The Secret to Hummingbird Cake Book Review

SUMMARY:  When all else fails, turn to the divine taste of hummingbird cake.
     In the South, you always say "yes, ma'am" and "no, ma'am." You know everybody's business.  Football is a lifestyle not a pastime.  Food - especially dessert - is almost a religious experience.  And you protect your friends as fiercely as you protect your family - even if the threat is something you cannot see.
     In this spot-on Southern novel brimming with wit and authenticity, you'll laugh alongside lifelong friends, navigate the sometimes rocky path of marriage, and roll through the outrageous curveballs that life sometimes throws . . . from devastating pain to absolute joy.  And if you're lucky, you just may discover the secret to hummingbird cake along the way.

REVIEW:  The book is about three friends, Carrigan, Laine and Ella Rae, who have been by each others' sides through thick, thin and crazy since they were five.  They stood up for each other when things got tough and enjoyed each other when life was good. The story is told from Carrigan's viewpoint but you can feel the love each person has for the others.  Each friend is different - Carrigan is the reckless, rebellious, always in trouble sort; Ella Rae is the one who goes along with everything, whether it is good or bad, and supports Carrigan and Laine; and Laine, the one who's heart is bigger than the world's and who gives everything she has to those she loves.
     When I first started reading this book, Carrigan made me mad.  I did not like her at all.  Even though she was thirty years old and had been married thirteen years, she still had a lot of growing up to do.  She was rebellious as a teenager and didn't seem to change much.  She did things her way and would drag her friends Laine and Ella Rae along with her to justify her means.  But, as the story progressed, I began to see another side of Carrigan.  One who deeply cared about her friends, husband and family, who would do ANYTHING to keep them safe and protected and to make them feel loved, and who struggled with feeling inadequate and accepted.
     I won't give any spoilers away but suffice it to say, it is an awesome book that will have you in tears from laughter and heartbreak.  Keep your tissues close by, though, towards the end of the book. 
    This is a book I highly recommend.  Now, it does have some language and some questionable events, but it will really make you appreciate the ones you call friend.

This book was provided by Fiction Guild and Thomas Nelson Publishers 

for review without compensation.

Celeste Fletcher McHale lives on her family farm in Central Louisiana, where she enjoys raising a variety of animals.  Her hobbies include writing, football, baseball, and spending much time with her grandchildren.

The Devil Don't Knock Blog Tour

 
Susan Sims Moody, the author of the book The Devil Don't Knock, is a friend from school.  Recently on Facebook, she asked for people to review one of her three books and post something on their blog, Facebook, Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble.  Since I love to do book reviews, I volunteered my services.

The Devil Don't Knock is the third in the Jennifer Martin series but it can stand alone on its own merit.  At first, I wasn't sure what to expect.  When I hear about local authors, I tend to look at their work and judge it different from one I might find on the Best Sellers List.  I really enjoyed this book.  As I read it, I felt myself drawn into the characters and the situations in which they found themselves.  Susan had twists and turns in the right places and it wasn't predictable (at least to me - hehe).  As I began to develop my own ideas as to what might happen, I was pleasantly surprised when it didn't work out the way I thought it would.  I'm afraid if I write more about the book, I will give important information away and spoil it for you.  Let me say this, I loved this book!!

There were two problems I had towards the end (and these are just personal preferences).  The first problem was with two of the minor characters who spoke Spanish.  A translation noting what was said would have been really helpful.  The website I used to translate the lines was really rough and made it a little difficult trying to figure out what they were talking about.  The second was with Arcana.  Her character seemed important in the beginning and throughout the development of the story but seemed underutilized in the end.  Granted, she is in a very important scene at the end but her character just seems anti-climatic.  Other than that, I love this book!  I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to read southern fiction or just something different.

Susan Sims Moody is a native Mississippian and graduate of Mississippi State University.  She is married to Tom and has two children.  They currently live in Wisconsin.


The author provided a free copy of this book for review.  I was not compensated in any way.

**At the time this post was written, the final cover had not been completely decided.  I will try to add it later.

Mercy Blog Tour

 

SUMMARY:

MERCY, set in the small Mississippi town of the same name, weaves a tale of past and present and reveals what can happen to three generations of family when money and secrets collide.

Davis Sanford, contemptuously dismissed by his family almost a decade ago, is a recovering alcoholic and the grandchild of local timber baron and pillar of the community, Frank Sanford.  An early-morning phone call from his old haunt of Mercy draws Davis home one more time for the impending death of the family patriarch.  Jennifer Martin returns to the scene as Davis's girlfriend, and the two embark on a weekend journey through his past.

As the prodigal son copes with his grandfather's mortality, he must also face his disapproving father and a wealth of personal history he has tried for years to leave behind.  Together with Jennifer, Davis uncovers one family secret after another, at last discovering the sin that has shaped, conflicted, and ultimately driven them all to the tragic existences they lead.

REVIEW:
Mercy is Susan Sims Moody's second novel.  It is different from her other two novels in that it includes little vignettes of the past and that it is darker towards the end of the story.  In the vignettes, you see the secrets that affected the three generations come about.  You also see what can happen to person when keeping a secret becomes unbearable.  Davis faces his family members and his past as he works to figure out what happened to a letter his grandfather wrote to his wife, Cora.  He also shows how a tragic past does not have to be your future.

Mercy is a good story with a lot of twists and turns.  The ending is dark and caught me a little by surprise.  I kind of thought it might happened but was astonished that it actually did occur in the story.

