The Twinnies and the Canoe Trip

I happened upon a picture of a canoe in a magazine I was reading. That’s all it took and my mind was going back to a wonderful and treasured memory. Autumn’s and my very first canoe trip when we were very young Twinnies. We must have been maybe about 7 years old and the trip was with our Dad and beloved Uncle Tony. It was such an anticipated trip and Autumn and I had been told a couple weeks in advance. Dad was probably sorry he shared the happy upcoming event too early, we about drove him crazy with questions! When was the day we were going? He patiently pointed out the day on the calendar and marked it with a big red star for us, too.

Still, Autumn and I had other questions, did anyone doubt it? Needless to say, when the big day arrived the pair of us were just literally jumping for joy! Yay, off we went to pick up Uncle Tony and on our way to our much loved Pine Creek for our canoe ride! It was maybe a half hour drive from our house, enough of a car ride to have both of us Twinnies being overly chatty.

I know, that sure never changed kind readers…Autumn and I always have plenty to say it seems. We also loved singing with our Dad, so we had a song or two with Uncle Tony joining in also. Autumn and I only bugged them a couple times about when we would get there, how much longer? Anyway, we arrived at where the canoe was docked and got on our life jackets with Dad’s and Uncle Tony’s help of course.

We Twinnies got another going over about water safety, we were taught quite early about it all. But Dad went over it all one more time, just to be safe and sound he explained. Wow, the sights and sounds when floating along on the water! The water so clear, you could see all the underwater treasures! The birds singing happily, those beautiful and awesome mountains surrounding us. Autumn and I were being well behaved for us, we only got a warning about trailing our hands in the water.

Oh yeah, we had made up a song about the water, the canoe and after singing the same couple verses for too long…Well, Dad asked us nicely to give it a rest. The canoe trip was truly such a magical experience and so wonderous to us Twinnies we weren’t going to do anything dumb to mess it up for ourselves! We might have our moments, but we were no fools! The ride ended much too soon for Autumn and me of course because we would happily have ridden for hours. It was a magic day, one that sticks in my mind as so special and happy. Dad and Uncle Tony are both in Heaven now, so the memories are a joy to have.

Do any of you kind readers have any memories of an adventure like this one? If you would like to share, it would be great hearing all about it! 🙂 PS The only small mishap of this perfect day was after docking the canoe Autumn and I got our socks and sneakers wet stepping into the very shallow water. Never fear, our Mom had packed extras! 😉 🙂

The Twinnies Take on the Principal~ by Gabby

This is a true story, no matter how obnoxious it sounds…I remember it all too well. When Autumn and I were 5 years old, 4 months shy of our 6th birthday we started first grade. It was a bit early, I know! Here in our area, back when we were this age they didn’t have kindergarten or pre-school. Being a bit advanced for our age, our parents decided to start us in school. It was good in a way, but little did everyone know…We started quite early bucking the system. By all rights, I should be embarrassed to tell this one. Well, I’m not and Autumn agreed with me it was too funny not to share.

OK, we twinnies were excited when we heard about going to school and were all for it. Our Mom and Dad had talked to us all about it, what fun it sounded. Our Mom took us to the first day of our first grade, all was not fine! The principal had talked our Mom into putting us in separate classes, as there was 2 first grade classes. Autumn and I did try and go with the flow, honestly we did. A few minutes after our Mom left we started separately sniffling and tears were flowing. The teachers were busy comforting other students, their mistake.

Neither of our teachers noticed this stunt right away, I am serious. Autumn, the bold twinnie that she is took it upon herself to right this major wrong! Without permission she trotted out of her classroom and into mine, grabbed my hand and off we went! Where you ask? Off to see the principal, of course…Where else! Did we stop and think about being scared for being so gutsy, of course not. We made our way to the principal’s office, not stopping for any teacher who noticed.

