Nyquil anyone?

by teresa

I spent the greater part of yesterday sick in bed.
The cruds.
Head crud, throat crud and ear crud.
Not fun.
What's also not fun is what I found when I came down this morning.

Three pairs of shoes thrown in the living room floor.
Seven used cups. Half filled with drinks and in every room of the house (except the kitchen).
A bowl under the Christmas tree.
Two jackets (smelly) thrown across the couch.
An old pizza box on the counter.
A kfc bag and plastic silverware under the kitchen table.
A sink FULL of dirty dishes and a dishwasher FULL of washed dishes (which I had run the night before last).

I see I need to reacquaint my family with the many uses of a hamper, dishwasher and a washing machine. Either that or I am pulling a Norma Rea over here!

has anybody seen a hamster.....oh there he is.....phew!

by teresa

Everyone in the Green home is in a sugar coma.
We will return as soon as the cookie/cake/candy bliss wears off.
And then I'll tell you how my husband tried to feed Ben's new pet to the dog last night.
Making good memories....that's what we're all about here.

The greatest gift (even better than a Wii)!

by teresa

This Christmas, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, thank God for the life-changing gifts he gives us: a faith that works, a hope that is alive, and a love that last forever.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

by teresa

It's here. Christmas. I'm up...alone. The oven is cold...all cookies and treats made (and nibbled).
Santa's been and gone....gifts waiting for children's hands to shake, grope and rip up. Dad is snuggled with the anxious youngsters, keeping all peeking to a minimum. I am sitting here enjoying the quiet before the chaos. All the lights in the house are out except the Christmas tree. I am sitting here thanking God for my life. My hectic, nonstop, late nights, early mornings, exhausting...perfect life. I wouldn't change a single thing. Not one thing.

Chopstick Christmas 2008

by teresa

Tonight was our traditional chinese buffet Christmas eve dinner. We have tried to remember when we started this....five, six years ago? All we can remember is we were looking for a place to eat one Christmas eve night and the chinese buffet was the only thing open (like the movie The Christmas Story).

The only downer was that Lauren missed it because she had to work. Becoming an adult is a bummer sometimes huh?

If you live in the tidewater area you MUST go see the lights at 314 Suburban Drive in Norfolk!!

by teresa

It's Christmas Eve!!

I came down teeming with excitment and anticipation about the rest of the weeks events.
Then I stepped in dog pee. grrrrr
Okay..I spot-botted it.
Now I have my excitment back (stupid dog).
Just a last minute trip to the grocery store today (for Christmas brunch fare) and then cleaning the house for tomorrows visitors. I cleaned earlier in the week...but my kids are good for messing it right back up in no time. So as Santa is making his rounds tonight with all the little ones tucked in dreaming of sugar plums (and video games), I will be working my pledge/swiffer/lysol Christmas magic.

mom on the go go go!

by teresa

Just finished baking m&m sugar cookies and turtle pretzels (pretzel/rolo/oven 2min./pecan on top) for Ben's class party tomorrow. I am also making a couple pans of bubble pizza casserole. With all the other stuff my co-room mom is making those kids are going to be stuffed and happy.
Busy times....I wouldn't want it any other way!

Actual questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa

Mom, it was so cold in here last night I had to get up and put on a sweatshirt to get warm.

Why do you always sneeze when you're turning a corner?

I can't wear these cause they're pirate pants.

He scared the tampon right out of me! He jumped out from behind the car and screamed. I had to run in the house with my legs closed tight.

He's been Ben-a-fied.

I can rip a phonebook in half.

You can't even rip a post-it note pad in half.

Do you want to arm wrestle?

She blew her nose on that sock.

I only had a half a spinach roll....I swear!

I'm re-gifting that.

She's looking very ghetto fabulous today.

Scrabble anyone?

It smells very filipinolicious in here.

Who ate all my lumpia?

I woke up this morning and Lauren had eaten half the plate of cookies I made for the teachers gift. stupid.

