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.

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

“Fix yourself a dang kay-sa-dill-ah!”

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

It brought in $44+ million.

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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!

MovieMonday—My Very Favorite Movie

Many years ago, when I was a college student in 1987, my girl friend Stacey and I drove from Charleston to Mattoon to catch a movie.  Little did I know that day I would be seeing my very favorite movie of all time. 

It had me literally holding my stomach and sliding down my theater seat, laughing so uncontrollably.

I remember I completely lost it during the scene when you can see the caramel corn dangling from John Candy/Del Griffith’s jumbo pajamas as he wakes up snuggling next to Steve Martin/Neil Page.  It was just the sight of that sticky caramel corn dangling that got to me, which unfortunately you cannot see in this picture below, but on the big screen, it’s unmistakable. By that point, I was nearly lying on the floor, about to hyperventilate from so much laughter.

I can’t even tell you how many times I have watched it, but I still love the movie and can not NOT laugh out loud, just anticipating the upcoming lines. The story is set at Thanksgiving time, so I just have to promote it to you today. 

I love the music, the lines, the humor, the images, the ridiculousness, the message.  Every part of it. 

What’s not to love about

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles? 

What better time to catch it again? I’m sure you’ve seen it before since it is the best movie of all time.  Do yourself a favor and watch it again this Thanksgiving season and laugh until you think you’re gonna slide out of your seat.

 

P.S.  I can say I have personally driven by the Braidwood Inn and got a big thrill.  Can you?

Tooth Time

We’ve had a quite a bit of tooth excitement lately.  None from Jack, other than his getting his braces on, but between the other kids, we’ve lost four teeth within a matter of days. 

First was Sam who lost his first tooth, the one I didn’t even know was loose, and yes, you can even see the permanent one had already come in behind it. 

Yes, sometimes I so feel like Mom of the Year.

The night before at supper, Sam had complained about that the sausage on his pizza hurt his tooth, but we didn’t think it was anything beyond his normal complaints when expected to eat something other than corn dogs and ice cream.  Plus, that very day he lost it, I had been with him most of the day while chaperoning his class’s field trip and there wasn’t one word about a loose tooth. 

I was completely surprised at the bus stop just a couple of hours after I left him.  He exited the bus, yelling with such excitement that he’d lost his first tooth and was smiling huge so I could see the open space.  That soon followed with a worried face since he literally lost the tooth.  He had it in a plastic tooth necklace that the nurse gives out; that is, until playtime outside and then it was gone.  Kids at school had told him that the Tooth Fairy would not come if he didn’t have the tooth, so he was concerned.

Big Sis to the rescue.  She wrote a note for him to leave under his pillow.

Dear tooth fairy,

I’m Sam Gill

I lost my tooth.

but, I do not know where

it is.  I lost it

at school at resess. 

Will you still give me money? 

Plese sing back

Yes no circle

Sam Gill

And this additional note was taped on:

From Caroline

Hello

Do you like the movie How to Train Your Dragon?  yes no

Are you a girl or boy?

Leave a note to my brother Grant and tell him to bevile in you.  Caroline

Unfortunately, it seems the Tooth Fairy overlooked the letter and the request for written confirmation;   you know, he/she is often tired and working in the dark, so it’s understandable.  He/she did, however, leave one dollar under his pillow so Sam was happy next morning. 

 

The day following Sam’s lost tooth, Caroline had an appointment at the dentist to have two teeth pulled to make some more room in her too-small mouth.  Her baby teeth are beautifully aligned and make for a perfect-looking smile, but permanent teeth are about one and a half times to twice as big as the baby teeth, so we already have space problems and an additional row of teeth forming.  The two bottom incisors that were extracted both had whoppers of a root and left such big holes, but she is a such a trooper.  

Here she is smiling not quite her usual smile just awhile after they were pulled.  Her mouth was still numb and she needed a liquid lunch, hence the “Shake” in Steak n Shake.

That night, the Tooth Fairy came! 

Caroline got two dollars out of the deal.  Rip!

Then, next, a few days later, we had Grant loose one of his molars.  Problem was, he had had a gusher of a bloody nose in bed the night before, ruining his pillow so that night he went to bed without a pillow. 

Where was the Tooth Fairy to leave the loot?  And would he/she come if he doesn’t even bevile?!

Veterans’ Day

Grant made this float out of a shoebox for his school’s annual Veterans’ Day parade.  Being new to the school, we didn’t realize that kids (or the parents?) go all out on these floats.  Grant had a specific plan as to what he wanted and I am still proud of him even if his stayed simple compared to the mini-aircraft carrier and razzle dazzle sparkly ones.  His was heart felt and a clear tribute to his dad, great-grandpa, and all Veterans in general.

