• Drinking Age – 21
• College Graduate
• Being Married
• Holding a Steady Job
• Owning a Home

I only recently found out that the above criteria is null & void. When you are finally an adult is when you host Thanksgiving.

JBB & I are hosting my family this year and for the first time since he was married, my brother & his family are coming (they are switching it up this year).

In addition to making sure the house is clean, I am also in charge of the Turkey. I think I am going to brine & roast for a Sarah twist.

I already made some decorations (and a giant mess in my dining room) with these Glitter Pumpkins. Basically, you get some pumpkins, cover them with Elmer’s glue & sprinkle with glitter. They were easy but messy. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a project with glue and glitter. I’ll probably do this never again.

The only real reason we go to the State Fair is for the Fletcher’s Corny Dogs.

JBB wanted to look at the “Trucks, Trucks, Trucks, Trucks” – especially the new Chevy Silverados. This one had THREE cup holders – one for your Super Big Gulp, one fer yer spit cup and one fer yer coffee. Oh, this truck also cost $56,000 plus another $150,000 in gasoline.

I really wanted this car, though. All the benefits of a Vespa with the look and feel of a mule.

I think I figured out this year’s Christmas Card:

After looking at the “Trucks, Trucks, Trucks, Trucks”, we wandered upon the largest crowd we had seen yet at the fair. It was a Texas Lotto exhibit. After I took this picture, some State Troopers informed me that there was no photography:

That’s the Paul Adams Game Show. Here is Paul’s jacket. JBB is going to order one from the Men’s Warehouse tomorrow for our black tie event at the Ritz-Carlton in November.

This is our #2 Reason for going to the Fair:

We paid our respects at the Carat 2000. (Never Forget – Carat – 1999-2007 – Sarah’s cat).

We saw a guy in what had to be an International Male shirt (in the green).

JBB tried a Funnel Cake for the first time. His review: “eh, I could’ve bought a half-gallon of Blue Bell Homemade Ice Cream instead.”

On our way out we saw the Egyptian who discovered the X-Ray:

We’ll see you next year, Big Tex!

Here’s what I am most looking forward to:

This week, which is actually week 5 or 6, was about God. This has actually been one of the only topics where my Protestant knowledge didn’t try to counter-act what was being taught (the other topic being the Holy Trinity).

Sometimes I think my head gets in the way of my heart and my soul. I often forget how great and powerful God is and not in an, “I AM GREAT AND POWERFUL” (that’s God speaking) way but in a way in which I should really be in awe of and respect God for His will for my life.

One of the things brought up last night was how Jews do not write God’s name. In the Torah, there are actually 72 symbols used instead of the word God or Yahweh or Jehovah. In fact, they don’t even spell out Yahweh or Jehovah because the name is so Holy.

On the flip side of that, Abba, another name for God, literally means “Daddy”. Daddy is such a close word, one that represents a close relationship rather than the more formal “Father”.

It sometimes fathoms me that God can be all things to all people, if only they allow Him to. This is something I have struggled with for years – thinking that I know what is best for my life, my family, my marriage, etc. I think getting married really did a number on me. To be married, you really have to become self-less and think of what is best for you AND your spouse. How much easier it would be on Team Burns if we could allow God to have complete control and follow His will.

This weekend, I will go to my first “Catholic” event – a women’s retreat. Am I nervous? Yes, a little. I’m not sure I will know anyone there but I am excited because I will meet new people. I’ll try to give an update when I get back.

I recently found this gem at a resale store – don’t be jealous

I guess I should add a recipe for our famous cheese dip.

Team Burns Cheese Dip

1 block of velvetta – you know, the good stuff – cubed

2 cans of Original or Hot Rotel

1lb of breakfast sausage, cooked, crumbled & drained

Put all ingredients in Dallas Cowboys Crockpot, stir, set on warm.  Oh, what’s that?  You don’t have a Dallas Cowboys Crockpot?  Hmm…I can’t really help you then.

How fitting it was that Matt took the whole family to Yosemite Park to see the exact spot where he proposed to Amy.

Today is our “Bling Anniversary” – On October 15, 2004, after watching Napoleon Dynamite and having Chik-Fil-A for dinner, Jon proposed to me. What he said to me will only ever be known between the two of us, but just know that it was pretty good. Even though we have been together since ’01, when we got engaged, it really felt like the beginning of “us”.

Here’s a pic of the ring:

GO TEAM BURNS!

Last week was a pretty crazy week. Jon’s school is about to go through accreditation next week and so he was super busy with lesson plans & whatever else it is that teachers do.

I had a work event which I think was pretty successful. The money raised will go to provide scholarships to our daycare facility for children whose parents are low-income.

This weekend we just relaxed. It was really one of the first weekends in a long time where we were able to do so. On Friday, Jon went to a happy hour with his co-workers and I ventured to a movie alone. Yes, alone. I am not one to do many things alone. I like to get pedicures alone – occasionally, but that is about it. I knew, however, that Jon would not want to see the movie I was going to – Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Ever since 1996 and my first trip overseas to London, I have had a weird fascination with The Tudors and the English royal family in general. It has always amazed me that these people really believe that God placed them on the throne. Add to that the opulence of court life and it makes for one interesting wikipedia entry.

I enjoyed the first installment about Elizabeth I with Cate Blanchet playing the virgin queen, but this one just didn’t cut it. Yes, the costumes were amazing but that was about it. The director tried to film through every odd angle possible – I almost got sea sick from the overhead swirls and the angles through ironwork, etc. I will admit that Clive Owen was nice looking. Oh, and this movie was not very historically accurate, either. The gentleman who played Philip II of Spain was pretty good, though.

Anyways, if you are into The Tudors, some great historical fiction to read would be Philippa Gregory’s books. I am almost through all of them, although they don’t have to be read in “order”.

Jon’s Chicken is something his mother made for the boys when they were growing up that Jon always requested – hence, Jon’s Chicken.

Here’s the Recipe

4 chicken breasts

bread crumbs

parmesan cheese

extra virgin olive oil

S&P

Preheat oven to 350, lightly coat chicken breasts with EVOO, then with bread crumbs & parmesan.  Bake for about 40 minutes, or until chicken is done.

I usually serve with a wild rice & salad.  Sweet Tea is also good with this dish, too.

I currently have 4 (that I know of) close friends who are pregnant. I have been learning all new things about how our bodies work (or in some cases, don’t work) and this website has been one of the most honest I have seen in a while. The Shape of a Mother answers a lot of questions for me except the ultimate – Why have kids?

Currently JBB & I have two dogs and that seems like plenty. Occasionally, I will get a case of baby fever or even recently, other people’s kids have begun to be cute and funny to us rather than loud and annoying as they have been in the past. I love my own niece and nephews but it has taken me a while to get used to other people’s kids out in public.

The case for adding kids to Team Burns isn’t a strong one at this point. Married for 2.5 years, we are happy with our comfortable lives. We aren’t drying our hands with dollar bill towels but we live an okay life. Why disrupt it with children?