Saying goodbye to the old, Hello to the New!!!

Well, today is the last day of 2010. I sit here and ask myself what was the good, the bad, the scary, the fun. I really lived it up in 2010, and look forward to many life changes in 2011....

In 2010, I was rocked with some sort of auto immune disease... I thank all of my family Burrill side, Yarbrough side, and friends who listened to me cry and freak out over a good six or so months of trying to figure out what was wrong with me... a BIG THANKS especially to Mitzi for going to the numerous doctors appointments that Brady couldn't make. We never did pinpoint exactly what was and/or still is going on, but at least now we are able to keep an eye of any progress that the disease might build.

In 2010 we bought our new house... and boy oh boy does our new house rock. We were able to have many parties at our house... football parties, birthday parties, just party parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, and have been able to open our house to numerous guests that have made it out to California; Christina, mom, Lauren and Sean, and Dan Burrill. We are so happy that you guys made the trek out to California and hope you can do the same in the years to come!

2010 brought great friends. We have become much closer to our friends this year... Rock Band might have been the common link, and maybe football, but nonetheless, my Rock Band peeps, you know who you are... ummm, I guess I could also call you my Cabo peeps; You guys are awesome!!!

2010 also brought plenty of trips... and if you ask Brady... WAY too many trips... Let's see where did we go in 2010??? Vegas, Indianapolis (for the final four), Florida, Kauai, San Francisco, Cabo, three trips to Michigan for MSU football games, the Bahamas for Chayla and Darreal's wedding, Memphis for Kimya's wedding and Michigan one more time for Christmas break!!! No wonder we are Sky Priority ;) The people at LAX know us by name... and we aren't even business travelers!!! hahaha.

2010 brought great sports for us as well. We got to make it to another final four, and Brady and I are were able to go to this one as well. And our football team... who knew?!?!?! 11-1 this season! It was definately a stressful season, but 11 out of the 12 times we came out with a W. This made for a very stable relationship for me and Brady (hahaha).

What else? Can anybody else think of anything... Oh, yep, I got it... Even through all of my health's up and downs in the last year, we happened to get pregnant. We got pregnant with only about a month of "not" not trying. This has really rocked our world, because in the beginning we weren't so sure about the whole baby thing, but as the pregnancy has progressed we are as ready as we'll ever be.... We just want the baby to come!!! 21 more weeks.

Well hopefully you all have had a wonderful 2010, and if you haven't, make 2011 the best year ever. If I have learned anything from this past year, surround yourself with friends and family, don't sweat the small stuff, and really try and find the positive in everything!!!

Happy New Year to all! We'll see if I can come up with my ten more goals for my 50 goals of 2011 by tomorrow! Love you all!

GLI

It seems to be an annual trip to the GLI every year. This year, however, Brady and I weren't planning on going due to the talent level of our Spartans. However, Lauren and Sean invited us, and really.... how could we say no to a Spartan event with two of our favorite people. Lauren and Sean met us in Brighton and then we headed on down to the Joe! (Joe Louis Arena for those that don't know -- it's where the Detroit Red Wings play). Although the Spartans were getting manhandled for the first two periods, and were down by three goals at one point, they gave it a good effort in the third period, but still fell short 5-4 to Colorado College :( On the plus side, we got to spend time with our good friends Lauren and Sean AND even get put up on the big screen!!!! On the way back we ate at this really cool place called Boomtown, which was a very trendy upscale sports bar. We watched the Illinois bowl game and had dinner and a few drinks (well they did.... I enjoyed my lovely Shirley Temple....)
Sean (sporting his new authentic MSU hockey jersey) and Brady before the game!!!

Lauren and I take a break from chatting during the intermission to take a quick picture!!!

The all famous Sparty ready to go.... to bad our boys weren't...

Before the game...

Top 50 goals

I started making 50 goals a couple years ago for New Year's instead of doing a resolution. This past year I accomplished half of them, and a little bit of five or so more goals. The year before I think I accomplished 30 of them. Some of these goals that I have managed to accomplish include; buying a house, getting pregnant, finding a way to travel to Chayla and Darreal's destination wedding, changing our health insurance, learning how to surf, snowboarding in new places, catching Michigan State sporting events, visiting certain people, etc. A lot of these goals were not plans in the making, they were just goals. I truly believe that me getting pregnant and our house was a direct reflection of the goals. It was something that we wanted to do, but didn't really need to do... the goal jump started our search in just looking to see what we needed to do to sell our place, what places we could buy, etc, when we bought the house, it seemed like a perfect place to raise a baby, so we started "not" not trying to have a baby.

Now some of these goals aren't life altering goals... some of my goals for the new year involve going to an NBA game and an NFL game.. something I have never done before but would like to do. Just like surfing was last year; not life altering, but something new that I have always wanted to do.

