copy cats...

by teresa
Guess what I just did?
Give up?
I downloaded this from itunes.
I am now sitting here with #4 on REPEAT!!
I love me some Chris Daughtry people!

I have got to by tickets to the show for me, Katy and momma!

Hey..have you guys seen the preview for ABC's new show...The One...Making a Music Star?
It will air during the summer. I think it is like Idol...except the camera doesn't just show the performances. It follows them through rehearsals and their real life drama. Hmmmm...what do you guys think about that?

look both ways before crossing the street!

by teresa

We bought the kids sidewalk chalk over the weekend. It came with cool stencils and stamp pads. But what did Ben draw? A parking lot! Of course...remember...cars are his life! Anyway..I took some pictures of the parking lot he drew. Notice the stop sign, yield sign, the "parking lot for bikes oley" sign...and the handicap space. Pretty cool!

can you use it in a sentence?

by teresa
I'm very excited about the national spelling bee coming on tomorrow night during prime time on ABC. I watch this every year. The kids are so sweet...I usually get attached to the dorkiest one and follow them to the final round.
Have you ever watched it? It's pretty entertaining...and humiliating. Humiliating because I usually can't spell like 70% of the words correctly! They always sound so serious and mature...and ask questions like... Does this word have a homonym? What is the part of speech? Can you use the word in a sentence? What is the definition? What is the origin of the word?
The kids are truly amazing!
Check it out...tomorrow night at 8:00pm.

whatcha watchin?

by teresa

Well...it was a Tuesday night...without American Idol.

What did you guys watch? Come on...tell me....inquiring minds want to know.

Chris and I ended up watching According To Jim...Rodney...and Less Than Perfect.
Then we flipped over for the last two quarters of the NBA semi-final game (Dallas vs. Pheonix).

Tonight at 8:00 is the Heat(Shaq and ZO...my favs.....oh yeah...and I'm thinking Duane Wade is a cutie patootie. Even with those crazy black long johns he wears) vs. Pistons

eeeek....(standing on a kitchen chair)

by teresa

WE HAVE A MOUSE!!

I say "A" mouse...because I won't let my self think there are more than one! If I think that... I can't live here!

We saw it last night running down the hall toward us in the kitchen....then flip back around and run back toward the livingroom.

Ewwww! I hate mice! HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE!

And don't go feeling sorry for it either! It's nothing like this mouse...or this mouse...or even this mouse....it's more like THIS one!! I know...scary huh?

Well I refuse to walk around the house without my shoes on now. The thing that would freak me out the most would be for it to run across my bare feet *shudder* So my keds ain't coming off. And the SHOE NAZI will just have to live with it! Oh...you didn't know that my husband is the shoe nazi? Ever since we got our new carpet (like 7 months ago) he has policed the front door yelling...S H O E S!! To anyone who comes in.

We put out traps last night....I'll let you know if we catch the little bugger!

like mother...like daughter...

by teresa

First let me start out by reminding you that Chris and I have known each other since childhood. We went to sunday school together and public school together too. We started dating once I turned 16. He had this little old Honda civic hatchback. A hand-me-down from his parents. We called it ...the tuna can. It was a stick shift...and I didn't know how to drive a stick shift. My mother tried to teach me...but I was reduced to tears and gave up. Chris decided he would teach me in his car. We drove up and down Hazel Ave (the street where we now live) over and over. I kept releasing the clutch too much and making the car lurch forward and cut off. Drivers behind us were getting aggravated. And I was getting embarrased and anxious. I just kept laughing hysterically everytime I stalled the car. I just couldn't get the hang of it. Finally, I laughed so hard that I wet my pants! WET MY PANTS....in the boys' car I am dating!! We had to come to my house so I could change and clean out his seat. TOO EMBARRASING! But...he still came around after that. He must have been crazy or he really liked me.
Well...fast forward to this week. Lauren comes home from a school banquet. Chris and I are sitting on the couch and we hear her come in and run up the stairs. We call her back down to see what her hurry is. She comes down giggling....and the front of her skirt is soaking wet. ???? Apparently Lauren and her friend Megan were laughing so hard on the way home...Lauren wet her pants. What makes it even funnier is that she was driving Chris' Honda Accord. Poor Chris! after she changed her clothes, we had her go outside and clean the car. The next day Chris went to work and said he wasn't even 2 blocks away when he realized his pants were wet...all the way to his underwear. He was soooo mad. He thought it was pee....but it was just a "cleaning concoction" Lauren came up with to clean the seat and get rid of the smell. She poured flavored water (lemon) and a bottle of perfume in the seat after she toweled up the pee. Good grief! Chris' drawers were lemony fresh all day!

