Josie's Birthday Weekend

Wow what a weekend. Friday Joe took Josie up to Perry County to go hunting for her birthday. They love spending Daddy - daughter time together. Me, on the other hand, did not have such a good day. In fact it turned out to be a horrible no good day. I was stressed when I came into work because (1) we needed a new dryer and (2) I hate leaving my mom and Bet alone at our house when she comes up to visit. So my mind was already preoccupied. Keith actually gave me something back in which I had many tons of mistakes and made the comment "I don't know where your mind was at." Uggh, Sorry Keith. Around 10:00 Keith left for the day and told me I could leave at 1:30. Yeahh! So I immediately called my dad to see if he could take me and Lol to Best Buy to get our new dryer since Joe had taken the truck. Dad and I agreed that we would meet at our house at 2:00 p.m. Well at 12:25 p.m. a Judge set a hearing in a huge case for Monday (yes today) at 9:00 a.m. I tracked Keith down and he gave me a list of stuff to get down before Monday at 9:00 a.m. but said I could still leave at 1:30 since I had family up. My blood pressure was through the roof running around and making calls trying to do everything I could in 45 minutes. I got everything but one thing done and left him a note that I could not come to work on it Saturday because that was Josie's birthday party and Sunday was Josie's birthday but I would come while she was napping. I got to the house a little after 2:00 p.m. Ben, Mom, and Bet already had the old dryer out of the house. Yeah!! So Dad and I went and got the new dryer. Ben, Mom & Bet were waiting at our house when we got back and Ben got it all hooked up for me. They also went ahead and helped me move the trampoline to a better part of the yard since we were all out there which was an adventure in itself. We had legs falling off and we had to walk through bushes and trees, but we finally got it where we wanted it. After that we rested for a few minutes. I called Joe and he told me that they were going to eat at his Grandmothers and Mom and Bet were going to dinner with Ben and Tiffany so it was just me and Lol. So I decided to call Other Mama and see if she wanted to go to dinner. She did so Lol and I ran some errands and met her for dinner. After dinner we headed home and Joe and Josie got home shortly after us. We then bathed the girls and put them down for bed. A little later Bet told me that the new dryer was not heating. It was 8:45 and Marvins had already closed and Lowes closes at 9:00 so Ben and Joe were about to head to Best Buy when an electrican friend of ours told us to try something. It worked!!! So then Mom, Joe and I headed to the church to start decorating for Josie's birthday party. We worked from around 9:15 p.m. until midnight. We set up tables for the adults to sit at, we set up the food tables, we made the elevator ramp into Mt. Burdick, we put up a Happy Birthday bulletin board, we hung snowflakes from everywhere, we made winter scenes all over the walls, we set up a crafts table, we set up the blow up penguin, we started blowing up balloons, we put up blue streamers, hung posters of Dora, and placed Dora dolls around the room. A little after midnight we headed home in a horrible rain. As we were passing the Wetumpka Water Works and Russell plant we saw where a car had hydroplaned off the road and into the ditch so I called 911. The 911 people did not know where I was talking about (how scary is that!!) so they then transferred me to the Wetumpka Police Department who again acted like they had no clue where the Wetumpka Water Works was at. I was also told to "slow down ma'am." I cracked up laughing as soon as I hung up. He was acting like I was describing a horrible crime and was talking too fast when I all I was doing was asking them to send someone out to check on the person in front of the Wetumpka Water works. Needless to say it was after 1:00 a.m. before we got in bed. Saturday the girls, mom and I got up and started making the "smores" (we dipped marshmellows into chocolate and then into crushed up graham crackers.) After that Mom and I cleaned the pools for us to put the snow into. Then we loaded up and headed back to the church. Other Mama met us at the church and Mom, Other Mama, and I worked from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. putting the snow in the pools, finished blowing up the ballons, making goody bags, realizing we needed a skate board for Mt. Burdick, putting up pictures of Josie, and everything else that had to be done. Mom and I left the church at noon and picked up Josie's cake. She had asked for Dora & Boots icecream cake so that is what we got her. We headed home to eat lunch, shower, and the girls ready. Needless to say it was very rushed but we managed to get back down to the church a around 1:30-1:35. Mom and Bet had stopped to get ice so the girls talked to Aunt Becca who was waiting for us at the church while we waited for Mom and Bet to get there. I wanted Mom to see Josie's reaction to everything since she had worked just as hard as I had. So when they got there we all walked in and Josie and Jolie both just started squealing. We had a blow up penguin that they could throw "snowballs" (styrofoam balls) at, we had the elevator ramp set up for them to slide down, we had three plastic pools set up with "snow" (two had stuff that is called instant snow that felt like snow and the third pool was full of stuff/fluff stuff), we had a craft table, we had a streamer thing they could run through, and we had tons of balloons and plastic balls on the floor to make it look like snow on the floor for them to play with. It really did look like a Winter Wonder Land. We had around 55 people and Josie had an awesome time. She was so excited and I really hope everyone had a good time. And I want to thank every one so much that came because it would not have been a party without all of you. I also want to thank everyone who helped setup and clean up afterwards. It took us about an hour to an hour and a half to clean up. Here are some pictures:

Josie & Ms. Erica:

Lollie & Blake playing in the snow:





Anyone else who has pictures, please send them to me.

