carwash

by teresa

Ben's soccer team is having a car wash fundraiser today.
I am going to try to do something that does not involve using water...or being near the water.
It's from 10-2 at in our church parking lot. The hottest time of day...great.

10 more days left

by teresa

The school year is wrapping up and I am so glad.
I tallied the last of the FarmFresh/Campbells/BoxTops receipts at Ben's school today.
We made a tidy sum this year (patting myself on the back). I am SO glad someone else has this job next year.
My last PTA board meeting for Nick's school is tonight.
He moves on to the High School next year and I will be an observer and encourager instead of a leader when it comes to the PTA there.
Lauren is out of school for the summer and working at the Olive Garden. She's all about making the money. She even went with a friend to look at a duplex last night. Ben asked if he gets straight A's on his report card can his reward be to make Lauren move so he can get her room. Sibling love at it's finest.
Our summer calendar is already filling up. Soccer camps, beach vacation and teen camp. Nick may even be a counselor for a week for the little kids camp. I am looking forward to sleeping in, staying up late, night swims and no homework.

who did these kids get all the smarts from ?

by teresa

Here's some pictures of Ben being presented the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.

The children who scored perfect on their SOL's were honored.

Kristian also earned the award and we were so proud of her too.

Ben was very excited that it was signed by his main man Barack.

If you remember back to November, you will know that Ben was all about Barack Obama winning the election. So this certificate and title is very special to him. After the presentations the kids fielded questions from the third graders about moving up to a new school (ie...how much homework will we have, are there bullies, are the teachers nice, what did you do to score perfect on the test). Ben raised his hand for every question asked. That boy loves to hear himself speak.

dorks rule

by teresa

The family enjoyed a panini party last night.
French dip, italian and turkey/cheddar/cranberry. So delish!
The weather was perfect and the backyard was busy with football, softball, basketball and scooters.
Today, after church, we will hit Friendly's as a reward to Kai.
He was invited to join a very prestigious group (GATE...gifted and talented education) in school next year.
We always knew he would be king of the dorks someday.

Happy Memorial Day

by teresa

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me...

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother

by teresa

I have mosquito bites from head to toe.
Relaxing in the hammock watching the kids play soccer in the backyard and didn't even realize I was attacked.
It makes for a really bad night sleep.
I need to buy some bug spray.....or wear a ski suit the next time I want to use my mother's day present.

After I get the kids to school, I will be packing Ben's suitcase up for his long weekend away.
My best PTA buddy, Patty, invited Ben to join her family in the Outer Banks for the long memorial day weekend. Her son Anthony has been B's friend since kindergarten, and Ben is so excited to go.

Last night, Nick and I were up watching tv. A commercial came on...I think it was a pepper grinder ad. Anyway, the mom is cooking and needs to add pepper. She looks around and it is no where to be found. Then it cuts to a shot of the little girl pretend cooking with it in her room (kind of a tea party thing set up). The mom calls out something sweet like (honey...have you seen the pepper?) and the girl rushes to the kitchen to add it herself. Everyone is smiling and huggy. Nick looks at me and says,"that is so not realistic." He asks me what I would do if I couldn't find my pepper while cooking. We laughed...because we know what I would do. "NICK...DID YOU TAKE MY DANG PEPPER!?" "DON'T GO TOUCHING MY STUFF!" "AND GET THE HECK OUT OF MY KITCHEN WHILE I'M COOKING...YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE AN AUDIENCE!" "CAN'T I JUST HAVE TEN SECONDS TO MYSELF WITHOUT YOU GUYS BREATHING DOWN MY NECK?"
We laughed and tried to think of all the other false advertising commercials out there. Where they do NOT show what a real mom would do.
Like the paper towel ads. The mom is standing there letting a two year old pour a glass of milk out of a full carton. It goes aaallll over the floor. She smiles and grabs the bounty. NOT!

Can you think of anymore?

que sera sera

by teresa

I texted my hubby something a tiny flirty while he was on his conference call yesterday.

He was completely (c o m p l e t e l y) confused and thought I was talking about something entirely different.

His response [have mercy...bring it on!] made my heart skip a beat.

Come to find out he was referring to the opening of a new chinese restaurant in Greenbrier.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
George Bernard Shaw

best quote of the night: Uh oh. I got the Golden Corral forehead sweat and butt quiver

by teresa


Wow.
The weekend went by so fast.
We went to KFC tonight to try the new grilled chicken.
As we were ordering the lady informed us that they had no chicken in the place.
None.
None made....none to cook.
We busted out laughing.
Chris was like,"This is Kentucky Fried CHICKEN...right?"