Who doesn't like pigs-n-blankets?

I have a friend.

Did you have to chip the kids from their beds this morning?

I like to bite their heads off first before I eat them.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

by teresa

Everybody in different directions today. Meeting in the middle here and there. Soccer, shopping, ODU basketball, church, family party.
I love all the get togethers and special times around Christmas.
Getting dressed up to have a meal with family you don't see often enough. Remembering the holiday house my great grandfather built and displayed in his living room. We could look...but no touch! The gaudy red and green velvet dresses (a new one each year) and listening to the local radio station to get updates on Santa's Christmas eve flight plans. Mom...do you remember my bought of diarrhea during candlelight communion? In white tights? Good memories.
Things change as you get older. No less fun(or messy)...just different.
Being Santa is WAY more fun! Giving and blessing is more exciting than a hundred barbies or tinker toy sets(I loved tinker toys).

On the way home from a family gathering tonight we (mom, me, Katy) got a little carried away listening to Mariah Carey's Christmas cd. We were singing, waving our hands, clapping. The cars around us were looking and pointing. Who cares...we weren't singing for them. Here's the link to the song we were singing (our favorite part is at the 3:20 mark). After repeating it twice even Kaden and Kai were screaming out "JESUS!" "JESUS!" "SWEET JESUS!"

wanna hear something scary?

by teresa

Yesterday I took the key out of the deadbolt to the backdoor.
The kids (Katy's kids)had a friend over out back and I didn't want the dog to be let out(the dog hates this kid).
I had no pockets, so I slid the key quickly into my bra.
Yeh...I know. Tacky...but necessary.
I ran out the door to get Nick from school.
When I came back the kid was gone and the dog was whining to get out.
I reached in my shirt...and couldn't find the key.
????
It took me ten minutes of patting myself down and then finally going to the bathroom and taking off my shirt and bra.
The key fell to the floor....it's previous whereabouts are still a mystery to me.

milk and cookies for dinner...sounds good to me

by teresa

It's almost over.
Frosty's shop that is.
We will be closing down after lunch tomorrow, so we can re-inventory and get everything boxed back up and shipped off before the Christmas break.
I will be glad . It has been exhausting. Six plus hours a day at school and then coming home and trying to keep things (dishes,cooking,laundry,cleaning,errands) up and running so no one complains. That means late nights....and early mornings.
I am going with our school's principal to the superintendents luncheon today. Should be fun. Well, maybe not fun....but at least a change of scenery and some rubber chicken.
Tonight is Nick's band concert. He is really looking forward to it and has practiced hours and hours. It will be a nice evening.
I ordered cookie dough from a girl at church and forgot about it. She brought it last night and my heart gave a leap. 100 preformed peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. *sigh* I should save them and make them for Christmas gifts....or maybe not.

thou shall not steal

by teresa

Stolen.
A glass faceted heart shaped paperweight with "I Love Mom" inscribed on the top.
I noticed it missing yesterday as two classes had just left the Frosty's shop preview.
I told the security guard as he passed my room and him and I went to the two classrooms to guilt the culprit into confessing.
I told them it was missing...asked for a confession...and got nothing but silence.
Then I thought I would try another approach.
I offered the person who catches the thief free "Frosty bucks" to spend if they turn him in.
It worked...but not like I thought.
This morning the kid who took it turned it in to his teacher and then asked for his free dollar.
Can you believe that?

A little Christmas eating....I mean reading

by teresa

Our Christmas book club meeting was Saturday night. You guys know it's my absolute favorite thing. Those ladies are so special and we have so much fun getting together. The book for the month was The Gift of Christmas Present....very good and a quick read. You should check it out. I am still reeling from the food that night. Chicken and dumplings, beef stew, loaded baked potato soup, broccoli and cheese soup and taco soup (we obviously had a soup theme). I made dessert....twinkie pie. There was also cheesecake, muffins, breads and crackers. We really know how to party. haa haa

this is so cute

by teresa

A real life Bambi and Thumper.

tgif

by teresa

I spent the day at Ben's school setting up for Frosty's Workshop next week.
It will be fun to help all the kids pick out gifts for their families.
And the company sent me $70 in free Frosty bucks to hand out to needy kids who otherwise wouldn't be able to get their parents or siblings gifts.
Cool.

