teenagers | It's a Vivas Thing!

Feb 22 2015

Cousin Fun!

For those of you who have big families, I am sure you can understand how our family dynamics work when we all get together. The older generation are the grandparents. The next generation has us all as “Tio and Tia.” We are actually most of us cousins, but there are just too many of us. Then, all of the younger generation are simply cousins. That’s just how we roll.

There is always a lot of laughter when we are together and one never knows what to expect. We’ve raised our kids in this madness which can only make things crazier. Ah, the stories we could share…

Like the time one of the younger ones was conned into shaving her lips…

Or when two of them decided to sandwich another one; only the victim knew it was about to happen so moved at the last minute. And the two troublemakers had a head on collision…literally; resulting in a lot of blood, swelling, and attempt to cover it up…as if we wouldn’t notice the aftermath!

Bella Sandwich — Apparently they didn’t think we would notice anything different about her face….

Most recently, hubby took the DQ to go visit his parents for a few days. She was thrilled to be able to spend time with her favorite cousins.

Crazy Cousins — The one of her right is six months older…the one on the left is 2 years older.

photo 1 (4) — It’s the only way she’ll ever be taller than them!

In keeping with their usual antics, they decided to play a little game. So not long after she’d arrived, my sister-in-law sent me this photo.

Afraid to ask what had happened, she assured me that no one was hurt and sent me the following videos…which she took….in slow motion.

Not to be outdone by his younger brother, my nephew decided to try it too, if the DQ was still up for it. (Of course she was!) only he landed in the wall, which explains the first photo she sent.

We are planning a trip together in a few months.

Hopefully with ALL OF US!

Hopefully we will all survive!

I can hardly wait for it!

Sep 25 2010

Teenagers!

More than a few times this month, I’ve had others tell me how they just don’t understand teenagers; aren’t comfortable around them; don’t know what to say to them; and how they just can’t relate to them.

I think they’re great! I had a chance to get to know more of them this week at my work; Loved it!

This weekend we had some fun teen time! Friday night was spent at the homecoming game watching B-boo perform at half-time. Then it was food. I’m sure I got several looks as I walked in with a group of them. And then we had fun playing hearts until I just couldn’t stay awake another minute!

But, what people may not know about *my* group of teens is how awesome they really are! You see, their purpose for spending the weekend at my house? It was to give up their Saturday so they could come help clean up my back yard. And it’s a HUGE back yard.

We had fun raking leaves, trimming rose bushes, digging up stray palms and using a chain saw! Oh..and breaking the chain saw. Which led to the following video!

They were trying to break off the dead branch without a chain saw! Hubby did get it going again, but not before the above incident! LOL

After several hours of work, I finally asked them to pose for a group picture. And I got this:

The first was too dark, because they were in the shade.

So I asked them to pose in the light. Notice the three on the right doing what I asked; but the other three..not so much.
So I ask them again, to pose. The three on the right….still posing.

B-Boo & Twin are goofing off & causing problems.

Notice the girl on the left…she’s getting irritated!
And the next thing you know….

WHACK! This was the best picture I could get.

Teen on left looks triumphant…three on the right are still posing…

And I gave up on B-boo and the Twin!
BTW-My back yard looks beautiful! Thank you!

Jun 21 2010

Teens are Fun, too!

Ah…a normal Monday where we get up early and head to VBS. Ok, not really a normal Monday, but not a bad day if I do say so myself!

I ended up in the kitchen serving food to the leaders as they came in for break. It was a nice twist for me. Several years ago, I taught VBS, then moved to a Director position, then took a break for a year, then taught a mom's class, took another year off…and this year, the kitchen.

And I liked it. Because not only did I get thank you's all day long, I got to meet every leader involved with Vacation Bible School this year! I've been at the church for 19 years now. It is no longer the small church where everyone knew each other. I met so many new people today!

After, I headed home with a van full of kids for lunch. Got rid of them for a couple of hours (they know I love them) and took care of my nephew. Finally, a friend came over to cut our hair while we chatted and made dinner.

And the Drama Queen lost a tooth; after much drama, of course!

And the dogs had to be bathed, because they got into the grill and are full of grease. White poodles; black grease. Yuck!

And THEN….we headed over to Sally's for some new stuff for the new hairstyles; and the cashier comments about my four teens..and then I tell her I have three more kids at home. Priceless look on her face!

And FINALLY, we headed over to take the Twin home. As we are driving down the freeway, B-boo notices the top to the jeep is not clamped on, so she is trying to hold it down until we can pull over. Try driving a a jeep as a short person with another person leaning over you trying to keep the top down! We finally pull over into a CVS and set the Twins to work on it. Nope.

B-boo finally tells them to unhook the back and then hook the front, and then hook the back. It works. So we grab some drinks and candy and take the Twin home.

Yup, that's what Mondays are all about for us.Now you know why I look forward to them so much.