where are my ear muffs?

by teresa

Busy weekend ahead of us.
My uncle and his boys are driving down from No.Va. for a visit.
I am their cousin, but since there is a HUGE age difference between us (I am 40 and they are 14 and 10), I refer to them as my nephews. Mom is making chili (perfect for this weather) and we will dine and catch up on the Dyer/Allen/Green events we have missed over the past six months apart.
Ben has a soccer tournament Sat. and Sun. which I was really looking forward to, until I saw a chance of snow on the weather report. Snow and soccer are two things that should NOT go together. The cool thing is it will be The Monarchs 100th game, since the team formed in 2008. I'm hoping for a victory to celebrate it properly. In case your wondering, their record is 78-10-11. Not bad for a hodge podge of recreation league kids that make up the most diverse team in Chesapeake soccer. Love those boys!

Something is up.

By Teresa

My son told me we were out of mouthwash in his bathroom.
I didn't even think he knew what mouthwash was.
I have noticed his toothbrush and deodorant out on the counter every day for three weeks.
The shampoo and body wash was emptied, replaced and emptied again.

Something (or someone) is definitely going on at school.

The little drummer boy resides here

By Teresa

Ben and most of the other kids in his band class took a test last week. A test to see if they had any rhythm and could follow the beat give by the teacher. He was the only one in his bell to pass. What does this mean? I didn't know myself until Ben came home with instructions yesterday. "My teacher says to take my saxophone back to the music store and get a percussion set".
Percussion set!?
As in a drum in my house?!
We did the exchange and came home with twenty pounds of instruments and stands, zipped into a carrying case that stands to my chest. I had to clean out my trunk to transport it to school. It has a snare drum and a xylophone. And their stands and various sticks to pound with. Oh my Lord!
This has violated one of the three no no's in the Green house.
1. No play dough.
2. No fingernail polish.
3. NO DRUMS!

The first two were put into effect the day after Lauren learned to walk.

Questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

By Teresa

I'm needy.

All this work for some stupid candy canes!

I finished my Christmas decorating...I bought four bags of red and green m&m's.

Mom, can I drive your car? Yes, but no more than 5mph so my cranberry sauce doesn't spill.

Did you get your tubes tied mom?
Yes.
Well then how do you pee?

Makes me think of Christ just looking at it.

I almost gave a homeless lady my soccer chair today.

Quoting the new pretzel m&m commercial..."no way you're putting that giant thing inside me!"
That's what she said.

You're not stupid...your mother is.

They perfected mashed potatoes back at Plymouth Rock, there was no need to add pumpkin to it.

Rednecks scare me.

it's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown!

by teresa

We enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving at Jackie and George's yesterday. We split the cooking, making it a lot less tiring.
Katy had mom and The Daddy to her house. Ben took his bike over so he could ride between houses to sample both dinners. Lauren and Nick did the same thing, having cheesecake at Nanny Jackie's and then Nanny Allen's carrot cake at Katy's.
The joke of the day was my attempt at fancy cuisine. I made pumpkin potato puree. Chris kept joking me. "They already perfected the recipe for mashed potatoes long ago, there was no need to throw pumpkin in there." Then he would suggest putting pumpkin in anything we were eating....to make it taste better. I told Jackie that I was going to put pumpkin in everything I make for the next couple of weeks, just to punish him.

scrambled eggs & pumpkin.
grilled cheese with pumpkin.
steak and baked pumpkin.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.

by teresa

Leave me alone

By Teresa

An outstanding weekend.
Went on a dinner date to Savannah's on Friday night, enjoyed the most amazing book club on Saturday night, Ben's season closer on Sunday and a birthday party for Bens best buddy Joe last night. Chris and the boys also headed to the ODU sports grille to watch the basketball team play in the Virgin Islands on multiple big screens while eating wings, fries and quesadillas. I think that was the highlight of their weekend.
So much fun over three days equals no rest and relaxation. So, I am paying the price of a party girl this morning. I'm tired and a tad bit grumpy.
Six hours of alone time to catch up on laundry and cleaning should be the cure.
I love Mondays.

Making memories

By Teresa

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 was the best movie of the series. Hands down.
I went with Katy, Kristian, Ben and Kai. Nick had a ticket to go and bailed before we left.
He's such a muggle.
I would post awesome pictures of us in line, but Katy forgot the camera I asked her to bring.
I told her, if we don't have photos, then it never really happened.

Our friends, the Dodgers from soccer, came too. We all sat together and shared candy and popcorn.
The candy was pre bought and stuffed in pockets, down pants and in purses. Katy even pulled out water bottles from somewhere when the kids got thirsty. Too funny. $9.00 for a soda and candy bar.....I don't think so!

The iPad was a lifesaver for us. We played the violin, had math game races and drew pictures.

Kai fell asleep about and hour into the movie, but the rest of the kids did great.
We got home around 3:30am and nobody was whining about being tired.
I am feeling great and wide awake this morning.
Anybody want to put in a bet guessing when I'm going to crash and burn?
1:00pm...2:00pm maybe?

sleep!? I don't need no stinkin' sleep!

by teresa

I picked up the tickets, bought the candy, charged the camera and Ipad and took a little nap.

Bring on the movie!

this picture is from the 2005 book release of The Half Blood Prince.

The things this man does to keep me happy!

Questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

By Teresa

Have you wore your head thong lately?

I'm very sound effecty today.

Nick needs a marker to color his pacman.

No Mexican mafia or slippers are allowed at the basketball games.

Embarrassing, is your son noticing the hickey on your neck on the way to school. I was caught off guard by his questioning and lied that I burned in with a hair straightener. (sorry nick)

I wish your father was alive so he could put you on restriction!

I fell asleep on the bus trip and evidently there was a girl brushing my hair. She brought the brush back to me at school today.
Are we supposed to buy that you didn't realize a girl was brushing your hair?

You must have one of thoses spandex things on because your stomach looks flat.

Ben asked for the Lowes card so he could buy more Christmas lights.

Mom, why are you scared to drive with me?

I am determined to get this on film!

by teresa

I see it after my morning "mom's taxi" run. Not everyday, but most days.
It's an older model four door with a homemade paint job.
You know the kind, looks like it was colored with markers and primer.
This particular beater caught my attention because of the special decoration that has been applied all over the body. I am pretty sure it's supposed to be lips. Giant lips. I'm guessing the man who drives it likes to kiss or is telling the world to kiss off. I don't know.
All I know is the guy reeeeeeally needs to take an art class. Cause it looks like his car is covered in vagina's. Seriously. That's exactly what is looks like. I was thinking back to Ben's 2nd grade project. I wonder if this young man's mother has discussed his proclivity for drawing vajayjays instead of lips on her blog? I just hope Ben decides to use Maaco when the time comes, so I won't be as embarrassed as gyno's. mom.

The Beast!

By Teresa
Ben's team traveled to NewPort News for a tournament this weekend. They were testing the waters, playing teams in the two levels above us in our travel league. The boys came out champions with 4 wins and 0 losses. Ben played outstanding and his team nicknamed him "The Beast". If your interested in more info., click here for the team website.

