Tina Fey prayer for our daughters....HI...larious!!!!

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty. When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half... Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called 'Hell Drop,''Tower of Torture,' or 'The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,' and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age... Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short... O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers... And when she one day turns on me and calls me a B in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Sh%^&t. I will not have it. And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. 'My mother did this for me once,' she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. 'My mother did this for me.' And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen." - from BossyPants, by Tina Fey

Our middle princess turns 7!

Happy Birthday to our Sofey Elaine...7 years on June 21st...we love you so much and are proud of the independent girl you are.....wishing you many more years of happiness!

Important Reminders in Life....

(taken from Style Your Blog)


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3.. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone.. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time..

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift!"

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!

Weekend words.....

Happy Weekend....sweet mommy blogger friends! Signing off....Tara(I know this blog is short...but Nelley Kate has been teething clingy all weekend. And don't tell me I will miss this someday....because I won't appreciate your sweet little comment right now. Im going to wash my hair...as I haven't in three days. xoxo

Growing up soo quickly!

Our oldest daughter, Abigail Sue, turned ten on Monday. Looking up the oldest born's traits, here is what I found: people pleasers, crave approval, nurturers, caregivers, reliable, cooperative, team players, "grin and bear it" mentality, movers and shakers, want things their way, driven, ambitious....to name a few. Both myself and your father were first borns. I see so much of me in you(except you really don't care if your room is in order or not...and that you got from your father, my dear). Abbey....we love you so very much. We know that you have goodness in your heart and God. We can't wait to see where your ambition takes you. We know that you like things your way and definitely crave attention. You ruled the roost until Sofey came into our lives because we let you sleep with us until then...if that tells you anything. Anyway, happy day to you. You makw our lives complete! And you are an amazing example to your two younger sisters who look up to you! xoxo, Mommy

The Extra Degree....

We can always learn from our youth. I get excited to receive my copy of FFA New Horizons magazine every so often. This month, I read Oklahoma FFA's current state FFA reporter's article and was inspired by his words. He talked about how "at 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, water boils. With boiling water comes steam, and steam can power a locomotive. That is the difference that one degree in temperature can make." He went on to quote a book called The Extra Degree that points out that many of life's successes and failures are decided by just a slim margin. He states that "a little extra effort can make a huge difference." WOW!!! You know how God tends to give you clues through words you read at the moment you need to read them. He then goes on to talk about a big thing called "And-then-some syndrome." He compares it to an essay written by Carl Holmes and the spirit of service being summed up in these three little words...and then some. "Always do what is expected of you....and then some. Do everything you can to help somebody...and then some. Be considerate and kind to others...and then some. Give everything you have to the thing you are passionate about....and then some." Woozers....those are some powerful, powerful words and words for thought. Our youth leaders today sometimes say it best. Thank you to Trevor Lucas, 2010 State FFA Reporter.....I am a has been but am still learning from the leaders of such an inspirational organization that I am still fondly passionate for.......thanks for giving me the "umphhh" I needed at the time I read this....and then some!!!!

Love Life.....

I choose life. Love Life....give to others in life....let others know you love them in life. Love Life...This post is a little sorrowful. This week has been very sorrowful for me. I have cried....I have laughed...I have cried.....I have realized how important it is to make a life for me....my family...my girls. Monday morning my principal(whom let me just say is such an amazing woman whom I admire in sooo many ways...this is actually my first year with her as counselor)...anyway....my principal comes to me and tells me that one of the middle school teachers has passed away and Im needed at middle school. For those of you that don't know...middle school has been my professional home for the past fourteen years of my education career....so this news was a shock...this news was straight to the heart, you might say. The class of students this teacher had were mine last year....I knew all of them.....the principal was my principal for the past fourteen years. I know the teachers he worked with well....they were my colleagues.....one of his close colleagues is my babysitter's husband....sad, sad. After being at the middle school for two days this week...I have a mixture of feelings.....but most importantly....I have learned the lesson to love life. I have learned the lesson of don't ever doubt what I am doing is not making a difference for these kids. Listening to the kids showed me that he was an amazing teacher who made learning fun for them. What goes through a person's head to not want to choose life? What allows someone to leave all of these innocent lives in the making? What allows someone to feel that way at that very moment and so alone that they would not choose life? It saddens my heart to no end......my heart is sad for his family.....and for his extended school family.....the students and faculty that knew him and worked with him for those years. I know he is smiling down now and realizes that so many cared for him......but its too late to take it back. We just now add the question to our list for God when we eventually meet the Maker. For me....I choose life. I choose making a life that others will know my passion and how much I love what I do. I am now making a new extended family....and in just a few short months......I have grown attached to a new faculty of colleagues.....students....oh the students....how I love them. They are my life....they are amazing in so many ways. I have a new "high" on what I do after something sooo tragic happened to affect so many people that I care for and still hold a place in my heart. CHOOSE LIFE!!!!!

