by teresa
I took Ben out to spend his Christmas money today. He ended up only parting with $5.
What did he buy?
A whistle key finder key chain.
If you loose your keys...you whistle...the key chain then sounds an alarm to help you locate the missing keys.
Perfect for him...don't you think?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
daquiri anyone?
by teresa
Smoothie maker....a good time for all.
Bought one before Christmas, to complete our perfectly planned Christmas morning breakfast of homemade waffles and smoothies. It was delish.
Ben has a friend over and we just broke it out again.
The perfect late night snack.
Strawberry, pineapple, raspberry and orange juice smoothie (with a touch of whipped cream on top).
Smoothie maker....a good time for all.
Bought one before Christmas, to complete our perfectly planned Christmas morning breakfast of homemade waffles and smoothies. It was delish.
Ben has a friend over and we just broke it out again.
The perfect late night snack.
Strawberry, pineapple, raspberry and orange juice smoothie (with a touch of whipped cream on top).
Friday, December 25, 2009
You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
by teresa
The day was perfect.
Family together (from morning to night)....we laughed the day away.
"In the cradle of a family, Jesus made His introduction."
The day was perfect.
Family together (from morning to night)....we laughed the day away.
"In the cradle of a family, Jesus made His introduction."
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve morning
by teresa
So excited.
So excited.
Everyone is still asleep and I am up early to get my cleaning done.
I've dusted, bathrooms, mopped, scrubbed and laundered since rolling out of bed.
I will save my vacuuming for their waking hours (I'm so nice).
The rest of the day is family day.
Games, movies and the traditional Christmas eve dinner at China Garden.
This past week has been a blur of gatherings.
I am so thankful to have reconnected with my dad's side of the family.
Too many years had gone by with separate family gatherings.
Since daddy died, I feel drawn to them (they all look just like him!).
A remembered connection of secret sharing, large (and loud) family gatherings with all my cousins and playing in my Nanny Jean's yard. I will not let too much time pass between hugs again.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
the countdown begins
by teresa
What a week.
*phew*
Commitments are all behind me...except for all the fun stuff.
Ben has an indoor soccer tournament this weekend.
Short, quick, exciting games.
Only two days of school left, both of which have parties, dessert day and a sing-a-long scheduled (except for poor Nick who has a project due).
I need to sneak over to mil's house to wrap gifts sometime before next Friday. Her house is our hiding place (far from prying eyes). Hey Jackie...when can I come over and escape visit?
Ben's teacher, Mr. C., went exploring the school the other night (before parents arrived for the music concert). He found a fully decorated Christmas tree in an attic and brought it down to display in his room. Ben raved about it and the kids put extra lights and garland all over it. The next morning, while Ben was on safety patrol he heard an alert over the pa system. "IF ANYONE KNOWS THE WHERE ABOUTS OF MS. BALL'S DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREE PLEASE COME TO THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY!" Just then, Mr. Carmody came out of the men's room. He looked and Ben and said, "oh no B...we've been caught!"
He delivered it to it's rightful owner, gushing with apologies (she was snitty and it irked him).
Later in the day he announced to the class, "I don't like to lose....let's go!" So off the class snuck (the entire class). Down the halls up secret staircases (which are totally off limits to students) and into the inner sanctum of the schools storage areas. They searched high and low for another tree. They ended up finding two (one big and one little). The first they brought down was mammoth, and once put together wouldn't fit in the room. So they dragged it back and got the small one. They put it on a desk, skirted it (Ben said it looks more like a table cloth) and decorated away. But it was so much smaller than the original one, that they had an abundance of decorations leftover. What to do? They got a ladder and hung lights from the ceiling tiles and the girls strung garland everywhere. He even let B string lights out the door and down the hall.
Who knew Ben's illumination obsession would be of use in academia?
What a week.
*phew*
Commitments are all behind me...except for all the fun stuff.