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food." George Bernard Shaw

By Teresa

Piled on our bed, late Saturday night, recapping our days with the boys. Ben's talking about day one of his tournament and Nick is telling me all about the ODU football game. I asked him if his friend Marcus enjoyed the game and tailgating. He said they had a blast and both chowed down on the food I sent (hamburgers, brats and shrimp). "After we ate and chilled, dad gave us our tickets and let us walk around campus and head to the stadium on our own". He said they went in the web center and hung out with some students and then he casually mentions another tailgate lot they hit. Have you ever seen the movie Wedding Crashers? The characters go from wedding to wedding, of people they don't know, just for the free party and food. Well, Nick is a tailgate crasher. In his words, "Mom, we went to the rich people lot next to the stadium (you have to donate like $5,000 to get on this lot) and joined the party". I was dying laughing. I asked him how in the world did he do it? He said, he and Marcus were just mingling and a nice lady asked If they wanted a plate of food. Of course they didn't turn it down! "I had fried fish, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and some puffy thing". "They even had a cool ice sculpture of a lions head!". Only my kids! This reminds me of the time Lauren went up to a stranger and asked if she could have some of their donuts.
I guess next year I'm going to gave to do better than grilled brats and potato salad.

Let's get together

By Teresa

Quote from the hubby:
"if you wanted to have me all to yourself on our anniversary, you shouldn't have married me during basketball season".

Chris and the boys spent the night at the ODU game and I spent the night watching Diners, Drive ins and Dives with our dog.

Don't feel bad for me, we will have a date night soon. I bought this weeks groupon for Veneziano's (a favorite dive of ours).

I will get the chicken parm. and he will get ziti. We will talk about our younger days and he will make me laugh so hard we will get angry stares. We will get dessert and then stretch out the night by driving around his grandparents old neighborhood near the zoo.

My life's like groundhogs day (the movie) except the day I am repeating is the best day of my life.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person,

By Teresa

The first boy to hold my hand and gave me my first kiss (on the porch of the house next door to where we live today).
I still have the first present he ever gave me (a music box with a bear on top). He saved his newspaper delivery money to buy it for me.
He is the smartest person I know.
He is the funniest person I know.
A great father(and uncle).
Godly example to us and others.
Supports our family so I can be involved in our childrens lives.

Titles:
Coach
Vice president
Teacher
Stud muffin

To the best man I know,
Happy anniversary.
Love,
Gidget

Questions and comments heard in the Green house

By Teresa

Get your head out of the oven you stupid dog!

Mom, will you take me driving?

How many years have we been married? Too many.

It stinks so bad, but I'm too lazy to get up.

I hope the lady in the bedroom slippers brings us our food this time.

Why is you mothers picture on your drivers license?

Do you think I'm Jewish?

Dad, will you take me driving?

Oh goody, you wore your lumberjack shirt.

Aren't you proud of me, I bought my first box of chicken broth?

Do you have your boob out again?

I cleaned the backyard today honey. That's a good girl. I think I'll keep you around awhile.

Ok...who left the banana peel under the couch cushion? I guess I should be happy they are eating some fruit.

What's that noise? It sounds like the dogs puking. Well hurry up and get him outside! Don't worry...he'll eat it after he finishes. Gross!!

Mom, if you let me drive your car I'll give you a hug.

Sometimes I understand why animals eat their young

By Teresa

Early to rise this morning. The sixth grade classes at Ben and Kristian's school are going to Richmond on a field trip. She spent the night last night so they could both ride together. We made bagged lunches, laid out clothes and got them to bed early. My friend Sonja offered to pick the kids up on the way to taking her son to school. I was happy to accept her help so I wouldn't have to get viewer friendly before 5:00am.
The kids got up great and out the door without a hitch. I, in my pj's, snuggled up on the couch and drifted off to sleep. That is until 15 minutes later when Ben called frantic that he had left his lunch in Sonja's backseat. "mom...I need a lunch quick before the buses leave"!
Good grief.
He wanted me to call her and get her to bring his lunch to him. That was not going to happen. Me, call the poor woman at 5:30am and ask her to get back in her car and take my irresponsible son his lunch? So I threw together the quickest lunch sack ever made, grabbing whatever was within reach in the fridge. That half opened, hard on the edge cheese stick, leftover piece of steak, the five year old can of fruit cocktail in the back of the cabinet a corona and a lime.
Just kidding....but you get the idea.
After dressing in what was laying on the floor, I grabbed my keys and flew to the school. As I walked in Bens principal, and my childhood friend greeted me at the door with a giggle. I looked a hot mess and I had a "tude" you could feel a mile away. I told her my story and she pointed toward the auditorium where the kids were lining up to board the buses. I spotted Ben right away. Standing with some friends, laughing.....with his flipping lunch in his hands. Really?!
Sweet Sonja had noticed his lunch in the backseat and drove back and gave it to him.
Then he was like, "oh, I forgot to call and tell you she brought it to me....sorry."
As I walked out to my car, lunch still in hand, the principal laughed. She said, "I wont even ask."
It's going to be a long day.

We should have known

By Teresa

A few weeks ago Chris saw a book out on the living room table. This is not a weird thing in our house. We have books piled and stacked pretty much everywhere. What got his attention was the particular book that was out. The title, The Norton Anthology:World Masterpieces. Homer, Aristotle, Beowulf, Dante, Chaucer to name a few. I think he was impressed that his little wifey was reading such impressive material. He made a comment about it to me. That's when I told him that it was not me that was reading it. I had seen it out and thought he was the one reading it. We laughed and wondered which of the boys would have gotten it out of the bookcase? I didn't remember it out on the table before Ben had gone to bed, so it had to be Nick. The thought of Nick reading Don Quixote or Othello without a gun to his head had me puffing out my chest a little. Finally, my reading gene had woke up inside of him. He came down for breakfast the next day and Chris and I asked him about the book he was reading. "Huh"?, was all we got out of him. I showed him the book. This is what he said after he stopped laughing. "I wasn't reading it...I was using it as drums".
Apparently 2,270 page works of fiction are not just good for filling your mind with knowledge, it also makes a cool bass drum.

Let them eat cake.

By Teresa

We visited Lauren's apartment about a week back. If I hadn't called and told her we were coming, we probably wouldn't have heard from her till Christmas. The kid is as antisocial as her dad...just sayin'.
I picked up groceries on the way, figuring her rations were probably slim ( we had filled her fridge about 2 months earlier).
Whne I opened the fridge to load it up there was only one thing in it. A cake.
This just cracked me up.
No milk, no sandwich fixin's, no ketchup, no drink....just cake.
Hahahahahahaha
She had baked it herself. She said she has baked several cakes since she's been there.
Sounds like how my mom would live as a co-ed...doesn't it?

iPad on a Sunday morning

By Teresa

Sitting in the bed blogging,
Ben is in between Chris and I...and the dog is at our feet.
Chris was humming a song and I found it and played it.
I am looking up a recipe on smitten kitten (food blog) and scanning through a magazine for teacher gift ideas for Christmas.
Just got a tweet from CNN news and an email from Ben's coach.
Checked the weather and saw that Ben's soccer game this afternoon is going to be a chilly one.
Wished a friend happy birthday and gave my cousin a virtual hug.
The bed is now empty save me, so I will click over to my morning devotions and then head down to make breakfast.
My head hasn't left the pillow yet.
Technology at it's finest.

