a glimpse...

Tourist in 20 minutes

jburbs77 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:00:31 +0000

We live in a great town. Just about 20 minutes away from places that tourists frequent. About once a month we will have family day in one of these towns: Mt. Pleasant. We pack up the kids and sometimes a lunch and head down the interstate and over the bridge to be tourists for a day.

Our first favorite stop is Memorial Waterfront Park

We brought our soccer ball and warmed up in the sun running in the parks grassy areas and then walked down the pier to see if there were any lucky fisherman. We are never disappointed with the nice people we meet and the fish tales they have to share!

This gentleman called the boys “lucky” because he caught 3 fish while we visited with him. Although none to keep, it was still fun to see 2 puffer fish and one pin fish.

We happened to come to Memorial Waterfront Park on Veteran’s Day. It was nice to see the Memorial Statue and talk to Ben and Sam about how to the thankful for our freedom and some of the sacrifice that it took to get it…and keep it. They are very proud of their Uncle Kenny, who is home for his 2 weeks of R&R from Afghanistan. They can’t wait to see him this Tuesday and ask him all their questions.

We used our Yelp app to find a yummy pizzeria: La Pizzeria. Delish!! The waiter suggested a prosciutto sandwich to me and Jason ordered a meat lovers and white pizza with mozz cheese, ricotta and spinach slice. We got a cheese and pepperoni for the boys. Just look and make your own visual opinion…but my taste buds will argue if you don’t think anything less than amazing!

Then of course it was off to Trader Joe’s so mommy could do some shopping and Daddy and the boys could find TJ the turtle and get some yummy lollipops from the treasure box. One more favorite stop before heading home: Menchies Frozen Yogurt! We get some crazy concoctions by our kiddos…but they love it.

We ended this great day with a yummy roasted Turkey Breast from TJ’s, sweet potatoes and maple roasted brussel sprouts then a toasty fire and smore’s…yes, we outdid it in the diet category of our day…but it doesn’t happen often…and we enjoyed every second of it!

Fair Weather Food

jburbs77 — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:30:21 +0000

Jason and I have been gradually changing our eating habits. We have done some researching and some documentary watching that has opened our eyes to the dangers of eating over processed and unnatural foods. Not so much for us and our future…but more for our children’s health. I love to cook and I love to eat. This new look on life hasn’t dampened that love at all and I have enjoyed learning how to replace unhealthy ingredients with healthy ones. So the fall baked goods (although still quite caloric) can still be made and the roasting of yummy responsibly raised meats still keep roasting. But there is one thing that happens in the Fall…and it cannot be substituted for any health guru. Fair Food! On a normal basis I stay away from fried things. But last Tuesday, as the day went on and the cold set in and news of the fair, it’s up-in-one-night rides, attractions and vendors filtered through social media…I had a craving. So Jason and I called in my amazing mom to watch the kids and we ran out to be a little unconscious to our new found healthy life. It was chilly, perfect fair weather. There was a consistent crowd. Not too bad. We had a plan…first: John the Greek!! Best Gyros around!! Seriously.

Then we had a debate…the classic once a year basket of fried mushrooms, which were $7!! or skip it and go straight to the funnel cake, my personal favorite. We were in line for the mushrooms, after all it’s tradition, and a man came over to the line with this little parchment bag of sweet smelling fried dough. We asked him about them…he raved of how wonderful they were and they happened to be cheaper than the mushrooms and you got more product. So we ventured over to my new favorite fried dough vender…Yummy, hot out of the oil, mini donuts. I’m salivating just thinking about them. After we came out of the sugar coma, we stood by the kiddy rides with other patrons from all walks of life and watched an impromptu fireworks show. I showed a little support for my Alma mater and paid $2 for a bottle of water to wash the grease down.Then because we hadn’t eaten enough we had to get a jumbo corn dog to end our indulgent night. We enjoyed the night out…just the 2 of usespecially after a week of disney fun! You have just one more night to get out and indulge as we did!! As for us….there is next year!

