by teresa
When we got our windows replaced last week I had to do some prep work. Take down all blinds and curtains and move all furniture 3 feet from any window. Pretty easy for most of the house, but in our bedroom this was difficult. We had an old water bed frame that we had put a california king sized mattress in years ago. This huge frame/headboard construction was a monster and weighed a gillion (more or less) pounds and took up most of our room. So, no moving it. I had to take it apart, to get it away from the window. Then I threw the pieces out of the window (and took them to the curb for trash pick up). Not part of our original plan, but I couldn't stand that big, ugly monster anymore. I want a queen size bed, that can be moved without a crane and will actually give me room to walk around my room (not side ways, with my stomach held in). Now the problem with this is, I am too cheap to walk in a mattress store and buy a new mattress and bed. So we have been "camping" in our room for a week. I have been looking on craigslist, ebay, etc. for the perfect deal. I did keep the old mattress...but it is laying on the floor and pretty hard to pop out of, for this 40 year old lady.
The same day I also got bee in my bonnet about our huge tv downstairs. It's one of those 50 inch things, with a body that is as tall as me and weighs about as much as that bed did. It too, took up a quarter of our living room. We purchased it years ago, before the slim, lightweight, flat screens came out. So I moved it out and put a tv from another room in its place. A 30 something inch that Chris claims is too teeny tiny for his old man eyes.
He said, "Woman! You ain't right! You got rid of a mans bed and tv at the same time! Are you crazy?!"
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Protect the kicker!
By Teresa
Made it through the first week of school with no hiccups.
Homework is being done each night, with little urging and a paper was even written without having to fuss or threaten. Nice.
Ben is enjoying football tryouts and we should know by the end of the week if he made the team. What position are they training him at, you ask? Why, kicker...of course. Once a soccer player, always a soccer player.
Made it through the first week of school with no hiccups.
Homework is being done each night, with little urging and a paper was even written without having to fuss or threaten. Nice.
Ben is enjoying football tryouts and we should know by the end of the week if he made the team. What position are they training him at, you ask? Why, kicker...of course. Once a soccer player, always a soccer player.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Miss you daddy
By Teresa
I can't believe its been four years since I last saw you.
We still talk about you all the time.
The other day I said,"the house next door, is my parents house", when talking to someone. My parents.
We were looking through old videos last week and we found one of a church dinner.
The whole family was in the family life center and you walked in. We got excited to see you and when I turned the camera your way and said,"I love you daddy", you stuck your tongue out at me. Your signature move in most videos and photos. Mom and I both laughed so hard. We also found a picture of you in and old camera of Georges'. It was a group shot of all of us, in my front yard. He was taking it and sending it off to Jackie, who was out of the country on a mission trip. It was the best surprise ever...seriously. You were smiling. It was taken a couple weeks before you died.
I can't believe its been four years since I last saw you.
We still talk about you all the time.
The other day I said,"the house next door, is my parents house", when talking to someone. My parents.
We were looking through old videos last week and we found one of a church dinner.
The whole family was in the family life center and you walked in. We got excited to see you and when I turned the camera your way and said,"I love you daddy", you stuck your tongue out at me. Your signature move in most videos and photos. Mom and I both laughed so hard. We also found a picture of you in and old camera of Georges'. It was a group shot of all of us, in my front yard. He was taking it and sending it off to Jackie, who was out of the country on a mission trip. It was the best surprise ever...seriously. You were smiling. It was taken a couple weeks before you died.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
If Ben plays football, I think Chris' heart may burst from excitement
by teresa
Tomorrow, Nick starts his new part time job. He will be working at the Virginia Opera, in their coffee/concession shop. Training begins tomorrow night. It's for a few months, during the opera season. Should be fun and help out with his gas and running around money. Still on the lookout for something steady though.
Chris took Ben for a sports physical after school today. Ben is entertaining the idea of trying out for the school football team. It would be weird seeing him on the field in football gear and not soccer. But, I think it's cool he is wanting to try new things. I will post more details once tryouts are over.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
first day of school
by teresa
We had an uneventful morning.