The author provided a free copy of this book for review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Susan Sims Moody is a native Mississippian and graduate of Mississippi State University.  She is married to Tom and has two children.  They currently live in Wisconsin.

Flatlands Blog Tour

SUMMARY:
Jennifer Martin hated the idea of returning to Mississippi.  She hated the heat, the boredom, and the flat land that sprawled for miles and miles.  Jennifer never imagined that Bedford had anything exciting or worthwhle to offer her.  But within a day of returning to her hometown, she finds a job, a friend, and a mystery that could cost her life.

REVIEW:
Flatlands is the first book written by Mississippi native Susan Sims Moody.  Her story revolves around Jennifer Martin, a young college graduate who returns home reluctantly.  Longing for a job as a reporter at a big city newspaper, she instead gets a job at the three-person weekly paper in her hometown, located in the Mississippi Delta.  As she gets settled into her small rental house, Jennifer finds a small film canister in the wall while helping her friend Davis do some small maintenance work.  Little does she know, the house contains items that its former occupant wants back desperately, no matter the cost.  Susan weaves her story together in a seamless fashion, leaving her reader turning the pages wanting more.  It is a fairly quick read.  I finished all 135 pages in just a few hours.  It was a great book and very enjoyable.  I would suggest it to anyone looking for a great read.

Susan Sims Moody is a native Mississippian and graduate of Mississippi State University.  She is married to Tom and has two children.  They currently live in Wisconsin.

The author provided a free copy of this book for review.  I was not compensated in any way.

A Funny Thing Happened At The Birthday Party

Demetria, Hannah's friend from school, celebrated her birthday party at Cici's Pizza today, along with her sister and brother who also celebrate birthdays this month.  Everyone was having a great time eating pizza and talking.  When the cakes were brought out, Shan, Demetria's mom, put candles on both cakes.  Little did she know, they were magic candles.  You know, the ones that light back up after being blown out.  She has some for Demetria and Miracle on one cake and more on RJ's cake.  As you well know, when the kids tried to blow them out, the candles wouldn't stay out.  The kids kept blowing and blowing to no avail.  Brian, Demetria's dad, was trying to put them out with condensation on his glass.  Some would go out but others would light up.  It was so funny!!  The room was getting smoky, the kids and adults were laughing and we tried everything we could think of to keep the candles out.  Finally, Brian took his cup and just sat it on top of the different candles, pushing them into the cake.  FINALLY they went out for good.  The manager had to open the door to let the smoke out.  When she walked by, she said the sprinklers had been ready to go off when she opened the door.  That bit of news set the parents to laughing again.  After it was all over, I remembered from parties past that you need to drop the candles in water for them to stay out.  Maybe next time we will remember.  It was a great, and very memorable, party for all!

It's Been A While

I can't believe my last post was on July 16th.  We've been busy around here and I thought I had posted some of our happenings, but I guess I hadn't. 

Oh, where to begin? I will give a brief synopsis now and, hopefully, a more indepth look at a later date.

*  Hannah got her ears pierced on July 17th.  She is so excited and can't wait until she can start wearing other earrings.
*  I had the mole on the side of my nose removed on July 19th.  I've had it for about 25 years and I'm glad to finally have it gone.  The biopsy showed there was nothing to be concerned about (standard procedure).  YEAH!
*  Registered the kids for school.
*  Vacation with Mike, Hannah, Andrew, Will, Melanie and Nathan to Pigeon Forge.  This subject deserves a completely separate post when I have time.
*  I got to visit with a friend I graduated with.  She moved away right after graduation and I hadn't seen her since until I found her on Facebook.  Turns out, she lives in Pigeon Forge!!

The next bit all occurred after we returned from vacation on Monday:
Tuesday:
*  Dad had knee replacement surgery.
*  Our air conditioner decided to stop working sometime while we were out of town.
*  Washing machine wouldn't fill up and would just run.
*  Needed to make cookies for a football team our church sponsored. (Remember, our air is out)
*  While I am cooking dinner on the grill, we run out of gas.
*  Remembering Mom's knee replacement surgery and the nightmare that followed.  Not fun!

Wednesday:
*  Air still out.  Temperatures inside reached 87 degrees in our hallway (the coolest part of the house).
*  Washing machine is still messed up.
*  Kids put dish soap in the dishwasher; soap and water get all over the floor.
*  Bug man is suppose to come out and spray for ants.  Thanks to the good Lord above, he came early.
*  Worried about my dad and his surgery (it went fine but I wasn't able to see him due to everything going on at the house).
*  Remembered it was a year ago Gracy passed away.  Still get really sad when I think about it.
*  Get into a fight over my dad.
*  Find out the air conditioner has a slow freon leak.  Air conditioner man recharged it but said we will probably need a new unit (and a new furnace) before long.   GREAT!

Thursday was MUCH better.  Went to the Pink Palace with my friend Tracy and her kids then saw my dad at the hospital.

The kids started school today.  Yes, I know it is early.  The temperatures this week and the end of last week have been in the 100s with the heat index between 112 and 125.  It is a good thing school started because the kids are busy with school work and not watching t.v. or playing on the computer all day because it is too hot to go outside.

Hannah is getting baptized Sunday.  She is excited and a little nervous.  We were paying the storage unit note and Hannah told the clerk she was being baptized Sunday.  They talked about it for a bit afterwards.  It is neat to see her interested and excited about this.  It is a really big step.

Sorry this post is all over the place.  Mike will be playing his online game with some of his friends in a few minutes so I only have a short time to write. 

