getting antsy

Lauren is now 6 days past her due date.
I want to hold my grand kid!
I'm taking Lauren to the Y with me today and putting her on the treadmill till I see I head poking out.

Oooo, Oooo, I'm halfway there. Oooo, Oooo, living on a prayer (sung Bon Jovi style)

Down Fifty pounds!
Started this journey on May 10th 2012 and hoping to be down 100 pounds by May 10th 2013.

I prayed in school. I'm such a law breaker.

God definitely puts people in your path for a reason. Once the Holy Spirit is inside you, you become a tool that God can use. With this willing heart, compassion will flow. This is God's living water. It says in Galatians,"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."  Everything is done for the Glory of God. "Give and it shall be given unto you", is what Jesus told us. So lend a helping hand to someone in need because you never know when that person in need might be yourself.

I was volunteering at Ben's school this morning and ran into someone Chris and I have known for a few years.  We coached one of this woman's children in soccer and have also seen her every now and then at an upward event.  She is a little "off", but sweet and well intentioned.  She was rushing from the office, having dropped off her child after the tardy bell.  I stepped away from my table and greeted her and noticed her tear stained face.  She exclaimed (loudly), thank God...a Christian!  Will you please pray for me!   Ummmm....okay.  Those who know me, know I do not feel comfortable praying out loud.  But...when the Spirit moves, you do NOT turn the other way.  I pulled her to one of the benches, out if the flow of traffic and we talked for a few minutes.  I got the low down on her hurts and frustrations and then I took her hands and prayed.  Out loud.  In front of people.  In public school.  Go Jesus.  She left with such peace in her heart (her words) and I am thankful to have been used by Him.  

Chris said we wouldn't babysit till Vin could say, "I want to go see Chris".

We babysat for Vin last week, while Katy and Mike went to dinner solo.
He was here for about 3 hours and we had some fun.
Watched about 4 episodes of a show called bubble guppies, ate snacks (lots of snacks) and Chris taught him to say "my mommy is a booger head".
It was the perfect evening.

What is a home without children? Quiet. ~Henny Youngman

can you hear me now?

The other day Chris says, "hey, did I mention that I went to Patient First last week, cause I couldn't hear out of one ear?"  I told him that he had for got to mention it to me (knucklehead).  I was freaked out instantly.  Loss of hearing, could not be a good thing.  I sat down, wide eyed, as he began his recollections of the events preceding  and following his sensory deficiency.
He was at the park, doing his daily run.  Everything was fine and dandy until he finished up.  He headed for the car and all of a sudden his hearing went.  He was shaken by this, which I know to be true, cause he headed straight for the doctors office.  He hates the doctor, so this must have had him a little scared.  He checked in with the receptionist, telling her what brought him there, then sat and waited to be called.  He still couldn't hear out of his right ear, and it had now been thirty minutes, something was definitely wrong.  He reached up and began to touch, rub, poke his ear.  That's when he felt it.  Something was in his ear.  What?! 
When walking back to his car at the park, he had pulled off his ipod and earphones....leaving the little ear bud cover stuck in his ear. 
LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!
He removed it and viola, hearing restored.
He calmly walked over to the receptionist and told her he had to leave, not telling her what had transpired. 
I love when things like this happen to my hubby.  Cause he is darn near perfect, at least in my eyes, so this helps me feel a little better about myself.

ODU Football

We are week three into the ODU football season. 
The team is undefeated and we have had a blast tailgating and screaming for the Monarchs.
Nick has had to work a few times, so we took Scott for one of the games, Joe for another and Kristian for this past weeks.
I can't believe I went all of last season without attending.  I have had so much fun with the fellas and now don't feel like I am a step away from a heart attack when we have to walk a mile from the lot to the stadium.  The benefits of dropping a few pounds.

Season twenty

I counted up all the soccer seasons Ben has played in and this is season twenty.  That is counting fall, spring and a few indoor seasons.  Wow.  We have watched a lot of games, done a lot of screaming (less so in the more recent years), bought a truck load of Gatorade and blown through over twenty pair of cleats. 

five years...where have they gone?

“Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume”

 

baby shower

Our church book club, hosted a baby shower for Lauren this weekend.  There were over forty women in attendance to encourage Lauren and prepare for Sophia's arrival with gifts, both practical and adorable.  She was surrounded by family, school friends and church ladies who have known, taught and loved Lauren for all of her years.  What a blessing!

questions and comments heard in the Green vacation house

I love you more than anyone on the planet...and I have wanted to hit you with a pool stick about ten times this week.

