cease fire!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I find one more of these nerf darts behind the couch, under the fridge, in my bed, stuck in the dryer lint trap or any other place other than the bag they are supposed to be stored in I am going to flip out!

While I'm on the subject I would also like the request that Ben remove all his matchbox cars and legos from anywhere my little tootsies might step on them. Ouch.

And Lauren, your just as bad. Please remove all the fast food paraphernalia from your car, so when I move it or have to run up the street I don't get out with honey mustard stains on my white capris.

Mom! 16 more minutes until Michael Phelps 200m butterfly!

by teresa

The Green family is completely engrossed in all things Olympic.
If it's on, we are watching.
If we are sleeping, we are dvring it.
Handball, basketball, swimming, diving, volleyball, water polo, softball, soccer, gymnastics and tennis.
We even sat for a few minutes of equestrian, skeet shooting and boxing.
The kids have never really been interested in past Olympics. It's been nice having so much family time. As you know, it's usually hard to find something the entire family can watch without embarrassing bleeps and boobs popping unexpectedly on the screen.
I never got into the Olympics as a kid. It was always an aggravating interruption of my Love Boat or Fantasy Island tv time. And don't even get me started about how Wimbledon used to interrupt my life for weeks, forcing me to go outside and play or heaven forbid read a book to pass my day away.
Ben's favorite is swimming. Michael Phelps swimming to be exact. Why? Because Ben likes to win. And Michael Phelps is a winner.
Nick's favorite is beach volleyball. He is a 13yr old boy. Need I say more?
Lauren and Chris like the basketball games.
My favorite is gymnastics. The kids are so talented and impressive. I just can't get over how they can make their bodies do these incredible things and make it look so effortless.
What is your favorite Olympic event to watch?

Actual questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa


Did they leave in the poo-tee cruiser?

Push my nose to make it pop out.

They went for a walk with the moby, and this time there was no poop involved.

Their butts are so perfect, I can't even stop myself from staring.

Eww, look at all that dandruff in her hair. You would think knowing she was going to be on tv for the Olympics would have prompted a hair washing.

That's just sand stupid!

I'm not stupid, but you're restupid!

She's going through her mid-day drama session. Don't worry, you'll like her again later.

Redskins are stinky, the Cowboys are the team you want.

Chris is all about the spirit fingers.

Shorty's putting on his lipstick for Dora.

Kaden! Stop biting the dog!

Man, gar really licked you tonight. Pee-u!

OMG. Did she say Pat Robertson on Dancing with the Stars?

He put parmesan cheese on the burgers? Nick's a regular Emeril La-gag-me.

If you get her wet again you will be eating oodles of noodles for two weeks.

My tummy hurts. Do you think it was the five krispy kremes I ate?

You drooled everywhere.

What can I say....I'm a sloppy eater.

Do I have a bathing suit on?

You just can't make this stuff up.

up close and personal

*************************************************

We had a wonderful Saturday. Our kin from NoVa. came down

around 9:00am, and we crammed a weeks worth of swimming,

card playing, eating, bike riding, Olympic watching and loving into

12 hours. When they pulled out at 9:00pm the kids looked like they

were going to drop from exhaustion.

The neighborhood mower

by teresa

Nick loves money.

He is constantly thinking of ways to make it....or ways that you will owe him.

If I (fill in the blank) , how much would you give me?

You look out and he's asking the neighbors for odd jobs (clean windows, mow, weed, whatever).

The night before last, as I was tucking him in (yes, I tuck him in every now and then) he said,"wake me up at 7:00am mom...I'm going to help Miss Geri clean her windows."

Huh?

I guess he had lined that up on his own.

Last week he gassed up the lawnmower (see pic below) and went up and down our street seeing if anyone wanted their grass cut.

Yesterday I came downstairs and there is a 2ft tall pile of video games on the table. "I am taking these to GameStop to trade for money." is what I was told.

The problem is, he has a hard time saving. He gets $20......he spends $20.

Ben on the other hand still has Christmas and birthday money from 2 years ago he is having a hard time parting with.

Sometimes his love for money makes him do sneaky things to line his pockets.

For example: This week I sent him on his bike to our hair cutting place. It's not to far and he loves to be independent. I gave him a check for the amount and a tip. I have done this many times now....and it really saves me time.

