“Time is like a handful of sand- the tighter you grasp it, the faster it runs through your fingers”

by teresa

Last night's visit to the beach was so enjoyable.

Perfect weather and perfect atmosphere.

Long walks, laughter, sand angels and a big sandwich. What could be better?

My boys, Kristian and Kai, who have been tiffing with each other all week, came together and played in the water for hours. I love how they need each other in the ocean. It's so huge and scary alone. But en masse it's an adventure. The one not wanting to enter without the other.

We should move there.

*Kaden making sand angels*

"Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life."

by teresa

Nick bought a shock pen at a novelty store at the beach.
It hurts.
He layed it on the desk and I picked it up to write something.
ZAAAAAP!
I screamed, threw it down and then heard Chris and Nick laughing their heads off.
Yep, hubby was in on it too.
Not cool.

Of course then we all plotted to get the rest of the family.
Katy, Kai...it was hilarious.
But the best was Lauren.
Ben went to her with a piece of paper and a scribbled bunny drawn on it.
"Lauren, I am trying to draw a bunny...will you draw a better one for me?"
She went to sketch out her long eared creation and got the mess shocked out of her.
She screamed and hurled the pen across the room.
Then...just as you would think Lauren would do, she picked it back up and shocked herself over and over. Laughing and laughing.
What a maniac kid!

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first

by teresa

If you are in the mood for a something sweet you need to go to Just Cupcakes in the Hill Top West shopping center. I took the kids on a field trip there this week and then we stopped and surprised Chris at work with a sweet treat on the way home.

Decadent and delicious.

Ben's peanut butter cupcake looked so yummy. I had strawberry...which I will be returning to get a dozen of for the next get together I attend.

Click on the website and browse...I bet you won't be able to stay away.

If you go in, the cupcake ladies have mini cupcakes in all the flavors for you to sample. We sampled everything! There was not a bad flavor.

the kids

by teresa

Today Ben's bff is coming over to hang out till soccer practice tonight. Ben could play with Joe 24/7 and never get tired of it. But, he is not good a juggling more than one or two friends at a time. Last week a couple of school friends came knocking on the door wanting Ben to play. He hid beside the couch and begged us to tell them he wasn't home. He is so anti-social (I wonder where he gets that from). Did I let them in? Of course. I am a mean momma. He kept peeking his head in the door telling me to call him in in five minutes.

Lauren did a pretty good job of painting the upstairs bathroom. It's not totally finished...but pretty close. It looks sooo much better than it did before. She got the job of painting because of the paint pealing compulsion she had. For years, when she would go to the bathroom she would see a bit of pealing paint and rip it off. Sometimes leaving big strips from wall to wall. I love the color...summer field (a light apple-ish green). Chris sent me to the store to buy white paint...hahaha.

Nick is off restriction this morning. He was on lock down from friends and phone last week because he was giving me attitude about his chore calendar. I wonder how this week will be? Nothing like 168 straight hours with your mom to snap you into obey mode.

Blog Mom!

what would you pick for me?

by teresa

I got a personalized license plate this week.
I had one when I was sixteen (KRZY4C), one when I had Lauren (MNIACKID) and then I went to a DMV generated one after that.
Since I have a new car now I decided to scrap my old, dirty, dented one and get a new clean tag.

If you could pick a plate for me...what would it say?
I will post a pic. of my tag later today.

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.

by teresa

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince....disappointment.

Why make a movie about a book and leave out all the things that made the book brilliant?

The last book will be made into two movies, thank goodness.

Five hours should give them plenty of time to do the book justice.

Here are some pictures of our midnight movie fun.

1: In the car on the way to the theatre.

2: Finally getting in our seats...we are excited!

3: In the driveway around 4:00am....we are beat!

what vbs means to me

by teresa

V ast
B undles
of
S pazziness

Vacation Bible School

by teresa

First night of VBS was last night.
The preschool class was an adventure, as expected.
We had 18 kids, but with the hyperness it seemed like 36 kids.
Funny thing heard in the middle of the bible story...."do camels fart?"
Kids...gotta love 'em.

Nick was a praise team helper, so he was on the stage dancing and singing.
What a 180 this kid has had. From introvert to life of the party. I love it!

Ben played a character in a skit during the morning service and then another part in the pm service. I was teaching, but Chris said he looked so comfortable in front of all those people. He had lots of lines to memorize and performed them with lots of expression. I see an academy award in his future.

poor Kai

by teresa

Tonight, after we all left for VBS, Chris said he heard a noise outside.
It was a wailing sound...like a siren.
It was faint and then grew louder and louder.
Then he heard his name in the wail. Just as he was getting up the front door burst open and someone cried out, "Chris....are you home?"
It was Kai.
We had all (me and the boys, Katy, mom and all Katy's kids....well almost all) left and headed to church without Kai.
Katy says Kai told her he wanted to leave early and ride with me. He walked out back and started playing in the backyard....and never came in to ask me. We left...a while later Katy left...a while later Kai tried to go into his house and was locked out. Chris said he was bawling so hard that he had to hold him for a long time to calm him down. Kai said in between sobs,"I banged on the door, but I only heard KiKi barking...no one would answer."
After Chris calmed him down he went over with him what he should do if Chris hadn't been home (thank God Chris was home). Who's house to go to and what not to do.
Kai called his mom and he made it to VBS on time.
The funny thing is...mom left him at church just about a month ago. She packed the kids in the car and left...without him.
hahaha
Poor Kai.
I think he needs a cellphone or they should let him hold the car keys from now on.

sandy toes and gritty.......

The kids collected shells and little moon jellies. We cooked out turkey burgers and sausages while the kids devoured the pringles. Kai buried Nick in the sand and Katy took the kids on a walk. It was Maya's first trip with us since last summer. She loved it...walking far from our pack without even checking to see if we were watching. She explored the sand and chased the birds. Far better than last year when she pooped out of her diaper and ate the sand. The new boogie boards were a big hit with Nick and Ben. I can't wait to go back next week.

