round 2 and +1

Well, we've certainly been busy over here at the Burke house. Our trip to Dallas a few weeks ago was the kick off of our traveling adventures. But really before then, we kicked off January with some great news that many of you already know by now. We are adding 1 to the Burke family in early October. And we couldn't be happier!

Part of the reason for my blog absence has been because I have just felt horrible the past 12 weeks, but I am finally starting to feel better. And I will say, I felt my absolute best while in Italy. But that all changed when I got home for some reason. Weird.

Anyway, we headed back to Italy this year because Grant is planning to take a group of upcoming seniors at MUS to France/Italy next summer and we needed to get the scoop for Grant's lessons/places to teach, etc, etc. We were thankful to go, especially since we've got a little one on the way now. :)

So, here's the recap in pictures. Not as good as last time, thanks to the weather. But it definitely didn't stop us from having fun!

First stop: Rome for a day (we couldn't help it. we love this place)

spanish steps

Trevi

We took a train to Cinque Terre the next morning where we planned to do lots of hiking. (The weather had something else in mind for us, though). Cinque Terre consists of 5 towns all accessible by a train or a hiking trail along the coast. It's one the most beautiful places in the world, even when it rains!

view from our room. about the clearest day we had!

You can begin hikes at the first town and hike your way to the last. We started at the first on the Via dell 'Amore (our only "hike" we got to accomplish and also known as "the lovers walk"). It was less than 20 min and all level ground. We made it to the next town just before the rain set in!

Couples are known to pledge their love for each other here and symbolize it with the addition of a pad lock. And probably a kiss, too. We just took a picture of ourselves, not kissing. but in love, no doubt. :)


We didn't end the trip here, but I'm going to have to end this post because its taking me like 5 min to load each picture. And I'm tired.

So next time I'll tell you about the rest of our trip in Cinque Terre and the lovely, Florence!

recent tradition

We've been blessed for the past 3 years to have an opportunity to travel with/without the Grizzlies to see an away game for almost free of charge. And I'm wondering if our luck has finally run out! I guess we'll find out next year :)

Our first year we traveled with the team to D.C. courtesy of our good friends who essentially gave us their trip. Last year, these same friends helped us win a contest at the Forum and we traveled to Orlando where we extended the trip for a couple days to enjoy Disney World with free tickets from another friend. Thanks to our great friends again this year, we traveled to Dallas with them on their plane and our other friend kindly gave us his tickets again. I told Grant at the game this year that I think our good fortune might have come to an end but I would love to be able to carry this tradition on if at all possible.

People that know us well understand our love for the Grizzlies and there's just nothing better than sitting in an opponents arena and cheering loudly for our Grizzlies. We (well, mainly I) usually make enough noise to warrant looks. And I love it. Especially when we win.

And if you didn't already know, I don't particularly enjoy flying, so this year's trip was a big deal for me. We flew on our friend's plane which holds around 6 people. And this is what everyone pretty much made me do as we landed in Dallas. I'll say, it did help ease my nerves for some reason.

yep, im playing c0-pilot.

before the game. grant wouldn't let me document me tearing up their dumb "go mavs" sign left in each seat.

After our big win! There's a handful of NBA teams on my hit list and the Mavs are near the top. To be there for this win was incredible!

We only wish we had video of the last 3 seconds of the game. Grant more than me though, as I would have been quite embarrassed with my celebration dance/screaming.

But here's a video for those of you who don't follow this team. You can imagine what Grant and I were doing after Zbo made this amazing shot.

We're hoping we get to do this again next year! But first, I'd like to make the playoffs, please.

Sweet Memories

At times, it's hard to believe that its been 5 years since my Dad left this earth but some days it feels like eternity. The 3rd of January will always be a difficult date for me because I will always think about that cold Tuesday morning in 2006. But every year since his passing, I promised myself I would not let this day be sad, but choose to remember all the great things about him, the wonderful life he led here on earth and how incredibly thankful I am for all the memories I have of us. Especially our wedding. Thank you, Lord for this.

I always think about this lovely lady this time of year, too. So very special.

We can all think of something we admire about our parents, I'm sure. And one of the things I respected most about Dad was his selfless nature. Oh, how I want to be like that. Mom and I would often "get onto him" about doing so much for others and not taking time for himself. But I've realized over the past few years what a pure joy it was for him to be with others, help others and show them Christ. I think this will be the thing I carry with me the most- his love for God and the life he lived for Him. His love for Christ and desire to serve Him was always evident to me and those around him. And I hope that one day, my future child or anyone for that matter, will be able to say the same thing about me.

I smiled when I remembered these things today.

