Mystery Date Night

So for the first time in what seems like a million years, JB & I got to go on a date!

A "mystery" date, that is! Poor thing, even though he tried to surprise me, it just didn't work that way. As it turned out, I just know him too well - I figured out what we were doing and where we were going way before we got there... even still, it was a great date! For starters, we went to a nursery. No, not that kind of nursery (we have enough children as it is). We went to a plant place to look at trees/shrubs/flowers that might someday occupy our yard once we're rich and famous. Okay.. maybe just rich.

Next up was to Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse.. you know, the one where they cook in front of you. Even though we had the most boring chef EVER it was still great food (Side note: The poor lady next to us.. she looked SO miserable. The guy she was with just wouldn't shut up - she even rolled her eyes AT US a few times. I think she was just in it for the free meal and saki (sp?).

After dinner (and a quick one at that) we headed on over to the movie theater to watch the sexiest man ever... ahem.. I mean, Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper. What an interesting movie. I saw Bradley Cooper go from homeless to The Hangover to Wedding Crashers in less than two hours, and even though he wasn't naked in it (which could have been worked into the script someway I'm sure) I thought it was pretty good. Kind of like an adrenaline rush, or a crazy acid trip (at least what I would imagine one would be like).

After a short drive back home and thanks to our wonderful babysitting Jamie, it was lights out to a perfect evening, complete with a "Supermoon" that only happens like once every 18 years... or something like that.

Anyways, a fabulous end to a fabulous evening (I'm really loving that word right now)!

Here's to the next date...

because it (like the Supermoon) probably won't happen for another 18 years! 

Follow Me Friday!

I walked in the door at home to find these...

...what a pleasant surprise!

JB told me to take AP for a ride on the golf cart because he had a surprise dinner planned!

So, off we went!

The open road - we live in the country, obviously. 

We found a trail, so we followed it.

What did we find? Deer tracks!

We headed back home & passed by Grandma & Grandpa's, 

but we couldn't resist the beautiful scenery, so we had to stop.

After acquiring some "candies" from the grandparents,

we headed home for dinner!

I think the smile says it all. :)

Top 3 Thursday

1. My husband has always been good to me, but for the first time in a long time I feel like we're on the same page. (We've always been in the same book, just sometimes different chapters.) Lately, if I cook, he cleans. If he cooks, I clean. We didn't talk about it or draw up some fancy contract. We've helped each other with laundry, dishes, bath time - everything. It has been really, really nice and I am extremely grateful.

2. Tonight I really enjoyed the kids. I mean, don't get me wrong.. I love them all the time, but sometimes all three can be exhausting. After dinner AR and AP ran around after each other with flip flops.. AP had a tupperware bowl on his head pretending to be Buzz Lightyear while chasing "Jess-in-knee" (Jessie) and AG just laughed along in her high chair. I just enjoyed watching them be happy - if only I could see every day through their eyes.

3. I found a new love for blogging today. Or bloggers, I guess you could say. I stumbled across Katie & Robb's blog and was instantly consumed with their story - from losing a child, almost losing life herself and now a mother of one (with the possibility of another on the way), I was enthralled. I caught myself up, reading every blog post she's had in the past three years. She makes me want to be a better mother, but overall a better woman. Just amazing.

Those are the Top 3 things that made my Thursday great.. what are yours?

Wordless Wednesday

How-To Tuesday

PARTY PLANNING 101:
How To Plan A 1st Birthday Party In < 24 Hours


Step one: You need a theme. For Alivia's very first birthday party, we chose a cupcake theme! Lucky for us, Amber from Austin Avenue Bakery makes the best cupcakes around, (cakes and cookies, too!). After talking with her this morning and making sure her schedule was free, we brainstormed! I kind of had an idea for a cake... but you don't make those decisions without deciding on a theme first!

Step two: You need to find invitations! Now, you don't have to match the invitations to the party theme.. but, it is an easy way to come up with wording (and trust me, that is most often the hardest part)! Before you rush to the printer, you've got to figure out the when, where and what time of your party. Then find the design you love. It will save you time and hair pulling if you go ahead and get those details down. For all things girly, I suggest Polka Dot Design - there are so many to choose from... it's hard to narrow it down to just one! As you can see... I have yet to decide? Do I go with the cupcakes or the little birdies? Only time will tell!


