Bunch of Burches

Women's Day

2011-04-02T00:05:00.001-04:00

Women's Day is always so impacting. I feel like the lessons are written specifically for me every year; like someone has a window into my soul...I guess someone does, His name is God! Jennifer Lambert did an amazing job this year teaching us about the ultimate gift.

I was so excited to be a part of the dance at the finale of Women's Day this year. I have never done anything like this and it was great to spend time with so many of my favorite people, but particularly Victoria. I have so much going on right now, it is a challenge to come up with quality time to spend with the kids. Victoria has become such a beautiful young lady on both the inside and outside.

I learned a large amount about movement and dancing over the course of a month, but most of all I realized how much fun it was just to give my heart to something all to glorify God. I feel like I took a huge leap out of my box and look forward to doing something like this again. The picture below are with my dear friend LaTora, who is an amazing dancer.

Just a little note...

2011-03-20T04:09:00.001-04:00

The last time I posted was September! That's crazy. It seems like September was so long ago. So much has happened since then. Maybe I will eventually put up more pictures from the last six months. Not now...everything is so chaotic.

Thursday, I hit a brick wall. I left for work at 8 and really did not get home and eat dinner until after 11 (I heated up my dinner, but forgot to eat it as I focused on creating lesson plans and doing my homework). By the time I arrived home, I broke down in tears. There is so much going on, and I feel like I barely have time to get anything accomplished. Sleep has taken a backseat.

My student teaching is coming to an end in less than a month and I am not sure how to feel. I know I am in desperate need of a break, but I wonder how I can leave my students knowing the mess I walked into when I started in January. I am hoping my cooperating teacher will quit being lazy (her own words) and do her job. I love the students I work with and I am grateful for the special education assistant and the classroom teachers; they have help me remain focused on what is important and have given me pointers along the way.

My house is a mess. I am grateful Charles and Victoria have been cleaning and doing laundry, I certainly do not have time, but there is still so much not getting done. Our Christmas ornaments are lying on the dining room table taunting me as I come home each day. I am not sure if I've been able to cook more than 5 or 6 meals since I started teaching.

I am concerned about Jacob; we have had more difficulty in the past six months than I think we ever have. I'm sure I have mentioned it before, but Jacob has Asperger's Syndrome (perhaps I will discuss more about AS in a later post). He also has other disabilities that interfere with his behavior, social skills, and sleep. This interference impacts his life, and the life of others, at school, home, and church. I homeschooled Jacob for most of last year, but reenrolled him in the 10th grade at the beginning of the current school year. Since that time, I have had six IEP meetings to address his specific needs and ways to help him succeed. Jacob really is brilliant...though his grades do not usually reflect his intelligence level. My last meeting was at the end of February, I am hoping we finally have set up an effective environment for him. His behavior has taken a negative turn since January. I am concerned about his behavior, but I think there are health factors impacting it. Now it is just trying to figure out what is going on. I know I need to be the strong one, to make sure everyone is taken care of, but I am quite worried and I am feeling fatigued. Sometimes Jacob makes damaging comments and usually I ignore them, but my fortitude is waning. I would love to see Jacob succeed and feel confident in all facets of life. I am really not sure what that means for him, but I will be by his side for the long-haul.

I am trying to remain focused on God. I need to remain steadfast in my convictions and know that He has given me the ability to face all the challenges in my life (as long as I do it with Him). I decided, even though I am busy, to participate with Victoria in a dance with many other women at the end of our annual Women's Day. It has been a lot of work, but inspiring. It is definitely something I have never done.

I am getting close to finishing up my Master's degree and attaining my teaching credential in Special Education. I know I have insight as an educator and as a parent, I think this makes me a valuable asset and pray I can secure a job for the fall. I can't wait to have some time to spend with my family, to enjoy some down time, and to be able devote the time, energy, and love I know my family and friends deserve.

First day of School Pictures (9/7/10)

2010-09-15T11:14:00.000-04:00

1st year of middle school, 6th grade at Kemps Landing Magnet

5th grade, Linkhorn Park

2nd Grade, Linkhorn Park

Julianne walking Victoria to her bus stop

1st day, Sophomore year, Homeschool

Halfway to 30!

