The Burk Family

Mid life crisis for my one and only best friend

2011-11-22T15:02:00.004-07:00

So late this summer...my husband noticed this bike...on main street..and was soon intrigued to find out just how much it was....coming to find out how much it was and telling me about it..I said no...so a couple of weeks went on..and soon there was a picture of this bike in our bedroom closet and a game plan to soon buy this bike...well not much latter...we were coming back form a date and he says..you know lets see check up on that bike...and me wanting to disregard that comment..and keep going was not herd...he stopped and got out and started chating with the sales man...Next he jumps in the car and says the bike is sold..we just bought it...and I was like What!!!!..and he said it was a stealer deal..he just gave me..I could not refuse...so there you have it...He now has this night rod bike that he gets to store in the garage for half the year until he can ride it...I so can see the fun in that...But it does make him happy..and he is trying to encourage me to take a long bike ride with him...we went to the mall and back one day..and my tooshey was quite soar...No thanks...not up for a long ride...So Next in line he needs a good buddy to go riding with him...in the near future...any one up for a drive?....And so this is how my husband fixes his I'm getting old...I need a new adventure Fun!!!! Love ya darling!!!

Family Photos

2011-11-22T14:29:00.004-07:00

Jesse and I wanted to get the good fall leave colors for our family pictrurs this year..so we took our camera and went to this place here in billings called riverfront park..and we brought our tri pod to hold our camera for us..so we could take our family photos...I think for not having interaction with someone else..telling our kids to say cheese...we did a pretty good job...It was fun..and a beautiful day to do it on as well...Enjoy our family photos

This is one of my favorite pictures..because it captures our fun that we have with each other...he is my best friend always..

This family pic was taken closer to the end of our picture taking advent..and melanie was starting to not want to do anymore...so this was our last pic to take...lol

Our fun and enjoyable kids...they were more interested in wanting to go and pick up pall the leaves and play in them..then to say cheese...but I think they did a great job and participating in the family photos...Love my family dearly.

We took more pictures as well..but these were perfect for sharing...

Halloween Fun

2011-11-22T13:42:00.005-07:00

So this is our lovely pumpkin that gave us first place in our ward pumpkin decorating contest...every one loved this idea...Of Course I got the idea from google...You've got to love the internet right...

This year costume idea was to be things from a garden...So My children were dressed as a bumble bee a dragon fly and a butterfly and then there is the black spider..they loved dressing up in these costumes that I put together by making things here and there...though I did not make the bumble bee costume...one of my friends handed that down to us from her daughter last year..so it worked out great for our little Halloween theme

So to put it all together I made jesse and I out to be the Garden Gnomes...my husband was a sport for where this costume for sure...we had fun this happy halloween...and enjoyed our trunk or treat ward family party.. Fun times for sure

Lagoon Family Photo

2011-07-06T11:24:00.003-06:00

On of the things on our list was to go and get our family photo done over in pioneer village.....so we headed over there..and started to dress up...at first the logan wasn't so thrilled about it...until they said he could hold a gun and be a sheriff...then he was all game....I wanted us to be all out laws...so that is what we were...and this is the out come of that....we also took some funny ones..and smiling ones...But this is the only one that everyone is looking at the camera...the funny one was hilarious but mercedi back of her head was all you could see of her...but it was funny..All the kids got into character....and had lots of fun doing it...I love the looks of the girls in the photos..they crack me up...very mean looking they are...

3rd part of our family vacation

2011-07-06T10:49:00.005-06:00

Well the third thing that we decided to do....was to take the kids to lagoon....they have never been there...and we really wanted to share that with them....so we woke up and got ready to go....It was the perfect day to go as well...it was cloudy and the sun was not hot..and it even drizzled on us a time or to as well....So we got there and hour before it opened so that we could be ready to go....The first ride the kids went on was a spooky one...and they were ready to try it out...at first they didn't really want to go to lagoon...but as soon as they saw the rides and things..they started to get really excited....They all enjoyed a lot of the rides...and some not so much....logan and mikayla did not like the roller coasters and it was the funniest thing to see logans face on them...he had the look of death..and I was laughing so hard watching him...it was great family fun..and the kids enjoyed it all...we also went to the lagoon beach part as well..but didn't take any pictures...Melanie loved that part..she got to swim..and that was her most favorite thing to do there...sense she didn't get to ride..because we didn't think she would want to so we didn't buy her a ticket...so next time we go..she will get to ride too..

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2nd part of our trip in Salt lake city

2011-07-06T10:08:00.004-06:00

The next day...we went to the vistor center there at the salt lake temple...it was just beautiful....jesse and I have seen it before..but the kids have not...so we really wanted to take them there...and they thought it was so neat...we had jesse sister and there family there as well with us..and his mom too...we walked around and enjoyed looking at all the wonderful things there...though...it was so hot..that we tried looking for shady spots to rest in ...when we could...that felt good...lol...And again there are so many pics that I made another smile box creation....watch and enjoy

Digital scrapbooking design made with Smilebox

Hogle zoo in Salt lake 2011

2011-07-06T09:59:00.003-06:00

We decided to take are family vacation this year to salt lake city and too see family in layton...it was a blast to see everyone and enjoy our time together...Our first little get together was at the Hogel zoo there in salt lake....and let me tell you it was super hot that day...we were roasting...but it was fun...there are so many pics...that I put it together with a smile box slide show.....so enjoy...

Personalize a picture slideshow

Father's Day!!!! 2011

2011-07-06T09:36:00.004-06:00

It's that time again..to let the men in our lives know how lucky we are to have them as husbands and fathers and dad's... I looked up when fathers day began...and how it was started...It first began back in 1908 on July 5th by Mrs grace golden...who wanted to remember those fathers who had just passed away a couple of months a go in a mining disaster that killed 200 fathers...after much debate with three presidents to go through...fathers day was finally established by Nixon in 1972...and would be the third Sunday of June... every year...the only reason it was finally acknowledge was because of the lady who made mothers day...said it was unfair to celebrate mothers day and not fathers day as well...so it was made a holiday...so now for fathers day...it is usually spent with a special dinner for dad...or and outing with the family....The most common gifts are ties and office supplies...Also the most collect calls are made on fathers day ...out of the whole year...that was a surprise to know that....So for us to celebrate fathers day...we made a breakfast try for dad...but with out the breakfast...he was fasting...and we decorated it up for him..and the kids were supper excited about giving there gifts to dad....we went to church..and then came home and had a wonderful dinner...with all the trimmings..and good cream hearsay pie....yum...he had a wonderful fathers day...and loved all of his gifts...He is a special man...and a Wonderful father...He does so much for our family and gives his all...we love him very much...Your the best Honey pie.

This is the Kids Wonderful Father....And my hunk of Love!!!!

Fathers day clock project

2011-07-06T09:14:00.006-06:00

So fathers day was coming up and I thought I should be crafty and make something up...so I got this idea to make a fathers day clock for jesse to take to work with him so he can have it...So I first bought a white canvas its and 8x10 size..

next...I found a old clock we had and took it apart..so that I could have the clock hands and battery

Next I modge pod the paper and picture on the canvas and then I punched a whole into the middle of the picture and the canvas....so that I could paste the clock on there...sense the canvas is so thin I hot glued the clock part to the back so it would stay still in place...

Next I set the battery in and cut out words to place on the front using my cricket machine....Very fun and easy project to do ...

Here is the finished project...it worked out great...I loved it...now to see if he loves it as well...Also I had the kids sign and write something on the back of the clock..so he could see and read it at work as well...they loved doing this...

The coupon lady at work!!!

2011-06-03T16:26:00.003-06:00

So on Sunday night...there are lots of papers dumped in to the recycling garbage can...by the spray park down the street from us.......So I like to go at night time and get as many coupons as I can...so that I can buy lots of something for a great price...so I use to put the girls in the garbage can...because they were light and I could help them get out..but they didn't look very fast and they weren't sure what they were suppose to look at..and then we would wast to much time...so On my next visit...to the recycling bin..I took my husband with me..so he could help me in and help me back out....the night that we went...it was so cold and raining out side...so while I was in the garbage ..I was getting dripped on by the rain..it was not that much fun...plus it's dark out side..so you have to have a handy flash light so you can see what your looking for....my worst fear about being in there..is something hiding out waiting to bite me...yikes..that would not be fun...lol...any way.....Jesse thought it would be nice to take my pic..and post it on Facebook so all our friends and family could see what his dear wife is doing these days...lol...So here I am next...Telling all about my new adventures...in this ex-stream couponing...Just to save a extra couple of bucks..when I'm out shopping...lol..So enjoy you peek in to my lovely life...as a busy wife and mom...

Sugar Scrubs...... for Teachers!!!!!

