The Burkes Family

kael is turning the corner....

2011-10-20T10:46:00.003-05:00

the tantrum corner that is.

I was the mom with the crying kid laying in the middle of the checkout at barnes and noble yesterday.

Thank you.

He even impressed the mom (who informed me her twins made it to college) when he threw both shoes across the store.

On a positive note, he still likes to snuggle and remides me "i make you happy?" on a daily basis. (yes he says it in question form)

Safari 2011

2011-08-26T14:53:00.002-05:00

South Africa

decade of fatigue??

2011-02-03T18:55:00.004-06:00

I was complaining to my mother today how tired I am... or rather, how tired I always am.

My mom is a RN. I grew up thinking I was always dehydrated. If I had a headache... I was dehydrated, go drink some water. If I had a sore throat, I was dehydrated, go drink some water. If I had the flu, had a bad day, broke my leg, etc... you get the point. (I still don't drink enough water, but thats not the issue here.)

So, at lunch today, my mom informs me that she spent a whole decade - her thirties - being tired.

WHAT!!??!!

I do not, in any way shape or form, think I could last 10 years being this tired. Nope. Not happening.

Any other mothers feel freeking exhausted? I mean REALLY TIRED!? I know chasing 3 kids, and piano and basketball and birthday parties.... the list goes on... can be exhausting, but I want to feel good. really good. hypo-manic good.

There HAS GOT to be some sort of pharmaceutical that can provide this sense of energy. I mean sugar-free red bull just isn't cutting it. What do I need to tell the doctor to get this medication? I believe that ritalin et. al. provides some sort of high for people who take it who aren't ADD/ADHD...

Does wanting to fall asleep count as ADD?

Or am I just on the verge of becoming one of those bad Moms who says their kid is ADD and then washes their kids medication down with a little coffee and baileys?

Anyways.

I tell my kids when they are whining about the usual tummy ache that they need to drink more water because they are dehydrated.

Are moms always right?

Please tell me my mother had a bad case of Mono, and this too shall pass... before I am 40 and officially over the hill.

Or give me the name of your doctor.

Sweet Baby Jesus

2010-12-09T22:39:00.001-06:00

halloweeny - late post so happy thanksgiving!

2010-11-28T21:08:00.003-06:00

Cleopatra, Midnight Fairy, and Puppy

Fall Fun

2010-10-23T08:59:00.002-05:00

Hunting at Greany Shack.

Ayva loved holding the grouse. Boy was daddy proud!

Pumpkin Patch.

Kael dude checking out the pumpkins!

failed attempt

2010-08-15T10:36:00.003-05:00

Kael was in desperate need for a haircut.

Thought I could pull it off.

Failed.

(they make it look way to easy !)

I suppose we'll have chickens

2010-08-10T17:52:00.003-05:00

Went to the St Louis Co Fair. Spent 95% of our time in the petting zoo. Already have...

4 horses

5 labs (outside)

1 pup (inside, likes to bark)

3 barn cat (one that appears to be pregnanT)

add in 3 kids and a hubby... whats a few chickens???

Kael has a look alike...

2010-07-15T18:53:00.004-05:00

(pre big boy cut - sigh)

Breckin Meyer

Kim pointed this out to me...

I think she may be right. Brecken plays the stoned out guy in movies like clueless and road trip... When I look at Kael, "stoner" does not come to mind. but dang, he is cute.

my baby, even if he's a big boy

2010-07-06T20:02:00.004-05:00

I should be doing laundry...

I have a heaping pile of clean and wrinkly cloths in my bedroom, we're talking about 5 loads people.

Instead I will blog with a clean, naked 18 month boy on my lap...

Kael is now 1 and 1/2. and finally walking- scratch that- RUNNING like a mad man. He owns this house and our hearts.

I wanted to keep him my "baby" for as long as possible, as I am fully aware 4 children may just get me into a locked unit of a psyc hospital...