The Happiest Place on Earth!

jburbs77 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:08:35 +0000

We have just returned from a very fun family vacation to Orlando, Florida. Jason, the boys and I got on the road after some sickness to meet Jason’s brother Chad, his wife Amber and their 4 kids and Jason’s Dad and his wife Jeanie already in Kissimmee. The boys love time with family and their cousins are some of their favorite people! Of course as with any group of children that are around the same age there was some tousling, but all in all they got along great. Games with Papa, swimming in the heated pool, building fortresses out of Jenga blocks and watching Judah (their oldest cousin) dominate some video games.

Then it was time to go to the Magic Kingdom! I was just about as excited if not more than our kids. (after the anti-climactic reaction when we surprised them with the Disney announcement) Cinderella’s Castle, all the characters, the rides, the shows. I was so anticipating their faces when they saw everything in person. It was as expected, jubilant memories made that they are now at the age to remember for a long time! Ben is not so much the roller coaster rider…yet, but Sam hung with Daddy, all until Space Mountain…he wasn’t as excited after the ride as he was in this picture.
Ben and Sam ended up ending the Disney day with fevers and commandeered the stroller from the younger ones. Their next 2 days consisted of quarantine in the upstairs infirmary. So glad I had asked their teacher to send them with some work. It gave us something fun to do while everyone else got to go to Downtown Disney or play in the pool. After 2 restful days we were ready to go to Arabian Nights. A fun dinner theater that Papa got us tickets to. The kids loved the horses and all the stunts. I have a lovely video of Jonas dancing for the Latin American portrayal of horse back riding!! We got some rest and headed out to Ben’s favorite…Sea World. This place has always impressed me. It tugs on my heartstrings and the love I have for animals, and to see my kids love them so much to just makes me happy. Ben is his mother’s son. He has been saying that he wants to be a Whale Trainer when he grows up..he has, since Arabian Nights, added Horse Trainer to the future resume.

This was a fantastic time away with family that we haven’t been able to spend much time with as they have been away over seas for periods of time. So glad we had the opportunity to go. Great memories made and many years of reminiscing to follow!

School + Food = Fun!

jburbs77 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:44:21 +0000

Just a few more pictures of some of our amateur Bento boxes (found a new site thanks to my lovely dear friend Amy). We are in the process of re-assessing our eating habits and with that our grocery purchases. I have made a point of using everything that we have at the house now before my next trip to the store to aid us in getting rid of all the “stuff” that doesn’t meet up with our new lifestyle. Saying all this to say, that my bento’s may be suffering just a bit

Tacos, fruit and a fruit bar

PB faces, apples, grapes, a clementine and TJ's Alphabet cookies

This bento happened on a Tuesday-But Jack still got his at home!

This has really turned out to be fun and the kids really enjoy it too, ha! This week may be pretty boring, we will see how creative I can be while doing a pantry/fridge clean.

And while we are blogging about food, Jack had his first snack and wanted to make our new favorite dried fruit oatmeal cookies. He is my little baker in the making. Tuesdays and Thursdays are a bit more special now that I can spend one on one time with him. He is one special guy!

and he was even willing to share with his brothers for their after-school snack!

4 days in…

jburbs77 — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:03:27 +0000

This week has been a monumental one! Ben and Sam are now students in Kindergarten!!! Crazy to think that these two guys are already 5 (almost 6 in December) and ready for everyday school. They have been attending Metro North Preschool for 3 years now and LOVE it! Tania referred to this little school as a piece of hidden treasure. The teachers and staff there are just the best, they are completely about your kids the second you arrive until the time you pick them up. I’m having a hard time figuring out what we will do next year for first grade!! (lots of prayer for this one). Here are some pictures from the first day!

Yes, our little stackers is in school too. He had his first year experience with Metro last year and couldn’t wait to be a cuddly cub this year!

Can you see the excitement?!

