Happy Birthday to You

Well on July 27, 1966 the world was blessed with Christopher Lee Burke. Born to John & Gwendolyn Burke in San Antonio. Little brother to Andy Burke (and then would become big brother to Besty Burke 15 months later)

Soon, after his grandmother visited and called him CHRISSY, he became KIPPER and for 42 years, he has been KIPPER.

About 14 years ago I met this guy Kipper at a Keg Party in San Antonio, one HOT September night. And I will say, the rest is History.

I have became the luckiest woman alive that evening. and 11 and a half years ago, I became Mrs. Kipper Burke, something I am proud to be.

Then, blessed twice by Kipper, to be mother of his beautiful daughters, Addison & Campbell are the next best things to Kipper!!

So, on this day, July 27th, 2008, I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND and I say thank you God for putting him in my life. I wonder why at times, but turn and count my blessings as soon as I wonder. I am the luckiest woman alive!

I love you Kipper!

Groovin on The Green

Tonight the girls and I went to Wyoming for an evening of Classic Rock. The band was a 70's band called Midnight Special! Let me tell you how special they were!

First, I must describe my situation. In Wyoming Ohio, twice a month during the summer, there are Concerts or Groovin on The Green and it is awesome. It is sponsored by local businesses and they have food, ice cream, bubble and balloons! You bring a blanket or lawn chair and a cooler of your favorite beverages and you listen to live music at sunset.

Tonight, Kipper was in LA for an audit and the girls and I decided we would try it. The temperature was a cool 78 degrees, there was a light breeze, enough they put their jackets on, and a nice family crowd. Kids ran around chasing one another, rode scooters and skateboards in the street that was blocked off, and the music was lively. We parked our lawn chairs mid-way in the crowd. Wanted to look like we knew what we were doing!!

Campbell and Addison Rocked with me to some favorites from the 70's. But what made me really laugh was Campbell when she asked "how do you know the words to THESE songs mommy"!!! I told her I was a closet rocker and these were the Rock-n-Roll favorites I grew up with!

We stayed for over an hour, licked our ice cream cones and watched the crowd, who will soon be our new neighbors. When we move next month, this will be something we can WALK to! It is two and a half blocks from our new house! Totally cool!

Campbell was fascinated by the ROCK-N-ROLL Dudes in the band, their black t-shirts, their hair and how many guitars they had. She even spent her allowance from this week on a Rock-n-Roll Guitar (actual photo above) of her very own!

Then, Addison crowd watched and checked out the "fashions of Wyoming" and commented on several! She seems to think she will fit right in around there! (thanks goodness)

It was a great GIRLS NIGHT OUT.....Groovin on the Green! Maybe next summer you can come groovin with us!!!

How can I meet this woman?

The Homesick Texan is me, in New York! I want refried beans and Fredricksburg Peaches too! What a great Blog!!!

Movie Camp

the past two weeks my girls have been signed up for day camps. First was soccer and then Zoo camp. Both were a smashing success.

This week is Mommy Movie Camp. We are seeing a movie each day all week.

Yesterday was Kit-An American Girl, today WALL-E, tomorrow unknown probably Kung-Fu Panda (again) but I have a Dr. appt. so we may skip. Thursday and Friday are Meet Dave and Space Chimps.

We have been sneaking in our own candy and going right after lunch. So it is Matinee prices and no popcorn! Not bad. It will be the cheapest day camp sessions yet!

Lots of fun! (and cool entertainment)

Going Out as an Executive/Corporate Wife

I had my first evening out as the Executive/Corporate Wife. It was a dinner party at the home of a co-worker of Kipper's. There were 6 couples total from a couple departments in GAIC. Good food and conversation. Of course what I failed to mention was how completely nervous I was BEFORE this dinner.

Now that I am the wife of an executive of a very large company I have a different "roll to play" if you will. I am me, yes, but I am me in a new environment. I was so nervous. I am not used to this and had to get it right the first time. I went shopping at White House/Black Market and spent a TON of money. I tried on 40 different things at least. I bought 5 different outfits because I was not sure what to get. (took three back) I tried to memorize names BEFORE we got there. It was crazy!

The evening turned out to be very low key. It was very casual, I was dressed just right I might add, and was a perfectly lovely evening.I was truly nervous for no reason, but who would know. And my mother should be proud, I wrote a nice thank you note and sent it the Monday following!

So, this new roll I am in, well the jury is still out for me as to how often I will get all "worked up" and we will also see how many new outfits I buy! (not complaining about that one!!!)

I think I like date night better. We have found a couple baby sitters already and continued our pattern started in Tulsa. We are going to try to have a date night weekly without kids. Especially with Kipper traveling, it will give us time to catch up. We have gone to a couple great places and even found some live music (if you can really call what we heard music)!!!

So, Corporate Wife, I can do this......but I still prefer just Wife.

My Green Moment

I am all about the GREEN BAG...or tan or black or red....just get some, PERIOD! Pollution, ugh!!

Another idea is to use the Green Bag for your gift bags when giving gifts. At most places they are $.99 and you would spend more than that on a gift bag, for kids or adults, and you are saving our beautiful earth! (Target makes a cute red one.)