2010-09-14T00:48:00.000-04:00

I feel honored to be a mom. I know that God has blessed me four times over. It amazes me how time seems to fly by when looking at my children. Jacob turned 15 on Saturday, September 11th.

15!!!

I often wonder how I can be a mom of a 15 year old. Wasn't I just 15 a few years ago? Okay, maybe not, when I think about the fact that my oldest son is halfway to 30, I get a bit freaked out.

Jacob is a treasure. He has taught me so much about life. So many thing changed for me in a positive way when he came into my life. Because of him I have learned how to love unconditionally. I no longer focus on myself, but most importantly on loving God and truly loving others. I have learned and become passionate for people with exceptional needs.

Jacob makes me laugh.
Jacob has a great passion for God.
Jacob fights hard every day to overcome many challenges.
Jacob looks out for his brother and sisters.

I could go on and on...

I am grateful for my loving 15 year old!


Birthday Celebration Dinner, Sept. 11, 2010

Rock 'n Roll in Virginia Beach

2010-09-08T01:16:00.000-04:00

I ran my first half marathon on Sunday. I was so excited and nervous all at the same time, but I am proud of myself for sticking with it and finishing! I actually love running. The one problem I am having is pain in my knees. On my long runs during my training, I did not walk. I knew Sunday after about the fourth mile that I was going to have to alternate between walking and running in order to finish and still be able to walk afterward. It has taken a few days to recover, but the pain in my knees is almost gone, but the feeling of accomplishment will always be with me. My next goal is the visit the doctor so I can figure out what I might be able to do to keep running. I love the freedom I feel when I run and view of God's beautiful creation!

Patience is needed

2010-09-02T11:59:00.000-04:00

I have never been a patient person. Growing up, I thought the things I wanted should come immediately; that everyone should cater to me. Funny how life smacked me in the face pretty quickly after I left home. God has given me many opportunities to grow and mature, but most of all to have patience.

On September 11, 1995 my oldest child was born. I was terrified to be a mother, wondering how I would be able to take care of someone other than myself. I look back now and understand that God slowed me down; he made me focus on someone other than myself, and in turn fix my eyes on Him.

I have been blessed with four very active children and have learned a lot about myself in the process. Each one has been blessed with their own unique character and needs. It has taken me a long time to get to a point where I can say that I feel blessed to have some special needs in our home. I know God does not give us more than we can bear. In saying that, I feel like the challenges we face on a daily basis are meant to not only make us stronger, but will enable us to share our challenges and teach others the things we have learned.

So what challenges do we face? I feel like often times it is exhausting to keep explaining why my son is not like the typical teenager. His disabilities are not physical, making it difficult for others to really understand that he has special needs.

My son, Jacob, has Asperger's Syndrome. He also has bipolar, anxiety, and ADHD. I look at him and I am blown away by the perseverance he has. He just does not give up. The other day he was trying to look for someone to spend time with, he made 8 phone calls. I could tell he was getting discouraged, but he did not give up until he has called most of the phone numbers in his phone. It saddened me that things did not work out, but I was so proud of him for trying (he has been challenged to work on developing relationships with others).

He has grown a lot, yes he is tall, but that is not what I mean. I am moved by how hard he is fighting to change some serious behavioral problems. I am so proud of how far he has come. I am praying and trying to teach him as much as I can so he might possibly be able leave home and soar on his own at some point.

Jacob is not the only one with a special need in our home. He is honestly just the most obvious. I am more than happy to talk about the things we face day to day. I think it helps others...and I learn so much by talking with other.

Someday, I think I will write a book...
...for now, I need to focus on my family.

The stubborn tooth

2010-09-02T00:33:00.000-04:00

The three youngest kids did not lose their first tooth until after their 7th birthday. I feel like this year has been the year of the the tooth. Nate lost his first tooth and within a 5 week period in April/May, Victoria lost six teeth. Recently it is Nate's turn. He lost a tooth at the end of July and then two more within the last week. His two front teeth have been loose for a long time. In the middle of August he was trying very hard to wiggle it out (I was ready to pull it).

