Christmas Newletter 2009

Hello Everyone,

As 2009 is drawing to a close we decided to do our Christmas Newsletter online this year to save trees and money, and it is the off year as we have done cards and newsletter's every two years.

This year has been a busy one for us, on Jan 20, 2009 we welcomed two beautiful addition's to our family,
Ruth Lois  was born at 4:17 pm and weight 5 lb 13 oz,  Irene Marlyn was born at 4:21 pm and weight 6 lb 2 oz.

We were really lucky to have Netty's parents move to Washington in Dec 2008 and her mom came and stayed with us for a month while Dan's parents (who we were living with) were out of town for a week. It was great to have both mom's at the hospital when these two little angles were born.  Because Dan loves Netty so much he couldn't handle being in the room when the c-section was preformed so Netty was privileged to have her mother there in the room with her and she got to cut the cord too.  What a blessing that was, Grandma Burke was with Netty when Jennilyn was born and Grandma Dillon was with her when the twins were born.  The girls did great and they all got to come home a few days later.  Then Grandma Dillon took Dillon and Jennilyn to Great-Grandma Alcorn's house for 3 weeks while mommy and the twins got adjusted.

In March Dan's job with CompuCom took a change and he was traveling quite a bit, he was gone from 3-7 weeks at a time without coming home at all, thins was a challenge for Netty, but we realized how much we missed him when he was gone so much.

In May we decided to move out of the basement of Dan's parents home and back into our own place, Dan was of course out of town again and we did it the day before Netty's birthday.  But we chose a place that was still close to Dan's parents so that if Netty needed the help it was still close by.

A week after moving in Netty traveled to Kennewick, WA were her grandparents live and then traveled with her mom to Utah for a visit since she hadn't been home since her sister Wendy's wedding 2 1/2 years earlier.  The kids did great with the traveling, they drove all night and it went very well.  The trip happened to collated with the Leo Dillon family Reunion, it was great to get to see everyone and show off her kids to everyone.  Thanks to all the cousins who helped with the babies that day, seeing you do that reminded me of how when I was your age I was the one on hand to help with the babies, it is fun to see things come full circle.

On June 3 just 3 days before Netty and the kids were to travel home, Netty was buckling some of the kids into the van and went to step out of the van to get the other kids and lost her footing and fell and broke both bones in her right arm.  This was the first time she has ever broken a bone.  It was a long recovery, and she has finally regained most of the use of her arm and hand, somethings are still hard for her to do.  And a big thanks go's out to her mom for coming and staying with her for 6 weeks as Dan was out of town during most of that time.  It was a challenge having 6 month old twins and not being able to take care of them.

In August  Netty saw that her cousin had posted on facebook that he was in need of a computer tech, so she told Dan to apply for the job, he did and the end of Aug he had two phone interviews and was hired, that meant a move back to Salt Lake City which put us close to her family.   Dan left Sept 11 and Netty and the kids came down Oct 1.  We are loving our new home in Midvale, UT, what is great is that we only live 1 1/2 miles from Dan's work, he comes home for lunch almost daily and he is at home at nights and on the weekends, which the kids and Netty are loving! :~)

Well as for the kids, they have been busy growing and learning each day.  Dillon is 4 and loves cars and airplanes he is still slow with talking and is in preschool, which seems to be helping and he loves getting on the school bus.  Jennilyn is 2 going on 16 with her love to talk, and to wear dresses.  The girl lives in the dresses the more frillier the better! We are working on potty training both Dillon and Jennilyn, but are not having much success yet. Ruth and Irene are 11 months old.  They are both crawling and into everything and  it is fun to watch them eat.  Ruth is very clean and Irene shoves the food into her mouth as quickly as she can. Ruth now has 7 teeth and Irene has 6 teeth.  Ruth took her first step Dec 15th.  Irene isn't quite there, but Irene  crawled first so it looks like Ruth will walk first.

Well we hope this finds all of you well and that you have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
May you remember the Reason for the Season, and that the Lord does answer prayers, he has answered many of ours this year in which we are truly grateful for.