The school nurse tried to get us back to our classrooms, too. She had no luck whatsoever! A few of the foolish enough teachers to ask where we were going…Autumn spoke up to them with no fear. That twinnie merely answered, “We are going to see the principal and you can’t stop us!” I know it sounds rude, we weren’t trying to be because we were raised quite well and taught respect. You have to understand, the twinnies were not being separated and that was final. Another answer to a poor teacher from Autumn…”Somebody made a mistake, the principal needs us to talk to him.” Nobody stopped us either, what were they thinking? Maybe that we were harmless and wanted to see the show?

We twinnies reached the principal’s office and got quickly ushered in. Our parents knew this man, our Mom had pointed his office out to us, poor Mom she really wasn’t expecting this to occur, obviously. Mr H. tried to get in the first word…But on we twinnies went with our speech. Telling him how we needed to be in the same classroom. He needed to fix the mistake and we didn’t want to quit first grade but we would if he wasn’t going to listen. Mr. H. called our Mom after calming us down and Yay, we got our way and Mr. H.. had seen our side of the story.

The downside of all this, it was talked about for years to come by the principal, the teachers and the school nurse. Even as adults, they still reminded us…Oh well, it was a small price to pay. Never again did the school try to separate the twinnies! You see, TF <3=Twins Forever had started quite young for us and will remain! 😉 🙂

The Twinnies Celebrate A Birthday ~ by Gabby

Yes indeed we twinnies were born January 15th. Being twins, we never knew anything else but having to share a birthday. It was just fun and a nice thing, in case nobody else ever remembered we could wish each other a “Happy Birthday“! 😉 Our birth was such a trauma to our poor Mom, she will never forget of course. An emergency c-section, Autumn and I were delivered only a minute apart. We all could have really not survived, so that is a blessing we all made it! I am the one who is a minute older, not that it’s ever been lorded over Autumn’s head. Seriously, I have  never gloated about the one minute thing, (I think). 😉

What a start to parenthood for our Mom and Dad…Twins, a little double blessing we were. At least that is the story we got told, how exciting it was to find out it wasn’t one baby but two! We had grandparents, aunts and uncles who looked forward to our birth, too. It’s a nice feeling to know we twinnies were so welcomed. To think, we never gave Mom and Dad one problem or woe or cause for headaches after that…OK, that is a total fabrication I admit. 😉 I hear tell we were quite a handful, charming and cute…But also very much double the trouble at times.

Anyway, it was an exciting day for all…January 15th and it kind of went down in history, too. Not us twinnies, I am referring to Martin Luther King! What an honor to share his birthday…Such a man of peace and wonderful thoughts, dreams and inspiration to many. It’s just very sad how he was gone too soon and with such tragedy…I am happy he has his own special holiday. Celebrated of course on Monday the 16th of January, may he be remembered forever!

Anyway, birthday thoughts…Autumn and I are grateful to be here yet another year of course. We have always celebrated together, it’s been a tradition since the start and it’s always fun.How old are we? As Autumn nicely put it…Still a couple years away from the dreaded decade. Age is really is only a number after all, isn’t it? So, there you have it…Another birthday for the twinnies and hopefully a very good year! 🙂 🙂

The Tooth Fairy Knows Where You Live ~By Gabby Angel

This thought occured while talking to a friend who was telling me of her child’s first lost baby tooth.   Always either a trauma or a time of bravery!  Losing baby teeth when Autumn and I were young, always meant a visit from the tooth fairy. On it went with every little sister…Some of them were cute, funny, drama queen like, or long and drawn out or down right gutsy!

Twinnie and I were pretty brave about our loose baby teeth, we were in it for the money. 😉 I am kidding of course, I wouldn’t give us that much credit for bravery. The one who sticks in my mind is our youger sister S. She is 9 years younger than us twinnies and Sister #5 in the bunch of 6 of us sisters. Sorry, I am making us sound like a bunch of nuns, with all this sisters business. Nope, even though raised Catholic none of us made it to being a nun…Probably for the best, too. Oops, here I am digressing again…Makes you wonder what a chat with me would be like doesn’t it? The same goes for Autumn, we eventually get back on track though!

