Celebrating 90!

Our Birthday Boy!

My brilliant grandfather, Big Jim, is going to be 90 in a few days.  He is so dear to me.  When I was about four, Big Jim bought me a new ice cream cone after I had dropped mine on the pavement.  I'm certain it was inevitable, but I've positively adored him ever since. 

Big Jim with yet another adoring fan!

Our family met up in Dallas this weekend to raise our glasses in his honor!   We gathered in Dallas and ate fried chicken with all the fixin's.  The little kids aren't so little anymore--not a baby among us--so this year they busied themselves with soccer, sidewalk chalk and loving on Jenni's puppy, Bella the English Labrador. 

Their home is so neat for entertaining--and their backyard is nothing short of magical.  Several homes back to a huge green space, filled with giant oak trees . . .  The ground is carpeted with soft green grass and moss.  The sunlight is dappled, filtered by the trees--it's a photographers heaven!

Paige, Cameron & Ben

Smiles all around--a favorite picture of mine.

The tooth fairy visited this little angel recently! 
And her sweet momma flat-ironed her hair!  Doesn't she look grown-up?

Ben was all smiles--outside and in his element!

Cameron thought she was in Pixie Hollow!

She lacked fairy dust, but certainly not imagination!



Hunting for things to make Tinkerbell's home . . . 

Blowing out his candles . . .

Sweet Colin & Big Jim . . .  He is so loved--truly--by so many!

It was a grand celebration for an indescribeable man, a great man.  His bride of over sixty years by his side, surrounded by his children, grandchildren and five of his great-grandchildren. 

Happy Birthday, Big Jim.  Happy Birthday to You!!!

Easter Pictures

Easter morning may be my favorite photo opp.  The kids are always dressed in their sweetest spring duds, and the early spring light is gently filtered in my quiet backyard.  Fresh haircuts, trimmed fingernails--bright-eyed & bushy-tailed kiddos.
I love the combination of their clothes--a sweet linen dress, smocked and woven with pink & gold threads for her, and a cotton dress shirt trimmed with a chambray blue linen collar for him . . .  He has some new sperry's and she has darling strappy flats with oversized flowers. 

The star jasmine is in full bloom--the perfect backdrop. 

The camera is new with a fully-charged battery. 

Even the weather forecast is perfect. 

And then, just for a tiny second, the adults turn their backs. 

And this happens.

So happy about having his picture taken post-injury.

Benjamin: 0       Antique Bamboo Coat Rack: 1

And I transition from humming "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" to another childhood favorite, "No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed". 

Truth be told, I will still take their pictures--I just won't have them framed! 

Birthday Boy!

My six-year-old studmuffin!

Still running and jumping, pretty much everywhere he goes!

Little sister attempted to drown Ben on his birthday!

It's a good thing she's cute {and she now knows Ben is not a floating device}!

Hard to find his baby face now . . . 

This little sweetheart didn't like all the backyard action.

I might have forced her to sit with me and watch the jumbo splashes.

Love!  Love!  Love them so!!

They think their momma is pretty funny! 

Make a wish, Ben!!

Cameron-girl wants to help Ben with his birthday candles.

Looks like six year olds don't need help with their candles.

That's right--he knocked 'em all out with one blow!

Oh dear.  This is not going to end well.



Someone get that poor child a piece of chocolate cake!

Spring Chaos

As I type, I am being pampered at Salon Cameron Elizabeth.  She has sprayed my hair with pink & purple paint so that I will look like Merliah the Mermaid.  Next up is the {actual} hairdryer, followed by a quick check with the stethoscope, and then some more much-needed work with the {pretend} straightener.  If only she could touch up my roots. 

Spring Break wasn't much of a break, but it was definitely action-packed.  The hi-light was a four-day whirlwind trip to Midland Texas, where we drank lemonade and chased it with cold/cough syrup.  Ben had breathing treatments around the clock and we determined that sleep was for the weak.  Events included Mr. Gatti's bumper cars, pottery painting, serious furniture moving {Coco's house}, U-Haul rental, more furniture moving {Kate's house}, a quick trip to Toys R Us, Orange Leaf yogurt, and a whole lot of quality time in the car--eighteen hours to be exact--with a puppy in tow. 

Speaking of puppies, Coco has two little love-bugs, Annabelle & Emma, both of whom tolerated our Holly quite well.  It was fun to see all the Cavaliers together--five in total. 

Annabelle & Emma

My kids spent as much time as possible out in the West Texas wind, soaking up the sunshine and swinging with Paige.  They LOVE their cousin Paige . . .  I was horrible about taking pictures, but did get a couple happy shots of them swinging!

