Portable Snowman

’Twas the Night Before Christmas

And all through the house, the children were wound up and driving their mother crazy so she decided to sit at the computer and type a bit.

Caroline and I were wearing our cute matchy-matchy aprons tonight while thinking of Grandpa and Grandma Gill in Florida right now. 

And I know you all are real glad I chose to wear clothing under mine. 

 

Never mind that the apron seems to detract from my brain actually working while in the kitchen.  I managed to burn a skillet full of Italian sausage meant to go into the lasagna for supper and the batch of cookies we were baking to leave for Santa.  The house is sure smelling like something other than Christmas-y. 

And unrelated but even more annoying, the dishwasher is squawking like some sick, diseased pterodactyl trying to escape the kitchen, but trapped in the crazy coffer/shelf/chandy business going on in our lovely kitchen.  And you know exactly how I am pronouncing “lovely,” right?  Through gritted teeth, if that helps you formulate an image.

 

But then a very kind neighbor just stopped by to drop off a “little something” to our two older boys for getting his trashcans in for him, ONCE.  He gave them a $25 gift card to the movie theatre.  That was so generous and really improved my outlook.  He said he was just so happy to have friendly neighbors and I gotta say we sure think of him and the Mrs. that way, too. 

And then this guy stopped by unannounced!  Walked in.  Handed the kids each a candy cane.  Told them they better all sleep in their own bed tonight and then vanished out the door.  I managed to grab the camera but this is the only shot I got.  Sam knows that it was the real Santa, so you can imagine the level of thrill happening here tonight.  

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone!

Christmas Time

Tonight I am working on getting cards out.  Every year I think I will have this done before we are actually into the Dec. 20’s but it never happens. 

We were able to get a decent shot of the six of us for our Christmas card this year, thank you very much.  Here are some other pictures from my camera on our fun if I do say so myself Gill Family early Christmas last Sunday here at our house.

     

Wet Noodle Golden Doodle

Sam just got off the bus singing,

One the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a poodle in a doghouse. 

I thought he made it up, but he said he read it in a book. 

Even if he wasn’t meaning Tammy/Annie/Tess, he didn’t waste any time getting his boots on to go out and see her. 

By the way, someone might need a bath.  Another bath, that is.  Remember Sunday, just three days ago when her master had her all scrubbed up and so clean?

Well, that was then:

This is now:  

She stays in the dog house some, but yep, all this rain and the yard is pretty muddy.  Caroline had both dogs in the basement last night, but I had to run them out because they were extremely messy.  Despite the lousy weather, they seem really happy, though. 

 

Look how fast her tail is swinging! 

There’s no actual pictures since I had to hurry to scramble and save his life, but it was hilarious and I wish I had caught it on film: 

When Sam would stop petting her, her giant paw came right up onto his chest and she about pushed him off the end of the picnic table more than once.  Accidentally, of course.

I think we like being a two-dog family. 

Caroline's Glasses

If you have glasses conpare yours with mine . If you like mine write a  if you don't write b .if you think I look bad

Nicotrol/Tetris Strikes Again

Today as I was driving Jack and Grant to school, Grant was discussing his recent research subject, astronomer Edwin Hubble (of the Hubble Telescope).   He also mentioned his friend’s subject, that it was General George Custer.

Jack piped up in a real 13 year old know it all kind of voice,  “Gah, Grant, at least you should pronounce it right....General Custard.”

YippeeYayYay!

I HAVE NEVER TYPED IN ALL CAPS BEFORE BUT TONIGHT I AM JUST SO EXCITED!  I went from thinking we were doing nothing to now having a family get together at our house Sunday!  : )  : )  : )  Love it!

Thoughts about This Day

Earlier this week, Gary had told me that he was having a group of scouts over Saturday morning (today) and they would be doing a planning meeting out in the shop.  We were in town last night and picked up some donuts and that was about all the prep he had in mind.  Well, this morning we woke up to a temp of 19 degrees outside so he second-guessed the having-the-meeting-in-the-shop-building part.  But it was only 64 degrees in the house-- that pesky wood furnace expects to be fueled all through the night!  And the house wasn’t exactly picked up.  And I had no idea there would be 14 boys and 8 dads coming at 9:00 until at 8:15 when I decided I better get up and dressed.   So then I fast-forwarded into panic mode and did all kinds of clutter pick-up and a quick vacuuming and windexing of the fingerprinty glass.  They all came and it went well and they were able to do some things outside after all although one boy showed up in shorts and I am not kidding.  We had a fire and baked cakes in the Dutch ovens and enjoyed hot cocoa and summer sausage and cheese and crackers and chips for a little lunch.  We ended up taking a walk through our woods and that was wonderful.  One boy fell into the creek (not Grant!) so that made it complete.  Someone always has to have the cold walk back to the house in wet clothes.  But then I realized the time was 1:15 and I had to have the two littles at gymnastics by 2:00 and I was still in mud covered jeans and shoes and at the far back part of our ground.  But with some hustle I got the kids there in time and even after an hour of gymnastics came home to find out some of the guys were still here hanging out and having a good time.  Today was another one of those days that I am glad we bought this farm. 