So this year, I started brainstorming for the year 2011 on what my top 50 goals should be. I have carried over some from recent years that I haven't been able to accomplish, and I have come up with some new goals, but I only have 20 goals so far... I need 30 more.... I need your help. What should some of my goals be for this upcoming year. Remember, I am going to have a newborn May 27, so maybe some mom's out there could help me with some goals to accomplish with the baby....

Snow

This video is for you Mitzi... The nice, fluffy, white snow we got for Christmas day! I used my new Flip video that I got for Christmas to film it!

Christmas Day

Christmas Breakfast!!!! My favorite meal of the entire year. We have everyone, Allan and Becky, Scott, Harmony, Averie, Madysin, Austin, Aunt Joyce and Uncle Mark, and of course, mom, dad, Christina, Brady and myself over to eat at 9 AM. It has to be the only time our entire family is quiet... everyone is munching down on the yummy breakfast. The menu included: my dad's famous french toast, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon, orange juice, chocolate milk... mmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

We still get up at the crack of dawn; (6:30) to open gifts... I believe it is the only time of the year that Christina is "willingly" a morning person. We need to get up that early so that we can have the breakfast ready for the guests... (or so we tell ourselves that.... we really get up that early to see what Santa has left us).

Merry Christmas!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday, and enjoyed the company of family and friends!!!!!

Christmas Eve

Our annual Christmas frosting fight while we are decorating Christmas cookies, even Baby Bres got into it with us!

All of the wonderful Christmas goodies being made on Christmas eve! It's nice to know that the Burrill family out in California is doing the same thing on Christmas eve! ;)

The Yarbrough ladies after Christmas Eve Service.

I wanted Baby Bres to get a piece of the Holiday Action!!!! Merry Christmas Eve to all!

Five for Fridays

Five for Fridays:

1. We made it back to Michigan for the holidays.

2. Unfortunately we made it back in time to watch MSU fall apart against Texas in basketball... Our boys need to figure out what is going on before big ten season.

3. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

4. We made it back for mom's birthday. Were able to celebrate with the family at Zehnder's up in Frankenmuth for a family style dinner, then back home for some cake and celebration.

5. Set up a poll to see what people think about the sex of the baby. As of right now only five people have voted. The "girl" is winning 3-2. Vote now, just to the right of this post!

Is it a boy or a girl?

Let's take a poll. I am just shy of 18 weeks. At 18 weeks you can find out if the baby is a boy or a girl.... But my next doctor's appointment is not for another three weeks. So three weeks from yesterday we will be finding out whether we will be naming our child Breslin Michael Burrill or Breslyn Sadie Burrill.

There are certain old wives tales of figuring out whether it is a boy or a girl;
1) Test the heartbeat. If the baby's heartbeat is consistently above 140 it is a girl, if it's consistently below 140 it's a boy.
2) If the mom is craving something sweet it's a girl, if the mom is craving sour things it's a boy.
3) This one's hillarious; if the husband gains weight during pregnancy it's a girl.
4) If the mom's face becomes full and round and rosy the baby is a girl.
5) If the right breast is larger than the left breast it's a boy, and vice versa it's a girl.
6) By holding a pendant over the belly; if the pendant swings back and forth it's a boy, if it swings in a circular motion the baby is a girl.
7) Increased acne in the mother means it's a girl.
8) If you supposedly ask the mother what she is having, in a study that asked women with no previous knowledge of what their baby's sex is 71% of the women were right...

So what do you guys think??? I am going to try a few of these at home tests and make my guess a day or so before the test... but I am really curious what you all think.

Vote now!!!!

Five for Fridays

1. Had another doctors appointment. We can find out if it is a boy or a girl on January 13! So will it be Breslin Michael Burrill or Breslyn Sadie Burrill?!?!?!
2. Got all of the Christmas cards sent out... so hopefully yours should be on its way :)
3. The end of the semester!
4. Grades were done on the Thursday I left school... nothing to do but sign out on Friday!
5. Had our annual Burrill family Christmas at our new house!!! We LOVE having everybody over and hosting at our house!

Five for Fridays

1. Started relandscaping our front and backyard.
2. Had to buy a new Christmas tree cuz Beaumont knocked over our other one.
3. A lot of stuff to do at school this week... tests, projects, more tests, more projects.
4. Got caught up on my grades for Finals week.
5. Hosted a nice Christmas party

5 for Fridays

1. We decorated our house inside and out with Christmas decorations and lights! It looks awesome and feels very Christmasy!!!
2.Fifteen weeks into the pregnancy... I hope this queezy feeling and utter exhaustion will subside soon.
3. Used our fireplace for the first time in our new house. Feels very cozy when we have it on.
4. Mitzi took my second belly picture.
5. Michigan State football went 11-1 this year, and on Saturday were named co-big ten champs!!!! They haven't been any kind of big ten champs since 1990. It's been a long time coming!!!!! Go Spartans!