Ben has an indoor soccer tournament this weekend.
Short, quick, exciting games.
Only two days of school left, both of which have parties, dessert day and a sing-a-long scheduled (except for poor Nick who has a project due).
I need to sneak over to mil's house to wrap gifts sometime before next Friday. Her house is our hiding place (far from prying eyes). Hey Jackie...when can I come over and escape visit?
Ben's teacher, Mr. C., went exploring the school the other night (before parents arrived for the music concert). He found a fully decorated Christmas tree in an attic and brought it down to display in his room. Ben raved about it and the kids put extra lights and garland all over it. The next morning, while Ben was on safety patrol he heard an alert over the pa system. "IF ANYONE KNOWS THE WHERE ABOUTS OF MS. BALL'S DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREE PLEASE COME TO THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY!" Just then, Mr. Carmody came out of the men's room. He looked and Ben and said, "oh no B...we've been caught!"
He delivered it to it's rightful owner, gushing with apologies (she was snitty and it irked him).
Later in the day he announced to the class, "I don't like to lose....let's go!" So off the class snuck (the entire class). Down the halls up secret staircases (which are totally off limits to students) and into the inner sanctum of the schools storage areas. They searched high and low for another tree. They ended up finding two (one big and one little). The first they brought down was mammoth, and once put together wouldn't fit in the room. So they dragged it back and got the small one. They put it on a desk, skirted it (Ben said it looks more like a table cloth) and decorated away. But it was so much smaller than the original one, that they had an abundance of decorations leftover. What to do? They got a ladder and hung lights from the ceiling tiles and the girls strung garland everywhere. He even let B string lights out the door and down the hall.
Who knew Ben's illumination obsession would be of use in academia?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
the weekend can not come soon enough
by teresa
I am always triple busy around this time of year.
No time for blogging, reading or cooking (my three favorite things).
MOPS, church functions, Christmas shop at Ben's school, band concert, board meetings, soccer practice, basketball practice, etc. All things I love, but when combined, suck the life out of me.
The end of this week will bring sweet relief.
I am always triple busy around this time of year.
No time for blogging, reading or cooking (my three favorite things).
MOPS, church functions, Christmas shop at Ben's school, band concert, board meetings, soccer practice, basketball practice, etc. All things I love, but when combined, suck the life out of me.
The end of this week will bring sweet relief.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
band geeks rule
by teresa
Nick had his "winter" band concert at school tonight.
Chris was out of town until late evening, so I went solo.
It was the usual seasonal song lineup.
Jingle bells, rockin' around the Christmas tree, etc.
After each piece the crowd would give a little clap.
Then they played *get this* Jesus Loves Me.
Jesus. Loves. Me......and it was so beautiful. Soft, intimate and then building up and powerful.
I didn't breathe the entire song. People all around me were singing and humming along. I cried. I was so proud (Nick had told me the director had told them to keep the playlist a secret to surprise the parents).
When the song came to an end most of the crowd leapt to their feet, applauding and cheering.
Take Christ out of schools? Ha!!
Nick had his "winter" band concert at school tonight.
Chris was out of town until late evening, so I went solo.
It was the usual seasonal song lineup.
Jingle bells, rockin' around the Christmas tree, etc.
After each piece the crowd would give a little clap.
Then they played *get this* Jesus Loves Me.
Jesus. Loves. Me......and it was so beautiful. Soft, intimate and then building up and powerful.
I didn't breathe the entire song. People all around me were singing and humming along. I cried. I was so proud (Nick had told me the director had told them to keep the playlist a secret to surprise the parents).
When the song came to an end most of the crowd leapt to their feet, applauding and cheering.
Take Christ out of schools? Ha!!
Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy
by teresa
The cashier at the thrift store asked me if I was 55.
"There's a great discount for seniors", she said.
heifer.
The cashier at the thrift store asked me if I was 55.