He came back awhile later and headed straight for mom's house. He came home after about ten minutes, just as I was heading over for Katy to cut my hair. He looked panicked and scrambled over before I could walk in the door. Something was up!

When I went in Kai said, "thanks Nick for the 7-11 drink."

Huh?

7-11?

Nick had no money when he left for the hair place.....except the check I had given him.

I asked Nick where he got the spending money from and he said...."THE CHANGE."

What? "The change is her TIP!!!"

He played stupid for a minute...but I told him he wouldn't have been trying to cover up his purchases if he didn't know it was wrong.

Apparently he has done this before.

OH my gosh! I am mortified!

I told him he is going to her house and cutting her grass for free to pay her back for the tip he spent. She lives two blocks over, so it should be no problem for the neighborhood mower.

Did anybody remember to bring some wipes?

by teresa

Last nights beach time was fun.

If diaper poop explosions, cheeto grabbing seagulls, tantrum throwing adolescents and sand in your teeth is fun....then it was definitely a good time.

Kaden let Nick take her way out where the waves were breaking high. She is such a daredevil, no fear at all. She also ran around trying to catch sand crabs. Ewwww! I can NOT stand those things. My grown self will run screaming (and knock anyone over in the process) when one gets anywhere near my feet.

Somebody brought frito-lay crack (cheese puffs) to snack on. When we all were in a greasy, cheesy, orange hand stained stupor the kids used the rest of the puffs to feed the seagulls. I know that's probably not good for them....but they sure loved it. Nick stood with his hand up, waving that puff trying to hand feed them. It almost worked a couple of times, the birds circling and dipping low. But then Kai or Kaden would run over and they would fly off in a panic. He did throw them up and the birds caught them in the air.

We stayed pretty late, until after dark. The boys and I even sat and listened to the "concert at the park" for a little while. Thursdays are my favorite days of the week!

Wreck Again

By Chris

I'm not sure what's going on, but for some reason bloggin' momma is slippin' on the daily content. I told her I don't do pictures and I don't do music, which means this space is very wordy when she isn't in control. And pretty boring too.

So, we filed our umpteenth Geico claim last night. I bet they're wondering "just how many Ford Escorts can one kid wreck?" And, I'm understanding the high rates for knucklehead teenage drivers more and more. Granted, nearly all of the accidents were not her fault. Still . . . three times since she's been licensed to drive now, I've gotten the news . . . . "dad, the car is wrecked." Yeah, one time she wasn't even in the car. But still. Good grief. So, she's driving a rental PT Cruiser now. Everyone's o.k. She's such a pro now, that she filed the claim and got the car towed, came home and THEN told us about it. Mom and daughter decided to just wait until morning to tell dad, in fact. I thought it was weird when Lauren crawled into bed with me this morning. She ain't exactly the "cuddle with daddy" type.

So, I skipped the Thursday night at the beach thing. I'm probably in some type of longterm trouble over it. My awesome wife is a people person, and my need for aloneness really perplexes her, I can tell. She loves all people. Nice people. Mean people. Pretty people. Ugly people. Old people. Young people. Smart people. Stupid people. I guess I love people too. I just get enough of them fairly often. I like to be alone. I especially don't like to be around the same people too often, or do the same thing too many times. I admit its weird. Maybe its an only child thing (did Freud look into that?). But, being alone is ... something I long for pretty often. And, tonight, I wanted to be alone. So, I was. Lauren came home. But, she likes to be alone too. So being home with her is like being alone. We both really don't want to talk to each other very much. It was lonely bliss for a few hours. I hope the people-lovers don't mind too much ;))

pictures to go with yesterday's post

KiKi!!!!

By Chris

It's been a long time since we've written about KiKi ... the dog. But, she topped herself tonight. She actually managed to break a portion of our wooden gate IN HALF to get out. There are teeth marks on the wood, so we can only assume that she literally bit treated lumber into submission. If you don't know the KiKi drama, look back a few months. She is an absolute Houdini escape artist. There really seems to be nothing that will keep this dog contained. Which reminds me ... that Nick is reading the book Marly and Me. All dog people should read this.

