The Burch Tree: October 2007

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

..on order, laundry and life.

Maybe the following picture will adequately illustrate why it's been more than a week since I posted. It's been one of those "seasons."

Yesterday I forced myself to stay home and get a LONG list of things done.

One of them brought about the successful laundering of EVERY cock-eyed piece of clothing my children own. It was one of those "run out of hangers because they're usually NOT all hanging up at once" moments.

Glorious.

It also ended up that the extra-curricular clothing was all in one place too.

I thought a picture would adequately

#1. document that I tried to be efficient with the laundry

#2. make me smile later in life when my kids were in high school and I would wish they still fit into stuff this size.

#3. serve as the before picture of the downstairs laundry room wall, until one day when we finish it.

This week's goal: Bask in the joy of the little things, because as my children get bigger, so do the "things."

Monday, October 22, 2007

Got Any Powder on ya?

Powder Puff is so cool, why didn't our school have that? Or did they and I was too busy driving the Comet to notice?

Here are some pictures from the P.Puff game a few weeks ago. They are the contents (along with some COOL video) of my latest video project.

Kaylee (pictured in color in these) was kind of the like the ROCKSTAR of the whole game. I get to feel cool that I know her and her family because she's a piano student/babysitter/teen idol in our house.

Juniors lost, but looked cooler and had better plays. That counts for something.

Next year there's no question. They will dominate.

Kaylee requested AC/DC's Thunderstruck to accompany the video. I'm having a hard time finding natural flowing movements for the pictures, but whatever - - I'm sure it will be AWESOME.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Growing Pains

I purchase at least one school picture each year, just to document that they attend school, and because they usually turn out kind of dorky and I can laugh. But this year, I've got to say, they took it up a notch... I thought these turned out pretty well.

Sniff Sniff.... It's starting to become more and more of a reality - that I can't stop my children from growing...

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Deception

Today, while meandering the local grocery store, I happened upon the ice cream isle. And yeah - it's on sale. The Dreyers, even. I decided to go ahead and indulge, and buy one of the "slow-churned and 1/2 the fat" varieties of my favorite - cookie dough.

I remebered, upon putting it in my cart, that usually they skimp on the cookie dough in the lower-fat versions, and at that VERY moment, I happened to catch, out of the corner of my eye, the "Loaded" variety.

Now, that HAD to taste better, but no doubt, would be equally "Loaded" with fat and calories.

I decided to reassure myself that I was making the better choice , and decided to see just how bad my "Loaded" friend was. Wanna know the difference?

10 Calories

That's all!

You better believe I bought the blue one. Happy Ice Cream Day to me.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Weekend de Tate

It had to come to an end, I suppose.

What a great weekend it was for our very own Little Man Tate.

The whole thing was just great, and we're most grateful for all the friends and family

that helped make that possible. We love you all.

Google almost didn't want to host the video that I stayed up until 3 in the morning making, but I finally convinced the two of them (computer and google) to work together and got it up. If you're bored, or just a Tate-lover like me, it's about 10 minutes long.

Click HERE to see it.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

I procrastinate...all for Tate.

Notice, if you will, the merciless hour of this post.

I suppose I started a tradition last year when Bret got baptized by making him an "8 years of pics" culminating video to play "in between" during his baptism. I sort of came up with the idea at the last minute and worked through the night to finish it the night before the baptism. I figured, at the time, that I wouldn't have to put myself through that if I chose to do it in subsequent years, because, of course...I would have time, and plan ahead.

Well, Tate's baptism is tomorrow (rather...TODAY) and I just (2:03 AM) finished his. It has about an hour to render and I think I'll burn it in the morning.

I've been crying, of course, and wondering where this little guy went.

He up and turned into this. (dashing not-as-little guy)

I love you Taters.

I'll post the video after the baptism tomorrow (or, again I should say...today.)