(no judgement to those who have 3+ children

who have been in a locked unit...

or both)

so Kael = baby forever.

I was loving his long blond locks, and thought it helped with his "baby" look,

But after 3 recent comments about our 3 beautiful daughters,

Rian said it is time for the (da da daaa) Big Boy Haircut...

Here is the end result.

And yes,

he is now a Big Boy.

Damn it.

facelift

2010-06-18T18:51:00.001-05:00

So after going to Krissy's blog, I decided it was time for some updating...

I need more time to play, but it was fun... and annoying at the same time.

Do they have classes to teach humor? I want to be funny.

Painting fun.

2010-06-12T10:31:00.001-05:00

Memorial Weekend 2010

2010-05-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

Free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Girls Getaway

2010-05-16T23:03:00.000-05:00

This free digital scrapbook customized with Smilebox

I love South Africa Safaris

2010-04-20T18:55:00.002-05:00

Boys will be boys...

2010-03-31T11:29:00.002-05:00

Photo slideshow created with Smilebox

spring

2010-03-14T20:10:00.000-05:00

Free greeting created with Smilebox

Sioux Narrows, CA

2010-02-23T21:16:00.003-06:00

I love ice fishing... one of my favorite things to do in the winter! This trip, I caught 0... yep, zero fish. Still awesome and fun though.

True Happiness.

2009-12-17T21:19:00.002-06:00

More Wedding fun... pics taken by jeanninemarie photography

2009-12-08T20:11:00.011-06:00

FairyTale Wedding

2009-12-08T18:50:00.002-06:00

Nicole, Dan, Nancy, and I will be on TV Dec 11... little nervous.

Bride and Groom with the flower girls.

Brady and I - witnesses...

Best man and MOA

The setup!

Nicole and John Marinac.

2009-12-07T20:06:00.001-06:00

Nicole and John (JR) were married December 5, 2009 in Caneel Bay of St John, USVA.

It was completely fairy tale.

I will be posting more links~

These were from Rian's cousin, Danielle Coughlin, who was also at the wedding.

http://www5.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=720249025/a=1482937025_1482937025/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Reality.

2009-10-13T16:51:00.002-05:00

Girls on the 1st day of school.

Now they are in skating...

I am in denial that I will be running to the rink 2x/wk for club/badge lessons and then 1:1 lessons on top of that. This running and waiting game is not fun, and is only going to get worse!! But, I know as they grow and excel at something, I will be proud... as of now... it seems like a lot of work and energy for 30 minutes of falling on the ice.

Jumping into Lake of the Woods

2009-09-14T18:28:00.001-05:00

Matt & Erin Olin!

2009-09-02T19:57:00.003-05:00

Sisterly Love

Emma

Ayva

Matt and Erin with their Godson.... Kael!!

Erin and her bridesmaids.

Ayv and Emm - cutest flower girls ever!

Erin and her sister Carlie, Matt and his BFF Rian.

Maid of honor and Best man with the bride and groom.

OH CANADA...

2009-07-31T17:51:00.003-05:00

Rian and his bromance JUNIOR

Nicole and Jr... and Kael poo!

Bro and Sis... finally getting along after 30 years in training!

Girls on the bow

Tess Enroth Vidovic

2009-07-15T15:37:00.002-05:00

My new horse! (Best birthday surprise ever!)

2009-07-01T22:20:00.002-05:00

2009-07-01T13:59:00.000-05:00

Monkey - 6 months already!

2009-06-22T16:31:00.003-05:00

or "monkadoodle' as Ayva and Emma like to call him...

Time just won't slow down!

As crazy as things are right now (Ayva and Emma are in the tub as we speak...and just emptied a bottle of shampoo for "a super lot of bubbles") this honestly has got to be some of the best years of my life!

Where's the food, mom?

A compliment... until it wasn't!

2009-06-21T10:53:00.003-05:00

"Mom...

You sure have a smaaaaalllll tummy. It only goes from here to there (pointing).