Odu overload

By Teresa

Today there is an ODU football game in the afternoon and a ODU basketball game tonight.
Ben has three school friends coming and none of the other wives are attending this week.
As much as I enjoy the games, I might try to skip out on the testosterone fest.
I already cooked a pork butt for sandwiches and bought drinks an chips. So, they probably wouldn't even know I wasn't there.
The tailgating will begin at 11:00am and the basketball game will end around10:00pm.
I don't think I can handle that much fun (insert sarcastic look here).

What does it say about me that I wouldn't pick him up for being sick, but did for b.o.'ing?

By Teresa

So I get a text from Nick last week. It was during school and a test day. He says,"mom...I need you to pick me up". I was having none of it. I knew he was stuffy when he left for school, we all were. Allergies...what are you gonna do? I texted him back to suck it up and get through the day. He kept texting me and I just ignored him. That is until I got this text message. " mom, I smell"!
Apparently, Nick was not feeling sick. He had forgot to put on deodorant that morning, went to gym class, got funky and needed to come home and change clothes. Hahahahahaa
After joking him mercilessly, I picked him up and brought him home to freshen up.

where have I been?

by teresa

I just thought I would give a quick explanation as to why I haven't blogged in a month.
In a word...IPAD.
The day of my last post my wonderful hubby gave me an ipad for my 40th birthday.
That night I downloaded two ereaders on it. Kindle and Nook. Do I need to say anymore?
I have read 24 (I actually looked it up) books since then. Oh my gosh!
And yes, my house is clean, family is fed and hubby is...*ahem*happy.
I read in line at the bank, while getting my car worked on, in the car waiting for the kids to get out of school, in bed (the screen is lit...with a dimmer), during soccer practice, while I'm cooking, etc.
I also have recipes on it, Internet, games, movies, all my music and photos.
It's seriously incredible!
I will try to set it aside everyday for a moment to talk to you so you (Sterling) won't feel neglected again.

“Never forget me, because if I thought you would, I'd never leave.” A.A. Milne

by teresa
Ben has reclaimed the cupboard under the stairs.
He has set up a bigger light, blankets and a homework area under there.
The homework area is my kitchen stool, which he scoots up over his outstretched legs for a make shift desk. It's been a while since Ben has ventured under the stairs and I thought he had long since outgrown it. I am so glad he hasn't. Praise the Lord for the little things that touch a mom's heart. Like a middle schooler (and the baby of the family) holding on to that little boy imagination a bit longer.
Before I know it he will have gone from secret clubhouses to holding hands with girls. I don't think my heart can take it.

the leaves are changing...why not the temps?

by teresa


I want it to be cold.
Not freezing cold...but at least chilly.
I want to wear a sweater and jeans and even my stripped scarf.
I want my hair to stay smooth and not frizz from the humidity.
I want to wear colorful socks and broken in loafers.
I want beef stew cookin' in the crockpot and pumpkin muffins baking in the oven.
I want fall weather!

get up and get moving

by teresa
Today is NFL Play 60 day at Ben's school. The halls are covered with posters and the teachers have been promoting it. They want the kids to pledge to play outside 60 minutes everyday. It's a neat program to encourage the kids to get off the couch and moving.
All the students and staff are to wear football jerzies and during gym classes they are playing games.
Ben was excited to wear his ODU jersey and Kristian came over this morning and borrowed his VaTech one.

Ben and Joe before school.

shhhhh....go back to sleep

by teresa

I woke up at 2:53 and thought my alarm was about to go off.
When I saw that I could sleep for 4 more hours, I actually squealed with glee.
I wonder if Chris heard me and thought I was dreaming about him?

vin

and baby makes 9

by teresa

Katy had her baby this morning.
She called and told me he came a little after 4:00am, pretty much just popping out like Maya. I'm glad it was an easy delivery (I'm not saying painless....just uncomplicated).
He weighs 7lbs 13oz and is 20 1/2 inches long (same as Maya when she was born).
I will try and get up there today to snap a pic. and rub that new baby smell all over my face.
They should bottle that smell....it's heavenly.

It sounds like the plot of one of those Davey and Goliath cartoons

by teresa

A full two weeks of school under our belts.

So far so good. The boys love their teachers and have good friends.

Ben's friend Sterling (from soccer team...they shared a b-day party this year) has been having trouble figuring out his locker combination. This is the first year of lockers and Ben loves it. Ben had his combination memorized weeks before school began. Practicing it over and over in his room. Ben found Sterl at his locker long after school had ended. He was frustrated and anxious...trying to open his lock. Ben, the lock master, went to his aid. After Sterl told him his combination, he easily opened it for him. Sterling was so happy and Ben showed him over and over how to do it. The next day he sought Ben out for help after school again. The poor kid just can't get the whole "right, then left a full turn past the first number, then right again.

I praised Ben for helping his friend yet again.

That is until yesterday. Chris, the boy we give a ride to in the afternoon told me a little story. Apparently, Ben went to school this week and straight to Sterling's locker. Having been told Sterling's combination, he undid his lock and turned it around the wrong way and then relocked it. The next day the boys got a giggle watching Sterling struggle on the ground, head flipped around trying to look at the back of his lock to enter the combination.

With friends like that....

Ben and Sterling at their 11th birthday party.

This tape will self-destruct in five seconds

by teresa

I bought new fire extinguishers yesterday.
One for the kitchen and one for upstairs. I also bought one for Lauren, which I will give her if she shows her face around here again. Apparently we are good for tuition, car payment, insurance and a phone...but not a hug. Just sayin'.

This weekend is going to be a busy one. Soccer practice and high school football game tonight, flag football, ODU football and book club tomorrow, church and travel soccer game on Sunday. Not to mention the umpteen college and NFL games on that we look forward to viewing. It will be Green Family Circus in full effect.
I love it!

Katy just called while I was typing. There is a feminine emergency going down that I must attend to. Kristian's Aunt Flow came early. There's only one pad in the house and she's about to get on the bus. You see the problem.
It has been a long time since I bought any such thing (10 yrs.) so I needed lots of details to steer me toward the correct product.

Here are the notes I jotted down during our phone call:
Tampax or Playtex...not sure
green box (crossed out)
green bag
regular length
thin
wings

I am off to take the boys to school and fulfill my menstrual mission. At which time I will take it to school and in a Mission Impossiblesque way get them to Kristian with no one the wiser. There may be cables lowering me from the ceiling, disguises, decoys and knockout gas. I'm a mom....and I get the job done anyway I can.
Wish me luck.

just what I need...more books.

by teresa

Smoothies for breakfast.
Banana, strawberry, pineapple and orange juice.
Not only is it a nutritious way to start the day, but the noise the blender makes also serves as an alarm clock. Toss in a cup of ice and it will even wake the neighbors.

