Gavin Tale Twister #39: The Tooth Fairy and Dad

Tonight Gavin lost a tooth. At bed time... naturally... he was in our bed with his tooth in a zip lock snack bag. Canadian Man Bill was worried the Tooth Fairy wouldn't be able to find Gavin's zip lock (or maybe forget to stop by like has happened so many times before) so he said to Gavin:

"Gavin, why don't you give me your tooth and I will keep it safe under my pillow where we know the Fairy will be able to find it."

Gavin's immediate response "No way Dad! If the tooth is under your pillow. The Tooth Fairy will probably leave $20 bucks. Then you'll take the twenty and replace it with a five. I think I'll just keep the tooth safe and sound with me under my own pillow. Good Night Dad!"

That Tooth Fairy better not forget to stop by! Gulp!!!!

RECIPES: CUMIN SPICED GREEN BEANS

1 Tbs Olive Oil

1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds

1/4 cup onion chopped fine (optional)

1 Family Size (24 oz) Frozen Cut Frozen Green Beans

1 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder (don't get this on your clothes or it will never come out)

1/2 tsp salt

1 large fresh squeezed Lemon (about 4 Tbsp)

Heat Olive Oil on Med Hi

Drop in Cumin Seeds

Immediately add onions and saute for 1 min

Add Frozen Green Beans and saute for 5 minutes until all beans are soft

Sprinkle cumin, turmeric, and salt. Sautee for 10 more minutes.

Squeeze lemon over beans.

Serving Suggestions: Serve as a vegetable side with grilled chicken, steak or shrimp. Serve over 1/4 cup brown rice for a healthy side.

RECIPES: VIDALIA ONION DIP (Super Bowl Party Perfect)

THIS IS NOT MY ORIGINAL RECIPE SO I WOULD NOT USUALLY POST THIS ON MY BLOG SITE BUT BECAUSE I SO MANY HAVE ASKED ME FOR THIS RECIPE, I FINALLY DECIDED TO POST IT. I GOT IT FROM MY DEAR FRIEND KELLY AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT SHE SHARED BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DIPS TO MAKE. I ALWAYS HAVE THESE ITEMS IN THE HOUSE IN CASE WE HAVE UNEXPECTED COMPANY. IT IS A SUPER HIT EVERY TIME I MAKE IT.

1 Block Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)

1 (2cup) Bag Kraft Italian Blend Shredded Cheese (Publix brand is fine too)

2 Heaping Tbs Mayonaise

1 Extra Large Sweet Onion (I like Vidalia) Grossly Chopped

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Transfer to a 8x8 glass baking dish.

Bake for 1 hour until bronze on top and bubbling in the middle.

Gavin Tale Twister #38: Charlie Bit My Finger! THE SEQUEL

Most of you who surf the Internet have seen the You Tube sensation called "Charlie Bit My Finger". If you have not seen it, you should and you can by clicking here.

Hilarious! Isn't it? Well, my kids have seen that video about 100 times.

They love this video so much that they take turns playing Charlie while the other brother taunts his index finger close to Charlie's mouth. The laughter from the beginning to the end of each re-enactment, with a British accent of course, is something only the parents of two boys could really enjoy. Anyone with two boys knows that they usually only communicate by picking on one another and trying to beat each other up so anytime they are laughing together is a blessing. Since we live in the states but are of mixed heritage, our children have come to appreciate and imitate many of the various accents they have heard.

One night a couple weeks ago I had to go to the grocery store. I dread the grocery store especially with the kids but I had to go. We went in with a short list and got to the checkout line with twice as much stuff. I was so irritated by my children asking for stuff and sneaking all kinds of JUNK into the cart. It was so bad that I was pretty much was the parent with her back to her children trying to pretend they were not mine. They were so happy and excited to be at the store and I was absolutely miserable with them there! We made it to the register and still my back was to them. You know how if you just ignore a two year old's tantrum and walk away, the two year old will get up, stop the tantrum and run after you and then try to get your attention some other way. We must have done that a lot at age two because at age 8 and 12, both Gavin and Sam were right on my tail, almost inside my personal space and yes they were trying to get my attention the entire time. I couldn't move fast enough through that store.