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016

MOMTOURAGE?????

This is a term I heard today on the Today Show 3 I think it was. I was standing in my giant apartment bathroom, trying not to hit my elbow on the wall behind me as I put a tad of make up on and I overheard Kathy Lee say something about being a lonely mom. Caught my ear.

Being away from all my close friends these days has made me a "lonely mom", I would honestly have to say.

Anyway, the story went on to talk about how women today are lonelier than ever, whether a single mom, a stay home mom or a career mom, we are lonely. Go figure.

Many of us stopped working for that very reason, to stay home, not to be lonely. So we can embrace our children in their prime years of development and help them make good choices and to watch them grow, instead of hearing about their growth from their teachers at the twice a year school conference.

But I agree, we are lonely. We struggle to find our true identity....the one that does not involve carpool or laundry or a grocery list. Many of us (especially the over 40 ones) have taken to the GYM for our outlet. We find friends in a Yoga or Spin class that we look forward to seeing each week. We help motivate each other to be there again because the other may ask....where were you???

Some of us find the library a great quiet place to explore....I am always telling my kids that "books are the window to the world" and I find it true for myself. Whether a good juicy love story or a scary as hell stay up sleepless mystery or a just plain book that keeps you enough to finish it, I find reading is a great way to find happy moments.

Some have other hobbies, cooking classes, knitting groups, book groups, bible studies, charity work. All are good (I am looking for all those, except the knitting one) These help give us happy moments in our days, weeks or even once or twice a month.

So, what is my point to all this.....well, I am lonely. Many of you are too. In the piece today on the TODAY SHOW, it shared ways for us to go beyond our loneliness and find happiness. Find a good friend to visit with either in person or even online. Find a group to hold a gathering with on occasion. But let us not be lonely. We don't have time for something else to worry about, let just have time to find a friend, activity or something to help us out of our slumps.

I am all in, I will be looking, you should too!

Can I get an AMEN! And, an "It's about time!"

Ok, after 17 days of negotiating, we finally have received the paperwork on our new home. Who would have thought it would take this much time.

We will take possession on August 6th now and will begin painting as soon as we can after that. We are still trying to decide when to move, either before or after school starts August 19th. Our apartment is only 10 minutes away and school starts at 8:30 so we will be good if we need to commute for a couple weeks. I would like very much to not have to live in paint like we did on Robinhood. And, as you can see from the photos of the house, it needs much paint. (sorry about the duplicates)

We also need to add a master closet so we will be gathering bids for that in the next couple weeks also. We plan to go out the back of the master bath and re-arrange a few things to make it all work.

We will be ready for visitors this fall, so book your flight and let us know when you wish to visit. Remember, we have REAL FALL in Ohio....changing leaves and everything. Halloween is a school holiday if there is a Grandparent, Aunt or friend wishing to visit and help with costumes and trick-or-treating!!!!

We are feeling very blessed to have gotten such a great house for such a great deal. It is a dream for Kipper and I to have a house like this. The girls are equally excited. I will now spend much time looking over paint chips and arranging furniture in my head and on paper. We will actually have too much for this house, unlike Tulsa where we had room for all our chairs. But most of the main and important items will have the perfect place. We will also have at least one Queen Guest bed and another twin, so come on!!!

Until closing July 31st, that is the last house update!!!

AMEN AGAIN!!!

I HAVE A FRIEND!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!
It is true, I made a friend and I got to go out for dinner and drinks, without my husband and kids! Praise God!!!!!
Seriously, I have met a very cool chick, Heather I am talking about you! We met for dinner last night and settled right into girl talk like we had know each other for a while!
We shared our "stories" and chatted like girls do. We ate and drank "adult beverages" and giggled....what joy I experienced.
I met Heather through Jen, thanks , because of all our blogging. Now they are pros at this, I am very amateur. I am learning from them as quickly as I can...the music on my blog is one addition!
So, Thanks Heather!!! I look forward to another girls night and beyond!

We got fireworks! About 9:45 we ventured out in our PJ's and saw a spectacular show in Blue Ash! Happy 4th (5th)!!

Fireworks

Well, it is only 75 degrees here and rainy so I gather there will be no fireworks tonight. There may be a rain delay tomorrow if the sun comes out! BUMMER!

We had planned to go to our new house for the morning Wyoming Ohio parade, that runs right past our house, but that did not happen either, due to rain.

I know you guys in Texas do not want to hear about all our rain, but we do not want to hear about your sunshine either!!!!

Life in Ohio is rather uneventful thus far. Kipper is doing his thing with work and the girls and I are hanging out. We did explore a good Museum this week.

Next wee k they will attend a soccer camp from 9-12 in Wyoming at the Recreation Center there. We plan to swim a couple days after also. Cool Pool with a mini-water park and cool slide! Just hopeful the sun will come out long enough for a couple days in the pool. Apartment pool is nice but it is FREEZING......not heated and sun only part of the day, plus all the rain and cool evenings makes for COLD WATER!

Today is puzzle day and game day and stay dry day here! Hope wherever you are it is a fun filled day full of Fireworks and Cold Beverages and warm water!

Happy 4th!!!