It just wouldn't budge and he wouldn't let me touch it (especially after I pulled out two of his friend's teeth). Last Thursday, one of his teeth was so loose I was afraid it would come out while he was sleeping so I talked him into letting me pull it. He yelled at me afterward because he said it hurt. The next day he was eating a burrito at Taco Bell and the other tooth came out. Now he has lots of space in his mouth. It is cute to watch him try and eat a corn dog!

Girls

2010-08-30T09:43:00.000-04:00

I am so grateful that I have both boys and girls. I think there are amazing things about both genders. Funny, growing up I had friends of both genders, but I often felt like it was easier to get along with guys. Now I work hard on having strong girlfriend relationships. There are just so many things that guys just don't understand...

I am trying to teach my girls to build their relationships with girls. For Julianne, friendships come easily. She will call, write, encourage, etc. Victoria has more of a challenge, but she is constantly improving.

Once a year we have a statewide church service in Richmond. I love going because I see so many friends that I don't see very often. The kids and I make many friends during the summer, while we are at camp. Our statewide service provides the opportunity to see our friends from camp. I encouraged my girls to sit with their friends. I would like to see these relationships develop into strong best friend type of relationships over the next few years.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend of the Statewide Service...


Lauren Westbrook and I. She was the nurse and I was the nurse assistant at teen camp. What a wonderful woman of God!

Victoria sat with most of the girls that were in her cabin at camp. Many of the girls live in NOVA. I think she was surprised when I told her I would drive her up to spend time with them.

Julianne with her friends at the statewide service. They sat in front of us. It was difficult for them to sit for so long, but it was fun to watch them work together to behave.

Princess Tea and lesson at the Walker's house for the preteen girls. The lesson was on friendship.

Vanessa and Julianne

Brielle and Victoria...they have been friends since they were toddlers. I will have to see if I can find a picture of them together when they were little.

Mom is there an easy button for this?

2010-08-25T13:36:00.001-04:00

Jacob's exact words as he is cleaning out the trash can!

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

2010-08-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

When Julianne was 2, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or JRA. I just thought she had fallen and hit her knee on something because it was swollen. At the time we lived in Sacramento and there was no one in the area who was a Pediatric Rheumatologist and accepted our insurance. We ended up making trips to Stanford Medical Center every few months. By the time she was 3, the joints in her toes affected and she had a steroid injection in her knee. Here are a couple of pictures of Julianne when she was 2.

Victoria and Julianne at Disneyland, April 2003

September 2003

Many kids have difficulty with walking and playing. Julianne remained active. She would wake up with a stiff knee, but she never complained.

Now she has been in remission the past couple of years! We make a visit to the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters every August to see the Pediatric Rheumatologist. She enjoys the visit and giggles during the exam as her legs and arms are bent in all different directions. Her doctor always says she looks amazing.

I am so grateful! Here are pictures of our visit yesterday...

CHKD

Waiting for the doctor

Dancing with the statues after the appointment

The bear Julianne keeps asking for at Costco

Julianne and our friend Dawn

After lunch at Olive Garden

Father/Daughter Dance

2010-08-22T21:30:00.000-04:00

Once a year our church has a dance for Dads and their daughters. Charles always has two dates! The girls look forward to the special evening. Charles actually dances with his girls...dancing is not something he particularly enjoys, but he loves to encourage the girls.

In the garden before they left for the dance.

Victoria

Julianne

Busch Gardens

2010-08-12T10:53:00.000-04:00

Charles' mom came for a visit about almost two weeks ago. July 31 (Saturday) we went to Busch Gardens. We definitely had a fabulous time once we got there and look forward to using our passes again during the end of the summer!

This picture was taken as we first came in the gate.

Right after the picture above was taken had Nate and Julianne measured for wristbands. Julianne was excited because she can ride everything. Nate was right at the line of two color bands, they gave him the one that allowed him to go on less rides, so we just took it off and had him measured at every ride.

