First Day of School!

This was the first day of school for Ethan, Westin, and Alex, grades 2nd, 1st, and K respectively. Of course this wasn't the first day for everyone else at our school. We were still in Idaho ( Utah, actually) when school started on Aug. 10th. A small oversight on my part, but no harm done. Things didn't go smoothly for Ethan and Wes. I guess they were nervous. But Alex, he basically told me " I know where my classroom is, you don't have to walk me". Uh, I don't think so, my baby is gong to Kindergarten, I am walking him! Nevermind the fact that he went to Pre-K last year. Now they are all pro's and love their amazing teachers, as do I.

Ethan looking a little worn out. Traveling will do that to you.

Wes

Alex

My three Amigos!

And, since Amelia isn't in school yet I included this random pic of her in her too small beenie, patriotic shirt and the boy's shorts. I love this girl!

Finally! Some of Summer!

I am finally getting to some of our summer fun. Most of it won't be in order but that sums up our life. Some of it was in FL and a lot will be of Idaho. Stay tuned for the rest!

Skipping Rocks and Giant Cheeseburgers!

After Travis arrived (on week after us) we continued the adventures. We went out to Henry's Fork of the Snake River to skip rocks and let the kid run wild.

Here they are gathering rocks to skip.

Alex taking a crack at it.

Travis showing the way.

Does this look dangerous to anyone else? Uh.. Watch

Out Daddy!

This is Amelia's idea of skipping rocks. First, grab a handful of pebbles.

The heave them out as far as you can and yell

"Geronem0"!

My guys posing on the dock.

One of the things on my must-do-while-in-Idaho list was eat at Big Jud's. Again, for all you non-Idaho people Big Jud's is home to the best cheeseburgers, and not only the best, but the biggest! An in true Berger style, we went big! We ordered the 3 lb. cheeseburger, or the triple. The single Big Jud is only 1 lb. I think we fed 8 people and still had a serving left. It was honestly as big as Westin's head ( and that's big!). I was really looking forward to the homemade ice cream. I always get huckleberry. There is seriously nothing bettter!

That's my baby bro. Cole with my boys.

I wasn't kidding!

Parades and Parks

One of the first things we did after arriving in in Rexburg was the 24th of July Parade in St. Amthony. The boys got a bit of candy and saw some cool horses where the riders stood up on two horses, Russian Riding, I think it is called.

I couldn't get Amelia to cooperate no matter what I did.

That's my sister Erika and Mom in the background.

We ate our picnic lunch at a tiny park and the kids played on the few toys they had.

We basically hit a park 3 or 4 days a week while we were there. I absolutely loved the weather. Even if it was hot, you just move to the shade. Shade doesn't help much in our Florida humidity. Our next stop was Porter Park in Rexburg. This park has changed a lot since I was a kid, but it was just right for my young kids.

Sparky pushing Amelia on the swing.

(I had to add this side note. At some point during our stay my dad called Amelia "Sparky" so she called him "Sparky" back. For the rest of our visit and even still she calls Grandpa "Sparky". She has that man wrapped around her little finger. It was sad when we had to leave Sparky and go home.)

Man he's cute!

My thinker.

Ethan is always putting together some game and inviting anyone at the park who wants to play.

We also attended the Folk Dance Festival Parade in Rexburg a few days later. For those of you who don't know, Rexburg hosts a dance festival every August and invites 8 "teams" of dancers from around the world. Each year the entire thing is funded (team airfare, etc) by the proceeds from the year prior. People around town also help by hosting dancers in their homes, feeding them and driving them to performances and such. We saw some really cool dancers.

This girl from Japan was my all time fav. She was dancing around with this huge drum while playing. Very cool.

The team from Mexico was also very cool. ( very Lamanite)

This is a group of girls form Thiland. The stiff breeze that day

add a great effect to their feathery fans.

My Husband the Contractor (Again)!

Burgoon-Berger Homes

Travis took his Builder's License Exam again today( 2nd try) and passed! For those of you who don't know, Florida has some of the strictest building code and licensing requirements. He took and passed the Residential exam a couple of years ago. With that one, he can be the contractor on residential single family homes. This added license lets him do more of the work without having to hire so many subcontractors. Next up, the commercial exam in June. With that he can do, well, commercial and other combination spaces. For each test we had to purchase over $1000 in books, prep classes and exam fees. I know it will all be worth it. I am so proud of my wonderful husband who has put in countless hours studying while watching the kids when I worked. Good job, Babe! By the way, this is an elevation of our house just flipped. Our garage is on the other side.