 

There were many veterans, ranging from WWII to present day soldiers, sitting in this hallway as special guests to the school that day.  By the time the third graders got through their patriotic songs and these fifth grade kids pulled their floats through, I had tears trickling and I don’t think I was the only one.  It was the best Veteran’s tribute I have ever seen in a school.  Again, simple but so meaningful. 

So then next day, on actual Veteran’s Day, the kids were off of school even though the veteran in our house was not.  (Boo.) I made the most of four hired hands minus the hired and we got some yard work done.  We had three huge stands of cannas that had been hit by the frost and just needed cleaning up. 

We used machetes and shopping carts. Talk about making work fun!

After that, we did some raking of leaves and I set some on fire on the driveway.  Here’s Caroline, miffed that I won’t let her roast marshmallows

 

and here’s Supervisor Grant continually expressing his disapproval that I, the adult, would start a fire anywhere near our fence.

   

Sam and Caroline are looking like it’s summertime!  Really, it was a warm day.  All the machete use had me sweating. And gave me a blister. 

I wish I had snapped a picture of the kids playing in the shopping cart.  You’ll have to just picture this:  Sam in the basket, in his muscle shirt, hanging on tight with Grant steering him down the steep hill in our front yard with me yelling at them both to stop playing with the danged thing!   

Just when you think we can’t get any more redneck.

MusicMonday—My New Game

Yes, I am days away from my mid-40’s and I still make up games.  Maybe that stems from being an only child growing up in the middle of nowhere where self-entertainment was an inevitable part of life.  I don’t know, but I still look down any avenue for fun.  Last week I started playing this in the van:

• Turn on the radio.
• Listen a few seconds. 
• Hit the next pre-set.
• Listen a few seconds.
• Hit the next pre-set.
• Continue until you go through all the pre-sets.
• Choose your favorite sound and that’s the winner. 
• Listen to the winner until over.
• Hit the next pre-set.
• And on and on.

It is permitted to skip over commercials, radio talk, etc.

I actually wrote the song titles down as I played.

I’m a very safe driver.

Here’re the results.  I know you are hanging off the edge of your bucket seat. 

You’ll see the choices listed and then you have to scroll down to see the winner. How’s that for creating big suspense??

All the songs are linked, and no, I don’t have tons of laundry to do or floors to mop, why do you ask? in case the mention stirs your need to hear it or you want to make some comparisons yourself. 

And you gotta remember the winner was chosen for at-the-moment radio appeal and had nothing to do with the video form. 

Ok, here we go!

 

ROUND 1----------------------------------

Whole Lotta Love—Led Zeppelin 

I Will Survive—Gloria Gaynor

Only the Good Die Young—Billy Joel

If It’s Love—Train

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINNER

NOTE:  Simply gotta go with the rock classic.  Easy choice.  Shake for me, girl!

ROUND 2--------------------------------

Song 2 that I like to call the WooHoo song—Blur

She’s Got A Way—Billy Joel

Love in an Elevator—Aerosmith

Cooler Than Me--Mike Posner 

Come on Get Higher--Matt Nathanson  Confession:  I didn’t actually know this song but wrote down some key lyrics and Googled it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Ok, I am feeling so vulnerable here, revealing this.  I don’t know why I picked this one.  Maybe because I have heard it only a few times and the newness got me?  I just couldn’t get off of it.  The Woo Hoo song by Blur was a close second for sure.  It’s infectious, also. 

ROUND 3---aka Slim Pickings---------

Crystal Ball—Styx

Shake Your Booty—KC and the Sunshine Band

??? –some lame-o Whitesnake song

 

NOTE: OMG, thank goodness we had some KC Sunshine to brighten up the selection.  I am now realizing Crystal Ball should be added to my shut-off-the-song-as-soon-as-I-hear-it post.  Sorry, Styx fans, but the older I get the less I like Styx, even though I thought they were THE band in 1981.  I even sent Kasey Kasem a long distance dedication request for Best of Times dedicated to my 8th grade Xenia graduating class (no joke).  Now I am wondering just how long distance that really was considering we were all in Xenia and I’m not sure it’s really a “group” song.  Did I even listen to the lyrics?