Anyway the story of S. and the loose baby tooth, she was about 6 years old and that would make Autumn and me about 15 years old. Obviously by that age we were very helpful and sympathetic, which was a good thing in this instance. S. was wearing just a tiny bit on both Mom and Dad‘s patience and perhaps nerves with her several days of carrying on about this loose tooth. She was not being agreeable to any of their kind suggestions, S. was making it the main subject for all of us.I am sorry to report she was rather a drama queen, her cuteness made you forget that part. On it went, with the other two little sisters getting rather snippy to her and calling her a baby and other such things.

One day she came running to us twinnies for comforting after one incident. Sniffling and sad, she wanted Autumn or me to get her loose little baby tooth out. Oh my goodness, this was a first for us and I must admit I was rather unsettled. I didn’t want to do it, Autumn to the rescue she bravely volunteered! S.’s tooth was seriously hanging by a thread according to Autumn (she whispered this to me for reassurance). As S. had her little mouth opened Autumn quickly got the little baby tooth out in a flash! S. was surprised and very happy, it didn’t hurt she kept saying.

Then, she started on the tooth fairy and asked us 3 or 4 imes if the tooth fairy would visit, how did the tooth fairy know where she lived, she must have asked that one a half dozen times! If she put it under her pillow what if it fell on the floor or whatever, would the tooth fairy find it? And by the way, how much money was the tooth fairy going to leave her, by the way? So many questions…Such are the ways of little sisters and Autumn and I knew well! We came up with a little trinket box for her to put her tooth in and leave on her bedside stand. Mom and Dad were pleased with the help, happily tucking S. in for the night…After they answered her repititive question, that is.Does the tooth fairy really know where she lived? Thankfully they got her settled down and Yes indeed the tooth fairy did visit! 🙂 🙂

Memories of My Grandparent’s House… ~ by Gabby Angel

Driving by the place where my paternal grandparent’s house once stood…So many memories came flooding back. I was used to seeing the huge empty space where the house stood for so many years. The house had been sold, both grandparents are gone and in  Heaven now. The beautiful house and land was sold to a seemingly normal couple, until they decided to separate. Then, unfortunately the husband decided to torch the house. Rather than haggle over ownership, that was his not too wise and drunken decision.It was truly heartbreaking to see the empty shell of what was left of the house.

So, for several years the land has been vacant. But driving by today, I noticed a foundation was laid and a house was being built! I hope it’s a nice family and that they are happy, loving people. The land itself is just so welcoming and holds wonderful memories…It calls for people who love life and each other. I remember so many times when Autumn and I walked the greenhouses, hotbeds and all with our Grandpa.

He had such a magic touch with plants of any kind and also flowers. He was well known in our area for the best of produce, he just growing things and it was how he made his living. Nobody ever knew what he did to grow such things…He had a secret ingedient and he never divulged what it was! We twinnies loved hanging out with him, he was just very special and such fun. We were his bambinos and of course we could do no wrong in his eyes.

Our grandparents were both Italian, they were our Dad’s parents…Oh my goodness did they love lots of family around, a good party and happy times had by all.Our Grandma loved to cook up a storm, creating her own magic and sharing her food made with love. So many memories of outside parties and picnics, good food, great music and just an awesome time. The whole area surrounding the house was filled some relatives lived and neighbors who were like family, too. I just know Autumn and I have happy fun-filled memories and we will be watching.

The family who is taking ownership, they need to treat it with the love and care it calls for. I don’t know why… But I have a good feeling they will be. Something just tells me those Grandparents of ours are watching closely from Heaven and approved this family!

Driving Lessons ~ by Gabby Angel

I was driving earlier today, nothing new there…Something I do everyday, right? Out of nowhere, I could have sworn I heard my Dad’s voice. I was approaching a stop sign when I believed I heard Dad’s voice. He said “remember to come to a complete stop.” I came to a complete stop and waited to see if I would hear Dad’s voice again…Nothing.