Did you see the lamp move?!
Do you think it was a ghost?

Mom, the sea water healed your skanky lip.

Why can't he just poop in one place, like a normal dog?

Nick broke the catapult!

The oj is gone!?  But I just bought it thirty minutes ago!

I got up this morning and all the furniture was rearranged.

I want a blue bird tattoo on my shoulder.

How you gonna fit your 6 ft. 8 inch self into a tiny gocart?

That's why I don't need to go to a comedy club.  I got the show right here.

Hey nanny, do you know the navy?

I guess Mitt got the looks in the family.

I bet the three of you haven't touched a toothbrush all week.

Mmmm girl, you could roast a marshmallow on that!

You follow Colin Cowherd on twitter?
I just fell in love with you even more.

Toes in the sand

Had a great vacation to the Outer Banks this year.  The consensus was that it was the best year ever...and I agree.  We got a huge house and took everybody (except Katy and her youngest children) with us, for the entire week.  Chris joked with friends that its not a real vacation...he was packing up everything and everyone in his life and just relocating them.  lol.
We found a new favorite place to eat, called Fireflys.  Best eatery in the obx...by far.  Everyone was impressed.  The collards were amazing and many of the others raved about the lobster/macaroni and cheese.  Yummy.
We also went to the much raved about Duck Donuts, for the first time.  My goodness...that is the best donut I have ever had.  Yes, I who is the Krispy Kreme Queen, loved D.D. more.  Wow.  Probably 1,000 calories each, but well worth it.
But I must say, the best dining experience of the week, was the homemade pizzas Nick whipped up.  I brought several dough balls (white and wheat) and he made four pies.  Chicken, pepperoni, salami and mozzarella with tomato sauce.  Pepperoni and salami with sauce and cheese.  Pesto, sliced tomatoes, mozzarella and parm.  Mozzarella, fresh spinach, feta and olive oil (my fav.).  Ridiculously good.  Katy and Kaden were able to come down at the end of the week, for a girls weekend.  The boys left Friday night, so as not to miss ODU tailgating and football on Saturday.  We had a good time (and it was a lot more quiet) shopping and taking pictures on the pier.  Can't wait to return next year!

I think I see a lot of law breakers in the house tonight.

Katy and I went to see Magic Mike recently.
Um, yea.
Only thing I will say about that is, during the movie she turned to me (open mouthed and wide eyed) and murmured, "are their places like this around here?" 
bwahahahahahah!

questions and comments heard in the green house

The instant replay looks like a Good Times painting.
What?
A painting done by J.J. Evans.

That is not fair.  So if someone loses their arms, could they get fins put on instead?
Yep, and I bet they could beat Michael Phelps with fin arms.

Nick and I get so mad when you leave the room.

Why do we have such messed up genes?

Can I get some Pepsi Max on the rocks?

I've saved people from drowning.

Does this dress make my butt look big?
Mmmm hmmm!
Um, that is not what I wanted to hear.
Oh...I meant, what butt?  I can't even tell which side is your front and which side is your back.

Thanks for making me have fun this weekend.

I'm 41 yrs old, and I still can't believe someone lets me do that.

That dress makes you have movie star boobs.

*goes to the stairs, to go to bed*
*finds a giant pile of dirty clothes have been tossed down and left for me*
*finds my ipad and makes a list of reasons not to go on strike*
1.  I love my husband
2.  I love my kids
3.  The mess would be even bigger once I returned.

Aww, he is writing on her wall again, and she has been dead for a while now.
Maybe she checks it?

If you can't keep my interest with vampire sex, then you ain't good no more.

what excercise gets rid of booty and not boob?

Can't wait till we leave for the outer Banks.  Need a change of scenery, preferably sandy and wet.
Ten days and counting!
Maya spent the night last night.  She begged, after Kaden and Kai each got to sleepover this week.
She ended up falling asleep on the couch around 11:00, after announcing moments before that she was staying up till 2:00am!
I made her, Nick and Ben, egg and sausage burritos and cereal for breakfast.  I ate an apple...gotta get bathing suit ready before vaca.
Actually, I am stuck for the past week at the same weight (down 38 pounds).  So frustrating.  I am thinking about getting a trainer.  Needing a little guidance on what to do to get different results.  I will call the y after vacation and see what is available.

