peace, love and poker

by teresa

Our first evening in the outer banks passed with no drama (aside from a thunderstorm).
What more can a mom ask for?
We unpacked the car and got the rooms all organized (I thought I would die walking up and down all those stairs...arms piled high with toiletries and towels).
The boys were happy with their room assignments and kept running from level to level to level marking their territory.
The house is far more wonderful than I even expected.
Praise the Lord!
When you shop online (and spend that much money) it's nice to be happy with your decision.
After dinner (pizza and Stromboli's) we headed over to stock up the house with food.
I was a bit worried when we arrived at the grocery store. The boys do not enjoy going with me, so I figured we would have a few meltdowns to deal with.
Didn't happen.
Chris handled it.
He gave them a cart of their own and let them loose in the store.
I gasped....and off they went.
They returned 20 minutes later, both of them pushing the cart at the same time, laughing, side swiping displays and leaving a trail of traumatized tourists in their wake.
what did they get?
A watermelon, orange soda in glass bottles, sugar cookies, oreos, sausage biscuits and 2 limes.
In their eyes...the makings of a good time.
In my eyes...the makings of two tummy aches.
It's vacation....and what happens at the beach...stays at the beach.

The rest of the night is a blur (I was in a euphoric state).
Unpacking groceries, showers, pj's, Food Network, magazines, dig dug (yes I brought dig dug), leftover stromboli and poker (George and the boys).

OBX bound

by teresa

The Green's are unable to talk your call right now...leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
Thank you and have a blessed day (week).

“Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer.”

by teresa

Cleaning today.
From the hampers to the car.
OBX vacation in T-minus two days and counting.
My goal?
To have everything cleaned, packed and ready to go by Saturday afternoon.
That means all the good clothes are off limits until we reach Nags Head.
I did all the important shopping locally (Sams Club size sunflower seeds and Captain Crunch) and the rest we will buy once we have checked in.
It's noisy around here at the moment. Nick is vacuuming the car outside the office window(Sandbridge sand), my last load of beach towels is tumbling in the dryer, the dishwasher is running (chicken parmesan for dinner) and Ben's tv is up full blast (I know he will have some auditory damage it's so loud) in protest of being sent to his room for the night (fighting with his brother...of course).

And yes, they have separate rooms at the beach house.

“The Rule of Sibs: If your sibling gets something you want, you (1) try to take it; (2) break it; or (3) say it's no good”

by teresa

I spend most of my days keeping my two sons as far apart from each other as possible.

It's exhausting.

Two (of my 10) plates....spinning on opposite ends of the stage.

There I am, back and forth, back and forth....keeping them both going.

Just when I feel comfortable walking away for a moment...crash!

"You are stupid."

"Why do you always smells so bad?"

"No one likes you."

"I'm going to tell everyone you pee the bed."

"That's a lie!"

"So, they will believe me anyway."

"You are never getting a girlfriends!"

"You're teeth are yellow...butt head!"

Two minutes alone and the insults fly.

With others they are kind, thoughtful and supportive.

Every once in a while they forget the bitterness and enjoy a game of cards or toss the football. I usually grab my camera, sit and enjoy the bliss...the ticks...moments of joy, knowing it's fleeting.

And then boom, right in the middle of laughter they remember they can't stand each other.

Back to their separate corners.

I hate it.

"That's how all brothers are." I'm told.

It sucks.

Can't we all just get along?

When will it end?

In their 30's maybe?

explore the space...

by teresa

Recently Nick has become active with the youth band at church.
Although he plays the trumpet quite well...that is not what he does in the band.
He is the sound guy.
We were excited when they invited him to join in on the weekly jam sessions.
He got real into it. Throwing a lot of tech talk around, picking up new plugs and such for the board with his allowance. um...kinda geeky...but whatever.
The other day he came home and said he had joined in and played some with the guys.
We were thrilled. He played...not just pushed a button. So cool. Nick jamming out with the guys.
Then he told us what he played.
The cowbell.
Chris and I busted out laughing. (By the way...I do not recommend laughing at your children. It kinda does weird things with their self esteem.)
Nick got a bit offended, but then we told him about the SNL skit we had seen.
Will Ferrell showing off his musical skills.
Now whenever Nick goes to practice I picture this going on.