Ben's librarian called yesterday. Apparently she found out that Mrs. Green (aka. library slave) has returned to the middle school. When Nick went to that school her and I were inseparable and I think she intends us to become bff's once again. She called to ask my opinion (and help) for a book fair she is planning. I will gladly do it for access to the books (I get my own library card...some of the best books I have ever read were kid lit.) and for a chance to spy on Ben and Kristian.

gets it.

by teresa

Sitting a few cars behind a handicap bus yesterday morning.
Not gonna lie....I was irritated as heck.
We were running at a late departure due to one of my morning riders sleeping late (I take Ben, Nick and two of Ben's friends to school each morning).
The bus was loading a girl in a wheelchair. It took for-ev-eeeeerrrr to get her in.
Then the bus driver stops to chat it up with the mom in her driveway.
By now, there are about twenty drivers behind me. Everyones cars are inching closer to each other, patience wearing thin, gritting our teeth and trying to find that happy place (there's not much room in my car for a happy place with four boys, four overloaded book bags, a trumpet, two sax's and a clarinet). I was flipping to K-LOVE, trying to find a little MercyMe to get my spirit moving in a better direction. The driver climbs aboard and her STOP sign retracts. phew. Wait...she's still not moving. Another minute ticks by. I can see her inside the bus, milling about. She must be securing the girl or something. Then the car behind her gets fed up and pulls around her. On the two lane road we're sitting on, that is a very dangerous move. He had no idea what was coming from the other side. The driver notices and rushes to her seat. Just as she's pulling off, the black truck in front of me starts to pull around her too. Now she's moving and he's moving beside her and there's a car racing toward him coming from the other direction. Me and the kids are like,"OH CRUD!!" The black truck whips in front of the bus and the bus has to slam on her brakes to avoid a collision. Not cool.
We turn the corner and head toward Nick's school, still talking about the mornings happenings. About 1/4 mile down the road, while passing through one of three school zones we drive through every morning, we see a police car flip his lights on. We look over to see who the contestant of the day is (this guy pulls someone every single morning). It's the black truck! We all scream, "HOORAY!!" He may have experienced a brief victory after passing that bus, but he found the ultimate defeat getting a speeding ticket in a school zone. hahahahahahaha

Comeuppance: A deserved rebuke or penalty.

Embarrassment is an emotional state experienced upon having a socially unacceptable act or condition witnessed by or revealed to others.

by teresa

As I am sitting in my car, waiting for Ben's school to let out, a car pulls up next to me.
The driver parks and exits the car, heading toward the front doors of the school.
I glance up from my book and gasp, knowing some poor child is about to die from embarrassment in the next five minutes. This lady is entering the school dressed in pajama pants (with a hole in the left cheek...thong), a white strappy tank top (see-thru and toddler size), hot pink bra (with the ripped elastic hanging under one arm), hair pulled up in a rats nest bun on the top of her head and bare foot.
Can you imagine the child's horror when they walk around the corner and find mom waiting dressed like that? Although, it would be a good punishment. Maybe that kid got in trouble at school or ate his mom's pepperidge farm cookies (that's a punishable offense in my house)? I should put together a similar outfit for the next time Nick "forgets" he had homework or Ben gets a note home saying he is a bit too "chatty" in class. Then I will stroll into school donning said outfit and walk up to them and their friends and demand a kiss. I think it would be much more effective than restriction. Don't you?

how to wake your children for school on a Monday morning.....make bacon. It's more effective than an alarm clock

by teresa

The weekend flew by.
We watched tons of college football on Saturday and NFL games on Sunday.
In the middle Chris coached a flag football game and Ben played two soccer games.
His team made their travel league debut Sunday afternoon. They won 4 to 2, but I didn't get any pictures. It was raining most of the game, so I wasn't about to take my precious camera out.

Today I will clean my closet and bring my fall clothes out of the rubbermaid containers. I know it's still in the 80's, but the evenings have been chilly and I am so eager to toss on a jacket or sweatshirt. I love fall fashion!

three years

by teresa

His hands were freckled and stocky and covered in cuts from fixing things.
I see people with his hands and I want to tell them..."you have my daddy's hands."

Three years and we still say, "put that in grandaddy's garage."
I still ask, "can I borrow daddy's truck?"
I tell people,"my parents live next door."
My parents.

I miss you daddy.
love, your teresa jean

*he used to sing this song to my mom*

*cough* *cough*

by teresa

Another school morning.
The smell of Axe and toast in the air (enough to fill your lungs and erase a year off your life).
But at least there is no b.o.
I tried to counter it with a thorough Fabreezing of the entire house to no avail.

I wish I had thought of it first....a spray to cover boy funk. We would be filthy (haha) rich.

That's why we had her when were so young....so she could take over any parenting jobs we don't care for

by teresa

Monday, (Labor Day) sissy took Ben and Kristian to Kings Dominion.
We had received 4 comp. tickets and gladly turned them over to Lauren, since Chris and I have long outgrown roller coasters.
She picked them up late (almost midnight) Sunday night after she got off work, so they could spend the night and leave early the next morning.
They were asleep on the living room floor by the time she arrived, but came to quickly with the stench of an Olive Garden kitchen in the room. It's like being covered in a thousand bread sticks, a pot of alfredo and 50 meatballs. p-u.
The three of them had a blast (Lauren's friend Jasmine went too) and came home late Monday night. I am glad they got to go out of summer with a bang.
Don't feel bad for Nick or Kai.....they wouldn't have gone if you paid for the tickets, a 24 hour buffet and a limo ride to the park. Rides are so NOT their thing.

sign here please

by teresa

We had a record high number of school papers to sign last night ( I say we....but you and me both know it was ME).
My child won't bully, I've read over the grading scale, you have permission to take my child's photo, cheating will be punished, my child is required to do homework, reading is encouraged, proper gym uniforms are required, etc. It's ridiculous that you would have to sign something stating your child will not molest another student during school hours.
Ben, Nick and I sat on the couch, papers spread from here to there, getting all this stuff signed. I pulled out my good pen from the office (cause my handwriting needs to be better than all the other parents handwriting) to get this done. I handed it over to Ben to get his signature on a few things. When repacking the book bags and cleaning up I noticed the cap to my good pen was not on. I fussed at Ben for losing it and tore up the living room trying to find it. Dang irresponsible kids....can't let them touch anything.

Later, when changing for bed I found the pen cap in my bra.
We won't tell Ben that...will we?

I'm baaaaack

by teresa

First day of school here in Virginia.
Another summer come and gone.
Lots of sun, swimming and soccer.
Also, plenty of "I'm bored.", "I hate him!" and "who spilled that?".
I have been up for hours (usually the boys and I don't roll out of bed before 9:00am). Made beds, emptied the dishwasher and finished the laundry.
And guess what?
The house will stay that way for seven hours.
PTL for education!

one down...two to go

by teresa

Lauren moved into her own apartment yesterday.
She has been preparing for a while and had accumulated lost of furniture and necessities through Craigslist and thriftstores. The place is so cute and clean (I wonder how long that will last). The girl even bought a swiffer....makes a mommy proud.
Dad even got into the excitement with a trip to Sams for cases of chefboyardee and oodles of noodles (what a maniackids diet is built upon). He also spent a couple of hours walking around ODU (she lives at the edge of campus) with Ben and Kai after stocking the apartment and putting together some furniture. They soaked in the university excitement and came home giddy with Monarch madness. If Chris didn't need an onsite maid and cook I would worry about him getting a place over there. The man loves his Old Dominion University.
Wouldn't it be funny if Chris and his fellow ODU enthusiasts started hanging at Lauren's? Eating all her food and making a mess. hahahhaaahaha tit for tat!