Getting to school and to our classrooms. I am very much enjoying this last year of walking them in and getting them settled!

didn't take him long to find his friend Luke from last year!

Sam finding his frog hook (they are "little leapers")

and Ben finding his....so big

yay for K-5!!

With K-5 brings lunches every day. So I have tried to be somewhat creative. I really wanted to dive into this bento box idea, but I am starting slow just to see how it goes. Here are some pics of 2 of their lunches!

Dinos!

pasta and veggies with some fruit, crackers and ginger snaps from TJ's!

I haven’t been thinking enough to take pics of all their lunches this week. It’s enough to get up, work out, get all ready, make breakfast and then juice Jason and my meal for the morning that looks a bit like this and lasting throughout the day looking quite similar, but more green. It’s day 4 of our juice fast…not much to show there-but 4 lbs shed so far!

Great monumental week!! Only to get better.

Vanderbilt living….

jburbs77 — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:38:45 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

8 Decades of Fabulous

jburbs77 — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:56:30 +0000

Yesterday we were privileged to take Jason’s grandmother out for a birthday lunch. On Sunday, the 31st of July, she will turn 80 years old. She is the epitome of class. Her life is filled with great accomplishments and stories of love and romance. She has been a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and now a great-grandmother. Only last year did she loose her partner in life, Don Burgbacher, to a quick terminal cancer. She is strong, but misses him so. There is not ever a time that we don’t talk about him when we visit. She takes me around her cottage showing me all the gorgeous pictures of she and him when they were younger. They look as if something right out of a classic with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Time with her is so special, you would think I would make more time to be over there. And every time I leave I say I will try harder. WHY is that? Things come in and crowd out importance to easily. Priorities must be weighed every day!! I want my boys to remember all their family….memories for many decades. Here is the gorgeous lady and 2 of her Birthday dates:

Easy Salmon

jburbs77 — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:43:58 +0000

We ‘try’ to eat healthy. Getting in most food groups in a day. It is very difficult to do this when you are on the run. Most weeks I try to plan in advance our meals and get everything in one trip to the store. I don’t like having to pick up everything and run out with 3 boys to get one thing here and there. And after having everything for the week, schedule the times that Jason will be home so that I can go a little more crazy with our dishes. But sometimes it’s the simplest that is the favorite! This dish is soooo simple and you get one of your 2 dishes of fish that you are ‘suppose’ to have in a week.

3 Salmon filets (they weren’t on sale this time…)

Orzo Pasta

Jar of Pesto (I like Classico)

Your choice of side veggie

Start water on boil for Orzo. Preheat grill to Med/High. Boil Orzo as package directs (usually 8-10 minutes)

Try to get fresh salmon when it is on sale and cut into cubes. Then coat in a good 2 Tbsp of prepared (for me store bought) pesto.

Then put onto skewers and onto oiled grill rack. Grill for 4 minutes and then turn for 4 minutes more

And…your done. Dish out drained orzo, put your salmon on top and serve with your side veg…Jason likes a little extra pesto because he is saucy. But it is relatively good for you and so easy to make! One of our favorites!

Recalculating.

jburbs77 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:27:46 +0000

Last Thursday in Momentum (our young adult ministry) Pastor Jonathan brought an amazing word to us. We are in our series “The Voice” in studying God’s voice and how we communicate with him and how he communicates with us. Jonathan talked about Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. (Ezekiel 12:2 NIV) Are we a rebellious people?? We have eyes and ears…are we using them correctly? It doesn’t have to do with a lack of instruction, but a lack of attention to it!! Sometimes it’s the little things that we don’t want to surrender. Our time. Our agenda. Our plan. He hit the nail on the head when he spoke about the times we hear God’s voice but “We tend to use our knowledge and our logic to talk our way out of listening to his prodding.” How many times have I heard the Lord nudging me in a direction but didn’t listen?? Convincing myself that I don’t really need to talk with that person, or stop an already busy day to help somebody out, to show them Jesus. Our logic is so powerful in our disobedience to his voice.