I've mentioned my parents moved back . . .  West Texas is simply home to them.  While it's been hard to see them go, we want happiness for our Big Dad and Kate.  Their new home is quite a bit smaller, and the downsize led to "French Country Estate Sale" of sorts.  My sister inherited a beautiful provincial buffet a deux corps and a killer chest of drawers.  She also snagged a tole tea canister lamp and a pair of candle-lit lanterns.  I scored a trestle base kitchen table and a reclaimed wood coffee table from one of my favorite companies, Sarried.  There is also a chair & ottoman, a pine console table and a small provincial chest.  SO MUCH FUN!  I love a silver lining! 

I will take more house pictures as soon as we get things squared away . . .  Right now it's fruit-basket-turnover at Chez Burkett! 

The great big blogosphere

Today I am walking on sunshine.

I've loved {and stalked, although always from the confines of my house, which should prove I'm not scary} Joni Webb of Cote de Texas for years.  She writes a delicious blog on all things design related, with a focus on my favorite, French style.  Also an interior designer, her work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Houston House & Home, HGTV.  Cote de Texas has been listed as a must-see in top shelter mags--House Beautiful & Southern Living.  Her top ten list makes me want to swoon . . .  And the pictures, my goodness, the pictures are always amazing.  I pin like mad after nearly every one of her posts! 

Today, she has done a write-up on me and my little roost. 

Makes we want to do cartwheels! 

My humble house is such a work-in-progress.  We love our little money-pit, and have just about fixed all of the non-fun stuff {A/C & heater, roof, plumbing leaks, stairs, flooring and more}.  We've tweaked nearly every light fixture, replaced vent covers and outlet covers, painted trim and walls just about everywhere.  The fireplace was a major overhaul.  It's been well worth the blood, sweat & tears. 

We're finally getting to the good stuff.  I can spend time thinking about things like fabric and trim, antiques and furnishings.  I have renewed my ASID membership, and filed my official business name in the great state of Texas {more on that soon}.  I feel like I have finally climbed out of the trenches of very-early motherhood.  I'm still a stay-at-home mom . . .  I just finally have a little breathing room. 

And, for a girl who just loves design, it's a dream come true to be able to make this home beautiful. 

And speaking of making this house beautiful, I think my pretty new sectional needs some pillows. Here are some contenders . . . Aubusson is a favorite of mine, but some linen mixed in would be wonderful, too. 

I will need several--it's a big sectional!!  And I think I may run over to Tuesday Morning and see if they have any of these left . . .  Something tells me that I wont be completely happy using Cameron's many pink blankies . . .

You can have them monogrammed online--Peacock Alley has discontinued these throws.  I think they're lovely!  And my little people sure do love to snuggle up with blankets . . . 

Back to Cloud Nine.  More soon--and thank you, all of you, again!

happy randomness

"A little bit of this and a little bit of that" seemed like a good title, too. 

My husband took me sofa shopping before Christmas.  We spent the day together in Houston--Greg let me hunt to my heart's content {he had his smart phone, he was happy, too}.  After finding some options, but not, you know, the one, I asked if we had enough time to visit my all-time favorite furniture store, Quatrine.  Hubs of the Year said "Sure, let's go."  I was happily drooling away thirty minutes later, oohing and aahing over their fabrics and trims.  The adorable manager came over to ask if I knew about the Christmas sale, half off any custom sectional??  I nearly fainted.  Greg had to sit down with his smart phone. 

Fast forward three months, and I am the deliriously happy owner of a custom Quatrine sectional, slipped in linen, trimmed out with a tiny flat-welt linen stripe.  It's kiddo friendly, as in fully washable.  Greg--I love it--thank you!

Ellie found it to her liking immediately.  We all fit.  All four of us and two dogs happily fit, spread out and/or curled up.  It finally feels like a family room. 

Need to order some more pillows.  And may need some blankets before next winter . . .  One thing at a time! 

Now, it's been a pretty exciting week for little old me--new furniture, a new puppy, and a new camera!!!  Also a tremendous gift--from my hubby's parents--as a sweet thank you for helping them update/upgrade their beautiful home.  I am so grateful.  I love to document this sweet life, to capture the milestones and the sweet, small moments.  It's a creative outlet and so much more. 

Today was my first day to play photographer, and I have a lot to learn, but it's so exciting!  So, here are some practice pictures . . . 

Holly is busy-busy-busy.  Growing, eating, chewing, chasing, sleeping . . . never a dull moment with a puppy in the house.  She nestles into the nearest lap she can find, true to her breed, she is a companion.  This week she's learning how to sit and we're working on come.  We're also busily digging up the nandina in the backyard--which is toxic to her tiny tummy. 

More camera practice--and I don't think I ever posted my kitchen with the updated fridge?  I don't remember . . . 

Spring Break is right around the corner.  We've got Sea World and Midland, Texas on the itinerary, so stay tuned.  I plan to take a TON of pictures--and will hopefully master the video part of my camera! 

In the mean time, Holly sends kisses!