Some of you might think I was by chance on my cell phone…I wasn’t. I wouldn’t be chatting and driving, that is such a pet peeve of mine. It probably is to a lot of you, too. Not to mention illegal in most states and even using “hands free devices”, in my humble opinion it still isn’t safe. Here I am digressing as I so often do. Back to the subject, hearing Dad’s voice…It would have been an out of this world call. Autumn and my Dad is in Heaven, as some of you already know.We sadly lost him to cancer 8& 1/2 years ago.

Anyway, I continue driving to my destination and nothing out of the normal happened. I think it was a reminder of my learning to drive days, what a flashback of thoughts! I really and unfortunately did make Dad a nervous wreck when he had me out driving at 16 years old with my learner’s permit.

Autumn didn’t have the same effect on Dad…Why you ask? Well, I will spill the dirt on the twinnie! 😉 With her permission of course…Her boyfriend at the time was giving her driving lessons! I didn’t meet Dave until several months later or he could have taught me. Anyway, she did so well driving with Dad and he was calm as could be… Twinnie finally did fess up and told both Dad and Mom. Her secret motive, so she could take her drivers test and get her license right away…So not fair. 😦 I am kidding of course, I got mine a month or so later and it was fine with me. 🙂

With Dad taking me out driving a little over a handful of times…I heard quite a few “Come to a COMPLETE stop at the stop sign!”  Poor Dad, he was gripping onto the armrest most of the while, too. Way too many stop signs I guess. He wasn’t yelling, being mean or anything…But oh my goodness, he was being tortured the whole time. There were some other things I wasn’t getting quite right, but let’s not get into those, OK? 😉 Finally after my 6th or 7th time out, Dad and I walked in the house and guess what? He tossed Mom the car keys and admited defeat with me…How embarassing. Oddly enough Mom really did very well with my driving lessons, and I got my license…Yay!

I did have to quiz  Dad about who was going to be teaching the younger sisters who to drive. He looked troubled for a minute, but laughed and said “We have 4 years to worry about that.” The next sister to get her permit was L. and she was only 12 years old.  I know it sticks in my head though, the stop sign thing and Dad’s warnings…So did I hear his voice today while driving? Maybe I did, maybe not…It doesn’t matter, right? I learned the stop sign thing very well, didn’t I? 🙂 😉

Christmas Movies…Some Good, Some Bad ~ By Gabby Angel

That’s what I just have to talk about today! Christmas time movies we all have seen. Watching one of my very own personal favorites last night…Well it made me once again ponder. I just know everyone has got to love at least one as their total favorite. Perhaps maybe love or even like a few…On the other hand, everyone’s got ones they just hate, and just very much detest. Some of  them are TV movies, some of them were on the big screen. Love them or hate them, everyone’s got an opinion right? What a cool idea for a blog that makes.

I will share some of my loves, likes and even dislikes. Autumn will of course offer up hers, too. Then, perhaps some of you kind readers will want to share…Just give it a thought maybe? Anyway, one of my favorites is Miracle on 34th Street. I know, there are a couple versions, but my personal fave is the one from the 1940’s. It is a movie we watched as a family over and over growing up. Once a year, without fail we would watch this one as well as a few others. By the way that is also one of Autumn’s faves.

 It’s a Wonderful Life…I like that one, who doesn’t? Well, actually I have heard a few people call it dark, a bit depressing. But it has a happy ending! Also, that one line that remains embedded in my mind. Every time a bell rings an angel gets it’s wings…I love that line! The Grinch That Stole Christmas, yuck…Didn’t like it as a kid and probably wouldn’t now either. I know, it’s a cartoon…The Grinch mended his ways. Sorry, I still didn’t ever like it and it made the twinnie and me cry as  young girls.