2011-06-03T16:25:00.000-06:00

So this year as the girls were getting out of school...I remembered that I should probably make a gift for there teachers to let them know how appreciative I was for them doing all that hard work...so as I was looking around I found some great ideas..and one of them being that I chose to make was this sugar scrub.....This is something that I could make that was simple and easy and wouldn't take that long to make and could be done in a day...and I also had all the supplies ready to make them...so I made one brown sugar vanilla scrub and one lemon lime scrub...they are simple and easy to make....You take two and half cups of white granulated sugar and then one cup of extra virgin olive oil... and then you add you flavoring...of your choice...like brown sugar..and vanilla extract and then lemon and lime juice..and then if you have scented oils for soaps and such you can make that as well..So after you mix it all together in a mixer until it's all nice and scrub like..you just put it in a jar of some sort that you can decorate up how ever you choose..I found all my supplies at the dollar store...very cheep...and inexpensive to give as a gift...after I put them together I made a card for each teacher and had the girls write a letter to them...thanking them and there thoughts about there teacher...they loved it...and so did the teachers....Fun Gift to make..

Here are the two flavors and I just printed up a tag for them..and then modpodge them on there..

This is the sides and back of how I decorated the jars....just with stickers !!!

Family Fire Pit!!!!!

2011-05-28T20:53:00.007-06:00

The Wonderful Family Fire Pit....

So for a While now...we have wanted to have our very own cool fire pit in the backyard...and we have seen many at the stores and such..but none that was big enough or that caught our eye...so as we were thinking about what we wanted to do with the back yard and renovating it...we thought hey you know...we could use those extra bricks and make a sweet fire pit with them..and we had the gravel and already a huge spot to put it...where we tour out a huge pine tree last year when we bought the house...so today on a not to cold or hot day..we got to work making our family fire pit..and the kids helped out....we use the old play house for our wood..and to celebrate our family fire pit we roasted smores...which was a lot of fun for the kids...though koby our dog..did not like the fire as much...he tried to stay far away from it....good dog I though....lol....Mercedi she was sure to try to stay away too..she doesn't like the smoke much...don't blame here though..it is hard to breath that stuff in....lol....Melanie she saw that everyone was making the smores..and she wanted one as well...but I didn't roast her marshmallow...I just made it all up for her..and handed it to her and she took a big bite..and then pulled this funny face..and started pulling the smore apart...and then she got down to the chocolate and she was happy with that...she only wanted that chocolate....What can I say a girl after my own heart...I would skip to the chocolate as well....So after much roasting marshmallows..the kids all went inside..and I got to just sit out side..next to the coals burning...with the nice breeze out side and just quietness...I could of fallen to sleep..it was just so relaxing..and I could smell the wood burning and it just felt like I was out in the woods...day dreaming...wonderful thing for sure...So it just goes to show you don't have to go to far away for a nice fire in the back yard....We are all happy to have this new addition to our back yard fun!!!

The kids getting ready to do some roasting....

Mercedi is taking our picture...and we are smelling that good old smoke that follows beauty right??????

Me and melanie just chilling!!!!

Mercedi....biting in for a good bite....so does that taste good or what???

Family having fun....roasting up some good yummy smores!!!!

Our good and faithful dog.Koby ..who is not fond of the Fire...lol

Extsream Couponing!!!!!

2011-05-28T20:39:00.004-06:00

So on Saturday...Jesse and I was watching a show on TLC....and it was called ex stream couponing...and we thought hmmmm..what is this...and as we were watching we started thinking...why in all the world..did we not know about this...and what was taking place was, people are going through the papers and getting coupons..and then saving them and as they collect lots of coupons, they watch for adds in the paper for things to go on sale and on clearance and then you use your coupons and you end up getting things for free...At the end of there total they were spending up to a thousand dollars but after all there coupons..they would walk out of the store only paying a couple of bucks....talk about crazy...so I thought we should try doing this couponing thing, so the next day we went out and got some newspapers and found sites on the internet of place for coupons and also going to the recycling center and getting coupons as well...so for my first coupon shopping..I went to Walgreen..and guess what..I ended up spending around 11 dollars for all my stuff..and walked out with five 2 litter sodas for free....yahoo...so I am going to continue to look for deals and save my coupons...so that i can save our family money...What a neat program for sure...Here are some pics of us getting all crazy...lol

So here is a bunch of our coupons.....

Here is jesse being a good sport..and helping me cut them all...yahooo

And here is the reaping of the Benefit of couponing.....thank you TLC for showing us the way....lol

M.O.T.H.E.R.

2011-05-10T17:34:00.004-06:00

They did such a great job...at making it look so beautiful!!!

So just this last Sunday...we got the opportunity of celebrating mothers day....What a wonderful day it was...Do you know the reason why mothers day was even celebrated at all...Well it was because...there were many mothers who sons fought in the civil war and died..and it was to bring them together and help in remembrance...The woman who started it was Ann Jarvis...but she didn't get to live to see it established..she passed away..but her daughter Anna Marie Jarvis continued to carry it through...Her mother each year would pass around 500 carnations to all the mothers...So this is where the tradition of wearing a carnation on mothers day came from...they use to only be just white or red...and you wore the white if your mother is dead and red if she was still alive..The date was set to be every second Sunday in may...and in 1934 it was official stamped a holiday...After it became a holiday Anna thought it was getting out of control..she started arguing against people purchasing greeting cards and other things..to give to there mothers...she thought this was to lazy...soon she said she had wished she never carried this out to become a holiday...it had lost its purpose...but today it is one of the biggest retail and purchase for jewelry and flower's and other things for all the moms out there...I thought I would share this story with you ...I thought it to be very interesting....I was so happy to wake up Sunday morning to my kids pulling me out of bed at 5:30 in the morning...to give me breakfast and there gifts they made for me...my husband had to work early this day...and he wanted to make sure I had a wonderful morning before he left...he decorated my tray so beautifully and got the kids all involved in mothers day to help me know how special they each felt for me...I am so glad to be a mother and a wife..to a loving thoughtful husband...Happy Mothers day to all....

my lovely flower that I made to where this mothers day...out of the flowers that they gave for me...

Look who is TWO~!!!!!!!

2011-05-02T15:43:00.004-06:00

So two years ago...I was blessed with yet another littler girl...she was just wonderful and has been so full of life...she is always making us laugh and keeps us on our toes...she loves playing peek a boo..and she loves her princess doll's...she enjoys playing with her brother and sisters....and takes turns with them always..they are constantly fighting over who gets to play with her when...it's very cute...and I don't think Melanie minds at all...She loves getting all the attention for sure...She loves singing and dancing...and saying funny phrases...she will say Hellooooo...bayyyyybbbbbeeeee...very cute..and OH No she'll get you...We are so excited to have her in our lives...she had a wonderful birthday...we went and watched logan play T~ball..and then she got to play with her nanna..and then it was cake time...I made her a Ariel Princess cake...it wasn't the best looking..but she loved it...she was just excited that it was a princess!!!!!.....So all in all Happy Birthday Melanie...We love you...

Melanie loves Eating Coco Crispies...She just loves Cereal in General...

What a Cheesier!!!!!!!

Melanie and her Ariel Princess Cake...She just kept saying Princess..the whole time..

Mercedi Recorder concert

2011-04-25T10:24:00.004-06:00

So sense mercedi this school year..has been in a third and forth grade class...That the school put together because of lack of room and teachers..Mercedi was able to learn to play the recorder this year...they got a new song each week to learn how to play and as they practiced and learned the song they would get a belt a sting that you might say to put on there recorder ...so they earned from a white belt to a black belt...So each week we got to here mercedi learn how to play this instrument...At first it was torcher!!!!!..then she began to get really good at it..and soon she made it all the way on the songs..though they ran out of time to test...She was on her blue belt when the concert started...she was bummed..but she still continued to learn the other songs..and accomplish the belts...This video is of her playing her favorite song...out of them all...it was very quite cute..and fun...She did awesome at it...Way to go mercedi...

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Easter Fun begins....

