Blog hiatus

Next Wed Dec 5 is my last class date for my grad school class. Thank goodness! It has been a lot of work, which is like duh girl- but a little more than I anticipated. I still like it though- but we have a final presentation due and it's a lot. To top it all I have a lot going on with my clients and oh yeah kids, husband, holidays, friends, house...again duh, girl. Don't we all? I actually really despise the whole I'm soooooooo busy. Complaining-because everyone is. Its not a competition. BUT i am simply stating a fact that is my world right now and that is:

I'm drowning.

Over dramatic? Yes. But it's how I feel at the moment. Hoping to come up for air next week. Or at least sleep.

Actually can 'they' just make a day like 30 hours????? At least for the next week...

Prof Photos

I'll blog about this crazy cray trip that is Thanksgiving later, but for now, I will post the link to some of the professional pictures we had done a couple of weeks ago. 

http://www.bakerbakerblog.com/2012/11/12/burke-family/

I hope this link works! You may see one of these pics as our Xmas card pic- but whatevs. 

Bonz

Thanks to Sarah who rockingly sent these to me to cheer me up. I meant to blog this 2 weeks ago! But a big o bag of bonz sure did, and they are perfect for a long road trip.

3 cheers for Bonz and my awesome friend, Sarah! Xoxo

McDonalds

It's a Burke tradition to go to McD on a road trip. We sing the jingle, and Nora calls it Old McDonald. We rarely eat here, so it is a treat for all. Even me. A good ol' two cheeseburger meal was definitely called for today- no Southwest Chicken salad for me. We ended the night with McFlurrys even to give Nora her dramamine pill. A golden arch joy in the midst of a road trip keeps it hoppin.

Road Trip

Been a cray week- per usual. My class ends Dec 5- hooray! Just one project to go.

Anyway- road tripping. I despise them. I hated them before kids. I really dislike them now. So we go overnight. But we are on the road now and already stopped 10 min in for a potty break, and a dinner break an hour after that. *sigh* Are we there yet?!?!

I'm Disappointed

Yes- I am disappointed thinking about how my family pictures may turn out...I feel like I just lost a couple hours of sleep over it. *sigh* I'm trying to just say 'oh well' but I'm not very happy.

But I'm really disappointed about Black Friday.

I love Black Friday- I mainly just go to Target and then maybe a couple more stores. I worked at the mall for 3 years, so my Black Friday then consisted of working and implementing marketing strategies to beef up Black Friday- also fun. I was one of those marketing directors that LOOOOVED the holidays! (some do not) But I love love love them.

But this year- I'm TO'ed. Target is opening at 9pm! Walmart-8pm! That's still Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

I had so much fun last year staying up after we ate and hung out with my cousins, sister and bro-in-law to then go to Target at Midnight. We danced in line, roused the crowd, interviewed our fellow line standers on what they hoped to purchase. I talked to the Target workers about the secrets of Target Black Friday (what is your shift today? what time did you get here? did you sleep before you came?! Do you get paid more today?) I need to know these things.

I feel like this year people are going to shovel food in and be all- gotta run, Happy Black Friday, I mean Turkey Day.

But the thing is I'm not that strong yet to boycott. I want to go to Target at 9pm! But I don't want to go at 9pm! Do I need, need the Little People Princess set for $13.99 regularly 19.99 so bad that I have to get in line at 8pm on THANKSGIVING to get it? Should I just run to Target and then run back? (probably what I will do...) Will I miss family pie time to go get the Belle Baby and matching princess dress for only $19.99???

Do other people feel this annoyance, too? Or are people super jazzed about this newness?

It's getting OOC. But then I still want to go for some of it, even though I am annoyed. If I don't go then I am 'missing out' So then I am attributing to the maddness and the retailers are like- hey, this is working! Do they need to control the market share of Black Friday so badly they will just make their employees not have a T-day to do it (yes, obviously)

I think I will only go to Target at 9, then come back, and say whatever to anything else. So that will be my boycott. Sorry other stores, I chose my one. Go back to Midnight or 4am, and I'll make a night/morning of it. But I like hanging out with my family on Thanksgiving rather than shopping all day.

I want an increase in sales, but I want Thanksgiving back. Hear that, retailers????? What happened to the Happy Medium!?!

Oh retailer giant enticing deal mongers like me with your early release Black Friday preview ads and your Little People for $13.99. We have a love-hate relationship this year.