Visiting With The Links

No, not golf links, my friends Barry and Stacy Link and their kids.  They came here to visit with me and my family and take in all the sights.  Stacy is originally from this area but is now living in Virginia.  They arrived Monday afternoon and, after checking into their hotel, came to visit with us here at the house for about an hour.  It was so good getting to see her again.  It has been eleven years her last visit.  All of the kids played in the backyard while Stacy, Barry and I got to visit.

Tuesday was a lazy day for them, swimming in the hotel pool while I was at a funeral.  That evening, they came back to the house.  The kids played outside again while Stacy, Mike and I visited.  Barry wasn't feeling very well so he stayed back at the hotel and rested.

Wednesday, we braved the heat and humidity (it was really bad) and went to Graceland.  As long as I have lived here, I've only been to Graceland once and that was to visit Elvis Presley's gravesite.  It was neat looking at how he furnished the house.  It wasn't as big as I thought it would be.  My kitchen is bigger than Elvis' was.   I think my living room is about the same size.  Sometimes you can see his horses out on the grounds but they weren't out Wednesday (I don't blame them).  After the tour, we thought about seeing the other exhibits on display like his airplane the "Lisa Marie" and his cars but the kids were hot, tired and hungry.  Stacy found out that we can use our other tickets on other days.  The only thing we had to see on that day was the mansion.  I am planning to go back and take the kids one day.  I think they would really enjoy it.

We ate lunch at Steak N Shake.  The kids all enjoyed is, as did the adults.  Found out, our drinks were half-price (even the shakes) because we were there during Happy Hour, which is 2-4 p.m. (and a.m.).  COOL!!  Stacy's family had never eaten there before and they loved it.  My kids were all excited when I told them where we were going.  They love it too.  After we ate, we went back to our house.  Barry's birthday was Tuesday and, since he was sick, we ate cake and sang Happy Birthday.

That night, some friends of Stacy's from high school got together and had a Girls' Night Out at Maria's Cantina and invited me.  They all were really nice and very friendly.  The food was really good too.

Thursday, we went to the Pink Palace Museum.  We saw "The Cowboy Astronomer" at the Planetarium.  Everyone, even Andrew, loved it.  Andrew sat in my lap the whole time and was very still.  Found out, some time during the show, he fell asleep.  Sweet!  Afterwards, we looked around the museum and checked out the gift shop.  Andrew got a clown fish and a whale toy.  He sat the clown fish on the escalator hand rail and it started moving.   It was so funny watching this little toy travel up on the escalator hand rail.  Nathan went to the top and caught it as it fell off.

We ate lunch ate Krystals.  This was another place the Link family had never been so Stacy wanted to make sure they experienced it.  The kids all seemed to like it.  My kids were excited about going too.

This morning, the Links headed out.  They are going to Stacy's dad's house then to the Cincinnati area to see the Creation Museum before heading home.  It was so good getting to see them and spend time with them.  Hannah had a blast with Christy and made a new friend.  Will, Nathan and Andrew enjoyed playing with Philip and BJ.  Joseph and Daniel were very helpful with the younger kids and are fun young men to be around.

Here are a few pictures that I remembered to take while they were here.  I kept forgetting to get my camera out.

Hannah and Christy were playing around at Steak N Shake

Stacy and me in a self portrait

Andrew acting silly at Steak N Shake

Spring Break and Time Changes

The Time Change to spring forward an hour occurred Sunday morning at 2 a.m. and the kids started their Spring Break this week. Even though we lost an hour, we are all still getting up about the same time, even with them sleeping late.  It sounds weird, doesn't it?  They are getting up around 8, which is 7 before the change.  Their normal wake time for school is 7 a.m.  I know. I know.  Stop it.  Okay!

We've been busy this week.  Monday was spent grocery shopping.  It isn't the funnest thing to do while you are on vacation, but it was a necessary evil.  We were completely out of fruit and veggies, bread, eggs, and milk.  The kids were really good, though and helped out a lot.  They played outside riding bikes and scooters, and playing basketball. 

Tuesday, the kids and I went to the Memphis Zoo with our friends, Tracy Gallagher and kids.  Our kids are all about the same ages, so they have a buddy to have fun and partner up with.  We met up there at 9:30 and left at 1.  We took our lunch and ate it while watching the Sea Lion Show.  The kids had a great time running around, seeing all the animals and hanging out with friends.  All of us were wiped out.  Andrew finally fell asleep for his nap after 2 p.m. and slept until 6.  He walked the whole time.

Tomorrow, our friends Jack and Marilyn are taking Hannah and their granddaughter, Emily, swimming at the Y.  The girls go to the same school and are about a year or two apart in age.  They've met a couple of times and enjoying playing together.  The boys and I are probably going bowling, but I haven't completely decided.  It's either the park or bowling.

Thursday will find us at Chuck E. Cheese's with Susan and her boys.  We've been looking forward to getting together for a while.  Susan home-schools her boys so it limits our time to do things together.  It worked out that their Spring Break was the same as ours so we decided to take advantage of it and hang together.

Friday, we will probably go bowling again and maybe to the park. I know, we plan to do that twice but the kids love it.  Since Hannah wouldn't be able to go with us on Wednesday, I thought we could go again.

Growing up, I didn't get to do a lot during Spring Break because my parents worked.  I remember sitting at home and playing with Melanie and my friends instead of taking trips or going a lot of places.  Since we don't know what the future holds, I want to do as much as I can and hope the kids enjoy and remember it.  You're only young once, right?  Or, at least until you have your mid-life crisis...HAHAHA

Merry Christmas!!