2011-04-25T09:15:00.005-06:00

So this Easter weekend....I took the kids to the annual Easter egg hunt here in billings...well one the them that they hold..this Easter egg hunt was sponsored by the Harvest church and it was held at the castle rock Park..which is just down the street form us...So we decided to walk there...which was great because...there were so many people..and hardly any places to park...so good choice I thought...though the kids were like mom.....are we there yet..how much longer do we need to walk...I was thinking in my mind that it has been a long winter..they are not exercised enough...we need to get out more..and hopefully with the spring coming we can...lol...Any who..We arrived there..and got a fl yer of where we needed to be and sense my husband had to work this lovely day..I had mercedi pair up with mikayla..in a group and then I took logan and melanie together in logans group..it worked out well...The kids had so much fun hunting for Easter eggs...and they even got quite a few eggs as well...and there were so many kids who saw that other didn't have very many and took from there own basket and gave to kids who did not have much..I thought that was very kind of these kids..there parents are teaching them right...So after that...we adventured home and then dad got home at super time and we began coloring the eggs...This went by pretty fast..they are always so eager to decorate there eggs..and of course every year one of the Easter dyes get tipped over and we have a big mess to clean up....love the smell of vinegar lingering on ...lol...After which was bed time and time to set the easter baskets out....Of course this whole week leading up to Easter mercedi had an easter book that explained Jesus last days and the advents that took place...this was a great way of helping the kids learn a little bit about the savior and what he went through for us..and why we celebrate easter...To know that he died for us...I love teaching the kids about our savior...and they loving hearing the stories....So soon it was morning..and they were up bright and early....which was good because jesse was leaving for work..and he was able to participate with that good news in the morning..they were all very happy to get there sweet gifts....Now sense church doesn't start until one this year..we just waited around until it was time to get ready...listening to church music...As soon as we got all ready..I took there pictures out side..with there easter attire...I made mercedi and mikayla's dresses..though mikayla was not having a good day..she was not wanting to take pictures..I am assuming it was because she was up way to early...lol...any way..logan looked sharp in his new green shirt and tie..and melanie in her cute flower dress...she too will have dresses made when she gets a little older..and they last a while in growth..lol...Then off to church we went..it was a wonderful day and easter celebration...When also had some great dinner...ham and funeral potatoes and corn on the cob and of coarse....I made apple pie...I love apple pie..it is my favorite pie out there...yummmy...What an Easter Day!!!!!

Say Happy Easter!!!!!!!! Mercedi, Mikayl, Logan, Melanie

Easter Egg Wreath

2011-04-25T08:52:00.004-06:00

Something for Easter to get the holidays going....I saw this really cute blog...that was crafts that moms would get together once in a while and make crafts they called it mothers night out...I thought that was very cute...so on one of her ideas they made this really cute Easter egg wreath..it looked so darling and easy...that I had to try it out..and so I went to the store and bought two bags of 48 Easter eggs..in which I use a bag and about 6 more eggs out of the other one..and then I found a card board box..and some cute purple grass..then to the dollar store I found the cutest butterfly accessories and a pretty Easter ribbon to match..I was ready to begin..so next I will show you kind of step by step of what I did....I think you too will be inspired to want to make this cute project...

Cut two 12 inch circles..with a 9 inch in side... and hot glue them together back to back

next start gluing your eggs on...with pointing side facing out and other side facing towards the middle..and go all the way around..leaving an opening at the top for your ribbon.

Next start stuffing the holes with grass that you chose...use a pencil to put glue on the grass in stuff it in to cover any empty spots

Next accessories how you wish to do so..and tie a bow..and you are good to go...

Bathroom up date a little at a time.

2011-04-25T08:13:00.005-06:00

So While my husband was gone at the end of march to go to a training in Texas...I was feeling quite board and needed to do something...I was feeling quite crafty...but what to do..I thought of sewing, but nah, I was already going to be doing that this coming April for the girls Easter dresses. so next in line was how about a Easter craft, and yes I did want to do that....but Also i wanted to do something that was going to be a surprise when my husband came home...so the thought came that hey why not re paint your bathroom and change out some things...this is something that I have been wanting to do for awhile...so here is my chance...and I got to work....so down came an old mirror..that was heavy and I was sweating up a storm trying to unscrew it and not drop it at the same time...so phew got that down and then out unscrewed the outlet covers and patched up holes and then taped and started painting...and wow painting bathrooms is not that much fun...there are lots of tiny spaces and crooks and corners...not my favorite thing to do...but then came the decorating and that was fun..I found a fabulous mirror out to home depot and then to target for my shower curtain and then a really shaggy rug out to sams club...I was feeling pretty lucky for everything that I found..and very good prices...and then wallah..the bathroom was done..and all I wanted to do was sit and look at it after it was finished and just think wow...I did that...not a lot of work was done..but it made a difference in my bathroom to me for sure...The color before I painted was a light to medium green color..and I painted it a oatmeal color..very just neutral.....So hope you enjoy my bathroom up date for now..soon will come tile and new cabinets and sinks...yahoo...

This was one heavy mirror...but I got it safely down...

Like the white spot..from the lady that painted before me..lol

this just gives you a look at what color is was

The After pictures.....I was very happy with it all....So much fun!!!!!

Yet another addition to our family

2011-03-12T19:09:00.003-07:00

So Just last week...we saw an add in the paper for baby weimerianere puppies...we were super excited..so we gave a call and asked if they had any blue male colors..and they did..just one...though it was already spoken for..so we started to look on the internet to see if there were any more prospects available some where else...we did find one..but it was in Boise Idaho..and well that is a little more away then we wanted to travel for a new puppy...but soon the phone rang..and it was the breeder of the puppy that we had inquired about and she said that..sense the lady did not put a deposit down..that they were able to go and head and sell us the puppy..

so we were super excited..and the good part was that she was already in billings selling them that day..she travels up form cut bank Montana..she is the same breeder that we bought keishia from our silver wimerianner..who just turned one on February 25th ..and is no longer consider our puppy...sad..though good...because she is getting well trained and a better dog at that...so on to our new puppy...we ran over to the gas station and picked him up...and name him koby...he is super cute and fun..

and you can already tell..he is a much different puppy then keisha was...he is a little more stubborn and aggressive..he likes to growl at things...hope that changes..

So we are on to training another puppy..to poop and pee out side..and not to chew up house hold items..and to stick his nose in only his food..not ours...we sure do have our work cut out for us..and it is no easy task...so wish us luck in our new found pet...Koby...He is a keeper and we all love him already.

Baby Bath towl Bliss

2011-02-24T13:15:00.002-07:00

Well I had a friends baby shower coming up and she is having a little girl..and I was thinking what should I give her...of course I could go out and buy her some baby clothes or little trinkets but I wanted to do something more..and I didn't have much time either to do it in...so I was doing laundry and I came across this baby towel that my step-mother in law bought from wal~mart for Melanie when she was born..and I looked at it..and the Thought came...you know this is something that I could make...

I studied it out by looking at it..and went to work..I bought the towel and the fabric and some bias tape..then went to sewing it together..as I was making it..I was getting so excited because it was turning out exactly how I pictured it to be..of course it being my first one to make...I would do some different techniques next time when sewing it

so I finished the project and made some wash clothes to go with it..and tied them to a cute bath duck that makes sound....included some bath soap and wash..and wallah....It was made...I am so happy to give it to her tonight..I think she will love it..and I can't wait to make some more for other people...

Happy Birthday to Jesse

2011-02-14T19:36:00.006-07:00

Well We just celebrated my husbands. 32nd Birthday...He is still trying very hard to grow a beard..Every year..he says it will be then that it comes in full...but lets just face it...I think he will be a baby face for quite some years to come...But hey it will keep him looking young right...lol...To celebrate his birthday this year... I so diligently made french toast in bed for him and we sang happy birthday to him really early in the morning sense he does the same to us

..and then latter in the day I Had the kids Pick him out each a gift...They loved doing this...and they each thought about what they should choose for dad..and if he would like it or not...after choosing there gifts..they each decorated and drew a picture for him on there gift bag...Mercedi..Found a frizz bee with a spider on it..and it was the color blue...She loves playing games with her dad...Mikayla...picked a drawing tablet with some art pencils and colors...Because one of the things she enjoys doing with her dad is drawing and coloring...Logan chose...golf balls, so he can go golfing with his dad..and do sport things...Jesse loved all the gifts that were given..along with two shirts and a new leather man..that is just he tool for everything...

The activity that he chose to do as a family was to go to the Museum of the Rockies...in bozman Mt...it was a neat little museum..and it had really neat dinosaur bones in it..and fun activity's for the kids to enjoy...For dessert...we had of course Cheesecake...this is jesse's favorite cake of all..I mean who could blame him right..it is the good stuff...

We were all so happy to celebrate his birthday with him...along with family members sharing love with cards and phone calls...how each one played a part in making his day the best...We love you Honey pie..and Hope you had the best birthday ever..

A Gift for Valentines

2011-02-11T20:33:00.003-07:00

Well Today we got a knock on the door..and when I opened the door..I found a little package in side...I read the address from where it came..and it was sent by a loved one..I thought hmm..it must be for mikayla's birthday...So I opened the box..and inside we found this really cute Card...And some wonderful goodies inside...

I was deeply touched that This loved one..Took Valuable time....And Thought of my wonderful kids...My kids of course were so happy to get something in the mail..and to have it be candy....as well..was just a bonus....They asked who it was from...And I explained to them..Who it was...And they were very excited to have received this gift of love for them...The smallest little things...that some do in life...are some of the biggest things you remember...A little gift of love...is all we need to have and to share...How happy I am that a loved one...Remembered to share there gift of love with someone this Happy Valentines day...It Reminds me of a little Poem...that states...