"He profits, most who serves best."

by teresa

I was introduced to a new website called Groupon.
Everyday they have a deal for a local business.
Sometimes for food, sometimes a movie or pedicure.
Last month I purchased a coupon for Frankie's Ribs. It was $12 for a voucher worth $30.
Pretty great deal.
Ben and I went to spend it for lunch yesterday.
We ordered an appetizer (planning to box up to take home), a steak sandwich (with sides) and a bbq sandwich (with sides). Our meals came with bowls of chicken and rice soup too.
The food was amazing and portions were huge. We both boxed up half our food to take home and share with the family.
The bill came and I was excited to see how close we got to spending the $30.
The total was $22.31.
Dang.
The waitress told us not to leave until we had spent our entire Groupon.
So she brought out some dessert samples and had Ben choose a few for her to box up and take home. He picked peanut butter pie.
We walked out of there with 4 to go boxes, all bagged up like we were leaving a grocery store, full tummy's and big smiles.
We will definitely be returning with the rest of the family.

"One customer, well taken care of, could be more valuable than $10,000 worth of advertising."

maybe it's hot flashes

by teresa

No Sunday nap for me today.
I took a looong nap yesterday and it messed me up big time last night.
I didn't get to bed until after 3:00am.
Now I'm tired, but holding out till bedtime.

Ben is off with Anthony at the ice skating rink.
What a perfect activity on this scorching hot summer day.
Yesterday's heat index was 120.
Did you hear that?
One. hundred. twenty.
Fall needs to get hear quick before I sweat off a boob.
Seriously, I am a big sweat-ter.
I know...Chris is a lucky man.

formula for a lost nights sleep

by teresa

When your child is away from home, with texting abilities and he's homesick.

I forgot my sunscreen

by teresa

Can I just say, I am obsessed with peeling.
My wonderful vacation sunburn has begun to peel.
I like...no love to peel my legs.
I sit in the bathroom (long after the flowers have been watered) and strip away the flesh from my thighs.
It's most gratifying. Maybe more than it should be.
When I flay away a subtantial piece, it makes me very happy.
Like peeling an apple in one, long strip.

I still do

by teresa

Cooking and waiting for my husband to come home to me (I mean...us).
He's been gone since Sunday (for work) and I have missed him desperately.
We will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary (our 24th year since our first date) this fall.
I wonder when the spark will fade?

favorite souvenir from vacation

If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito

by teresa

I am covered with bug bites.
I gave myself an OFF bath and still I got bit.
We had YAMS at our house this evening.
We had fun swimming, eating, playing cornhole and listening to the devotion.
The bugs had fun too. A twelve person buffet.
There were no fireflies in sight...but mosquitoes a plenty.

things heard at the beach

by teresa

Why is there a goose in the middle of the ocean?

Nick's practicing for the hot girls down the beach.

Do you want a frog leg omelet?

How do you spell retarded?

Why does there have to be so much sand?

Surrender the booty!

When I took my bathing suit off a bunch of rocks fell out. How did I not feel that?

I'm actually really excited about that lunchbox!

She caught him with a ho-ho.

You know the surf is rough when you have to floss rocks out of your teeth when you return from the beach.

Where can I find a stromboli nightie?

“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”

Don't make me come up there!!

by teresa

Last full day today.
*frown*
We have vacationed to the fullest.
Dining out (a ridiculous amount), putt putt, go-carts, shopping, sun and surf.
Phew.
The days leave me drained and ready for bed long before the kids.
This hasn't been a problem except for one night.
The night all us adults went to bed around 10:30pm and the kids stayed up till 1:00am....playing bocce ball.
Bocce ball in the house on the top floor.
Bocce ball that sounded more like bowling above your head.

Today we plan on hitting the beach one last time and soaking up as much obx as we can in the next 24 hours.

not a squirrel in sight

by teresa

Shorty is acting so weird on vacation.

He keeps waking us up around 5:00am.

Barking and growling until Chris (not me....no way) gets up and walks him outside.

At our house he doesn't rise till around 9:00am. And even then, he only goes out back long enough to pee and bark at a squirrel.

I suppose he prefers the scenery here.

thank the Lord I remembered to bring my fan!

by teresa

The Green's have left the building.
In the OBX with the 'grands and looking forward to a relaxing week of sun and fun.
We got the shopping done this evening, so the cabinets and fridge are stocked with everything our family needs to survive a week away from home.
Diet coke and chips ahoy!
We made it a whole hour before a plunger emergency was in order (Nick). I think that's a record. We asked him to do a courtesy flush to avoid further plumbing problems.
The boys hopped in the hot tub after dinner (Ben tried to talk us into letting him eat IN the hot tub) and then Nick and I took Shorty for a walk on the beach.
Jackie and Ben have set their alarms for 0'dark:thirty, to go for a run tomorrow.
George, Chris, Nick and I plan to unplug our alarm clocks and put them in the closet until next Saturday.

questions and comments heard in the green house this week

by teresa

Is that a hickey?

Just because she asked to be your friend, does not make her a hooker.

Would you pick me over the vampire?

I need a crappy and a nappy.

Who erased So You Think You Can Dance from the dvr? Somebody is on restriction!

Sorry Teresa, but Ronaldo keeps his shirt on for the game.

It smells like teenager in this room...blech.

Are you hot and bothered? No, I'm bothered and hot!

Would you eat the eel or the blowfish?

I love watching you crack crabs. I get a thrill when you pull out a piece of meat in one big chunk.

I gotta remember what put you in such a good mood, so I can do it again.

Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it.

by teresa
Ben had his awards ceremony yesterday. He really had a stellar year and earned many certificates, ribbons and pins. The highest in my opinion, The President's Award for Educational Excellence. The highest in his opinion, Student of the Year (awarded by his teacher Mr. Carmody).
Pic. #1: Ben and his team mates Joe and Sterling (also school mates). Pic. #2: Ben and his Principal Mrs. Fortner. Pic. #3: Ben and our Mayor Dr. Krasnoff, Principal and Vice Principal.

the only negative is the 6:30am arrival time. Runners are insane.

by teresa

Tomorrow Ben and Jackie are participating in the CHKD run for the kids.

It's Ben's first race and he is so excited. Of course he thinks he is going to win.

He told us his plan is to run with Nanny and then with a half mile left he is going to go turbo.

I can't wait to take pictures and cheer them on.

at least it wasn't a girl and Nick didn't ask her out

by teresa

We have a family picture framed in our kitchen. It is of all my dad's side of the family and us at a Christmas party this past year. A party Chris, Nick and Ben missed because of ODU basketball.
The other day I came home and Nick said, "mom, the boy that sits by me in Spanish class is in the picture in the kitchen." Apparently, Nick has become a man and thus doesn't noticed things that are right in front of his face (i.e. a photo that has hung in his favorite room for seven months).
I had him point the kid out.
The boy who has been in his class all year....his cousin Tyler Glazebrook (my 1st cousin Joey's son).
Too funny!
He went to school the next day and told him,"we have a picture of you in our kitchen."
Tyler was a little weirded out and then Nick explained who he was.
They got a laugh out of it and can catch up at the family reunion in July.
It's a small world after all.

ain't no party like a Monarch party cause a Monarch party don't stop

by teresa

Late night last night.