It has been an awesome (and tiring) Christmas.  The day started early (about 7:15 a.m.) when the kids got up and saw that Santa had stopped by and left them a little something.  Hannah got a mountain bike, puzzle, the game Aggravation, and "Hannah Montana - The Movie."  Will got a scooter, puzzle, Black and Decker play set (including tools, toolbelt, hat, screwdriver, hammer, etc), and the movie "G Force."  Andrew got a Cars play rug, Mr. The King (from the movie "Cars"), a Black and Decker play set, the game Chutes and Ladders, and the movie "The Jungle Book."  I got some clothes, a book and an envelope with a clue inside.  Mike, playing Santa, hid clues around the house that lead to a gift hanging on the back of the tree.  It was a Mommy's Bracelet that had all three kids names.  I cried when I opened it.  After searching around town for quite a while, Mike found a place in Atlanta, GA that could add Andrew's name to my existing bracelet.  It was wonderful!!  Mike got the Garmin GPS with heart monitor that he can wear while running.  He's been wanting one for a few months and I finally got it for him.  He also got Glenn Beck's new book "Arguing With Dummies," and a new travel kit.  The zippers broke on the one he had because he had it well over ten years.  Santa left Mike and me a Dance Dance Revolution game, Dance Dance Revolution mat, another controller and nunchuck for our Wii that came with another Sports game that has nine different sports. Mike and I got the kids a Snuggie each (it's a blanket with arms) and a toy.

Melanie and Nathan came over and we opened gifts.  Mom wasn't able to come because she woke up with a 23-hour stomach virus.  She sent over some of her presents for us and kept some others for us to open when she feels better.  The kids got clothes (something Hannah and Will desparately needed!) from Mom and Mel.  Andrew got a rolling Cars suitcase that contained a blanket, pillow and flashlight.  He also got a Cars book where some Cars toys "drive" on a track inside.  Will got a Hungry Hungry Hippo game and some Hot Wheels cars.  Hannah got a Junie B. Jones book, an activity book and some red sparklely flats.  Mom got us another nunchuck and controller for our Wii (now we have three - YEAH!)

Susan, Todd and their boys came over and ate lunch with us.  I cooked my first turkey today and it was good!!  We also had mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, pineapple casserole, broccoli-cauliflower salad, and cranberry sauce.  I forgot to cook the crescent rolls but we were not suffering for food.  We had planned to also have ham but looking at the amount of food, I decided not to cook it and save it for later.

Now, the kids and Mike are watching "G Force" while I type away.  Our guests left for their houses with some great memories made today.  I hope everyone has a great day and remember the reason for this season - JESUS CHRIST.


P.S.  I realized after I posted this message I had forgotten to mention one very important gift the kids (and parents) received this year - a Nintendo Wii gaming system!!!  My dad and step-mom bought it for the kids and we all have been having a blast playing it.  It came with five games: tennis, golf, boxing, baseball and bowling.  Both Hannah and Will are really good at Bowling.  I started out doing great (my best score was a 202 with FIVE strikes in a row!!) but has steadily gone down hill.  Tonight, I bowled a 98.  Horrible!!  Mike and I like to play it after the kids go to bed.  Some nights, Mike will play all five games before turning it off.  Now that we have three controllers, playing multiple players will be a lot easier.

God Knows Our Hearts and Will Provide

I thought I had posted this story previously, but looking back over my blog, I don't see where I did. 

About a month ago, Beth Moore came to the Memphis area to hold a Living Proof Live event.  Tickets were $60 each.  The day before the event, we were discussing Beth Moore's visit during a bible study and asked who was going.  A few girls at our table raised their hand but my friend Shawn didn't.  When asked why, she said she couldn't afford a ticket but if God wanted her to go He would provide one for her. 

I remembered that before an event like this one, Beth would post on her blog an offer of free tickets to anyone who needed them.  When I got home, I checked Beth's blog, http://www.livingproofministries.blogspot.com/,  and saw her post for tickets.  Since the post had been made earlier that morning, I called Shawn right away, told her about it and gave her the number to call.  Shawn called and got an automated service.  Since all she had was the first names of the two ladies to ask for, Shawn prayed that if it was God's will He would have to get her to the right person.  There was a pause online then the call was transferred to Susan's voicemail (one of the ladies Beth had said to call).  Shawn left her information and what it was about.  About an hour later, Susan called her back.  She offered Shawn two tickets even though she only wanted one.  When Shawn asked her about the call transfer, Susan said she wasn't usually the one to get the calls. 

Shawn called me, told me what had happened and asked if I knew anyone needing a ticket.  Since we couldn't think of anyone, she called Leslie, our bible study leader, and asked her.  She knew Marva, another lady in BS wanted to go but was in the same situation as Shawn.  So, Shawn and Marva got to go to the event after all. 

A few days later, I checked Beth's blog and saw where she had posted pictures from the event.  Lo and behold, I saw a picture of Shawn and Marva worshipping God there in the post.  It was awesome!!  God had totally worked out all the details and let two wonderful women of God come and hear a word meant just for them. 

If you would like to see some pictures from the event, click on this link. It will take you to Beth Moore's blog and the post with the pictures.  Shawn, Marva and Cheryl (another lady in the group) are 2 minutes and 18 seconds into the video.