We put the kids to bed and relaxed on the couch and watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Funny stuff. We decided that Nick just has to see it. Chris and I were trying to figure out what teenagers today watch. We had Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. Movies that portrayed real life in high school. All I see out now are slasher films (Saw, Hostel). I know that we have a few hip "youngins" who read our blog....what are some good movies I can have my soon to be 9th grader watch that are current.

It never hurts to ask. Unless you ask for hurt.

by teresa

Tired.
Soccer tournament all day yesterday and book club last night.
Didn't get home until 12:05am.
Can't wait till next month.
Last nights book was Gardenia's For Breakfast...next months book is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.

I was wondering...

by teresa

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME junk, why didn't he just buy dinner?

actual questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa

I WASN'T FINISHED! If you ask me a question then you have to let me give you the whole answer.

I traced the smell to a marble sized ball of poop in the dryer.
I wouldn't use those towels if I was you.

She didn't come home last night.

You are just doing it for the power.

Mom, why do I only have two balls?

Someone raised the hammock up so high I can't get in it.

I got my feet done at church yesterday.

You don't need a note...I am the president. Just tell them who you are.

Put your mask on and go to bed.

That bird is giving me the stink eye.

Don't let Kaden see it or she'll kill it.

yipee

by teresa

I was voted the PTA President at Ben's school for next year.

who says there's no prayer in schools?

by teresa

Had a kid come in the bookfair today and ask if we had any books on witchcraft.
Umm,"what", I asked?
Witchcraft.

The two ladies working with me looked stunned.

I told her..."no....but I can get you a book about Jesus."
She looked at me with confusion and asked...."who's that?"

"Jesus", I said.

"What's that?"

Then she shook my question off and inquired if we had any Hannah Montana books.

What in the world?
I found out her name is Stephanie.
Join me in prayer for Stephanie and her family.
She may not know him (Jesus)...but he sure knows her.
It is my mission to speak to this kid and plant some nugget of this fact in her mind/heart every chance I get before the end of the school year.

reading is good

by teresa

Spring Book Fair begins today at Ben's school.
It's a buy on get one sale.
Lord help me restrain myself.
I am heading it up and the kids (Ben and Kristian) are super excited. Like I'm gonna give them freebies or something.
This book fair is my favorite cause it's all about getting books in the kids hands...not making money. We actually make zero profit.

I will take our book club book (Gardenia's For Breakfast) to pass the time. It's this weekend and I haven't read a page yet. I was a little caught up with the Twilight Sagas last week. Around 2,500 pages in one week(why did I not have this discipline in school). I finished book four last night...so I can pour into something new now. Chris wants me to read some Doris Kearns Goodwin novel about FDR...we shall see. I'm a little more partial to fiction, but he swears it's a good read.

Happy Mother's Day

by teresa

Getting ready for church early so I can stop by the store and get drinks for class. I'm teaching this morning and you can not step in there without juice boxes. Seriously....these kids do not want to have to trek down to the water fountain to wash down their cookies. spoiled.
After our lesson we will be making Mother's Day cards for all the mommies.
I am feeling daring, so there may even be glitter and glue involved.

Actual questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa

I think Pooh peed on me. I was sitting on a conference call and all of a sudden I caught a whiff of hamster urine.

He came down on it when we were playing basketball and cracked the screen.

Did my son just ask me "what the hell am I thinking"?

Me and momma are gonna drop you guys off and go out on a date.

Don't try to rush me up to bed so you can read.

You think you're so special...don't ya?

I declare a drama free PTA next year. PTA moms can get a bit scary if you don't watch out. CAT FIGHTS!

Don't shush me. Nobody shushes me....ever.

When did I get old?
Yesterday.

What is that smell?
There was a wiping issue...but it's a cleaned out now.

I just want to kill one of the baby birds....okay?

I wish I had some playdough.
I have this need to squish something.

My toes look like french fries.
My toes look like vienna sausages.

When is the last time you saw your daughter?
Ummmm....Monday maybe.
Do you think she moved out and we just weren't informed?

mom to mom love

by teresa

My friend Angie sent this to me.
So funny.
I needed that.

I'll keep you posted

by teresa

Pooh escaped in the night.
His cage door was wide open when I woke this morning.
Chris and I are up scouring the house (with Shorty locked outside).
This is not good.
Ben gets up in ten minutes...I will try to keep him out of his room (he slept in our bed) before school. He will freak out completely if he sees the empty cage.
The last time a hamster got away (Lauren's...ten years ago) we found the carcass years later.

