shocking...another snow day

they tried...my first text said 2 hour delay.
i love 2 hour delay. i love having time to leisurely get ready.
make a fun breakfast.
talk without rushing the kids out the door.
so i was happy.
then an hour later i got another text.
school closed.
it's still snowing pretty good.
but honestly, i'm kind of happy. because i'm a procrastinator.
and friday is the kids' valentine's day parties.
we hadn't even started valentines.
so that's what we're doing today.
we just made the salt dough hearts and they are baking.
when they are done we'll be painting them and tomorrow i'm hoping i can get out to get magnets to put on the back.
hope they turn out as cute in real life as they are in my head.
which i'm thinking won't happen.
but it's fun making them together. :)
so thank you mister superintendent for cancelling so i can get my valentines done with the kids. i owe ya one....
(serioulsy need to try and put a positive spin on the fact that we'll be making up snow days for 2 weeks into our summer....)

yikes.

i just brought lani to gymnastics.
before we left paul warned me that there might not be gymnastics tonight..."because the roads are getting kind of bad."
well i ignored him because gymnastics is my happy place.
i bring my computer.
there is wireless.
and i get one full hour to get things done on my computer.
it's great.
but honestly, the roads are truly getting bad.
we passed 2 accidents and slid right past the first entrance to the parking lot.
oh please....we cannot have another snow day tomorrow!
we are going to be in school until june 30th at this rate!
if you're local and heading out, be careful.
paul kinda knows what he's talking about....just don't tell him that. :)

Kinda love this idea...

I love finding ways to help when I feel helpless.
Check this out.
You might want to order one yourself...

My girls

Hard to believe they are 6...

and 2...

And seriously...she knows why the snuggie is loved by all...you can still use your hands! :) hilarious.

New blog header for 2010

Just want to put this in a post so I have it in my blog book for this year.

The new blog header for 2010.

Blue out...

High school kids at it again.
It was a Blue Out at the boys and girls basketball game tonight.
Awareness increased in Muscatine.
$1200 raised for water.
They are our future.
And I think our future looks pretty bright...

At the basketball game tonight...

Before Lani's complete and total psychotic meltdown,
but after my yellow fever, typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccines
and Brigg and Lani's H1N1 booster shots.

It was fun while it lasted.
:)

Stolen

‘Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.’
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stole this from Kari.
Who, by the way, will be on that plane to Africa with me next month.
Along with these four...
Jody, Teresa, Sheila and Jodi from Muscatine.
And Pam and Meg from Kansas.
Here we are in a hallway, Skyping with the Kansas girls about details...

Don't you love modern technology?!?

Because I feel like I've been busy

I haven't let myself think too much about my upcoming trip.
Because I have 3 children. Homework to complete. Activities to be involved in.
Life to live.
But the past couple of days I have let my mind wander there for a bit.
To that place that I feel like breathes life into me.
And I'm getting excited.
I've been thinking about David & Sheku and all the other teens in the Lighthouse Program.
If you haven't taken the time to read a little about the Word Made Flesh team, you should.
They are incredible.
Words cannot express the respect I have for this group of people who daily hand their lives over to BE God's hands and feet in a place that many would be repulsed by.
They are fully aware of the American dream.
The comforts and luxuries of our country.
Yet this choose this...

(Kroo Bay...the poorest slum community in the capital city of the world's poorest country)

would you choose this? I haven't. And I don't think I would. This is why I can't express that respect. I stand in awe at their faith and their commitment. And I'm pretty sure I'm the one who's missing out on the daily blessing of seeing God work in a place like this.

Jody sent this article today. You should take a few minutes and read it. It's about Kroo Bay(this is where we are going!) and some of the people we will be working with next month.

I'm pumped. I cannot WAIT. I want to see these people work and get a taste of what they get to be a part of on a daily basis. I am so thankful for the work they do and for the opportunity to witness it in real life.

SIDE NOTE: I think this story is awesome. About 2 years ago I was reading a book called The New Friars by Scott Bessenecker. He featured many people around the world who had given their lives to live out their faith. One of the people he featured was Faye Yu. I was so amazed by her story. Jody's sister just happened to be in Sierra Leone at the time and had mentioned she was going visit the Lighthouse program. I was so excited that she might be meeting this amazing person I had just read about! Sure enough, she not only met Faye, but exchanged emails. And now Faye is the one who sends over the David and Sheku bags for Jody to sell! And now we will be working with her next month! How cool is that?!