I sighed and took a deep breath when the cashier finally said "Did you find everything you need?" It was as if I reached the finish line. I responded with a polite "Yes, Thank You!" All the personnel behind the counter then tried to acknowledge the boys. I just ignored all of them as if I were saying- what boys?

There was a cashier and a training cashier as well as the bag boy all watching what was going on behind my back. I stayed strong and did not turn to give them any attention. As my bill was racking up into the 40's, the conversation between the boys had turned into the "Charlie! You Bit My Finger!" re-enactment. I had heard it about a billion times so I again did not acknowledge the boys antics for attention. I heard every word but did not turn my head to look!

The conversation went something like this. Sammy (12) played the 15 month old baby Charlie and Gavin (8) played the 4 year old big brother.

Gavin said to Sammy (Charlie) as he sticks his index finger close to Charlie's mouth. (Say this with a British accent:) "Now, Chaaaleee your not going to bite my fin ga, arrrr uuuu?"

Sammy shakes his head from ear to ear and responds back "an-ahh " (that is baby talk for NO!) as he is giggling and lunges forward with his big wolf like teeth. Gavin quickly retracts his finger and then tries again saying:

"Bad Chaliee, Bad bad Chaliee!" Pause... Giggle. "Now Chaaliee, your not going to bite my fin ga, now arrrrr uuuu?"

Again Sammy says "an-ahh" and just when Gavin gets close enough with his finger, Sammy lunges forward to bite Gavin's finger. Gavin retracts the endangered finger once again and just in time.

This went on a couple of times and by now the cashiers and bag boy were fully engaged but only because the boys were having so much fun. I still did not look.

"Chaaaaaleee, you promised you wouldn't bite moi fin-ga."

Sammy smiled like a 2 year old with big bright eyes and bobbed his head up and down wanting to please his 4 year old big brother and willing to follow his every command.

" Chaaalee..... you promise? Right? " Sam sill bobbing his head up and down as if he were in agreement.

"OK Chaaalee, you promised!" Gavin raised his index finger closer , closer, closer and closer to Sammy's mouth. With Gavin's finger went his whole upper body as if this was to shield the finger in jeopardy.

The giggles had turned to uncontrollable laughter by now. Gavin and Sam's faces were red and sweating. It was as if there wasn't anyone else around. They were in their own little world. I maintained my iron clad stance facing the register and trying to pay as quickly as possible so we could make a quick escape without any more attention. The cashiers and bag boy were now all eyes and ears fixed on the skit going on behind me.

Right about this time Gavin was laughing so hard that his eyes were almost closed.

Sam with his cat like reflexes took advantage of his opportunity. He snatched Gavin's hand paralyzing him and went in for the kill. Crunch! Gavin squealed in pain. Yes, Chaalee bit his fin-ga! Gavin's face was red and his eyes were watery as he screamed out with pain but still in his perfect British accent (say this just how it is spelled- and loudly) "CHAAAALEEEEEE!!! YOUUUU LOIED!!!!!" YOUU LOIED CHAALEE!!!! (YOUU LOIED in a british accent is YOU LIED here in the states.)

Yes everyone was laughing including me but I still didn't look and as funny as that turned out I still don't want to ever take them to the grocery store again!

I caught a re-enactment of this at home and will post it here when I figure out how to do that.

Gavin Tale Twister #37: Check Your Pockets!

Gavin (8) does not have many friends come to the house. Not because he has no friends but because his lame Mom and Dad are too exhausted by the end of the week to make that happen for Gavin. Why you ask? Maybe because we have a 12 year old whom for 3 1/2 years before Gavin was born we spent too much time ooing, ahhing, taking pictures, and showing him the world. Now we spend every day driving that 12 year old to his activities. Gavin sits by just watching. Actually, Gavin was doomed before birth! When he came along we were pooped and just happy to sit and watch TV. As you have more kids, you have less time and everything you want to do for yourself gets put on the back burner. You want to nap every day and the kids want to play with other kids. I'm tired just thinking about it.