back to the old grind....

by teresa
I am a little tired this morning. We shouldn't have stayed up watching the Miami Heat play last night. Although, they won...so it was kind of worth it. I love this team because...well for one..Shaq! He is SO great...and seems like he's really into family. His kids and his wife are always with him. That's rare for such a huge star. Second...Alonzo Mourning went to school with Chris and I. He was in many of my classes from Jr. High to High school. Even after his kidney transplant a few years back...he's still a strong player. Impressive!
My alarm didn't go off this morning. I'll check it later...I bet I had it set for PM by mistake or something. I just happened to roll over and look at the time...and it was 10 minutes after I usually get up.
I went into the boys room and picked out their clothes. When I woke Ben up he was wining and saying...I'm not going to school anymore! I want to sleep! I got him dressed as he lay there. Then he said...I want you to take me so I can go back to bed! Then he ran in our room and jumped in the bed with Chris.
I knew it was going to be hard for them to get up this morning. This whole 3-day weekend has been nothing but staying up late...sleeping in...and playing HARD! It will take them a couple of days to get back on schedule. Only two and a half weeks of school left. I can't wait. No more alarm clock till September!
Out cookout went great yesterday. Lots of good company and good food! We ate for like 7 hours straight. The kids got in the pool...and I stuck my feet in. It is still WAY too cold for me to get in. Even just putting my feet under the water almost sent my body into shock! BRRRRRR! The kids on the other hand...jumped right in. Amazing...the temp. doesn't faze them at all. Even Kaden got in up to her waist....and didn't even make a face!
Once everyone leaves this morning I am going into CLEAN mode! I pretty much stayed on track with the laundry all weekend..but there is alot of straightening to do from all the company. I also have errands to run..dry cleaners, drug store,library..etc. So it should be a busy day. Here's some pictures.

I miss you...

by teresa
I have missed you guys the past couple of days. I will need to take some time after the kids go to bed tonight to catch up on all the happenings in your lives.
The past two days have been non-stop yard work and house cleaning. Mostly yard work though. Weeding, planting, mulching. Putting together the patio furniture set we bought. Cleaning out the garage and enjoying our new backyard. The kids have been playing with the toys from sun up to sun down! The ramp was a big hit. They haven't gotten up enough nerve to ride down it on their skateboards...they ride their bikes over it. I need to take some pictures and post them later.
We went to church this morning and then got right back to yardwork after we got home.
Tomorrow all of our family is coming over around noon for a cookout/pool party. Cookout over our house...pool party next door at mom's. I'm glad we got everything fixed up before the cookout. Except for the new garage door. I need to price some this week.
We had some news this week about Katy's ex. She found out that he got married a couple of weeks ago...without telling anybody. Including his parents. He had still been coming over Katy's house most days and hanging out. Making plans with her and the kids for the weekend. Then she is browsing around Myspace and see's his ex-girlfriends page (the one who is pregnant with his kid). It has a big post about how she and "the knucklehead" had been married the week before. What? He is just too much!! Katy told the kids and Kristian got real upset. She is only 7 and has been through so much already. Katy and "the knucklehead" have split and got back together many times...moved from one apt to another...from his parents to my parents...then he moved out with the girlfriend...but still hangs out like a family when he feels like it. She is always sad and moody. We pray for her everyday. He leaves tomorrow to head to NC and meet up with a marine troop and then head over to Iraq.
This is what Kai said to Chris yesterday...
Kai...Chris, my daddy is going to Irag to fight for our sins.
Chris...ummmm...I think you mean fight for our country. Jesus died for our sins.
Kai...oh yeah...I get those two mixed up alot!
Too Funny!
Kai is spending the night with us tonight. Him and Ben usually do well together...so there shouldn't be any problems. Nick is spending the night with Chris' parents. Lauren has a friend spending the night after youth service tonight. Then they are heading out tomorrow for a cookout at the youth pastors house. She is just blowing us off for her friends. Lucky! :)
I'll catch up with you all tomorrow.
Have a great memorial day with your families.
Here's some pictures of what we hhave been doing in the yard and the finished concrete. Note the old raggedy b-ball hoop. Chris' new one should arrive this week sometime.

shopping is fun!