With all our love,
Dan, Annette (Netty), Dillon, Jennilyn, Ruth & Irene Burke

Traditions: Christmas trees & Ornaments

I thought this was interesting to read about the traditions of Christmas Trees.  Enjoy!  :~)

Traditions: Christmas Trees and Ornaments The fir tree has a long association with Christianity, it began in Germany almost 1,000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. But it was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time. CHRISTMAS TREE TRADITION HAS ANCIENT ORIGINS King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center. The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death. The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life. Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits. Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions. Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth. The Christmas tree tradition most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio, adds Robson. But the custom spread slowly. The Puritans banned Christmas in New England. Even as late as 1851, a Cleveland minister nearly lost his job because he allowed a tree in his church. Schools in Boston stayed open on Christmas Day through 1870, and sometimes expelled students who stayed home. The Christmas tree market was born in 1851 when Catskill farmer Mark Carr hauled two ox sleds of evergreens into New York City and sold them all. By 1900, one in five American families had a Christmas tree, and 20 years later, the custom was nearly universal. Christmas tree farms sprang up during the depression. Nurserymen couldn't sell their evergreens for landscaping, so they cut them for Christmas trees. Cultivated trees were preferred because they have a more symmetrical shape then wild ones. Six species account for about 90 percent of the nation's Christmas tree trade. Scotch pine ranks first, comprising about 40 percent of the market, followed by Douglas fir which accounts for about 35 percent. The other big sellers are noble fir, white pine, balsam fir and white spruce. Premission was granted for Internet use by --- Written by: David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture; Springfield Extension Center CHRISTMAS TREE HISTORY Did a celebration around a Christmas tree on a bitter cold Christmas Eve at Trenton, New Jersey, turn the tide for Colonial forces in 1776? According to legend, Hessian mercenaries were so reminded of home by a candlelit evergreen tree that they abandoned their guardposts to eat, drink and be merry. Washington attacked that night and defeated them. The Christmas tree has gone through a long process of development rich in many legends, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture, with the Springfield Extension Center. Some historians trace the lighted Christmas tree to Martin Luther. He attached lighted candles to a small evergreen tree, trying to simulate the reflections of the starlit heaven -- the heaven that looked down over Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve. Until about 1700, the use of Christmas trees appears to have been confined to the Rhine River District. From 1700 on, when lights were accepted as part of the decorations, the Christmas tree was well on its way to becoming a tradition in Germany. Then the tradition crossed the Atlantic with the Hessian soldiers. Some people trace the origin of the Christmas tree to an earlier period. Even before the Christian era, trees and boughs were used for ceremonials. Egyptians, in celebrating the winter solstice -- the shortest day of the year -- brought green date palms into their homes as a symbol of "life triumphant over death". When the Romans observed the feast of saturn, part of the ceremony was the raising of an evergreen bough. The early Scandinavians were said to have paid homage to the fir tree. To the Druids, sprigs of evergreen holly in the house meant eternal life; while to the Norsemen, they symbolized the revival of the sun god Balder. To those inclined toward superstition, branches of evergreens placed over the door kept out witches, ghosts, evil spirits and the like. This use does not mean that our Christmas tree custom evolved solely from paganism, any more than did some of the present-day use of sighed in various religious rituals. Trees and branches can be made purposeful as well as symbolic. The Christmas tree is a symbol of a living Christmas spirit and brings into our lives a pleasant aroma of the forest. The fact that balsam fir twigs, more than any other evergreen twigs, resemble crosses may have had much to do with the early popularity of balsam fir used as Christmas trees. Written by: David Robson Extension Educator, Horticulture Springfield Extension Center

One of my favorite Christmas Books

I have been following a blog for one of my favorite authors Anita Stansfield it is  http://unofficialanita.blogspot.com  They do different contest from time to time to allow some of us to bring into our collection some of the out of print books.  The challenge for this time is to post on our blog about the book A Christmas Melody .  I am now onto my second copy of this book, my mother gave me the first one many years ago when it first came out ( a friend gave me the second one a few years later, and I just held onto it), and I have read it many times.  It reminds me that we can rise above the challenages that we were born into and make a different in our lives.  As I think about it Melody(one of the main charactors) rises above an abuseive home and background as she strives to live the gospel with her "Warrior Angels" there to protect her.  I was raised in a very loving home and am so greatful to my parents for the love and surrport they have giving me through the years, but I think sometimes we have to rise above other challenges~physicall, emortional, mental, spritial~ and they can be just as hard as the lifestyle challenges.  For me I have had the physical challenge of being hearing imparied, which has brought on it's own challenges with no friends at times, feeling left out of everything, being the one that people joked about.  At times I went to church because I knew that was were I was surposse to be.  And because of that I found the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I had a desire to serve a mission and share that love.  I will never forget the experiances that I had on my mission in San Bernardino, CA.  It has been 10 years since I left and it seems hard to belive that it has been that long.  But I wouldn't trade my knowlege of the Atonement and the peace and comfort it has brought in my life for anything.  I am grateful for my family and friends who have been there to surrport me through the years and have become my very best friends as well as the Savior.  Thanks Anita for writing a great book.  I have enjoyed your books for quite a long time.
Until Next Time...