Being the second child, life is supposed to be different isn't it? Few baby pictures, no play group or baby music classes to enrich his minds, no shopping sprees for brand new cute smocked jumpers, lots of hand-me- downs and he'll learn what he learns when ever he learns it. We are not spoon feeding everything to Gavin like we did Sam.... we don't have that kind of time unless we ditch the silver baby spoon and switch to something more efficient like a funnel. Poor Gavin ....I can barely remember what he looked like as a baby. Bad Mommy!

So last month, I made a promise to Gavin that we were going to build up his network of friends just like we did with Sammy. I think we have done pretty good so far. In the last week, I have gone out of my way to invite one of his class mates over to hang out after school and the other night we had a child from the neighborhood come play.

On that particular night, My Canadian Man Bill and I smiled as Gavin ran around trying to be a good host. He fed his friend junk food and drinks, asked his friend what he wanted to do while he was over, and was attentive to his friend's need. I think Gavin even tried to pay his friend $3 to play something Gavin really wanted to play.

The two of them were up in Gavin's bedroom playing and Gavin ran down to get more drinks. Mind you, you can hear every word said in Gavin's room because his bedroom is just next to the top of the stairs and we were sitting in the living room just next to the bottom of the stairs. Upon Gavin's return to his bedroom, Gavin realized that he could not find his $20 bill that he supposedly placed in a safe spot somewhere in his room. This is the only money Gavin has to his name and I have no idea where he got it from other than earlier I overheard Sam saying something about his $20 missing from his pocket. I can only guess what happened there. Anyway, I could sense that Gavin was in a panic because I could hear a lot of rustling around up there. After about 10 seconds of looking, Gavin says to his friend "HEY! I CAN'T FIND MY TWENTY DOLLAR BILL. CHECK YOUR POCKETS!"

Bill and I busted out laughing. Gavin might just be minus one friend in his ohhhh soooo empty friend bank.

I should probably talk to Gavin about needing making deposits with his friends so when he accidentally overdraws , it's not such a big deal. In other words stay on the plus side by treating your friends nicely so when you botch something up, they are more likely to forgive you. If you take take, take and never give, you will end up very lonely!

I just read this post to Sammy. Oops he just realized that his $20 is not where he put it......in that wide open not so secret hiding place behind the TV! Ha!

Older and Wiser #1: Now You Have Hindsight!

Following breaking news of the scandal that broke mid November 2011, Joe Paterno was quoted saying "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.” He is now dead 3 months later, complications of lung cancer or maybe a broken heart.

In case you missed it, I usually do, here's the skinny. Joe Paterno fondly know as JoePa, is considered the winningest coach in college football coaching Penn State for 46 years.His coaching style focused on character, academics and honor first and championships second. Mid season of 2011 JoePa's former assistant, Jerry Sandusky, was accused of molesting 10 boy over 15 years and some of them in the football building itself.

What does that have to do with JoePa you ask? Well another graduate assistant reported to JoePa seeing such abuse going on in the shower of the football complex way back in 2002. JoePa praised the assistant for doing the right thing by telling him and took the information reporting it to the school and left it at that.

When I look at it from his point of view, maybe he did do what he thought was his responsibility at the time. His boss, "the school" has some responsibility too. Right?

Is that what you or I would have done? I have never been in those shoes but I think if it had been his own child that this had happened too, he would have followed up. JoePa's response was that " this sort of thing was not usually heard of back then." Maybe it didn’t. Maybe he had such belief in his employers and that they would do the right thing that he just left it at that.

I feel sorry that after all of his life contributions, JoePa died before the scandal was resolved and before he could be vindicated.

That could have been any of our children in that same situation. I would like to think that adults, teachers and coaches are there to not only teach our kids but to protect them from hare. If it were my child that were abused I think I would have done something more so so why not do it for someone else's child?

That reminds me of the movie "A Time To Kill" starring Samuel L Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, and Sandra Bullock. That was a great movie and you should rent it if you have not seen it.

So Really!What would you do? Really? What would you do?

Don't just wish you had the benefit of hindsight because now you have it.

Don't let your life end like JoePa's did. Make all that is wrong in your life right before the hindsight kicks you right in the face.