Give Her A Day

What can you give to one small girl?
A diamond ring, a baton to twirl?
A pretty pink dress with lots of bows,
or dainty sandals that show her toes.
A walk in the woods, a romp in the park,
a shopping trip from dusk till dark?
A shine new bike, a kitten for a pet?
No, there's still time for such things,
yet...
Give her a day of her very own.
Just one small girl and her Dad alone.
Give her the gift that only you can,
the companionship of her old man.
Games are outgrown and toys decay,
but she'll never forget
if you give her a day.

Today...was like that one day...but with out them really here....Families are forever..and We should always try to give Our one day...in what ever way we can...

My new found talent..that I'm learning

2011-01-25T15:47:00.003-07:00

So I thought I would pose for....lol....I am really enjoying playing the guitar...it has been a lot of fun....when I was a little girl..I use to have one..well I guess I wasn't that little I was about 11 years old..but I did enjoy playing the guitar then as well...I use to play go on and kiss the girl...from the little mermaid..and He's got the whole world in his hands...I'm sure there were other songs...but I remember those songs the most....Though soon I wasn't able to play anymore...there were financial drawbacks in the family and I could no longer take lessons..so I believe we got rid of the guitar at a yard sale...and I haven't picked one up sense then...but my husband...knowing that I use to play once...and thought you know this might be something fun for her to do..and re learn how to play...so for Christmas...he surprised me with this guitar...I had no idea that he got me anything at all for Christmas..and to see it Christmas morning..and to know that he had chosen that for me..made me cry...tears of joy...I was blown away that he thought of me..and wanted me to exceed in a new found talent...I was very happy that I got a guitar to start playing again...Though having the guitar and starting to try to pick up playing again has been quite hard...I thought this should be a breeze but It turned out to be more work that I suspected...but I have been practicing and practicing and i can admit I am doing better then day one...I just need to learn the secret to the perfect strum pattern...lol...other than that..I am memorizing my chords and practicing on changing them faster...So again I am so very happy to have this guitar to try to become better at a talent..long lost....

Recap of the burk family In 2010

2011-01-20T14:31:00.023-07:00

Well....Its been a whole year..and I have only posted on here I think twice...not so great...I guess I just got so involved in updating through face book...so I thought I should put some things together to let you know what the burk family has been up to..this past year of 2010...

So at the begining of the year...I surprised my husband with dinner all decorated up and then we went to a place that you get to desgin your own dish and eat ice cream...it was lots of fun..as you can see...we enjoyed it..and now we have a candy dish to always remember it as well..

Easter came..and we went to utah to vist family...it was super fun...also melanie at the time developed a rash that was huge...we found out that she is allergic to tapioca pudding..and it did not do well with her...poor little girl...but she is doing fine..the kids were all dressed up in there easter attire...

Just before mothers day..I ran my first competing run every...it is the mothers day run that they do every year for mothers day...it was very fun and exciting..I ran A two mile run in 16 minutes and 26 seconds...I thought it was very fun and neat..it made me feel Like doing more runs...In which I did...and I posted one of them on here already...another I did was the quality of life run..and it was five miles..and I ran it in 41 minutes..my fast run yet...

Jesse...also this year picked up a new found hobby...he bought a kayak and enjoyed taking it to the lake over here..and just relaxing while he rows away...we will see how he enjoys it this summer to come..

Not only just one new hobby but also another...Paint balling he goes with some men from our ward..and other friends..they would meet on Saturday mornings..and drive out to Laural and just play it up...they played capture the flag....he really enjoys it a lot..

We also added a new member to our family....our Dog Keisha...she is a silver wimerianer....and is full of energy...she has destroyed many things!!!! But despite all that..she is a fun and lovable dog..and we all love her...she will get better with time....lol

One Sunday afternoon...we decided to go and check out a trail they have here in billings...it is called two moon park..and it is a very neat little trail..it some what reminded us of home...in bits here and there....with the river and trees...and a dirt trail...we enjoyed our selves..and it was a nice sunny day...and a good Sunday after noon...We saw this frog there..that was huge..and it looked just like a big leaf..until it moved to jump into the mud pond...very fun for the kids..they got all super excited about seeing it...

In June we took a trip to go and see MT. Rush More It was awesome.,,though the whole time we were there it rained and rained...the sun shine came every now and then...but we also went and saw reptile gardens...and the kids loved that..it was so much fun for them...and we went to story book island..on the good day..as you can see...it was nice out side...WE went with some friends of ours here in billings...and it made it fun...this was our first family vacation ever!!!!!

After the trip to Mt. Rush More...we decided to go house hunting...to find the perfect house for us!!!!! Though we did not have much time to find one...we only had two weeks to find one..so we could be out of our town house in the next month...so we looked every day for three hours each until we found what we were looking for...though I don't have a pic for it...we love the house...we got a house with three front rooms..one being unfinished...six bedrooms..one being unfinished...three bath rooms...and a wonderful sized back yard...with just a field out back...very peaceful and quite...we didn't do much until then...

Next we have the girls starting school...They are now going to eagle cliff school..and they were very excited about that...Mercedi is in third grade..and Mikayla is in 1st...they are growing up so fast...

So for the past 7 1/2 years my brother Nathan has been in prison..and we haven't been able to see him...so when we all found out that he was going to be able to get out...we were all super excited he got out a couple of weeks before my birthday so we traveled down to go and see him my birthday weekend...it was the best birthday ever..I got to visit with my brother Nathan and just hug him away...he has grown so much sense the last time I have seen him...and it is so wearied to see him as a man..because all these years I have been viewing him as a young 17 year old boy...that was the last time I had seen him..and had memories...so to see him all grown up was different...but we sure did love visiting with him...and are so very thankful that he is home..and gets to start a new and finish his life around the family!!!!!...

Right before I turned 30!!!!!! this year..I went and had my eyes chedcked..and found out that I have a astigmatism...not to bad..just saying that well when I read and drive...I should where my eye glasses to help out...so I thought it would be super cool to have them..and I at first wore them all the time to get use to them..but then thought...you know I think I will just where them when needed...but I do like them..and the coloring on them....

This year was also a very special year...this year.... My husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary..and we celebrated it..by going to the temple her in billings..and doing sealing...it was very nice and peaceful..and made our marriage seem even more real and meaningful...by reminding our selves of the covenants we made the day we were sealed together in the temple for all time and eternity...How I love this man...and will continue to do so for the rest of eternity...

Soon our favorite time of the year comes...Fall...we love it..well maybe more so me..all the colors and smells it has to offer...This Halloween...we dressed up as the "Burk Stones"...we had a lot of fun with this..and I just tore fabric and made it happen...we went to our ward Halloween party..and then trunk 0r treated...also the weather was not to bad..it made it nice..

So right before thanksgiving..we went to the pet smart store..to go and find a crate for our dog...to be in while we were out and about for the winter..and we walked by the adoption center..and I spotted this Siamese lynx cat..and he had such a pretty color and he was soft..and he just melted our hearts...even my husband thought he was a cool looking cat..so we adopted him and brought him home...and gave him the name Riley...soon after bringing him home...he started sneezing and goo was coming out of his eyes and nose..so we took him to the vet and he had caught an upper respiratory infection from the shelter..so we got him so meds..and I began to have to nurse him back to health...so after two weeks of that..he was better..and has become best friends with the dog..and the dog likes the cat as well...they play well together...they even groom each other...it is very cute....

After Halloween....Comes Thanks Giving..and oh how we love candy yamms...and stuffing and Turkey..and mashed potatoes..and Pumpkin pie..and egg nogg...You just name all those thanksgiving toppings..and we love them....so we were going to have family coming..but change of plans at the last minute...no one could come..so I made this huge turkey and all this food...and we had left overs for a week..no joke..we kinda put on pounds over this holiday...lol...but I decorated the table up and we just enjoyed it together as a family....

Soon After thanksgiving...we got our first real....snow storm...it was fun...and we all went out side and played in it..after going on a scavenger hunt to find all the snow attire!!!!!...So we got the sled out and the shovel and started playing...while I pulled the kids around on the sled...jesse shoveled the side walks...It was not to cold out side..but cold enough to come back in and enjoy some hot chocolate...latter that night...yummm

After thanks giving and our first snow fall of the year..It was time to go and chop down a christmas tree...we went to Red lodge here in billings...by the ski resort and hiked up a hill with snow up to our waist..it was fun..the kids enjoyed it and it tired them out as well...We found a super tall tree out there in the forest..It wasn't the tree I was looking for..I wanted the grizzwald tree..but no one wanted to go further up the mountain...lol...so we went for this tree...it was super tall..and skinny..But we made it out to look some what beautiful..lol

For an activity we did as a family right before Christmas..we went to the Moss Mansion here in billings..and it was really neat..they had some really neat rooms in there..and right now was the family celebration event going on..and they had a Christmas tree in each room...decorated..and then you voted on which one you thought was the coolest..and they had crafts for the kids to make..they made a stocking and a little angel...I thought that was really neat of them to do that...the kids enjoyed looking through this mansion...and just going crazy at all the old stuff they use to have...it was a fun family outing!!!!