UPDATE
Chris went to put his shoes on for work...and the hamster scurried out into his hands. Chris said pooh seemed petrified and went right to him. He probably smelled Shorty sniffing around on the prowl.
Thank you Jesus.

you thought you knew, but you have no idea

by teresa

I want to be a better mom and wife. I know many of you think this is not possible (hahahaha)....but I have you all fooled.

I need more time in the day. Time to nap, read, have a perfect house and happy family.

I wish I could find a product that truly took the frizzies out. They say they do....but they lie. I hate my hair in this humidity. I wonder if the ACS has an office in Washington state. I bet my hair would rock there.

I should have payed more attention in Algebra class. It is really coming back to bite me now when I have to scan over my son's homework.

The word NO needs to be implanted in my brain. Apparently it is not in my vocabulary.

I am a christian. I like Harry Potter. I like Twilight. Any comments on that one?

My hands are looking very old. This actually bothers me.

I do projects with and for my children. Why? Cause they wouldn't do a good enough job (to my standards). That is so sick isn't it?

Kaden

By Chris

Kaden (my pre-k niece) is a nut. A smart, crazy nut. Some things she's done to \ with me just recently:

- She always comes in wanting something. Usually food . . . candy specifically. So, couple of days ago, I started making her say thank you to secure her treats. . . she's already caught on. With me anyway. Smart.

- Last night, at her brother's baseball game, she came running up to me with an umbrella . At one point I grabbed it and wrapped it all up so she wouldn't poke me. She tried to snatch it from me. I wouldn't let go. LET GO!!!! LET GOOO!!! she screamed and pulled. "I can't. You're gonna fall if I let go while your pulling." LET GOOO. STOP. LET GOOO. NOWW." "Fine," I said . . . and let go. She fell on her butt, and cried real loud. Every mommy around gave me the evil eye (you know ... it's the ones that say: how could you do that to such a sweet little girl? You hurt her feelings. I wish someone would push you down in the mud!!). I thought about explaining to all of them how smart and evil this child can be, and that they were just falling for her tricks. But, how would that sound? Which, all added up, means I got outsmarted in the end by the little devil. She also ran and told her nanny on me, and talked me into getting her a popsicle from the concession stand. So, she got exactly what she wanted in the end. She is just thoughtful enough to have planned it all out, I think. After she got the popsicle . . . she came up and said . . . . "thank you!!" , and smiled. Ohh. She's good.

I did get a giggle from the backseat when I sang the part about the ram hitting the dam. oooooo....she said dam

by teresa

I drove Ben, Kristian, Shelby and Joe to school this morning. It's teacher appreciation week and I have a sign and candy to put out each day. You are our lifesavers, thanks for keeping our kids from becoming dum dums, you get the drift. Well, on the way I was blasting the oldies station. No...not the 60's , 70's or 80's. I'm talking 30's, 40's and 50's. Ben was trying to ignore my humming until Frank Sinatra's "High Hopes" came on. Love that song! And thanks to Laverne & Shirley, I knew all the words (Shirley sang this song all the time). I belted it out at the top of my lungs the entire way to school. Once we pulled in they couldn't jump out of the car fast enough.
I love being a parent.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICKY!

by teresa

Today our Nick's 14th birthday. What a blessing he is to all of us (and even sometimes his little brother). Kind, loving, generous and helpful. We love you Tricky Nicky and wish you million more blessed days. You are a gift from God sweet boy.

Hello . . .Anybody Home?

By Chris

Geesh. Bloggin' momma is slackin' off. Guess I better update, or a whole two days of life at the Greens will go undocumented.

It's a soccer tournament weekend. One of three games down. Ben's team lost game one, which hasn't happened in a while. Don't tell him, but it's probably good for him.

Nick's friends picked him up and headed to the beach early this morning. He's officially a teenager. That's weird.

There was lots of excitement early this morning. The reason: yard sale across the street. Nick and Ben LOOVVVEEE yard sales. I don't get it. They get it from their Nanny Allen. I saw her make at least two trips, and I'm pretty sure she was as excited as the boys. Ben and Nick went in the morning. Then, after Ben got home, the first thing he wanted to do was go back to the yard sale. I asked him "you think they got a new shipment , or something?" He's pushing the idea of purchasing a foot soaker. Gross!!!! Who wants a used foot soaker? Hey, while you're at it, see if they have any tooth brushes or combs. It makes me itchy thinking about it.