Gavin's Tail Twister #36: I'm Not Copying You!

Over the Christmas holiday, we went on a little vacation. We happened to take one of Sammy's friends with us. While in the hotel room during the very little down time we had, all of the boys (Sammy 12, Gavin 8, and Kevin who was also 12) made spinner! What is a spinner you ask? It is a piece of paper that is folded origami style to form a small 2 inch square that when you flick opposite corners, it spins. If you color the top with bright colors, it really looks cool.

The boys must have made about 15 each and occasionally would ask for us to pick which one was the best. So there was a who made the coolest looking spinner competition going on daily. Gavin did not win the first competition and was not happy. I secretly tried to find out which ones were Gavin's so I could pick his to win but he wanted to win fairly.

On this particular day after coming in from the pools and water slides, both Kevin and Gavin set out to make spinners. They sat across from each other folding spinners and then trying to color them the best they could so they could win the next "coolest spinner contest". I was putting stuff away and noticed Gavin frequently glancing over toward Kevin as he worked diligently to color his spinner. Gavin would glance over to look at Kevin's spinner and then look down to his own spinner ... glance over, look down to his own...glance over, look down to his own spinner. It was almost as if he were comparing or maybe even copying Kevin.

At that very moment Gavin spoke up and said..."Kevin I know it looks like I am copying you but I'm really not....your probably see me keep looking over and are wondering why I'm looking at your spinner."

No answer from Kevin. He was too busy to care about what Gav was saying.

Gavin continued explaining..."Really! I'M NOT COPYING YOU. I, I, I'M JUST INSPIRED BY YOUR WORK!"

Ha Ha Ha! I hope he never uses that line in school!!

Gavin's Tail Twister #35: Waking Gavin!

One night I was laying with Gavin and having some pillow talk with him. He asked that I wake him at 5AM.

" Oh and Mom when you wake me, do it like this." He rocked me gently and said in a sweet tiny voice "Gaaavin, Gaaaaavin, it's tiiimme to get uuuupppp." "Don't wake me like Sam does."

"And just how does Sam wake you?" I asked.

"Well!" "Well Sam usually says in a yelling voice 'GAVIN!!!! GET AUH-UUP!' in mid air, right before he body slams me."

"No he does not!"

"Yes he does Mom and when he lands on me, his butt is positioned perfectly by my face and he lets out a big fart while his whole body weight keeps me paralyzed so I have to smell the whole fart!"

I laughed and laughed at the thought. The things kids will make up.

The following morning I woke up early and gently tried to wake Gavin to no avail. I came down stairs to find Sammy awake and told him the story Gavin told me about Sam's method of waking Gavin in the morning . Sam just laughed and laughed but never denied it.

At about 6:30 AM Gavin comes barreling down the stairs just a fussin' at me. He wanted to know why I did not wake him at 5. I explained that I tried unsuccessfully. His only response was "Why didn't you just body slam me?"

Between he and Sammy, I can't tell whose telling the truth! Hee Hee! It does conjure up a pretty funny picture in my head though.

Gavin Tail Twister #34: Don't Eat The Cranberry Sauce!

This Thanksgiving, we celebrated as usual with my entire family. Dad, 4 of the 5 siblings and even my Step Mom. In addition, this year one of my sisters boyfriends entire family joined us. They had sold their home and were in a temporary apartment so we asked them to join us and they did. There were tree ladies in the family... the mom and the two sisters each of whom made a dish... twice baked potatoes, fresh green bean walnut salad and cranberry sauce. All of these dishes were ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! And I'm not just saying that. The food was awesome!

We set up two long tables with a round in between. The round table is where Sam and Gavin both sat smack in the middle of everyone . No problem there until Gavin goes for seconds and comes back with turkey and cranberry sauce. Before he sits down he with his loud voice commands every one's attentions to deliver important information.

"Everyone, everyone! I have to warn you if you go get seconds DON'T! I SAID DON'T EAT THE CRANBERRY SAUCE. I TASTED IT AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!!!!"

