal within reach...she would grab it. No hesitation. Lauren taught her the word "Emu" when they approached that exhibit. Apparently Kaden enjoyed seeing this animal...and saying the name. For the rest of the afternoon she ran through the zoo yelling...EEEEEEMMUUUUU!..at the top of her lungs. Most people would try to distract her...shush her...contain her. Not Lauren. She loved it...encouraged it...joined in. She is going to make a great teacher someday.

What is your favorite animal at the zoo? Mine have always been the monkeys. They are so smart and funny.

by teresa

Ben just left for school. He was ready and sitting here with me while I was on the computer. A minute before the bus came he ran upstairs. I figured he forgot something...and went to retrieve it. I heard the bus coming down the street just as he was coming back down. He grabbed his book bag and made his way out the door. I scanned him as he bolted down the front steps to see what he had run upstairs for. Then my eyes fell on his head. Oh my. He had gone up to put some finishing touches on his hair I guess. It was apparent he had been in Lauren's hair gel and he looked like Alfalfa from the little rascals...no exaggerating!

The librarian from Nick's school called on Friday. They need me to come in one or two days this week to help out. I will go later today....if I can get my hampers empty in the next couple of hours. I haven't done laundry since Friday morning....so it will take some time.

I wish our kids were off today (for Columbus day). I could have used a sleep in day.

Lauren is out of school for the next two days on a mini fall break. She is taking pity on Katy ...and taking Kaden (aka crazy girl) to the zoo for a few hours. I am sending my camera with them in hopes of some fun pictures. Lauren asked me if she should take Kaden's stroller. I said no....and assured her she would be fine tottering around. hahahahahahahaha! I am so bad. I giggle every time I think of Lauren in full pursuit of that maniac toddler. Serves her right. Her and Kaden are one in the same. We even call Kaden...Lauren Jr.

After I drop the kids off at school I need to run by the grocery store (we are out of everything) and Lifeway book store to pick up the book for this weekends club meeting. I know...I know...I should have read it by now. Don't worry...I will get it done by Sat. night.

I also need to buy a new pencil sharpener for the house. We have an old fashioned, school house, hand cranked one mounted in the garage. But, it has seen it's better days...and just leaves you with broken stubs. I actually chewed a point on Ben's pencil the other day so he could finish his homework. Seriously.

by teresa

It's been a nice weekend. My uncle and his family came Friday and stayed till it got dark last night. Our boys (his two and our two) played until they dropped each day. Bike riding, basketball, soccer, hide and seek and then a two hour nintendo ds battle. We will be heading up (No.Va.) to catch the cousins soccer games sometime in the next month.
I went into Dad's garage for a while yesterday. A science project for Ben and Kristian took me in there. I looked through all the cabinets, drawers and shelves. Cleaned a bit. Swept and organized a bit. My sister came out and joined me. We looked around...and touched his favorite tools(this would have been a no-no one month ago). We passed them between us. The cold steel, the sharp edges, the greasy residue. I could see his hands on them still. I couldn't count the hours of my life spent watching my daddy build or fix things with these tools. I also don't think he has ever thrown away a tool (hammers...so many hammers), knob, screw, hinge or hose away since I was born! We found the perfect odds and ends for the kid's projects.
Thanks Dad.

by teresa

I called my Dad's cellphone today.
I just wanted to hear his voice (on voicemail).
Is that weird?
I left him a message.
Is that even weirder?

I have gotten back in to reading myself to sleep. No more nintendo in bed. I have also been sleeping very sound. My awake time has been harder though. The past two days I can not stop thinking. Wishing. Dwelling. I think it is just now sinking in. He is gone. Not up the road at 7-11. Not out in the garage fiddling around. Not taking a nap. Not across the street at Gerri's having a cup of coffee. Gone forever. It sucks!

Smile

Turn your frown upside down!

by teresa

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa

How many people have you smiled at today?
Smile at five strangers today...and see how many smile back.
It's funny to see how some people cheer up...and some people look at you like your crazy.

Nick finished his history project late last night....and we (I mean HE) better get an A. It turned out so great I almost want to accompany him to class to turn it in ...just to see the teachers face aglow with awe and admiration. Would that be too weird?

Don't judge any man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins

by teresa

What an exciting night.

Both Nick and Ben had games. Unfortunately they were at the same time...in different locations. So the family split up and supported each kid.

Nick's team won 3 to 1...and Ben and Kristian's team won 7 to 0.

Nick had 3 saves as goalie...and Kristian and Ben each scored goals.

Tonight Kai's team plays...and if it is anything like the last game (they won 8 to 1) it should be fun. The Daddy is coming to have dinner with mom and then attend the game. Chris is out of town...so Keith (ex-bro in law) will be taking over as coach for the evening.

I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday and used my bday giftcards. I came home with 16 new books. One of which I already had. Darn! I will be returning it today. I was there close to 2 hours browsing. I kept changing my mind and putting things back. Ask me if I remembered to get the church book club book....go ahead. NOPE! I forgot. Now I have to run out sometime before next weekend and find it. I got to thinking it is pretty ironic...that in the middle of being gossip central...our Oct. club read is called 30 days to taming your tongue.

So...anybody have any interesting facts on the Sioux Indians? Nick has a project due the end of the week...and he has just started. He is so frustrating. It's not that he put it off ...it's that he keeps changing his mind about what to do. First he was going to make a collage on poster board then he was planning to build a teepee(he's all..hey mom...could you go out and buy me some teepee fabric?)...then he wanted to smoke some buffalo (like I could pick some up easily at FoodLion). Now he wants to make a photo/fact album. He will need to spend the entire night completing this. He already has all the info and photos to put in the album...we just have to buy supplies later today.

Shame on you!

by teresa

I looked up gossip in the dictionary...here's what I found.

gossip - a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people.
synonyms: hearsay, rumor, untruths, slander

gossip - a person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others.
synonyms: scandalmonger, blabbermouth, tattletale, magpie, snoop, meddler

Our family experienced the effects of a gossip this weekend. Not the first time in our lives...and I'm sure not the last. The funniest instance is when someone gossiped about Chris...to Chris. Not realizing who he was. *hee hee* Someone hearing personal information from one(a very trusted ex-friend)....and passing it to many, many others. And under the pretense of "worrying" or..."just to make sure you knew (and you, and you, and you)".
Christian gossips are the worst. You know them. They come to you and say something like..."we need to pray for Sally...did you know her husband is running around on her....she really needs our prayers". Most of the time (and in our case) it is nothing but half-truths and heresay. I pity the people(you know who you are) who make themselves feel better by talking down about others. Sad...very sad.

What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth. ~Jewish Proverb

Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. ~Spanish Proverb

Leviticus 19:16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbors life. I am the Lord.

Proverbs 11:13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Romans 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips.

1 Timothy 5:13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

Matthew 7:1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Proverbs 18:8 The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a mans inmost parts.

Before you repeat a story about others, ask yourself, Is it true? Is it harmless? Is it necessary? If the answer is "no" to any of these questions, do not repeat it.