Best friends since 1999

"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it's always ourselves, that we find at the sea." E.E. Cummings

Heading to the beach in the morning with Ben and Kristian. After vbs today, she came over to spend the night. We will leave early enough to get a good parking spot...long before the shoobies show up and lay claim to the beach. I will read (an actual paper book...gasp), people watch and listen to my ipod. Ben and Kristian have informed me that they are renting one of those double bikes to ride down the boardwalk. This cracks me up! It's midnight and I am in bed, reading, facebooking and blogging (Chris is snoring beside me). I can hear the two of them squealing and laughing, like Larry The Cable Guy is putting on a show in Bens room. I think they are making videos with his iPod. I love that they are best friends. The energy produced when the two of them get together could power ten prius' for a month. Oh to be young again. The only problem is, the things you find hilarious at 13 are the things that annoy you the most at 41. Spills on the carpet. Farts (and or burps) at the dinner table. Breaking furniture. Waking your parents at 2:00am to ask where your (insert random object) is. Ben and Nick will be gone all weekend. Ben leaves for an Ocracoke vacation with the Matthews family for a week and Nick is going camping with the youth group till Monday. What in the world will we do in the house, all alone? I get Bens room! Xbox, big screen tv and a bed to myself (did I mention the snoring?). Just kidding (or am I?)

questions and comments heard at the Green house

Do not put boogers on Kristian's door!


The squirrel threw a pinecone at me!


Why were there so many more people in attendance tonight?
Because I was there tonight, that's why.


Of course I have bad gas on the day I was planning to get my hair cut.


Do you realize we are going to be alone all weekend?
Cool. I get Ben's room!


Dang it! The dog tore through the trash can when we were out to dinner! It's all over the kitchen.
Should have let him choke. Next time no extraordinary measures will be taken.


A bird pooped on me today.


Boobs are awesome.

Caviar taste for cheese whiz prices

Went shopping with Lauren today. We traveled to Ghent for some baby duds at the White Rabbit. That place has been my one stop shop for kid clothes, since Lauren was about eight. I was excited to pick out cute girly things and boy, did we hit the mother lode (no pun intended). It was $1 day and we didn't even know it until we arrived. We walked out of there with about $200 worth of designer outfits (gap,gymboree,childrens place, etc.)for Sophie for $42! Love it! One dress had the tags attached from some fancy baby boutique...$55... And we got it for a buck.

put that cookie down and walk away!

Finally lost another two pounds this week.
Plateaus suck!
Work, work, work....and nothing.
I need to see change, even two ounces of a difference to keep motivated.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know.  "You are losing fat and gaining muscle", "You are doing this for health, not looks".  Yada yada yada.  I want to SEE smaller numbers.
I literally squealed with glee at the difference on the scale this morning.
Just in time, too.  Cause I was about to get chocolate wasted.

In youth the days are short and the years are long; in old age the years are short and the days long.

I just did a couple laps around the downstairs.  No, not for exercise.  Because I couldn't remember why I had walked into the office and I was trying to retrace my steps, to trigger my memory. It worked, too.  I was going to get my cellphone and text my friend Melanie a question. By the time I got to the office, my mind was a krispy kreme box ten minutes after purchased...empty.  Weird how the mind works (and doesn't work) sometimes. 

Things heard in the Green house

Chris and Scott were in the pool for hours playing with their torpedo.
 Wait...that doesn't sound right.

 I'm so glad you told me about asparagus making your pee smell.
 I thought I was seriously ill for the past few days.

 I can't save him from drowning...but if he chokes on something, I'm your man.

 Don't think bad of me, but the first thing that popped in my mind when Shorty was choking was, "I'm so glad I didn't buy more dog food this week."

 The pool makes you frisky.

 Is this real food (referring to soy burgers)?
 No, it's a hologram.

 Oh my gosh! I can't believe you just said that! I wish I could put that on the blog!
 Go ahead...I don't care.
 (sorry folks...I just can't do it)

 I found a website that teaches you how to like scotch.

 You broke it again, like you did on our honeymoon. (not what you think)

 What kind of husband wants his wife to sleep in the other room?

 I just live listening to funeral music as I eat dinner.

If you think reading is boring, you're doing it wrong.