by teresa

Chris and I have had a fun day of shopping! We went to Sam's club and bought a new table and chairs and umbrella for the backyard. We also bought some big pots and pottong soil from Garden Ridge. Then we headed out to Dick's sporting goods and bought skateboard, helmet,pads and skate ramp for Kai and Ben. We also ordered the new basketball hoop (soon to be delivered and assembled). We bought a new ball and some clothes for Chris while we were there. With our vacation coming up on us...the man needed some casual clothes! Chris also picked out the prettiest little pond. One of those plug in things where the water runs out of a fairies hands. It also has a brightly colored tiled bottom. We will put a few fish in it....so pretty.
Well..I'm off to cook some lunch...Chris and I haven't eaten yet today. We will be heading over to Lowes later (or maybe tomorrow morning) and then to the flowere market at the end of our street.
Happy Friday!

Home!!

By Chris

Sheww. NC trip over. I was home by 8:30, making my way across the whole state of NC in record time, I must say. The traffic was flowing really good on I-40 and I-85, so I went with the flow, pushng 85 mph much of the time just keeping up the natural flow of traffic. Driving in a place other than your home state, you really notice the stuff (signs really) that you don't have at home. Like . . . Steak and Shake. These are all over the place south of Va. I have to go there sometime. One billboard touted a restaurant called "Cookout." That sounds good too. Unique. Also unique: 70 mph speed limits. That doesn't exist in Va. And . . . these bellboards that say J*B on the left, then all kinds of things, from Cigars to clothes brands to cigarettes at cut-rate prices. What is J*B? Whatever it is, they sell everything and buy a bazillion billboards on I-85. I also like some of the town names on the exit signs. Very Carolina sounding places. Like you might hear them on the Andy Griffith Show, or something. My favorite: Haw River. Hickory is a solid sounding NC name too. The AM radio station you pick up there talks about "The Hickory Metro" area. Metro? Hmm. The same station also reported on the news of the day, which included someone's door being kicked in doing $100 worth of damage; A brick was thrown through a hardware store window and a $300 prressure washer was stolen. And Billy somebody was served with papers at 8:45 a.m. a couple of days ago. I saw two Billy Graham Highways and one Dale Earnhardt Blvd. And, for a guy who lives at sea level, the sand embankments coming down the mountain called "Runaway Truck Zones" are a little unsettling. One sign coming down the mountain, in the far right lane, has flasshing lights and a sign that says "Truck Going Too Fast". The lights went off when a bus I was beside apparently exceeded the recommended 35 mph in that lane. An eerie bell also was ringing very loudly. I stepped on it to get away from that action quick. Sure hope they didn't have to use one of the runaway truck zones! As I went through Eastern NC, all the sports talk station was abuzz about their Hockey team being in the conference finals of the National Hockey League. Now wouldn't that be something: a Stanley Cup Champion in Raliegh, NC!!!

Glad to be home and looking forward to playing on my new concrete!

it's got a nice beat and it's easy to dance too

by teresa
I just got home from my Thursday morning commitments (MIT and Ben's school). Ben wasn't even there today. The second graders went here on a field trip. And then they will stop at a farm/park on the way back to school for a picnic lunch. I hope he doesn't act up on the bus ride back again.

Lauren had some good news yesterday. She was elected secretary for next years (her senior year) Operation Smile Club. She also found out she was elected onto the class council. So with those, varsity cheer squad, Alpha, yearbook,and her Target job...she will be a busy gal. All these extra curriculars will look great on her college apps.

I had to go out and buy new phones yesterday. We have cordless phones downstairs. But I could only find one for about a week. Well I found it finally....outside. The boys had taken it out with them...although I can't imagine why. It had been rained on and no longer worked. So off I went yesterday to Target (of course) to purchase new ones. It was not very easy to make a decision. They had too many to choose from...too many different features. I even tried to call Chris while standing in the aisle...but he must have been in a meeting (in NC.) so I just picked the coolest looking ones!

The men will be finished up with our concrete today. I am so relieved. Yesterday Ben and I sat on the porch watchng them pour and smooth out our new walkway by the porch. Ben said, "cool...that looks like fun". The worker, who had been silent all week looked up at Ben and said,"boy...you better stay in school". "You don't want to be doing this when your my age." Ben was like....uh...ok. It does look like some hard work. Hunched over all day. My father is a retired roofer. so he used to be hunched over like that all day long....and 100 feet off the ground! That's some hard work! anyway...Now I think we have to wait a week before we can drive on it. But only 24 hrs to walk on it. Chris comes home tonight...he will be very happy! This weekend we are going to spend alot of time (and money) creating a backyard haven. New patio furniture...pots and plants...new basketball hoop...and all this for the kids enjoyment. I hope the weather is nice for a Memorial day cookout on Monday! Are any of you guys doing the cookout thing? If not...just scoot on over and we will put on some burgers for ya!