Five for Fridays

1. Basketball is in full swing... MSU almost lost to Chaminade, then did lose to UConn, but came back for the #11 Washington Huskies and beat them in the Maui Invitational!
2. Took our annual Thanksgiving pictures!!! Brady picked the colors this year; purple and gray... They looked AWESOME! Great Job as always Mitzi!
3. We took Kari out to Michigan with us for a Michigan State football game and tailgate experience!

4. We got to see Chayla and Darreal... That is two times in a year... unheard of!!!!!

5. We went back for our last home football game of the season.... holy crap, it was an edge of your seater... but we came out on top!!!! Go State!

Five for Fridays

1. Went to Kimya and Jessie's wedding at a zoo in Memphis, Tenessee
2. Turned in grades for the second progress reports... which means five more weeks left of school for the semester
3. Went shopping with Mitzi to look for Thanksgiving picture clothes.
4. Looked at baby clothes ;)
5. Made some fabulous banana bread!!!

Five for Friday

1. Michigan State passed the test of the hangover week from the loss to Iowa, with a dominating win over Minnesota.
2. Three day work week :)
3. Flew out to Memphis
4. Visited Graceland (Elvis's home)
5. Watched Michigan State's first basketball game of the season at a Bdubbs in Memphis!!!!

Five for Friday

1. Michigan State had its first loss of the season :(
2. I met Taylor Laughtner and gave him a hard time about being a Michigan fan
3. We got Bresly(i)n's first picture ever!!!!
4. I got to hear the heart beat!!! Sounds strong to me!!!!
5. Went and saw Due Date!!! Hillarious!!!!!!!

Five for Fridays

1. Michigan State beat a nail biter against Northwestern and became 8-0!!!!
2. Started a new book: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.
3. Had our first baby appointment... Ultrasound on Tuesday. Expected due date: June 5
4. Went to a Tastefully Simple Party hosted by Janie.
5. Dressed up as a Michigan State baseball player at school on Friday for Halloween!

Five for Fridays

1. Celebrated Jerry's 70th birthday with these lovely ladies and many others. 2. Our Spartans were BCS ranked no. 7. Highest ranking ever since the BCS started for us.

3. MSU squeeked out a homecoming win against Illinois. 7-0

4. Reminded Mitzi of... this time last year... I was dressing up as a pregnant lady for Halloween. No more dressing up... It's true!

5. Morning sickness has been kicking my ass this week... I figured a picture wasn't necessary for that...

Five for Friday's

1. Watched Michigan State put a beating on Michigan... 3 years in a row and counting.... 6-0 baby! 2. Was able to hang out with Chayla while watching the game.... it's been a year...

3. Went snorkeling with reef sharks!!!!!

4. Did all of that in the Bahamas... for Chayla and Darreal's wedding!!!!

And #5............................................................ We are Pregnant!!!!!!!!

Five for Fridays!

It was a fabulous quick week....

1. Flew back to Michigan for the Michigan State Wisconsin football game!!!! And we won. It was a very sweet victory! We head in to the Michigan Michigan State game this weekend 5-0!

2. Got to visit Uncle John's Cider Mill!! It was so much fun! The cider was tasty, the donuts were fabulous! And the weather was a nice crisp fall 50 degree day :)

3. Went and saw Wallstreet. Very good movie.

4. Went over to tutor a certain family...... and they DECKED their house out with U of M items.... I felt sick to my stomach ;). I thought it was pretty funny... at least I had a good sense of humor about it.

5. Decorated the house for Halloween!!!!!

See you all next friday... Or maybe before!

Five for Fridays

Not a whole lot exciting things this week ;) ;)

1. Had a legit WHOLE day of football on Saturday. Started watching game day at 7 am on Saturday, and then continued to watch through 6:00... And then went out to watch the late games at Wolf Creek and Chuy's! It was a beautiful thing.

2. Sunday I had my first ever massage. I had a shower massage treatment... then a full body hour massage! It was the most wonderful thing ever!!!!

3. Brady took me to the Melting Pot on Sunday night. The Melting Pot is my favorite restaurant ever!!! I wish it was closer... then again, no I don't, cuz then we would be poor///

4. Graded 120 notebooks and 120 tests on Tuesday :(

5. Cooked my Oma's Nasi Goreng that my mom taught me to make while she was out here. It is turning out to be one of Brady's favorites. He loves the Sambal Badjak to put on top of it!!!! I am turning out to be quite the cook. I now cook dinners for us four days a week!!!!!

book club

PLEASE... if you are a reader... or are trying to get into reading... I have an online book club. We just started reading The Girl Who Played With Fire. Or maybe, you aren't a reader... but know someone who is... let them know. It is nice to read a nice variety of books. Right now it is just my mom, my Aunt, and myself. And we would love to get more involved to get a variety of thoughts on the books! Let me know!