And speaking of the dogs . . . Last night Kaden's new puppy Dora came over to play (and, explaining exactly where Dora came from and where she lives is really too complicated a story for me to go into tonight. Dora doesn't live with us though. More on that later). KiKi has been Shorty the dog's girl for some time now. Since the fence has been down between the yards, they have been practically married. So here comes young Miss Thang Dora last night, and catches Shorty's eye. They're all ga-ga over each other, dog-flirting and chasing each other all over the yard. And, I swear, KiKi is looking at Shorty like "Oh no he didn't just take up with that young mutt like that!" He was being a figurative and literal dog at that point . . . from the ladies' point of view, anyway. It was hilarious. Katy, seeming to relate to KiKi's situation, was all sympathetic for the termporarily scorned KiKi. "Awweee her feelings are hurt," she said at one point. We were joking that Shorty was in deep doo-doo when Dora left. Which makes me think . . . I wonder if that's what got her fired up enough to bite a gate in half? Could be. Hmmm.

If You're Gonna Break Down . . .

By Chris

Teresa called the house this evening to tell me she was broken down. Right in front of Ben's friend's house, where she was picking him up. That's never good news for me. I can't fix , uhhh, anything. So, I get my shoes on to pick her up and get in a little bit of a mood thinking about getting the car towed and fixed and all that entails. It sounds pretty serious. Making a real loud noise when you put it in gear, won't move, blah, blah, blah. Apparently, there was a loud sudden impact noise of some type. On my way, the phone rings. It's Teresa. "On your way, go to Advance and pick-up a cv axle . . . ." (or something like that. I know nothing about cars). I'm like, huh what in the world am I going to do with that! Apparently, a neighbor of the friends is on the scene, and has diagnosed the problem, called Advance Auto Parts, secured the part and towed the car (using his all-terain vehicle) to his back yard. I was like, "say what??" I'm instructed: Just go to Advance, tell 'em your there to pick up the part for Mike. Stupid as I am about cars, I actually ask "will an axle fit in my car?" I think I heard them laugh at that one. Sure enough, they have the part ready for me. The sticker says one price, but they give it to me for 40% less than that. Apparently, they know Mike. I don't even know Mike! So, I deliver the part to the address as instructed, and sure enough, this Mike has our van jacked up in his back yard, while Ben and friends are jumping on his trampoline and Teresa and the ladies of the neighborhood are enjoying cold drinks. By the time I get there, the wheel and whole front right section is disassembled. So, in faith, I give the box to Mike, and have a seat on his porch. 20 minutes later, the car is put back together and he's test driving it around the block. Good as new. New axle installed in less time than it takes me to put together a toy at Christmas. I'm thinking that was easily a $600 job and a couple of days at the shop. Mike asked for waaaayyyy less than that. So much less that we threw in a little extra out of gratitude.

I'll count it as a blessing. A note on our front door says "put on the armor of God." I do that every morning, and add this quick prayer before I pull out of the driveway, that I have been doing for 11 years now: "God, today is Your day and I give it to You. Guide and protect us today. Take us where you want to take us, put us in the path of people you want us to influence and those you want to influence us."

Actual questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa


I can pick my nose with my toe.


You're going to get athlete's boogers.


When I walked into the bathroom it smelled like I had stepped into a butt crack.


Whoa...that was almost a gynecological shot right there.

You are such a dork. Lucky for you I'm into dorks!

I need some watermelon!

Mom, why do I have to read for school? It's so stupid!

Come on...what did you think a movie called Mr. Woodcock was going to be like?

You can just look at that and know it's good.

Lock the door....Kaden's coming.

NO...you can NOT have a third pack of fruit rollup stackers!

The cooks' cellphone ring in Maymar's (Filipino diner) was a kitty cat meowing. That's just wrong!

I am SO using this against him when he is a teenager!

by teresa

Happy Birthday Kaden!

by teresa

Today is Kaden's 3rd b-day.

The theme was Dora the Explorer....which seems most popular seeing as every store has Dora EVERYTHING you can imagine.

She got Dora dolls, puzzles, purse, bike, playdoh set,etc.

Katy made a Dora cake and we indulged in pizza and chips and I had a Dora tummy ache before it was all over.

Her favorite thing was a card. Not the baby dolls, tea set, bracelets, clothes, money, aquadoodle.

A card.

A Dora card...that sings Feliz Cumpleanos.

She opened it over and over and over and over...well, you get the picture.