GRATITUDE....

(excerpt taken from a gratitude blog)...

"To me, gratitude comes in those small spaces of breathing between all the tiny moments that happen throughout our days, when the phone rings, and its the voice of a dear friend you were just thinking about, when a stranger opens a door for you, when an unexpected package arrives in the mail. It's honoring all the small moments, the ones that collect and create a perimeter of goodness around your life. It's paying attention to the way someone looks at you, to the way you feel when you're inspired, to how those cute new shoes put a skip in your step. Gratitude. It's recognizing, even in times of struggle, that you have all you could ever need, that there are moments every single day that ask you to notice, and to celebrate. It's in these moments, for me, especially the small ones, where gratitude lives."

I have all I need right here with my sweet family....a wonderful loving husband and three amazing beautiful, healthy daughters....thank you God! It is the small moments of life we need to celebrate to appreciate the bigger picture. Sometimes all it takes to remind me is some amazing words from a gratitude blog....Happy Sunday to all my blogger friends. Signing off...Tara

More pics from Baby girl's 1st bday party...

LOOK AT ME!!! Im pushing my baby stroller....I am a big girl...now if I could just let go and walk all on my own.....soon, Im sure!

As you can tell from the pic...I really like my sugar!!! And that I was very very tired on my birthday party day.....after this I went to bed! It's hard work being the party girl!

Here you are reaching for your cake....bring on the sugar, Mommy!!!!

The guests' cake....scrumptious!!!!

Nelley's cake after Mommy tried to transfer it to the beautiful cake platter...didn't work really well as you can see via smudge. The theme was "Nelley Kate is a WILD ONE!"......pink cheetah print everywhere.

Fun was had by all and it was a successful birthday party...bittersweet. Our family's last 1st birthday party. Our family is definitely complete.

One year ago today....you came into our lives. You completed our family. Our third baby girl...Nelley Kate! We love you so very much. It's hard to believe that we celebrate your first birthday. You have yet to walk on your own...but for several months now...you have been cruising like no other. You just need to believe in yourself! I am not worried.....in time, you will take that first step like your older two sisters. We can't wait to see what you become. Happy Birthday Miss Thing....our baby girl!!!(PS...I know this post is at 2:41 am the next morning....it's called "Mommy Time" and someday when you are a mother...you will understand.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOFEY ELAINE!!!! This sweet baby girl number two of three turns six today. We had big celebrations this weekend for Sofey. We had family come over and had a spongebob themed party. Loved the cake! You wanted spongebob and this year we purchased it from Wal Mart and I believe that they did a great job!!! So cute! As a surprise we bought you a trampoline and I have never seen you jump so much...to your heart's content!! We felt it was a great gift. Then Sunday night...we went went and watched Toy Story III and it was a big hit....worth seeing...two thumbs up! We love you so much Sofey Elaine and our life is blessed because of you. You are so artistic, creative, unique and have a great sense of humor!

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

I am a big believer in positive affirmations. When I first became a teacher, I went to a workshop solely devoted to the power of positive affirmations in your classroom. I used these religiously with my students and the power of the mind is boggling! Have a great positive weekend!

"To watch us dance...is to hear our hearts!"

This weekend was spent in full mode dance recital. If you did not have seats in Woodward High School auditorium today for the awesome, amazing, packed house for Miss Brenda and Miss Shay Shay's Studio of Dance...you were missing a wonderful performance. We are exhausted but had an amazing time. Above are some pics to highlight the talent! We only had one major breakdown on our last dance...because Abbey felt like she was going to miss the performance...when in all actuality...she had plenty of time. Luckily, the beautiful young lady, Miss Jada, pictured above in pink with Abbey...helped calm my first baby girl down...and we just adore her very much! Abbey can not stop talking about her.....I truly believe that she is an amazing role model for my Abbey Sue....and speaking of role models.....both Brenda and Shay have helped my Abbey to make a goal of someday being on the dance team at Woodward and then eventually OSU dance team. She has a lot of hard work and many years to go....so we will see. Until then....this exhausted Mommy is signing off and going to bed. To sum up the love we feel for our children...here is a note Sofey left me last week.....precious, precious...this is why we do it for our children!!!