I liked most of the cartoon type movies, can’t think of any that made us twinnies cry anyway. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the twinnies fave cartoon movie! Let’s not forget good old Charlie Brown, always a winner.Let’s see, A Christmas Carol was kind of not too warm and fuzzy but quite watchable and brought a very good message to us all. Everything worked out well, right. Who will forget the most recited line…God Bless Us Everyone! Another happy ending, my favorite kind. Twinnie loves Die Hard, she had and still perhaps still has a thing for Bruce Willis though. Elf…Not bad Autumn and I both liked it. Scrooged, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, well they are notable because I just didn’t care for them all that well. Either did Autumn I should add.

Well, seems I have been rambling about good and bad Christmas movies, cartoons and all. So many I have left out or forgotten, but maybe it’s for the best…I could no doubt go on for way too long!

Now, how about everybody jumping in? What is your personal favorite, or least favorite…We twinnies would as always love to hear what you think! 🙂 🙂

Christmas Memories… ~ by Gabby Angel

We all have them, don’t we? Hopefully more good than bad of those Christmas memories. I have shared more than a few in the last couple weeks. The sharing, that is so easy for me…Maybe I over share sometimes? No, couldn’t happen…Wouldn’t somebody have told me by now?!

Autumn and I were talking about the family and Christmas memories. We wondered if any of you kind readers might by chance want to share a small one of your own? It’s a thought, that’s all I am just  throwing  it out there…It will be entirely up to you.

One of my favorite memories I would love to share involves our family and one special tradition. Autumn has one, too…A very short one, of course. Maybe I should have had her write in a form of a poem. 😉 Let’s first share the twinnie’s Christmas memory…This really is a good one, too. Listening to our Dad  tell Christmas stories and most especially “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. We would have the Christmas tree lights on and everybody got comfy. He and Mom would set together on the couch, and Dad would start reading.

At the beginning Autumn and I would set on either side of them. As more sisters came along, we of course spread out! Mom would sometimes pitch in with a line or so sometimes, it was such fun. It’s one of her most favorites and she asked me to tell this one.

Mine is special and kind of short actually…What a surprise I know! Once we got old enough, one of the Christmas memories I really do treasure is a simple one. Autumn and I once we were 13 or 14 years old got to stay up later on Christmas Eve. We would play a board game with Dad and Mom, monoply or scrabble, some kind of board game. We always got to choose and oh my goodness…It made us feel so grown up!

We all ate a few Christmas cookies and had hot cocoa. After the game was over, we would help Dad and Mom by leaving cookie crumbs on a plate for the younger sisters to find! It was nice seeing them the next morning with their eyes all big, saying “Look Santa left crumbs”! It was a heartwarming thing to see those little sisters be so thrilled. Well, there you have it…Autumn’s Christmas memory and one of my favorites, too.

Now, it’s up to all of you…Care to share one of yours? The twinnies would love to hear! 🙂 🙂

Dad Resorted to Jingle Bells… by Gabby Angel

I don’t mean the song either! This Christmas memory came back to me, and is too funny not to share. It was a Christmas Eve when Autumn and I were almost 14 years old. We didn’t believe in Santa Claus anymore by this time. However, the four younger sisters still did. They were from ages close to 10 to newborn. OK, so newborn baby sister was too young to have the concept of Santa I do need to say.

The other three sisters did, so this Christmas Eve we, along with Mom helped Dad perform some magic. Christmas songs had been sung, The Night Before Christmas was read…But the little sisters were still ignoring their bedtime! For real, the three of them had been tucked in at about 8 to 8:30PM. Not that they were staying put, Autumn and I tried getting them back to bed and had even read some more Christmas stories. One by one those little sisters came back downstairs for the third, then fourth time!

Mom and Dad were getting a bit perplexed to put it mildly. One good thing, the real baby of the youngest sisters slept peacefully on! Dad came up with a really good plan to get them to bed once and for all. He confided his plan to Mom, Autumn and me…It was a good one, too.