My eyes were wide open in disbelief. I couldn't believe that Gavin had just insulted one of our guests. I looked at the sister that had made the cranberry dish who by the way was sitting smack next to me and said "I am sooo so sorry!" She busted out laughing and was very gracious about the delivery of Gavin's news. The majority of the evening was spent talking about food in general and how delicious the cranberry really was. She wasn't buying it though.

My brother called several days later to tell me how awesome Thanksgiving Day was and how awesome all the food was and he said and I quote "especially the cranberry sauce" but he really meant it!

Gavin's Tail Twister #33: I'M IN A CRISIS!!!

Early Christmas Shopping ? Yep! Today Canadian Man and I got up early to go to an arcade auction. You read correctly...an arcade auction where they auction gaming machines and pool tables. We were going early Christmas shopping so we took our kids over to the neighbors to play for a couple of hours. On the very short drive to their house one street over, I turn to Gavin only to see his hair sticking up like a turkey's hind feathers.

Three blocks away from the neighbors: "Gavin, I told you to comb your hair."

Gavin's mouth immediately dropped open and his hand rose up to the exact point of the spike. It wasn't a little turkey-like it was so long and spiky that one could almost mistake Gavin for a Cha cha cha chia Pet. It reminded me of the that time Sammy (big brother) put peanut butter in Gavin's hand and then tickled his ear so peanut butter would be all over Gavin's head and hair when he awoke. When Gavin got up the next morning, there was nothing laying that hair down except a full head scrubbing.

"OH MY GOD mom why didn't you tell me to comb my hair earlier." Gavin was pushing his hair down really hard.

Two blocks away: "I did tell you three times. Here put this on." I handed him chap stick for his lips because his lip edges were red from being out in the wind the day prior.

Gavin ignored my request. His eyes were furrowed and he was in distress. He even started to get panicky and resorted to licking his palms and trying to paste the spikes over to one side.

One block away: "Here Gavin put this on " I repeated.

Half block away: Now even more panicky and pushing down harder on the hair. "Mom, I'm can't do anything you say. Can't you see, I'M IN A CRISIS!!!"

Rolling up the driveway: Teee Heeee! "Gavin no big, when you go inside, just go to the bathroom and put some water on your hair and then comb it with your fingers just like you do every morning at home."

Putting it in park: "I can't!"

Parked: "You can!"

Doors opening: I can see Gavin nervously fidgeting before getting out of the car. His eyes are searching his brain for a solution to his problem which may result in potential heckling and embarrassment if he has to enter someone else's home with that head.

My final glance: Gavin exits the car quickly and pulls the back of his jacket over his head so no one could see his hair as if he were trying not to get wet in a thunderstorm. As he darted into the house to head to the sink, I thought to myself ... I wonder if Gavin would have cared about his hair so much if one of the kids he was visiting wasn't a GIRL... quick thinking Gavin...she would have teased you more than her brother and yours too. That probably was a crisis in his little mind. So cute!!!

Samuel's Tale Twister #3 : It Sounded Good!

My son Samuel (11) made his middle school basketball team this season. He was so excited when he heard he had made it that we went right out and purchased a new pair of basketball shoes and a basketball hoop to practice on.

Day one of basketball practice: "I wanna quit basketball!"says Sammy.

My response was "Oh really, was it too much work for you?" (Hee! Hee! under my breath.)

"Yes all we did was run. We ran 3 miles and we had to do each lap under a certain time otherwise everyone had to run more. We did NOTHING with a basketball!"

Day two: "I am sick!"

Day three: "I think I sprained my ankle! My leg hurts!"

"Where?...Here ?" I asked.

"Ouch, owe-ch! Yes and yes." Replies Sam.

"Sam that is called shin splints. You need to stretch before you run. This will all get better as you do it more. " I said.

"All we did was run a bunch today too. I don't see what that has to do with basketball."

"It is called conditioning Sam. That is so when you get on the court you will be able to play for longer periods of time. I am sure the coach doesn't want you to get into a game and be tuckered out before the game gets going. You knew you would have to do some conditioning before you joined the team! We talked about how doing other sports that strengthen your core and give you balance are great for getting you ready for next baseball season. "

"Yea, well, it sounded good!"