Five for Fridays

So, it was a very exhausting week.... but it was a good one!!!!! Or at least was a great weekend... which led to the exhausting week. 1) Went to the VHS football game tonight and bought myself a new shirt! When we left at the end of the third quarter, Valencia was up 42 - 7. (And this was supposed to be the game that they were "tested" on...) Welp, looks like its going to be a good football season for the Vikings!

2) Flew back to Michigan for approximately a total of 30 hours or so. But was able to spend some quality time with my mom! I love you mom thanks for everything. (You to dad!!!!)

3) I know I already posted this on my 365 blog.... But seriously... how cool are these undies. Ordered these from Victoria's Secret last week, and they came in JUST AFTER we left for Michigan... so they were waiting for me when we got back!!!! Yup!!! I am wearing a pair right now ;)

4) Glee is becoming one of my FAVORITE shows. It started back up this week, and I loved the first episode of season 2. If you have not watched it.... You should try... If you LOVE music it is the best... It's on Tuesday nights at 8!

5) And of course... the day that started off the week for me.... Michigan State versus Notre Dame. We flew out for this game.... It has been six years now since Brady and myself first "met." Which was at the ND MSU game six years ago!!! We go back to MSU's campus every other year for this game.... This one was a CRAZY one... back and forth, back and forth... until it goes into overtime... ND kicks a field goal.... so then michigan state goes to kick a field goal to send it into double overtime... but wait.... our kicker is not kicking it.... what?!?!?! It's a fake... Michigan State TD to win it in overtime!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!

And then with some crazy news... a half hour later, Coach Dantonio has a heart attack... That was definately a weekend of highs and lows for a spartan fan. But, Mark Dantonio was released from the hospital on Tuesday and is doing well.

Notre Dame weekend 2010

What a weekend of highs and lows....

Five for Fridays

1. Ran 10 miles!!!t

2. Had a very successful Back to School Night (It was great seeing former parents come along and say hi).

3. Spent a couple hundred bucks at a FABULOUS tupperware party.

4. Switched our health insurance (so I can actually get a doctors appointment when I need one!)

5. Picked up one new tutoring session (We are now at 12 .... NO MORE)

Five for Fridays

1. Watched Michigan State win their first football game!
2. Ran nine miles!!!
3. Signed up for my half marathon in LA for October!
4. Celebrated Casey's 40th
5. Tumbled (round off backhandspring, backhandspring, backhandspring) at the VHS pep rally! (in blue jeans none the less!)

Five for Fridays

1. Picked up my 11th tutoring slot :/ Oh Well,... That does mean an extra 500 dollars a week.
2. Went to Concerts in the Park to watch a Journey Cover Band
3. Purchased a new tv, cuz the bulb blew out of our old one
4. Watched the first set of college football games on Thursday :)
5. Finished the book I was reading, Tell Me Lies.

Five for Fridays

Five for Fridays:
1. The air conditioning broke in my classroom during our 100+ temperature week. Imagine 40 students in a room that got up to 94. YUCK!
2. Ran 3 miles in 24 minutes!
3. Gave my first round of tests at school... my students did AMAZING :)
4. Cooked Nasi Goring (sp?) my mom's/dutch specialty for the first time :)
5. Got a new washer and dryer. Our dryer pooped out on us about three weeks ago... and two cycles of our washer pooped out on us last week. So here is our new ones! Traded in the old for new!

Five for Fridays

1. Started out the week with a 70 minute run!!!!
2. Started up tutoring.
3. Saw Inception
4. Got back into Rock Band form :)
5. Went on a slight shopping spree at Target... (ssshhh don't tell brady)

Five for Fridays

1. School started this week. Overall, it was a good start, we got a new grading and attendance system that was difficult at first, but am now getting the hang of it.
2. Mom left back for Michigan on Monday
3. Went to my third back to school barbeque at VHS, (my third year teaching, and still loving every minute of it).
4. Mitzi's birthday!
5. Watch the SYTYCD finale! That show has just moved up to one of my all time favorites!

Mom's Visit

Mom came to visit for a quick weekend in between Vegas and the start of school... We didn't get to do a lot, but we were able to hit up Santa Barbara, hang out with the Burrill family, do some shopping, and enjoy the house and each other's company. Santa Barbara

Breakfast at Telly's

Scrapbooking with Mitzi

Shave it :)

Salt Creek for lunch

Beachin it in Santa Barbara!