It amazes me to know that this is the ninth year that Steven and I have spent Valentine’s Day as a couple. For the past nine, we usually have a quiet evening at home. I still remember the first Valentine’s Day we celebrated together. It was 2015 and he was living in an apartment downtown. He invited me over and told me that he would cook dinner for me.  When I got to his apartment, he was in the middle of cooking his famous spaghetti and had a ton of gifts waiting for me on the countertop. Because he lived above the mall, I swear it looked like he went into every single store and picked ..read more

I recently shared on my Instagram stories that when I was younger, my mom was struggling as a single mother on our first Christmas in Utah. I remember that the church we were attending at the time, stepped in and donated a Christmas tree and gifts so that my brother and I wouldn’t go without. The response from my friends and followers filled my heart and I was also surprised that a lot of people were shocked that I come from days such as those. But as us church kids growing up in a black church would say, “I don’t’ look like what I’ve been through”. We’ve come a long way from where we start ..read more

Photos: Lolo Orji Photography The Burks family has entered the Christmas card chat! To know me is to know that I am over the top and I love being extra. Obviously I’m going to take the opportunity to get glammed up with my boys for Christmas.  Every time I think that I’m going to take a more casual approach to the year’s Christmas card, it’s like who am I kidding? This is the only time of year where I can have my kids and my husband suited and booted and it makes absolute sense. Personally, I feel like families do photoshoots in casualwear throughout the year so this is the only time ..read more

This year I started a new tradition with Jaylen for birthdays. Saying goodbye to the last year in balloon form. I wanted to do a mommy and me shoot like I have done with Cayden in the past and took the opportunity to have a balloon blown up with my baby’s last age number so that we can let it go and fly away. I think the symbolism of it is such a cute idea. Letting the balloon go and watching it fly away just like time has been flying by as we watch our little one step into his new chapter — chapter two. I love photoshoots that let my kids do whatever they feel like doing and capturing them ..read more

Photos by Amber Lynne Steven and I are finally back on our date night routine after an entire summer of all work and no play. If you’re new here, my husband Steven started his master’s program in 2021 and finally finished and graduated this summer. Because of that, he was head down wrapping up finals, papers, and projects. It also meant that any fun we had planned was on hold (including our anniversary trip) since this was more important to us — including our weekly date nights.  Cargo pants: Manier De Voir When Steven and I started dating we would go on dates almost every other day ..read more

Family photos are timeless treasures that capture moments, memories, and milestones. As much work as they take (every mama knows) to put outfits together, make sure everyone gets picture-perfect ready, and rush out the door (because getting ready on top of getting yourself ready makes it hard to be on time) we will do it over and over and put ourselves through the chaos for the beautiful memories with our little ones and our life partners.  And as much as the subjects and the scenery play a role in making a photograph captivating, so does the color scheme. An harmoniously coordinated co ..read more

Photos by Amber Lynne Photography My husband, Steven, has been working on his master’s degree for the past two years and finally, the day has come… He has officially graduated and received his master’s degree! To say that I am so proud of this amazing man of mine is a huge understatement. To be able to get it done while having a newborn to wake up to in the middle of the night for diaper changes and feedings. Studying late at night when he had to get up early to get our oldest ready for school. Scheduling his tests at midnight because that is the only available time he had since he works a ..read more

I don’t know what is happening with this crazy weather, but it’s supposed to feel like summer is around the corner with sunnier, warmer days. Instead it’s been non-stop rainy and gloomy days that don’t seem to clear up anytime soon. If you’re a fellow boy mom, then you know how hard it is to keep boys cooped up in the house when they just want to be outside rolling around in the grass, shooting water guns, and bouncing around in their jumphouse. Instead of feeling gloomy like the weather, I try to turn these indoor days into moments of creativity, connection, and indulgence. One of my favori ..read more

Wow baby! You have just turned the BIG FIVE. So much has happened since your last birthday and I can’t believe how much you’ve accomplished this far. I’m so proud of you and the little person that you are becoming. In this past year you’ve become the world’s best big brother. I love how Jaylen looks at you and you can tell he’s already looking up to you. You always include him in everything you do and genuinely want him around you all of the time. Thank you for looking out for him the way that you do. Please continue to do it and don’t ever stop. No matter how old you both get. You are each ..read more

Sign by FastSigns What a bittersweet moment it was to celebrate our baby’s very first birthday. It was an emotional week for me as I knew I was saying goodbye to the baby phase and wondered, “How are we here already?” This milestone meant a little bit more to me knowing that this day almost didn’t happen. The thought of being in that hospital room being told we only had a 50/50 chance that this baby was going to make it made me go big on his birthday.  All balloons by The Balloon Loft I wasn’t only celebrating my baby beating the odds, I was dedicating a life that I was praying so har ..read more