Hop on over to the Bunny Trail!

This post is a little out of order, I still have a couple of b-day's to do but it will do.

I love Easter! Mostly because of our Savior and his sacrifice for us, but also because the kids need cute new outfits for Church and hunting eggs. We started Easter on Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa Berger's house (tradition, so far). We took pictures first thing, before the dye. After coloring eggs, we hunted for the plastic ones.

Alex had to wear his new sunglasses. He does look good.

Westin is a good poser.

I can't believe Ethan is already seven. He is really beginning to look like a young man.

It took a few tries to get her to look toward the camera and keep her on the rock. It is a bit racy for a 2 yr old. Lol. She had a different dress for hunting eggs, her cousin Wyatt's baptism ( later on that Sat.) and Easter Sunday. I got them all for less than $25, though.

The group shot.

Westin dying eggs.

Amelia was taking perfectly good eggs and crushing the shell so she could eat one. She wasn't really into the dying process. That is our friend Mattie getting help from her mom, Heather.

Ethan did well, I didn't worry about him getting dye on his shirt this year.

Alex wanted to dye all his eggs green, his fav color if you hadn't guessed.

We had three levels of egg hiding: the little one's, Amelia and Mattie (our friend) ; the younger kids, my boys and cousin Wyatt; and the actual hidden ones for the older kids. They all wait in the front yard while the adults hide the eggs. We line them all up and let them go.

This is everyone; my 4 kids, 5 cousins, and 4 friends. Travis and Rachel are holding baby Reddin and Baby Lochlan in the pic.

I don't have any words for this one, except I blame his uncles.

After the egg hunt we feasted on our eggs via egg salad sandwiches and chips. Wyatt's baptism was in the afternoon. Although my kids get restless, I like them to be part of it so they know what they'll be doing soon. Ethan's will be next year!!! I can hardly believe it. We had a little bbq after. It was a great, I didn't have to cook, day.

This is the best Easter Sunday picture I could get. Amelia was having a stubborn morning. I'll admit, I really love this picture. It sums us up, the boys are generally mellow and listen, Amelia beats her drum to a different tune and thinks she is in charge.

Happy 2nd Birthday Amelia!

Amelia turned 2 on the 9th of Feb. The coolest part is she shares her birthday with her Grandpa Berger and our good friend Heather. Their birthday fell on a Sunday so we offered to bring dessert to dinner, hence the cake. I ordered it from Publix (it's a grocery store in the South). Publix has, hands down, the best cake ever. This is a Tinkerbell cake, which I think I loved more than Amelia did. After dinner, singing and cake we headed home to open presents.

Have you ever seen a bigger "cheese" in your life? She was so thrilled to get Tigger and Pooh.

Here she is modeling the ladybug purse from Grandma W., and the backpack, Tigger and Pooh from Mom, Dad, and "the guys" as she likes to call her brothers. I can't believe my baby is already two.

Merry Christmas (in March)!

We always have such a great Christmas. We took the photo for our card only a week or so before Christmas. It was nice to be outside at the park on Dec 18ish and not even need jackets, I know you're all envious. On Christmas Eve we go to my husband's parents house for a big party. Anyone who wants to come, from school, work, or Church, is invited. We eat a yummy pot luck dinner. The highlight for me is my mother-in-law, Kathy's clam chowder. I have never had better, though my dad's is a very close second. I look forward to it all year. All the kids and many of the adults dress up as shepherd, and wise men and we have our Nativity play. My boys usually end up as shepherds, or whatever their cousin Spencer is, and Amelia played an angel (ironic, I know). At the end of the night, the kids open their new jammies and we head home, only 15 min. drive. Now for the fun part. My niece Andrea, who is 14, wakes up like at 5 am, only on Christmas morning. She expects us to be at Grandma's to open presents by 6. If I had it my way it would be 7:30 or 8. I love the one of Amelia having tea with Grandpa Berger. After gifts we have a light breakfast, saving room for our big lunch. I think we had ham. Best of all, I didn't have to cook. I love Christmas and really try to keep the true Spirit of it all but by the end of the day, I just need a nap.