Collard Greens, Grits and a Side of Russian Dressing

I finished "The Widow of the South" last night. It was with a huge air of relief too. I started reading this book, intrigued by Carrie McGavock and her deep connection with the 1,500 men buried in her backyard. Based on true events, the McGavock's plantation home is turned into a makeshift hospital during one of the last and bloodiest battles of the Civil War in Franklin, Tennessee. Carrie tends to the wounded and dying soldiers, connecting with the loss of life. Upon hearing that the graves of close to 1,500 soldiers are to be disturbed so the field they inhabit can be tilled and planted, Carrie takes it upon herself to make sure the men buried in the mass graves are dug up, identified in a journal she carried with her the rest of her life and reburied on her property just yards from her back door. The idea of this woman fascinated me and I wanted to get the author's prospective as to why she may have done this.

The book goes way wrong for me in one regard and in the end ruined it for me. I have never been a fan of the Russian realist/modernist style of writing. The main characters are focused on with their individual stories told in chapters dedicated to them, while other chapters focusing on other characters and places are intermixed within the main story. For me as the reader it's like a juggling act and I simply can't keep all the balls in the air. I don't know what this says about my intelligence...(a subject to be explored at a later date in time). Had I read the author's notes before I delved into this novel I may have put the book aside, but I was invested and pressed on. Another heavy theme in Russian literature is love affairs gone wrong or never realized...Robert Hicks does not stray from this theme either. I just wasn't in the mood. Like everything else in my life currently, I'll blame my dislike on a pregnancy fog. My blah eeks into every part of my life, including my love of reading and (for shame!) the taste of my favorite Diet Cherry Coke elixir. I don't think I'll start another book until February. I would hate to miss out on loving a book because my brain couldn't wrap itself around the artistic concepts of the author. The next book on my docket is "Inkheart" and I want to love it because my niece Isa loves it. Onward I go-

P.S. I still enjoyed my share of sugar cookies over the holidays. I had to choke them down, I promise.

I Fell In Love with a Pretty Ballerina

Impeach the Room Mother

I got a call today, not yesterday or Tuesday or Monday or a week ago, but today from Olivia's room mother asking me, "Would you please bring those cookies to the school by 10:30 for the class party?" In my head I was screaming, "What cookies?" I then proceeded in my nicest, most ladylike voice to give an affirmative answer. What I really wanted to do was ask this lady when the voting for Room Mother took place and did she win by a majority? Surely one who takes on the office of Commander in Chief of Elementary School Mothers would be much more organized than an offhand, vague call the day before the Christmas gala was to take place. As I representative of the State of Sellick I call for impeachment proceedings to take place immediately. Mark's C.I.C. had the decency to call me last week, Wednesday to be exact. She only asked for 15 cupcakes and told me to keep it simple, something I need to be told I assure you. She gets my vote every time.

We made a late night stop at Smith's and purchased 30 Loft House peppermint sugar cookies.

This is a first for me.

Nothing homemade.

Nothing with fantabulous almond frosting.

Nada.

I will sleep just fine tonight thank you very much.

New Favorite

This song is from Faith Hill's new Christmas album and caught my heart from the moment I heard it. I wish the video went with the song better, alas it does not and you are therefor encouraged to close your eyes and put your imagination into action. Enjoy.

Beginnings, Endings and Letting Go

Ah--So many things beginning and ending at this time of year. I always feel this way in December. It's one of those bittersweet feelings. This emotion crept in on me the December we had Olivia. It was the end of my first pregnancy and the beginning of a whole new life as a parent and mother. I loved and cherished every minute that December and it will go down in history as my best Christmas ever.

Whitney's family is sure to have the best Christmas ever with the arrival of Shayna Layne yesterday. I'm headed to their abode as soon as I'm done typing this. I hear she's absolute perfection and can't wait to kiss her little cheeks and cuddle her in close. My sister is the type of gal who likes to get in, get the job done and get out...period. She did just that yesterday and is checking out of the hospital as soon as Hank's Christmas program is done today. Me, I like to sit for a few days and gear up for what awaits me at home. I like to sleep and sleep, only waking up to nurse my newborn every few hours. Although if I had my sisters deluxe king sized bed waiting for me I'd probably be in a hurry to get home too. I'll post pics with permission soon. It's the beginning and the end of an era for this family as well. Whitney calls Shayna her "Cherry on Top."

We too are heading into our own beginnings and endings. I tell you-December is always the key. We were pleasantly surprised to find we are expecting our own "Cherry on Top" July 26th. Of our 5 babies, this one is our first official 'surprise'. While we were planning on ONE more baby sometime next year, we weren't planning on it happening just yet. Heavenly Father always has different things in mind. You'd think we would have learned our lesson by now. Due to the complete surprise of it all we had no idea when this baby was to arrive, so yesterday we went for an ultrasound. She/He is still so tiny and undefined at 8 weeks, but that little heartbeat was just a going. My own heart skipped a beat. It's still so wonderful, awe inspiring and new even 5 times later. Another bittersweet feeling-life growing, but also the knowledge we are planning for this little Sellick to be our last. Newborns are a hard thing to give up.

And finally---letting go---Pregnancy doesn't always bring out my get up and go, cowgirl self. My pace slows waaaaay down right from the get go. No morning sickness just wicked headaches and the extreme desire to stay in bed the first 14 weeks. No can do! December doesn't allow for the growing of babies and with that comes the need to let go of half of the things on my 'To Do" list. The biggest one being my Christmas cards. I LOVE sending and receiving Christmas cards. It's one of my favorite things-so traditional-so warm. I'll use this years cards for next year and I don't know what I'll do with the 60 identical pictures I have of my kids. Wallpaper a bedroom? If you still want one (Natosha?) put in a request and I'll get it in the mail AFTER Christmas. Anyone who reads my thoughts through this blog would have received one of my Christmas wishes and you will all have to simply settle for this picture and message instead...Know we love you. Know we think about you. Know we hope you have a happy holiday season. I get to hold a newborn and grow my own at the same time. I'm pretty sure my holiday will be perfectly happy.

2 Sellick Boys + 2 Hopkins Boys= No Sleep

Do I really need to say more than the title so clearly expresses? Sleep is just not a part of the agenda for this gang of boys. It was finally quiet in the house last night at 11:00 and when 6:00 rolled around they were jumping on the beds ready to go. Might I add that the jumping bed happens to run right along the wall where I rest my own sleepy head at night? Oy! I think these boys have an internal clock they switch on whenever they are together that helps them to maximize their playing time.

Amendment

Amendment to the post below:

I just got out of the tub and Tess had about 20 ornaments off the tree, a happy face and greeted me with the words, "Pretty! Pretty!" I wonder how many times we get to have this conversation over the next 21 days.

Alive and Kicking

I'm still knee deep in sewing paraphernalia. My mom called today to 'check up' on me and see how that ulcer I'm working on is doing. To the best of my knowledge I don't really have an ulcer, but I often wonder if I'm ever working on one and just don't know it. I told her to check in with me on Monday and we'll know whether or not we need to bring in the reinforcements. Knowing they are on stand-by makes me feel safer at night. They are like the marines Jack Nicholson talks about in A Few Good Men, "...you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall." And yes, provoked in the right manner, my mom could probably throw down a wicked Jack Nicholson type character.

In the midst of it all I can say this though....

*My house is filled with Christmas cheer-
*My shopping is 90% done-
*My kids' Santa requests change on a daily basis-
*My Tess is leaving the ornaments on the tree alone-
*My month is planned and packed-
*My mouth is watering for some sugar cookies-

Let the wild rumpus start!