Hmm...

Well the kids are all down for naps and I have cleaned the living room, vacuumed it and done a load of dishes.  And now I am relaxing listing to music on Pandora Radio.

Dillon's birthday party was great!  We had a lot of fun having family come and celebrate with us.  Thanks guys for coming to help us celebrate!

As we get ready for to travel to Gunnision for Thanksgiving this week, I am thinking how a year ago I was very pregnant with the twins and couldn't travel to Utah from Spokane to share Thanksgiving with all of them. This year all but one of my sister's will be there, but we will all be in Gunnision for Christmas, which will be the first time in 6 years that we have all been together for a holiday.

I am so grateful for our families and friends who have helped us out so much this year, weather physically, mentally, or spiritually.  The last two years have been hard, but I feel the Lord has blessed us in so many ways.  He knows what will try us and help us.  I am just grateful that I am feeling his love and that I have been blessed so much.  Thank you everyone who has made my life meaningful!
Love,
Netty

Happy Birthday Dillon

4 years ago Dillon was born into this world at 7:30pm in River Falls, WI.  Our first born child who has brought a lot of joy into our lives!  Happy Birthday Dillon!  We love you!

Life

Life is going good, the kids seem to be adjusting to the new home just fine.  Dillon is enjoying school, Jennilyn wants to go on the bus with him and Dillon wants her to come, of course they seem like two peas in a pod.  We are trying to potty train them both at the same time, but I keep loseing the battle, they keep holding it while they are on the potty and then go in their panties just minutes after I let them off the potty.  It is frustrating.  The twins are growing and Ruth stood alone balancing herself (until she relized it) for a minute the other day then she feel down and cried that Mommy had let go of her.  Irene is still our explorer, she is into everything and both of them are enjoying the Christmas ortements that we have started to get out for the try, of course their older siblings like to undecorate the tree.  The twins also have 3 teeth each and they love to eat soild food, I mad spiral mac    & cheese for lunch and as I was making it Irene was screaming at me from her high chair and didn't stop until she had some infront of her, but that is ok, she enjoyed every bit of it.  Of course as the twins eat you can see different styles in them.  Ruth is very clean and takes one small bite at a time, and Irene has both hands in the food and is trying to eat as fast as she can and is a lot messier then Ruth.  It is fun to watch them grow.

5 Years and counting!

Well today is our 5 year anniversary!  5 years and 4 kids later, it seems like a dream somedays.  It seems like we have been married a lot longer.  Happy Anniversary Dan, Thank you for marring me for Time & All Eternity!  You are my sweetheart and I love you!

First Day On The Bus!

Today was Dillon's first day to ride the bus to school.  The twins were down for a nap so Jennilyn and I walked Dillon out to meet the bus with two other little boys in our complex.  Jennilyn went to climb on the bus with Dillon and was so mad that I wouldn't let her go, she screamed and screamed, as the bus drove away she was screaming "Dillon, Dillon, Dillon"  It took her a little while to calm down and when she did she said " I stop crying Mommy!"  She is a sweetheart!  When Dillon came home, I had the girls already loaded in the van to go to an appointment and Dillon didn't want to get off the bus, and he screamed about it most of the way to the appointment.  When we got there he was asleep and of course I had to wake him up.  I know that as he gets use to riding the bus that he will get better at getting off without any problem, I know it has happend with other things that as he sees that he will be doing it on a regular basis that he stops throughing the fits.  But all is well so far here in Utah!

Until next time!