ROUND 4--------------------------------

Won’t Get Fooled Again—The Who

What Goes Around…Comes Around--Justin Timberlake 

Jane—Jefferson Starship

Remake of The Cure’s Love Song which you know I enjoy muchly—don’t know who it was by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE:  This would have been a tough call if it were between JT and the original Cure.  Being a remake version made it easier to pick Mr. SexyBack.  Not saying I am a big fan of him, but this song I’ve always liked.

ROUND 5----------------------------------

King of Anything—Sara Bareilles

Breakout—Foo Fighters (which is, I think, literally about acne, “I don’t want to look like that.  You make me breakout.)

Jack and Diane—John Mellencamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE:  Jack and Diane is good, but Foo Fighters totally rock!  Had to go with Jack and Diane, though, just because of family love, you know. 

Hi, Jack!  Love, Mom Diane

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In summary, I realize my van could be better equipped for this game. In Gary’s truck, his radio display shows the name of the song and artist.  That’d be great!!….if I wanted to drive a huge dull-eggplant- pick up with going-on-200,000 miles just to know the Whitesnake song. 

I’ll just stick to my good time family van with a great radio. 

This week, you should play Radio Game.  Let me know your winners and losers! 

Scooter’s Twin

As we were driving home from the camp out last weekend, we noticed these huge tan ears flopping out of this vehicle ahead of us. 

Could’ve sworn it was our nothin’ but a hound dog, Scooter….

   

but this dog’s ears were even bigger!

Family Camping, Cool Style

It was Family Camp with Jack’s Boy Scout troop this past weekend. Believe it or not, I used to be semi-hard core in the camping department in my travelling, single girl younger days, but I haven’t been camping since, like, 1995!  The two youngest kiddos have never been camping, ever!  And this was their introduction to camping:

Night time temps of lucky-if-it-was-30 degrees. 

And we had no cold weather gear.  Well, Gary has one mummy-style sleeping bag that keeps that one soul that’s zipped into it toasty as can be, but that’s it for warm stuff.  Grant got to be the mummy.  Lucky dog. 

I noticed as I made up our bedding for the night that our tent, while nice and roomy, is constructed of nylon and mesh.  Mesh.  Mesh is great for summer time camping when you want/need some breeze to be able to pass through, but when you want to keep in any warmth five bodies might possibly generate, and block out wind, let me tell ya, mesh is the pits. 

I had borrowed our neighbors’ air mattress because I was concerned about sleeping right on the ground.  I knew it was going to be cold and the idea of being on the ground just gave me mental shivers.  I didn’t really think it through, though, as I guess the ground was probably warmer than the air temperature once that cold front came through, as luck would have it, just in time for the camping weekend.  I swear we have had weeks of exceptionally great weather in October and then when I decide we should do the camp-out thing, it suddenly turns freaky cold. 

So there’s Gary and I with our air mattress on the right with two heavy blankets, and Sam and Caroline each were on a cot, inside their kiddie sleeping bags that were stacked atop with every blanket, afghan, and quilted piece Grandma Barbara has ever given us.  It would have worked better for them if I would have foreseen the blanket stack sliding right off their slick sleeping bags with the first roll or flip over they made, but that was, unfortunately, invisible to me in the darkness.  All those covers kept the tent floor nice and toasty, I’m sure.  You can see, on the bottom left, Grant’s awesome mummy bag with a dark blue wool blanket covering it.  It’s an official Army “extreme cold” bag.  It says so right on the fabric.

Yard sale in Collinsville!

I went to bed with sweat pants, two pairs of socks, a shirt and sweater, a wool hat, a scarf, and a pair of gloves.  I kept it all on all night and still can say I wasn’t exactly warm.   Plus, I had Gary right there by me.  And maybe you didn’t know it, but I am known as The Nuclear Furnace in bed.  Now, don’t immediately be yelling TMI.  Seriously, Gary calls me that, only because I am usually very warm to lie next to.  I just wasn’t that night.

Well, the night was ok, in that we survived and everyone slept, but I have to say the days were beautiful.  We went from freezing in the early morning to shucking our coats, heck, even jackets by mid morning once the sun came out.  What a huge difference just a couple of hours can make.   

And, to the credit of my kids, no one complained that night!  Caroline said once matter-of-factly “I’m cold” but there was no whining or begging to leave or any of that. 

From the kids.

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Here’s proof we had fun:

 

Jack is in here resting.

   

Added by Grant:

The mummy bag didn’t really keep me that warm because you can’t entirely close it.

Monkey bridging:  Where you can go from this…. to this in a flash.       

Packing up and time to go….  

Jack earned his Polar Bear Patch out of the deal. 

I guess his face hadn’t totally thawed by this point.