It totally made all it all worth it when as soon as we got in the car Josie told us that she had had fun at her party. And we didn't even ask her. She loved all of her presents and has already played with everything. That evening we ordered in pizza and Aunt Tiffany, Uncle Ben, and Tanner came to the house to hang out with us. Sunday morning when Josie got up she came and got in the bed with me and Joe. We both told her happy birthday and she was so excited because it was her birthday "again." We sang her happy birthday at breakfast and at church. After church the four of us, Chris, Crystal, Elias, Annaleigh, Tim, Mary Kelley, Jesse & Catie went to lunch at Shoneys where they brought her a huge piece of cake and sang happy birthday to her. She loved it :) We went home and laid the girls down for naps and I went into work for two hours. Then I ran to the store to get stuff to make dinner. I went home and cooked spaghetti (one of Josie's favorites) and then she got to blow out her candle again as we sang her happy birthday. Other Mama had bought a cupcake cake shaped like a dog which she was "so excited" about so she and Lol each got a cupcake. I want to thank all of you who called her and wished her happy birthday yesterday. She loves getting calls and those made her day on top of everyone who saw her wishing her a happy birthady and singing to her. All in all she had a great birthday and I still can not believe I am mother to a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Thank you again to everyone who helped in so many ways over the weekend! We love you all.

Pictures and Venting

This is a two part blog. The first part is pictures of the Burdick cousins at Christmas. Aren't they soooo cute. The second part is me just venting, so feel free not to read it if you don't want to.





I am really upset and stressing right now. I hate money. Our lives would be so much easier if money were not involved. And I know I really have no right to complain because there are people out there with no jobs or their hours are getting cut, or homeless people, and starving people. I know that, and that is why I warned you not to read this if you didn't want to listen to me vent. I was already nervous about doing our taxes this year because for the first time since Joe and I have been married and for the first time since having kids I changed my dependent withdrawal on my taxes. I always claimed single and zero until this past summer. Money was getting tight after Joe did not get a raise and we needed every penny we could get so I changed my withdraw to married and 2. So I was already nervous about how that would affect us come tax time. Well then we learned of a huge booboo with Joe's federal taxes that I will not even go into. So needless to say I was then scared to death to do our taxes. Well we did them Saturday night and we did not get back nearly as much as we used to, but still we did not owe anything. We already knew that Joe needs a part for his car (he has no defrost in his car), and that I have to get my eyes checked, so then I was really hoping to pay towards some of the bills we owe or take a much much needed weekend vacation. No such luck. Our microwave is dying, something is wrong with our dryer and it is not working right. Our house payment will go up. Joe does not get a raise again this year because RTJ is still in a freeze. Is so frustrating living paycheck to paycheck and having to borrow money or borrow from the next paycheck to pay this week's bills. We do not live an extravagent life. We have a tiny house, old cars that has stuff wrong with them, and the list goes on. Again, I know I have no right to complain, but these past few weeks have me really down and I'm frustrated and jealous. I'm so jealous of a lot of people out there. I know that is also wrong and a sin, but like I said I'm just venting, and I will get over it all.

Stuff

I feel like this is going to be a scatter brained post. I have stuff from last week, stuff from this week, and then my own feelings about today. So I apologize, because I know this will have no flow or something that ties it all together.

Jolie has been having a rough two weeks. The week before last we took her to Pri-Med and found out she had an ear infection. Well we had to take her back again last week and found out that she then had a double ear infection. For those of you who know what strong antibiotics can do to a young child, bless her heart she has been going through that as well. For those of you that do not know, it upsets their stomachs very badly. Her little bottom is raw. She does not want to sit, she can not stand to sit down in the bathtub, and she just cries when we have to change her again. It has been absolute tortoure for Joe, Erica, and me to watch her going through this with us so limited in what we can do for her.

We had another uneventful weekend. We did our taxes and visited with Quint, Sheila, Caden & Ansleigh Saturday night. Sunday we had church. This week we are cleaning the house and getting everything ready for Josie's party on Saturday. She is very excited about it. Sunday evening we had run to Target and as we were walking past the card aisle she asked me if I had bought her birthday card yet. I told her no. Someone had given her a birthday card that morning in church so I guess that is where that came from. But who knows, she can come up with some crazy stuff.