Oh, wait... maybe it's just because your boobs hang down so low."

~Ayva

There is nothing better...

2009-06-09T22:08:00.001-05:00

than the smell of a clean/lotioned baby, sleeping in fuzzy-wuzzy pj's, curled up in the cribby... seriously.

Memorial Day 2009 - CA

2009-05-26T19:16:00.005-05:00

Kaeleb enjoying the fire with Mom and Dad.

Em's 1st perch caught all by herself on the scoobie doo rod!

Anything better than a smore?

Matt and Ri

Kael's Godparents, Matt and Erin

Sunset on Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows, CA

Ayva and Emma fishing with scoobie doo and barbie rods!

corn on the cob... when Ayva was 1 1/2, she called it "coin" on the cob.

Whats up, yo yo yo yo, Kael?

The girls had a great time in the boat!

Smile.

2009-05-19T16:47:00.002-05:00

Gotta love smiles befor bathtime!!!

I honestly believe there is absolutely nothing better than taking a bath with baby!

I get sad thinking of when the day will come we can't because he has a "tail" and, well I don't!

My girls. My loves.

2009-05-14T19:10:00.002-05:00

My boys. My loves.

2009-05-14T19:06:00.001-05:00

Kael=teething

2009-05-06T21:55:00.004-05:00

mmmmm. This wood sure is yummy.

Goal in life... get that thing in my mouth.

Setbacks... limited fine motor control.

Outcome... crabby kiddie.

Solution... tylenol.

Wow. Times change.

2009-05-03T21:14:00.004-05:00

Tif holding Kael and Me holding Gauge.

Dinner with friends... Tif and Dan Koski, Dave and Carrie Gustofson, and Rian and I.

We had some dinner, drank some wine, and had fantastic conversation... about labor...

When it started, how it progressed, what drugs were used, and how long the pushing stage lasted. And yes, Rian, Dave, and Dan had more to say about it than the woman who actually did the pushing. the best part? the coversation lasted WELL over an hour.

really?

yep.

A before and after...

2009-04-30T21:15:00.001-05:00

the bestest thing about having a boy? ...

2009-04-23T21:04:00.004-05:00

The Superman Pajamas!

Seriously!

Hoppy Easter in AZ!

2009-04-13T19:33:00.006-05:00

who doesn't like PEEPS!?? actually I don't, but dang they are cute!

Kael and Mom swimmin... He loves it!

Most likely due to the temp of the water being 95 degrees. True story.

I am so lucky!!!!!!!!

!!!!!

Ayva, Kael, Emma, & Mikko

Mikko and Kael got matching outfits from the Easter Bunny - "good things come in twos!" Don't the men in this picture look thrilled with their fashionably in style cloths?

Ayva & Mom go for an after dinner dip... I would like to mention that she can jump in the deep end all by herself and swim alone, this coming from the mother that never put her kids in swimming lessons because I was too lazy to set it up... and they continue to thrive.

Easter Dresses from Nana!

Kiddie table.

Easter morning!

Hi Monkey!

2009-04-06T18:11:00.001-05:00

Ayva's concept of $$$

2009-04-05T12:01:00.003-05:00

When told she could not have the "diamond" bracelet she wanted (ugly plastic thingy from the checkout line @ wally world) because we didn't have the $ for diamonds today... Ayva quickly said,"oh Mom, can't you just go buy some money??"

Rian's pride & joy...

2009-04-01T08:46:00.000-05:00

Life just doesn't get any better than this!

All "growed" up...

2009-03-27T17:56:00.006-05:00

The college of St Scholastica - Ashley, Michelle, and myself graduated together - masters in Occupational Therapy. I started grad school in 2003 with a 6 week old (Ayva). In 2004/05 all three of us below had babies during school that year (Emma, Donovin, and Dylan)... they came to class, nursed in class, were live baby testers for our peds class... we had nursing breaks, pumping breaks, play dates, etc... Now, we have all added another one to our baby collection ... Sammy, Kael, and Austin... see below.