Clouds of axe and globs of hair gel filled the house.
Both Nick and Ben had their outfits chosen days ago and Nick even organized all his clothes last night. His room is perfect...I wonder how long that will last. They both opted for poptarts this morning (I let them chose anything) and only took a couple bites. I guess they were both anxious about getting back in the swing of things. Ben packed a lunch and Nick decided to buy. It seems bagging a lunch in the 11th grade is not very cool. Nick drove sissy's car (they have been sharing for the past month) to school. He will do this every now and then, but I will drive him most days. That is until he gets a job, then the plan is that he will get Chris' car and Chris will buy a new one. But he has to get a Jay Oh Bee first. I bet seeing his friends coming and going in their own cars will light a fire under his butt to get one. We will see.
After I dropped the boys off I picked up my free Chic-fil-a biscuit (a store promotion) and headed to Katy's to have a little sissy time, kid free. Well, not actually kid free...6 kids were at school, but there were still 7 kids there. I am home now, reveling in the quiet and cleanliness. School is a true blessing for a mothers sanity.
Monday, September 05, 2011
squeezing out the last drops of summer
by teresa
The boys were up really late last night. I was planning on making them go to bed at a reasonable time, so they don't go into shock tomorrow morning at 7:00am, but I didn't have the heart to put a stop to their fun. Plus, they were actually in the same room, on the same bed, at the same time (with no threats of bodily harm). Them and about 4 other kids from the church youth group were playing xbox together. And if that's not neat enough (playing the same video game from 3 different cities) they also had all their laptops open and webcams going. So they were watching each other play and talking through the kinect and webcams. When I walked in it was as if all the kids were in the same room. Technology sure makes being a kid easy.
Today, we will relax (as I type this Chris is mowing the yard....not very relaxing) and enjoy this last day of no homework, no alarm clock and no frenzied comings and goings.
The boys were up really late last night. I was planning on making them go to bed at a reasonable time, so they don't go into shock tomorrow morning at 7:00am, but I didn't have the heart to put a stop to their fun. Plus, they were actually in the same room, on the same bed, at the same time (with no threats of bodily harm). Them and about 4 other kids from the church youth group were playing xbox together. And if that's not neat enough (playing the same video game from 3 different cities) they also had all their laptops open and webcams going. So they were watching each other play and talking through the kinect and webcams. When I walked in it was as if all the kids were in the same room. Technology sure makes being a kid easy.
Today, we will relax (as I type this Chris is mowing the yard....not very relaxing) and enjoy this last day of no homework, no alarm clock and no frenzied comings and goings.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
lets get together for some burgers and hugs
by teresa
Allen family cookout this afternoon at Uncle Timmy's and Aunt Esther's. Can't wait to see all my cousins and their families. I remember playing with them at our Nanny's house and now we have our own children and grandchildren. Time marches on, and sometimes I feel like it marches right across my face (love that line from Steel Magnolias).
Really missing my dad today. His side of the family is a hoot, but it's just not the same without him. I blew off the family reunion four years ago. Didn't feel like driving out to Franklin to see everyone. Then my dad died a few weeks later. I missed out on that fun time with him and mom and my aunts and uncles. I will never miss a get together again, if at all possible. Family is too important and you have to show them what they mean to you.
Allen family cookout this afternoon at Uncle Timmy's and Aunt Esther's. Can't wait to see all my cousins and their families. I remember playing with them at our Nanny's house and now we have our own children and grandchildren. Time marches on, and sometimes I feel like it marches right across my face (love that line from Steel Magnolias).
Really missing my dad today. His side of the family is a hoot, but it's just not the same without him. I blew off the family reunion four years ago. Didn't feel like driving out to Franklin to see everyone. Then my dad died a few weeks later. I missed out on that fun time with him and mom and my aunts and uncles. I will never miss a get together again, if at all possible. Family is too important and you have to show them what they mean to you.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Questions and comments heard in the Green house
By Teresa
Is there more dogs or humans in the world?
That made my butt burn!
I drank so much at dinner, my pee was snow white.
Do you think Aristotle's friends called him Ari for short?
