let the lights shine

by teresa

Ben has channeled his inner Clark Griswold again this year.
It clicked in as we pulled up from Thanksgiving vacation and our neighbor had put up some of her decorations. It was a slap in the face...a challenge. She was first....and he likes to be first. So he vowed to be better.
He dragged out all our decorations, with the help of big brother and so it began.
Christmas lights 2009!
He walked around muttering things like, "I have a vision" and "we need more chords!"
Eight hours, three stores (Walmart, Garden Ridge and Walgreens) and ten chords later, he was done. Well not completely, his "vision" has a Charlie Brown manger scene around our front tree. That $60 shout out to baby Jesus is still sitting at Garden Ridge (I'm so mean).
The two of us sat on the porch last night. Me, staring at the hideous spaghetti of extension chords across all parts of my front lawn....him, reveling in the glory that only proper exterior illumination can give.
A car drove by...very slowly. He squealed as they drove off and said, "they were pointing at my candy canes!".
too funny.

like a gift from God

by teresa

While cleaning out the fridge last night, I found an entire cheesecake. Apparently, Katy made a cheesecake (along with pies and spoon bread) for thanksgiving. When she arrived she must have put it in the fridge until after dinner. Once we were done eating (gorging ourselves) we shoved all the leftovers all around it. I think someone thought it was Jackie's cranberry sauce and was trying to hide it. (sorry Jackie...I couldn't resist)
When I discovered it last night, the crowds (hungry relatives coming down from their carb high) went wild.

Peace:
It does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble
or hard work. It means to be in the
midst of all those things and still
be calm in your heart (with a huge piece a cheesecake in front of you).

make a wish...

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson

by teresa

Spent our evening playing foosball, Last Word, walking Shorty over the dunes and watching a Man vs. Food marathon.

We also ate 3/4 of the carrot cake mom baked for Thanksgiving tomorrow. It was just too hard to resisit it looking all yummy on the counter. She wasn't mad...it was her idea.

Tomorrow we will mutiply by 5 and cook (and eat) enough for 50.

bliss

by teresa

You know how Julie Andrews feels running to the top of the mountain, arms widespread, singing with total joy and satisfaction? That's how I feel at this exact moment. My wonderful husband (yes, he's leapt to a new level of champion in my heart) surprised me with a the new HP TouchSmart. It moved me to tears...seriously. I have been having serious blog/facebook/email withdraws. It was really bad. A & E's Intervention bad. I had replaced my usually creative outlet with cooking and baking...ten-fold. I think I gained 5 pounds this week from the cupcakes (oh...the cupcakes...two batches), london broil, gnocchi, prime rib, tilapia, chicken, pasta and more I have hashed out this week.


*pic. from the web cam*

Something About The Ted

By Chris

Computer is jacked up . . . so Teresa is severely blog handicapped for the moment. So, here goes . . .

It's college basketball season. More specifically, it's ODU Basketball season. My favorite time of year. Nick, Ben and I go to every game . . . with my old college roomies. A few weeks ago, I was telling Teresa ... "There's something special about that place . . . the boys fight everywhere else, but once we get there, they never fight. They fight at home, they fight at the football games, they fight in the car. They fight EVERYWHERE! But, not there. You would think they're best buddies. I'm telling you, it's special!" She probably thought I was over-selling. She NEVER goes to basketball games, and probably thinks my commitment to them is a bit much. She reminds me that I've missed anniversaries for them, and once went to a tournament with her still bed-resting from a baby delivery. But, she went this Saturday. The boys were giddy that mom was going to finally see how awesome it is at The Ted (she'd never seen a game there). Nick even gave up his Big Blue Club Room priveledges for the night so she could get the full experience, complete with free Diet Coke and entering through the "special door." Ben showed her "what to do." For him, that means, get one drink, sip it down while mingling, then double fist two more to take into the arena, check out the players warming up and sit down in time to see the mascot Big Blue make his grand entrance. On cue, with the car in "park" next to the arena, the fighting stopped, and Mom got to witness the "special-ness" As always, Nick scoped out courtside seats on the other side of the arena in the first half, and moved to them, texting me at halftime to send Ben over when it looked all clear (that is, nobody was showing up to throw them out). And, as usual, they sat together for the whole second half alone. I could tell she was waiting for the eruption, and thinking I had lost my mind for letting them do that sort of thing together . . . alone. It never happened . . . As always, they watched, cheered, danced and laughed together. In the car, mom looked at me, and said: "You're right. It's amazing!" In the back seat, the fighting commenced. We laughed. Now Mom's a basketball believer.

I sing because I'm happy

by teresa

We found the dog a home and I am so happy. After putting the word out on facebook, I had almost a hundred comments and emails. People praying, asking neighbors and offering support in finding her a home. What a wonderful thing.
Someone told me that God led her to our bushes, knowing we would love her and facilitate her homecoming.
If He loves a stray mutt that much...can you even fathom how much he cares for us?