Our book club planning session was tonight. We met at Jasons Deli and mapped out the next years reads and monthly hosting sites. So excited to dive into the books we chose and catch up with my friends each month. What did I ever do before I fell in love with reading? What a waste of the first thirty years of my life.

Watch our mouth young lady!

It has been so hot this week. Over 100 degrees, most days. Can't wait for the storm to come tomorrow and bring the temps back in the 80's. Even the pool is not refreshing. Like bath water...blah. Uncle Jim, Beth and the boys came for the day. We talked, went to Jimmy's for lunch and came back and swam for a few hours, before they headed back home. Katy and Mike brought King and Vin, who will be two at the end of the summer. Kingston was jumping in over and over again...he is quite the daredevil. Gavin was a bit more cautious than his brother,preferring to run around outside the pool instead. All the big kids were at their dads this weekend...missed them. Maya's 5th birthday is next week and I can't believe how big she is getting. Chris picked up a Hello Kitty doll, dressed in an ODU tshirt, at the book store this week. I know she will love it, since she is a big Hello Kitty fan. I think her 4th birthday had a Hello Kitty theme. The only problem was, up until a couple months ago, she had problems with her K's. She would call Kaden..Taden. She would say I tan't, instead of I can't. So just imagine, when she would excitedly show you her Hello Kitty purse, or shirt or toy...what she would call it? Sooooo funny. Of course the big kids (and Chris) got a kick out of making her repeat herself over and over.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleep my little baby. When you wake you shall have, all the pretty little horses.

By Teresa Went in the attic today, searching for a box of baby clothes. It took quite a while to find and I almost gave up. Since no baby clothes have been worn around this house for a long time, there were at least ten years of boxes placed around it. It was buried behind old shoes, trophies and boxes filled with anything our three kids deemed savable. I did find the clothes and what a trip down memory lane, holding each tiny hat, nightgown and pair of booties. Remembering each child who wore them, where they played in it and how precious they were. Not that they are not beloved now, it's just a little hard to find a teenager "precious" sometimes. We will wash and make ready all the tiny keepsakes, to prepare for the newest "precious" joining our family at the end of the summer. Little Sophie, my first grandchild. Oh little one, how your Nanny is looking forward to rocking you and singing you to sleep, just like I did for your mommy, so long ago.

Y? Y not?

By Teresa Heading to the YMCA this morning. My fourth time this week...go me. It's been almost two months since I began my journey of better health and moving my arse. I am down 31 pounds, since May 10th. The day I stopped my self loathing, depression and suicide by fast food. No one knew the things going on inside my head...thank goodness. After much prayer and planning, I pulled myself up by my boot straps and took off. Running from the ugliness and pain, to a better me. I have a long way to go, according to the ridiculous charts that say you are obese at 140 pounds, but I am better than I was. I am proud of myself...and that feels great.

Superheroes don't wear capes...they drive Hondas

By Teresa We had a fairly peaceful fourth of July, today. No company or cookouts. Just me, Chris and Ben, eating some baked chicken I cooked, swimming and watching movies. Lauren and Nick both had to work. Tonight, after he got home from work, I heated Nick up a plate of food. Shorty, our resident table beggar, was at Nick's feet, waiting for crumbs and drips. Also, when we have chicken, he is extra attentive. The dog is chicken crazy. He will bark and whine when I cook it. Nick finished, tossed the remains in the trash and went to relax on the couch. About one minute later, we heard a bang. I knew immediately what the sound was...the trash can hitting the floor. Sorty...lured by the aroma of chicken, rummaging through the debris, grabbing a hunk and running away with it. We chased him through the house, to no avail. He had swallowed it in a hurry, to keep us from taking it back. And yes, it was stuck...and stuck good. The gagging was horrible, as he went from room to room, trying to get away from us. We opened the back door and out he went. It was 10:30, Ben was spending the night at moms and Chris had already gone to bed. Nick and I were freaking out (we are not the best under pressure) and could not get the chicken out. Even after being bit several times, Nick still tried his best to help his long time buddy get his breathe. It was no use. Shorty staggered, fell in Nick's arms and died. It was so sad. Nick cried and called out for me to help...but there was nothing I cold do. I ran in, and yelled up to Chris to wake up and help us. He came down pretty quickly, despite the fact that he had been asleep two minutes earlier. He went outside and found Shorty lying in the yard. Gone. He went to work, resuscitating him, he stuck his hand down his throat and pulled out the chicken. He did chest compressions, got the hose and sprayed in Shorty's mouth and over his head. He worked on him for awhile...and he came back to life. It was amazing. Nick was so happy to have his friend back. Chris said, "poor short...if I had been out of town, he would be dead and gone". He is right too, Nick and I had written him off. Thank you dad! He also said, "if I am ever choking...please don't stop trying!".

Questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

By Teresa

I think this is re re week on Wheel of Fortune.

I always powder up before I go out.

Mom, when I was little, did you and dad think I was retarded?

How much did you get paid to help them move?
$60
Great, you can add that to what you get for Christmas and get something cool.
Ummm.
Ummm, what? You don't have any money do you?
I got that $ two hours ago. I bought an electric drum set on the way home.

He liked your pumpkin fluff so much, I bet he talks about it from the pulpit .

Why do we even have to go to school, when we can ask google for anything we need to know?

Their lucky I was on Dramamine, or I would have killed them.

Middle schoolers are horrible, evil beasts

Why do you call it "laying across the bed?". Why can't you just admit that you are taking a nap?

I can't believe you are just sitting in the garage, playing on your iPad.
I was hiding from the kids.

Will you pull the gray hair off the top of my head, is sticking out?
*Husband pulls.*
It's still there!  I said pull the gray hair out!
Dude, if I pull out all the gray hair that's sticking out on the top of your head, you would be bald!

gobble gobble

by teresa

Had a great Thanksgiving last week. We all went over to Katy's and ate until we were no longer able to blink. We chilled for a few hours on her new ginormous couch and played family fued against each other on all the ipads.

O' Christmas tree, O' Christmas tree

By Teresa

I Put our tree up today. Ben will be so pleased when he gets home from school. I bought him a couple boxes of red lights at the thrift store this weekend and he wrapped the "family tree" with them, to look like a big candy cane. So cute. He is trying to talk me into putting some candles in the window, like mom has.
I am picking up Nick early from school today. We have his appointment with the court to get his permanent drivers license. He was happy to be getting out of school early. Especially since this week they only go for two and a half days because of thanksgiving.
This time of year, it is so wonderful to be a kid.

Just wear the dang thing

By Teresa

Had to run to ODU today and return the jacket I got for chris for our anniversary.
It was the right size and color and style (he had gushed over it on a previous visit). The reason for it's return was that his BFF showed up to the basketball game in the same jacket.
"we can NOT have the same jacket...it's just not cool."
Seriously?
It's an ODU game....everybody there is wearing ODU apparel.
Hopefully the sweatshirt I swapped it out for is not being worn by anyone on their side of the arena.
I wouldn't want my baby to feel uncool.

Is that a coupon binder in your lap or are you happy to see me?

By Teresa

Woke Chris up by poking him with my binder.
No, this is not a euphemism for "hanky panky".
I think I have a serious couponing problem.

Feed me country ham and biscuits, and I'm putty in your hands.

By Teresa

Apparently Ben was chatting with our neighbor and she told him about a sale on christmas decorations at Big Lots (I hate that store...it smells like b.o.) and Ollies (this store looks like a giant garage sale, in a trailer park). In a moment of weakness (he cooked me breakfast) I agreed to take him around and check out the deals. I wonder what kind of beautiful (said sarcastically through gritted teeth) things we will bring back to adorn our home.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...in November?

By Teresa

Since my sister put up her tree and decorations the day after Halloween (yes...Halloween), Ben has been antsy to do ours too. I held him off till today. He has the yard looking like an explosion of lights, plastic and garland. He even did moms yard. I caught him dragging in my tree box and indoor decorations, and made him put them right back in the garage. I refuse to put my tree up when it's still flip flop and Capri pant weather. Maybe after veterans day.

Yep, I skipped October...what's it to you?

Facebook has killed my will to blog.
When every thought and feeling can put out there for all to comment on so easily, it takes the fun out of story writing.
I will try harder, since the purpose of this blog is documenting our family life.


FYI. We did get a new bed after two weeks of camping on the floor.