Up with the men watching the Celtics and Lakers in game two of the playoffs.

Celtics pulled out a win and now the series is tied one to one.

We all went to bed happy.

We hosted the Monarchs end of season party on Saturday.

We ate, swam and talked for five hours.

There were fifty of us and we ate like there were a hundred of us.

Chris grilled for hours. lol

I can't believe it has been two full years since the team was formed out of several Indian River rec. teams.

The best kids and parents you could ask for.

“We are in the stickiest situation since sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun.”

by teresa

While reading Katy's fb status yesterday I found out she made breakfast for dinner last night.

Sounded good and then something flashed in my mind.

When I came home from soccer practice last night our kitchen counter was swirled with syrup.

I was like...what the heck?

Once I read that she had pancakes, I figured she had come to borrow syrup and somehow spilled some on the counter in her Mrs. Butterworth stealing rush.

I commented on her wall, busting her to the world and reveling in my Nancy Drew like mystery solving skills.

This morning I hopped on facebook to see what she wrote.

Instead I found a comment from Lauren.

It read:

haha, that would be me. I put syrup in my cheerios because we had no sugar. It was pretty good too :)

omg.

Who is this kid and where did she come from?

I love syrup as much as the next chubby girl, but in my cereal? I don't think so.

Only "the maniackid" could come up with this as a meal.

fyi: our sugar is in the full canister on the counter that says sugar across the front of it.

can you say inconsiderate?

by teresa

Conversation with my teen:

Teen (in the morning): Mom, you don't have to pick me up after school today. I am walking to the rec. center with my friends to play basketball.

Mom: Sounds great precious boy, have a blessed day at school. (actually I said, "whatever")

Teen (texting mom during school against the rules big time): Mom, please come after school to pick up my book bag so I don't have to carry it to the rec. center.

Mom: No problem sweetheart, anything for you. (again, I probably said "whatever")

With the end of school near, I drop what I am doing at home (I'm sure it was something super improtant) and head to the parking lot to wait for Nicky. I get there a few minutes early to get one of the coveted spots (it gets crazy with all the after school pickups). I wait and wait and wait some more. School has now ended and I wait. The buses have now left and I wait. Then I here my phone do the little *ting* for a text message.

Teen (texting mom): Nevermind

Mom: Nevermind what? I am here already!

Teen: Nevermind

Mom: Did you leave already? Nevermind me going home or nevermind me staying here?

Teen: no response

Now I have to remember this the next time he "needs me". If he needs to be picked up from something, I will wait until twenty minutes after our arranged pick up time and then text him, "nevermind"!

He was wearing his hokies hat and flip flops all weekend. I know this because of his weird feet tan lines and hat head

by teresa

Ben went out of town with friends this weekend.
I packed his bag for him, knowing if he were the one to do the packing it would contain a bathing suit, his hokies hat and itouch. Forget underwear, forget toiletries, forget a change of clothes.
He came home Sunday afternoon with tales of hide and seek in the hotel, cannonballs in the pool and video games with the boys. A good time was had by all (sans the hotel staff).
As I unpacked the bag I laughed, pj's still folded and untouched, only one outfit dirty (he was gone Fri-Sun) and then I unzipped the front pocket.
The toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant...still in the wrappers. Gross.
I questioned him about this and his response was,"oh, I guess I forgot."
Apparently all he did need was a bathing suit, hokie hat and itouch.

me + you

by teresa


We had a pleasant weekend.
Ben was in Richmond with Joe's family (soccer tournament) and Nick was with friends all day Saturday.
Chris and I enjoyed our freedom with an all day, city to city romp that lead us from Ghent to Virginia Beach.
We hit the donut dinette, ODU bookstore, skinny dip frozen yogurt bar and longhorn steakhouse (to name a few). We also drove around our old neighborhoods and had fun cutting up and "not acting our age".
My favorite part of the day was driving down the blvd., blaring Justin Bieber (over and over and over) and singing as loud as we could.
I laughed so hard I lost my breathe.
Good times.

should have practiced those kegel exercises more often

by teresa

On my second pair of pants already today (and it's only 11:10).
A stain? A broken zipper? A rip in the pocket?
maybe.
Or....
maybe I went to sit on the potty and the toilet seat broke off, sending me flying to the floor and my uncontrollable laughing kept me from focusing on "holding it" till I climbed back on the pot.
You decide.

it's a beautiful life

by teresa

Lauren moved back in last week.
I guess she missed our fridge and laundry service.
She is returning to ODU and was needing a little parental cheerleading to keep her on track.
The past two nights she has slept in the bottom bunk of Ben's bed.
He is sooooo loving that. Except in the morning when he is dressing. Like sissy is laying there peeking at his white heiny.
Shorty has taken up residence on her bed downstairs. We joke that he is so spoiled he won't even lay in a dog bed anymore. It wasn't funny yesterday though, when he took an afternoon nap on the pile of clean clothes folded on her bed.
I don't think the Olive Garden diners will appreciate the smell of sweaty dog wafting up with their linguine.

that brings a whole new level to morning breath

by teresa

Woke up to dog kisses this morning.
Shorty must have snuck out of Ben's room when he went to the bathroom in the night.
I felt a "kiss", opened my eyes and he was laying on my pillow smiling at me.
Seriously, he looked like he was smiling.
*side note* Nick swears the dog winks at him all the time.

hungry?

by teresa

In a seafood kind of mood.
Went shopping today and bought stuff for grilled shrimp, fish tacos and grilled salmon.
Also, picked up some yummy marinated steak and chicken kabobs from Harris Teeter.
With soccer over, we finally get to have quiet (unhurried) dinners at home again. So I went a little over board on this weeks menu.
Tonight we are grilling some bourbon marinated salmon outside with corn on the cob.
It's a cool, breezy night. So I think we will dine on the patio. It's still pre-mosquito weather, so it should be pleasant enough. Except for the boys fighting over who gets the biggest piece of fish.

questions and comments heard in the green house this week

by teresa

Dad, do you smell dog poop?

I think I will start farting more so people will leave me alone.

You thought you got what you wanted, but I tricked you and got what I wanted. I'm the puppet master.

What normal teenager prefers to spend his free Saturday night (and bday money) at the mall getting a haircut?

Mom, can you run out and get me some project supplies?
I need some hinges, felt and Velcro.
What in the world is all that for?
Band.
???

Jamaican food makes me leaky.

reading rainbow

by teresa

bookfair week.

be back soon

another one bites the dust

by teresa

Ben's soccer team won the 2010 spring TASL (tidewater advanced soccer league) season and tournament last weekend. It's their third season coming out on top. Next season the team is once again moving up to go up against tougher competitors. This season we had moved up to U12 (most of our boys are 10 and 11yrs old) to get more of a challenge. It didn't work. The fall season will find us in the Travel league. No more blow outs there. But that's what we need to improve...so it's fine with me.

what's the haps?

by teresa

Set up for the book fair today.
Next week I will be up there most days working.
I don't mind though...it's so fun to be with the kids and catch up on things with all the volunteers.

