A Celebration of Life for Brett Burdick

This past Friday, April 17th would have been Brett's 5th Birthday, even though a few months have passed it seems like yesterday he was laughing and playing with our group of friends. In honor of his birthday we gathered for lunch and then went to visit him at the cemetery (those words are so hard to put together in a sentence).

The weather wasn't on our side, it very windy and raining but nothing was going to stop us from visiting our loved little man on his special day and as luck would have it we made our visit at the very same time he was born. I hadn't been back since we laid him to rest. Paige made him a frame and I put the picture of her and Brett together from the 4th of July. His headstone was quickly covered in much love with flowers and cards. His headstone was beautiful, it had several pictures of him on it.

On Sunday, April 19th I was honored to help set-up for and attend a celebration in honor of Brett's 5th Birthday. It felt so good to once again have everyone gather to share stories and remember this loved little man. We did a breathtaking balloon release, where each guest wrote a message and sent it up to him in Heaven. We all enjoyed food from Chicken Express together and the kids played on the playset and bounced in the bounce house. It was a perfect day to honor this very special little man. In addition to the celebration, toys were collected for Brett's Blessings. So many toys were donated in Brett's name to donate to the Dallas Children's Hospital ICU, see previous Blog post in regards to Brett's Blessings.

Here are some pictures of this very special celebration:


Madison, Danielle, Sienna, Paige, Aiden, Andrew and Johnny




My Family


Aiden enjoying some sweets...


Paige and I wearing our matching Matilda Jane...


The most recent belly pic...

Today sure was a fun day, but it was a hard one as well. My family and I spent Easter with my dear friend Amber and her family. Amber's husband Chris couldn't be home to celebrate with us, he is a trunk driver and had to be out on the road making today even harder. We all spent Easter together last year and of course Amber and Chris' son Brett was with us to enjoy in all of the egg-stra fun Easter activities. It just doesn't seem to get any easier as the days pass, I still find it so hard to believe that Brett is gone and I feel such an aching pain in my heart every minute I miss him.

My day started out with the usual hidden Easter baskets and eggs scattered throughout the house. The kids woke-up early and started to gather the eggs. Jon had to put them back into bed 3 times in hopes we could get a little more shuteye before starting our the day. We had a terrible storm pass through which caused us to loose sleep on top of going to bed late after prepping the house for Easter. Finally, it was time to start the day and Jon has a Sunday tradition of taking the kids to get doughnuts and coffee, we call it "Doughnut Day." For me, this means an extra hour of sleep in absolute quiet until they return and then I always enjoy sitting at the table enjoying doughnuts with my family.

After the doughnuts it was time to hunt for the baskets. Paige found Aiden's basket quickly but it took her a couple of hints to help her find her own basket. Both kids were so excited to open up and check out the Easter goodies. Paige was in love with her new Lelli Kelly shoes and of course Aiden was in love with his cars. Then it was time for me to work on making Jon's grandmother's delicious green beans and some deviled eggs to bring over to Amber's house for Easter dinner.

Paige's Basket...


Aiden's Basket...


Enjoying some early morning candy...


We headed on over to Amber's for an early dinner and an egg hunt. We were worried that the rain was going to continue all day but it did stop and the grass dried up enough so that we were able to hunt the eggs in her backyard. Amber just had a tree planted in Brett's memory, I stopped several times while hiding eggs to remember the little man that loved to play outside with his friends and how cute he was hunting eggs with us last year. The kids all had a great time with the egg hunt and after we enjoyed some yummy apple pie it was time to clean-up and head home. The kids were in bed just after 7:00pm.

I had different Easter outfits planned but it was cold and rainy here in TX so I had to keep it practical. I do love Paige in this Knot Dress from the fabulous Matilda Jane.



Aiden and Danielle enjoying some Play-Doh together...


Paige and I


Off to get some eggs...








Aiden figured if he needed more eggs he could just dump Danielle's basket of eggs into his, lucky for him she didn't care and I was able to put back her eggs later.


I just love this face...


Checking out the goodies...

In Loving Memory of Brett Burdick

It sure is hard to Blog about something when you are at a loss for words after loosing someone close to you and it is even harder when that person lost is a child.

One of my best girlfriends Amber lost her 4 year old son Brett in a tragic car accident back in December and it has been one of the hardest roads traveled since then. I was very fortunate to have many beautiful memories of Brett and to have been at his side, holding his hand just minutes before he passed away.

I am very close with Amber and her family, we spend the holiday's together and the kids play a couple of times a week with each other. My 4 year old daughter Paige just adored her buddy Brett, as everyone did and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think of him and miss him.

Brett's 5th Birthday would have been on April 17th and in his memory his parent's Amber and Chris have set up Brett's Blessings which will give toys to children in the ICU at the Children's Hospital of Dallas. I have below a message that was sent out from Amber in regards to this great cause.

From Brett's mom Amber:

"Hi everyone. As many of you already know, my sweet "little man" Brett passed away on December 8, 2008. Brett's birthday is April 17th, he would have been 5. On April 19th, I am having a Celebration of Life for family and close friends. As I would love to invite all of you, I simply cannot due to space, etc. But I did want you to know how I am honoring Brett's life and memory.

Chris and I have started Brett's Blessings. Brett's Blessing will help bring smiles to children in the ICU at Children's Hospital Dallas. With your donation of a new, unwrapped toy you will help many children who are in the ICU, experience joy through playtime and learning during their stay at the hospital. In honor of Brett's birthday we ask you to join us in this worthy cause as we plan to continue to make this an annual collection.

We specifically picked the ICU department because this!"

Recommended age for donated toys is 0-2 years. You can purchase toys from many sites on-line with FREE shipping using the "Site-to-Store" option and I can pick it up at the store and bring it to the Burdick's for donation.

To read Amber's Blog check out: http://mommyslittleman08.blogspot.com

The Burdick Family website: http://burdick.webs.com/index.htm

Please support a great cause, a great friend and honor the memory of Brett Burdick.

My daughter Paige having fun with her buddy Brett, 4th of July 2008