Ashley, Michelle, and me

Dylan & Sammy (4 and 1) Ashley's

Ayva, Emma, & Kaeleb (5,4, and 3 mo) Mine

Donovin and Austin (4 and 1 month) Michelle's

How time flys...

Ayva, Emma, Dylan, and Donovin in 2005

Cousins

2009-03-26T21:04:00.002-05:00

Kaeleb Daniel Burkes and Mikko George Glad

2 peas in a pod...

I see trouble in about 13 years... make that 5!

the apple doesn't far fall...

2009-03-21T11:21:00.003-05:00

"CLEAN up your mess..." ~me

"why? my feets are too tired." ~Emma

"Because company is coming over, and I want this house spotless." ~Me

"Can we just sweep it under the bed?? (Big smile... seriously)" ~Ayva

(stern look while trying not to laugh) ~me

"I know... we can just shut the bedroom door! Then she wont see!!" ~Ayva

Dang. I was hoping to raise neat freaks who would do the cleaning for me!

Kael is getting bigger...

2009-03-20T20:32:00.000-05:00

Help with video upload...

2009-03-20T11:13:00.005-05:00

MN Wild

2009-03-18T12:08:00.009-05:00

Had a blast at the Wild Game lastnight. They beat Colorado in a shootout. Pretty cool. We (Irathane employees and their dates) took a bus down - 2nd annual - booth seating. Super Duper Fun~ GO WILD

We're having a heatwave...

2009-03-15T20:55:00.001-05:00

The girls make a snowman with a little help from Daddy...

"She said fucker, Emma..."

2009-03-14T20:52:00.003-05:00

"... and fucker is a bad word." ~Ayva to Emm's Question, "did she just say 'fucker' or 'sucker'?"

Words spoken just moments after I hit my head. Hard.

Kael on Strike

2009-03-12T21:23:00.003-05:00

Only Mom can cross the picket line...

So my easiest baby so far has now become a challenge - at daycare. He refuses to eat or sleep. Kael - MY SLEEPER and munchy!! Who is this little guy at daycare? He is only taking about 1-2 ounces of my milk from a bottle (yes, we have tried different nipples) and is sleeping 1/2 hour - 45 minutes... this is in a 6 hour span. Then I pick him up and he is attached all night and crashes. I feel like I am abandoning him... or that he thinks I am... :(

Anyone had this trouble? Advice? Aparently this can be pretty common. I am not too worried about it, it's only week one. But it still make me sad.

On the bright side... Emma makes sure "nobody wont step on him at Christys."

Kaeleb Daniel gets Baptized

2009-03-09T15:22:00.004-05:00

Fr.Peter

Rian, Jill, Ayva, Emma, & Kael

& Kaeleb's Godparents Matt Olin and Erin Hanson.

Matt & Erin asked Ayva and Emma to be the flower girls in their wedding this August in which Ayva replied, "we already are flower girls!" They have the huge honor of being in 3 weddings this summer... Tess and Brady, Matt and Erin, and Tammy and Jeff's wedding.

Father Daughter Dance

2009-03-04T22:37:00.003-06:00

Grandpa Gerry was the best stand-in date for the dance. Rian was in New Zealand, and when he realized that he would miss the dance, he almost didn't go... Ayva and Rian had the best time last year. This year Ayva was escorted by Grandpa... and she had the "super best time ever with Grandpa Gerry!!" Ayva was so cute... and Grandpa Ger ate it up...

I love you dad... thanks for taking her. Doesn't seem like it was that long ago when you and I would go.

Oh to live in AZ.

2009-02-26T18:44:00.005-06:00

Kael loved to sleep in the front pack... And I loved showing him off! People looked at me like I was nuts when I had Kaeleb in the pack, and one girl holding each hand...

Emma was obsessed with covering up her toys - Ariel, and two fishies. Gotta love her.

Happy "Valentimes" day! Coffee in bed with nana and papa! Highlight of the trip. And we all do fit in that bed! The girls made papa special coffee cups.