"Ah ha ha ha! Yea Sammy, kinda like it sounds like a good idea to plan to go to the gym at 5AM until the alarm goes off and I have to get out of bed."

Gavin's Tail Twister #33: Your Fat!

It was the day before Halloween and I had not made any attempt to participate in any Fall Festivities. No pumpkin, no cob webs, no spiders, no candied apples... oh and no candy. I thought to myself...Maybe this is the year I should just skip Halloween. I wonder what the kids will think if I do that. Will that scar them for life, label me bad mommy for life or maybe they won't even notice. It was Sunday afternoon and tomorrow was Halloween. I had about 6 hours before bed time to figure it all out. Sammy (11) at his age is ok with most everything as long as he gets to get together with his friends to roam the neighborhood on Halloween night. Gavin on the other hand is all about "CELEBRATING LIFE!"

Gavin and I were in the car about to head home when Gavin finally said with an accusing bad mommy tone "MOAMMM! Tomorrow is Halloween and we have not carved a pumpkin yet and we have no candy! We gotta go to the store NOW!" I could see him in my rear view mirror as he cut his eyes over my way with what looked like a child's disgust. His brow was furrowed and his jaw was clinched. I'm not scared of a little 8 year old so I attempted again. "It is so late and our pumpkin would only be out only one day. Maybe we could do a couple of pumpkins next year."

"NO! responded Gavin. (Loudly I might add!) We have to carve a pumpkin and put out decorations today so we can be ready for all the festivities tomorrow." He was not going to buy into my trick. I guess we are not skipping this holiday. I am pretty sure there would be some mental long term scarring for Gavin.

So....I turned the car around and headed to Kroger only to find zero...yep zero pumpkins available for purchase not even the plug in kind. I drove on to Fresh Market... same story. I knew my only real option was to go to the dreaded pumpkin patch where the trunk or treat was taking place at that exact moment. There was going to be no parking and there would be tons of people everywhere. I was worried Gavin would be sucked up in the excitement of trunk or treat with the big jumpy activities and want to side track. We got there and I tried to get out of getting the pumpkin one more time. No chance! Gavin was so focused on the patch and getting that pumpkin that he was trying to keep me on his mission and told me "Do not to even think about going over to the church for other activities Mom". "Well OK then" I replied. We got in and out under $12 and in 30 minutes. We ended up with one carving pumpkin and 2 small cute pumpkins to draw faces on. We got home and Gavin went to immediate carving mode, drawing all over the pumpkin face and then shedding tears over his crooked mouth. Gavin even got the drawing on his small pumpkin done.

Sammy comes in the door and Gavin immediately picks up the two small pumpkins saying in a very calm soft tone with no inflection on any work "here Sam draw a face on your pumpkin...hurry up we don't have time to talk about it...tomorrow is Halloween." Sam immediately was looking around questioning for what we brought back for him "Why did I get this one, what are my choices." Sam said dismissing Gavin's urgency. Gavin replies "we have one big one to carve, a tiny little one for me and this bigger on for you. Oh... and yours is bigger (pause) .... 'cause (pause) ... well 'cause you're fat! The insults never stop between brothers and I love it because it makes for some pretty good blog topics.

Gavin's Tail Twister #32: Brotherly Love!

Tonight I am on call and Angel (the nanny) is staying late with her 21 month old because Canadian Man is not home until late and I need someone to stay in case I get called to the hospital. The baby was trying to go to sleep, Gavin was doing his homework and Sammy was on XBox with his friends hooting and hollering.

I politely asked Gavin to walk upstairs and "tell you brother to please hold it down because the baby is trying to sleep."

"No mom!" Gavin said.

"Please Gavin just tip toe up and close his door and ask him nicely please hoot and holler not so loud. The baby is trying to sleep. If you say it nicely he will listen."

Gavin stood up and looked at me, rolled his eyes, and said: " How about just "Shut Up and Be Quiet!"

That is brotherly love!

Gavin Tail Twister # 31 : THEY HUG ME BETTER THAN MY OWN MOTHER!

