bring on 40!

by teresa

The perfect birthday.

A day that's 70 degrees and breezy.

A good hair day.

A three hour breakfast at The Broken Egg with my friend Keitha.

A two hour laze-about in the hammock with my polka dot socks, new scarf and a book.

A dinner I didn't have to cook.

A chocolate cake with only one candle.

Kid free tv night with the hubby.

A book I can't put down.

A peace that only Jesus can give.

Memories to last a lifetime.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. ~Mark Twain

by teresa

It's midnight.
My birthday.
I am up...alone. Of course.
What person in their right mind would be up at this hour (especially when the alarm follows oh so quickly once my head hits the pillow)?
I spent the eve of my birthday (at least the last 2 hours since the rest of the family went to bed) in a peaceful state. Remembering my youth, my family, my motherhood, my husband and how they all together made up the last 39 years.
Lots of good times...wonderful times...the best of times.
Some bad...but who wants to remember those...right?
Mistakes made and lessons learned, disappointments and pleasures, sorrow and elation.
Life is good...no great. I am loved everyday. I laugh till I can't breathe everyday. I figure as long as you laugh as long as you breathe and love as long as you live...then your doing alright.
Happy birthday to me....and many more!

Also, happy 23rd anniversary of our first date honey...love, your gidget

he's so quirky

by teresa

Every morning Nick brews some hot chocolate and leaves for school with a travel mug. It is so funny and dorky. I love it. I giggled as he was walking in to school this morning. He looked so cute (Katy did his hair this morning) and he was sporting his new kicks (that's shoes for all you old folks) and carrying a big coffee mug. He is unique.

The reason Katy did his hair this morning is because she cut his hair like Moe (3 stooges) the other day (for picture day no less). He got joked and begged her to cut some more off. She refuses, siting his big head as a reason for not wanting to go any shorter. She explained to him that if he would just style it...the cut would be perfect. To demonstrate this, she had him come over early this morning so she could *szuzsh* it into place. I gotta admit...it looked great. The only problem is I am not into early morning szuzshing...and I don't see him doing it by himself. So she better just trim it up or I am sending him over every morning at 6:45am for hair and grooming.

Seriously...his hair looked like this...only puffy.

are you ready for some football?

by teresa

Another great day of football yesterday.

We had guests at tailgating and I made lots of goodies (to show off).

Nick and Ben played football in the parking lot and hit a golf cart riding by....oh my.

I think the drivers were too *ahem...happy* to care.

The Monarchs lost 31 to 28....boo hiss boo hiss.
Despite the loss, we had a great time.

Our pastor came and sat with us and experienced The Green Family Circus in full effect.

He will never be the same.

The silent siege

by teresa

Nick participated in another Bound For Life this morning.

Woke up at 6:00am to get ready to go.

Pretty impressive for a teenager.

He came home that afternoon with amazing news.

Two young girls came over and talked to their leader.....an left.

They left and went home instead of walking through those doors.

God is good....all the time.

6 to zero!

by teresa

Ben's soccer team played excellent this morning.

He was defense captain again and helped secure the second shut out of the season.

The game was almost perfect....omitting the coach getting thrown out in the first ten minutes of play.

It was ridiculous (on the referee's side).

Anyway...Chris grabbed the reins and guided them through the next hour with triumphant results.

Next weekend we play two games and I hope they are a bit more challenging.

“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.”

Joseph Campbell

Jesus take the wheel

by teresa

A friend (facebook, blog and co-worker of Chris') sent out this message this morning.
Click over and read her post.
So sad.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. ~Mark Twain

by teresa

I don't think a woman drives with more caution or prays so fervently, than when she drives her teenage son to school in her pajamas and realizes she left her cellphone at home.

I was in the beginning stages of getting ready this morning (after shower...before dressing) when it was time to take Nick. Ben threw my whole morning off with his extra primping for picture day. So I had to toss my pj's back on and head out...hair wet and shoeless. After turning off our street I realized I had left my cellphone on the counter. oh no! What if I wreck? What if someone hits me? What if I pop my tire in a pot hole? What if one of my headlights is out and a cop pulls me over? What if...what if...what if? All these things went threw my mind and I was in a panic. I then drove so perfectly, obeying all current and future traffic rules, so as not to have my disrobed self displayed to the neighbors and my son's classmates. And as I moved down the road (in the absolute middle of my lane I might add) I prayed. I prayed hard. I prayed powerfully. I prayed automotively.

