Christmas: Gators and Nerfers

We worked and played some out in the snow today.  The sledding was good!

And the Gator is a rockinmobile.  Very handy!

But first we had our Christmas fun in the morning. 

 

The kids set their alarms in sync so they all came filing in to our bedroom at 7 a.m. to get us up and get right to the presents.

First, I made them pose for a stair-step picture.

You can’t so much see it here, but Sam is on the verge of tears. 

See? 

It was something about Grant yelling at him.

But tears didn’t last long because, hey, guns for everyone! 

     

 

With all of the craziness of this month, yes, even beyond our normal level of craziness, our Christmas cards this year were admittedly quite lame-o.  I mostly just sent out last minute postcards to update folks on our new address. 

I look forward to next year, producing a real card with some news and pictures. 

This little collage might have worked as our real card this year, if I could only get that one guy to play along and at least fake some festive spirit.   

Merry Christmas ya all and can’t wait ‘til we see you!

Over the Highway and Through the Belleville

Yesterday was the kids’ first day of Christmas break and I was ready for a distraction, so we took a drive to see Ross.  

When we walked in, Sam said, “This is just like a HOTEL!”

It did come with chocolates, chilled soda, video games, and magnets. 

It was homey, but very organized and neat as a pin. 

I am so jeal.

 

I know I was wowed by the math formula decor.   The walls were screaming, This guy is serious.

  

And I did not hear one time Grant telling Ross he hoped Ross still could get his money back on the apartment….as opposed to the first time we walked in as Ross was moving in at Thanksgiving time. 

Ouch, little mouthy 10 year old. 

I’d say a grown-up lives here now, one that’s looking so serious about school and setting forward to a new career.

We’re all rootin for you!  Good luck to you, Ross, but I know you don’t need it.

 

Sam’s Story

 

He came home from school telling me he was tired of having to tell everyone all about his cut on his eye, so, here,  I’ll do the talking.

This was how he looked the morning after last Thursday night when he fell on our icy driveway and got a fast trip to the ER.  They cleaned it and closed with with glue and can this mom just say “Yea, glue, I LOVE no stitches!!” 

And while I am not happy it happened to one of my kids, I am glad I was not sitting in that packed ER with an adult.  There was an entirely-packed waiting room of adults, but only one pediatric case ahead of Sam, so we were in and out relatively quickly. 

They told us we were case number 114 for the day (little, community hospital) and they told us 109 had been ice-related.  It was some bad, bad ice.

-----------------------------------------------

This is from Day 4 and he’s starting to sport that yellow eye shadow look.  It doesn’t bother him at all and he was so excited to tell me the glue doesn’t come off even in water. 

I don’t really want to know how he knows this. 

Not from checking WebMD, I’m sure.

   

No black eye and barely any tears from the whole ordeal, even though it was a long and gaping, wide split.    For such a tiny, let me tell you, he is tough. 

-------------------------------------------------------

And here he is at approaching one week, Day 6.  This is what he chose to wear to school yesterday.       Looking good, Sam! 

The Honorable AND Festive Grant Gill

 

And might I also add Strong and Granite-like.  We weighed the tuba and it’s an extra 18 pounds the kid gets to lug around. 

Wasn’t it decorated lovely for his band concert yesterday? 

--------------------------------------------

I think I forgot to tell you all my new nickname, or rather, maybe it’s my claim to fame? 

One day I walked into Grant’s school, headed to the band room, carrying the tuba.  I noticed a group of kids in the hallway.  They saw me and instantly froze!  And then, just as suddenly, they all hunched their heads together.  They were whispering, pointing,  watching my every step.   

I’m used to goofy kids.  I walked on.  Finally, one apparently gathered the nerve to approach me,  and this is what she said,

       “Are you The Tuba Dude’s Mom?”

MovieMonday—The Blind Side

Hey, believe it or not, I watched a movie.  Now, granted, it’s not exactly one fresh out in the theatres or even freshly out on dvd, but it was a movie…The Blind Side. 

If there is anyone else that hasn’t seen it, you might also like it.  Nice story, especially knowing it was a true story.

Smile Times

During tough times, it’s definitely harder to find your normal joy in life.  I felt like I wanted to see these recent shots and thought maybe you would like them, too.

 

Thanksgiving at our house

Dang, I wish I’d taken more pictures that day!

Fun in our very own woods

 

Our first snow at the new farm, carrots….check!

 

In case you haven’t heard, Sam’s goal is to hit 40 pounds by Christmas and be able to say bye bye to the baby car seat.  I’m thinking this might help:  He discovered a new snack, Nutella on graham crackers.  This might do it, folks!

   

Isn’t it just so easy to smile looking at these kids?  

The Honorable Jack Gill

Panther Honor Roll

MusicMonday—Tighten Up

Just a quickie today without much chit chat.  This is one of the songs I have been listening to lately.  I saw the video last summer and liked it and finally got around to buying the tune. 

Love the music!  Love the vocals! 

Funny video, too!

By The Black Keys, 2010

Cherished Thanksgiving Memories

What a wonderful time we had at our house, our little house that we worried would be too small, yet I know it would still welcome even more of the folks we love and miss, if they had been able to be here with us on Thanksgiving Day.  

