What's going on with the Burgers?

I looked at our blog the other day and realized it was very neglected! I sorted through some pictures and picked the ones that I wanted to post. We do not currently have Internet at our home so I have to remember to bring my memory card with me in order to post, which is also why it has been so long. We are all doing well. Savannah is entering the 8th grade in less then 2 weeks. She is a bit nervous but I know she will do well and will be a help to the incoming 7th graders because that is her personality. Riley is getting ready to enter the 5th grade with much enthusiasm. Amelia, Alexis and Alicia are more then ready to return to school as 2nd graders. They have missed their friends and especially their teachers who they are lucky to have for another year. We are settling in to our new home very well. I enjoyed a trip to Utah in June. I was able to catch up with some adopted family members and dear friends while I was there. I enjoyed the dry air and lack of mosquito's, but returned to Vermont with a warm welcome from both. It has been a long and a short summer. I haven't been able to spend as much time with the kids as I had hoped. We are all at least a little excited for school to begin again in less then 2 weeks.

Savannah's room.

Savannah picked her two favorite colors. At first I said no but once I thought about it I decided that it was her room, it's down stairs and she would be less likely to be depressed with a room these colors. Savannah's room is quit large at 13x20.
All 4 girls absolutely Adore their rooms!

This is the three girls room! It is an GREAT room at 13x25. Yes, 3 different colors!

The other side of the girls room.

The progress of the landscaping and the finished bedrooms down stairs

View from my drive way.

Our home from the front!
There are 3 big flat rocks stood up set in a semi circle near the drive way that give the yard a distinctive look!

From the side, where my garage will one day be. It had a bunch of BIG stumps that had to be moved.

The front yard. Also at one time filled with stumps. Thank you Gramp for all of your hard work to make my yard look so beautiful! Thank you to all involved in removing the stumps and even to those who tried to move the stumps.

Into the back yard where my fire pit(which is started) will be!

A view of the front yard from the other side of the house. (It now has grass!!!)

Spring concert at Jay/Westfield Elem.

The three girls enjoyed singing with their class. They are in the pink dresses scattered in the front row. One of the songs they sang was the pop song One Two Three Four. I will always remember them singing that song when I hear it on the radio because even though there was a gymnasium full of people Amelia sang the song directly to me! "there's only one way, two say, those three words, four you, I LOVE YOU!"

We had the honor of hearing Riley sing with both his class and the choir. He sang some amazing songs!

Riley also had the privilege of singing in a choir in Feb. for the North East Music Festival. Each school chose students to attend and Riley was one from his school that was asked to participate. We were not sure he was going to attend. His music teacher was disappointed that he might not although understanding the anxiety issues. After arranging for me to be there with him the entire day and night, he was able to attend and did a spectacular job! I was so PROUD of him!

End of school-year recognition.

Alexis recieved recognition for writing.

Alicia recieved recognition for her skills in expressive writing.

Amelia recieved recognition for math acheivement.

Riley recieved recognition for being an inquisitive art student.

Savannah (in yellow)recieved an Outstanding achievement award for Language Arts.

Savannh didn't know she was recieving an award-thus the blank look. She also didn't know that I was sitting in the audience.

I feel the Love!

Alexis, Destiny, Alicia and Jordan decided they all needed to sit on me at the same time.

OH how we love each other! (Most days anyway!)

Christmas Eve 2009

This was the happiest night we have had in the last 6 mos.

We were finally in our new home, our OWN home!
I love this picture of all of the kids in front of our new fire place on Christmas Eve!

!

We "camped" out at our new house in sleeping bags. We had no running water or toilet. The kids ended up sleeping in their bedrooms because Santa wouldn't come if they were in the living room. We watched a movie and layed down in front of the fire until it was time for bed. What a great night!

Update on us!

Well I'm not sure where to begin. Riley is doing well in his class at the new school. He went down-hill skiing for the first time this past week and loved it. He is playing Basketball on a school team. He shares the love of basketball with his mom. He listens to the advice from his coach and pointers from mom on the way home from games and practices. At times his anxiety gets the best of him and he gets lost in the game but I can see his constant effort and enjoy watching him play. He has little cheerleaders(sisters) that go to his games, they make me laugh!

Amelia has also adjusted quit well to the new school. She as always loves to go to school for what she see's to be the main purpose which is to socialize. She has made lots of new friends, one of which attends her brothers basketball games and joins in with the cheering. Amelia shares the love of Basketball also, but finds herself torn between her two passions in life, watching the game and socializing!

Alexis has really found a love in drawing like her big sister. She spends lots of times creating 7 yr. old works of art to give to those around her whom she loves. She likes to read and is very good about doing her homework with eagerness to get it done.

Alicia loves to read. She also likes to draw but in a much more abstract way. She likes to get up and start her day with chores that she has decided the night before that she wants to get accomplished. She remains a mommy's girl.

The three of them went cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing this past week for the first time and loved it.

Savannah has adapted very well to the Jr. High School. She does not do much in the form of after school activities because the school is so far away. She attends Young Women through our church, which she finds great joy in. She has reached a stage in which she can reflect on the last several months and recognize the blessings that have come from staying with family for the extended period of time and to notice the differences now that we are in our own home again. She has expressed her gratitude to me for the choices I have made in her life and in her willingness (most of the time) to help me in ways that a child of two parent family's would find difficult to understand. She has offered many times to babysit her siblings so that I will go out on dates, which I find very comical. She has a deeper desire for me to be married then I ever thought she would.

As for me, I am trying to get my life back on track. It has been a year full of trials but I recognize that in the long run they will only make me stronger. I love my new home more then I can express but I do honestly find myself missing Utah.

Inside our new home

Kitchen, looking toward the kids bathroom/Riley's bedroom.

through the kitchen, looking into the living room.

Looking toward the dinning area

Our new living room/fireplace.

It all looks a little different now that there are boxes every where and some furniture here and there. I have pictures from Christmas eve that I hope to post soon, of the kids in front of the fireplace.