Lots going on around here. Ben is still completely obsessed with his outdoor light display. He tweaks and moves things daily and it is really getting on my nerves. He has blown the fuse three times. good grief.
Nick is excited about his band concert next week. He has been practicing 40 minutes a day after school without fail....and it has really payed off. He sounds great! It should be a nice evening (except for the stupid PTA meeting I have before it).
Lauren is at the end of finals week. Three days she stayed up all night. I went to bed and she was at the computer....I woke and she was at the computer. Nothing like waiting till the last minute to study...huh? Chris said he saw a shirt that said," I am going to stop procrastinating....tomorrow." We are getting that for Lauren for Christmas.

Things I googled this week...

by teresa

two thirty two blog

Priscilla Ahn

Organic state theory

12 days of Christmas

pen plax cage

accretion

icebreakers

Freaky Friday

etsy

70's hairdos

doodlebop

I am David

Saturday Night Fever

road hogs

vacuuming

androgynous

superwoman lyrics

Aileen Quinn

Drake and Josh Christmas special

Cupp run

chicken salad recipe

polar express botanical gardens

armor of God

Be a blessing....and get a blessing

by teresa

Busy week, not alot of time to post.
Shopping, baking, parties, Chris out of town, wrapping, planning for next weeks Frosty's shop at Ben's school.
After next week life will be back to a normal chill out mode around here.
All I will have is a couple of PTA meetings and a band concert to attend.
If you are in my area come by Parkway Christian Center tonight (anytime) and wrap some gifts for needy kids (whose parent in incarcerated). Our members have purchased $100 in gifts for over 70 kids...now they all need to be wrapped. Phew!
Also putting together Christmas dinner baskets for all the caregivers.
Come on down and get your blessing.
Even and hour will help.

Don't make me hurt you with my wing...

by teresa

Last night the boys, mom and I went to church for a volunteer banquet. It was a lot of fun and the food was fabulous! We got all dressed up and I even did my hair. Well, I tried to do a DO...but it just turned out like a 1970's B-movie star. I'm talking serious wings people! Ben took a picture (see below) of me and mom...and I think I may have caused her sersious eye damage with the point of my side flip.

Hairspray is the tool of the devil.

I don't know what Harry was complaining about....under the stairs is awesome!

by teresa

Guess what?

I was invited inside the inner sanctum(see post below).

We played two hands of UNO and then made sandwiches.

It was the highlight of my weekend!

Send all his mail to Master B. R. Green, The Cupboard Under the Stairs...

by teresa

After pulling a few Christmas boxes and the tree from under the stairs I peeked in with my flashlight. It is a really big and empty space. So once Ben came home I showed him the "cupboard under the stairs" and so it began. His attempt to set up a man cave, complete with tv, a deck of cards and one of his sisters old quilts as a floor covering. He invited his friend Joe over and the two of them swept, vacuumed and de-cobwebbed the whole space. They even tried to hook up playstation under there only to realize the little old tv I allowed Ben to bring in from the garage hasn't the necessary hookup for such things. "That's okay mom", he said...""just toss me the Uno cards instead." And then it happened....one of my children having electricity free fun (sans the reading light clipped to the wall plugged to an extension chord from the hallway). There was laughter and clubhouse names talked about. He even called over next door and invited the cousins. They all crawled in there (you must be 4foot or under to be able to crawl in the door through the back of the closet comfortably) and enjoyed a parentless party. I did get summoned once to bring cheezits and cider, but other than that they were on their own. The party broke at bedtime with secret whispers and promises of doing this again every single day!
I peeked in the next morning after the kids went to school to asses the damage. There was none. It was cleaned and straightened. Ready for the next days adventure. With all the giggling and squealing I thought they may have brought some board games or nintendo ds' in there...but no. There was just that one pack of card sitting on a "shelf" Ben had made. It's like it is a different world when kids enter. Magical and exciting. A sort of Narnia entrance right here in my coat closet. Oh, to be young again....