As I am writing this... the construction workers radio is B L A R I N G! I'm sure the neighbors are loving it!
Snoop Dog's Drop It Like It's Hot is on ....it has a nice beat...and such lovely lyrics...

I'm a gangsta, but y'all knew that
Da Big Bo$$ Dogg, yeah I had to do that
I keep a BLUE flag hanging out my backside
But only on the LEFT side, yeah that's the CRIP side
Ain't no other way to play the game the way I play
I cut so much you thought I was a DJ[scratches] "two!" - "one!" - "yep, three!"
S-N double O-P, D-O double G
I can't fake it, just break it, and when I take it
See I specialize in making all the girls get naked
So bring your friends, all of y'all come inside
We got a world premiere right here, now get live! So don't change the dizzle, turn it up a little
I got a living room full of fine dime brizzles
Waiting on the Pizzle, the Dizzle and the Shizzle
G's to the bizzack, now ladies here we gizzo
I'm a Bad Boy, wit a lotta hoes
Drive my own cars, and wear my own clothes
I hang out tough, I'm a real Bo$$Big Snoop Dogg, yeah he's so sharp
On the TV screen and in the magazines
If you play me close, you're on a red beam
Oh you got a gun so you wanna pop back?AK47 now nigga, stop that!
same issues, now I'm on the move
Your family's crying, now you on the news
They can't find you, and now they miss you
Must I remind you I'm only here to twist you
Pistol whip you, dip you then flip you
Then dance to this music we Crip to
Subscribe nigga, get yo issue
Baby come close, let me see how you get loose!
Snooooooooooop.Snooooooooooop..

I know...those of you who know my husband Chris are probably in awe of how much this song describes him. I agree...it's pretty uncanny! Chris also wears his blue flag on the crip side....drops it like it's hot and fills our living room full of fine dime brizzles. hee hee

what's a brizzle anyway?

I can't believe it's over!!

by teresa

Tonights show was full of highs....
The womens ensemble...(Mandisa and Paris can sing!)
Prince (oh heck yeah....remember guys...I grew up in the 80's...I thought Prince was totally tubular!)
the men's ensemble...(I miss Chris!!)
CLAY AIKEN (who looked majorly hot by the way...his stylist needs a raise)and that guy that makes Elton John look as tough as Vin Diesel... TOO FUNNY!!!!! I thought the guy was going to wet his pants or faint or something!

and lows....
chicken little singing pussy cat song...
Brokenote cowboys...
Meatloaf....

I am so happy that Taylor won. He was definitely my choice between the two. I actually tried to vote last night...but only got a busy signal.

GO SOUL PATROL!!!

North Carolina is REALLY Big

By Chris

Been in NC since Tuesday. Drove down through Durham, to the Charlotte area. Attended a really cool event at the NASCAR Speedpark that featured lots of NASCAR drivers and media in an event to fight cancer in honor of a driver in the middle of a personal fight (Bobby Hamilton). I am not a NASCAR guy, but know it is absolutely a huge deal. It's race week in Charlotte, so the NASCAR family is all over the city. With the drivers on hand, selling chances to race go-carts with them, eat dinner with them and buy some neat stuff in an auction, people were showing up in force to support a good cause. Lots of big names gave their time, and tens of thousands was raised. They auctioned everything from helmets and race suits to a tool cart used at a race and signed by drivers. They even had a Grey's Anatomy DVD set signed by the lead actor, known as "Mc Dreamy" on the show at at my house. When I told Teresa that I stopped bidding at a pretty low amount in her eyes she was . . . auidibly upset. Ooops. Had no idea it would have been that big of a hit. Should have kept bidding! Kudos to the NASCAR family and fans. Class folks with big hearts. Big props to my go-getter team member too for making it all happen!