Realness

I need to vent. It is 6:37 in the evening...one daughter down for bed...two to go. Still too early to put the oldest two down. I am feeling exhausted lately. My husband is entertaining at the turkey hunt this evening. And I am glad he is involved in our community and I am so proud of him. Most evenings, he is at home being an awesome daddy and husband. I have decided tonight that there is no way I could do it by myself. I have a lot of respect for all the single mothers out there. Three children are a lot to handle...and I know some families have more and juggle it all. I am just ready to put Nelley down without her crying. WHY do babies have to cry? I never cry when I go to bed....I am actually excited about it. But Nelley always cries when we put her down....naps, bedtime, whatever. I can't stand this time...I have never been one of those mothers that truly enjoys the stage up to one year....I am ready for her to walk, talk....age 2 is about my favorite. And I know I shouldn't hurry it. But I think my age is showing...I will be 37 shortly...and thinking back to my own mother.....who was 38 when I went to OSU...I am questioning....should we have had our children earlier? What were we thinking wanting three? We had it made with two older girls. I know this sounds selfish...but bear with me people...blogger sisters out there....I love my three girls and wouldn't trade them for the world and realize they are gifts from God...but this Mother is just asking for some "me" time. I can't even take a day off of work for the next weeks because of state wide testing. My house can't even get clean because by the time I get through doing laundry...it's already piled up again in the laundry baskets! And the piles haven't even been put away yet. All I want to do in my free time is sit down and kick my feet up. Not happening. One good thing I have been doing is walking at night...and at night...I mean when the girls are in bed. Hoping to get a chance to drop this baby weight...that's still on me after almost nine months. I know God will get me through this....I am just asking for a little break....maybe that break will be called summer....who knows. K...gotta go...Nelley is still crying and has been through this whole blog. THere...I said it and feel a little better...it felt good typing it......now pulling those big girl Momma panties back up and soothing my sweet baby girl.....thank you god for the blessings in my life!!!! Focus!

Picture to Keep

Well...we made it to Taylor Swift and a good time was had by all. The girls were well by the concert and we went with our Laverty friends....all girls...all six of us...made a day of it and went shopping in OKC....the girls had to go to their favorite store Justice and get the goods! By the time we were finished shopping...it was time to head to the Ford center, get a parking spot..and then we had some appetizers at The Courtyard Grille. Taylor Swift, I must say, puts on an awesome show!!! She told us that she was just up for AMC entertainer of the year award and to go vote on CBS.com....she has our vote. She is unbelievably amazing. At one point during her performance...she sang in the middle of the fans in the upper section...appearing in a yellow dress with her brown cowboy boots and flower applique. Here are some pics of the concert. I didn't think we could bring in cameras...so all I had was my cell phone...so they're not the best. I borrowed some off of fb from one of my former students who got awesome pics.....Happy Easter to everyone!

WE heart TAYLOR SWIFT...but we don't heart the flu bug!!!

Soooo...tomorrow night is the big night my family has been waiting for...tickets to Taylor Swift and Kelli Pickler concert in OKC. We are going with some great friends...actually a Mom and two daughters event. We have had our tickets since December and the girls are soooo excited...even Mommy's are excited. Yet....last night, the flu bug hit our home and my two excited girls are now laying in bed in hopes that they are better! Prayin' for a quick recovery with the Burnett girls....Daddy stayed at home with them because Mommy had ESL testing and health night tonight at the middle school. Thinkin' positive thoughts...Taylor and Kelli.....here we come!!!!!

May you live your Life in the eyes of a five year old

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Another one of Sofey's inventions....or part of the costume of her daily life. I read somewhere that five year olds are less fearful of the world than toddlers because they understand the world better. This five year old has no fear in her bones. She is so carefree in her world and goes where the wind takes her. Just wanted to share this picture of her and thank God for giving us such diversity in our daughters. Happy Sunday...may it be a blessed day full of laughter from our home to yours!

