Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today is a very special day in our family. I imagine many people who celebrate their birthdays right around the holiday get "jipped." But not my hubby! Happy birthday to the most wonderful husband and daddy any family could ask for. We love you so much and hope that today is a memorable one for you. Thanks for all you do!

Merry Christmas

Our home arose earlier than normal this morning to see what the fat man had brought. I heard two little voices (let's just say they really weren't that little) coming from the family room declaring that they were rather pleased with their Christmas surprises. Joshua found a Wii game that he had been wanting for quite some time, and Dominic received a boy baby doll.....Santa also left a G I Joe doll just in case. Said voices became louder as they ventured down the hall in an attempt to awaken mommy and Matthew. Neither of us were having that. 30 minutes later the two of us emerged to continue the festivities. Let's just say that Santa was really good to us this year!

As I sit here and look at my three sons playing with their new toys, it brings back so many memories of when I was their age. Although I have forged on and am creating new traditions with my young family, I would be remiss if the memories of Christmas past were not included somewhere in here. I can still remember Christmas Eve at my grandparents house; a big meal, "stocking stuffers," piles of presents with each family members names on them, camera flashes, and the ever popular declaration from my grandfather that "Christmas is over, let's turn off the lights." This most wonderful man was never much into the Christmas thing, but he was certainly into the family time and watching the love and joy that was spread around the Burke living room on this very special night. And then there was grandma all decked out in her Christmas best which included some sort of Christmassy shirt. I can still see her standing in the kitchen window as she worked on the feast and then watching with stars in her eyes as all of us opened our gifts. How happy I am that my grandparents spent their last Christmas together with their first Great-Grandson. I know Joshua doesn't remember that day but I certainly do. I thank God every day that we all have those memories. Oh how they both were looking forward to many more holidays with their brood of great grandchildren. Unfortunately that was not to be.


Today, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I am thankful for all the blessings in my life and for the two angels that watch over me every day that I am on this earth. How lucky I was to have such great grandparents and how blessed they both are today as they celebrate their first Christmas together in heaven. I love you grandma and grandpa and thank you for sharing in my Christmas memories.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Tooth Fairy Makes a Killin'

No this isn't a picture of a Hillbilly, rather Joshua with a few less teeth. In a matter of 24 hours he managed to yank out not one, but TWO teeth right in the front. Mommy is a bit concerned since there is no sight of any permanent teeth to replace the five he is currently missing. They don't seem to be affecting his eating habits, but his smile is a bit awkward. Unfortunately the tooth fairy was delayed a day so he got an extra $1 for the wait. Hopefully the remaining teeth will take their own sweet time making their departure so that Joshua has something to chew with!

Matty Moose Gets a Moose Taggie

A great big thank you goes out to my dear friend Kara for making these! They are so VERY cute and Matthew absolutely loves them. He calls them his "babies." We have juggled with three smaller taggies for the past year and half; making sure there was one for daycare, one for home and an extra "just in case." With the addition of these two bigger ones, Matthew is all set!

These were supposed to be a Christmas gift for my little guy, but I just couldn't resist an early delivery! If you like her work, please check out Kara's website at www.kinderhausblankets.com.

Our Dancing Cowboy

Dominic's annual Christmas program was last week at a local elementary school. We look forward to this annual event as it's always fun to see which songs we will be serenaded with. This year boasted a western theme, and Dominic fit right in. He insisted on wearing his cowboy get-up and added the trenchcoat as a last minute accessory. Might I say he was the most handsome 4 year old in the bunch.

Due to the late hour, we opted to leave pre-Santa so that we could get the boys into bed at a decent hour. We did, however, make a special trip to the grocery store for some holiday cookies at Dominic's request. We look forward to seeing Matthew next year in his first program.

Matthew and "Nana" Ella - she is the owner of the daycare and these two are inseparable. Matthew has her wrapped around his little finger.

A Christmas Decoration Saga: The Second Year

For those of you who have been reading my blog over the past year and a half, you will remember the multitude of posts highlighting the trials and tribulations of our outdoor holiday decorations last year. I can count on two hands the number of mornings I ventured out in my jammies to determine where the issue was with the faulty lights.