After soccer practice tonight, I will be doing some baking.
The MOPS yard sale is tomorrow and I am donating some goodies to the bake sale table.
I don't know what I'm making yet, maybe sugar cookies.
Anything chocolaty will be ruined in the heat.

Tomorrow we have a reprieve from CUSC soccer. The season is over and the only games we have from now till fall is a tournament next weekend. It will be nice to have a break. Well, not a true break (a sleep in kind of Saturday) until Upward is over at the end of the month.

Kristian tried out and made the cheering squad at the middle school. Lauren came over a few times this week to go over moves and cheers with her. We are so excited. Chris and I need to go ahead and set up an account at the Cheer Factory.

party pictures

Happy Birthday Nicky!

by teresa

Today was Nicky's 15th birthday.
I can not believe it has been 15 years.
It was the coolest, most exciting day of my life...hands down.
We had wanted a boy, since we already had a girl. The doctor and ultrasound tech had announced months earlier that I was carrying a girl (several times).
We named her Hannah Mary and bought pink pink pink.
When he came out (c-section) the anesthesiologist, doctor, Chris and I were all flabbergasted.
It was the neatest surprise in the history of surprises.
We looked at each other and said..."Nick".
It was a name we had picked out months earlier, but had pushed out of our minds once "Hannah" was on her way.
Praise God for Nick....our 6'1" baby boy. He is so special to us and anyone who knows him.
Happy birthday and blessings to you!

We celebrated him Cinco de Mayo style (even though it was the 3rd).
Partied at El Patron with all the family.
He ordered the "Little Bit of Everything".
Seriously....that's what it's called.
He said it was definitely a once a year type dinner.
Two plates filled with...well...everything from the menu.
Can you say pepto bismol?

despite all the sunscreen I put on, I still look like a racoon this morning

by teresa

I am so exhausted and I've only been up for ten minutes.
Soccer games (Upward and TASL tournament), had us out yesterday from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
It didn't help that the temps were in the 90's.
Today...more of the same.
Hoping for a couple wins and a nap.

Tournament scores
game one: 7 to 0
game two: 2 to 0

Update: game three: 4 to 1; we are moving on to the championship game this afternoon.
(Ben got a yellow card for "playing too rough")

I bet he would have liked it if Victor Newman was still on the show

by teresa

Day two of Ben home sick.
He has a bad cough, congestion and sore throat.
He wants to go to school, but I know five minutes after his arrival I would be getting a call.
I just gave him some heavy duty cough suppressant in the hopes of him finding relief.
Also, even when you love someone to the moon and back, their incessant coughing kinda gets on your nerves.
Most of his day yesterday, was spent in his bed. Napping, in between coughing fits and watching his shows (Regis and Rachel Ray). At dinner last night, he informed me that he also watched a soap opera. Apparently, the remote got lost in the blankets. He woke up to an episode of The Young & the Restless and was too lazy to change the channel.
He was not impressed.

“Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.”

by teresa

Took Nick to his doctors appt. yesterday afternoon.
Wow...are there some characters in that waiting room.
Nick was like, "mom, they all act crazy!"
I was like..."well....yeah."

We tried to distract ourselves from the madness with our ipods and itouch games.
But when somebody "bunnied" loud and proud, I thought Nicky was going to blow a gasket.
His giggling made me have to giggle. I soon found my mind back at Christ The King church, my nanny glaring and shushing me, because I couldn't stop myself from laughing. My uncle would do something to make me laugh and then all the nuns would turn around and give me the stink eye.
Anyway, there was also a lady there (two kids in tow) yelling about the doctor taking too long. She was being so ridiculous (her appt was at 2:10...it was 2:20) and it was causing the other patients to get antsy. "Tell the doctor PEACE OUT", she shouted to the receptionist. "This is so unprofessional...I got places to BE!"
good grief.
An elderly woman came limping in and sat across from us. She had a cast up her leg and was struggling to move around (it took her for-ev-er to get to a chair and sit). I noticed her one shoe was untied, as did this obnoxious old man who announced it to the entire waiting room ("hey lady, you gonna break that other leg you don't tie your shoe").
She looked down to check and I shot to the floor to get that for her. She gave me the sweetest "thank you sugar" and "God bless you".
Nick said I startled him when I jumped out of my seat. Maybe he thought I was making a break for it.

A kiss is the upper persuasion for a lower invasion

by teresa

part of an article in a magazine at the Dr.'s office...

Kissing in a Relationship:
"The kiss is the most important part of a relationship. A kiss allows a pair to experience another person with all 5 of their senses and get a feel for the person's intentions, compatibility and connection. Men have testosterone in their saliva that stimulates a woman's sex drive and both parties are given doses of dopamine in the body that produces a feeling of euphoria and keen attention. Kissing is very important to the chemistry of a couple.
Dr. Berman shared that kissing can be a big sign of happiness in a relationship. Couples that kiss and cuddle regularly are 8 times less likely to be stressed or depressed, shared Dr. Berman. A daily peck does not count as an actual kiss. Couples need to share a minimum of a 10 second kiss every day or it's like going through the motions or giving a pat on the back. Not many couples get this kind of connection, but need it and should bring the focus back to the kiss that started the relationship off on the right foot."

I need to make sure Chris reads this.

I entertained myself in the waiting room for two hours playing solitaire on Ben's itouch

by teresa

Took my car to get inspected today.
It was due in March.
Oops.
I totally didn't even notice until the other day.
Once you realize, you feel like all eyes are on you driving down the street.
Like there's a big sign on the front of the car that says,"give me a ticket!"

favorite part of the day

by teresa

Chris and I hid in the car for an hour today.
Away from the kids, phone and tv.
We were in our driveway, car off, windows rolled down listening to the wind chimes from the back porch.
Holding hands and laughing about how geeky we were and how sad it is that we have a big house and huge yard and the only place we can get some peace is in the car.

come home

by teresa

About to leave for another busy Saturday of soccer.
Kaden's game is at 9:00, Kai's at 10:00, Kristian and Ben's at 11:oo and then over to GBHS for Ben's CUSC game at 2:00. The weather is not looking very good, so some of that may get rained out.

Before practice last night, Ben and I went to a new place called Skinny Dip. It's a frozen yogurt shop where you can put all the fixin's on yourself. And by fixin's I mean anything from fresh fruit and hot fudge to jellybeans and fruity pebbles. It was so so so good..and 20% of the sales for the night went to the March of Dimes team that Georgetown Primary had put together. Amy and Isaiah were there and he showed us the yogurt sundae building process. Ben and I ate with a sweet boy (Micah) who was there from Mr. Carmody's class. I think Ben had fun.
We will most certainly be going back again.

After skinny dipping, we crossed the street to the new CHKD thrift store and bought some books and a pair of sneakers for sissy. After practice, while Chris was at YAMS and Nick with Jackie, Ben and I went to see Lauren at Olive Garden. She was really busy and didn't have much time to spend at the table with us. But she did chat long enough for me to give her a guilt trip for not showing up to dinner the other night when I had made her bbq ribs. Hopefully she will get by this week for a visit.