We are a family that enjoys roller coasters, at least most of us. Julianne has tried riding them a few times because I would encourage her, but she always comes off crying. During this trip she decided on her own to try one of the roller coasters. I think it is one of the mild ones, it was the only one Nate was tall enough to ride. He had a blast. She was terrified, but didn't cry until she saw her dad after the ride.

This picture makes me laugh because it is before we went on any rides. Just Julianne making her funny faces.

We are one of those families that use to drive me crazy. We usually skip the lines and enter through the exit. The first time I realize this was something we could do I was so grateful! Jacob has a difficult standing in a line with all the people around him, so this privilege is a lifesaver. The only problem with it is that most parks only allow 4 people. Jacob enjoys that too though because it means he gets to ride twice! Last year when we went with the teens to Kings Dominion he went with his friends and they loved the privilege.

Here is a typical sight getting on the rides.

Victoria is a thrill-seeker to the extreme. She will be the one to bungee jump, sky dive, etc. I love that she has no fear in this area!

The smile never leaves at an amusement park (unless we spend too much time on "boring" rides.

We went on the water rapids ride. Everyone gets wet on this ride, but one or two on the raft usually get drenched. I usually escape without getting drenched...not this time! The first ride Charles, Jacob, Nate, and I went. I told Charles he could go with the girls and Jacob the second ride. By the end Charles and I were so wet I knew he was not going to go again so I volunteered. I got even wetter the second time! There are 4 waterfalls on one side of the rapids. I was hit by all 3! I wore my running shoes so my feet wouldn't hurt. This was a big mistake! I felt like I was walking in puddles for the rest of the day!

All of us in the family dryer.

We definitely look forward to going back! I hope to go with the oldest two and Charles at some point so that we can ride all the roller coasters!

He cut his hair!

2010-08-10T08:21:00.000-04:00

For awhile now I knew Nate needed a haircut. It was getting really long, but I think he could pull off almost any style. I took the kids to get a haircut and Nate was throwing a fit. He said he did not want anyone to get near him with a pair of scissors. I told him his grandmother was coming and it would be great if he got his hair trimmed. When we arrived Nate's hair was like this:

When we got there he looked through the books with many different hair styles. He picked a lot of styles that are for people with thick hair (Nate, Julianne, and I have thin hair). Finally he picked out a picture he wanted his hair to look like. Honestly my heart dropped! While I wanted his hair cut, I still surprise myself that I like it longer. He told me he thought his grandmother would like the one he picked. She he got his hair cut like this:

I think it looks good, but I was sad to see his long hair covering the floor. I knew Charles would be happy, He has been saying Nate needed a haircut for a long time, but he surprised me. He told Nate he like his hair, but thought he looked good with the longer hair. The one thing about short hair that I like is that it is easy to wash, but the one thing that drives me crazy is that it takes more work. My boys have a cowlick at the back of their head that needs to be brushed just so and then sprayed with hairspray so it will cooperate. For now...I can see his beautiful blue eyes!

1/2 Marathon Training

2010-08-06T12:34:00.003-04:00

As some of you may know, I am in the process of training for the Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon. I started working out again at the beginning of May. At that point I could only run for a minute before I walked for a minute. Tomorrow we are scheduled to run 9 miles! This is a big scary, but I can run most of it (and I have lost 20 pounds so far)!

Two weeks ago we set out for almost 8 miles (I ran for the first 75 minutes). Charles told me the first thing he thought of when I came home and talked about my run was "how stupid" (he can't imagine running for so long on purpose). It is odd to say I ran for so long, but I am excited to continue adding to the length of my run!

This is probably pretty close to the course we will be running tomorrow:

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New Bern, NC

2010-07-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

Charles has been looking for a job for almost two years now. He had a temporary job at the post office, but he has finally been offered a job and started today. We decided as a family to use our time-share for two days in New Bern, NC to spend some quality time together before started his job. We were not sure what to expect, but the resort was amazing and New Bern was beautiful and rich with history.