What a wonderful year it was this last year of 2010...we had some great fun and adventures...and we just enjoyed life to the fullest...It is so much fun to have our children..and get to watch them grow...and to have my husband...and see how hard he works to make this family happy and taken care of...This is our last picture for the year..our family pic..for our christmas cards...It was fun trying to get everyone to say cheese and be happy..while we pushed the timer on the camera...on our way to church...but it worked out great...So to all my friends and family...I hope you enjoyed this last year of burk fun!!!!

Quality of life run...5 miles

2010-08-21T19:18:00.004-06:00

so I am almost finished with this five mile run..and there at the end is my family cheering me on..to finish strong..How that melted my heart...I loved every minute of it..and I ran even faster to finish....I ran the fastest five miles I have ever ran.I finished in 41 minutes...that is very impressive to me...because I'm use to running it in 50 to 55 minutes...so I cut like almost 10 to 12 minutes off this day...I was super proud...I also ran with my good buddy brenda..who runs all kinds of runs..and always beats me...One day I will run as fast or faster then here...lol...It will be fun that is for sure...

Mikayla's first lost tooth...it was so funny

2010-08-13T16:08:00.002-06:00

This free picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Mikayla...was strolling along at walmart...when we were looking for school clothes...and she was eating a corn dog...and then she bit into it and said owe...my tooth...and I looked at it..and there was here tooth on the verge of falling out...but she wanted to wait until we got home..so that dad could pull it out..so we get home.and get the floss out...and at then at the last minute...she was second guessing her dad pulling it out..so he had to trick her...by saying there is something on your tooth so he could get the job done....So now that it is all over with she is happy and excited to have her first tooth out...Now the tooth fairy job begins....lol...

Out enjoying life with the kids...the easy way

2010-07-24T20:49:00.004-06:00

So Jesse says hey lets get our roller blades on and skate around the block with the kids...so I say sure...this should be fun...kids got there bikes out...And I put Melanie in the stroller and off we went around the block a couple of times...and then Jesse was like...hm-mm...you know what we should try...and he got a grin on his face and went to the garage and found a rope and said hey girls...lets tie this around your bike and you can pull me...and so he did..and it was quite fun to watch...the girls loved towing their dad around the block with there bikes...and all the neighbors got a kick out of it as well...What a time and a day to always remember this bliss moment...Family time is special...

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13.1 mile ....half a marathon

2010-07-23T12:09:00.005-06:00

So wow..I haven't blogged for a long time...So in this time...I have been practicing to run a half a marathon...for my very first time...it was just awesome...I loved it...Of course I got this crazy idea from my good friend Brenda who is standing on my right side..she was like sure you can do it !!!!! What a motivator she is...So I prepared and took action...It was a lot of fun...and I cant wait to do it again next year...I ran the 13.1 mile run in 2 hours and 14 minutes...So it will be a good start to beat next year for sure...It was a beautiful place to run as well...we ran in Laural about 25 minutes from billings and it started out by a river...and then it was like driving in the country scenery next...It was nice and cool on the way down..but then heated up towards the end..as you can see my face is quite red...next year..I get a sun visor for sure...I in courage all to try to run...it will make you proud what you can achieve

Family pics done in Island park

2009-12-08T17:40:00.002-07:00

So wow...I haven't updated for along time...things are going great with the burk family..and we are still living...here in billings montana...and loving it...we took out family pictures...in Island park over thanks giving weekend..and they turned out super cute...we love them...And the day was perfect out side..it was nice and warm..well for island park any way...right when the sun came out we went and started shooting...we also cut down our first real tree...later that day...it was a blast...so I hope you all enjoy the family pics....The burks

Mercedi

Mikayla

Melanie

Logan

Melanie's Blessing

2009-05-19T11:02:00.002-06:00

So for all the Burk Family Readers.....We have now blessed our little girl Melanie Kaylee Burk....She is doing great and growing up so fast....We had family and friends come down for the weekend for the blessing and to have fun.It was so much fun having them all here...Though we wish that everyone could of made it up to celebrate this great day.....The blessing was wonderful and very special...I am thankful that Jesse holds the priesthood and can do this wonderful gift...to give all our kids a name and a blessing....from our heavenly father...Melanie stayed quite the whole time...and went to sleep...This is also the dress that I made for her as well as the blessing blanket that I crocheted I had so much fun preparing all of these things for her....Also she is wearing a blessing bracelet that there Nana has all done for the girls...so they each have one...this is a special tradition of her's to do. So any how...I hope you enjoy the wonderful pics of this great day.

She Is Here!!!!

2009-05-04T13:09:00.002-06:00

So Here is a very happy Dad,....He is so happy to have little Melanie here with us and you can tell!!!!...He is happy to have girls and just only one boy....even though he would like to have another little boy..... But I'm not seeing that in our future so far. Melanie Weighed 7lbs 3 oz and was 20inches long....

This is me and little melanie..she has been such a great little baby...just like all my other ones...she is doing great and eating and growing fast....I am soaking it all in and just enjoying her being so small and just adorable.....I'm sure all you mothers agree.

This is the outfit that we brought her home in...I saw it at walmart and just thought how cute and springing so that is why I got it and I loved the colors purple and yellow together..And the kids loved that it had thumper on it so it worked out perfect.

Well Little Melanie Kaylee Burk...was born at 9:47 p.m. on April 30th, 2009 and she came so fast that her little face was face up and got all bruised...but the bruising is going away and she is doing great...sense she came so fast her little head didn't come out cone shaped at all...just a little bridging and that is all...This was the fastest I have ever delivered as well...I was like what she is out....wow....And I am so happy she is out,...I feel a tone better and I have energy and I love just having her in my arms instead of my belly.....I would have to say that all that complaining that I did....was all worth going through for this little bundle of joy that we get to add to our family.....that Kids are loving her and just always want to help and hold her and they just love when she looks at them....Though logans comment when he came to visit us in the hospital was....Mom I don't want the baby out of your tummy....she needs to go back in your tummy ....I just started laughing it was so funny...but sense then he is kissing her and rubbing her head...and He always wants to know where the baby is...If he can't see her....so It has been fun having her home and having life back...but with a little more tasks to do now...So enjoy the pics.

Easter Fun

2009-04-13T09:43:00.004-06:00

This is a our Easter egg hunt day...we took the kids to the MSU building to have some fun and they did except for Mikayla she was not as aggressive and got only one egg so she was not a very happy camper about this...but logan and Meredi both shared with her and that was a nice thing of them to do....Logan did a great job for this being his first Easter egg hunt ever...so way to go logan

These are the girls Easter dresses that I sewed and had a blast doing it...they were so easy and simple to make...though I did not get around to sewing logan a vest or tie so next year I will be for sure to do that ...The girls were so excited about wearing there new dresses to church on Sunday and logan loved his new green shirt he wanted to wear it every day when I first bought it but I had to let him know he had to wait until Sunday to wear it.....The best thing about sewing the girl's dresses was that it only cost me a total of 15 dollars...you can't beat that when it comes to buying two Easter dresses...so I was happy about that

On Easter morning...we could here the kids rush up stair's and they were so excited to see that the Easter bunny had left eggs all over the house for them to hunt they were so happy about this and it made me and jesse smile and laugh as we were laying in bed listening to them and hearing there excited voices...it makes you happy to be a parent. Though logan had almost all of his candy eaten by the time it was time to go to church so I had to put it away before he ate it all ...he wasn't to happy about this....he is just like his dad when it comes to sweets....I better watch out.

After church was over...the girls came home and wanted to do there painting things that the Easter bunny and brought for them to do...They had a blast doing this...and were very creative with the paintings...I never have paint in the house for them to do these types of things and so they were really enjoying them selves...of course after they were done, I had a lot of paint to clean up...It was a good thing I had an old table for them to do these things with,....other wise I don't think we would ever have paint around. So it was a fun Easter day and we enjoyed our kids...enjoying them selves

Down to the last month!!!!!

2009-03-31T09:16:00.002-06:00

Alright....so this is going to be the last pic of me being pregnant...I am down to my last month!!!! And I can not wait until the day is here to have this baby girl..I am all set and ready for her to come and anxiously waiting for it...I am slowing do in speed because of all the fun pain that comes with the last month and getting quite tired.....I am really wishing to have here Easter weekend but knowing my luck it will keep on going right past...but I kinda need her to come soon...Jesse is going to be doing a down here this month starting the third week in April and so I would like him to be available so we are both wishing for Easter weekend. The girls and Logan are getting so excited for her to come...mercedi' is like yeah it's April well speaking of as tomorrow and she knows that Melanie will be coming this month and she can't wait to see her as well as the other kids. So thanks for all your fun comments on this whole pregnancy and helping me to keep my hopes up and just have fun...I will be for sure to add the pics of the little bundle of joy when she arrives...So you all should be wishing on a star that she will come early for me. So until then take care.

I'm a big boy now !!!!!!