At least now when you go bald, you know you will look ok.
Bald makes you look tough.
Like a marine?
Yes dear, like a marine.
So, because I farted, now I have to sleep in Bens room?
When the fireworks went off, shorty bit me.
It's an explosion of skeegy.
What did you do while the kids were gone last night?
I sat in the dark, alone. No tv, no iPad.
It was the perfect evening.
Is there more dogs or humans in the world?
That made my butt burn!
I drank so much at dinner, my pee was snow white.
Do you think Aristotle's friends called him Ari for short?
At least now when you go bald, you know you will look ok.
Bald makes you look tough.
Like a marine?
Yes dear, like a marine.
So, because I farted, now I have to sleep in Bens room?
When the fireworks went off, shorty bit me.
It's an explosion of skeegy.
What did you do while the kids were gone last night?
I sat in the dark, alone. No tv, no iPad.
It was the perfect evening.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
dang! I was having the best dream!
by teresa
It doesn't take long to get used to sleeping in.
Nick has 3 mornings of drivers class starting today.
School has only been out for 2 weeks, but when that alarm went off this morning I could hardly open my eyes. 6:50 might have well been 3:00am to my body.
I am a spoiled women...I know.
It doesn't take long to get used to sleeping in.
Nick has 3 mornings of drivers class starting today.
School has only been out for 2 weeks, but when that alarm went off this morning I could hardly open my eyes. 6:50 might have well been 3:00am to my body.
I am a spoiled women...I know.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Too weird not to post
By Teresa
I am up late, long after the family went to bed.
Sitting in "my chair", reading and listening to Shorty snore.
I bunnied...loudly (don't worry...shorty doesn't mind).
The computer (which has been on sleep mode for hours) cuts on.
I knew it was a big one, but I didn't know my own strength.
I am up late, long after the family went to bed.
Sitting in "my chair", reading and listening to Shorty snore.
I bunnied...loudly (don't worry...shorty doesn't mind).
The computer (which has been on sleep mode for hours) cuts on.
I knew it was a big one, but I didn't know my own strength.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
oh where is my hairbrush?
by teresa
The dog stunk. Bad.
It's been hot and although the majority of his days are spent on his throne (an over sized ottoman) he does go outside and in doing so he smells like a hot, dog. You know what that smells like, right? Worse than teen b.o. and cleat sweat put together.
I was pleasantly surprised the other afternoon, when I woke from my Sunday nap and Ben told me he had bathed the dog. His actual words were, "me and Shorty took a shower". And he had, with the dog, in his bathing suit (Ben...not the dog).
I was so happy. The dog smelled great. Ben told me he had used my head and shoulders shampoo, "so Shorty will not have any dandruff." Not that he had before, but it was a nice thought. And I was hardly irritated when I went downstairs and found he had used my new towel set to dry the dog. Or that my bathroom rug felt like it had been through a monsoon. Not even when I had to get on my hands and knees and clean the shower drain free of a hairball the size of a guinea pig. It's all good. My kid helped without being asked. Makes a momma proud. That is until I got out of the shower the next morning and grabbed my hairbrush. My new hair brush, that makes my hair do that perfect smooth ,flippy behind my ears thing (without being too poofy or frizzy)....like no other brush I have ever owned has done. The hairbrush that now has old, wet dog hair matted into the bristles. Yes, he groomed the dog with my hairbrush. Would it be wierd to put a kid on restriction for doing chores?
The dog stunk. Bad.
It's been hot and although the majority of his days are spent on his throne (an over sized ottoman) he does go outside and in doing so he smells like a hot, dog. You know what that smells like, right? Worse than teen b.o. and cleat sweat put together.
I was pleasantly surprised the other afternoon, when I woke from my Sunday nap and Ben told me he had bathed the dog. His actual words were, "me and Shorty took a shower". And he had, with the dog, in his bathing suit (Ben...not the dog).