I have been on a lot of adventures (more to come) this summer, but this is the first time Charles was able to get away.

I love to take picture of my children, although they are not always excited about my constant use of the camera. Julianne seems to be starting her own fascination with taking pictures (which I love to see). I gave her my old camera to use. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the kids during our trip...

Victoria is a beautiful girl, but it is often difficult to get a natural smile. This is one of my favorite pictures of her and you can't see it, but her dad agreed to let her wear a little bit of makeup. She started wearing mascara along with wearing her contacts every day.

Jacob does not like his picture taken, so photos of him, especially good pictures is a bit difficult, but I knew he would be excited about taking a picture with a cannon!

I absolutely love Nate's hair long (never thought I would say that), but it is time for a haircut. He does not want one. Hopefully it will happen in the next week or two.

I have so many great pictures of Julianne! She loves her picture taken. So I am picking a few of my favorites.

New Bern is the Birthplace of Pepsi.

Julianne is a nut, definitely apparent in this picture...

Julianne's special Day

2008-11-12T21:40:00.003-05:00

Julianne turned 8 last Monday! Where has the time gone? She is now in 3rd grade and is a ball of fun! She definitely keeps us on our toes. We had a birthday party for her on Sunday night since the kids had no school on Monday including some of her favorite adult friends, the Garner boys (a family we love to spend time with), and three girls that were able to spend the night. I am so grateful to have such a fun-loving, but God fearing daughter!

Julianne at the beach on her birthday. It was a beautiful day! She is passionate about the ocean. It is difficult to keep her out of it. I love this picture!

Julianne is also crazy about horses. This is the present Victoria made for her. She used a pair of old jean for her canvas and we bought a bamboo frame to put it in. Victoria usually makes all of her gifts now, but Julianne specifically asked if Victoria would make her a gift and not buy it.

These are the girls that were a part of Julianne's slumber party. I thought it would be great to have a picture of them with the ocean in the background. This is Gayle's deck (our landlord who lives right next to us. We love to go up there and view the ocean. We are grateful to have such an amazing friendship with Gayle. All of the kids love her!

These are the boys who attended the evening portion of her party! In the back: Nathan (Julianne and Nathan are a little over a week apart in age), Jacob, and Aaron. In the front: Nate and Jaden.

The Beach

2008-11-11T10:43:00.004-05:00

The Burch Children the last week of October. I am amazed at how big they are getting. This is the beach where we live. There are dunes between our home and the beach the kids always want to play on, but it is not allowed. This is as close as they get :) We have truly been blessed to live where we do and have the amazing landlord that we have. It makes it difficult to want to move from the tiny place we live in, but we know the time is coming. We were fortunate to spend the summer here at the beach and have now been here over 8 months. It really opens my eyes more and more to the majesty of the Lord.

Charles and Victoria chillin' on the beach. Victoria is growing up way too quickly. She is very helpful around the house and is considerate of others. I can't believe she is going to be ten next month. Where has the time gone? Yet she also seems so much older!

Charles playing on the beach with the kids. Look at the amazing throw that Julianne had and of course they were all excited when Charles hit it! They all wanted to run and "get him."

Jacob and I spent time playing at the water's edge. I am truly mesmerized by the water. I can tell it has the same qualities for Jacob as well. Jacob has sprouted past me over the last couple of months...I know it is not long until the others are looking down at me as well.

Charles took this picture when he had possession of the camera. I love taking these types of pictures. I 'm glad he took this picture because there are not very many pictures of me floating around because I always have the camera. I enjoy taking prayer walks on this beach, watching my children play in the water, inviting others to spend time with me at the beach, and just watching the power of the water. I fell truly blessed by my family and the location we live.

Father Daughter Dance...

2008-06-10T16:04:00.003-04:00

The second week of May our church had a dance for Father's and their daughters. It was a bit of a struggle to convince Charles that it would be a terrific thing for him to take the girls to, but alas they went and had a fabulous time! The girls look beautiful and Charles look dashing as they drove off...

Nate wanted to be in all of the pictures, but I told him he could be in the last one before his dad and the girls left.