Step three: Color scheme.
Face it - until about age five, your little one simply isn't going to care. But you will. So, for a first birthday party I suggest going simple! Forget the life-sized Justin Bieber balloons, go for something a little more comfortable (unless you want your guests to be creeped out). For Alivia's party, I went straight to Google to find a gigantic cupcake balloon. Why? Because I know the balloons will be her second favorite part (behind the cake, but we'll talk about that in a few). I found this adorable cupcake, and just knew it was the one. So, on to the next task.. finding coordinating decorations! I found some cutesy 1 balloons, perfect to accent the cupcake balloon and perfect because nothing else had a one on it! Then I found some adorable plates and napkins, polka dotted in the same colors as the sprinkles on the cupcake balloon! There are bowls and tablecloths on order, too. Adorable!


Step four: Decide on what you're eating. Cake? Cupcakes? Cakes that look like a giant cupcake? This is a step that relies heavily on step two, considering the time of day is important when planning what food to serve.


Note: Don't plan a lunch-time party if you don't plan on serving lunch. Just sayin! 


Like I said before, if it weren't for Austin Avenue Bakery, I don't know what I'd do. Locally owned by Amber Carter from Pearson, I have yet to have anything, and I do mean anything, that I haven't liked from her. The girl has got skills - she can make cookies that look like cupcakes, cupcakes that are flavored like Almond Joys, and cakes that you would cut an arm off for. I'm serious, I've seen it happen. Twice. Anyway, the brainstorming was on for the cake/cupcake/cupcake cake... and as you can tell, there is no shortage of ideas! I think I'm going to let Amber use her creativity, though! She never disappoints and I know it will taste great!

Well ladies, that's how to plan a birthday party in < 24 hours.
The countdown is on!

Not Me! Monday

Today I did not wake up late, like almost every other day.

Fortunately, I did not have an excuse.. and I did not blame it on the time change. Not me!

I did not linger in the day care this morning.

I definitely did not stop when Aidan puckered up to give me a kiss. Nope, not me!

I did not forget practically everything on my grocery list when I went to the store...

and I most definitely did not buy anything that we didn't have to have. Not me!

I did not get brokenhearted when I realized Alivia Grace is 11 months old today.

I also did not look at a $50 tutu for her first birthday party. Nope, not me!

When we got home today, I did not let Aidan eat chocolate and watch TV,

just so I could have a few minutes of alone time. Not me!

That same chocolate did not make him extra-hyper,
and I did not regret giving it to him. Nope, not me!

After dinner, I did not eat three s'mores. Not me!
That same chocolate did not give me any extra energy. (Seriously. It didn't.)

Since it's Not Me Monday, I did not download an app for my Droid so that I can keep my blogging promise. That would be too easy, so I did not do it. Nope, not me!


And last, but not least.. I will not continue blogging this week...
and I will not look forward to the next Not Me! Monday.


Nope, not me!

- From the Burnams, with love.

Are you keeping up?

I sit alone for the first time today, besides the commute I'm allowed to and from school/work/home. To me, that doesn't count.

Thanks to the good Lord, the children are fed, bathed and in bed. Thanks to me and the children (husband included), the house is a royal mess. Quite frankly, I am embarrassed to be here myself. 

Does this scenario sound familiar, or am I the only one?

I find myself rushing to keep up. Instead of the Joneses, it's us.

So far this week:

• I've worked nearly 40 hours at my part-time (but really full-time) radio job. 
• Almost 96 hours as a a full-time mother and wife. 
• About five hours as a taxi driver.
• Around 30 minutes as a personal assistant (to myself, of course)
• Plus, I think it took an hour or two to re-register for college classes next quarter.

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I just wish there were more hours in the day! I don't have enough time to ENJOY the time I get... wait a second, does that even make sense? Probably not. Oh well, deal with it.

I really need to start blogging more, for my own sanity. 

I'm going to start having "theme" days again. I did this when I first started my blog, and it made it a quick and easy way to "keep up" and not get behind! Be sure to follow us so that you can keep up, too!

What keeps me going...

- From the Burnams, with love.