More pics to come when I can figure out where my other camera charger is...

I may even attempt to post a video... no promises!

travel pics

2009-02-13T12:27:00.001-06:00

The girls were very excited to use their new suitcases!!

Kael liked flying!

The traveling clan. Kael liked being in the front pack.

This was taken minutes before we left for the airport...

"Ayva did it!"

Oh- I figured out why people were having trouble posting... I had it set so only people with accounts can post... now anyone can... so GET TO IT!
1. click on comments
2. type comment
3. type the word verification letters in the box
4. if you dont have a google acct... click on name/url and type in your name
5. hit enter

Made it Safe!

2009-02-11T17:11:00.003-06:00

Flying with children can be a challenge, but I have to admit - my kids do pretty well. This was Kael's 1st flight, and he slept the whole time. The funest part was changing a diaper in the plane bathroom during some turbulence... I think mom's should make a mile - high club for the success of diaper changing in those small things! What should we call it?

"Look out the window, Mom... we might see God when we get over the clouds."
-Ayva James in flight to AZ

flying sucks anywys, but ice storms? honestly.

2009-02-09T13:04:00.003-06:00

So this is the view I get for the next 2 weeks!!! This is looking out from the porch off the pool at my inlaws home in Arizona. Pretty awesome. They basically live on the side of Superstition Mt.

I just hope we survive flying through ice tomorrow morning... Lets be honest, the Hibbing/Chisholm Airport is nothing to brag about, when were those planes made, anyways? ... WWII, maybe. They rattle and shake the whole way, and there isn't even enough level time in the air to get a pop between takeoff and landing. And what the hell... the best pilot in the world just landed in the hudson, so I'm pretty sure he is on vacation - I wish there was a way to request piolots... because I would like Sully. But, I dont know if the Mississippi would work.?

Anyways, I had Father Peter do an extra cross on Kaeleb's forhead just in case.

Kaeleb

2009-02-07T16:33:00.000-06:00

6 weeks already!

"Family Wall"

2009-02-07T11:46:00.003-06:00

So I FINALLY have something on my walls in my living room! (Rian has dead animals in his living room... Classic iron ranger, which is why I have to make up for it in my room.)

I had Emily Law come over and take some real family photos - we had a blast. The hard part was picking out which ones and sizes to put on the wall...

This is what I came up with!

I had her put them on matt board rather than frame them. I was such a dork, I actually made drawings and had tape and paper on my wall for weeks before I bought the shelves and ledges. I've arranged the pictures a million different ways, but I think this so far is my favorite. It's nice not having frames and juts overlapping them.

I feel like a grown up.

Hey Spike

2009-02-06T11:40:00.001-06:00

Kael is awesome. Period.

"EMMA! I said pretend the chiwawa is DEAD!" -Ayva

2009-02-01T12:19:00.006-06:00

.... Yells Ayva to Emma while playing in the tub with some ponies, measuring cups, and a colander. Nope, no dogs involved.

and I'm not sure how they even know what a chiwawa is...

I've always wanted a small inside doggie, but Rian says if it can't flush a grouse, it's not a dog... so no chiwawas or whatever-poos in our house, yet.

I did warn him that when I get baby fever (when Kim has her 1st baby and I want another one...) he better get me a mix-a-poo or else we might be a family of 6.

Rian. Joe Bugs, and Christopher Liesmaki

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Kael's Godparents

2009-01-26T13:55:00.003-06:00

So, Matt Olin and Erin Hanson (soon to be Olin) have officially met their Godchild! They came up to Hibbing (from Duluth) just to hug him up... and also to ask Rian and I to be in their wedding! WooHoo... I have never been in a wedding before... only as a bride or musician, so this is big! Rian is the best man, so he needs to worry about a speech! Oh my.

Needless to say, we celebrated! That is why Matt and Rian are giving Kael his 1st bottle (of breastmilk) - so Mom can "pump and dump" and enjoy a few glasses of wine.