It's a new year, and a new configuration, one that was sure to give us no trouble, right? Wrong! Althought the lights have functioned more nights than not, I discovered last week with the rain that we still had not worked out all the bugs. I suspect that my husband used an indoor extension cord somewhere in the mix since the only days the lights don't work are the days when moisture has filled the air. I supposed we will try it again in 2010 and I will keep my fingers crossed that we have 100% participation from all lights and inflatables on the 3rd try.

"Happiest" Memories at Christmas

Christmas at Disneyland. It surely is one of the most beautifully decorated places this time of year. Lights in all the trees, snow capped roofs on buildings, and festive characters up and down every street. This year we decided to share our holiday visit with our friend (and babysitter) Cynthia and her son Daniel. She had not visited the park since she was a young child, and I knew I could use the extra set of eyes with my three active boys. What fun we had.

We arrived under sun filled skies on Sunday to our "regular" venue, the Paradise Pier, and were treated to an upgraded Family Suite thanks to my friend Donny. He was also kind enough to leave a bouquet of balloons in the room for the kids which quickly entertained all four for at least an hour. It was nice to have the extra room and the DVD player to which we quickly added the Mickey Christmas DVD we brough along. We loaded everyone into the stroller and headed to Downtown Disney for some fresh air. Joshua, Dominic, and Matthew enjoyed dancing along to a group called Kids Imagine Nation who were playing in front of the Disneyland Hotel. After dinner at the hotel, Cynthia graciously offered to watch her son Daniel and Matthew so that I could take Josh and Dominic to the park for a few hours. We enjoyed a jaunt on Pirates, Thunder Mountain, and the Matterhorn before I challenged them to Space Mountain. After 10 minutes of harrassing them, they both agreed to "try it." We anxiously waited in line and made it all the way to the boarding area before Dominic declared that he had to sit with me (up until then I convinced the two of them to sit together). Although reluctant, Joshua finally agreed to ride solo.....and we were off. I waited for crying or a declaration of fear from them and was shocked to find smiles and excitement when we made the last turn into the light. They both LOVED it and wanted to go again! I explained to them that mommy couldn't make it a second time and that we really needed to get back to the hotel for some sleep. Matthew and I cuddled on the couch and let Joshua and Dominic share the bed. I absolutely love the couch in the Family Suite and wish I could have one in my house.

We planned to attend the character breakfast yesterday morning but were disappointed to find that the Lilo and Stich buffet was replaced with the Mickey and Friends buffet; exciting under normal situations, but along with the shift came an increase in price ($30 for adults and $16 for kids) and a requirement that guests are not permitted to order off the regular breakfast menu. I could hardly see paying nearly $100 for breakfast so we opted for breakfast from the lounge. I threw my hair up and ventured downstairs in my Christmas jammies with Dominic for coffee and food. We ordered Mickey waffles and a Flatbread breakfast pizza - so YUMMY!! After breakfast we packed up and headed over to the park.

It was another fun-filled day of rides, food, and walking (oh, and a little whining too) and we all enjoyed ourselves. Cynthia accompanied Joshua and Dominic on Splash Mountain and Matthew was smitten with all the characters. We enjoyed Mickey Mouse Clubhouse live at California Adventure and Matthew attempted to jump the stage and dance with all the characters. What a ham this little guy is. We finished the evening with the Pixar parade and even scored front row seats.

We arrived home late last night and I think I crawled into bed somewhere around 12:30am. We've certainly enjoyed our annual passes this year and many memories of our favorite place on earth.

Dominic and Joshua chase balloons around the hotel room

Matthew just wanted to hug and sit on them

Dominic poses outside the Lego store - we dare not go in

Joshua strikes a pose too

Kid Imagine Nation performs

....and all three boys get in the groove (that's Cynthia standing behind them)

Santa even made a guest appearance at the Paradise Pier

My two jailbirds.....

We received these treats in our hotel room on Sunday night - they were so good. Did I mention they had no calories or fat in them? (ha ha ha)

The boys were marching in Critter Country

Don't even try to take the popcorn from Matty - he wanted it all to himself

I'm Behind

yes I am. I promise to add a post soon. Sorry for the delay but the holidays have been keeping me busy.

I've Joined the Crowd

Nearly a year ago I won a contest at work and was awarded an iPhone 3G. It sat for months in my office as I milled over whether or not I would actually use it or not. Finally, after 10 months, I spent two hours on Thanksgiving getting it set up. Wow!! Why the heck did I wait so long? This is the greatest device EVER!