I made it home without being exposed (except for the trashman who drove by as I was walking in my house).
I will never do that again.

tids and bits

by teresa


I can not think of what to make on Saturday night.
Tailgating with the boys.
We've done hot dogs, brats, burgers and wings.
Maybe some bbq sandwiches...I just don't know.
Any suggestions?
I am making a sweet treat I found in a new cookbook.
Marshmallows dipped in melted caramel, then rolled in rice krispies. Sounds so yummy and I know the boys will love them.
I looked at the weather channel and the HIGH for Saturday is 72. Thank you Lord. Now if the humidity is under 50% me and my hair will be in good shape.

I ran to Ben's school for a couple of things this morning. From this class to that one...the library and the office.
When I got home I realized the zipper on my pants was busted. Great. I had also wore ripped elastic band, everything else is in the wash underwear. So, not only were my pants gaped open....there were long, twisted elastic threads hanging out. Again...great. Nothing like flashing your kids friends and teachers to really seal the deal for mother of the year.

picturing everyone in their underwear only made it worse.

by teresa

I am so glad today is over.
Speaking in front of hundreds of people is just not my cup of tea.
Thank you Lord for getting me through it.

get that weak mess outa here!

by teresa

We had a great Saturday.

The weather was perfect for our soccer and baseball games.

I can't wait until that fall chill is in the air everyday.

Ben's team won 6 to 0. It was so exciting.

He is now the defense captain....and nothing gets past him.

I never thought I would get more excited about steals than scoring points.

He did get a couple of fouls...but when you are using your body to back a player down from the ball...the whistle is going to get blown a few times. There were no yellow cards, so that's good.

You wouldn't think those dimples could be so tough...but they are!

Schlameel, Schlamazel, Hassenpepper Incorporated

by teresa

Up late last night watching Happy Days.
Up early this morning for Ben's soccer game.
I wish I had clicked off the tv a little earlier....but I can't resist Richie and the gang at Arnold's.

I remember watching it as a kid.
That and Laverne & Shirley.
I wanted a poodle skirt and letterman jacket soooooo bad!

irritating

by teresa

I was just about to let a car go ahead of me while turning into Nick's school yesterday...and they sped infront of me without my go ahead (almost hitting a kid walking by). Greedy drivers irritate me.
Then to top it all off...she did not give me "the wave".

It was a huge suv with two bumper stickers...

Get in touch with your inner b***h!
and
If you're gonna ride my a** at least pull my hair.

Nice.

A young girl got dropped off and headed into the high school.

“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.”
Albert Einstein

nobody puts baby in a corner!

by teresa

I have a mosquito bite on my eyebrow. It is really aggravating me.
I wish it would get cold enough to kill all those little buggers.

My sister called the other morning in a panic.
"Has Kristian and Ben left for school yet, she asked."
I had just gotten back from taking them and when I told her she sounded very upset.
I asked her what the problem was.
"I think she took my girdle to school!"
That made me smile all day.

Tackled a new recipe last night.
Chicken puffs.
It was good, but had so many steps that I will never make it again.
And the clean up was horrible. Flour and honey all over the counters.
Tonight I am keeping it simple....turkey tacos.
A crowd pleaser that you can make ahead of time, store ingredients in separate containers and everyone can assemble their own at dinner.

Tonight is a parents meeting at Ben's school for the strings program.
And so it begins...
Thirty minutes a day of the moaning and screeching that is 5th grade violin.

Before I go I wanted to express my sadness at the death of Patrick Swayze.
Ghost is one of my all time favorite movies. When someone dies I picture the "after" happening just like the movie showed. The good...and the bad.
It also makes me want to run off to Michaels and buy a potter's wheel, some clay, put on the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" and wait for Chris to come home from work.
I'm just sayin'...it was a really good movie.
RIP Patrick Swayze.

conversation between husband and wife

by teresa

I finished cleaning the kitchen floor. I was on my hands and knees scrubbing and it is so clean.

Good. Now keep it that way.

Fine, then you're not allowed in it. That's where all the spills and messes come from anyway.

I do that so you will have something to do around here. If you didn't have something to clean you would be worthless. You should thank me.

the highlight of my night was the brawl over the foam finger in the third quarter *sarcasm*

by teresa

We had a blast at the ODU game last night.

Second game of the season..we are now 2 and 0.

It's unlike any other game I have ever been too.

Three hours of tailgating and then 20,000 other fans cheering and clapping.

Intense experience.

The boys are really enjoying it (especially the tailgating).

Grilled brats, wings, hot dogs and burgers....whats not to love?