So yes, I am excited. The anticipation is starting to get to me. I'm planning and organizing in my head. But you can be sure I'll be freaking out the night before we leave. No planning is going to prepare me for what's coming. I'm praying my heart is ready.

There you have it. A little more about my trip.

More to come on my Dad's adventure to Haiti!!

I've talked about this before...

My friend Amy...the artist.
I know I've told you about her before.
She creates these incredible african angel paintings.
I have one.
And you have the chance to have one, too!
This one to be exact...

I have also mentioned that Amy is working hard to bring her 6 year old daughter home from Ethiopia.
She's been painting and painting and painting and painting.
All in the name of love.
The Smiths are bringing home a little girl to increase their family to EIGHT!
Super exciting!
And also very expensive!
Here's your chance to help.
Jody is hosting an online auction.
Tickets are $5.
CLICK HERE to see more pics of this painting and find out how to participate.
Good luck! :)

Neglected

I think I've been neglecting my blog.
I need to create a new header with new pics.
I haven't given much info on my Africa trip.
And did you know we are DRIVING to florida 3 days after I return from Sierra Leone?
For spring break.
With children?
We are.
Did you know my Dad is going to be heading to Haiti on the Mercy Ship next month?
He is.
Did you know that I haven't purchased bread, tortillas or noodles from the grocery store in over a month because I'm trying to make them from scratch only?
I haven't.
Did you know that we are going to Minnesota to stay with the lovely Leah for a weekend and Paul is going to take Brigg snowboarding while we are there?
We are and he is.
See...lots going on.
But I don't seem to have time to write about it all...

More February Fun

Copied this idea from COURTNEY, who copied it from someone else.
Which is exactly why I love the blogosphere.
You simply cut circles out of felt...

Then hot glue a piece of floral wire down the center.
Then type up "fortunes" for each recipient...

Place the fortune inside, fold in half where the wire is and then fold in half again.
Super simple and cute...

I made 14 for each of my valentines...
Paul, Brigg, Nalani and Ayla.

They each have their own color and they each get to open one every day (starting today) until Valentine's day.
So fun!!!

On another note, Lani is better.
She is fever and sore throat free.
She went to school today and had a good day.
I'm breathing easier.
Ayla and I were able to have a pretty normal day today.
So all is well on planet Burback.
Off to piano, gymnastics and paul has a meeting.
Typical Monday.
And today, typical is good.

Home for a couple days...

Strep.
Need I say more?
Ok...double ear infection, too.
And then it was the weekend....

All it will take...

"All it will take for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing." (E. Burke)

Hi ho...Hi ho..

It's off to the doctor we go.
Throat still sore.
Still a fever.
Dr. appointment at 10:15.

Valentine's Day Idea...

We don't do Valentine's "gifts" really.
Last year we had breakfast and gave the kids paper hearts with things we love about them.
They year before I pulled out our "love tablecloth" and we had milkshakes after a fun supper.
So I was trying to think of something cute and fun for this year.
And I came across these at THIS ETSY SHOP.
Super cute, right?

Right.
But they are $8.00 without shipping.
And well, I kinda think that's outrageous.
And seriously, anyone can make something similar.
Mine, most definitely will not be this cute.
But it will have 10 things that I love about each of them.
And that's the part that matters.
I justs thought they were cute and I wanted to share.

She is going to be social.

I just find this funny, so I wanted to share.
Ayla still wears a pull-up to bed.
And I realized something today.
I always ask her to go get one out of the closet, but today I was right behind her as she marched into the closet to grab one.
I watched her from a distance because I kept hearing her say "Nope!" and then throw a pull-up on the floor.
As I got closer, I saw that she would take a pull-up out of the package and look at it.
If it looked like this one, she'd say "Nope!" and throw it down on the ground.

Until finally, she pulled this one out of the package and said, "Yep!" and handed it to me...

It's the little girl with a friend.
She wanted nothing to do with the little fairy by herself.
Nope!
She wanted to wear the one that had friends on it.
And we might be in trouble tomorrow night, because all the "friend" pull-ups are gone.
Too cute.

Then it was Thursday....

...and Lani stayed home sick again.
Here she is trying to smile for me.
But she really just feels lousy.

And what did I do today, you ask?
I did this...

Yes.
That is p90x.
And now I honestly can barely type this post.
Every inch of my body is in pain.
But apparently that is a good thing.
We shall see.
But honestly, all I wanted to do was drink coffee out of this cup in that place...