You'd think that since I work for the provider that sells these things I would have realized just how awesome they were before now. Never the less, I am completely addicted to this thing and it's only been 24 hours. I've already downloaded several apps and loaded up on iTunes. I still have a few things to figure out, but I know I won't be giving this thing up anytime soon.

On Friends

My world is a much better place because of the wealth of friends I have. Every day I count my blessings for the kindred spirits, old and new, that have entered my life. I would certainly not be the person I am today without these miracles. I was blessed to spend time with several friends over the past week and thought I would share the things I enjoy about each of them.

Julie - I still remember being 15 and meeting who was sure to be my best friend for life. After 20 years I am confident that this is the case. Although raising a family provides little time for sleepovers these days, Julie and I are still the best of friends. She is caring, understanding, supportive, and always welcomes me with open arms when I need her.

Pam - 2 1/2 years ago I met a wonderful HR manager who supported me in my job, and for some reason we just clicked. I think we both knew then that a lifelong friendship would develop....and we were right! Although our visits are few and far between, I enjoy catching up with her over a bite to eat, or a jaunt through our favorite amusement park. She is full of excellent advise and has a way of soothing my concerns when I need her to. Pam is an excellent wife, caring mother, and the best friend anyone could ever ask for.

Megan - What better person to have as a co-worker but one who is so much like you the two of you could be twins. Megan and I share the same challenges and frustrations in life and we both can find a way to make each other laugh. She is supportive, funny, and always lends me an ear if I need to vent or seek advice. I've been blessed with many co-workers over the years and Megan is certainly one I intend to keep on my friend list for the rest of my life.

Kara - ahhh, my kindred spirit. Girl, you are crazy and funny and can always put a smile on my face! In many ways I think Kara and I were meant to be sisters, no, really! It's almost like we read each others thoughts and know exactly what to say. It's funny how either of us made it 30 years without knowing each other. I love you girl!

Michelle - My Mishi. Soul mates that's what we are, more than friends, better than sisters. Michelle and I have a special bond and in many ways I feel more like family to her. She has always sought me out for advice, and has always listened intently to my rambling on. We always pick up where we left off, and she always welcomes me with open arms no matter what the situation.

Stephanie - Although most people shy away from building relationships with employees, Stephanie is definitely an exception. Anytime I need a little cheering up or encouragement, she is right there for me. It's almost like she reads my mind and knows when I'm having a bad day. Thanks Stephanie for accepting me and for respecting me as a boss, mentor, and especially a friend.

I could go on and on about the myriad of other friends out there, but these five individuals touched me in different ways this week and for that I am truly grateful. Thanks ladies for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

Not Your Typical Week

Can you believe it's already Thursday? I certainly can't. I've been on a roller coaster ride this week but, in the end, it's turned out to be the best week anyone could ask for.

I left early Sunday morning for Ontario with a brain full of numbers and a stomach full of butterflies. I was spending the afternoon preparing for my Monday operation review with the Regional President who was flying in all the way from Seattle to see me (okay, he was not just coming to see me but I knew that this was a great opportunity to showcase myself). I had waited for this day for nearly three months and no matter how much I prepared, I was convinced that I would be asked questions that I didn't know the answer to which drove me nuts! I stopped in Bakersfield on my way down and enjoyed a nice lunch with my best friends Julie and Gabe and their two boys, Zack and Bradley. It was nice to catch up and to make fun of the walker that Julie was using due to a back injury. I can assure you she will be fine and that she laughed with me.

I arrived in Ontario in the late afternoon and met up with my co-worker and friend Megan. She provided a great audience for a run through of my presentation and even interjected with challenging questions to which I promptly responded. I was feeling pretty good. With that said, we enjoyed a light dinner before heading out to find some workout pants for her. Needless to say we stumbled upon a Kohl's and I put my extra discounts to work. I found two pairs of jeans and two pairs of work pants for the bargain price of $23. I couldn't pass it up! At around 9:30pm we stopped at the local Hooter's for some wings. Trust me when I say there was nothing worth looking at in this particular Hooter's; the "B" staff apparently works on Sunday nights. I swear they have the best chicken wings! It was then back to the hotel for an hour workout in the gym before crashing for the night.