Emily Law Photography

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Boy Parts...

2009-01-19T15:25:00.004-06:00

So I was changing Kael the other day, and Emma was right at eye level watching...

"Boy Mother (she is really into calling me Mother lately), it kinda looks like he has a little tongue stuck to his butt."

Having a boy and boy parts has been a totally new experience for me as I never had a brother, and two girls later... out comes Kael.

So, the latest discussion between Rian and I about parenting has been what to call the "little tongue."

Being I work at a hospital and have gone to grad school in a medical field, I kinda felt obligated to call it the real word - you know = penis...

But, after I told Emma that boys have penises (that's why they can stand up to pee...) she repeated it, and repeated it again.... and again.

And I came to the conclusion that a four year old with a deep voice saying Penis just didn't seem right.

Rian felt we should go with Peeper because that is what he grew up calling

it...

This is all just crazy to me?!!!? Is this honestly what my Friday evenings have come down to? Trying to figure out the right "fake" name for a penis?

Any thoughts???

The TV Babysitter

2009-01-18T10:23:00.006-06:00

Okay, so I am home alone this weekend for the

1st time with 3 children... what the...

anyways,

Of course, I try to keep the kids happy watching cartoons so I can continue sleeping (come on you all do it!)

as Kael was not a sleepy angel last night...

Girls "can we do our project"

"No! Watch Dora! Mom is sleeping!"

So, I feel like I have mastered this TV babysitting thing, right? I'm snuggling with Kael and nodding off as I think the girls are watching TV like good little kids should 24/7...

I wake up to...

Glue and paint everywhere in the kitchen...

Actually, I was impressed that they were at the table and not in the living room.

So, being the calm mom that I am (...)

I did not Yell like originally planned...

I thanked them for attempting to stay

neat in the kitchen,

while explaining the

importance of

ASKING first, in which Emma reminded me in

her deep voice... We did ask first mom!

Kaeleb Daniel Burkes 12/24/08 7lbs 9oz, 20in

2009-01-17T20:41:00.009-06:00

Okay, So after reviewing a few of my friend's blogs, I now have some new inspiration... This is a little harder than I thought. Why can't I upload pictures faster? It works so easily with facebook... anyways... (any advice would be appreciated...)

So, Baby #3

We knew we were having a boy this time - with Ayva and Emma, we chose for the "surprise" factor, but since everyone (except me) expected a boy each time - they both came home from the hospital in blue - I figured I better prepare people for baby girl. So, when we had our Level II ultrasound in the Cities (because of my gestational diabetes and preeclampsia) we decided to find out... Needless to say we both thought the sonographer was nuts when he said BOY. Leave it to Rian to make him get a 3-D picture of his boy parts for bragging purposes.

Overall, the pregnancy sucked, like the past two...

Morning *all day* sickness for 9 months... insulin injections 3x/day, and then bedrest for the last 6 weeks because of high blood pressure.

The labor/delivery went okay, but I had to be induced this time, and it took

for.ev.er!

And I had to be on a icky IV med that seems to me like it could be compared to a bad trip... super hot skin but shivering cold, pukey, couldn't see straight, couldn't walk, etc.... but the worst part was that it made Kael sick after he was born. He just slept and was lethargic for about 9 hours after birth...

But after a good pee, he woke up and was like a real baby - eyes open, nursing, etc...

Now we are home and he is almost 1 month old already. He has been such a great baby... so easy, which is a blessing, since I have 2 already. I think there is so much commotion all the time, Kael is just like "whatever" and

relaxes through everything.

Bragging rights...

2009-01-17T19:54:00.001-06:00

Sleepy Kael

Stretch!

We did it!

Ayva & Kael

Proud Daddy!

Wow, I am blogging...

2009-01-17T15:02:00.000-06:00

Who knew blogging was this easy?? I have a feeling this is going to be fun... Now, to attempt to post my photos...