- Dad picking me up from elementary school and both of us singing along to Roy Orbison, 50's/60's tunes and the Harding Academy/University A capella Chorus, that I vowed to be a member of one day. (And those 6 years I sang in the chorus might have been Dad's proudest :). That man loved to sing!
- Winning the Father-Daughter Bowling league and all the many pro-lessons he gave me for years. (yeah, I had my own ball (sparkles of course), gloves, bag and shoes).
- Being present for Monday Night Raw at the Pyramid, front row. Yep, I looooved wrestling in elementary school. what in the world. true love, dad!
- All the road trips we took/nights in the hotels with Dad's awful snoring! Mom and I used to always make of fun of him for that. In a sweet way.
- Snuggling up with him in the recliner and listening to Bible stories as a young girl.
- All the sweet letters of encouragement and advice he sent me at college
- Our last Christmas together
- And the day before he met with the Lord, the hug and kiss I got to give him as he wished me a good first day in graduate school. That moment is ingrained in my mind. And I love to think of it. Often.

Love you and miss you, Dad!

{Emily Smith's wedding 2004}

I did it.

I actually won this year's Cookie Exchange! Let me tell you, this annual cookie exchange with our sunday school class is serious business. Some start searching for the perfect cookie months ahead, but not me this year. Which is one of the things that might have helped me win. :) Check out Leslie's post for more pictures of our fun night!

I'm not going to lie. I did try a few recipes before making the final decision and they were pretty good, but just lacking that thing to make me say, "this is it". I told myself I would do something different this year and make a cookie without frosting. Yeah right. I should have known better. I love sugar too much and there's just nothing better than a glazed or frosted cookie, right?!

And when I saw these Iced Eggnog cookies, I couldn't resist.

photo via Madison, from espresso and cream

The only thing I did to adapt the cookie dough was use 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 all purpose (1 cup each). The original glaze was just not enough for me and I used this instead:

Eggnog Icing

8T. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch cinnamon
pinch kosher salt
1/4 cup eggnog
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Here are the two recipes that didn't make the cut. Both good and worth making sometime.

Hot Cocoa Cookies and Browned Butter Sugar Cookies.

The winning prize you might be wondering? Just the cutest apron I've ever seen. And my first! My clothes are thanking me, now (and I'm thanking you, Leslie!).

Just so you know, my vote went to another Leslie and her amazing chai cookies. My first try at these were just not as good as yours, Leslie! Can you make some more, please?!

And in case you're wondering, I did finish a few of those Christmas projects and will share soon!

Unfortunately, the one thing we didn't do this year is send out Christmas cards. No real good reason, just didn't do it this year. But we're sure our friends and family know we love them! We'll get it together next year, promise.

Let the baking begin

This is my favorite time of the year. Three separate holidays, almost back to back. And all three require baking of some kind, which I love. But lately, I've come to the conclusion that I do a much better job collecting recipes than actually using them.

I've cut down on the current magazine subscriptions I receive, but still enjoy Taste of the South, BHG, Martha Stewart + everyday food, Southern Living and Real Simple. And yet, this doesn't stop me from picking up the latest special edition of any magazine throughout the year, especially all the holiday editions. I'm still working on the cut-backs. It's not all magazines for me, though. I love cookbooks (Giada de Laurentis never disappoints) and have a good wish list going, but these take a little more time to select, considering their usual price.

Since October, I've been collecting fall recipes and deciding what I'd try for Thanksgiving. I had plans to do more, but ended up with a few good recipes I'll share from my search.

You may remember the cinnamon honey butter craze that ensued from Darby's blog post last year and boy, was it good! I wanted something along the same lines this year and came across an easy recipe for apple butter. My dad and I always purchased a jar of apple butter each fall we traveled to Gatlinburg and Ive been hooked ever since.

[pairs great with Cinnamon Nut Bread, both via BHG, Holiday Baking issue]

There's nothing quite as easy as this:

Apple Butter

4lbs cooking apples (I used Gala because its all Kroger had. Honey crisp would be good, too)
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
2 T vinegar (all I had was apple cider kind, worked fine)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Place slices in crockpot. Stir in all ingredients. Cover and place on high for at least 5-6 hours. I might have let mine go for more like 7-8, though. You be the judge. You just want the apples to be all the way smooth, of course. Cool and place into canning jars or airtight containers. Store in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 1 year.

I plan to enjoy this with homemade biscuits next. Well, when I decide which recipe to use! :)

I couldn't resist this next one.

Almost No-Bake Pumpkin Cream Pie, via Joy the Baker.

I wish I could take pictures like she does and I wish I hadn't eaten so much of this pie. Next time, I'll assemble the crust better and add the syrup on top. yum.