Today has very special meaning to me. This is a day I looked forward to for nine long months. January 26th was Josie's due date. Four years ago I watched today come and go. The funny thing is I do not remember Lol's due date. I guess because I knew it really did not mean anything. We started the inducing process with Josie at 3:00 p.m. on January 30th and she was born at 7:15 p.m. on January 31st. I guess the date has stuck with me because we had tried so hard for Josie. We tried eight long months. I remember how happy Joe and I were and how sick I was for almost my entire pregnancy, but I especially remember her due date. I went to work like it was a normal day. I remember I went to Subway for lunch. I remember I ran into my high school principal that day.

Josie changed our lives. I never really understood the depth and truth of God's unconditional love until I had her. She has been an amazing person to watch grow. She is very much her mommy's girl. She loves to cuddle, sing, tell stories, write her letters and "do her homework." She loves spending time with her family and I think has almost everyone wrapped around her finger. She loves Jolie and is a wonderful big sister. A lot of times she gives into Lol so Lol will be happy. My heart swells with pride and love when I see her being such a big girl. God has blessed us so much with both of our girls and they are our world.

Low Key Weekend

We actually had somewhat of a low key weekend and it was super nice. Friday night we had some friends over for dinner and birthday cake for Joe. We had a great time, but it is sad when a few friends and theirs kids come over for a few hours and you are completely worn out. The girls and I slept in unti 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning and we were nice and let Joe sleep in another hour. We piddled around and then went to Bass Pro Shops and had lunch. We came home and took naps and then played around the house the rest of the afternoon. Sunday morning we went to church and then Other Mama took us out to lunch to Jim N Nicks for Joe's birthday. The food was really good, better than the last time we went. After that we went back home for naps and didn't get up until a little before 6:00 p.m. We had to go back to town to get supplies for Erica for the week and a few other errands. Needless to say it was late before we all went to bed last night.

We have officially started the potty training process with Jolie. I'm praying it will not take as long as it did with Josie. Plans are also being made for Josie's birthday party. We really go all out for them one time a year and that is their birthday. Yes they get presents at Christmas and Easter but the whole time we are stresing to them that those days are not about them, but about God/Jesus. So it is so much fun to let them have their day. Josie's birthday them is Dora's Winter Wonderland. We are going to transform the Fellowship Hall of our church to awesome winter wonderland for the kids. I can't wait. There will be tons of snow and fun to be had. And the best part is since we are doing it at the church we have invited all of our family and Josie's friends instead of just immediate family. It is so hard to believe that our little girl is going to be 4. Time is flying by and we are just trying to enjoy and treasure every second.

We Love You Maw

I do not even know where to begin as I type this. My good friend's, Mary Kelley, grandmother had been put in the hospital and was dying. I called her almost every day to check on her and to let her know that Joe and I were ready, willing, and able to do whatever we needed to help them out, be it watch their children or whatever. I was so consumed with her that I honestly was not prepared when I got the call from Other Mama telling me that my own grandmother, Maw, was dying. She had been bedridden for years and her health and mental status had declined more and more over the year or so, but I still was not really prepared. The next morning the nurse confirmed that yes she was actively dying and that it could be any time. That night, Tuesday, the girls and I went straight to my Aunt Elisa's house after work and spent time with my family and Maw. The girls were so cute because they kept going into Maw's room and checking on her. Josie would just keep telling us that she was still sleeping. Joe got there later that night and spent some time with the family. Wednesday night the girls and I went straight there again. Again, the girls kept going into the room and checking on her. Thursday night we did not go because the roads were supposed to be bad and icy. Friday morning I had to drop Joe off at the church because he was going on a 2 day session retreat to Lake Martin. Friday morning around 10:00 a.m. Maw went home. Other Mama called me about twenty minutes after it happened and my heart sank. Again, I knew this was coming but as prepared as you think you are never completely prepared to lose someone. I called Joe and I could tell it was hard on Joe not to be with me but he was as good as he could be over the phone. Saturday we again went to Aunt Elisa's to be with the family.
I have written a couple blogs about Maw and about the special person she was. I remember spending several nights with her as a child. Sometimes she would have 3-5 of us grandchildren spend the night with her at one time. She loved life and she loved to have fun. She loved to cook and spend time with her family. Most importantly she was a godly woman. When she moved in with my Aunt Elisa and we had to clean out her house there were probably hundreds of Christian books most with notes in them.
We had her funeral yesterday on Joe's birthday. I had to teach Sunday School and so Joe and I dropped the girls off with MeeMaw and Paw-Paw and we headed to church. I taught and then we headed up to Aunt Elisa's to be the family. A couple hours later it was time to head to the funeral home. Maw looked very peaceful. The service was nice, but the thing that touched me the most was Other Mama's prayer at the grave. I cried beneath my sunglasses as the family stood around Maw one last time.
Joe was absolutely amazing through this entire week. He was so supportive and there for me in every way. He was very much involved yesterday with the family and was a pallbearer as were Maw's other grandsons and grandsons-in-law. And he was such a great sport about spending his birthday the way we did. Later on in the night I told him I was sorry that his birthday was at all what I had expected it to be and he looked at me and said, "It was a great birthday. We helped people and spent time with family. That is what it is about." Now what kind of husband do I have.
This has been very interesting going through this with an almost four year old. Thursday I tried to explain to Josie that Mary Kelley's grandmother had gone to be with God and Jesus because we had been praying for them and now we needed to adjust our prayer to being with the family in this sad time. Friday I again had to explain to her that it was Maw that had now gone to be with God and Jesus. I think she has a pretty good grasp on it, but still wanted to see Maw's room Saturday to make sure that Maw was not there anymore.
The time that I have gotten to spend with family this week has been priceless. I think we all feel a little more connected. After the funeral and back at Aunt Elisa's we were all eating, laughing, and having a good time, and I know that is exactly how Maw would have wanted it.
I want to thank all of you that called me and checked on me and Other Mama through the week, those that called and offered your sympathy and support, and especially thank those of you that came to the funeral. It meant so much to all of us.