Seth and Andrew

Today, Tracy and I took Seth and Andrew to Chuck E. Cheese's.  We had planned on going to the Botanical Gardens but the high today was only suppose to be 55 degrees.  Since I just got over a sore throat, we thought a change in plans would be in order. 

I purposely did not tell Andrew we were going to CEC.  It's his FAVORITE place and I knew he wouldn't stop talking about it if I did.  He knew we were meeting Tracy and Seth and was really excited.  We got there just as it was opening and were the only ones there for almost two hours.  The boys had a BLAST!!  Seth gave Andrew a hug when they first arrived while Andrew held the door open for them.  After we purchased tokens, this was the senario:  each boy would take a token then run off together, play a game then run back.  When we asked for the tickets they get from the game, they would run to get them then run back.  It went on like this for most of morning.  They felt like big boys and Tracy and I got to talk and visit.  NICE!!  Andrew and Seth are the best of friends.  I had hoped they would be, especially since their birthdays are only four days apart.

One of the great things about today was we only spent $15 for 100 token which we split.  I brought our CEC souvenir cups so drinks were free.  We ate when we got home.  It also got us out of the damp cold weather.  Couldn't ask for better morning.

Andrew is so tired from all the playing and running around that he fell right asleep once I got him down for a nap. 

I have some pictures that were taken at CEC but my scanner isn't working right now.  I guess I'll have to try to post them later.

Teton Trek

No, we are not in Yellowstone National Park visiting the Grand Tetons. Instead, Andrew and I went to the Memphis Zoo to see their newest exhibit. It is called "Teton Trek" and is modeled after Yellowstone National Park. It opened this past Saturday for members only and will open to the public on October 10th. My friend Amy and her son Barrett met us there. The boys had fun looking at the animals while Amy and I got to visit. My pictures are out of order so first you will see our visit to the other parts of the Zoo. Then, last but definitely not least, is the Teton Trek.

One of the two elephants the Zoo has. One of them had a baby a few months ago. Unfortunately, the baby girl died after accidentally being poked by her mother's tusk. Sad.

White Faced Gibbons

They put on a show for Andrew and me while we waited for Amy and Barrett.

Andrew and me

Andrew near the Grey Wolves cages

Andrew climbing in a rocking chair while Barrett tries to open the door.

Andrew at the Northwest Passage exhibit

Me and Andrew sitting on the upper deck of the Teton Lodge. Right after this, we realized that we were locked out on the balcony. Luckily, there was a zoo employee below us who got us some help. Amy and I laughed about it. How many people can say they were locked out on the balcony of the Teton Lodge?

Another picture of me and Andrew on the balcony sitting in the rocking chairs.

A bronze elk outside the entrance to the Teton Trek

Grey wolves

There is one male and three or four females in this pack.

Another picture of a grey wolf

Looking down at the Grey wolves

They stayed in this one area the whole time we were there.

Another shot of the Grey wolves.

Andrew and Barrett going up the stairs in the Teton Lodge.

The huge stone fireplace in the Teton Lodge.

The chimney was floor to ceiling stones.

Flanking the fireplace on either side was two HUGE big screen televisions.

One side of the Teton Lodge

(The fence they had up to keep out non-members also kept me from getting a full picture of the lodge.)

Another picture of the lodge and geyser.

This is the view that greets you when you enter the exhibit.

Beautiful!!!

A geyser like Ol' Faithful

This one is off and on like Ol' Faithful but I'm not sure of the time intervals.

Oh, before I get into trouble for not taking Will and Hannah with me... they were in school today. I plan to take them while they are off for Fall Break. Hopefully it won't rain so we can go.

Being Flexible

I have come to the realization that, even though I may want to be, when it comes to big changes, I am not that flexible. For years, I thought I was very flexible, being able to go with the flow like the best. But, alas, that is not so. When something big changes (kids getting out of school, kids going to school, small changes in my daily routine or plans, etc), it throws me for a loop. I wander around like a zombie, trying to get my bearings straight. All of this finally hit me this year when the kids got out for the summer. (Everyone else probably noticed it long before I did - sometimes I'm slow.) My normal routine of going to the gym after dropping the kids off at school came to a screeching halt. Now, the kids and I were sleeping later, while Andrew was still taking his naps at the same time. This put going to the gym low on my list of priorities. Now that the kids are back in school, it is taking me a long time to get the idea in my head that now I can go to the Y and work out again, without having to drag the kids with me or interrupting Andrew's nap.

Little changes are okay, for the most part. But, even those can make my head spin at times (which is a unique thing to see - LOL).

Case in point - this morning, my plan was to drop the kids off and head to Sam's to get a tire replaced. If I got there early enough, maybe the wait wouldn't be as long. Well, that idea was blown out of the water when Andrew didn't wake up at his usual time. As of 9:30 this morning, he is STILL sleeping. (In his defense, he only got about a ten minute nap yesterday in the car. Mike said Andrew also woke up a couple of times during the night.) So, instead of going to Sam's today, I guess it will have to be tomorrow or Wednesday. There is plenty for me to do around here; I just need to get my head in order and get to work.

One other thing - my dear, sweet friend Stacy sent me an e-mail last night. She and her family are praying about coming to this area during Spring Break. I am hoping and praying they can come. It has been about ten years since we last saw each other. Pray that God will work out all the details and they can make it. It would be awesome to get to see her and her family again!! We've both added a few kids to our families since I saw her last.