I have lost a coat.  A winter coat.  Granted, I bought it at Goodwill last month, but what am I--three years old?  How does an adult lose a coat?  I wore it on Thursday, I think, and that’s the last I remember of it.  I had the kids at the dentist so maybe I left it there but I don’t think so.  Guess I will call on Monday.

I had a whoppin wave of baby-want hit me tonight.  We were watching Elf and Buddy as a baby at the beginning in just his diaper and socks and that smooth, bare baby skin of his belly and back and imagining the baby-smelling scalp just made tears come to my eyes and flow and yeah, it’s a good thing we bought into the double protection plan iykwim, or we might have been adding on another bedroom come September.

I feel like half of the lamest parents on Earth.  The kids have been talking Christmas decorations since right after Thanksgiving and here it is less than three weeks to Christmas and we have nothing out and no tree or lights or anything.  Well, nothing besides the two ornaments Caroline made last night so we’d have something Christmasy around here.  The kids point out, “But other houses have stuff up.” 

We tried to get a tree tonight but apparently the Rte. 66 tree farm closes at 5 and the Lions’ Club is already sold out and Home Depot has really slim, ugly pickins.  We will try someplace else tomorrow, kids, I promise.

So after the tree-search fiasco, we picked up Domino’s and came home.  I suggested we could all watch Elf and Gary seemed so perplexed and questioned why I would want to watch Elf.  And I had to question this 30 year thing we’ve had going on.  How could he all of a sudden not know me?  How could someone NOT want to watch Elf?  I don’t know but it was weird that he didn’t remember that I like corny, funny movies. 

I have been thinking about two names today and they just crack me up and I don’t really know why, from the show The Middle:  Justin Standing Bear and Rev. TimTom.  It makes me chuckle out loud thinking of these names and I don’t even know why but I love it.

Well, tomorrow the architect comes over again and I am feeling good about our recent steps toward getting this addition going and some new ideas we are exploring.   And our architect is Billy Bob Thorton and I am not kidding.  He looks like him and sounds like him and I can’t wait for Gary to meet him tomorrow to validate this that I have been thinking since I first met him in what, October?  I will say the adding-on process is already stressful before ever breaking ground or actually tearing up our home.  This could be a bumpy ride, but I think will be so worth it when we are able to comfortably, key word comfortably, invite in a group like we did this morning.  And have anyone who wants to come visit and stay over a few days come hang out with us.  Family, that means you!

Well, that’s all about today for today.  Time to say good night! 

World’s Worst Toy Ever

I am pretty sure this could be submitted to some website like Why'd You Buy Me That or Worst Stuff Ever but of course, I’ll have to share here.  I took the kids to the local toy store last Friday night while we had an hour to kill before the Muppet movie started.  The store is very hands-on and has hundreds of items throughout the whole store for kids to try out.  It really is a neat store.  We’ve spent so many hours there, especially when Jack and Grant were young and so into Thomas.

It was just Sam and Caroline with me that night and they were going strong playing with everything in sight.  I was strolling through by myself, casually browsing, when Caroline brought something up to me and stated very clearly that it was not a toy she wanted.  Pretty atypical to hear when usually they love the chance to show me all they want for Christmas. 

The “toy” had four metal handles attached to a main center by individual wires.  I automatically grabbed the handle and Caroline flipped something on the center and I got the shock of my life!  Maybe I didn’t play it right since essentially you could get shocked at four different spots if you could touch all four handles at the same time, but it was my first time.  One jolt was really enough.

I still can’t believe this was a toy for sale, like people would buy it?!  Like kids would play it?!   They had probably fifteen of them on the shelf.  I’m going to go back a month or two following Christmas and I tell you, I will be shocked if they have any fewer.

Ok, I just found this.  See for yourself.  Crazy, huh?

Whatcha Get When You Cross...

This morning, Caroline to Sam as she notices he's wearing khaki pants and a dark long sleeve shirt:
"Sam, you could go to Cathletic School today!" 