Nathanael was all dressed up because he was ready to take me on a date. I told him it did not matter if he wore a t-shirt and jeans, but he insisted on changing into a collared shirt. The picture below is after we arrived home from our date. We were suppose to go to McDonalds and perhaps to the bookstore. He said a date had to be to a real restraunt. We went to a sit down restraunt and he even took me out to dessert afterwards. He wanted to play marbles on the floor of Panera Bread;) My "date" fell asleep on the way home. He was wore out from all the on the spot planning. He will be great at those encouraging dates when he gets older!

The close of another busy weekend...

2008-04-28T09:22:00.010-04:00

Funny I was just surfing some other blogs, trying to get my bearings on what I wanted to start with since it really has been a long time since I have posted some content on my blog. I think I make myself feel way too guilty for not doing it. So I ran into this other webpage that talked about blogging without obligation. Now I did not like some of the pages content on the border so I will not post it for others, but some of what it said really hit home. My life has been very busy over the last few months; often I feel like I don't have time to breathe. I certainly want to keep family and friends up to date on pictures and activities (by the way, Charles and I quickly hop on Facebook almost everyday). I downloaded the pictures from my camera on Friday and there were 141 pictures I had taken since February.

It has been raining a lot lately. Honestly I love the rain. I am a bit tired of it, but I know we have needed it. It was beautiful on Friday and Saturday. I went to the beach with my girlfriends on Friday and with my family and friends on Saturday. We pulled out the barbecue on Saturday night and had a great night with friends over. Jacob and I walked to a baptism in the ocean yesterday! Actually two! It is great to be able to walk on the beach with my son, or run in the sand with him. He and I are the same height now. Crazy... By his birthday he will be ginormous!!!

Two Months! YIKES!!!

2008-02-20T11:18:00.004-05:00

Julianne and the skateboard she received for Christmas.

Over two months since my last post! Well most of you who really know us well, know that we have A HUGE amount of things going on currently in our lives. Charles is getting out of the Navy on the 29th of February. We are still working on a lot of logistical things. With 10 years and 11 months in the military, separation is not easy. We have been praying about this for almost a year now and know that we are making the right decision, but beyond knowing that God has a plan for us and trusting in His plan, there are still a lot of unknowns. We are staying here in Virginia Beach. We have an amazing church family and our chilren, especially Jacob, are doing fantastic in school. I have not forgotten about keeping the blog updated and as soon as I have the opportunity, I will get some pictures posted and will be current once again.

10 Year Anniversary Trip: St. Thomas

2007-12-12T15:32:00.000-05:00

Picasa Web Albums - Charles and Melissa (Click on the link to see all of our pictures from St. Thomas)

Charles and I were fortunate enough to spend our 10th anniversary in St. Thomas. We actually had no idea if we were going to be able to take a trip or not. He put in a leave chit in October and did not hear back until less than two weeks before it was time to plan. Charles was out to sea so I had to plan our trip...where to go, where to stay, etc.

I did so much research. Charles was really set on going on a cruise. The problem was that there were no cruises that fit his leave period, other than a few that were three days. I wanted something that was a bit longer. I was thinking Mexico, but then I remembered neither one of us have passports so that was out.

I began to think, where can we go that is tropical, but we don't need passports? The U.S. Virgin Islands. Once I had that figured out, I began to do research on the best places to stay. I thought about doing an all inclusive resort, but I settled on Bellavista Bed & Breakfast. That was the best decision I could have made! Not only was the place very homey and beautifully kept, it had an amazing view, and Wendy (the owner) went out of her way to make our stay perfect.

Of course, we could not have left the children without the help of many families! We are so grateful, knowing that our children were in loving hands and were having fun. When we called to talk to them on Thanksgiving all of the phone calls were short because they were having so much fun they did not want to stop and talk to us for very long. So much for the kids missing us! Oh well, we felt like the vacation was not long enough.

More pics from the Dependents Day cruise...

2007-12-01T21:07:00.000-05:00

The four of us at the end of the day. I wanted the get the sunset and the flag in the picture.