Started Preschool

Boy my little boy is growing up!  Today he started preschool for the first time, I know school has been in session for a while, but we found out we were moving a week before school started and we decided that we didn't want to start him and then uproot him 3 weeks later since he dosen't deal with change very well.  But he did alright today, and starting on Monday he will ride the bus to school.  He only goes twice a week for two hrs, but it will probably be about three hrs that he is gone with the bus ride to and from.  I am excited and today when I opend his backpack, there was a note about school pictures coming up on Nov 4th.  I had thought we had miss that, but I guess not, so now I get to get his first school pictures taken too!  Boy is he growing up on me, now if I could just get him to potty trained!

Pictures from this summer 2009

I have seen many of my friends and family use this option so I thought I would give it a try, and I love it!  Enjoy!

We made it!

Well we made it to Utah with no major problem, but some comforters and a memory foam missing from the back of the pickup.  Hmm, someone must of needed them more then us, but we are sad as the comfert is part of a bed in a bag that we got for our wedding and the other is a quilt that Dan designed as a kid and his mom then made for him, then she redid the batting and fixed it up and gave it to Dillon 2 years ago, so I am sad that they are gone.  But we had safe travels and now it is time to get all the boxes unpacked and find all the baby food that I know I had for the twins.  The problem is finding places to fit it all as the bedrooms are huge and so is the dinning room, but there is no storage in the bathrooms or no pantry for all the food and very little bottom cupboards to put all of my pots and pans and large bowls, and stuff.

At least Dan will be home at night to help me with the unpacking or watch the kids for me.

Until next time,
Netty

Packing, Packing, Packing

Well I have been busy packing all week long, and now I am tired, of course I woke up at 330am and had trouble going back to sleep.  But the house is about as packed as it can be without taking apart the beds, electronics and the last of the food and dishes, now onto the barn to sort and decide what I am keeping and what I am not keeping.  I have been told I need to condince down what I have and just buy replacements later when I need them rather than holding onto things for later use.  Irene now has her first tooth so both babies have been a little cranky, Irene is also running a fever and has a runny nose so that dosn't make things any easier.  But I am excited to go to Utah this next week and see our new place that Dan has picked out for us and also to see him, I miss him so much.  One more week and we will be togther again!  I am counting down the days!

Netty

Tired

Well I am tired, the twins are teething, and Ruth got her first tooth yesturday.  So as such she has been very cranky.  Today the kids are going to different peoples houses for 2 1/2 hrs so that I can focuse on packing without them here demanding my time, I just hope that this is enough this week, so that we can be packed.  Well this is short as now that the kids are getting up I need to get them ready to go in the next hour.

Until next time,
Annette

Horseback Riding!

Yesturday I went horseback riding for the first time since I was 14 years old.  I went for 1 1/2 hrs and had a blast! I told my mother in law that I wanted to go before we moved since when ever I have been here to visit or since I had moved here I was pregnat or didn't have anyone to watch the kids while I went. Thank you Katie for watching them for me to go last night. I was sore when I got off the horse Princess, but I have been fine today, but then I took a really hot shower before going to bed. Here are some pictures of my time.

Bedtime

Well it is bedtime and I am unwinding after a day with the kids. I am getting tired being by myself a lot with the little ones 24/7. It will be nice to join Dan in Salt Lake City in 2 weeks and have him home at nights and on the weekends to help with the kids. I feel that the Lord has blessed us at this time with this job that brings him home and not traveling so much. I have been struggling with getting Jennilyn and Dillon to go to sleep for awhile now, I had watched a clip of "The Nanny" recently and I decided the other night to try the technique that they suggested in helping the kids go to bed without to much trouble. This is the third night in a row and it has been working. It is nice to have them either going to sleep or at least staying in their beds by 930pm, it just takes a little more effort from me then I had been wanting to give before, but now in 10 min of sitting by their bed singing to them they are out.

Today I took Dillon and Jennilyn in for their first dentist appointment. They did really well and found out they have no cavities! Well it is getting late and I need to go to bed as the twins will have me up early.

Until next time.
Netty

We are Moving!

It is official everyone, we are moving! We just got settled into our new apartment and now I have to pack all over again to move back to Utah! Dan just got a new job in Salt Lake City, so we are going back and will be closer to my family. I am excited for the move, but am starting to feel a little stress about it, but it will all work out I am sure. Utah here we come!