2009-03-11T10:23:00.004-06:00

So This is logan and he is 2 1/2 and he just decided one day to start going poop in the potty in stead of his diaper and at first I was like no were not going to do this yet because I don't want to have a set back when the new baby comes...but he has be persistent on this and so we went a head and just started practicing with him using pull ups and then he was doing really good so we went and bought some underwear for him and he picked them out and he loves to wear them!!!!!!

So here he is in both picture showing them off....as you can tell he is very excited about them....he chose spider man and transformers....and they glow in the dark at night so he couldn't be more happy.......Sometimes he has some dribble in his underwear as he is trying to make it to the bathroom on time.

I am glad in a way that he has been so easy to potty train and is doing so well for now.....but it could change but I am hoping for the better....He is doing as well as mercedi did with the potty training so that is a relief to me....so the baby can come in April and I will only have to buy one set of diapers again....yeah for me!!!!

Rexburg Temple Day

2009-03-09T09:06:00.003-06:00

So A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go and visit the Rexburg temple...On this special trip.....I was able to see my little sister Annselena and her husband jose and kids get sealed together for all time and eternity...It was a beautiful session and it was like wow....How we kinda thought that this day would never come....but Jose and Annselena both worked at this for two years and accomplished it and are so very happy that they did this and made this choice in there lives. I almost wasn't able to attend....I had a dream that I went to the rexburg temple to see them and handed my temple recommend to the front desk person and he said it was expired and I couldn't attend and I was very sad..so the next day which was Thursday...I remembered my dream and thought you know I should check that out and sure enough it was expired so I called my bishop and stake president and got it arranged to meet them in there home and get a new recommend....I was so very thankful that they did this for me...because I was leaving the next day and needed it very quickly....It is just a neat thing how heavenly father helps prompt us of things that need to be taken care of so you can be there for others as well.

So after wards we all decided to go to big judd's to eat out and so me and my sister's and grandma all went her to eat and Jose and Ryan and there friend all chose to eat the biggest hamburger!!!!!!!!

So here are some pic of that event and to compare to the regular hamburger this is quite huge and to top it all off they finished there hamburger and some fries. Crazy huh!!!!!!!!! Any how my husband was a trooper for me....He stayed in Island park and watched the kids for me so that I could attend this special event and so that I didn't have to wake up so early to go with the pregnancy and all....So I am very appreciated of his service for me to be able to do this. Thanks honey~ And way to go to annselena and Jose for making it to the temple and sealing your family for all time and eternity!!!!!!!

8 months down

2009-03-03T08:29:00.002-07:00

Well here I am again, I am so excited that the months are counting down, and I can say that I am due next month, that seems like a huge milestone to me,so thanks for all who are cheering me on. So for this months dialog on mothering or having babies, I thought I would quote some quotes that Elder Neal a. Maxwell has said or quoted from many books.

"We salute you, sisters, for the joy that is yours as you rejoice in a baby's first smile and as you listen with eager ear to a child's first day at school which bespeaks a special selflessness. Women, more quickly than others, will understand the possible dangers when the word self is militantly placed before other words like fulfillment. You rock a sobbing child without wondering if today's world is passing you by, because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms. (Ensign, May 1978)

"The devoted wife and mother who is a quiet but effective neighbor but whose obituary is noticed by a comparative few may well have laid up precious little here in the current coin~of~the~realm, recognition, yet rising with her in the resurrection will be relevant attributes and skills honed and refined in family and neighborhood life. ( Grounded, Rooted,Established, and settled,")

"God trusts women so much that he lets them bear and care for His spirit Children." Ensign, May 1978)

These are some of the quotes that I found some great incite to and thought wow, I hope that I am just as wonderful as those mothers are that he is talking about. I find great peace in being a mother even though it has it's challenging days, I would never give it up for a second. I am very grateful to be a mother and look forward to the many days ahead of being called mom.

Mikayla's 5th Birthday

2009-02-19T09:00:00.004-07:00

These are the girls that mikayla invited to her birthday party, we had five girls, and well logan was there so one boy, but they all had a lot of fun and here they are eating some cake and saying cheese!!!

Remember when I told you that i would be making some barbie furniture for her birthday, well here it is, this is my own pattern and I have never made it before, but it was a lot of fun, and I would really like to make some more, so that I would become very good at it and one day sell some or something like that, Mikayla was happy to receive this, she saw me making it and her and mercedi both were sad that I was giving it to some one else and they didn't know who

These are the bags that the girls made at the party, and then at the end of the party I filled them with party favors and they got to take them home, so that was interesting helping them make this, but fun

This is one of the games that we played, we played pin the nose on the sprite and the girls loved it, they had a good time, and I had my husband draw this for me, and I think that he did a good job at that

Last but not least this is the cake that I made for mikayla, she wanted the theme to be rainbow brite so I did my best at making a rainbow cake and then downloading a rainbow brite image to put on the cake. I ran out of frosting so the backside of this cake had no frosting but it still tasted good and you can't see that it had no frosting. So overall Mikayla had a good 5th birthday and she loved it so much that she got to play games and have friends over and to open gifts. I on the other hand was exhausted by the end of the party and had to sit and lay for a while, little Melanie did not like all that commotion...

Happy 30th B-day Jesse

2009-02-13T17:49:00.003-07:00

Happy Birthday to my hunky handsome husband, Can you believe it he is 30 years old today, well I'm posting this a day latter, so on the 12th of February he was born, and so I had to attach a birthday pic of him when he was younger and then a pic of when I met him and we had glamor pic done together when we were dating and I thought that it would set the tone of my husband, who is just so full of life and fun and Hey he was born two days before Valentines so why not a man in a leather jacket, to say it all. So Jesse for his big 30th b-day went skiing at pebble creek in pocatello, he actually went a week before his b-day so he could spend the real day here with the family ,So we celebrated it by spending the night together and taking goodies to his work for him to share with others, and making his favorite cake, cheese cake, with strawberries. Jesse got ski's and p90x and some mountain dew pajama pants, so I would say he is all set to work out, have fun and get in shape. I would say that my husband for being 30 is still as sexy as I met him 11 years ago, well actually take that back he is sexier to me then the first day I saw him. Well thanks for tuning in to the great day of Jesse burk. I love you hunk of mine

The view at 7 months

2009-01-27T13:08:00.002-07:00

So here I am at 7 months, well at least next week I will be, and it has seemed like a long journey, though I am really getting excited for the big day to come, I can not wait to be able to have a little bundle of joy in my arms again, and how she will smell and smile and goo and all that baby stuff. It truly is a blessing from our heavenly father to be able to have children, I was watching a baby story the other day, just because that show is on my level as of now, and I enjoy it so much, and you get to see how others are excited about having this new baby come in to there lives and how other babies come to them through some one else, and one lady said, I am so glad that this young girl had decided to adopt her baby out and how it was to be able to be a mommy and be called a mommy now, and I just started to cry and thought wow how privilege I am to be able to be called a mommy and just enjoy it and to have these special little spirits in my life and that I am able to have them as well. Even though it is a struggle to have these little ones, with all the puking and swelling and cramps and what ever else comes our way with prepareing for labor, its all worth it in the end. So I am counting down the days I have two more months to go and then the rest is just weeks to count down to having the baby in april, that will be fun. So to all of you mommy's out there, Hi five for doing your best and enduring through it all !!!!!!

Spring in the middle of Janurary

2009-01-19T08:20:00.004-07:00

So on Saturday over here in billing Montana It was 60 degrees, can you believe it, It was like spring over here, the sun was shining and the wind was a little bit blowing but all the snow was melting and It seemed like we had to keep checking our calendar to make sure it was really January still. So we decided to go on a walk over to this walking path by our house, right around the corner, and we started out with our jackets on and just enjoying the walk, and we found a little park on the route and let the kids play

On the way walking there was places were the water covered the side walks and the kids were trying to jump over them because it was poison water so that was quite funny, and every now and then mercedi would sit down on the side walk were it wasn't wet, well logan watched her do it a couple of times and decided he wanted to sit like she was, and well he decided to sit in the biggest puddle ever and his but got soaked he didn't even think about the fact that he was all wet, he was doing what mercedi did, so that was quite funny

By the end of the walking trail and going back, everyone had taken there coats off because the sun was so warm, I mean really there were people out side playing baseball at the park and every one was walking and playing at the parks, what a crazzy time of the year, Usually, you are still locked up in you house in January sipping on hot chocolate, going sledding and dressing warm, so Who knows if it will last and how long, I'm sure we will get snow in spring when we really want spring to be here. Crazy Crazy

finished project

2009-01-12T11:19:00.003-07:00

So this is the blanket that I crocheted for Melanie's blessing, I finished it on friday, so it took about two weeks to finish, I had a blast doing it and my husband is now glad for me to be done as well, he kept making comments like, "every day there you are crocheting like a little old grandma," But he said that "I did a great job and wow, your done already," But I have a new project in store, I am making the booties now and will post them when I finish and Mikaylas's b-day is coming up and I will be making some barbie furniture for her out of wood, we shall see how it goes and sewing the bedding for the bed, so wish me luck on that. So I hope you enjoy my blanket and let me know how you think it looks. Plus I was going to do it yellow with purple, but my lovely walmart here, didn't carry what I wanted so I went with what they had, so it's a little bit more bright but I love it.

progress on the pregnancy

2008-12-31T12:53:00.002-07:00

So here I am getting ready for the baby, I have decided to crochet the blessing blanket and then I will make the dress when the time gets a little bit closer, so this is what I have achieved so far, I started two days ago, so with all the daily things to do and doing this I would say I'm doing good on the progress. I chose the color yellow because she will be born in the spring and the blanket will also have a purple ribbon that goes around it in the trim part, so it will be a fun project to do, when I do the blessing dress, it will be white but with some yellow and purple flowers sewn on randomly or I might put a see through over lay on with petals in the bottom of it, so I am excited to do this. So the pic below is of the blanket so far and when I am finished I will post it on the blog, for all of your opinions on how it looks.