Emotional Exhaustion

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” I am really hoping to see some rainbows soon because I have only been seeing and dealing with clouds lately in my line of work. It seems that as I get older I know more and more people that are stricken by the "C" word.....students with family members, friends, community acquaintances.....maybe this is common, but I don't necessarily like it. I am a worry wart and I find myself just wondering when I am going to be that person affected by someone close that I love dearly. I hope I don't...but my heart goes out to those people that I know right now going through a hard time because of this ugly "C" word. I try to be a good listener and give good advice to these 10 and 11 year olds/or colleagues...but some days I just want to break down and cry.........sometimes because I know there is not a happy ending ahead...I can't just put a bandaid on it and fix the pain. Sometimes I want to cry because these children can't help the situation they are in....I think its time that I "wring" out this sponge(aka me) and do something to heal my heart and all of the sad stories I have heard lately and been witness to. My heart is really feeling heavy lately and in order for me to remain a strong listener and feelings healer for my students, I need to take time to heal the words that have entered my heart from colleagues or students I care about.....so pray for me and that I am refreshed soon....

Love Happens

Watched this show last night with Jennifer Aniston...I just love her...and it was "A-OK"(if you have watched the show...you know what I mean when I say this). It was a good rental. Made me want to share the story of how my hubby and I met....how our Love happened...at the greatest place in the world...Stilly, Oklahoma....aka Oklahoma State University. It started with a sorority party the Kappa Delta's have every year called Luau. See picture below of my lil' and g-lil....I have the best family and are still in touch with these amazing girls on fb.

(PS....notice the bandana shirt I am wearing.....where I found it I don't even want to remember...but to this day, my husband still loves this bandana shirt! I think it reminds him of when we met..so back to the story)

Anyhoo....senior girls in Kappa Delta ville are what we call "luau" girls and wear our bikini tops and grass skirts when we go to serenade the fraternities before luau. It was my senior year and I was a luau girl having fun when we visited the Sigma Nu fraternity where my future husband would be watching the serenade. At this point, I had no idea who Taylor Burnett was or even cared because I was dating an ag teacher at the time(whole other story that is not important). But Taylor sees me and asks his good friend, Triplett, who I was. Triplett, at that point, had set Taylor Burnett up with lots of her KD friends and told him "don't even think about it." However, Love Happens...as the movie says...and later on.....we do eventually cross paths...and meet....start dating....and to make a long story short.....I move to Texas to teach while he is still in Stilly working to finish his degree and finally something sinks in and Taylor proposose to me at Christmas in front of his family and my family.....such a sweet story. Another time. Heres a pic:

PS...notice my Mom on the right and his Mom on the left....so sweet that we captured or someone captured this great memory.

We got married on July 19th, 1997 and it will be 13 years......a cat named Lola and three beautiful girls later. Heres the invite...notice how my middle name is spelled "Ann" WRONG...it is Anne...somehow missed that in the proofing and had to send out all 500 invites that way....

AND it rained on July 19th, 1997 so if Taylor would have bought my ring at BC Clark's....it would have been FREE...right? Heres a wedding pic......one that was easily available to scan in...we look sooo young.....

PS...we also have a very professional(ha) wedding video that the girls watch and laugh so hard at how different their family looks.....Abbey even loved it that her former teacher, Mrs. Rowley, was at our wedding and how funny that was...

I love you, Clinton Taylor Burnett...thank you for loving me through these past many years...ups and downs...always believing in me and us.......you are my rock......and such an amazing Daddy to our sweet girls.....thank you for loving me through all those "blonde" moments too....see pic below!

Im so glad our LOVE HAPPENED!!!!

Updated pics of the girls

OH MY....yes, this look is soooo her Daddy's look and does she have him twisted around her finger...actually, she has all of us twisted around her finger. She is the center of attention all the time! She will be eight months on the 28th of this month and she is the love of the Burnett's lives. Her older sisters are smitten with her and she is smitten with them. I can't wait to witness the bond between three sisters as they get older. An amazing gift from God. When Taylor found out he was having his third girl.....it was a moment to remember. But I think his sister said it best to him and told him that "Daddy's of three girls are made in heaven!!!"