Memphis in July and the Water Park

Normally in the month of July, the temperatures are hovering in the high 90's - low 100's with the heat index around 110-115. It is hot, sticky, and miserable to be anywhere outdoors, even in the water. Well, today the high is 82 degrees. Yes, you read that right. 82 degrees. A cold front is moving through and making it absolutely perfect outside. The kids and I picked up lunch at Chick-fil-a and took it to the park. With the wind blowing, it actually got a little chilly. I didn't mind a bit!! The temperatures last week and this week have been great. A couple of cold fronts have moved through the area, bring rain and the cooler temperatures. It did get up in the mid-90s last week but, for the most part, the temps have stayed in the mid-80s to low 90s. Wonderful!!!

Yesterday, my friend Tracy and I took all of the kids to the Henderson Aquatics Center in Tunica. She has three kids (one girl and two boys) and I had my three and Nathan. We arrived when they opened at 11 and left around 2:30. The kids had a blast. Hannah played with Kara; Will played with Will; and Andrew played with Seth. Nathan played with all of them until his friend Billy showed up. The Aquatics Center has three areas: a kiddie area with water fountains, sprinklers, and buckets that fill up and turn over. The water here is warm and is between two and three foot deep in the deepest part. The second area is a lap pool that you can also play in. The temperature is cold and is about 5'6" deep. The third is the diving pool with two springboards and three platform diving boards. We started out in the kiddie pool and played for about an hour. After eating lunch, we went to the diving pool where the older kids jumped off the diving boards, having a blast. When we moved to the lap pool, Andrew and Seth found a basketball game and played to their little hearts content. While the little boys were playing with the basketball, they would open one of the nearby lockers, put the ball inside and close the door. After a few seconds, Andrew and Seth would open the door, get the ball out, shut the door, and stand there so proud of themselves. Andrew got in the water with me for a little bit, even though it was very cold. Tracy and I moved the gang back to the warmer pool to play a while before leaving.

Seth does not like water and it takes him a long time to get acclimated to change. So, while we were all playing in the pool, he sat in a chair and could not be coaxed in or played ball with Andrew. When we moved back to the warmer pool, Seth just stood by the edge but wouldn't come in. Andrew saw him standing there and somehow coaxed him in, little by little. They started out playing in the round sprinklers then worked their way slowly to the island in the middle. They were standing in the middle of some fountains, laughing and giggling. Andrew was encouraging him all the way to venture out a little more each time. It was neat watching them together.

Friends

This morning I took the kids to swim at the local YMCA. They have a great outdoor pool area and the kids have been begging to go. Now that ball season is over with, I thought we could enjoy an early afternoon of swimming, before it got too hot. We arrived at the Y at 11 a.m. Some of the signs on the way were showing the temperatures between 96 and 100 degrees. I don't think it was that hot but it was warm. We played for about one and a half hours then decided to head home to eat lunch.

While we there, I ran into a few friends. Ann and I did a Mom2Mom bible study this Spring. She and her two kids were there. After talking to Ann, I saw my friend Leslie. She and her husband moved houses and switched churches a few years ago. They now have two kids - Isaac, who is about Will's age, and Ruthie Ann, who is Andrew's age. We are hoping to get together one night and catch up. My friend Stacy from MOPS was there, too, with her two children. We had a nice time and are planning to meet again tomorrow for Story Time at the library. All in all, it was a great day!!

Easter 2009

Easter and the days leading up to it were busy around the Jinnette household. Between ball practices, cleaning (or attempting to while the kids were home), grocery shopping and everything else we had scheduled last week, it was surprising that we didn't pass ourselves on the road.

Hannah's friend Gracie spent Thursday night here since they were out Friday for Good Friday. The girls would not settle down until I separated them around 10:30 p.m. Like always, they were asleep in about five minutes. Gracie woke up first a few minutes before 7 a.m. and woke Hannah up. After getting a bite to eat, Gracie went running down the hall, talking in a loud voice and slammed Hannah's door shut. Hannah then went racing after her, talking loudly and knocking loudly on the door. Needless to say, they woke Andrew and Will up. I was not a happy camper because I didn't sleep well the night before. The day did get a little better and the kids got along great with minimum fighting.

While I was checking my e-mail later that day, I saw a note that Grandma sent us a e-card from Blue Mountain. I opened it thinking it was an Easter card. There was a note that said something like "sorry to hear about you hurting your hand. Hope you are better soon. Love, Grandma Loach." Confused, I scrolled upwards and saw it was addressed to Will. After he saw it, he asked if we could call Grandma Loach and thank her. (He can be such a little gentleman.) Nathan and Hannah also spoke to Grandma for a few minutes before passing the phone to me. It was nice getting to talk to her.

Friday night, the kids, Mike and I went to Baskin Robbins as is our custom. Afterwards, we came home and got the kids ready for bed. Mike and I actually went to bed ourselves about 10:30, which is VERY unusual for us (our normal bedtime is between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.). We got to sleep until 8 Saturday morning. IT WAS SOOO NICE!!! The kids were tired from their busy day and slept in. Saturday was spent cleaning house and finishing up some last minute grocery shopping.

Sunday, we went to the 9:25 service instead of Sunday school. We still had some things to do around the house and finish cooking some of the dishes before our guests came over. The early service is called a "blended" service, which is more traditional. The 11 o'clock service is a contemporary service, which is what we like with a praise band and more contemporary type worship songs. The service that morning was nice but I still prefer the second one.