Monday morning arrived quickly but I was thankful that I didn't go on stage until late in the afternoon. Megan and I spent the morning crunching more numbers and relaxing in my hotel room. We were joined by our friends (and co-workers) Julie and Cindy for lunch before attending a 1:30pm Town Hall meeting with the Regional President, Fred Devereux. I spend the entire hour and a half in the meeting with sweaty palms and what seemed to be a look of fear on my face....yes, the nerves were back and were taking control of me.

It was time. I sat around the boardroom table with six other presenters, and once the first presenter began talking a calm came over me. I was completely relaxed, fine, excited, and now upset that I had to wait for three people to present before I was the final presenter (batting "clean up") for my peers. I was ready to go and knew that I "had" this! Two words...I ROCKED! I interacted with the other presenters and the executive team and felt confident in my words and actions. At the end of the night, I quickly ran to shake the hand of the Regional President and thank him for his time. As soon as he saw me he smiled and said "Pam, I want you to know you made my day!" Wow!! I was elated. The feedback from the night was positive and I received accolades for the next 12 hours. I was on an absolute high. The preparation and stress were well worth it! What better way to follow up this high than to take a trip to....DISNEYLAND!

Yes, yes, believe it or not this crazy lady packed up her things on Tuesday morning and drove 32 miles for a day of fun at everybodys favorite place on earth. The best part is that I met my dear friend Pam for some one on one time. We had so much fun! The park was not crowded so we were able to ride everything we wanted before the day was half way over. The employees there were even kind enough to put us on Splash Mountain just in time for the ride to break down. It's always nice to be stuck for 20 minutes and have to be escorted off a ride. Especially since I was already soaked and the place that we got stuck was right underneath the A/C. The cast members were nice enough to give us a fast pass for our troubles which we cashed in on Indiana Jones. Little did we know that we'd get stuck in a dark hallway on this one for 5 mins or so since the cars were backed up. Pam was not very happy and was trying to climb out of the car. Two rides in a row?? We will laugh about that day for a while, but in the end I enjoyed her company and can't wait to see her again.

I arrived at my mom's in Bakersfield just after 10pm on Tuesday and quickly climbed into bed. I was anxious to get Wednesday over with so that I could get home to the boys. After four days away I was ready for some hugs and kisses. We opted for a trip to the pizza place for dinner so that I could catch up with my friend (and babysitter) Cynthia and the boys could run around and get their energy out. What a week! I'm thankful it is Thursday, my day off, even though I have a myriad of things on the calendar today. Dentist, doctor, classroom, etc. And oh, by the way, can you believe that Thanksgiving is in a week? I better start my shopping and get the house in order. My sister and her family are coming this year!!!!

The Time Has Come

After 8 years and three kids, I have finally reached my pre-pregnancy physique, or something very close to it. I have feverishly visited the gym and stayed on a strict diet and after several months of hard work I dropped nearly 20 pounds which in turn awarded me new clothes.

Before

After

So today I set out to reduce the size of the wardrobe in my closet as I will never wear this stuff again. Needless to say several friends will enjoy a myriad of outfits that are gently warn. By the time I finished stacking everything up, there were 8 piles of clothes that filled three large garbage bags, and the leftover hangers filled my laundry basket. The best part is that I now have a little more room in my closet to stock up on more "stuff." Now....if I could just reduce my inventory of shoes, Jim would be elated. That will have to wait until another time.

A Favorite Comes to Our Home

As frequent visitors of the Happiest Place on Earth, we have pinned several rides as "favorites." At the original theme park we have deemed Pirates of the Caribbean as a family tradition thanks to Grandma Billie. In California Adventure, Midway Mania rose to the top of our list after we rode it for the first time last summer. The ride always has a wait and is too new for a fast pass, but no matter how long the wait, it is well worth it. Just imagine playing the worlds largest video game. So imagine our excitement when this "favorite" turned into.....



....this game for our Wii game console.


As I flipped through a magazine last month I stumbled across the ad announcing the new Toy Story Mania game....I became ecstatic and knew we had to add it to our library. I quickly added it to our holiday wish list and passed on the thought of buying it ahead of time since we were so close to the blessed holiday.

Last week I received a call from my sister with a request that I purchase the game so that my niece could play it while they are here for Thanksgiving. What to do? Christmas or Thanksgiving gift...I couldn't decide. During our travels to Costco last Sunday, we decided to rifle through the myriad of Wii games on display even though I assumed this brand new game would not be mixed in. To my amazement, Jim found one last copy and at the bargain price of $44.99 ($5 off retail price), we quickly threw it in the basket as an early gift to the boys.