I'll let you know what I end up doing.

Week Recap

Sometimes it's hard to keep up every day because we are on the go types. But here is our week recap in pictures:

Monday- Elle and Emily's house for a rainy day play date. Here is Elle and Nora painting together. Laura and I had coffee and chatted- a super fun morning!

Nora wrote her name really well

Nora played dress up, per usual

I took Bridget to her first swim lesson. Since I was in the water with her, it was hard to get an action shot, but this is her being changed into dry clothes after the lesson. Thrilled. 

We hung out with Nora, Reese and Liz on Tuesday evening after I had a successful partnership meeting- yay doing something for my client I promised I could. Whew. We went for a power walk and almost had runaway strollers...um...twice.



B and R in the stroller. Then we stayed for yummy enchiladas. Thanks LIiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzz!



I caught the kiddos being adorbs.

P-chunk 'cleaned' the dishes

Bean got her haircut

Bridgey wanted to drive the car at the haircut place- don't worry, I learned my lesson about cutting hair with Bean, Bean. She won't be seeing scissors for a loooooooooong while.

As mentioned earlier- we played hide-and-seek.

Miss Amanda sent me a hilarious E-card. She was OOT and we missed her this week!

I went to Target...perhaps this happened more than one time. I have $245 in $5 gcs now.

We flipped B around for a little bit- she puked in the car yesterday and its all over the seat- yum.Time for a major interior cleaning.

And today we had family pics. It was super windy, Nora didn't want to smile at all really, and they were not cooperating much....so we shall see how they turn out...I'll post those later. I'm a little nervous. But we had burgers afterwards and P made dinner tonight, so all is well.

Peace out!

Miller Time

The Miller girls, AKA Nora and Reese came over this afternoon while Liz got her haircut. The Nora's are so freaking adorable together! My Nora is still going through the 3's- dropping the nap, needing time outs on occasion for sharing troubles (also I need to have people over at my house more often so sharing our own toys is easier) but anyway- they are so cuteness and a half. I could listen to their little conversations all day long. And Reese is so good and soooo cute! I just the the miller girls!

Nora Miller as  'Belle'

Nora Allison- 'Snow White' she loves dress up and so anyone who comes over is apparently forced to dress up as well. She was confused why Nora left her clothes on as she strips down to completely embrace the character's true identity.

My Nora is tiiiiiired. The Miller girls being cute together.

The Noras! Adorbas!

In other news- B isnt feeling good today- she threw up in the car and had a 99.3 fever late morning (though the doc reading was like 98 something I did it the proper anal way and they just did the under the arm pit way- thank you very much). Ahem- anyway- P took her to the doc this afternoon to rule out strep, which they did, but now she has a 102.4 fever. Bah. Tis the season for sickness i suppose. Poor Bridge Boo!!!!

And on another side note- P rules the house today! He left work today and took B to the doc so I could go to Zumba. He knew it was important for me to go after my hectic week. Wowser- thanks to my p-chunk for his love and support. <3 class="separator" data-blogger-escaped-div="div" style="clear: both; text-align:

Because Bridgey is Dang Adorable

I would like to share with the world a photo of miss hilarious eating a blue maker, and supes proud of herself for it, too.

A Spare Second

I work on Thursdays, so Bridget is at Liz's house, and Nora is at school. Today Liz had some errands to run so she said she would drop Bridgey off to me. Wow! That's great. Instead of throwing Nora back into the car to get B, we had a half hour by ourselves.

Now usually that would mean more time to make dinner, or check emails, or study, or laundry, or more laundry, or cleaning a toilet or, or, or, or.....

But today I decided to not do any of those things. Instead we did airplane rides, plenty of throw downs, and a fierce game of hide and seek. It felt good to not do those *pressing* things and just enjoy this rare one-on-one time. Nora is super good at hide and seek. I could never find her.

Where IS she????!!!!

It was off the chain, these hiding places.

Hmm.....

A good ol' jump every now and again is A-okay with me

A Burke Vocab Lesson

We have lots of weird ways of saying things here in the Burke household. So you can keep up with our lingo- here is a lesson on Burke Speak:

(in no particular order- just how it comes to me brain)

TWINK-   Going tinkle. Do you have to go twink?

MINTENS- Green tea mints from Trader Joes. Can I have a minten???

TBO SHOW- A TV Show. Can I watch one TBO show?" asks Nora.