I think couples should go on long leisurely trips together, with no children every 6 months or so.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Please let Lani sleep a full night and be healthy in the morning.
Please.

Still sick...

Lani is still home today.
We debated heading to the doctor, but i think we'll hold out and watch for improvement today.
Still sore throat and fever.
Not fun.

Did you catch Oprah today?

It featured Food, Inc in the first half hour.
Alicia Silverstone lost me after that...but just thought you might be able to watch it and get a taste of what I was talking about when I mentioned that documentary.
Everyone should watch it (the documentary...no necessarily Oprah :)).
And like Oprah said...We should make our own decisions about what we eat and why, because we can. We live in America. We get that freedom.
And our choices drive the food industry. Change can happen if we demand it.
Ok...that's all. Back to regular programming...

moving...

well that was fun!
looks like either Virginia, Colorado, Kansas, Florida or Minnesota (sorry leah, i don't think minnesota would cure my winter blues!)
we'll have to think about it. :)

but today lani is home with a sore throat. and i have this pesky house to sell before any other decisions can be made!

staying in today...out of the cold. babying lani and snuggling ayla. it'll be a good day.

Tuesday

Dishwasher running.
Laundry all caught up.
Roast in the oven.
It's FREEZING outside.
And it's almost February...which means two things.
1. Our house will have been on the market for a full year on February 2nd...yeah. Don't really want to talk about it.
2. Every February Paul and I start scouring the internet for jobs NOT in Iowa. I get fed up. Maybe it's SADD. Maybe it's spring fever or cabin fever or some kind of fever. But either way, I honest to God start looking for places to move.
Any ideas?

geez...how lucky am i?!?

that i get to spend my days with this little girl.

been thinking about her a lot lately.
how she was not part of "our" plan.
and how i'm not sure how we got along without her in our family.
she's growing up quickly.
we read "I love you stinky face" yesterday.
I love that book!
ever since she's been running around yelling, "i lub you tinky bace!"
she's too much.
it's just the 2 of us during the day and i can't get enough of her.
(most days!)
i want to remember to soak up these days.
because even though it seems like the day we drop her off at school will never come, it will.
i've learned that.
it will come even if i don't blink.
so i've just been soaking her up.
hugging her more.
laughing with her more.
focusing on her more.
and it's been great.
she is great.

Brigg's been working out...

And Ayla, too...

The weekend

Saturday Paul decided to paint 2 of our basement walls. He used some sort of basement paint. And we found that basement paint is a bit more "fumey" than regular latex paint.
It was horrible.
I thought we were all going to die from the fumes. I had gone out for a girls night and while i was out Paul texted and said, "We're staying at your parents tonight." (they are out of town, so that worked well!)
So yesterday I went home to get some things and it was still awful in there. I grabbed a pan of leftover crescent chicken for us to eat for lunch. When I got it back to my parent and opened it up and took a bite, it literally tasted like paint fumes! It was that bad. (Paul did say that after they ate he had left the meal out on the counter for a bit before putting it in the fridge. So that's when it picked up the fumes. The rest of the food in the fridge is fine.)
So we stayed again last night at my parents. Went to put Brigg's clothes on that had been IN HIS DRESSER and they smelled of paint fumes. (his room is right above the room where the painting occured.)
So I have lots to deal with at home. I stopped by the house this morning after dropping the kids off at school and it is much improved. Hopefully by tonight it will be liveable.
Not fun.
Not excited to get home and tackle a dresser full of stinky clothes.
And note to self: Do not paint with basement paint in the middle of winter when your house should be closed up tight and heat running.
Lesson learned.

A girl and her popcorn

It's a Burback thing.
They love popcorn.
And Ayla..well...she's a Burback thru and thru.

We had a party.

I love Friday nights.
LOVE them.
There is just an excitement in the air when 3:30 approaches.
The kids get picked up from school and then Paul comes home.
And the weekend begins.
I felt like having a buffet supper.
So I took the kids shopping.
They got to pick out all kinds of junk.
Chips, dips, SODA...all of it.
And I grabbed some grapes and bananas and cucumbers and chick peas! :)

And Paul picked up DQ milkshakes.
Then we set up shop in the living room.

We rented G-Force.
And ate and ate and ate and ate.
And got a little bit silly.

It was a great start to the weekend.
I love Friday...