I bet it gets lost in the wrapping paper trash (by accident of course).

Here's some of my favorite shots.

#1 Maya riding on Kaden's new bike.

#2 The cake, with Dora shoved in the top of since Kaden broke her legs off before the party.hahaha

#3 Kaden after Katy straightened her hair.

#4 Kaden and the card.

#5 Blowing out candles

show some respect!

by teresa

All week VBS had an offering contest.

Three people (Pastor, Deacon, Teacher)

Three collection buckets.

Whoever received the most money had to suffer some kind of messy humiliation.

Our pastor won, with $200 more than the other participants.

The older kids got to pelt him with cream pies.

I even heard some adults bragging that they got a throw in.

Poor man.

Our preschool class got to spray him with silly string.

I guess they figured it wasn't very smart to give pies to a group of 3,4 &5yr olds.

The kids loved it...I mean really loved it.

Rollin' in the ATL

By Chris

I've had a bit of a summer break from traveling. Break over. Sitting in the Atlanta airport now getting ready to fly home. That 3:45 a.m. alarm is going to take some getting used to again. I've come to like Atlanta pretty well. I used to spend most of my time here well away from downtown. Lately, I'm mostly downtown. Shorter train rides. No need for cars. A bunch of good restaurants you can walk to. Stuff like that. Since my last trip, I got an i-Pod. I've been wearing it walking around in the city, on the train, in the airport. You can really get into your own little world with these things. I think I accidentally danced a couple of times. If you're not careful, a funky beat can get dropped and tempt you to pimp walk in public. I know I bopped my head on the train. I wonder if I looked cool? Probably not. I got some looks like , "Check that white boy in his suit head boppin'" With the music going and sunglasses on, you can actually feel pretty alone on a train with hundreds of people.

Finally, only in Atlanta:
Went to a pretty fancy restaurant last night. The kind with a big name chef (I didn't recognize it, but they assured me that he is top notch, famous . .. blah, blah, blah). There was a $110 group drink on the menu. Their most famous specialty: Beef ribs with homemade salt and vinegar chips!! I had bass and shrimp dumplings.

clap your hands....and stomp your feet

by teresa

Another terrific night at VBS.

A cute thing happened as I was doing the lesson.

I had climbed up in a chair (a tree) and was pointing out looking for Jesus coming (Zaccheus). I shouted "there he is". When Jesus (my sister Katy) called me down from the "tree" a little boy scrambled from his spot on the floor and hopped in the chair. "I want to see Jesus too...show me...show me!" I pointed out towards the hallway (trying to keep the flow of my story going) and just then one of our deacons named Sam walked by (his head passing the window at the top of the door). The kid came off the seat squealing. After the story I tried to explain to the boy about Jesus being a man and walking around on Earth a long time ago and now he is in Heaven and in our hearts. But he just looked at me like I was nuts.

Another story another time.

I have really enjoyed having Lauren help with me this week. She is such a fun person and since she has been in college and had a job it has been nearly impossible to spend time with her. She is so good with the kids and they all love her. I am excited to see what kind of teacher she will be once school is over.

I wish I had a camera with me when we were doing our memory rhythm song(rap) last night. Some of the other helpers walked out of the room for a moment and it was just me, Katy and Lauren leading the kids. Lauren and Katy busted out some funky moves and really got the kids going. I definitely need to charge the video camera for tonight.

*

by teresa

Busy week.

Soccer camp for Ben in the mornings and VBS at night.

VBS is going great with over 100 registered now. I hope tonight we add even more.

We had sixteen in the preschool class (although it felt like sixty).

Phew.

Thank you Lord for a teachers patience and love for kids....cause I could NOT do that day in and day out.

We did a skit where Jesus healed my crippled friend (a stuffed dog with bandages). I put him behind the puppet stage sick and he was tossed out healed (bandages removed). The kids were amazed...and one boy spent the rest of the evening trying to find Jesus behind the curtain. hee hee

Actual questions and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa

Did she hit him in the candlestick?

There was a part for a nerd and right away they thought of you.

No, there is no rat in the refrigerator.

Mom, I'm so proud of all you do for me.

Can you spell Chrysanthemum?

You got lots of white hairs sticking up in the middle of your head.

What you think?

I am a grown up, I already went to college once. I am not doing it again!