We have a little friendly community going in our parking lot (season ticket holders were assigned certain parking lots to party in). Corn hole, football, tents, rvs, grills and coolers everywhere.

Can't wait to go back in two weeks (next week is an away game).

miss you

by teresa

This is a re-post of my entry on September 11th 2007. Little did I know how much it would mean later that day.

I can't believe six years has passed. Can you?
You never know when your time here on Earth is going to be over.
Make God first in your life.
Talk with him each morning.
Be kind to all people (even your kids...when they are being brats).
Forgive.
Be a light to all(this little light of mine...I'm going to let it shine).
Remember praise...don't pout.
Give more than you get.
Be thankful.
Make a difference.
This is the day that the Lord has made....let us REJOICE and be glad in it!

That is all I can muster up to say today.

Everybody dance now!

by teresa

Tonight is the series premiere of So You Think You Can Dance. It has a been a family favorite for years. Even the Green men get into it. When it aired during the summer our niece Kristian would come over and snuggle on the couch with me and watch. I love shows that the entire family can watch together. Today the top ten of last season were on the Ellen show. They got together and did the coolest routine. Please watch and enjoy. I SOOOO love Ellen!

PTL!

by teresa

The day after Labor day has arrived.
The showers (the actual showers and not the pool) are going early today.
I think I inhaled so much Axe this morning, it may stunt my growth.
The boys are very thorough with their body spray.
Beds and lunches are made.
I even tucked a cute lunchbox note in each bag.
Butterflies are flittin' in tummies and the momma is happy.
It's day one...the boys were up very early...bright eyed and bushy tailed (what the heck does that mean).
I bet tomorrow I am already having to drag them out of bed.
I wish it wasn't raining so we could get proper pictures under the family tree.
What will I do today?
Plan the months menu, entertain the cable guy (stupid cox), laundry and a quick meeting at Ben's school (pta stuff).

We're home

by teresa

What do I miss the most?

Fat Boyz Ice Cream's hot fudge cake sundae.

*sigh*

Don't ask me how many I had this past week.

horse and cat

by teresa

Basketball with the boys.
Chris won two games of horse...Ben won a short game of cat.
The way he is gloating you would think it was the NBA finals.

Jackie, George and Ben just left for a bike ride.
Chris, Nick and I are lazing.
Watching Reba and eating ritz and fudge.

I am actually not dreading the return home tomorrow.
Lots to do before school on Tuesday.
A few more school supplies and bookbag check.
*I am giddy just thinking about getting back to my normal schedule*
My days are MINE. A clean house and dinner menus. Shopping done without kids in tow and all beds made by 9:00am.
A perfect world.

don't get cereal in the hot tub!

by teresa

Up by 6:30am.
I have been sleeping so good here.
Once the sun peeks over the dune I am ready to start the day.

I woke Ben and his friend Joe to join me for an early morning boogie boarding session.
They whined about the cold water and only surfed a few waves.
The boards were swapped for a shovel to dig holes and write names in the sand.

Chris joined us on a walk to the end of the beach.
There is a house down there that the ocean is making claim to.
It's up on stilts...but completely surround by water.
Next year I'm sure it will be gone.

The boys greeted a few beach dogs, scooped up some sand fleas and tossed a tennis ball at some irritated sea gulls before making their way in for breakfast.
Captain Crunch and Biscuits....in the hot tub.
What a life!

After taking Joe back to his grandparents on the sound side, we took Nick and Ben go-carting. Around and around they went. Bumping and crashing into each other...even though the signs said NO BUMPING ALLOWED! Playtime immitating life.

Tonight's plans?
Who knows?
Beach life is an adventure even without planning for it.

down by the seashore...where life is a little easier

by teresa

"maggie and millie and molly and may"

maggie and millie and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,

and millie befriended a stranded star
who's rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles;

and may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea.”

E.E. Cummings

If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves

by teresa

Yesterday we flew a kite (or at least tried).
Nick would throw it up, it would hover for a second and then turn and beeline for our heads.

We at dinner in Big Al's diner.
Coca Cola memorabilia from floor to ceiling and a big dance floor.
Chris refused my dance requests. Wet blanket.

He made up for it by buying me a sweet little blue bird necklace.
I truly adore it!

Homemade Frappacino's in our pajamas.
So frothy and thick...and it didn't even keep me up.
Today we will pick up caramel and whip cream to add to tonight's concoction.

The weather is chilly this morning.
It's a jeans day.

George took Ben to breakfast.
He came in and asked for alka seltzer.
It must have been good.