theburgessfam.com

This was the number one song the day I was born! (And the really random thing is that I frequently get this song stuck in my head- no joke!)

Brent's Song is: "Endless Love" by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

Arwen's is: "Slow Motion" by Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim (Sorry Arwen! Looks like it ghetto-fab for you)

Charis's Jam Is: "Grillz" by Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp

and for Ezra: "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy Tell'em

Looks like there is a Soulja theme for our family. Well, we ARE building a small army here!

You can find your song here.

(And for my personal entertainment, leave a comment and let me know what it is!)

You may remember before my mentioning that Brent is running for a local political office. Yes folks, Brent Burgess for Calera City Council, District 5!! Woot Woot!!

Anyway, Tuesday night there was another forum. This time it was city wide and taking place in the high school auditorium. As far as Calera is concerned, this is the big time. Our friends, the Lamberts, graciously offered to keep the girls for us again and this time no one was sick.

I had spent the afternoon running errands and efficiently got myself lost only 4 times on my trek to get the ultimate shiny metal stick blender. I got home just in time to run in to change clothes and hop out the door with all the kids. Whew! You know us, barely making it by the skin of our teeth...

Of course traffic was horrible and we were running late. We quick dropped the girls off at the Lamberts and drove back to Calera. I drove so Brent could look over the questions (for the first time! skin of our teeth here, people!). He was relieved to find out that all he had to do this time was answer one question: how will you use your position as City Councilman? As Brent rehearsed his speech he kept saying things like: "punish evildoers" and "opposing imminent domain", etc. I begin to try to put myself in the shoes of the citizens and suggested that maybe he focus on the positive such as "promote the local police department" and "protect private property." He agreed and settle on some fine words.

Moving on to the forum. We had to listen to all four mayoral candidates speak on their plans which included a laundry list of high-falutin' (sp?) ideas and plans- widening a bridge, a recycling program, updating the website, informational signs in front of city hall, getting gov't grants to refurbish down town, and lets not forget- a public transportations system for the elderly. Oh My Geez, just when I thought I was really going to stand up and shout "WHO CARES?" a woman who was running for council(wo)man took the mic. She said it just like a woman. I can't remember if her hand was on her hip, but it should have been. She got right to the point. "My children cannot play out in the street because people are speeding through my neighborhood and I've had enough, and my daughter is late almost every morning because that train sits on the tracks for hours on end. Now, we just can't have our kids having to get checked into school late because a train was sitting on the tracks and I'll not have it. " I giggled an evil laugh in my head and thought, "How sweet it would be if mom's ruled the world!"

So then we get to District 5 and Brent is the first one up, going by alphabetical order. He starts with a quote from uummm... Thomas Jefferson. Loosely translated it says this: Good government punishes criminals and gets out of the way of the good people to go about their own business. (I know Brent, it's not near as good as when you said it. I just can't remember the exact quote!) So he did good and went on about supporting the police department and fire department (ours is currently unstaffed and also would not be able to get to our neighborhood if say, a train was stopped on the tracks hours on end when our house caught on fire. Good to know.) Then he dropped the bomb: "Our city is currently in deficit $142,000. All of these programs these men have been talking about are going to cost money, and we don't have it." Then he went further: "Our nation is headed toward a recession and I'd like to see Calera taking steps to prepare for it and cut corners to save where we can to protect our citizens." WOOHOO! That's my man! Wisdom cries aloud from the streets! I was never more proud. Trite and worthless issues are far from his mind as he contemplates the heavier items at hand. We need more people like Brent in politics and leading our country-fearlessly looking ahead to the future and bracing themselves to inspire change whether or not they live to see it.

Folks, if you are not looking into your government officials you ought to. If just for the sheer entertainment of it you should be going to these forums in your own city. Find out who is running for governor and city council, etc. etc. Find out what they stand for and get involved. We are shaping the world that we will leave for our children and grandchildren! Don't be idle. Do something.

Vote on NBC's poll to keep "In God We Trust" on our currency.

We were headed out the door to the library and what should be waiting on the front porch but a package from Nana!

The girls were sooooooo excited to see all the pretty clothes inside! Of course we had to completely change wardrobes before we could continue on our trip. =)


And new clothes for church on Sunday. (Arwen is going through a weird smile phase, please pardon.)

Baby signs were SUCH a life saver when Arwen was a baby. She started picking it up around 10 1/2 months. Instead of crying for more food, whining when thirsty, or complaining in unintelidgable baby blabber about a dirty diaper she simply tapped her fingers together (more), tipped her thump to mouth (drink) or patted her hip (diaper/potty). Anyone could watch her easily and understand her needs. I remember glancing in the rear view mirror while driving and noticing she was doing a sign like "please" or "food" or "drink" or "what's that noise?" She didn't quite understand that I had to be looking at her to get it. At any rate, she is still an excellent communicator to this day.