NO WIRE HANGERS!!

by teresa

The hubby cleaned out his closet the other day. With all of his work clothes rotating back and forth from the dry cleaners he had accumulated quite a stash of wire hangers. He pulled them all out and layed them in the hallway, with the intention (I assume) of taking them to the trash on his next trip downstairs.
That was Saturday morning.
*clears throat*
It is now Tuesday morning.
He has been up and down the stairs approximately 17 times (I actually calculated this amount factoring in going to bed/waking up, changing clothes after work/getting running shoes out of closet, naps and leaving his glasses and blackberry upstairs a few times).
The blessed hangers are still sitting there.
They need to reach their intended destination soon or I am going to go Mommy Dearest up in this house.

week at a glance

by teresa

My long Sunday afternoon nap has me up in the wee hours of Monday.
No biggie...I am just working on some PTA stuff for my meeting this afternoon.
I'm so excited for the school year to begin (only 14 more days). Not just to reclaim my house, but to spend time at school working on making connections between parents and teachers. I love the politics of it all.

This week I will be supply shopping and getting all the long pants and other school clothes out of the attic. Need to see what the kids have already before I go shopping. I think I'm pretty much set for Ben between consignment and thrift store shopping this summer. He may just need a pair of shoes. Chris took care of Nick's needs last week...which was a nice surprise. That boy is no fun to shop with!

I also need to pick up some supplies for next week. We are heading out Sunday for a week of fun in the sun. The beach...now that's the way to wrap up an awesome summer vacation.

Best line of the day:
Why didn't you pick up his underwear from the bathroom floor?
Because I couldn't find even a tiny spot of cloth that didn't look contaminated.
I don't think there's any hope for them...just put them in the trash.

offense sells tickets defense wins games

by teresa

Ben traveled to DC this weekend to see a professional soccer game.
DC United hosted the LA Galaxy.
The score was 0 to 0...but he didn't care.
The thrill of that huge stadium and the thousands of screaming fans was incomparable to anything he had ever experienced.
I bet he thinks one day that many people will be cheering for him.
This man (David Beckham) makes 1 million dollars a week playing soccer...

I could live with that.

“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.”

by teresa

Our church hosted a Back to School Blast for a local elementary school today.
Pony rides, tractor rides, free food, music and backpacks filled with school supplies.
Over 700 people attended. It was amazing to be a part of it.
Kids squealing and rejoicing over their new backpack and parents crying from the unexpected (and much needed) gift.

this guy is talented!

by teresa

Saw this guy on Twitter and thought I would share him with you.
Very talented singer and songwriter.
If you love Taylor Swift's Love Story, go down to his rewrite (from Romeo's perspective) of the song and watch the video.
So good.

what frightens you the most?

by teresa

snakes
roller coasters
closed in spaces

How about you?

It's the things NOT on the to-do list that make life worth while

We had an unexpected beach day yesterday.
Woke up and planned to clean and do laundry.
Next thing I know I get a text from my mother in law.

She had been at work for about an hour and decided the weather was too nice to be sitting inside all day.
"Let's go to the beach." it said.
So we did.
All of us.
Packed up and on the road at a moments notice.
An hour later we were eating sandy WheatThins and watching the kids chase seagulls.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),

It's always our self we find in the sea.

~e.e. cummings

We have a tub of butter the size of my head....and it makes me happy

by teresa

You know you're a grown up when you get more excited about the stuff you bought at Sam's Club than the stuff you bought at the mall.

“My kids always perceived the bathroom as a place where you wait it out until all the groceries are unloaded from the car.”

by teresa

Grocery day.
Blah.
I did plan out though and got stuff for 10 yummy dinners (thank you Rachel Ray and Sandra Lee magazines).
I was wondering, when you bring in your groceries do you

A: bring in all bags and then put away food?

or

B: Bring in a couple bags at a time and put away food as you go...before making anther trip to your car?

I do B.

I don't know why...but it bothers me leaving them there on the counter. I must unpack them immediately and clean up the mess before going out for more bags.

The beginning and the end

by teresa

Give it up for the greatest man who ever walked the Earth!

Bad weather always looks worse through a window.

by teresa

Third day of rain here in Hampton Roads.

The kids were getting antsy inside so I let them get in the pool.

There was no thunder or lightening today..so why not?

I hung out on the covered porch and did sudoku while they splashed around in the waaaaay full pool.

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional

by teresa

Great night yesterday.

After the flood (seriously...Noah cruised by on the way down Indian River Road) we headed to Logan's Roadhouse for dinner. It was Jackie's birthday and we decided to honor her by stuffing ourselves with meat and potatoes. Afterward we caravaned to the Barham's and topped the meal off with icecream cake. yummy.