Friday, October 12, 2007

Mystery Solved

So, I've been wondering, since the Saturday morning session of Conference, what was SO FUNNY after President Hinckley left the pulpit after he got done with the sustaining of officers. The lights were down, and the congregation was laughing hysterically. Well, today I got an email explaining the whole thing. Someone who was there recounts it this way:

Here it is:

After President Hinckley finished with the sustaining of the officers of the church during the Saturday morning session, Elder Eyring had moved into his new seat on the stand. Unfortunately, they didn't show this on TV, but when President Hinckley turned around, he stood there for a moment looking at Elder Eyring (probably with the little twinkle in his eye), then picked up his cane and "knighted" him on his shoulder and head. Truly one of the funniest things I've ever seen him do. Here's the picture from it. I love how Elder Erying looks just like a little boy....

Gotta Love President Hinckley!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Sacks of Flax

I did another photo shoot for Matter of Flax yesterday. They have some EXCITING new products, including the very spicy baja-flavored tomato chips. Kyle and Whitney like Apple Cranberry the best.

I still have a lot to learn when it comes to product photography. Especially when the product comes in shiny containers.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: are YOU getting enough Omega 3's and 6's? If not, then Savory Flax Krisps may be just what the doctor ordered. Go on, and tell em' the photographer senctha'.

My inexperience with product photography causes me to post at least a few good PEOPLE portraits I've taken. It just makes me feel better. Okay then. Have a great day.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

down....set....WHAT?!?

Yeah, I know, I just got done posting about how we're playing soccer.

Well, Bret also wanted to throw a little Elementary-Level Flag Football into the mix. It's quite endearing actually... the local Elementary Schools all play each other on the various fields.

Bret's poor team.... They won their last game, and that was the extent of their winning. At least they went out on a good note. I may venture to say that the two touchdowns scored during that last game MAY have been THE two touchdowns of the whole (5 week-long) season.

It was good exposure for him, I guess. Although we're not sure he's "football material." He played for the offense as a linebacker, even though it looked more like wrestling to me.

I DID, however manage to sneak a half-decent shot of Bret in the process. This is a feat in and of itself. He doesn't support my snap-shooting-addiction as well as the girls do.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

hurry up n' CHARGE!

There are FIVE essential-to-my-survival items that I'm waiting to use because they're currently ALL receiving a much-needed re-charge.

They are, in order of importance:

Cell Phone

Camera

iPod

Roomba

Swiffer Vac

Okay, so maybe the swifferVac goes closer to the top, but regardless....

What WILL I do while I'm waiting!?!? I guess I'll have to dust off the broom.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Foot Service...

Attention Activity Days Leaders: cool activity idea ahead!

So, last week (or was it two weeks ago?) Hmmmm. The Activity Days Girls from our ward sent invitations to all the auxiliary presidencies to come have a pedicure at the church.

They wanted to do a service project, and felt like treating us all to a little foot-pampering. Our AWESOME leaders used the scriptures and taught them about the Savior washing the feet of his disciples along with the activity, and how they could serve THEIR leaders the same way.

September was Service month in Primary - I was SO PROUD to claim these ladies (and girls) as mine (from Primary) as I sat with the presidents of the other auxiliaries. At the end they brought us out lemonade and pumpkin cookies to eat, as we sat with our lotioned feet and painted toes and listened to soothing melodies.

How cute is that!?

Sunday, October 07, 2007

The Drop Kick

Yeah, it's soccer season here too. I've got three kids playing (Whitney chose Dance instead) and so weekly and on Saturday, we're strappin' on shin guards and bouncing balls off our heads in the car.

Now my kids REALLY know what I mean when I say I'm going to Drop Kick their hind end to Kingdom Come.

Doug coaches Abby's team. It consists of 5 girls and 1 boy who wear lavender shirts and call themselves the Monkeys. Bret and Tate's team (in flourescent green) is appropriately named: The Aliens.

And, in case you're interested, approximately THREE individual-sized bags of Teddy Grahams and 2 Juicy Juice boxes will keep an 18 month-old occupied through one 45-minute game. The second 45 minute game though - you're on your own.

The Indoor BASKETBALL season starts in January.

Until then, we're stocking up on wind-burn-relieving-chapstick.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Here's Another One...

Since everyone liked the first one so much, I thought I'd share this other one I saw a week ago. It's longer, but just as funny!

The Mom Song

This is Really Great!

This is me...

Workin' Hard for Their Money

Mis Compadres...

for whatever reason... my followers

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