This is me almost six months, I have a week until I am 6 months, so I would say time is at least getting by, it still feels like forever and forever until Melanie gets to come, but my hopes are getting up because the new year is soon here and I will have three and half to 4 months left, so yeah, plus I still have events coming up that will help the time to go by a little bit faster. So until now cha cha, also the pic was for my friend jenny who wanted to see how my belly was growing, so there ya go, that's me being pregnant and a lot more growing to go!!!!!!!

Where we are now !!!!!!!

2008-12-29T08:22:00.004-07:00

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Well here we are, we have moved back to billings Montana, and we are very comfortable now and enjoying our time here!!! Jesse never quite his job and had a change of heart on keeping and staying with it, so me and the kids moved to pocatello for just a month and moved back with Jesse, so that we could all be together. We had a wonderful Christmas, here in our new home, we are renting a town home still in the heights area and we are loving it. It is very cozy, and it has all that we need so yeah. When we moved back, and I was able to use all of our belongings again, I got right to work on the girls Christmas dresses, so the dresses they are wearing is what I sewed for them, it was a lot of fun and work. But I enjoyed every bit of it. Also to come to find out when we moved back is that we are having a little girl, How lucky are we, I guess girls are just in our favor from the lord. So here is a picture of her already

She looks just like my other girls to me and I can't wait to be able to kiss her and give here hugs. We are going to name her Melanie Kaylee Burk, still keeping with the M, K names that I choose for my girls. But the middle name is a little bit more special because it is the name of our niece Kalie who passed away a year ago, so it has some meaning behind it. But we are very glad to be having a little girl, even though we were hoping to make it even and have another boy, but hey at least we have one little boy, who is quite the character and keeps us laughing that is for sure. Any how I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and soon to have a happy new year, keep in touch.

8 years latter

2008-10-21T08:54:00.002-06:00

Well today is me and my husband 8th year anniversary, And wow has it gone by so fast. Me and my husband met in 1999 at a institute dance at ISU, I saw him dancing with some friends and I was dancing with my sister and I wanted him to notice me so I told my sister that we should go and dance a little bit closer to him, so that he could see me, and so we did, and to my surprise, my plan worked and He did notice me and he came over and asked me to dance, and Then asked for my number, and and I gave it to him and he said he would call and then two weeks went by and no call, so then I saw him again and he didn't even remember my name, so then I reminded him and he then he did call me the next day, and then the rest is history. What attracted me the most to him was his smile and personality, and his good looks, Though as I got to know him, I found him quite annoying!!!! but I thought maybe heavenly father knows something else. One of the things me and my husband like to do together is go for walks together and to watch movies together, When we were dating we would always go for walks and get hot chocolate to warm us up on the walk. We just enjoy talking and enjoying one another s company and taking in the beauty of the surrounding area. Jesse and I have three beautiful children and one on the way, we have two girls and one boy, and they have brought us great joy. So to my wonderful husband of 8 years and many many more to come, I love you with all of my heart, and I am so thankful that we met those many years ago. Love Beth

Ward family home evening

2008-09-17T16:25:00.006-06:00

Well this is our ward family home evening, they went skating, How fun for a ward to do this, unfortunately I wasn't feeling well with the whole pregnancy thing of course so I stayed home and threw up, isn't that nice.

But jesse took the girls and they had a blast. He was really excited to go and was like will you take logan so he could enjoy skating, though he didn't take any pics of him skating with the girls, shame on him!!!

This is one of the girls in our ward, here name is lyric and she is a year older then mercedi, but they are in the same Sunday class together and they are the best of friends. I guess lyric helped mercedi out a lot in learning how to skate

And then of course you have to have treats and they did, They also won treats at the games that they played on the floor, mercedi and mikayla came home all excited about all the games that they played while skating, they really had fun. I just wished that I could of felt better to go, but there is always a next time. Way to go dad for taking them and having fun at the ward family home evening night. Your the best.

this is a video of Mikayla and the girls, putting there skates on and mikayla taking her first fall, this is the first time she has ever went skating she did a pretty good job at trying. I give her a high five!!!

5 weeks and 35 more to go!!!

2008-09-02T07:53:00.002-06:00

Well is this the big day, Who knows!!!

So we bought the test and I did my buisness and what was the results?

Well you know it, we are pregnant!!!! yeah!!!

So here I am after, trying for two years of loosing the weight that I put on with logan and finally getting it off, I'm off to start gaing weight again

So in nine months this is what I will look like, well lets hope this round huh!!

We are all very excited, so are the kids, Mercedi is hoping for a boy and Mikayla is hoping for a girl, and logan just wants babies, so we shall see what we get, if we got both that would be nice. So we are off to a new adventure, that will be due May 4th so we are so very anxious for the time to pass. Wish us good luck, hopefully not very much morning sickness that would be great!!!!

mercedi's 2nd tooth to be pulled out!!!

2008-09-01T18:35:00.005-06:00

Look at my tooth and my big alligator tears!!!

Well maybe it wasn't that bad!!!

Look I have a tooth necklace, it's not a alligator tooth but close don't you think?

This is jesse pulling out mercedi's tooth, it was so funny!!!

The Zoo family fun

2008-08-31T18:42:00.002-06:00

Mercedi's first day at school and 1st perm!!!

2008-08-29T12:13:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Logan's 2nd Birthday @ Island Park

2008-08-25T13:13:00.007-06:00

Happy Birthday Logan

Jesse and I made this cake for Logan
we decorated it with spider man
and dare devil, they are in a fighting rink,
the girls call the red frosting the fire rink,
kinda funny!!!

He was quite excited to blow out his candle
there was more spit then there was air
we were all laughing

The cake tasted wonderful, Logan
had two helpings of cake and ice cream
he was wired for the night!!!!

On Logan's birthday we went and floated the big springs
river, it was a lot of fun, we took our friend Angie
and justin and there kids with us, they too had a blast
we were going to have more friends and family but they
could not make it up, so we missed them much!!!

This is the Neighbars family
I'm sure that I spelled there last name wrong, Sorry Angie!!!
but they came and enjoyed getting wet and having some crazzy fun,
Especial justin in that crazy hillbilly hat, It was classic!!!

This is jesse he is fishing on the big springs river and having some fun, He was starting to get quite bummed out that he did not catch anything yet because we were getting close to the end of the river and then finally he caught a fish and boy was he so excited he was kicking his feet and jumping up in down the best that he could being seated, I thought he was a little boy all over again, doesn't he look so peaceful in this pic, considering how busy body he is all the time.!

This is the fish that he caught he claims it to be at least
13 inches, he was quite proud of this small fish, and it was his
first time to gut the fish as well, and he enjoyed every smelly part of it.

Here we are on the river and this is when we are getting ready to take off and Logan did not like the bumble bees so he was not very happy to see them, he wanted to get going, but by the end of the trip he was having so much fun in the water and trying to jump out of the boat he forgot all about the bugs out side, we also got to see a lot of birds and a moose in the spider grass it was pretty neat.

Here is Angie and I, saying cheese for the camera, she was a hoot on this trip, ever now and then we would run in to the river bed and she and I would have to get out and push the boat to get it back into the currant and she did not like to get wet, because it was cold, so she would hurry and get in the boat when the water started to get deep, we also did a few cookies on the water, because I would be paddling too fast and then she would have to catch up and vise versa, so it was quite some fun.

these three girls, were also having some fun, except for my two girls at the first, of the trip, they were so worried that they were going to tip over into the water they were so scared and just started crying for at least 10 minutes in to the trip, but by the middle they were playing in the water and getting wet and row the boat for us, they all got to take turns,.

