I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

Even though I haven't grown a foot or two.

I am going to the Brazil Joao Pessoa mission (Same mission as Chris Clark!). I report to the Brazil Missionary Training Center on August 12.

First Time for Everything

Today I conquered a fear; I gave blood. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Getting stuck in the finger with that box cutter was probably the worst part.

The Best Deal

Can you believe that you can get a double flavored snow cone only 50 cents (75 cents if you want cream)?! We challenge anyone to find a better deal!

So a couple weekends ago Sterling Smith visited paid us a visit and we felt we must initiate him into the "I Love Fifty Cent Snow Cones Club."

We figured if we told people about the greatest deal in the world, or maybe just this side of the Mississippi, then more people would want to visit us.

Why We Build Temples

Here is a video the Church posted for this week's "Mormon Message." It is in response to an upcoming episode of HBO's Big Love that is said to depict temple ceremonies.



type in this address to see the Church's official statement about the episode:
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

An Apology to Our Readers

I sincerely ask for forgiveness from all those whom I have deceived over the years. I would not have done so if I had known the truth myself. Last night I was given a piece of information that changed my very identity. Since then I have been re-evaluating my life. What is this piece of information you ask? Here it is: The Gillilands are NOT Irish; They are Scottish. I am Scottish! All my life I have told people I was Irish. I have stood proudly, wearing green and eating clover... well, maybe not the clover part. But I have been proud of my heritage. Though, I admit there was always something strange about it. For some unexplainable reason I loved bagpipe music, I loved to watch caber tossing, Sean Connery was my favorite actor, I had an uncanny dislike for the British... okay that part may not be true either. Still, I knew I had Scottish tendencies, but I was too ashamed to admit it, afraid that I would disgrace my Irish heritage. Now it all makes sense. I am Scottish. I am Scottish!



P.S. Last night Bryan found out that he is African.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.... not!

This morning I was able to eat breakfast in the cafeteria, an activity in which I do not normally participate due to the limit on my meal plan. Apart from the pleasantry of being able to eat breakfast, I thought the day was going to be as normal as any other. You can imagine my surprise when upon walking into "The Eat Place" I realized it was decked out in full blown St. Patty's day celebration. Pictures of Leprechauns adorned the front desk and green banners that read "Happy St. Patrick's Day," were strung all over the walls.
"How come I didn't know it was St. Patrick's Day?!" I asked my self in confusion. I quickly raced back to my room to get my green tie on so as to not get pinched by those Irish enthusiasts. After making it into my room unpinched I asked Bryan if he knew it was St. Patrick's Day.
Turns out that I'm the only person who didn't know that St. Patrick's Day is in March. Why did the cafeteria have to confuse me like that?


PS Contrary to popular believe, we do love hearing from people

Algebra Angst

They say math is easy because there are set rules and only one answer for every equation (turns out that's not true.) They say that math has an order and that once you understand the concept, you can work out any problem. I'd rather do art, and here's why:

College Algebra Notes February 2, 2009

"There are infinite counting numbers and infinity +1 whole numbers (I thought those were the same...). If there are infinity +1 whole numbers then there are infinity x2 integers. Between each integer is an infinite number of rational numbers, and an infinitely greater number of irrational numbers. For every real number, there is an infinite amount of imaginary numbers, though they don't actually exist."

And they say math is easy to wrap your head around.

How Many Ninjas Can You See?

EXACTLY!
Last night our newly created ninja clan went a-ninja-ing. Golden Blade (Tanner), Windsong (Race Davis), and Night Hawk (Bryce Bigham), the perfect ninja trio, frightened unsuspecting girls in the Goodman apartments. With night as their only cover, and the mind as their greatest weapon, the ninjas stealthily carried out their mission of wreaking ninjatical havoc.
Wearing a ninja outfit really does give you some amazing abilities. Bryce, for instance, can disappear in a flash and we won't find him for 10 minutes. Race, well, I bet no other human being can climb a pecan tree so fast. Me, I feel like I can jump/ cartwheel over anything.

I might grow out of doing this some day.

Alas, our ninja clan has no name. So please, tell us a good ninja name and we'll enter you in a drawing to receive 50.... high fives. Hurry, this offer is only good while supplies last.


HIYA!

Shoveling for Sweaters

Over the holiday break we were blessed with an abundance of the magical frozen white substance we like to call snow. How beautiful the sight of freshly fallen snow! The flip side to the splendor of the blanco blanket is having to shovel it off the driveway, and since we live in a quiet neighborhood full of retirees, there was much shoveling to be had.
On one sunny afternoon following some heavy snowfall, we were visited by our college friends Caitlyn and Sharla, and Caitlyn's two sisters. Bryan was shoveling the driveway of an old European lady down the street and in order to progress to the adventures of the evening we found it expedient to assist him in his shoveling effort.
In return for clearing her driveway, the lady, Alexandra (or Mrs. Doubtfire as we call her), gave each of us a sweater from 1980. "Don't worry," she said. "Fashions come back every 20 years." Unfortunately,it has been 9 years since the 20 year mark so now we have to wait until 2020 for our sweaters to come back in style. I don't know though, I think turtle necks are always the way to go!
I don't know if it's possible, but for some reason I got the idea that some people were a little embarrassed to be seen in their antique apparel.

Brent on Politics

Being home has provided us with a very unique opportunity to hear the thoughts of many people on the recent political goings on. One such person is the infamous political commentator, Brent Gilliland. Barely five years old, Mr. Gilliland has made a name for himself in the political world with his catch phrase "I'm not listening!"
Below is an interview with Mr. Brent Gilliland on the politicians, President Elect Barack Obama, and Senator John McCain. Please note that the views expressed in this interview are NOT necessarily the views of Bryan, Tanner, Barack Obama, John McCain, Brent's parents, blogspot, OPEC, the internet, the Whig Party, Walmart, or Taco Bell.

TB (Tanner and Bryan) : Brent, will you tell us about Obama?
BG (Brent Gilliland): Obama makes gas cost a lot.
TB: IN your opinion, what does Obama want to do?
BG: He wants to take over the whole city.
TB: The whole city?
BG: He wants to take over the whole city. And he just wants take over every house. And he is building mouses to get inside the house and light it on fire.
BG: Thank you Brent. I think we should move on. Tell us about John McCain.
BG: McCain just wants to find Obama. He doesn't like him. He just wants to put him in jail.
TB: Thank you Brent, I think we're out of time.

That Brent is the most intense 5-year old we've ever met. Other quotes from him include:
"[My sister] Tess is only 7 years old. My whole family thinks she's 8, but she's not"

"What's 9 plus 2?... 92!" and finally,

"They are not called Fritos! They are called Mac-neetos!"