This week has been a tough week! Everyone is in trouble in our house. Both boys and "That Canadian Guy" (usually he is My Canadian Man)... not today. I am not happy! I came home after a tough day, my head hurt, my eyes were bulging and the young-ins were yapping and I just wanted to be left alone to go to bed early.

We all shower one by one and got ready for bed. I go to the sun room as usual where Sam is getting some help from his Dad on his homework.

Gavin comes in after his shower and yes already with his school uniform clothes on for the next day. He begins to thread his belt through the belt loops when ...

"Gavin, what are you doing with your school clothes on?" Canada Man said.

"Oh!" With eyes wide open, lips stuck out as to acknowledge our displeasure and head tilted to the side like a birddog that has just spotted a bird, Gavin answers his dad. "I'm getting ahead for tomorrow so I can sleep in and I am supposed to be in bed in 1 minute exactly so I've got to hurry. "

"Gavin go put your PJ's on and lay your clothes by your bed!"

Gavin looks at me for help and says "I can't mom, I,I,I.."

I interrupt and say to Gavin. "Your pants are too tight. Go change your clothes and put your clothes by your bed!"

"But Mom, I am already ready!"

" Well you won't be able to sleep properly tonight, you'll be uncomfortable and they look tight."

Gavin's reply "No they're not mom. I like them like this. They, they ,they hug me better than my own mother does! (There is a long pause as Gavin wraps his arms around his pants.)

Gavin looks at me and says" Mom, give me a hug."

I attempt to give Gavin the best hug ever so I can beat those pants for the best hug competition. Gavin stepped back and rolled his eyes up towards the ceiling as to be digesting my hug and comparing it to the hug he is getting from those tight pants. After a long hmmmmmmmm Gavin's final words were: "Nope I like my pants better (rubbing his belly and pants)!"

I chuckled as he ran off to try to get in bed with out us putting the kibosh on his plan to hit the snooze button a couple of times and then jumping right out of bed already dressed so he could enjoy a leisurely breakfast and still make it to school on time.

And after I smiled, no one was in trouble any more.

Gavin Tail Twister # 30 : IT'S A NATURAL RESOURCE IN THE SOUTH!!

So today I started the morning with Zumba (That is Latin Dance Aerobics Class) and coffee with a friend at Starbucks. I came home around noon and relieved My Canadian Man Bill of his fatherly duties so he could go to the golf course for a round of golf. I gathered up a quick errand list and headed out the door with Gavin (8) to go grab brunch and master the tasks on my list.

Gavin's first words when we got into the car was "I'M STARVING!" "Me too Gavin." I said and off we went. In my mind we were mainly out to run errands but in Gavin's mind we we off to spend quality brunch time. His recommendation was McDonald's. "I don't think so!" is my response. I gave Gavin some choices and those choices didn't include McDonald's. We finally mutually agreed on Cracker Barrel. When we arrived we did the usual things like shopping in the front for our favorite nick knacks and candy of course. We were then seated and ordered our food after which we both managed to attain "GENIUS STATUS" on the triangle golf tee game that God knows had a billion germs on it because every kid and adult wants to see if they are genius.

The food came and of course it came with a plate of biscuits. We both ate about half of our food and a biscuit. Then we packed the remainder for Bill to eat later. In the take home box was chicken and rice some macaroni and cheese some shrimp (yes shrimp from Cracker Barrel! Yuck!), last but not least a tasty biscuit that Gavin would have eaten if I had not stopped him. Since he arleady had one, I made him put it in the box for his dad.

Off we went again to finish our errands. Finally on the way home an hour later, I could see Gavin hiding something in the back seat. After I asked what he was hiding several times, I glanced back and could see the take home box was cracked open. In that moment, I knew what would be missing.... you guessed it... the biscuit!

"Gavin, I thought we were going to save that biscuit for dad?"

"Well I was getting hungry."

"You could have waited to get home and had a fruit snack. You really should have saved that biscuit for dad because you already had one."

"Yea but I was hungry and you know Mom it's a NATURAL RESOURCE IN THE SOUTH!"

Ha ha! You are so funny Gavin!