My Blanket!

"My Blanket! you took it! My Blanket! Stop it give me my blanket!" These are the words that I heard from my two year old for almost 2 hours while she waited for her blanket to be washed. I stole it from her yesturday morning to wash it and at first she didn't notice, but 5 minuets later she did and knew right were it was so she went into the washroom and she sat down in front of the washer and watched the washer yelling at me to stop it and give her the blanket, well then she got distrated long enough for me to put it in the dryer. She wasn't very happy with me for washing it and was glad to have it for her nap time. She is so protective of that thing.

Happy Birthday Jennilyn!

Cousin Nathan and Big Brother Dillon

Cousin Nathan feeding you a bottle
Aunt Sarah holding you, she and Grandma Burke were there in the delivery room with me when you were born as your Daddy was out of town with work.


You and Daddy when he finally made it to the hospital late afternoon the day you were born.

You in your blessing dress made by your Great-Grandma Dillon & your Nanna Dillon


Our first family picture after you were born.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jennilyn! 2 years ago you came into this world, at 4:15 am and you were such a big baby, I didn't belive the Dr when she said that you were a 9 lb 2 oz baby girl, but I loved you from the moment you were born. The labor and delivery was only 4 1/2 hours long so you came quick and your Daddy missed it all as he was out of town. You have been a joy in our lives and we love you and all that you do to make us laugh and enjoy life. Here are some pictures from when you were born, I don't have your cake pictures yet, they will have to be posted at another time.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Yesturday we went to Wonderland and we went on the rode the little Merry-go-round, road go-carts, played miniture golf, had pizza and just had fun being with family from out of town. The one picture is of Jennilyn and her cousin Abby they were not happy that they were too young to go on the go-carts you had to be 3 years old to go. Some of the group even did bumper boats and leaser tag, while others of us just went around earning tickets to get a little prize for each of the little kids. I think we all had fun! The babies were great too.

Growing Up

I own three excersausers I have two at my mother in laws and one here at my home for the twins, they love them. The other day Jennilyn decided that she was going to get into one and play, I caught these pictures before I made her get out. She is a cutie and I love her.


Dillon sure is trying to be a big helper even though he still doesn't talk much, we were going to leave my in-laws today and he was draging me over to his twin sisters so that I could carry them out, and then once we got home he stood by the one sister while I carried the other one up to our 2nd floor apartment and then he walked with me while I carried the other one up, if he could carry them I think he would. I am sure blessed to have such great kids.He also wanted to get himself dressed and he sat on the potty tonight, now if we can just get him to do that all the time.

The twins are trying to pull themselves up into sitting positions and such, they are getting quite skilled at this.

Fun at the lake

Today we went to one of the lakes around Spokane, it was choosen because it has a nice sandy beach and swim area as well as the boating area. We got there and there was no parking what so ever so then Dan dropped the kids and I off and he had to drive 30 min away to the casino were his dad had to launch the boat and his Dad and brothers took the boat and went and got him and his sister who also had to go park there. We also celebrated Jennilyn's birthday today with everyone since Dan leaves out of town tomorrow and will be gone for her birthday so here are some pics from the event. The kids loved the the boat ride and such.

We turned 6 months old!

This picture was taken when they were 3 months old so it dosen't do them justice, but I will put up more pictures soon.
Ruth & Irene turned 6 months old on the 20th of July! Yesterday we took them in for their 6 month check up and shoots. Ruth weighted in at 13 lbs 12 oz and 25 1/4 inches long. Irene come in at 14 lbs 6 oz and 26 1/4 inch's long! Dr. Olson came in and saw them playing on the table and playing with themselves in the mirror, it was quite cute watching them crawl all over the table with us standing right there to monitor them. They are doing the army crawl just great and can get all over the apartment that way, they are working on getting up on their hands and knees and moving which they showed the Dr that they could do that. Dr. Olson gave them a clean bill of health and told us they are growing well, he is happy with their growth in the last six months.

Now we just have Jennilyn's appointment for her 2 year checkup and shots on Aug 27.

We are going to the lake this weekend and looking to have some fun with the Burke Family and celebrate Jennilyn's birthday early as Dan is headed out of town on Sunday for the month of August and will miss her birthday, oh well at least he has a job.