I was so happy. The dog smelled great. Ben told me he had used my head and shoulders shampoo, "so Shorty will not have any dandruff." Not that he had before, but it was a nice thought. And I was hardly irritated when I went downstairs and found he had used my new towel set to dry the dog. Or that my bathroom rug felt like it had been through a monsoon. Not even when I had to get on my hands and knees and clean the shower drain free of a hairball the size of a guinea pig. It's all good. My kid helped without being asked. Makes a momma proud. That is until I got out of the shower the next morning and grabbed my hairbrush. My new hair brush, that makes my hair do that perfect smooth ,flippy behind my ears thing (without being too poofy or frizzy)....like no other brush I have ever owned has done. The hairbrush that now has old, wet dog hair matted into the bristles. Yes, he groomed the dog with my hairbrush. Would it be wierd to put a kid on restriction for doing chores?
Questions and comments heard in the green house
By Teresa
I hope your car is really messed up.
Where did you hide the candy bars?!?!
If you can cut all the hair off the back of your head without consulting me, I can shave my head without asking you.
How do you like my hair?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa......hahahahahahahahaahaha
Gee...thanks.
You know I do not bend over in the daytime.
Theodore Roosevelt was just staring at me in the mddle of the night.
I was more confused than a cow on AstroTurf.
When I'm out of town in a hotel, it's like being at home. I leave the rooms messy, come back and its all clean again.
You can't say thirty quietly. Go ahead, try.
Thirty.
See, you were loud.
Nut up or shut up.
I hope your car is really messed up.
Where did you hide the candy bars?!?!
If you can cut all the hair off the back of your head without consulting me, I can shave my head without asking you.
How do you like my hair?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa......hahahahahahahahaahaha
Gee...thanks.
You know I do not bend over in the daytime.
Theodore Roosevelt was just staring at me in the mddle of the night.
I was more confused than a cow on AstroTurf.
When I'm out of town in a hotel, it's like being at home. I leave the rooms messy, come back and its all clean again.
You can't say thirty quietly. Go ahead, try.
Thirty.
See, you were loud.
Nut up or shut up.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Laugh and the world laughs with you
By Teresa
Picked up my rental car today,
Teenager not paying attention in school parking lot...bam...hence rental car.
Anyway, I picked it up and Ryan (the enterprise man) did the once over before handing me the keys.
Smudge on side door...check.
Scratch on hood...check.
Cigarette burn on rear seat...check.
Then we were off. Ben was thrilled (the kid is seriously insane about cars) and had it programmed to Sirius satellite radio and synced the Bluetooth to my phone before we even got home. He spent the next few hours in the car, in the driveway calling people by yelling out, "CALL. ....". I even got a text from Chris, who is in Richmond, wanting to know if everything is okay. He was in a meeting and kept getting calls from my number. Lol.
Later, after Ben's insistence that we pleeeease go somewhere, we went to dinner with my mother. While driving home, he was pointing out things about the car to her. Then he said, "nanny, look at this cigarette butt hole in the seat". At which I busted out laughing so hard I actually couldn't see while driving for about 30 seconds...cause my son said butt hole...get it? Hahahahaaha
Ben's response to my guffawing was..."real mature mom!". Which made me laugh even harder, cause my 12yr old had to call me out for laughing at butt hole. Great parenting moment.
Picked up my rental car today,
Teenager not paying attention in school parking lot...bam...hence rental car.
Anyway, I picked it up and Ryan (the enterprise man) did the once over before handing me the keys.
Smudge on side door...check.
Scratch on hood...check.
Cigarette burn on rear seat...check.
Then we were off. Ben was thrilled (the kid is seriously insane about cars) and had it programmed to Sirius satellite radio and synced the Bluetooth to my phone before we even got home. He spent the next few hours in the car, in the driveway calling people by yelling out, "CALL. ....". I even got a text from Chris, who is in Richmond, wanting to know if everything is okay. He was in a meeting and kept getting calls from my number. Lol.