Lost Dog

This dog (Ben named her Sandy) was found by the Terminix man, sleeping under our bushes after the Nor'Easter. We had seen her roaming the neighborhood before that. When KiKi would get out, this dog would come home with her. When you would go outside to see her, she would run off. She is now residing in our garage until we can find her a home (ours is full...in case your wondering:). She has a boo boo on her lip and a scratch in her ear, obviously due to riding out the storm unsheltered. She is so sweet and loving and kind to the children. If you know of anyone who can give her a loving home...please message me. I just don't have the heart to call the pound.

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

what a mess

by teresa

The rain that began Wednesday morning is still going strong.
Last night we had hurricane force wind gusts most of the night.
It sounded like the house was going to blow away and left us in the dark all night long.
Around here that translates into NO SLEEP. Gotta have the fan going to find the sandman.
I came downstairs on the couch (cause nothing is more annoying than listening to people breathe), lit a candle and read some of Nicholas Sparks new book. I dozed a minute here and there and then around 4:00am the power came back on. I was sound asleep by 4:01am.
We are all up now (Chris left for work) and I am desperate to get out of this house. If it ever stops raining, we will depart for nature walk around the neighbor and take pictures of the damage and flooding. I did stick my head out the back door and took pictures of our backyard. What a mess! There are chairs and soccer balls floating in the over full pool and our table and chairs are a mangled mess. We were so lucky though. Some of my facebook friends in the neighborhood have trees down (on their cars) and flooded garages.

Nor'easter 2009

It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.

by teresa


Twenty three years later (since our first date) and I still am. (see license plate above)

Happy Anniversary!

get it, read it, love it

by teresa

A friend (thank you Jackie) dropped off a couple off books for me to read yesterday.
One of which is Mitch Albom's (Tuesday's with Morrie, The Five People you Meet in Heaven, etc.) newest book called Have a Little Faith. I started it tonight (and finished it tonight) and it was so wonderful. It is a uniquely and profoundly meditative, contemplative, stimulating and inspiring story. I highly recommend it.

rain rain go away come...blah blah blah

by teresa

When I woke this morning it was pouring and as I sit here, moments before heading to bed it is still pouring. So much so, that schools are closed tomorrow due to flooding. I have one thing to say about that....crap.
After two days (teacher workday and veterans day) of people using "my time" for "their time" I am about to go coo coo for cocoa puffs. *that actually sounds good right now*
I will borrow my in laws canoe and personally row through the neighborhood picking up children and delivering them to the school steps to get a moment of solitude tomorrow.

keep 'em busy

by teresa

The kids were off today (teacher workday), so Katy and I took them to the bowling alley, so they wouldn't tear up the house.
We had the lanes to ourselves, but that didn't mean any less work for the employees. With nine kids in tow, we had to make multiple calls for stuck balls, broken bumpers, lost money in the video games and other annoyances. I'm sure they also loved the many, many times the kids kept pushing the call button for no reason at all. We were just keeping them on their toes...right?

another one bites the dust

by teresa

Long and tiring weekend.
Ben's team won the tournament and I am hoarse from screaming my lungs out (like any good mommy would do).

what's the 'haps?

by teresa

Busy at the Green homestead.
Not a lot of blogging going on.
Yes, the kids are still doing stupid stuff...we just haven't had time to document.
Chris says facebook is killing my blog.
True...I do usually update my status instead of writing out a lengthy story.

Yesterday, on Oprah, a sweet childhood friend was selected as a finalist in her karaoke contest.
Donnie Denny, grew up across the street from us and I do not remember a time when this boy was not singing. He would bring his tape recorder to our house and belt out a tune on the spot. What kid has the guts to do that? Our family gathered around the TV and watched him...his interview was so touching and may have a brought a tear or two to those in the room. Today's Oprah will announce the top three finalist who move on. I pray he is one of them.

It is so cold outside right now. 42 degrees. I love it!
And.....I haven't turned the heat on in the house.
I try to hold out as long as possible, piling layers and thermals on the kids.
Why?
It's just a personal thing.
I feel like I use so much energy in the warm months running the ac (24/7), that I am trying to balance out. Let some frigid family use our kilowatts for a while.

This weekend...soccer tournament.
Pics. and recaps to follow.

the day has finally come!

by teresa

No more annoying phone calls at all hours of the day and night!

Rock the Vote!

off to buy ear plugs

by teresa

Apparently Nick's snoring has become a problem for Ben.

How do I know this?

I found my can of pepper spray by Ben's bedside yesterday morning.

Glad I intervened (I hid it) before Nick was gassed in his sleep.

That would not have helped with the brotherly bond very much.