We tried to take this picture over and over; Victoria kept making all types of crazy faces and body movements.

Victoria had so much fun putting all the firefighting gear on. She put on everything, carrying everything the adult sailor does when they are fighting fires. She even put the tank on her back. In the picture below, she and she and Jacob are holding the hose. The front of the hose is very heavy!

Dependents Day Cruise

2007-11-29T09:52:00.000-05:00

Jacob, Victoria and I were able to go on Charles' ship on November 17th for the Dependents Day Cruise. Julianne and Nate were too young (you have to be 8). The kids had a blast. I was sick for the first 2/3 of the day. I knew I would be, but I also knew that for the kids to go I would have to go because part of Charles' job is sea and anchor and he would have to be working for at least part of the time the ship was gone.

Jacob and Victoria were so excited to watch their dad work!

Victoria was wanted to shoot the guns. We were just minutes to slow eating. Boy was she mad!

It was windy and cold, but we still had a great time!

It is not too often I get them this close together.

Doesn't Jacob look great!

Happy 7th Birthday Julianne!!! (It was November 3rd)

2007-11-16T12:43:00.001-05:00

My little girl turned 7 at the beginning of the month!!!

So I really take pride in the cakes I make for the kids. I have not thrown Julianne her actually birthday party yet. We just had her family party, but I ran out of time to make her a cake so I had to buy her a cake. Victoria and I saw this puppy dog cake at the store and knew she would love it. She really did! But for me, it was just not the same.

Julianne and I

So Uncle Jim and Aunt Teresa sent Julianne this great Barbie horse that actually walks and a stable and a Barbie to go with it!!! Wow was she excited.

What kid doesn't love to get money for their birthday?

Julianne and Dawn with her presents from Klent and Dawn. A High School Musical 2 CD and Necklace.

Here's Mikey at the party. He is a family friend that we have lived close to since Charles and Brad were recruiting together in Sacramento. Now they are spending their last couple of months together on the USS Ross before Charles gets off the ship.

Charles and I...Yeah a picture together!

Julianne wanted a silly picture. This is great! This is our neighbor Jenn, her son Dallas, and of course my three goof balls Nate, Julianne, and Victoria

Jacob wanted me to take a picture of the three of us after everyone else was in bed at the end of the night...here is the result

Halloween

2007-11-16T12:33:00.001-05:00

It has been 16 days since Halloween, but I it has been a busy month. We have had a lot of things going on. The kids had a great time. Victoria originally wanted to be a witch again for Halloween, but after Greek day, she wanted to be Greek, so I came up with her costume the only about an hour or so before it was time to go out trick or treating. Jacob seems to always have trouble behaving around Halloween so he walked around with Charles and I. We did let him go back to the house towards the end to hand out candy.

Julianne's Pony Ride

2007-10-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

I Wanna Ride the Pony Daddy...

For Christmas last year Julianne received a cute stuffed horse from her Uncle Jim and Aunt Teresa. Along with the stuffed animal were 4 printed certificates for riding a horse. Between the chaos of the summer and everything else we have had going on, Sunday was the first day we were able to take her for a pony ride. She had a blast! For a half an hour she rode Radish up and down a dirt road at Oceana Stables while Charles lead him. Jacob stayed at the front fence and petted a horse while Nate, Victoria, and I walked to the left of the pony. After the first time up and back Nate did not want to walk any more and stayed back with Jacob.

Victoria took took this picture of me. I am wearing my new glasses.

Radish was very spirited and did not want to stay on course. This girl was riding her horse in the pasture and without being asked decided it might help if she would ride her horse on the road next to Radish to give him some guidance. We thought this displayed a great heart. The girls were intrigued by the fact that she was riding bareback.

The boys were having fun at the front of the stables. All of the kids enjoy animals and I was going to say the boys love mischief as well, but to be honest all the kids are mischievous.

Julianne ending her exciting day at the stables!!!

"Thanks Uncle Jim and Aunt Teresa"

I was able get this video on the camera (the battery in our video camera was dead). The only bad thing about it is that it has no volume. I will figure out how to add music eventually!