Spent the day in the Charlotte area after finding one of the few hotel rooms in the area that wasn't gobbled up by race activity. Then, it was off to the western, mountainous section, via a quick ride up I-40, to Asheville, where I am now. I've logged a good 600 miles already in the state. A-ville is beautiful, and incredibly unique. Way more funky than one would expect in the NC mountains. After spending tomorrow here, it'll be back down I-40, this time making my way into Eastern NC, before making a b-line for the Va. border and home. I will have made a great big triangle through NC by then. Probably a good 1,000 miles. And, there are still many parts I will not have been to this trip. The beaches; the whole triad. This place is HUGE!

I'm a happy happy woman!!

by teresa
I returned to the thrift store by Katy's house today...in search of some good books. I took my time and emptied every single shopping cart. They were over-flowing with books. It took about and hour and a half. Here are the TREASURES I came home with.

My Sister From the Black Lagoon by Laurie Fox
Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman (movie Mean Girls)
Lunch at the Picadilly by Clyde Edgerton (bookseller book of the year)
Where The Heart Is by Billie Letts (Oprahs book club)
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks (I've read a couple of his books...and love them)
Suzanne's diary For Nicholas by James Patterson
The Ice Child by Elizabeth McGregor
The Sacrafice by Beverly Lewis (I've only read one of her books...loved it)
The Covenant by Beverly Lewis
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (voted book of the century...I've always wanted to read this classic)
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (I've read this...I wanted it for my home library for the kids...it's great)
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (1961 Newberry Award winnner)
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (a story about a teacher in Iran who gathered some female students secretly to read forbidden western classic authors such as Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Vladdimir Nabokov)

kids books...
Garfield Hams it Up
Mailbox Mania
The Hundred Dresses(1945 Newberry honor award)
Eek there's a mouse in the house
Terible times
Going Places
Zelda and Ivy
When Momma comes Home tonight
Ira sleeps Over
Apple picking time

It is my goal to own...and read every Newberry Award winner ever written. And for my children to read them too.
If you don't know... the Newberry Award is given to one book a year in children's literature. The best written book. It started in 1922...and continues today. And without a doubt..every book chosen for this award is GOLD!! Some past winners are...Shiloh, Sarah Plain and Tall, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, Ginger Pye, Sounder, Walk Two Moons, Holes..etc.
I only have 15 of them. So I am always on the lookout for more.

Oh yeah...by the way...I only spent $20 for all these!

magazine day...

by teresa
Yeah!! Today is magazine day. I don't know why...but it seems most of the magazines that we get arrive on the same day each month. It makes me very happy to go to the mail box and see it stuffed with fun mags. to read. Especially since Chris is out of town this week (till thurs. night). I just sit up late, thumbing through. Ear-marking new recipes...diet ideas...crafts for the kids, etc. Do any of you subscribe to magazines...if so...which ones? Here's a list of all the ones we get.
Family Fun
Parenting
ESPN
Newsweek
Readers Digest
Time
Fitness
Money
Jack and Jill

Taylor Hicks...you are the NEXT American Idol!!

by teresa
Tonights show has aired...and here are my opinions.

First round of songs
Katharine: Black horse/cherry tree...very good...better than last time she sang it. I'm glad she wasn't laying on the floor this time!
Taylor: Living for the city...SO EXCITING! I find myself smiling when he sings. Great!!
winner...Taylor!

Second round of songs
Katharine: over the rainbow...moving...beautiful...LOVED IT! (please don't get on the floor again)
Taylor: Levon...pretty good. I liked it better the last time he sang it.
winner...Katharine

Third round of songs
Katharine:Destiny...didn't like it...sounded off key...notes were too high for her(she was reacing for them)...screeching...not good!
Taylor: do I make you proud...I wasn't crazy about the song...but he did a terrific job with it!
winner...Taylor

Congratulations Taylor...you are the new AMERICAN IDOL!!

famous faces

by teresa
I thought this was neat. After the big Jubilee event this weekend...our local paper (which I get online each day) requested that people submit pictures of their families enjoy the events of the weekend. It stated that not all photos would be published. Well, I clicked on my "paper" this morning scanned the first pages for interesting news. Then I glanced down at an article called Out and About in Hampton Roads...and there was Kristian and Ben's picture. On the roller coaster this weekend. Once I clicked on it I was able to see that there was another picture of them too. Showing off the wood craft they make in the Home Depot tent. We have a couple of celebrities!! Here's the link. Scan down for the photo.