Jackie opened her gift from George and the party kicked it up a notch.

A Wii, WiiFit and EActive games.

So fun!

It was hilarious setting up the characters and watching Jackie's virtual trainer run her ragged.

respect the momma

by teresa

My day:
Four eye rolls
Three "whatever's"
Two toilet seats left up
One kid hung up on me.

I love you, you love me, we're a happy family.

With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you.

Won't you say you love me too?

Why did we teach them to walk and talk?

It is one of life's bitterest truths that bedtime so often arrives just when things are really getting interesting.

by teresa

Today was so hot.
100 + heat index
The boys complained that is was even hot in the pool.
Now, that is hot.


We decided to go inside and wait for the moon.
Then we slid into the warm water and enjoyed the last moments of the day.
It was so dark. We decided to turn off the pool and deck lights and just use the moon as our night lite. A little scary at first, I must say. Have you ever dove into pitch blackness. Logic tells you there is nothing waiting beneath the surface...but your mind says different. Chilling and exhilarating. You swim a little harder and faster when you feel as if something unseen is close enough to touch you.
Exhausted, the kids came in and entered dream land posthaste.

still shufflin' away

by teresa

Ben and Nick playing Twenty One...with cookies instead of money.

Ben playing Go Fish in the pool with Keagan (he has waterproof cards).

Friday wrap up

by teresa

Had to move our Thursday night at the beach to Friday this week.

Soccer practice and weather messed up our normal day.

It was perfect. Chilly breeze and warm water. The boys were in the surf most of the time while the adults snacked on sunchips and nilla wafers. We saw some good friends there and spent a while laughing and talking about the upcoming ODU basketball and football seasons.

Today we woke up early to get the yard work done before the heat was too bad. The boys tackled the garage, weed whacking and grass cutting. I scrubbed my dirty hammock spotless and then proceeded to lounge in it for the next hour and a half. Nick and Ben played football in the newly manicured yard and the dog lay under me in the shade.

I love these long summer days.

Best line of the day: "His tongue looks like bacon."

deal me in

by teresa

The new craze around the Green house is cards.
I broke out a deck a week ago when the boys were bored and they haven't been put away since.
Now they have three decks going on a never ending quest to make pairs, find the eights and build four stacks of suits. Ben is determined to learn how to shuffle. He calls it "the bridge". Dividing the cards in half, flicking them together (you gotta make 'em bendy mom) and then raising it all up to rush together. He practices over and over, even taking the cards in the car. I hear the fffraaapp of the deck as I drive.
Kristian has joined in the fun, spending the night with Ben and staying up till the wee hours laughing and playing go fish. I came in the room when I woke up and they were asleep on the floor surrounded by red and black.

It was all great until Chris showed them 52 card pickup.

best lines of the week

by teresa

Sometimes I stop at a stop sign and wait for the light to turn green.

The lady at the McDonalds drive-in called me "sugar-puddin".

I don't know how it happened, but I woke up in the middle of the night with a honeybun wrapper stuck to my face. I pulled it off and tried to go back to sleep, but I was too sticky. I had to get up and wash my face. The next morning the dog jumped in the bed and wouldn't stop licking my pillow.

I didn't cheat!! If I cheated then I wouldn't have won...because cheaters never win stupid!

I ate lunch in the Michaels parking lot just to have some alone time.

Is that poop in the water?

It's my fourth cupcake today and I feel great!

Happy Birthday Kaden

by teresa

We are all in party mode around here. Today was Kaden's 4th birthday and we had a blast helping her celebrate herself. She wore a princess crown...and she was living the princess life.

Lots of friends, family and yummy food made the day special. The highlight of the party for me was when she opened up the card we bought her, peeked inside, grouched out "NO MONEY!" and then tossed it on the ground.

Tomorrow we have another party on the agenda. It's for Kelsey (Ben's bff's 'lil sis) and it's a pool party. We will head out around 3:00 to get wet, have fun and eat more cake.

What could be better than that?

thou shall not steal

by teresa

Don't you hate it when someone takes your leftovers from the fridge and eats them?
You have this tasty meal and there's so much you decide to leave some for the next days lunch. It's boxed up and put in the home fridge. The next day as you are throwing away some trash you see that little take out box shoved in the can...ravaged by a morsel mugger.
Oh my goodness it's so infuriating.
You have been punished for wise portion control.
And that grilled chicken with smoked bacon and mozz. cheese on a baguette with a smear of spicy bbq sauce from bakers crust was gonna be even better the second time around.