These were on the list, but didn't quite make it:

- Sausage stuffing, via Jenny from picky-palate
- Pumpkin spice granola and multigrain rolls, via Annie from annie's-eats.
- Browned butter cranberry lime muffins, via Joy the Baker. If these are anything like her browned butter blueberry muffins, I'm in. They have certainly become a regular in our house.

In the attempt to save money while also being able to decorate for the holidays, I started thinking about several projects I'd like to accomplish before December hits-
1. advent calendar
2. magazine christmas trees, thanks to martha s.
3. something to hold christmas cards
4. festive garland

Like I said, I'm really good at making lists. Maybe I can finish one of these.

As an early Christmas present, Grant finished the office for us.

not the best picture, carpet looks a little mustard-y. you get the idea though.

Here's the scene from 2007 when we first met.

how bout that green shag carpet?!

I'm hoping this finished project will jump start us toward a more organized lifestyle. Speaking of, the dishes are calling my name. My least favorite part of baking.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, too!

the year 2000

Well, there's really no good reason why I've allowed summer and fall (almost) to pass without updating something! The end of my summer and beginning of fall was spent in large part, preparing for my 10 year high school reunion in September.

It's still hard to grasp that I am old enough to have a high school reunion. And 10 years at that. We had a good turnout for the weekend, minus a little rain for the picnic. We graduated with a class of 100 people and had nearly half of the class attend.

As a senior, my main responsibility as historian of the class was to take pictures. That's it. Easy enough, right? And I think we had a decent slide show to prove I was capable. But for some reason these days I just don't think about taking pictures. In fact, the only reason we have our life documented in photos is because of Grant. So like a dummy, I only took one picture. All weekend.

These are my dear friends, Eryn, Kara, Emily and Melissa. We've been through it all- a few of us as early as elementary school and the rest of us met in 7th grade. Each time we get together, nothing has really changed and I love that. This was the first time in several years (Eryn's wedding in '06, I think) that we were all in the same place together. So much fun!

10 years ago, Emily and I decided this was a good idea

( please don't kill me, Emily!)

candle-light devo during Homecoming week.

Awhile back, I discovered I was not the only one in high school who rocked short hair. There was one more person in this world who had the guts to do it and after Jesse's post on her version of the "mom cut" I figured it was only fair I own up to my version too. But I think this is a little past a "mom cut", don't you Jesse?! Yikes!

This is the one thing my friends never forget and love to remind me of when we get together! And something Grant can't bear to view, I think :)

While planning, gathering photos, memorabilia, etc for the reunion, this little piece of paper was dropped into my hands courtesy of Debbie Edwards (Melissa's mom). I almost fell on the floor when I read it. And after sharing this with the girls we all agreed, we.were.weird.


I guess we ate lots of chocolate pies back then?! who eats whole pies?!

I don't know, but I almost ate a whole loaf of Leslie's pumpkin bread tonight. I guess some things haven't changed.

Celebrating 100 years at Glacier National Park

My body has barely recovered from our week of hiking in the park, but the sore muscles are worth every minute we spent enjoying views like this

We celebrated the 4th with Grant's aunts in Billings, MT before driving to Glacier. And let me tell you, the people in Billings go all out for the 4th with the fireworks. They started at 7pm and did not quit until 1am (mind you, it doesn't get fully dark until about 1030 or 11pm there). And the quality of fireworks was equivalent to an organized show in Memphis. We loved it!

We drove to Glacier the next morning and spent three days hiking, totaling a whopping 30 miles! We visited the park a couple years ago, but were unable to finish most of the hikes due to the number of grizzly bear sightings causing the rangers to close the trails.

But this year we finished all 3 hikes we set out to complete and did not encounter any grizzlies (thank goodness!) but saw several deer, marmots, mountain goats, sheep, cows and one black bear. Grant spent most of his time pining for a moose but no such luck this year.

First day of hiking. Iceberg Lake.

on the way... don't even ask, i have no idea whats going on here.

stopped to admire this little guy and then finished here

due to the ever-changing climate, the icebergs are slowly disappearing each year :(

Day 2: Hidden Lake
Let me just say, I was not prepared for the amount of snow on this hike. We drove about 30 min to the trailhead and this is what was waiting for us:

less than a mile in...

the Burke men made it to the top!

and so did this cute thing

The change in altitude and steep incline presented its own challenges, but I certainly made it worse when I decided to wear New Balance shoes that morning. Reaaally old new balance with non-existing treds.

The beginning of the end...

and it only got worse from here. it was pretty hilarious the number of times I bit the dust. way too many to count!

Day 3: Grinnell Lake

We spent many nights here by the fire or on the deck and it was heaven! Its also the place where Grant's dad spent 2 summers working in college.
Many Glacier Hotel (built in 1915!)


and finally, the place we visited every morning in hopes of spotting a moose for Grant
Fishercap Lake

see you next time, glacier!