(Catholic is what I'm pretty sure she meant.)

A Quickie with No Real Title

I have literally seven minutes to post something so here it goes.  I have not been blogging much at all lately.  And why not?  Maybe no compelling material tied with minimal time opportunities.  I don’t exactly know, but I miss it.  So today, there’s this off the top of my head for something I can tell you about. 

Grant, the curmudgeonly 11-year-old great grandpa, bringing back thoughts to me of his capri/short-shorts tirade that I would love to link back to to refresh your memories but no time to actually look back through the archives, said this week:

 

What is it with all the girls thinking they have to have boots to wear?  ‘I want these boots, I want these boots.’  They can join the Army if they want boots so bad.   

Love Train

(A phone post)  I was just in a restaurant having some sesame noodles.  The O' Jays 'Love Train' was playing.  I guess I never had really caught the lyrics before.  Sounded so cool, especially this part:
Please don't miss this train at the station.
'Cause if you miss this it, I feel sorry, sorry for you.

I think I'm just really excited to see all the family tomorrow!  Gobble, gobble!

MusicMonday—Hot Rocks

Yesterday Gary put on a cd for us to enjoy a little relaxation time together and I was instantly reminded what a good set of tunes it is. 

Hot Rocks 1964-71 by the Rolling Stones is made up of great song after great song.  I had no idea about the manager/label business that was all going on contributing to this album until reading this on wiki, but regardless of how we got it, whoever had the idea to do this compilation was smart, and the musicians and Mick make my day when I hear these songs.

Sometimes I wish I had been a teenager about fifteen years earlier.  But I did get my turn with the 70’s and 80’s Stones…when I really was a teenager.  I have such a vivid memory of my cool classmate Kelly Coughlin having this Some Girls album in 1978, with all the wig cut outs.  

It’s hard to pick a fave from Hot Rocks so here’s three and lemme tell ya, it was hard to limit myself to three.  I know the sound quality is all over the place on these old clips, but I like actually watching a live performance video, even if lip synched, rather than just a studio version with a RS lips logo stagnant on the screen. 

I made Gary go see the Stones with me in 1997 because I thought that would be the last of them. Ha ha.

 

 

What Happens When You Turn 44

Ah, my birthday was this past week.  There were some ups and some downs that day. 

Up:  Jackson got up and made his own breakfast and packed his lunch as his gift to me.

Down:  I had an email in my inbox from The Scooter Store.  I wish I was kidding. 

Down:  I put on a sweater that is, um, not quite fitting right this year.  I asked Caroline if it looked ok and she said, “No, it looks too small,” just as I suspected.

Up:  Then she said, with all innocent sincerity, “Mom, you must still be getting taller.”

Up:  I worked at the school library.  At one point, I was searching for one specific book out of thousands at the request of a little kindergartener that tells me “on the cover there’s a duck.”  And that’s all he knows, but he really really wants it.  And his eyes tear up when it’s not looking like I could possibly find it and I’m questioning him if it is a made-up story or a book about real ducks.  But wow, did I get a huge beaming smile once I finally found the book for him.  It was a Disney comic-type book with Donald Duck on the cover.  I feel good about my patience some days.

Up:  I had a good check up at the dentist, no work needed. 

Down:  I had the talkingest hygienist on Earth.  She drug a fifteen minute cleaning out to an hour.  I am not kidding. 

Up:  I learned all about her hometown Benld’s burned down Coliseum Ballroom and its ties to Al Capone and that Tina Turner herself is making a donation and appearance to memorialize the building where she and Ike got their start.

Down:  I left my phone at the school and couldn’t call them to tell them to just leave it in the library until I could swing by and get it. 

Up:  When I stopped by to get it, my friend told me her first thought was to text me to let me know that I’d left my phone.

Up:  I treated myself to French onion soup in a bread bowl at Bread Co. followed by a trip into the shoe store.

Down:  The shoes I’ve been eyeing for months still weren’t on sale.

Up:  I bought them anyway, rationalizing it as ok since I had $15 off in coupons and had won $25 at Bunco last week.  And I love my new shoes! 

Down:  I did something wrong that I can’t even remember right now related to Grant. 

Up:  When I admitted my wrongdoing, he said with all innocent sincerity, “That’s ok, mom.  I’m not going to explode on you today.  That can be your birthday present from me.”

Down:  I had to go to a medical office for a follow-up.  I was fine with it, but wished I wasn’t there.  Especially on my birthday.

Up:  In walks my hubby who had secretly taken off work to be there with me. 