Actual questions and comments heard in the Green house this week.

by teresa


If there was booty shakin' in the Olympics...Beyonce would get gold, silver and bronze.

Who set the dvr to record the Victoria Secret fashion show?

Nothing makes you want to snuggle more than finding a booger on your pillow.

I'm not getting him a hamster! The last one we had ended up a skeleton in the attic.

What's the good in your kid working at Olive Garden if she can't even bring home any breadsticks?

She makes me crazy! we're moving.

Wow, you called me by my name. You never do that.

My butt hurts...it hurts real bad.

Dad....can I borrow your drivers license?

You are cooking so may casseroles lately (and it is showing on everyone) so I'm going to start calling them fatasseroles.

You heathen!

Barrack Obama is not the devil!

Mom, please don't read aloud to me, it makes my head hurt.

Sit down now! I am going to read three chapters and you are going to like it!!

please sir...I want some more

by teresa

What is your favorite musical?
Mine is Oliver!
I've had every line memorized since I was 10.
I also love love love My Fair Lady.
But Oliver is definitely my favorite.

Chris hates hates hates musicals.
How in the world have we stayed together for so long?

Do you have a favorite? Or do you spontaneously combust at the first note?

I love you Miss Hannigan!

by teresa

My niece Kaden has come to a wonderful part in a little girls life.

Her first experience with musicals.

My sister put on a movie for her last week....and her life hasn't been the same since.

That movie was Annie.

Now, as soon as Kaden's eyes open in the morning....she grabs the movie and insists on watching it. That continues all day long. She stands in front of the tv and sings and dances along to it. Well...as much as a 3yr old can sing along. You know....she sings every fourth or fifth word...really loud. The funniest part is she marches around and says,"ask any one of his fleas!" If you don't know what that means...then shame on you. Everyone should know the songs from Annie!

After Katy asked her to do something the other day Kaden said,"yes Miss Hannigan!"

I love it!!!!

Here's a couple pf pictures I took the other day of her getting jiggy wit it.

freecycle heaven!

by teresa

I am chest deep in magazine bliss.
I responded to a post on freecycle yesterday to a woman who was getting rid of her back issues.
I now have two years worth of better homes and gardens, southern living, familyfun, travel, cooks illustrated, popular mechanics,the family handyman (that's for Chris), money and redbook.
EEEEEE!
I'm so excited!
I will go through and cut out any recipes or crafts worth saving and put them in a binder.
Free stuff is so cool.
You should look up the freecycle in your area.
I have heard of people getting really neat stuff.

Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.

by teresa

Okay, this short video is great.
We need more of this and less of this.

I do this sometimes. Some people say I'm crazy for talking to strangers(chris)...but I think it's nice to catch someone off guard and turn their frown upside down. I don't do it enough...but I have slipped people "pass it on" cards, given money or food (MickyD's)to people with signs on street corners (it is not my business what they do with it). One of my favorite things is when I gave a cashier my pen. It was a really pretty pink pen I had bought from Lifeway bookstore. It had some happy dappy saying and scripture on the side. It was really cool...I loved that pen. I was in the grocery store being rung up by the rudest, grumpiest cashier with the worst attitude ever. When it came time for her to sign off on my check she couldn't find her pen. She curse (yes cursed) and ranted that someone had probably stolen it again. I reached in my purse and handed her my pen. She snatched it (without a thankyou) and did her scribbly thing on my check. When she went to hand it back I told her no....I want you to keep it. The wall of rancor and bother fell. She smiled....and I walked off. The next week I went in and as I was checking out I saw her in another line. She had that pen on a ribbon around her neck. It makes me smile every time I think about it.