Your daughter!?

No, she's YOUR daughter!

Why is she only my daughter when she's irritating you?

I hate this stinky chinese food!

You're pulled over there like a magnet.

Somebody smack that kid.

I saw you looking at that lifeguard.

Mom, I flossed...see!

Hmmm...did you brush?

Um, no.....but I did floss.

Oh....was that sandwich yours?

Yes!

Sorry.

I like to dig my toes through the cool, wet sand

It's all in the sauce

by teresa


VBS begins tomorrow night and all the church is flutter.
Most of the workers and staff were there for 8+ hours yesterday getting things decorated, rehearsing and planning. I am very excited but still have a bit to do. I need to find a yellow shirt (I am leader of the lightning bugs and their team is yellow) and I need to hit a thrift store to find Nick a "nerd" outfit. He has a major part in each nights skits and he is so excited. Our theme is God's Big Backyard, so all the rooms and sanctuary are set up with fences, picnic tables, lawn chairs, baby pools, tents, grills, etc. Pretty cute. I will make sure to take pictures when I get back up there.

Yesterday, in our umpteenth hour working, I went for a chic-fil-a run for the workers. I came back and spread out all the food and condiments I have bought. They were amazed by the white sauce. Huh? No one had ever had chic-fil-a white sauce? It's awesome! You have to ask for it, cause it isn't out with the other condiments. And for some reason, not all cities have it offered. But, here in Chesapeake it is.. and we looooove it. Next time you go...ask for it and see for yourself.

A child is not a vase to fill....but a fire to be lit

by teresa

Chris asked Nick to build a little fire the other night.

There were a few pieces of wooden fence that needed disposing of and I guess he just couldn't wait until trash day.

Anyway. He told Nick to get it started in the backyard and he would be out in a minute to help.

I left before any of this to pick up Kai and Ben from VBS. I had heard some mumble earlier about a fire and thought the younger boys would think it was cool to see them burn a couple of pieces of wood.

When we came home (around 8:40pm) I saw no fire. Luckily, I hadn't told the boys or there would have been some whining. I came in and asked Chris what happened.

Apparently, Nick's Ranger Commander's have taught the boy well.

How to build a fire 101 was definitely covered.

*hole dug

*dry wood

*kindling

*tee pee like building

*larger pieces on outside

*venting important

Chris said he opened the back door and the whole "outside" was lit up like daytime.

Yikes! He ran around the corner to where Nick had constructed his masterpiece. Nick was standing there, marveling in his creation, big grin, in front of a 30 foot tall fiery beast.

What the?

The hubby said it wasn't wide....just tall. Shooting straight up as tall as our house.

Embers popping and roaring, he said it sounded like machine gun fire.

Chris said as soon as he saw it he went into fire fighter mode...running through the yard to Nick yelling...PUT IT OUT...PUT IT OUT...PUT IT OUT!!

He felt that any minute the fire department was going to screech up, sirens awailin'.

Nick, begrudgingly began to smother and douse his impressive formation.

He came in moping, wet and blackened an hour later.

Poor Nick.

Chris assured him we will allow him to express himself pyrogenicly another time...another place.

old age...it's a hard thing to face

by teresa

My husband fell yesterday.
No...not doing something manly and strenuous.
Watering the plants.
He fell OFF the porch (backwards) ....while watering the plants.
ouch.
He has a scrapped elbow, twisted shoulder and bruised pride to show for it.

I DO.........want a second helping of bbq.

by teresa

We had a very exciting weekend.

A young couple (love 'em like family!) from our church got married.

They had been dating for five years...wow!

We enjoyed their rehearsal/rehearsal dinner (a Carolina pig pickin'!) on Friday night and their beautiful wedding on Saturday. I worked the guest book, accosting anyone who dare enter without signing it. "Hey! If you haven't signed the book...you ain't gettin' any cake!"

by teresa

The waves were really big at the beach last night.
We had fun watching Ben trying to stand firm, trying to not fall down.
Nine times out of ten he was swept away.
It never deterred him.
Next wave he was up again, thumbs up, calling "watch me momma!".