Our trip also concluded, staying in a cabin thanks to grandma and grandpa burk, because she cleans them we get one free every now and then and we also went four wheeling and had lots of food, Latter in the night my sister and her family came up and we had a good breakfast and grandpa and grandma came and ate with us and we just enjoyed one another's company, there in Island Park. What a weekend and lots of fun. For all those who didn't make it, we will have to plan another time to get together and have some fun.

Girls just wana have fun

2008-08-18T11:45:00.004-06:00

Well my sister's and I got together with our mom
and had some all time fun. We ate
lots of pizza and bread sticks catered, by papa
murphey's you got to love there pizza, Then
It was filled with lots of games mostly

This is our favorite game to play when we are together
my mom was the reigning champ of this game of course
she is pretty good at rolling the dice and strategies
we also watched some classic movies
we watched Enceno man and just visiting
one of the things we like to do when together
is quote off different movies, it gets us laughing
until we are sick and our stomach hurts.

Latter we decided to do face masques and my sister
Gina with her masque on reminded us of the
movie betel juice and so we were doing
the little step in the line dance.

Then we cooled our eyes with some cucumbers
and they kept on falling off so we had to stay very still
we looked like we were all dead, in way

This was my face masque, it was just white and didn't
show through so they decide to mark me with there
face masque to go to war, This was lots of fun
We all enjoyed it and it was a blast. I am thankful
for a fun mom and cool sisters, that we can
get together and just enjoy some good times.
Amen to girls just want to have fun.!!!!

Family fun at the water park

2008-08-11T11:35:00.004-06:00

Look at this fun water slide.
Jesse and Mercedi spent
most of there time going down
the slide, mikayla tried onces and that
was enough for her, and I hung out
with logan which was just as fun.

We all went over to the bigger pool for the
kids to use there arm floating things
and we were asked to take them off
because to many parents would leave
there kids in the pool with the floating
things and wouldn't watch them and they
would have problems, but that didn't stop
us from having some fun!!

Logan was still not so sure about the water,
it took a tittle bit for him to think that it was ok
at first but as you saw in the photo above he was
doing ok in the water. He really liked to kick
his feet in the big pool

This was a fun mushroom
you could go under it and hang out
and not even get wet or play around in it
this was just a wading pool for the little kids to play in
most of all the parents were over here
hanging out with the kids.

This would be when logan was actually
having fun in the water, and oh wow
girls look at this eye candy, he looks
delicious don't you agree!!!!

I decided to go and give the diving boards a try
and so I waited in line, and got up there, and
wow I was a little scared, I haven't jumped off
a diving board for quite some time, and what
fun it was, except for swolling all that water
and getting it up the nose as well.
All in all the water park was lots of fun and very
cheep to get in, we only had to pay four dollars
for jesse and I each and the kids were free because
they were seven and under. And the down fall
is that you can't bring your own food in.
But lots of fun for a family!!!!!!

Another free water park

2008-08-07T16:59:00.003-06:00

Here we are again at
another water park
here in billings Montana
These are all free, and just so much fun
for the kids and me, because I get a break!!!

This pool was about one foot deep
so just enough dept to have some
fun and pretend to swim and splash
a whole bunch

It took a while to get Logan in, so
we didn't even bring his swim
gear because we thought that
he wouldn't want to go in
but we helped him get some what
use to the water!!!!

Way to go mercedi, she is doing a great
job at being the big sister and helping
Logan see that it is ok!!!

It is so neat that billings has all
of these fun things for family's
to do and it's all free and it just makes
living here so much more cool
I love living in billings Montana!!!!

A good after noon nap

2008-08-05T15:53:00.003-06:00

Mom look at this Logan fell
a sleep on me! This was so
funny because mercedi really
wanted to get up and he wouldn't move
off of her, he just kept inching
up on her every time she moved.
I was surprised that he fell a sleep on
her. He never does that.

A good friend

2008-08-04T13:57:00.002-06:00

This just goes out to a really good friend
that took me under here wing in
Elko, NV. Thank you so much
for being such a great friend and always
giving me a good laugh and helping me
out with every day life stuff.
Your one in a million and I miss you
much!!!!! Your awesome Jenny !!!

Come on guns grower bigger

2008-08-04T11:16:00.009-06:00

Come on guns grow bigger!!!!!

I am trying to make these muscles
grow bigger, but it is taking for ever!!!!
this is what I do almost every
morning, well not pose for the
camera but work out!!!!

Only to put the calories back on latter
in the day by eating ice cream!!
I love ice cream, for those
that hate it like my friend Angie !!!
shame on you!!!!!!

The boys going out for a ride !!!!

2008-08-02T16:22:00.002-06:00

Logan's favorite thing to do is
to go four lowing with his dad
this is how he says four wheeling
it is too cute, he knows how to
turn the key and push the button
to make it start!!

Jesse enjoys taking his kids
out to play on these big
kid toys. I don't think
that he has grown up
at all. He makes me
proud, I love that he
enjoys playing with the kids
Way to go honey bun!!!

My new found fun

2008-08-01T16:03:00.003-06:00

Doesn't this bread look delicious
It is home made honey wheat bread !!!!!

I have decided to make all of our bread
from now on, because we found a good easy
recipe and I like being able to say look
what I made and it taste wonderful.
Thanks mom for teaching me how
to cook and to bake. Love ya !!

Back yard Fun

2008-07-30T15:57:00.003-06:00

Hmmm I wonder what thoes girls are doing????

Maybe I will get closer to see what they are doing?

Oh no here comes the splash and I was right by it

I so don't like being wet, where is my mommy!!

We are the best, sorry Logan, we didn't see you there
Girls will be girls and boys will be boys, well I think Logan
will be tough, but he doesn't want anything to do with the water
He runs anytime he sees a sprinkler come on .
No thanks he says

summer fun at the water parks in montana

2008-07-28T15:37:00.001-06:00

Way to go mercedi your doing great
at spraying your sister

Just me and our mom!!!!

Mikay just wanting some more, give me some more of that!!!

Logan is loving all of these hugs, but not so sure about
his sister being all wet and giving hugs!!!

Say cheese for the camera girls!!!!

If you can't beat the heat just go out and have some fun in the
sun and get wet!!!!!

The kids enjoying A movie

2008-07-26T20:27:00.001-06:00

The kids are all sitting and enjoying a movie, together and what is this, they are all getting along and sharing!!!! I think that this is every mothers happiness. Am I right?

The back yard pets

2008-07-26T20:01:00.001-06:00

This is our home in billings Montana, we woke up one morning to find these lovely bucks in our yard, aren't they cool. We were like wow, they can jump pretty high, they just looked around and drank some water and then hoped over the fence to the neighbours house where they have pine trees and layed down in the shade, it was pretty neat to see, so we call them the back yard pets, that think they can roam where ever they want to.

They didn't even know that we were there, or at least we didn't think so. But you can find them around here all the time, just roaming around looking for food. It makes you think that you are living in the woods.

The kids

2008-07-24T15:17:00.001-06:00

These are my cute kids, they are growing up so fast. Which in return is making me feel a lot older. There is mercedi who is the oldest and then mikayla and then there is logan, who is so spoiled by his two older sisters, they help him with lots of things and they all play and teas each other till the end of the day, It never rest. But I love the noise and the constant need of me! One day that will all be gone, so I am enjoying it now.

Jesse and I love to do out door stuff and this is us hiking up lomoli canyon in elko, Neveda, there is still snow up there in july crazy huh, so we didn't quite get up to the top were there is an amazing lake that we were able to see last year, when we hiked up there, it is a two mile hike straight up and continues on from there. It is really pretty up there in the summer and there is tonz of run off water that makes it neat to look at, besides the sage brush that elko can't get enough of, its not a pretty sight.

This is the run off and it just roars down these rocks, it sounds so peaceful!!!

Because two people fell in love

2008-07-24T13:55:00.001-06:00

Two people very much in love
I love that Jesse is full of life and he is always making me
laugh and keeping our marriage full of spontaneous fun
We both love the out doors very much and enjoy camping
and we also love to watch movies and enjoy going to get
a pop at the gas station, an all time favorite simple leaser of life.

2008-07-24T13:38:00.000-06:00

Meet the Burk Family
We are lots of fun and enjoy doing many outdoor activities
Starting off we have my husband Jesse Who is a instramentain
tech for Exxon Mobil and he enjoys 4 wheeling and racket ball
and just goofing off and having fun. Then there is me
Elizabeth, and I love to do all kinds of crafts
and sew and run, and I enjoy very much being a mom and a wife, my family is my greatest accomplishment and then keep me very busy.
Then from the oldest to the youngest there is
Mercedi who is almost 7 she is lots of fun and just full of helpfulness and
is always quick to put here ideas in to what we should do for fun.
Then there is Mikayla who is 4 and she has such a personality, she is always
doing something creative and she loves grass hoppers, then last but not least there is Logan who will be two next month and boy does he keep me on my toes he is always just going and going and still going, and so much a boy, it is definitely different then having a girl. So I hope that you will come to see more of us and enjoy the Burk family life.