If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do all the rest have to drown too?

by teresa

Ben got an invite this morning to accompany his best bud Joe to his grandma's house for the afternoon.

Ben was thrilled.

One reason is Millie (the afore mentioned g'ma) spoils them to death...the other reason is she belongs to the neighborhood swim club.

They have a high dive and a snack bar there.

'Nuff said.

Questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa


We had to leave the water park after 8 hours because of my penis.

Dad, I want to download a Michael Jackson song to my ipod.

Which one do you want?

Jelly Bean.

HUH?

It's Billy Jean you dork.

He fell asleep in the first 15 minutes. He has no stamina. He just sat there with his eyes closed and mouth hanging open through all the excitement and didn't wake up till it was just about over.

I'm sorry I was swerving officer. I've had a little too much syrup tonight.

Why do I have to clean the bushes? Lauren is the one who throws stuff in there!

Driving and eating a chili dog at the same time is not a good idea.

Ocean Breeze pictures

put that thing away

by teresa

Maya's grandparents threw her an Ocean Breeze birthday yesterday.
It was a beautiful day and we all went and celebrated her. Some went swimming and others (me) just chilled under the big umbrellas and enjoyed the show.
I'm not referring to the high dive show....which was pretty good. I'm talking about the show of size (double digit) folks squeezing into size (single digit) bathing suits. And then taking that tightly twisted combo and shooting it down a water slide at 50 mpr.
funny stuff.

We are going back again this week (thanks Eric) and this time I am going in.

“The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” Lucille Ball

by teresa

We celebrated Grandaddy Dyer's birthday a few days early so our out of town family could come down over the weekend to join us. They took him to dinner (Imperial Palace) and then back to mom's for cake and ice cream. Mom's chocolate cake was so good I dreamed about it that night and woke hungry for a slice.

Thursday's at the beach

by teresa

We had a total chill out day.

Swam in the pool all day and then headed to the beach (Sandbridge) for dinner (picnic) and a relaxing evening.

It was not hot at all. Actually, it was pretty chilly.

Mom stayed under her blanket and read the whole time to get out of the cold breeze.

The kids made sand castles, boogie boarded, tossed the football and swam. The adults sat....and watched. Now that's my kind of fun.

We did have a tiny bit of drama when Ben got sucked by a riptide and couldn't get out.

We could see him struggling and when we saw tears and panic on his face we all jumped from our chairs. Chris, who hadn't dressed for a swim, had to jump in and pull him free.

Unfortunately he had his Ipod in his pocket.

He didn't seem at all upset when he realized this and is now eager to go Ipod shopping tomorrow. "I might as well get the upgraded one", he said.

I bet he and Ben planned that little rescue scene just so Chris would have an excuse to get a better music player.

Michael Jackson

by teresa

I bet you guys are surprised I haven't blogged about this subject before now.
Everyone has their opinions.
I don't care to hear them.
When I think of him...I am twelve again.
I had an old tape recorder and a blank tape. I would have that thing paused until The Girl Is Mine or Billie Jean would come on the radio. I would leap for the record button. Eager to capture the song. I would play it over and over, singing and dancing until the sound was warbled and distorted. Don't even get me started on Thriller. The guy could DANCE! Oh my Lord if you could have been a fly on the wall of my bedroom back then. Trying to mimic the moves from the video to no avail. My friend Stacie and I would laugh until we peed our pants. The first posters I hung in my bedroom were of him (much to my father's disapproval). I actually got on restriction for stapling them to the walls and furniture in rebellion after my dad had pulled them from where I had them taped.
It didn't matter how his looks changed since then or the ugly rumors told about him....the music was good.
It was positive.
It made me feel good....smile.
My children could listen without me having to grab for the radio dial to keep them from hearing something profane or inappropriate.

Chris and I have had fun the past week, introducing the kids to the old songs. Filling up our ipods with "the oldies but goodies". Watching all the videos on tv (the stuff is on 24/7). Ben has some of the moves down pretty good. We have created some fond memories reminiscing our youth and peeking at Ben and his friends trying to do the dance moves I practiced so many years ago.

I am not ashamed to admit that I am sad.
Mostly in a selfish way, that I won't get to hear any new songs or see a new performance.
But, also for his family.
You can't help but tear up watching them in clips from the memorial service today.

For those of you from another generation...do you have someone who "takes you back"? Reminds you of good times past. A favorite performer...or song? Share it with me.

Happy 4th of July

by teresa

We had a blast at the family reunion cookout last night out in Franklin.
Volleyball, kickball, waterslide, golfcart racing, cornhole (a redneck version of bocce ball) and the best fireworks I have seen in years.
Still tired.
Post pictures later.

running on empty

by teresa

Nick just called from the road.
The church van is about halfway home and he was wondering if I could fix him something and bring it in the car when I pick him up. "Mom, I'm staaaarved!"
Good grief.

the prodigal son returns

by teresa

Nick comes home today after two weeks at church camp.
We have received a few texts from him and one call.
The call was regarding our 4th of July plans. I guess he was trying to secure a day where a grilled burger and some fun was on the agenda.
I am looking forward to his return...but not the laundry that he will bring for me. The smell of camp laundry is something special...isn't it? The union of B.O., skid marks and mud creates and interesting bouquet that only a mother can stomach.
Ben has spent the night out a few times too...so Chris and I have been childless many nights. *bow-chica-waw- waw * That also meant Chris and I had our own rooms for a couple of nights. Heaven. He likes the radio on all night and I like the tv on (muted w/closed caption) till the wee hours. oh the joys of marriage.