Up:  He also gave the one tangible item I wanted this year as a present.   Yesss, my garbage disposal!

Up:  Gary and the kids met my one other demand request and took me out to La Fonda, my favorite Mexican place.  I told them I did not want a big to-do like the giant sombrero and drink on fire and singing and wickedly loud spinning wooden noisemaker like last year.  I just wanted a meal.  Nothing else.

Down:  The kids told the waiter every single time he stopped by the table that it was my birthday.

Up:  The waiter seemed to respect the knife-to-the-throat-cutting gesture I gave him.  I again am not kidding. 

Up:  He brought me a beautiful, muy delicioso dessert with absolutely not one bit of birthday fanfare.

Up: I received like what felt like a million Facebook messages about my birthday and that felt great.  Plus, phone calls and cards and sometimes it just amazes me the people that think of my birthday! 

Up:  I talked to my folks on the phone and had a nice little conversation catching up.

Down:  My dad wished me a Happy 46th Birthday (on my 44th!).  I laughed and he didn’t.  I said “Dad, really?  46??!”  And he said, “Oh, am I off?  Well, I thought you were gettin close to 50.”

Up:  It was a great day. 

Down:  It’s over until next year. 

A Weekend Recap

Wow, this was an eventful weekend.  No one major big thing but so many small ones.

Thursday—

Grandma Barbara came for the night before she flew off to Phoenix.  The kids were so happy she was here. 

I had an excellent night at Bunco, bringing home a prize of $25, clinching the deal that I should just buy the shoes I really want and have been watching for months, even though they never go on sale.  I forgot to notice that it was the Marine Corp birthday.  I do this every year.

Friday—

The kids were off of school for Veteran’s Day.  Their dentist appointments were cancelled by the dentist and I was actually relieved because getting everyone up and out the door by 7:30 a.m. on their day off from school was not looking very fun for me.  Instead, I spent a couple of hours actually sitting in a comfy chair and I watched dvr’d Dancing with the Stars episodes while waiting for the kids to get up.  Later in the morning, I took Jack to the podiatrist and discovered that podiatrists are wonderful people for fixing feet that hurt.  Within the 45 minutes we were in the office, we were called back to the exam room, was reviewed by a nurse, saw the doctor, was treated by the doctor and walked out feeling 100% better than how either of us felt when we walked in. 

The Backstory:  Jack had had an awful ingrown big toenail that he didn’t let us know about for a few months.  Once we became aware of it, it was really, really bad.  He was seen by his endocrinologist and the pediatrician for it and taken two rounds of antibiotics but those didn’t phase the infection and swelling.  So today when we were expecting a recommendation of coming back for a surgery, the podiatrist got right to business, numbed his toe, trimmed the nail in a major way, put carbolic acid on the nail bed to cause permanent death to that section of that nail and, wah-la, problem fixed.  No ongoing lifetime battle for him, fighting ingrown toenails, which can be especially concerning being a  diabetic.   And Jack watched the whole procedure while I scrunched my head into his shoulder so that there was no way I could see what was happening.  And I might add, he marched in the Veteran’s Day parade six hours later. 

**I am thinking there should be a special news segment or maybe a public service announcement on tv and radio about this wonder treatment for ingrown toenails.  For something that can be so incredibly painful and ugly and horrible to live with to be remedied in a matter of minutes completely painfree within a doctor’s office, I think it should be well advertised. 

I asked the doctor if this was a new procedure and he told me he’s been doing it for twenty years. 

I just think the world deserves to know.**

Friday—continued.   I met that afternoon with an architect here at our house to help us finalize some plans about expanding our house.  That was exciting and he will be getting back to us soon (I hope this week) with some preliminary drawings. 

We went to the Veteran’s Day parade that night and I got all teary just like last year on Veteran’s Day and we brought home one of Caroline’s friends for a sleep over.  And you all should just see Jack march sometime.  He stands out so prominently being so tall but also by having a really impressive posture holding and playing his trumpet.

Saturday—I was looking forward to a warm and beautiful day in the woods helping Gary with wood, but it turned out that after I Zumba’d in the morning and Kitti’s parents came to pick her up, I spent the afternoon instead carting my kids around to places like Target to buy a birthday present five minutes before Caroline’s friend’s birthday party and getting Sam to gymnastics where I realized that Sam could be considered a total spaz.  He loves being in gymnastics, but God bless him.

Isn’t it funny how this three word phrase conveys so much more than the three actual words themselves?