We had a smaller group at our house this year. Mom came over and our friends from church, Susan and Todd with their boys David and Michael. Melanie, Nathan and his friend Coltlin came over and ate then had to leave to meet Coltlin's dad. Patti, Alyssa and Matthew didn't come over this year. Patti didn't want to be around our dog Gracy. She said she would cry about Gracy being sick and didn't want to be around her. We missed them not being there but we still had a nice time. Because it was raining outside, we had an Easter egg hunt in the living room. Susan and I hid the eggs all over, in obvious and not-so-obvious places. Susan hid some in the pile of Lego's that were in the floor, thinking that the kids would never find them. (They were some of the first to go.) Some places we thought would be easy for the kids turned out to be a little more difficult. They were hid on top of the VCR, in a candlestick on the mantle, on the floor in the entry hall closet doorway, under pillows on the couch and in Hannah's sweater on the back of the love seat. One was hid on top of the cloth medallion on the curtain covering the front door. It was in plain sight for Susan and me but the kids almost never found it. The four of them (David, Michael, Hannah and Will) had a blast looking for them. It was almost as fun as if they had been outside.

After everyone left, Mike and I finished cleaning up and got the kids into bed. I was soo tired that I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up around 11 and then Mike and I both went to bed. We were both wiped!! We did get some pictures of the five of us in our Easter outfits. I will try to download them tomorrow and post them on my blog and on Facebook. Most of them turned out great.

Well, this is all for now. I need to go and rest up because tomorrow is going to be another hectic day. All three kids have school; I have a board meeting at church; Hannah has practice at 5:30 at Horn Lake High School; and Will has a game at 7:30 at Snowden Grove (clear across town from where Hannah is practicing). I don't know how or what I am going to feed them. If I make something and have them eat at home, it will have to be around 4 or 4:30. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Old Friends Found

I am soooo excited!!! A friend I haven't seen or heard from since 10th grade found me today on Facebook!!! Kim and her family moved to Amory, MS while we were growing up and we lost touch. She found a couple of us from high school on Facebook and now we are talking again!!! She has four boys, two daughter-in-laws and two grandkids. It is awesome!!

My friend Susan from church knows a guy I went to high school with and works with his wife. Susan was looking through Blake's friends' list and saw my name. A friend from MOPS, Tracy, graduated from high school with a friend I grew up with named Donna. It's been amazing how many people I know from one place knows people I know from a complete different place. What a small world we live in.

Lots to Post

Now, there was the post about the 24 birthdays for December and January. Can you believe I have two more and they are relatives?! Actually they are babies, one born to my niece Jessie and the other born to my cousin Tim's wife Adrianne.

My niece Jessie had her son, James Riley, on Tuesday, January 27. He was born at 8:02 p.m., weighed 8 lbs 2 ozs and was 20 1/2 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great. It was a God-thing Riley was born when he was. The next day, Wednesday, it snowed and the roads were Jessie and Bryan live were pretty icy. Jessie got to spend the worst of it in the hospital getting waited on. (For those who don't know, Jessie is Jeff's daughter. Jeff is my step-brother.) Joan took a bunch of pictures and is going to have Daddy send me some. When I get them, I will try to post them here on my blog. I am hoping to drive to Jackson one day this week or next to see them.

Tim's wife, Adrianne, had her baby, Connor Seaway Jackson, on Friday, January 30th. Connor was over 9 lbs. Aunt Carol said the baby was huge. Momma and baby are doing great. Tim is beside himself to have a son.

As I mentioned before, we got about an inch of snow here on Wednesday. The schools were closed because the roads were a little icy that morning. By the time Mike left for work (around 8:30 or 9) the road were clearing up. I even took the kids to Chick-fil-a and met Mike for lunch. The kids enjoyed getting to play in the snow and having a day out of school.

Thursday, I took Andrew in for his 2 year check-up. He weighs 30.4 lbs and is 36 1/4 inches tall. The doctor said he was in the 90-95 percentile range for both his head circumference and his height. His weight was in the 75 percentile range. I knew he was a big boy and now I have the evidence to prove it. :-) After his appointment, I took him to school. They were learning the letter P and everything revolved around it. They had pretzels for snack; painted pigs with pudding (to make them look like they had rolled in the mud); they got to wear their pajamas; and had pizza bagels for lunch. When we got to school, his class was playing in the inside play area. Andrew went running in and found his friend Seth. They both ran across the play area to the "tree," climbed up the shallow steps and slid down the other side. Then, Andrew and Seth ran over to one of the flowers and climbed up. They were so cute!!! Andrew had on his red Thomas the Train two piece pajamas while Seth had on his red Superman sleeper. They have gotten to be such good friends and I am glad. Tracy and I were hoping they would be friends as their birthdays are four days apart.

On a sad note, Tracy's father-in-law passed away suddenly in the night Friday night. Mr. Gallagher lived around Anniston, AL. Joel, Tracy and the kids drove down that weekend for the funeral.

Will was picked to be the Star Student this week in his class. There is a list of things the parents can do to make it special. On Monday, we send in a poster that has pictures of Will, his family and things he likes to do. Tuesday, Mike and I are suppose to turn in a letter and say how special our "Star Student" is. The teacher will read the letter to the class. On Wednesday, we send in an "Estimation Jar" with healthy treats. The kids in class will estimate how many items are in the jar then they get to enjoy the snack. On Thursday, Will gets to bring home "Traveling Bear" named Bernie. We are suppose to write about our adventures with Bernie Thursday night and bring him back Friday to share his adventure with the class. (We also did this for Hannah when she was in Kindergarten. I found the letter on my computer. It was really cute.) Friday, the Star Student gets to have their parent(s) come in and read the child's favorite book. If we can't come, we can send in a book for the teacher to read. I won't be able to make it because the story time is right in the middle of Andrew's nap time but I plan to send in a special book.