Later, after Ben's insistence that we pleeeease go somewhere, we went to dinner with my mother. While driving home, he was pointing out things about the car to her. Then he said, "nanny, look at this cigarette butt hole in the seat". At which I busted out laughing so hard I actually couldn't see while driving for about 30 seconds...cause my son said butt hole...get it? Hahahahaaha
Ben's response to my guffawing was..."real mature mom!". Which made me laugh even harder, cause my 12yr old had to call me out for laughing at butt hole. Great parenting moment.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Stealing from a poor widower...I feel so ashamed
By Teresa
I got home from running errands today. Mom heard me pull up and met me in the driveway. "I did a bad thing", she said.
"I made a cake for Roger (man across the street, whose wife died two days ago) and I cut it and ate a piece instead of giving it to him". Then she told me she had cut it in half and slipped it in my kitchen while I was gone.
And I ate some too....now I'm an accomplice.
I got home from running errands today. Mom heard me pull up and met me in the driveway. "I did a bad thing", she said.
"I made a cake for Roger (man across the street, whose wife died two days ago) and I cut it and ate a piece instead of giving it to him". Then she told me she had cut it in half and slipped it in my kitchen while I was gone.
And I ate some too....now I'm an accomplice.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Questions and comments heard in the Green house this week
Hey mom, am I circumcised?
(overheard by mom) hey dad, was mom smart when she was in school?
I am scared to ride with him!!! So why did you make me get in the car!??! I don't make you sit in a room full of clowns!
Put on some Simon and Garfunkle.
What?
Simon and Garfunkle.
Oh... I thought you cussed.
You can't study math, u either know it or you don't.
Nice try...now get upstairs and study now!
Lookout!! That corvette is speeding and whipping around the cars. You know he has a small penis, right?
What are u saying to yourself to make your eyebrows move?
What's your favorite food?
Crust.
Some women call there vaginas pocketbooks.
Well that makes sense. When some women open them up, they get money.
(overheard by mom) hey dad, was mom smart when she was in school?
I am scared to ride with him!!! So why did you make me get in the car!??! I don't make you sit in a room full of clowns!
Put on some Simon and Garfunkle.
What?
Simon and Garfunkle.
Oh... I thought you cussed.
You can't study math, u either know it or you don't.
Nice try...now get upstairs and study now!
Lookout!! That corvette is speeding and whipping around the cars. You know he has a small penis, right?
What are u saying to yourself to make your eyebrows move?
What's your favorite food?
Crust.
Some women call there vaginas pocketbooks.
Well that makes sense. When some women open them up, they get money.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I go nuts for doughnuts
by teresa
Just wanted to express my joy at waking on Mothers Day morning to find hot, fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts waiting for me. Chris and Ben snuck out and bought me some, knowing they are my favorite things in the whole world.
Apparently the love of sugar circles runs in the family. Saturday, mom brought some to the soccer field to share and Kaden freaked out on us all when she was not allowed the last one (it was saved for someone else and she had already had two). She stomped, grabbed, kicked and scratched as we held the box out of her reach. Mom had to lock it in the car to keep her off it. Then her dad glanced up from coaching and saw what had happened. He took her aside and gave her "a talk". She slowly made her way over to mom and me. Face to the ground, frown on the face. Once she reached us she said quietly, "sorry". I hugged her and said, "I know sweetie...sometimes doughnuts make you go nuts...huh?" She smiled and agreed whole heartedly. Then ran off with a smile.
I bet the same thing would have happened on Mothers Day, if I was in the same situation. Fortunately for Chris, he bought TWO dozen. One for the family and one for ME!
Just wanted to express my joy at waking on Mothers Day morning to find hot, fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts waiting for me. Chris and Ben snuck out and bought me some, knowing they are my favorite things in the whole world.
Apparently the love of sugar circles runs in the family. Saturday, mom brought some to the soccer field to share and Kaden freaked out on us all when she was not allowed the last one (it was saved for someone else and she had already had two). She stomped, grabbed, kicked and scratched as we held the box out of her reach. Mom had to lock it in the car to keep her off it. Then her dad glanced up from coaching and saw what had happened. He took her aside and gave her "a talk". She slowly made her way over to mom and me. Face to the ground, frown on the face. Once she reached us she said quietly, "sorry". I hugged her and said, "I know sweetie...sometimes doughnuts make you go nuts...huh?" She smiled and agreed whole heartedly. Then ran off with a smile.