Charis on the other hand never would do any signs. She would jibber and jabber as if she were certain we understood her, and she is very good at fending for herself. She will not tell you that she is hungry. She will find food on her own. She usually checks the diaper bag first and finds a snack bar or an old apple. If not there she heads to the table. I'm a one lady show here, people, and the breakfast dishes are usually still sitting there when lunch is made and lunch dishes still on the table when dinner is made... and I'm ashamed to admit it, but sometimes dinner dishes are STILL there when Breakfast is made! (We clear them before we eat, don't worry) Life does not pause for me to clear the table! =)

Anway... Ezra is doing signs now! He has shown great intelligence in recognizing that doing the "more" signs gives him an unlimited number of servings on his high chair tray. I'm hoping this will continue and he'll learn more. Nine months is a little early to be doing signs, but who's complaining?

My stick blender died today at the end of a particularly awesome batch of Bamboo Charcoal Soap.

I was grooving to Fiona Apple and mixing away when suddenly it just stopped. Thankfully I was at the end, elsewise I would have been looking at 30 minutes or so of stirring by hand. (Elsewise. I think I made that up. I like it.)

A soapmaker without her stick blender is like a preacher without his Bible, a soldier without his gun, shoes without laces, tooth brush without dental soap, Ricky without Lucy...

My trusty stick blender was by my side for five years straight, helping to mix hundreds of batches of skin loving soap (and a few smoothies before I started making soap). I think I pushed it too hard recently when I started making 12 pounds at a time instead of the usual 8. I'm also soaping about every day now...

Sigh. I think now I will buy myself a shiny metal stick blender and forge a new relationship. I know my stick blender would want me to be happy.

As you know, we bought our home brand spankin new. Our neighborhood only consists of about 12 houses now, but the plans are for about 300 more. (But our builder is a shiester and probably has taken off with all our money. Is shiester a bad word?)

Anyway, there is a vast expanse where they cleared the land and laid road to build the rest of the houses. Slowly, what was there before this has begun to grow back. We've already claimed two passionflower vines for our own and moved them to our back yard. (so far they look dead though.)

I'm wondering if anyone can help me identify some of these most unusual plants we find on our walks. I am always amazed at God's creation- His personal landscaping touch that is evident when plants are left to go wild. I love it! I plan on adding scripture verses to these photos.

This one in particular is my favorite and I'm dying to know what it is... (Update: most people seem to think this is some sort of cherry plant that is poisonous...NEW UPDATE: this has been identified as Horse Nettle and is indeed poisonous. SIgh. )

It's pretty small, here's the whole plant and a good shot of the leaf shape:


My second favorite is this one, with beautiful yellow (my favorite color!) flowers, sort of snap dragon shaped, and then these little pods along the bottom (Update: This one has been identified as Crotalaria. You can read the wikipedia definition here. It's a soil builder and nitrogen fixer. Maybe I will snag one of those seed pods and use it as a green manure crop? Lord knows we need some soil building action in our yard! NEW UPDATE: This plant is toxic as well. Originally brought over for turkey feed, I guess it didn't work very well and now we are stuck with it. )

The whole plant:

And the little pods that grow towards the bottom. They are filled with air and teeny tiny seeds:


This next one sort of looks like feverfew and is really big:


And I'll be doggone if this little shrub isn't a baby Dogwood (pun intended), it smells just like one


This next one is pretty funky and it's everywhere, big and small (Update: this is Poke. The baby leaves can be cooked and strained several times and eaten, but the berries and large leaves are toxic. I think i'll avoid it.)


This one grows like an evergreen bushy type looking thing (like those scientific terms?)


Then there is some sort of vine:

Anyone seen the Jerry Lewis movie in which he plays a hospital orderly who is SO HELPFUL he is actually not helpful at all? It is good clean fun. =)

Anyway, my kids are soooo helpful in a disordly orderly kind of way. This brood may not look like they can do much:


I bet you never could imagine that Charis helps me cut out the labels for my soap and enjoys putting leftover strips to good use:


Arwen even helps me count stuff out to put in my orders sometimes:


While I'm at it, I have to tell you that Charis can't bear the thought of Mommy doing the dishes alone and enjoys helping to empty the dishwasher and load it back up: (even in her underwear and sunglasses. She wore these glasses for about a week at all times)


I'm so thankful for the blessings the Lord has given me. Many people cannot understand why I consider my children such a wonderful reward from the Lord, but when you train them right (we're still working on that!) and treat them like functioning members of the family, they really are a joy! I look forward to them growing older and becoming my friends and helpers.

I will admit, a lot of times, when they ask to help I want to say NO! I can do it so much more quickly and easily without their "help." I know that I will one day regret not letting them participate, though, so with a sigh, I usually make room for them to get involved. This will help ensure that when they are teenagers they will not be crowding *me* out of *their* lives!

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I'm excited about a magazine that will (hopefully) feature recipes that don't include Kraft food products, instant rice, cake mixes, etc... We'll see.

Anyway, if you want to try it, go here:
here's the tiny url: http://tinyurl.com/5dkvuj

Enjoy!