Nick had a great idea this week. He brought a shovel with him.
Not a cute plastic one either. A real shovel.
He dug a hole so deep. The kids really enjoyed playing in it.
The only problem was when the tide came up and some of the holes were covered by water.
This cool teenage boy went strutting by and tripped in one of the covered holes.
hahaha

We took sunchips and water bottles for snacks.
I think next week it is time to grill again. Boneless chicken would be yummy!
We could make sandwiches or kabobs.

Kaden collected moon jellies on a long walk with Katy and Kristian spent most of the evening in the hole Nick dug.
I think she wanted to be far away from the water, since her last visit was cut short by a jellyfish sting.

We usually set up camp not too far from the fishing pier. Last night as we were packing up we noticed a bunch of commotion up there. Crowds of people gathered around some guy who hauled up a.....SHARK!
Yikes....it was a little one, but a shark nonetheless.

I'm Lovin' it!

by teresa

Free southern style chicken sandwich at McDonalds all day today.
All you have to do is buy a medium drink.
Or you can buy their large tea, which is $1.00 and your good to go.
I took Ben and Kristian for lunch on our way to run errands.
I'm sure we will hit it again on the way to the beach tonight.

Oh pish posh about how unhealthy it is for them.
It's free people!
I'll stuff 'em full of salad and apples tomorrow.
happy now?

Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.

by teresa

Just came in from the pool with Ben.
Yes, at 12:44am.
I went upstairs around 10:00pm and I'm sure the family thought I was going to bed. When I came down in my bathing suit and walked right out the back door (without saying a word) they were in shock. It took about 60 seconds for the boys to come bounding out the door after me.
The whole family (the 5 of us and mom) ended up going out and we sat around talking and enjoying the pleasant night weather.
Everyone else went in around midnight.
After that, Ben and I had a back flip, handstand and dead man float contest.
We have a pool light that makes it unscary to be swimming about that late.
But when I turned it off I would NOT get back in.
Why is that?
I was just in the same water.
From shallow to deep, all along the bottom.
But when I couldn't see the bottom it was just too scary.
I wish I had done it.
Ben would have been so impressed with his brave mommy.
The two of us just stood there, looking in like there was a shark in there waiting to chomp us.
Next time I'm leaping in.

*Panic at the thought of doing a thing is a challenge to do it.

Actual quotes and comments heard in the Green house this week

by teresa

You did not just call my ipod a radio, did ya?

I have turned into and old, black man.

I got earwax in my hair when I scratched my head.

Watcha jeez-loo-weezin' about it?

Ahhhhh, Wendy Peffercorn....

In the middle of the night he kept yellin'..."CHEEZITS!"

I think it's performance enhancing drugs.

I got something for that. Go get the cream in the round container on the bathroom shelf.

For my butt?

Would you rather have comfort or fit?

Don't erase it okay? I'm not...I pushed delete not erase.

Coming up next on Jon and Kate plus 8.

Coming up next on Leroy and KiKi plus 3.

Nick, you better enjoy time with your wife before you have kids, cause after that you never get to see her again.

Happy Birthday!

by teresa

Happy Birthday to baby Maya who was one year old yesterday and grandaddy Dyer who is 91 today. We took him out to a seafood buffet for his birthday and boy was it awesome. Maya had a party at her daddy's. She got lots of fun stuff, or should I say sister Kaden got lots of fun stuff.

conditioning....it was a tough first day

by teresa

Ben went to his first conditioning session early Saturday morning.
Phew!
I was tired just watching him.
Races, exercises, stadium stair runs, parachute sprints, etc.
He was so tired, but pushed through and loved it.
He asked if we could take him up there in between practices to get his endurance built up.
I'm impressed.

sand between my toes

by teresa

This weeks trip to the beach was fun.
The only downside was the drive to the beach, where we mistakenly sat Kai and Kaden next to each other. It was torture listening to him screaming and whining over everything she was doing to him (poking, sticking out tongue, spitting, pinching, etc.).
Next time we are definitely taking separate cars.
It wasn't as windy as last week, which is good since sand grinding into your corneas isn't a pleasant thing.
The kids went for a walk with Nanny Jackie, played fetch with a strangers dog, saw a giant jellyfish washed up on shore, got pinched by a sand fiddler and watched the surfers.

Go ahead...make my day!

by teresa

My snuggle buddy is home from camp.
He had a great time and even made new friends.
I asked if he got a girlfriend...he said..."uhhh..no". "But, I did give this one girl my bracelet".
He also told me all the girls said he was the sweetest boy there.
That makes a momma proud.

