Christmas/Winter Wonderland in Pictures

While we did not make it to Romania for Christmas this year (a summer trip is in the works), we had a wonderful time with family and friends. And - as the best gift of the season - we ALMOST had a white Christmas.

Our Christmas tree

On the way to a Christmas party

Hand dipped goodies

Christmas at Nancy and Bob's

The Rockettes with the Roos/Deem clan

They are fantastic!

Our other family:)

Alexandria Winter Wonderland 2009

Meet Frosty, the Parkside snowman. It is the biggest one we have ever built!

Xmas at the OPs

Lynn and Eric, the above-mentioned OPs

With Erika and Ryan

Santa surprised Jason this year with a set of golf clubs. He had no idea:)

Xmas with Jason's parents in PA

We wanted to do something different this year and replaced the boring turkey with a turducken. Here Jason cutting it with Brian and dad observing. It was delish and it might become a tradition. :)

OK - so the Redskins helped the Cowboys get into the playoffs....Thank God we had Camelia over for a few minutes that day to soften the blow. She is so precious!

Happy New Year everyone!

Year in Review

2009 has been a great year. Jason and I accomplished a lot and we are so grateful for all of that, as we are keenly aware that this was not the case for everyone out there. 2009 has not been an easy year in the U.S. or around the world - from a rough economy, people losing their jobs and homes, illness and wars.

But someone was looking out for us - I got the job of my dreams in August of this year. I now work for an amazing not-for-profit organization called the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. My work is now related to a topic close to my heart and the people I work with are nice and smart. Jason also continues to enjoy his work at Veris Group, the company he has now been with for over a year.

We also succeeded in doing a few things around our lovely townhouse this year: from crown molding, tile in the guest bathroom, a new gate for our patio, to our most recent addition: a brand spanking new kitchen island, lights and granite. It is my MOST favorite room in the house now and I use it often. Jason is to thank for many of these projects, which were DIY.

Jason putting in our kitchen island.

Semi finished product (missing back on island, which is now in)

Other fun things we did this year? Our awesome trip to Europe to visit friends in Paris and Berlin, our third annual camping trip to Assateague island with family and friends, and my mom and grandma's visit this summer. We did a lot of fun mini-trips and sightseeing while they were here. It was my grandma's first visit to the US and she loved it. She will definitely come again.

Jason and Mica in PA

What are we most thankful for? Our health - and that is what we wish for in 2010 for us and all our family and friends.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!

Such a Sad Ending...

I used to love Jon and Kate Plus 8. Those kids are precious and it was neat to see them grow up in front of our eyes. But, as everyone knows, the show ends today. I am sincerely hoping that those kids were not messed up for life due to one crazy and controlling mom (ya know what, if we had 8 kids, maybe we would be crazy and controlling too...I'm just saying...) and a dad who obviously got married and started a family BEFORE he grew up. Soon enough when those kids start accessing the Internet and caring about "what other kids think," (and for the older Cara and Maddie, they already do) they will be badly hurt by all this media spectacle. They will be hurt by the horrible picture painted by their parents in their attempt to secure a good life for those kids. I am willing to bet that Kate Gosselin would happily go back to that small house they first lived in, in order to erase what has happened to this family in the last year.

So a few key take-aways:

• Don't put your kids in front of a camera to ensure they have a good life - it really defeats the purpose
• Don't wash your dirty laundry in public
• Don't expect to reach fame and fortune without paying a price
• Don't forget that we live in the world of FOREVER - everything you do will be immortalized and you cannot escape it!

To the Gosselin kids - here's to hoping for a better year for you all! I will miss you:(

Last Chance!

This week is your last chance to order your Thanksgiving pies from Food and Friends. The money earned will be used to provide meals to people with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other such illnesses in the DC metro area. If you do not want a pie, but would still like to contribute, there are two things you can do: buy a pie that will be given to someone in need for Thanksgiving or just donate $ online.

Either way - your generosity is greatly appreciated! Thanks for helping our team Burketts and Friends Love Pies exceed its goal:).

Here's to generous family and friends!

Family Halloween

This year we went all out for Halloween - and it was a blast. Friday, together with Melanie, Amir and Brian, we went to the Markoff Haunted Forest in Maryland. It was scary - at least for me. Walking through a forest in the dark with spooky people dressed in weird outfits grabbing your legs and arms and a chain saw sound in the background.... Well, I had my head buried on Jason's vest most of the time, but I HEARD a lot of scary things. Everyone enjoyed cupcakes and spiked apple cider before and after, to settle us down a bit:).

Saturday, after giving out candy to a few groups of really cute kiddies in the neighborhood, we dressed up as the Stimulus Plan (of course it had to be political!) and went out to Arlington with Mel, Amir and Mark.

The big surprise for me was how MANY people came out despite the cold and rain. Clarendon Ballroom had at least 200 people in line!! So we gave up on that and went to Mister Days, which was really fun. We ended the night with Wendy's. That's what I call a perfect day!

Here's to a Happy and Sweet Halloween!

Buy a Pie!

Dear blog readers,


Nothing says "thank you" for all the blessings in our lives more than helping those less fortunate.
This Thanksgiving season, please consider joining me in the effort to raise money for those impacted by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses in our area.

One of the places where I volunteer is Food and Friends, a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization in Washington, D.C. that since 1988 prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to more than 1,400 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout Washington, DC, 7 counties of Maryland and 7 counties and 6 independent cities in Virginia.


This fall, I am helping them raise money for their upcoming season by inviting YOU to participate in an exciting event -- SLICE OF LIFE.

By purchasing YOUR Thanksgiving pies from Food and Friends, you will directly impact the lives of children and adults that rely on Food and Friends. Your choices are:

-Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pie, Oh So Sweet Potato Pie OR Harvest Apple Crumb Pie for $25, or
-Southern Pecan Pie OR Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake for $35.


PURCHASE YOUR PIES TODAY AT WWW.FOODANDFRIENDS.ORG/PIE AND DELIVER HOPE, ONE PIE AT A TIME!


It's easy:

• Click on link above
• Select Buy a Pie
• Select Buy From a Sales Team or Pie Seller
• Select my team: Burketts and Friends Love Pies and help me reach and exceed my goal!
• Choose a close pick-up location
• Pick up on Nov. 24th and ENJOY!


• OR - Just click here.

Other Details:

• All purchased pies will be available for pick-up on Tuesday, November 24th at either Food & Friends' facility or one of 14 CVS locations.


• When you purchase pies for you and your family, you will also have the chance to buy pies for Food & Friends' clients. You'll receive one entry into a drawing for a pair of round-trip airline tickets when you buy a client pie.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and please feel free to forward this request to other family members and friends!

A New Take on Salsa!!

Many of you know that Jason and I grew a mini-garden in our neighborhood this year (and last year). We planted 3 tomato plants, 1 green pepper plant, one hot pepper plant, Romanian herbs and a cucumber plant. I am proud to say we did not buy tomatoes, cucumbers or green peppers all summer. It has been a fruitful garden.

Yesterday I went to check on it and clean it up after three days of crazy rain and low temperatures. I expected to see them all dead - it is the end of the season after all. The cucumber and pepper plants were done, but to my surprise our nutty tomato plants will NOT give up! We have about 4 pounds of green tomatoes still on the vines. Now, I am not delusional to believe these will actually ripen. So, I have figured out a way to put them to good use. I will let you know how these taste in a few days.

Tonight: green tomato salsa with onions, hot peppers, lemon juice and cilantro

Tomorrow night: fried green tomatoes Paula Dean style

Here's to a great harvest!