Happy Birthday Joe!!!

For those of you who truly know me, you know that I love number and date coincidences. For instance, Josie’s birthday is a complete 50-50 of Joe and me. Joe’s birthday is January 10th and my birthday is July 31st. Josie’s birthday is January 31st (The January from Joe and the 31st from me.) It honestly was not planned that way. I actually thought she was going to be born on the day we induced, January 30th. I say all that to say that Sunday is Joe’s 28th birthday. 28 was his varsity football number. So for some strange unexplainable reason, this birthday is special to me for him because it has a number coincidence. I do not think he is as thrilled about it because it just means he is getting closer to 30.
Joe is an amazing man and I am so blessed to be able to call him my husband and the father of our two daughters. God introduced us when we kids in school and Joe was quite smitten immediately, but God had to work on me a little. At last I fell just as in love and we are high school sweethearts. I attended every football and baseball game that I could, often riding with his parents to the away games. He attended every softball game of mine when he himself was not playing. We went to all our proms and homecoming dances together. We graduated together and on December 23, 2000, he asked me to marry him. We married on May 11, 2002. On January 31, 2006, we welcomed our first daughter, Josie Madelynn, to our family, and on September 21, 2007, we welcomed our second daughter, Jolie Hannah, to our family.
Joe is an outdoors man. He loves to hunt, fish, and play around outside. He loves nature and can tell you almost anything you want to know about animals, fish, insects, grass, and trees. He loves God and his devoted to his church being an elder and a Sunday School teacher. He is a very involved, loving, and doting father. He has helped with the girls in every way since the day they were born. You should see the way they get excited every day when he walks into the house. Joe is my rock. In the all the time that we have been together we have gone through so many different situations. He has been my best friend and confidant through them all. Joe is so much fun to be around and I love to hear him laugh. Joe has the kindest most giving heart and would help anyone in need. I can not tell you how many times he has come home telling me that he helped this person or that in some way or another or the times that we together have stopped to help people. He is a great son-in-law and is just as involved with my family as he is his own. He has always done whatever it took to support our family and to make sure that all our needs where met. I could go on and on about how wonderful he is.
As I said before Joe is an amazing person and we have so much to celebrate as he approaches this is 28th birthday. My life has been forever changed because of him and what he means to me. He is the love of my life and because God has blessed me with him, my girls, my friends and family my cup runneth over. I hope and pray to be able to spend many many more birthdays with Joe as we grow old together, but in the meantime I hope that Joe’s 28th year is his best yet. I love you to the pink moon and back. Happy Birthday Baby!

Happy Birthday Ben!

Today is my baby brother's birthday. I have so many fun memories of growing up with Ben. I remember teaching him how to blow bubbles with his gum, eating tuna fish and cheese on crackers with our aunt, trying to posion him with liquid potpourri (well not intentionally), the time he got his head stuck in the railings at my aunt's apartment, all the fun family vacation trips, the late night talks, him taking care of me when I had my mouth surgery or when I was sick, and the list could go on and on. Like all brothers there were times he drove me absolutely crazy and then there were times I loved him death. Last January we had to deal with something just he and I, and it showed me how much we have grown up and how much we can depend on each other when we need each other. Ben is an amazing man. He is a great father to his son, Tanner; he is an involved foster parent; he provides for his family; he is active in his church; and mostly imporantly (ha ha) my girls love their Uncle Ben. How many uncles would take their three year old niece on a four hour ride coming and going for a weekend in Florida? He always gives them the change in his pocket and Josie gets so excited to have her monies.

Me and Ben:


One Proud Daddy:


Ben I am so blessed to have you as my brother and for you to be a part of our family. We love you very much!