This weekend, Hannah had her birthday party: a sleepover. She only wanted to invite three friends, so I didn't object. [The last time we had a sleepover, there were about seven or nine girls, two boys (Will and Jonas) and Andrew. The last of the girls were still up at 2 a.m. It was rough because Andrew was only seven months old and still getting up in the night to eat.] Brittney wasn't able to come this time because she was sick. Gracie came, along with Layne and her brother Jonas. Will was excited because he and Jonas are friends and love to play together. The kids played, ate pizza and cake, decorated door hangers, watched a movie and ate popcorn and then tried to get settled into bed. Gracie ended up going home about 9:45 p.m. but Layne and Jonas stayed. The kids finally settled down about 10 p.m. (after I separated the boys) and were up around 7 a.m. The next morning all seven of us went to church and actually got there about 9:45 a.m. I was amazed.

Well, it is late and I am tired. I think I am going to bed. Tomorrow I am thinking about going back to the Spin class at the Y so I need to get my rest. I went last week and my thighs killed me up until Thursday or Friday. I've been working out on the Elliptical for about 35 minutes and thought it was time to add something extra. We will see how it goes. Check back later for pictures. I am too tired to post them now but have LOTS!!

Pictures from the Enchanted Forest

Some of you may remember going to the Enchanted Forest at Goldsmith's Department Store in Downtown Memphis as children. When Goldsmith's Downtown location closed, they moved the Enchanted Forest around to a couple of different places. The last few years it has been at the Pink Palace, which I think is the perfect place for it. It was as much fun as I remembered as a child. Melanie and I would go to work with Mom on a Sunday during the month of December. While she worked, Melanie and I would do our Christmas shopping and visit the Enchanted Forest about a hundred times. The pictures below are some of the ones I took when Andrew and I went with some friends. When you first go upstairs, you are greeted by the Festival of Trees. They are Christmas trees that have been sponsored by different groups and/or companies and each has a unique theme. You then enter the Enchanted Forest area. It was great and the kids had a good time. I can't wait to take Hannah and Will to see it.

The Kindergartners at the kids' school took up money to purchase a penguin. When enough money was raised, one penguin goes on display at the Pink Palace and Enchanted Forest while another goes to a child at LeBonheur, the local children's hospital. These pictures are of the one Will's class bought.

There were a total of four penguins bought by the Kindergartners.

A sea of penguins that had been donated by individuals and local schools.
(This picture only captured a portion of them.)

Andrew

Will Gallagher looking at one of the Enchanted Forest exhibits.

Kindergartners from Hernando Elementary School were there while we were.

Another exhibit at the Enchanted Forest

This tree was called "Wings of a Dove"

This tree was called "Under the Sea"

Peppermint tree

Brownies in Wonderland

(sponsored by a local Brownie troop)

This is the tree topper on one of the trees celebrating children

We liked this one. It was entitled "God's Greatest Gift"

Mele Kalikimaka

(Merry Christmas in Hawaiian)

Andrew and me

Andrew and me as you look down the row of beautiful trees

Ruth Phan, Tracy, Will and Seth Gallagher

Santa talking to one of the groups of Kindergartners

The tree beside him was sponsored by the Memphis Grizzlies.

LOTS and LOTS of Pictures

The pictures are out of order. The first set were taking at CJ and Carla's wedding reception on November 15th. The second set were taken at Toccoa Falls on November 16th. The last set were taken while we were at the park on November 4th. Enjoy!!

Andrew, Will and Hannah

Annette (in the black) and Lanell (in the red)

Ashtyn and her dad JT

[When Ashtyn and Hannah were younger, they looked like an opposite set of twins: Hannah had the red curly hair with dark blue eyes and fair skin. Ashtyn had the dark curly hair with dark eyes (so brown they are almost black) and dark skin. They always play together really well when we are in North Carolina and seem to pick up where they left off from the last time they saw each other.]

Joe, Sharon and Rich

JT, Carla and Annette

The stream coming from the Falls

Mike and Andrew at Toccoa Falls

Mike and the kids at Toccoa Falls

Toccoa Falls

Toccoa Falls as you walk up to the end of the trail.

The boys hanging out in Will's bed before bedtime.

The changing leaves at Central Park near the house

Andrew and Will on the slide

Gracie

Hannah

The weather at the first of November was warmer than usual this time of year. The kids wore short sleeves the day we went to vote. Because they were good while I was making my choices in the voting booth, I took them all to the park to play.

Thanksgiving Day was busy but fun. Will woke up just before 7 a.m. and came running into our room. He started shaking me yelling, "Mom, it's Thanksgiving!! Mom, it's Thanksgiving!!" If he is this excited about Thanksgiving, imagine how he will be on Christmas morning. The family and some friends came over between 12 and 1 to eat. We had about sixteen people here. All of the food was wonderful. Here is a list of everything we had:

Turkey, dressing, deviled eggs, corn casserole, Lima beans, green bean casserole, sweet potato souffle, cranberry sauce, jello salad, potato salad and rolls.

For dessert, we had Mississippi Mud Cake, Strawberry Pizza, Pecan Pie, and Key Lime Pie.

Needless to say, we were all stuffed. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a very Happy Holidays as we get ready to celebrate Christ's birth!!