He took a digital camera with him this week. Extra batteries and a memory card. He was excited to take lots of pictures and I was excited to see camp through his eyes.

Guess what?
No pictures. Not even one.
He said he forgot about the camera in his bag till the van ride home.
Dork.

One of his favorite activities was paintball. He took old jeans and a sweatshirt to wear for the activity (hoping to save his body from multiple bruises). He said his team won the tournament....only to be trounced by the camp counselors in a final game. He laughed about being shot in the back of the head by his own team mate who freaked out in battle.
Sounds like a blast.
I wonder if Chris and the rest of the family would like to book a paintball game time.
Talk about an ultimate family bonding session.

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.

by teresa

We got a new living room set this week and I got so excited at the arrival, I decided to move our old furniture out by myself.

Big mistake.

The love seat went out without too much of a fuss, but the couch gave me a fit.

@@@@###$$%%%%^^&&&***(##@@@

It was stuck like this for hours.

I went out (had to go out the front door and walk around) many times and tried the push...pull...push...pull maneuver to no avail.

Meanwhile our lovely Virginia flies were setting up condos in all the rooms of my house.

Grrrr...I hate flies in my house.

Ben, of all people, finally came to my rescue.

He had been sizing it up for awhile, walking front to back to check it from every vantage point.

He said, "mom, lift it here." Placing his hands on one corner of the bottom of the couch.

I hmmed and hawwed, knowing it was no use and he just needed to take his annoying nine yr old self away from adults work.

Then he lifted and it flipped to it's side.

We slide it out with little effort.

Oooookay.

As I was saying, my son the engineering genius, saved the day!

how did this happen?

by teresa

Watch it wiggle, see it jiggle. Cool and smoothy, Jello brand gelatin. Of all desserts you'll love the one that tastes so light and makes such fun. Make Jello gelatin and make some fun.
J-e-l-l-o!

You can just hear the commercial in your head, huh?

I love it.
You love it.
Who doesn't love it?
Orange is my favorite.

On a sunny day, in a cup, topped with cool whip.

The only time I don't love it is when I sit in it....
cherry flavored...
on my couch.....
while wearing my white pants.

I've got four words for you.

HUBBY HOME ALONE BABYSITTING

You get the picture.

freedom

by teresa

It is quiet around here.

Gloriously quiet.

Nick left for church camp yesterday afternoon and Chris went back to work this morning (after a nice vacation).

It is 10:30am and the only sound in the house is Rachel Ray.

aaaaaaaah

Ben is still asleep (maybe I should go check on him).

Nick was so excited about camp.

Ten kids went and he was chosen (they picked numbers) to ride shotgun up front.

As they pulled off he was grinning at me and mouthing "I love you".

I will miss my snuggle buddy (he snuggles up to you the couch to watch tv).

Happy Independence Day!

**************************************************************

LET FREEDOM RING!

Beach fun with the whole family!

I know I spelled hotdogs wrong....I left it there to give you a chuckle

by teresa

We are heading to the beach tonight for a cookout.
Twelve of us are going, so it should be lots of fun.
Hot dongs...check
Buns...check
chips (four flavors)...check
cooler full of drinks...check
a leash for Kaden...check
sunglasses and face concealing hat so no one can place me with the crazy people...check

I'm a star!

by teresa

Ben and his friend Joe had fun playing singstar the other night. They really didn't know any songs except for Sweet Home Alabama. So they sang it over, and over and over again. At the top of their lungs. Around midnight. I wonder where Ben even heard that song? We are not exactly Southern rock kinda folks.

Questions and comment heard in the Green house this week...

by teresa

If I don't get through the rings challenge on Spongebob I will die!

I don't like you.

I wish he would stop breathing...it is getting on my nerves.

I can't go, I have a bubble in my tummy.

Gross, why do you call it a bubble? It sure doesn't smell like a bubble.

You look like you could take someone out.

It's midnight, me and the kids are going to Denny's.

I can't believe we finally have friends.

We are not normal.

Can Nick move to nanny's and let Kai live with us?

When is Lauren moving out, cause I need my own room?

Pretty soon it is going to be a hot mess around here 24hrs a day.

I am a sheep.