I bet the same thing would have happened on Mothers Day, if I was in the same situation. Fortunately for Chris, he bought TWO dozen. One for the family and one for ME!
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
nothing says I love you like a bowl of cream of wheat
Happy 16th Birthday to our son Nick. We had planned to wake up early and take him to Shoneys breakfast buffet before school. He turned us down and said all he would want for his birthday breakfast was his Nanny Allen's cream of wheat. This stuff is legendary in our family. Creamy, hot and sweeter than a birthday cake! I called mom when he hopped in the shower so she could prepare it and bring it over at the perfect time (one of a trillion benefits of living next door to her). We are not having his big fiesta till Thursday (dad is out of town) so mom and I sang to him and she put a candle in his bowl. That stuff was thick enough to hold that candle in place till I found and set up my camera. Love it! Also, he couldn't finish the whole bowl....so happy birthday to me too!
Monday, May 02, 2011
As the world turns
By Teresa
The last month has been a blur.
Seriously....where did April go?
I had a few weeks to recover from surgery and then me and the Parkway ladies jumped right into Easter egg production.
Three weeks of orders, sugar and icing. Long days at church made for incredible nights of sleep, where my head barely touched the pillow and I was off in dreamland.
It is a week out from Easter and I have caught back up on laundry, cooking and family time.
Easter was so wonderful. Church with the family and then home to relax and enjoy a cookout in our backyard. The weather couldn't have been better. We did miss Sissy and Neal, but they had to work. They did stop by the next day for leftovers and of course their peanut butter eggs with their names on it.
The biggest news around here, by far, is my dads truck. Rising gas prices and repairs led to my mom having to sell it. I know it was hard for her to let it go (she admitted she cried at the dealership) but it was the smart and practical thing to do. She bought a cute, blue, new Honda civic. She looks so right in it and I know my dad would be happy that she did something good for herself.
I will post pictures of some of the highlights of the month later in the week. Right now I am heading to bed to get ready for some hardcore spoiling and pampering tomorrow. Why? Tomorrow is our Nickys 16th birthday! And I want to make it as special for him as he is to us.
Best lines of the month:
It's weird looking out the window and not seeing dad in the driveway.
It ain't Easter if I don't have my peanut butter egg!
Oooo dad.....you made mom mad. She's giving you the skank eye. (it's not skank eye son....it's stank eye!)
It's been a month since they took your ovary and you haven't been grumpy at all. I was really scared about that.
Kaden told me I had strawberry diarrhea.
The last month has been a blur.
Seriously....where did April go?
I had a few weeks to recover from surgery and then me and the Parkway ladies jumped right into Easter egg production.
Three weeks of orders, sugar and icing. Long days at church made for incredible nights of sleep, where my head barely touched the pillow and I was off in dreamland.
It is a week out from Easter and I have caught back up on laundry, cooking and family time.
Easter was so wonderful. Church with the family and then home to relax and enjoy a cookout in our backyard. The weather couldn't have been better. We did miss Sissy and Neal, but they had to work. They did stop by the next day for leftovers and of course their peanut butter eggs with their names on it.
The biggest news around here, by far, is my dads truck. Rising gas prices and repairs led to my mom having to sell it. I know it was hard for her to let it go (she admitted she cried at the dealership) but it was the smart and practical thing to do. She bought a cute, blue, new Honda civic. She looks so right in it and I know my dad would be happy that she did something good for herself.
I will post pictures of some of the highlights of the month later in the week. Right now I am heading to bed to get ready for some hardcore spoiling and pampering tomorrow. Why? Tomorrow is our Nickys 16th birthday! And I want to make it as special for him as he is to us.
Best lines of the month:
It's weird looking out the window and not seeing dad in the driveway.
It ain't Easter if I don't have my peanut butter egg!
Oooo dad.....you made mom mad. She's giving you the skank eye. (it's not skank eye son....it's stank eye!)
It's been a month since they took your ovary and you haven't been grumpy at all. I was really scared about that.
Kaden told me I had strawberry diarrhea.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)