It was truly heartwarming to have family come together, working so supportively to help get Ross moved in as he steps off on a new journey.  And what a way to celebrate all that we are thankful for in life by enjoying that feast of food on the table, together. 

 

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.  ~William Shakespeare

 

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. ~W.T. Purkiser

 

I think I better have a piece of that coconut pie to get the taste of that other one out of my mouth. ~Unknown

 

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Gobble gobble, Gill Family. 

Another great time as usual! 

Love you all!!

MovieMonday—Another One of My Faves

This movie is definitely in my Top 5 movies.  Caroline asked yesterday if she could start it, and I said YES!  I actually own it on DVD unlike, how embarrassing to admit, my last week’s mentioned all-time favorite Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

We can watch Napoleon anytime we please.

Sweet!

Yes, I like to pretend he’s talking to me: 

I see you're drinking 1%. Is that 'cause you think you're fat? 'Cause you're not. You could be drinking whole if you wanted to.

I understand it could be a movie that many people just don’t care for and question what is really the point of the movie, but I don’t have that problem. 

I totally get that its purpose is to make me laugh.

------------------------------------------------

Tonight we had burritos.  Grant does not eat burritos.  So I yelled:

“Fix yourself a dang kay-sa-dill-ah!”

-------------------------------------------------

Fact:  Napoleon Dynamite was made in 2003 in Idaho with a budget of $400,000. 

It brought in $44+ million.

-----------------------------------------------

Napoleon in his moon boots and ‘fro cracks me up, IDIOT!, but honestly, it’s weenie brother Kip that makes the movie for me.   He’s so fine. 

You might have noticed he’s a permanent feature on Gills-A-GoGo, there on the upper right, PLUS I quote him in the blog’s header. 

   

And by the way, you all know my big clock?  Well, I took it down out of the living room after the relentless daily teasing I had to endure.  Seriously.

Me: “What time is it? 

Gary:  “I don’t know.  I can’t see the BIG clock.”   

Har dee har har.

So now I have this big open space of emptiness staring at me everyday.  Click this link if you want to see what I think is an excellently cool idea. 

But I am thinking I may go instead with Kip.   

It took me like three hours to finish the shading on his upper lip.

It's probably the best drawing I've ever done.

How I Spent My 43rd Birthday

Jack stayed home sick on my birthday with what turned out to be a sinus infection.  I really thought he would test positive for strep, having such a bad sore throat and knowing it was going around in the neighbor kids, but no.  It was basically a long-term cold turned bad and getting into his sinuses.  Don’t worry, he could still hold the remote AND cell phone. And he is feeling much better by now. 

Sam was stricken with another round of yucky impetigo that transferred from his hand to his face, so I took him to the doctor that day so we could get some major-strong antibiotic ointment like before and get a handle on that before it got too bad. 

And that same day, I was signed up to take in fruit salad for one of the kids’ school’s Teacher Appreciation lunch.  I am always one to quickly volunteer to help out with anything showing teachers appreciation because

Yea to all teachers!!

I originally signed up for one fruit salad.  When no one else had signed up to bring another one, I said that I could cover both by making one big one and then the person coordinating wouldn’t have to worry  or scramble to find another provider of fruit salad. 

$25+ and 25 pounds later, and I assure you, clearly separated from the germy kids in the house, I had this to deliver to school.  How do I know 25 pounds of fruit?  Well, I don’t really and didn’t actually weigh it, but this was a throw-away roasting pan for a 25 pound turkey so I guesstimated. 

Trust me, it was a big batch of fruit. 

Once Gary got home, he presented me with not one, but two beautiful bouquets that I arranged into one.  Something you might not know:  I really like making flower arrangements.  Don’t judge this one too closely as it was a quickie because I was so excited to move on to my next activity, the highlight of my day…

 

We headed out for my one birthday request, a meal at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  A meal with no complaints since fifty percent of my offspring are picky eaters and do not like to go to Mexican. 

My birthday wish was granted. 

And BONUS! if it is your birthday, which Grant right away announced to Eduardo it was, you have a choice of a free ice cream OR a shot of tequila.  Who knew?! 

Well, you know I am not one to normally pass up ice cream, especially free ice cream, but considering I was so full of chips and rice and beans and chickie chimichanga, I decided I really didn’t feel like having ice cream. 

So I opted for the shot. 

This picture would suggest I had maybe more than one, but it was just an unfortunate shot, uh, picture, that Gary snapped with his phone after I downed it.

Notice how I am barely touching the glass.  There’s a reason. 

It had been on fire.  For real!

You should have seen the kids’ faces when they saw their frumpy old mom suck down a drink that was literally flaming with blue fire!  Honestly, I was kinda scared to do it, my first time, but for some reason felt totally trusting of Eduardo and crew as they sang and clapped to me in Spanish and encouraged me to down the drink using a straw.  I glanced over to Gary and he gave me a Go For It look, so I did. 

No regrets.

Now, know I wouldn’t normally consume alcohol in front of the kids; shoot, I don’t normally consume alcohol period, but I will tell you, I think I was instantly elevated up to a higher level in my kids’ eyes as they saw me bravely drink down the stuff ON FIRE!!

One tough, old mama!