I retrieved Caroline from the party and and swung by to pick up a friend of Grant’s who was spending the night.  I took a phone call from my friend and neighbor asking if I was free to go to the Fox Theater with her at 7 pm to see a musical and whadya know?  I was.  I got as dressed up as dressed up can get given my current pitiful SAHM wardrobe and we went to one of my fave restaurants for a quick supper before the show, Billy Elliott.  They spoke with heavy British accents and I did fall asleep several times, but it was cool to be there at the gorgeous Fox and the dancing was so impressive and entertaining.  I got home after midnight!

Sunday—I helped Jack with an unbelievable math project which in a nutshell was to provide an imaginary Thanksgiving meal for thirty people.  He had to come up with a menu, a grocery list, a documentation of the food bill based on an actual visit to a real grocery store (no online shopping allowed) to determine what items he needed to buy given the recipes, how many at what size, and at what cost, keeping in mind he had to serve thirty people. He also had to include a summary of his “shopping experience” and an account of his fictitious cooking experience.  We were at the grocery store from 12:30 or so until 2:30.  It was crazy!  And then once he came home, he had to type it all up, including creating an invitation to the meal and a written conclusion of the whole event. 

And this was an assignment for Algebra 1.  ?!

Then, I mowed and helped Gary a bit with wood before cooking up some chicken and dumplings and heading off to a Zumba MasterClass with….Gary!  We Zumba’d together for 90 minutes and it was so much fun.  He was the only XY chromosomer there, but it didn’t intimidate him at all.  He did great but did reveal he prefers his P90X moves to samba and salsa. 

And I personally find that to be whack.  All I can say is God bless him.

Next, we hit Target to buy more ink for the printer that Jack’s project promptly drained and then quickly regained the calories we exercised off times three with a meal at my other fave restaurant, one of a Mexican persuasion. 

And now here it is midnight ending the weekend and I am tired and so looking forward to bed but have to pass along this one more thing.  I found out this little tidbit just yesterday and had no idea this was on her mind.

Caroline confided in me that she is so excited to say yes when Aunt Debra asks her to be her flower girl! 

Debra, you better get on that. 

Almost a Freshman

This pic was taken before Jack took off for Fancy Day at school.  Looking quite dapper, no?

We had a meeting last week about Jack going to high school and we have another one this week with information about choosing his classes and high school graduation requirements and…

Wait.  High school?!  Did someone say high school?

Is this the same kid?  Our first born?  My baby that took so dang long getting born?

  

I remember a time like this, back when clothes were actually too big for him.  Not man-sized like now.  Now it’s 32 x 32 jeans, people.  And I have to buy him such unbelievably huge shoes. 

Look.  He used to let me take his picture. 

And he’d actually smile. 

What a cutie pie.

Yeah, I remember the good old days.  He let me dress him in bad, primary color 90’s toddler outfits (if only I owned a digital camera back then, I would easily prove it to you). He was counting 1 to 10 in Russian at the same time he was learning 1 to 10 in English.  He used to love to smell the spice jars from the kitchen cabinet.  He was Superman for his first Halloween and rolled over for the first time that very night wearing his blue footie pajamas with the homemade felt S.  He would let me pick him up and rock him in my arms for hours.  He would lie on my chest all nuzzled in at my neck and we’d fall asleep together on the couch. 

Yep, I think it’s hitting me.  I’m missing my baby. 

Go away, dumb high school.

A Birthday Present Worth the Wait

Her birthday was in June, but Caroline just recently received her special present from our neighbors, a chance to ride their horse.  The summer was so hot and then the horse had an injury and anyway, the timing just now worked out.

Here they are after letting her have a little run. 

Caroline learned to duck under branches.

 

And then she learned all about care after the ride.

I think I see a girl in her own personal heaven.

A Fall Day in the Woods

Gotta say, this kind of day alone makes living out here worth it in every way.

We learned so many things: 

Like what footwear is advisible. 

That climbing trees is still fun:

That boys truly do say Look, Mom, no hands!

 

But I have to add, he was literally saying “Look, Mom, no hands and no butt!”

 

That kitties also like to climb trees:

That kitties are easily perturbed and aren’t afraid to show it:

That trees come in all descriptions:

 

That the funnest game in the world is throwing hedge apples into the creek and counting whose takes the longest to float back up.  Here I am a girl that played in the woods all her childhood and I had no idea there was so much variance in bobbing up time.  One took more than a minute and some took three seconds and the others were anywhere in between.

Most importantly, I’m hoping we learned being outside is possibly even more fun than sitting in the basement watching Spongebob.