"There's a great discount for seniors", she said.
heifer.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
give until it hurts?
by teresa
Up early this morning to get ready for the MOPS Christmas party.
I can't believe it is almost Christmas.
I have done about half of our shopping.
Just Nick and Ben left on my list.
Luckily, we (Jackie, Mom and I) go lots of things checked off in the OBX.
My theme this year?
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
It's funny, when I had the least (money), I gave the most. Towers of gifts for the kids, most of which they hardly ever used. It was space filler...."look how many gifts you have!" But, when you actually have a lot to give, you are more thoughtful about the things you buy.
Maturity, I guess.
Up early this morning to get ready for the MOPS Christmas party.
I can't believe it is almost Christmas.
I have done about half of our shopping.
Just Nick and Ben left on my list.
Luckily, we (Jackie, Mom and I) go lots of things checked off in the OBX.
My theme this year?
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
It's funny, when I had the least (money), I gave the most. Towers of gifts for the kids, most of which they hardly ever used. It was space filler...."look how many gifts you have!" But, when you actually have a lot to give, you are more thoughtful about the things you buy.
Maturity, I guess.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
whistle while you....
by teresa
Ben learned how to whistle this week.
*sigh*
In the car.
From his bed at night.
At the grocery store.
It annoys the dickens out of me. I lost it in Food Lion, snapped at him and scared the man walking beside us. Not one of my best parenting moments.
I'm gonna start walking around with my ipod in to save my sanity.
Ben learned how to whistle this week.
*sigh*
In the car.
From his bed at night.
At the grocery store.
It annoys the dickens out of me. I lost it in Food Lion, snapped at him and scared the man walking beside us. Not one of my best parenting moments.
I'm gonna start walking around with my ipod in to save my sanity.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
•"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will."
by teresa
Re-read my favorite book of all time this week.
Jane Eyre.
Funny...I was assigned this book in high school to read and write a research paper on.
I only read through the first couple of chapters (under duress) and squeaked out some generic report. Why do we only like to do things under our own free will?
I picked it up later in life and fell in love.
What is your favorite book and what age did you read it?
Re-read my favorite book of all time this week.
Jane Eyre.
Funny...I was assigned this book in high school to read and write a research paper on.
I only read through the first couple of chapters (under duress) and squeaked out some generic report. Why do we only like to do things under our own free will?
I picked it up later in life and fell in love.
What is your favorite book and what age did you read it?
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
got socks?
by teresa
Got a call today while I was out.
It was Ben.
"Mom, can you bring me some clothes?"
At recess, he was running and slipped in the mud.
I ran up to school (with a clean outfit) and found him sitting in the office waiting.
By the looks of him, the mud puddle was 3 feet deep.
He was soaked from head to toe.
On the phone he had just said to bring pants and a shirt.
We changed in the bathroom and I felt bad because his sock were dripping...and I had not brought clean ones.
Can you imagine how uncomfortable that would be for the rest of the day?
So I did what any good mom would do. I gave him mine.
Unfortunately for Ben, I had wore my brown/green/orange argyle socks today.
He reluctantly slid them on and prayed (aloud) that there would be nothing in his teachers lesson that involved taking his shoes off for the rest of the day.
Got a call today while I was out.
It was Ben.
"Mom, can you bring me some clothes?"
At recess, he was running and slipped in the mud.
I ran up to school (with a clean outfit) and found him sitting in the office waiting.
By the looks of him, the mud puddle was 3 feet deep.
He was soaked from head to toe.
On the phone he had just said to bring pants and a shirt.
We changed in the bathroom and I felt bad because his sock were dripping...and I had not brought clean ones.
Can you imagine how uncomfortable that would be for the rest of the day?
So I did what any good mom would do. I gave him mine.
Unfortunately for Ben, I had wore my brown/green/orange argyle socks today.
He reluctantly slid them on and prayed (aloud) that there would be nothing in his teachers lesson that involved taking his shoes off for the rest of the day.
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