I give it a 15.633

Ben returned safely from Vegas.  I can't wait to get pictures from the McGee's.  It sounds like a great time was had by all.
I think Ben misses the butler, the most.  As ours has been on vacation since June (I just can't fathom cleaning when there is a pool to be enjoyed). 
We all have Olympic fever around here.  Staying up till midnight for two weeks, trying not to miss a single performance.  I say all, but Chris is less than enthused with the games.  He, by his own admission, only watches to spend time with me.  He knows that I will not abandon the sofa cushion, till the final medal has been placed around the last muscled swimmers neck.  And all those other competitors (there are other sports besides swimming...right?)  Holy abs batman!
We have also enjoyed cheering on Gaby Douglas, in women's gymnastics.  Her grandparents, Rayfield and May Douglas, are pastors at our church.  Having the personal connection to her has made it so thrilling.  Trying to stay off all forms of information (fb, enews, tv,radio) so the outcomes are not spoiled, has been rough.  Once or twice, the excitement has been ruined by a mistaken glance on facebook, where a winner was declared.  And of course the one night, when were were all hunkered down for a long night of cheering on Gabby in the all around.  Mom knocked on the back door to say, "hey".  Nick said, "hey, nanny.  We are excited to watch Gabby in the all round tonight."  She responded, "yes!  Isn't it great that she won!"  (she thought Nick said we were excited she won).  She realized her mistake when our faces all fell and we just stared at her like she had just spoken in Japanese.  She made a hasty retreat and we have had many laughs about it since.

What happens in Vegas, stays in vegas

Ben left on Tuesday, Vegas bound, with the McGee family.  Our long time soccer friends, who's son Sterling shares his birthday with Ben every year, invited Ben to Tagalog on their Vegas vacation.  Limo's, the Bellagio, drive up the coast to shop in Malibu and swim in the Pacific.  A dream come true for B, who loves swag and rollin' in all things.  Can't wait to hear all the stories and see the pictures when they return on Monday.  I miss him badly.

Questions and comments heard in the Green house

I should make a song about boobies.

Hearing Jesus loves you, is always a good thing.
Unless, you are in a Mexican prison.

Getting something out of our freezer is like playing jenga. You touch the wrong box of waffles and it all comes tumbling down.

Honey, come here and tell me if this is a condom?

If I tip my head down, snot pours out.
Well, I was going to ask if you feel frisky, but never mind.

Why do you have to give someone your coupon? Cant you just leave people alone? What do you think you are...a coupon fairy?

The lady in old navy gave me a hug.

Here mom, it's the $25.00 I owe you.
(five minutes later, same kid walks back in room)
Hey mom, can I borrow $5.00? I know you have it.

I'm gonna go call of duty on your booty!

Her eyebrows look like a mulberry bush; you got to go all the way around them to see her face.


Did you powder your thighs?

cannonball!

Beautiful day, today.  The sun is shining and I lost one more pound. 
Got up early to sit outside The White Rabbit, to be first in line for their yearly dollar sale.  All clothes in stock were $1.00, to make room for their fall and winter consignments.  I bought over sixty outfits for Sophia, Kaden and Maya.  Even picked up a couple things for Kristian and Shalee.  You just can't pass up a dress, tags still on, from Nordstrom, for $1.00.  Actually, more than half of my purchases still had the tags on.  I totaled up the pricetags and they came to over $750.00 and I only paide $71.00.  Great savings.
The afternoon was fun.  Katy and Morgan came over with the kids, fourteen of them, to swim and eat lunch by the pool.  I made homemade strawberry froyo and the kids scarfed it quick, before it puddled in our 99 degree temps.
I wish I would have taken a picture of all those kids in the pool.  It was a sight.

Summer cold

Feeling crummy. I have a cold and don't feel like doing much of anything today. Missing Chris, who has been gone this week. Nick ditched me to go off with friends tonight. I tried to get together with Katy, we have both been wanting to see Magic Mike, but she is under the weather also. It's 7:43 and I am going to bed. "I think I see a lot of lawbreakers in this house."

Mommy mojo

So happy to have Nick back home today. He has been gone since Friday, on a camping trip with the CHOP (chesapeake house of prayer) group. With Ben gone too, I was a little out of sorts. As a parent, you have these dreams of a time when your kids are grown and out of the house. You will revel in all the free time and clean counters and quiet. After 24 hours of "freedom" I was over it. Couldn't stand the quiet. No one to check on. No fussing, no whining, no...mommy. Chris and I were sitting, enjoying dinner...and I just started to cry. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm nuts. It seems I need family "noise" to be...me. Five minutes after Nicks return home, I had a steak dinner prepared for him, his clothes in the wash and had sent him for a shower (teenager+camp out =stank). I had my mojo back! Can't wait for Ben to come home on Saturday, so I can be at full strength.