Jam Master B....formerly known as Benjamin

by teresa
Ben has been a little hard to handle lately. He is completely full of himself...and sassy! He gets away with it alot because he is so flippin cute!
His teacher called yesterday to see if I got a note she sent home to me on Thursday. Uhhh...no...I said. She said she asked Ben if I had seen it and he said...I can't remember. Apparently she sent home a behavior notice (that must have gotten lost on the way home) after the field trip last week. Ben and his friend Qianna were talking loudly and not sitting down on the bus ride back to school. She said she told them 5 times to correct their behavior...but they just continued. I asked to speak to Ben (he was there with her when she called) but all he did was sniffle. I think it really embarassed him that she called me. When he got home and I tried to discuss it with him he just kept running away and sticking his head in the couch cushions. And when Chris got home and mentioned it to him...he shot me a look that showed his feelings of betrayal toward me. How dare me tell daddy what went on at school!

I took him to get some summer clothes from Old Navy the other day. I figured he needed a few t-shirts that fit (I tried his on from the begininneg of the school year and you could see his belly button they were so short)and a couple pairs of shorts. He wore one of his new shirts to school yesterday...and came home with pizza sauce ALL over it. And I mean ALL over it...there was sauce on his back too! I had him change before the dentist. Once home the boys and Chris went in the backyard to check out the progress of their basketball court. Chris said he watched Ben walk over to the backhoe the workers left...slop up a handful of grease off the side and wipe it on his shirt and shorts (new outfir from Old Navy). Then he looked at Chris...smiled and said...OOPS...I fell against the tractor and got dirty! ARRGGG! This made me so angry! But mom saved the day and gave me a can of WD-40. I sprayed it on the greasey areas and soaked it overnight. It is now washed and good as new! Lucky for Ben!

Later we were watching jeopardy together. One of the catagories was SAR-castic. The answers were all things with the pre-fix SAR. Well, Ben heard the category and said....Hey, sarcastic...that's what I am...right dad? I guess he has overheard Chris and I talking about him. Oops!

A few minutes later Chris was trying to get him to wind down and go up to bed. He was bouncing (literally) all over the livingroom with Chris chasing after him. Chris kept saying...Beeeen....come here! Beeeen...put on your jammies! Beeeen...go back upstairs (after tucking him in 3 times)! Finally Ben says.....hey! It's NOT BEN! It's JAM MASTER B ...to you! It was so hard for Chris and I not to let our giggles slip out as we were having to correct him and put him back in bed.

Stop playing...and get working!

by teresa

The construction workers are here again today. They are making such noise! But I don't care...we just want it done.
After the foreman left a few minutes ago...all the noise stopped! I heard NOTHING for a few minutes. Then I heard a bouncing noise...and laughing. So I looked out the window...and this is what I saw. They had set up our old basketball hoop (we had taken it down because Chris is having a new one delivered soon) and were playing a game. I went next door to mom and dad's house and shot this out of their bathroom window. The guys played like this for about 45 minutes....until the foreman came back. TOO FUNNY!

THEIR BAAAACK!

by teresa

Lauren and Nick have returned to the flock. Nick around 5:00pm last night....and Lauren around 6:00am this morning!
Lauren called from New York last night around 11:30pm. Seeing as she was supposed to be home at 1:00am....this was not good. Apparently one of the three buses had broken down....so they sat at a rest stop for 5 hours waiting for a new bus to arrive. Good grief!!
I told Chris when my alarm went off this morning ....I think Lauren is home. I said...she touched my arm a few minutes ago (I think)...and I opened my eyes and saw the back of her as she left our room (I think). I started to wonder if I just dreamed it. But a peek out the window for her car proved that she was indeed real. I can't wait until she is rested and up so we can chat about all the highlights.
Nick hasn't elaborated too much about the camping trip. Just short, to the point answers.
Did you have fun?......YES
Did your friend Jonah have fun?.....YES
Did you get tired during the hike?.....A LITTLE
He did say one thing that really cracked me up. I don't know if this was one of the ranger commanders yanking his chain...or if he missunderstood what they said.
I asked him....what were some of the things they cooked that you liked to eat?
His answer was....Oh...I had some really big hard boiled unfruitalized ROOSTER eggs! They were really good mom!
Ok...I got two problems with this....unfruitalized? I think he meant unfertilized. Rooster eggs? Huh? I'm fairly certain they weren't rooster eggs.
I will ask his grandfather(one of the Ranger commanders) what the deal is with this.

I'm so glad they are home safely. The only down thing is...they brought their dirty laundry home too! And you know me...I hate to have more than 2 tubs off laundry to do. Now I have about 6 or 7 waiting for me.
BUMMER!
I'm off to take care of it...bah bye...