So we have now brought our favorite ride into our home, and I must say it's a pretty cool game. It boasts far more fun than the ride itself, but does include the familiar scenes in the original. So Ella, this one is for you. I can't wait to play it with you in a few weeks!

It's Trick or Treat Time

After a long day of work yesterday, I arrived home to three anxious little boys who were ready to hit the pavement for some candy. Although October seemed to be a very long month, when it came to the Halloween festivities we were lacking this year. We did make it to the pumpkin patch, but failed to decorate until last weekend, and never made it to carving pumpkins. I think the life of a busy family just took over this month. Needless to say, the BIG night was well worth the short comings in the other area. The boys got all dolled up in their costumes and we loaded up everyone in the car for a visit with our friends Marcella and Tom. We hadn't seen them in several months so we found it fitting to trick or treat there first. We enjoyed catching up and the boys had all of us laughing as they ran around the house screaming and having fun.

Our friend Cassie joined us for trick or treating which worked out well since Jim preferred to stay back and hand out candy (truth be told I think the World Series game took precedence). The weather was absolutely perfect for hitting the pavement which provided an opportunity for visits to more houses. In years past we've cut it short due to shivers and frozen noses. Matthew marched up to each door and trick or treated like a pro. He was so darn cute! We even ventured into the "Haunted Hallway" at a neighbors house for some spooks. They were kind enough to give us a "no scare" tour. Matthew enjoyed touching the hands of all the monsters and was relatively relaxed in the spooky atmosphere. As for Joshua and Dominic, they were just pleased to find candy at the end of the hallway.

Matthew - our little Astronaut

Dominic chose a sheriff cowboy - suits him SO well

And our big, bad Ninja Joshua

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

I realized today that it's Thursday and I still haven't posted about our family day out on Sunday. Jim and I have been working so much lately that we have been "strangers in the night" on most days. The boys seem to be handling it well, and it has given us ample one on one time with them which is always good. For once, Matthew is on a mommy kick which makes me feel special.

So Sunday....our first family outing in a long time. We loaded up the Tahoe and headed to the River K Pumpkin Patch, an annual tradition. Dominic quickly loaded up the wagon with all the mushy, rotten pumpkins so Jim and I had to step in to explain to him what made a good pumpkin. We ended up with four pumpkins, one of which was a hybrid between a white pumpkin and an orange pumpkin. They are a bit overpriced seeing that they are "fresh picked" so we saved the big carving pumpkins for a trip to Alberston's.

We skipped the corn maze this go 'round since mommy was starving and headed to Joshua's restaurant of choice, McClintocks aka "the boot" (since they have a hanging boot sign out front). We enjoyed a nice lunch but in the company of three little boys it was definitely not a quiet one. Oh well....someday they will be all grown up and we will look back on these outings and laugh. For now, we duck and run.

After lunch it was on to a viewing of "Where the Wild Things Are." I wish I had taken a picture of the "line-up" before all chaos broke out, but just imagine all three boys sitting between Jim and I, Matthew in the middle, with boxes of popcorn. They were all three so adorable....and then the storm rolled in. Matthew got so excited at the start of the movie that he screamed along with the characters bringing the rest of the theater to chuckles. It was cute for a moment, but then we realized there was no way he would sit still through the entire movie. I quickly scooped him up and headed to the park for a ride on the swings and the slide. We couldn't do much else since his shoes were in the diaper bag inside the theater. He and I enjoyed some one on one time while Jim, Joshua, and Dominic enjoyed the movie. Lucky me, the agent inside the theater noticed that I left and didn't go back in so she gave me a coupon for a free matinee in the future...sweet! All in all, the movie was cute but I would recommend waiting for the DVD. I don't think it was really geared towards children, more for the young at heart.

I squeezed in a trip to the gym after the theater which was a treat for me. It's difficult to carve out time for workouts some weeks. The hard work at the gym is finally paying off. I will post my success once I reach my goal weight....less than 5 pounds to go.

I'm looking forward to more time with my boys; all four of them, and for winter adventures in the months to come.

"Look Daddy! There's a big orange one over there"

Can you tell Dominic is our little cowboy fashion dude? He got himself dressed all by himself