Maybe that's why the bag boy gave me such a big smile

by teresa

I bought new bras today.
Not very news worthy, but I am excited about it.
Tossed out all the old, stringy, under wire poky ones in my drawer.
The sisters will be very happy. The one I wore yesterday had a malfunction (strap broke) in the middle of the frozen food section of the grocery store.
Not cool.
Luckily I am short enough that my unbalanced chesticle area was hidden behind the cart handle.
After today's trip to Kohl's (Bali's and Olga's on sale for 50% off) I can shop worry free.

this little piggy went to the market

by teresa

My feet are so dry.
I have this problem a lot because I am not good about putting on shoes when I walk outside.
I have tried numerous creams and serums, with the only result being peppermint smelling toes. *I don't know why...but most foot creams are peppermint scented*
Yesterday, sick of my foot skin pulling the comforter all night, I bought a new product. "Dr. Scholl's for Her Ultra Overnight Foot Cream". I was leery, but desperate. So before bed I showered, did the pre-lotion foot exfoliant and opened up the tube. I was pleased with the fresh ,non-minty fragrance. I oil up, as directed and headed to bed. This morning I woke to smooth, non cracked heels. Wow. I am shocked. If it can do this for my nasty feet...it can do it for anybody.
Maybe now Chris will be up to playing footsie without the fear of injury or sparks.

what are these things?

by teresa

Helicopters everywhere!

I don't know what kind of tree they come from, but those propeller things are flying all over the yard.

It looks like pink snow.

The worst part is how they cover the pool surface.

One hour of fishing them out with the net....two minutes later and it's covered again.

where's my booklight?

by teresa

Book club was last night.
My favorite thing.
A small group came together at Morgan's and we got comfy on her big couch and chatted about a wonderful book. Her Mothers Hope by Francine Rivers.
I enjoyed this book so much that it captured me for two days. Two days where I hardly slept, cleaned or spoke to my family. Rivers is an incredible storyteller (she is the author of Redeeming Love...a book every woman should be required to read) and I am on pins and needles awaiting the second novel in this series (due out in the fall).

they spent the entire pregame week trash talking

by teresa

Kristian and Ben played against each other on opposite soccer teams today.

This was the first time they weren't on the same team since they were five.

It was a heated match. Kristian gave him the most resistance, but in the end Ben's team came out on top. I was worried that he would tease and taunt, but I think he took one look at her post game face (beet red, teeth gritted, hair flying wild from her pony tail) and thought twice.

She assured him later that her team would definitely win next time.

yammers

by teresa

We hosted the young adults meeting at the compound tonight.

Chris has been leading the weekly meetings since the fall, but we have never hosted.

There was food grilled, corn hole played and a life applicable devotional given.

The group consisted of 20 and 30 somethings and a couple of old geezers, (myself included) who tagged along to feel young again and catch up on what the "young people" are into these days.

We heard a great message about destroying strongholds and there were interesting discussions and questions by all.

putting my ipod on and making beds

by teresa

The kids are dropped off at school and Chris is on his way to NC. I have the house to myself and I am loving it. Even though I will spend the day on chores and a long list of to do's, I will do it all with joy and gladness. A joy and gladness that only a mother with a house full of loud, stinky, messy boys can know.

Bought a new camera yesterday and can't wait for soccer games on Saturday to try out the cool 4 frames per second shutter. I am so thrilled with my new toy. Now I just need to find a class to teach me how to use it. This thing is way more complicated than I realized. Lordy.

Took these pictures of the kids last night. I at least mastered the "point and shoot" photography for dummies mode. Now I need to figure out the 20 other modes.

i need my house back

by teresa

Last day of spring break today.
yes!

pictures from Lauren's bday party

Where:Uno's in Norfolk

Who: Lauren, Me, Chris, Ben, Nanny J., George, Nanny A. and Kai.

Gifts: Money (lots of money), salon products, laptop bag and talking bear.

happy birthday lauren!

I became a mom for the first time 21 years ago today.

That day, the maniac-kid entered our lives. Late (a week past her due date) and loud.

Some things never change.

These were some of my favorite pictures of lauren.

Getting her first phone and car, ring dance, cheering and first day of high school.

aaah-choo

by teresa

Whoa! So much yellow!
My car, patio furniture, prilla (our fountain).
It seems like more pollen than I've seen in all my years.
That statement made me sound eighty.
Every member of the family is on one allergy drug or another.
Sometimes combo-ing, trying to at least breathe out of one nostril for and hour or so.

questions and comments heard in the green house this week

by teresa

Mom, can you bring your camera outside and take shots of me dunking? I need a new profile picture.

I only want to pinch the birdies neck.

Kaden hit the dog in the head with a stroller.

Let's just plant grass seeds on the pile of dirt they delivered and have a hill in the front yard.

I sure wish I had a colored egg to eat.

If someone in special ed is late to school are they referred to as "tardy"?

Can I have more money to go to the movies?
I already gave you ten dollars.
What if it costs more?
It's not...I checked online.
What if I want to eat?
Then do a few loops around the food court and get all the free samples.

our new guard dog?

by teresa

We have a bird on our back porch.
It's the same one (at least it looks the same) that made a nest in our garage last year and in our hanging plant the year before.
She usually sneaks in and nests on a high self when the kids lift the door to play.
I suppose she got tired of waiting and plopped in the planter on the steps.
The problem with that is, everyone who enters through the back door, storms past her within inches. This does not make the fowl momma happy.
I love to sit inside and listen to the kids discover this for the first time.
Screams, flailing around and running from the porch in a bolt.

We should have thought of this years ago.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel

by teresa

Three weeks of egg ordering, shaping, chocolating, decorating, boxing and bagging have come to an end. Finished the last orders yesterday and now we have to pack up all the equipment and office supplies and clean up our great big mess. I am completely exhausted, as are the other "egg ladies". But, I am going to plow through this day with verve, knowing that my hammock and a 75 degree day wait for me tomorrow.


Oh blog...how I have missed you.

questions and comments heard in the green house this week

by teresa

Have you been asking people for cake again?

Wow, your nails are so long. I bet they are really great at booger pickin'.

Pick up your violin, I don't have time to run it by school if you forget it.
That's what I'm counting on.

I've got cinnamon bagel stuck in my bra.

The sound of his breathe makes me so angry.

In the middle of the night, I rolled over and the slates on the bed shifted. I fell through and crushed his VaTech hat.

When is this dog gonna die?

I'm not in a grits kinda mood.

Mom's not allowed to do PTA next year.

She got all excited cause she thought you said you saw a Unicorn. She was thinking it could play with her dragon.

by teresa

ODU is playing in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament tonight.
The Green men are so thrilled.
They all have friends over for grilled burgers, chips & dip, smoothies and curly fries.
They will spend the evening noshing and cheering the Monarchs on to round 3!

Happy Birthday Chris!

by teresa

Today is Chris' birthday.
A day after mom's...making it very easy to remember.
We will celebrate this evening with him at Upward evaluations and me at a school skating party.
For his gift, I have arranged for the NCAA tournament to begin this week....I am a good wife.

Happy Birthday Mom!