SHARKS- Cuticle cutters. Mommy, I have a hang skin, can you get the sharks?

PRINCESS- A pull-up. Nora, go put on your Princess.

COMFY COZIES- Pajamas. Time for comfy cozies!

PLUG- A pacifier. Where the F is a plug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! says P-Chunk.

BIG BIG-  A hug.  Give me a big big. Go give her a big big.

10,000- Kisses. I am going to give you 10,000!

SPECIAL- Lip Gloss. "Mommy- can I have special?" asks Nora Burke

SNOW- Baby powder. Bridget usually says it the most When changing her diaper, "Snow?" asks Bridget, and then I sprinkle some on her belly.

PONY- Bridget's Toothpaste. "I want pony tooooooooo-" whines Nora.

AW JUNK- Oh crap (or other 4-letter words) Something spills on the floor- 'AW JUNK'

JUNK IN MY TRUCK- An extension of Aw Junk. Something really bad happened. Like Chocolate milk spilled! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AW JUNK IN MY TRUNK!!!!!!!!!

NO BIGS- Just the Burke Family Motto. No Big deal. Spilled milk? It's really no bigs.

GOOD IN THE HOOD- Another fav phrase. Everything A-okay? Nora- are you good in the hood?

PANCAKE FOOTIES- Coined by my sister. Bridget's feet, because they are wide and flat. "Are you wearing your pancake footies today!?!?!?!

A SIMPLE PONE- Ponytail. I am going to give you a simple pone, Nora.

PANDA ROOM- Nora's preschool. Do I get to go to the Panda Room today????!!!!???

CYCLOPS- The act of putting your nose and eyes together. "Gimme a Cyclops," says Nora.

THROW DOWN- To throw your kid on the floor and tickle them. Do I need to give you a throw down?

ZUMBA UMBA BUMBA ZUMBA- Zumba. The way Nora says it. ALWAYS. Mom, are you going to Zumba Umba Bumba Zumba?

GUMMIES- Vitamins. Who wants to get two Gummies?

SPA TIME- Bath time. Spa Time for Nally and Bridge Boo.

NICKNAMES

NALLY- Nora's nickname only when referring to spa time. As in Nora Allison. See sentence above.

BEAN, BEAN- Nora's mainstream nickname, and what Bridget calls her. Where is Bean, Bean?

KK- Kristen, as in my sister. "I love you KK," says Nora.

DAS FUT- Uncle Tim. Of course. FUT is Future Uncle Tim (when they were engaged) changed to Fun Uncle Tim. Now, if you look up the German meaning, you will find something else. Please google and you shall see. I refuse to type the word on my blog. Where's Das Fut?????

REINA- Grandma, as is my mom. I want to call Reina.

P-CHUNK- Patrick's nickname. What up P-Chunk.

GIGI- G-RAM- My mom-mom. GiGi is Great-Grandma, G-Ram is Grandma. Yeah GiGI (G-Ram!) Woot!!!!

BRIDGEY- Bridget. Duh. AKA- what used to be Emerson. hahahah Oh Bridgey, we love you.

MICH- Kate. Are you talking to Mich?

MOLD- Molly. Molly lives, way, way far away.

MISS AMANDA- Amanda. But you have to always, always call her Miss Amanda. Where is Miss Amanda's house?

SISSY SUE- Both Meghan and Molly, my Sister-in-Laws. Hi Sissy Sue! How are you? You are cool. Cool for school.

And probably one of the originals in my life that started my weirdo nickname, phrasey, new word selection of saying stuff:

ICING PILLOW (ICE)- My lovie. The first love of my life. My pillow. Where is MY ICE!!!?!?!? (frantically trying to find it in my bed at age 31)

More may come to my brain, but here is a start!

<3

Cute Moments

The girls are getting cuter and cuter together. This morning Nora got yogurt out for Bridge and they had a picnic on the floor (Nora's words)

Then later they were playing cute together in Bridget's room.

Then Bean was tracing Bridget's foot with the magnidoodle.

Bridget is a biter and pincher (big surprise...) but that comes out during heated sharing disputes. I treasure these sweet times, and they are becoming very frequent- excitement.

These girls are awesome. I hope they will always be close.

18 days until...

BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(okay and one day until the election)

I have $240 in Target gift cards. I upgraded my coupon organization after seeing a guest speaker at Building Better Moms, the moms group at my church. Check out BOQ box of coupons, still organized my insert date (Q's as the coupon bloggers call them. she called hers BoB i like BOQ) but i could change the name, because i could. Because i can. Because i like changing names, including human names... Anyway moving on....

I can't WAIT for black friday. I am so jazzed I don't know what to do with all my energy.

Who's coming to Target at Midnight with me?!?!?!?!?!

PS- P and I STRONGLY disagree when we should put up our tree. Boo. Bad thing is he will probs win bc we broke down and got a fakey this year after the pine needles took over my life last holiday season. I need his help putting it together and rearranging the TV etc to make it all fit. We shall see- I think a paper, rock, scissors tournament is in our future.

I love you

My baby said "I love you" to me today! I have been asking her to repeat me, and she hasn't- until today!

So sweet.

Now next up is a time when she says it without me asking her.

But I still had to post that she said it.

Aw. Melt heart.

P.S. When can I put my Xmas tree and decor up without the haters hating?

For Reals Halloween

The actual holiday finally arrived. All holidays with kids are just so much fun. I decided I need far more plush characters in my life to celebrate the holiday. Hopefully I can hit up Hobby Lobby to really plush up my life.

So anyway- in the Panda room this week, Nora had her first Halloween parade and school party. It was the way adorablist.



Happy to see me. Hopefully it will always be that way when I am at school :)

Then we went to Liz's house for Halloween. We did crafts, ate pizza, hung out with amazing friends, and trick-or-treated. We tried to get a group shot of everyone and it was not happening. I could barely get The Princess and her Frog here. Nora is super into princesses so she was Tiana, and B was the frog.

I could not get a picture of them standing- it was a battle to get them to smile or even look. We were having a crabby afternoon.

So we did a family shot. Yes, I am wearing a wig. Yes, I think I will wear a wig every Halloween.

I love this pic because B is like. Whatever.

Emily and Bridget eating at the 'baby' table. So fun.

Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese. She says it now.

Liz's third child in the wagon. Actually her first- she loves her diet coke.

Though it came out blurry- I still had to post. Liz and her baby :P

B totally started to get into Trick-or-Treating this year.

And Nora of course loved her some candy.

The 'Nora's in the wagon.

Miss Amanda, Me and Liz. Visions of loveliness after a fun-filled night. What is that between my legs? Not sure, just not sure...

An Ode to Zumba

It's funny how people who do their regular things and jobs can end up meaning so much to other regular people who go about doing regular things, even when they don't know the impact they are making- and may never be told fully.

When I first moved to Kansas last year, I was suffering from the baby blues, plus I didn't know many people, I had no family here, I had a 3 week old and 2-year-old, Patrick was traveling a lot, we were trying to sell our house back in Chicago, I was overweight from the baby fat...should I continue, or do you get the picture I was not the happiest person on the block.

Well anyway- I found Zumba.

Molly had been zumbaing and told me I would love it. So I joined a gym here and went for the first time. Okay- the first time I went was disaster, and I didn't end up going (it went something like this: go to gym, have to pee so bad almost peed my pants, couldn't find the bathroom in the new locker room, finally did. couldn't find zumba room, finally did and they had started already) so I didn't go in because I thought everyone would look at me weird, but little did I know the instructor was new too! It was only like her second class.

But the next Saturday I went. I got there on time. And I was hooked.

Soon I made my way to the front, started majorly zumabing and improved my appearance and my mood.

And my instructor rocks. She is so sweet, so fun, and makes class amazing. And she means so much to me, and I told her it once when we were at lunch, but I don't know if she really, really knows how much she impacted me, and I am sure so many other people. For serious, because of her I pulled myself out of the baby blues, met great people, had so much fun in class, and I can't even express in words how much the class and Claudia mean to me.

She will be moving soonish (but hopefully not too soon) and I am in denial. Though the first class back was hard, I bounced back, and I truly think my mood is improved again after everything that just happened because of this class.

Plus on a side note- I completely and utterly believe in exercise. When you are tired- exercise. When you are sad- exercise. When you feel happy, gross, depressed, mad, silly, stressed-out- exercise. When you don't want to exercise- exercise. When you want to bake a whole funfetti cake and eat its contents in a 10 minute span- well, you get it.It will change your life.

That is all. 

Here is a photo of Claudia and another student. We were the only two that dressed up for Halloween- I don't normally wear tutus to class. :)

<3 love ya, C!