We had a set of jingle bells that were very loud, they were part of the decorations in the house. Attached to a long strand of heavy duty ribbon, they went along with a mini type sleigh. Very carefully Dad removed them and went sneaking out the front door. Meanwhile, we all distracted the little sisters in the kitchen…This was going to be good! Mom geared them up telling them they needed to be in bed before they heard the jingle bells from Santa’s sleigh. Well, we didn’t hear any bells, they of course all insisted. Autumn snuck herself out the side door, to tell Dad to let those bells jingle and that the little sisters were primed! Quickly she got back inside, not wanting to miss the looks on their faces. Dad was right outside the back door, by the kitchen…I had snuck over and opened it just a little bit. My goodness, did Dad ever give those jingle bells a good shaking! The little sisters faces? It was priceless, for real…Their eyes got big and they all got a  very surprised look on their faces.

Autumn and I were trying not to laugh and it was hard, too let me tell you. Well, next thing we know all three little sisters all took off racing up the stairs to their beds! Mom had Autumn and I go upstairs to get them all tucked in, so she should get Dad back inside and warmed up. She was going to have her and Dad come upstairs in a short while to kiss them all goodnight. Funny, none of the three had even noticed Dad was missing.

Autumn and I were thrilled over all the whispered “We heard Santa’s sleigh bells” and all the rest…They believed it! Mom and Dad came upstairs, all three were half asleep, yawing widely and happy to share good night kisses and hugs with Mom and Dad. Thankfully, they stayed put and were soundly asleep an hour later when Autumn and I went upstairs to our bedroom.

What a memory, the jingle bells were talked about the next morning and certainly years to come!

Mommy Kissing Santa Claus? ~ by Gabby Angel

Continuing with a few more Christmas memories of Autumn’s and my younger days. We twinnies had been talking about this particular memory. Again, we were laughing so hard it was pitiful.

The song got barred from our house, for real it did! I did tell Autumn that I highly doubted any of our kind readers would be all that interested in this one memory. She is one convincing twinnie, so write this memory I will.

If any finds it weird, please take it up with Autumn! 😉 This is one that involves the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus“.

I always thought it was a rather odd song, so did Autumn. So we just kind of let it all slide, ignoring the song completely. All I can remember was as very young twinnies asking our Dad and Mom about the lyrics. Of course our parents laughed, assuring us Mommy wouldn’t be kissing Santa! Told us not to worry about, it was just a silly song, we twinnies were OK with that explanation.

A few years go by, we have the two younger sisters(Yes, the middle ones) in residence with us now.  As I have revealed in a few other blogs… The now  infamous L. and T. These girls being young heard the song for the first time. Asking Dad and Mom, they got the same answer we twinnies had gotten.  That didn’t quite satisfy either one, it downright bothered T.

Well, needless to say the song becomes a major deal between the two. Autumn and I broke up one of their arguments…L. was teasing T. relentlessly! On L. was going about what if Mommy did kiss Santa Claus? Wouldn’t Dad be kind of upset? How many Mommys  in the world would kiss Santa?  T. argues back about L. being stupid and insists it was only a dumb song cause only Daddy kisses Mommy, so just shut up she added.Things got ugly as they gave each other a little shove, some minor hair pulling, too. Twinnies to the rescue, we each took one off to neutral corners to settle themselves down. They were OK for a day or so…Until L. brings the song up again! That girl just could never give things a rest…Loving to stir up T. and teasing her about “What if Mommy kisses Santa Claus?”

 Autumn and I were sitting with them playing a kid’s card game. Sadly we all had snacks of juice and animal cookies…Look out, a food fight breaks out! Mom and Dad come running into our playroom…L. and T. both wearing juice and animal cookie crumbles. Autumn and I had even gotten splashed… Not a happy sight, chaos in full bloom. All over the ridiculous song! Well, in our house the song got banned to avoid any continued arguments. After the food fight L. and T. stopped the whole song discussion, thankfully.

I do need to ask…anyone still reading by now have any thoughts? Do you like the song, hate the song or remain indifferent? Just curious, I highly doubt anyone had this kind of dispute such as occurred between these two little sisters…Or did you? Do share! Autumn says this is a charming story…Uh huh, the kind readers can decide I say 😉 🙂