Yesterday evening I had a dinner appointment with a lovely student who lives out in Knightsville. I had already rescheduled our lunch appointment 2 times because of Jack’s stomach virus. So Jason came home and I set out, GPS set to drive 35 minutes out. It was 5pm. Anyone who has driven anywhere around Hwy 52 at this time of day knows it’s quite crazy. I came to an intersection and my GPS was telling me to turn left. Then closer to the intersection I noticed all the traffic diverting to the left around a stalled vehicle. Inside was a very tired, hot from the 97 degree heat, frustrated woman. I started to follow the traffic, after all, that was the way my plan had set me to go. I suddenly remembered this momentum message. This was an opportunity. I wanted to obey. Sitting a bit behind her at the now red light, my logic started in…”I know nothing about cars, that thing is smoking!” “What if it blows up?!” “I don’t know that I have ever pushed a vehicle off the road before, don’t know if I could.” I even thought, “someone else will help her.” Fact was no one was helping her. At the moment the light turned green she looked at me. That was it. I pulled off in front of her a ways and got out of my car. Thinking, “what do I say?” In getting to the car I found her more frantic. She was trying to start this smoking car that had stained the pavement with whatever water it had had in it. A Sunny D carton was in the back. I asked her how I could help. She said this happens all the time-she just needed water (anyone remember a woman who came to draw water at noon?) I offered to take her to get water for the car, or home if she needed. She grabbed the used carton from the backseat and said this has happened before. I managed to get a nice man to help us push her car out of traffic and he popped her hood telling me what was wrong with it while she ran to a nearby store to get the jug filled. He left as I waited. I went over to the store and she was coming out. She had still not reached anyone she knew to help. She was very grateful for the help but said she was fine. She assured me the car would start and thanked me for helping. So with the thought that I had already freaked her out, I had no choice but to go further. I asked her, “this may sound crazy, but can I pray with you about anything?” She came closer to me, smiling. I thought, “This is it!! God is going to bring it!!”. Then she said, “Thanks, but I don’t believe in that. I was a Jehovah’s witness for 6 years and that ruined me”. In that time of defeat, God told me, “Tell her I love her”. I told her that I believed in an amazing God and that I knew that he loved her. She grabbed my hand, shook it thanking me and left.

As I drove away, with my GPS guiding me, I felt joy. Sure, I hadn’t had a revival bring someone to their knees to Jesus moment, but I listened to his voice. And I think that the more I do, the more God will be able to do through my actions. These actions may not be received as we want people to, but we obeyed. In God’s plan that may be all he wants from me. That woman’s path will hopefully involve another believer to sow the seed. I pray they hear and obey.
Romans 2:13 tells us: For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (NIV)

divine words during school time

jburbs77 — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:06:43 +0000

We are really enjoying school time. Yes, at 5 and 3 my kids think school is one of the best things in the world…so when we get a chance to stay home for the day we pull out the scholastics. Taking all the advantage out of their love for learning while we have it! Jack soaks up the one on one time and is learning so fast. We are trying to get Ben and Sam to sound out words and read a little. They start K5 in just 4 weeks! Crazy, I know. They are so funny. They CAN sound out most words, but try to take the easy way out by looking at pictures of what the characters are doing in the book. Really funny! Today we started our letter C week. We come up with and sound out words that begin with that letter, do a letter C craft (today’s found here) and learn a Scripture that begins with the letter C.

Say "C"

our little sour tummy Stackers got into the craft

Even through this little practice, God speaks volumes. Not only does it helps me memorize the scriptures with them and teach scriptural life lessons throughout the week, but the scriptures are so timely it is unreal! Recently in our church family, there have been so many hurting. People going through so much. My heart has been so heavy for each of them. But then today, the letter C brought us this:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

He is so good. All we must do is go to his throne. I stand in the gap for those hurting, those weak and burdened today. May they find rest in Him. He is so sovereign. Even through school time!