Mom and Grandmother Visit... (Grandmother and Great Mother to the kids)

2007-09-26T17:19:00.000-04:00

In the middle of August, Charles' mom and grandmother came for a visit. It is never long enough! I know that Mom had grand visions of all the things she wanted to do while she was here, but while she was in PA she broke her foot. We had a wonderful visit anyway! Just seeing the two of them is gift enough! We were able to go out and eat a couple of time, go to the movies, they got to see the girls swim and watch Jacob play Guitar Hero. We watched movies at home and taught mom how to play Killer Bunnies.

While they were here I was not feeling well. I started an antibiotic that made me very sick. It reacted to anything that had alcohol in it! By the way, there are many things that have alcohol in them....
mouth wash
hand soap
face scrub
conditioner
vanilla
I know there are more...

Right before we drove them to the airport. Nate's hair was out of control!

Charles and Mom (They were humoring me; I really wanted a picture of the two of them together). They look a lot alike don't they.

Charles and Grandmother

Four Generations: Grandmother (AnnaMary Reader), Mom (Sheryl Burch), Charles, and Jacob

Mom and the girls

Grandmother and Nathanael

Mom, Victoria and Jacob at the park by our house

Lunch time

Busch Gardens on Labor Day

2007-09-08T23:52:00.000-04:00

During August Charles was very busy on the ship and had very little time off. We did not see him much. Over the Labor Day weekend he finally had some time off...4 days off!!! On Labor Day, before the kids went back to school, we decided o take them to Busch Gardens again. The great thing about having passes is that we don't have to feel obligated to stay until they close the park down. Somehow Nate ended up in almost every picture I took that day!

This is a picture of the kids not long after we arrived at the park.

We were all able to go on the bumper cars. Nate was so small in the car with Charles that his head barely was visible from the front of the car and Julianne had trouble getting her car to move at all.

I realized as we were about to leave the park that we did not have a family picture taken. I found a gracious person to take our picture, but I know by this point I was worn out and ready to head home.

This is Nate's first real roller coaster ride. He was barely tall enough to get on. It really was a stretch! He is going to be right by our side as he reached the height requirements for each of the roller coasters. He had a blast!

Nate and Charles waiting in line for the bumper cars. The Big Bad Wolf track is off in the background.

Jacob and Nate sat down next to each other as we were walking out of the park and asked if I would take their picture. What a precious moment. Taking the kids places, especially four of them, can get a little nuts. Jacob has many weaknesses, but he has so many strengths as well. I am encouraged by the genuine love he showers upon his brother.

Taking Jacob to an amusement park has huge advantages. Most amusement parks (Disney, Busch Gardens, Universal, etc.) have programs for children (and adults) with special needs enabling them to bypass the main lines. With Jacob we are usually able to move to the front of the line relatively quickly without a wait. This is definitely a positive thing because lines and crowded spaces can be too much for Jacob to handle.

While Charles was taking Jacob and Victoria on the new roller coaster, The Griffin, I took Nate and Julianne to a few other rides that appealed to them. Julianne is not interested in roller coasters at all at this point in her life. That makes her an oddball in our family...of course we are all oddballs in some fashion or another!

First Day of School

2007-09-05T14:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the first day of school for all of our children!!! What does that means for me? I am not really sure, other than it is really the first time I have had no children in the house since Jacob was born. Yesterday I felt a bit guilty for taking it easy and not doing much, but today I am trying to come up with a plan. I know it will take a while to figure out my schedule.

Nate is actually the first one to leave in the morning. His bus comes around around 7:25. He was so excited to get onto the bus. For the first month they have a green shirt they have to wear over their clothes to and from school so they are recognized as the Early Discoveries children. The YMCA actually runs the Pre-K program for Virginia Beach.

The girls have been ready all summer for school to start back up. Julianne is now in the 2nd grade and Victoria is now in the 3rd grade. They were ready to go back and see their friends, meet their teachers, and enjoy the everyday life of being in school. The two week hiatus from swim team was also over yesterday, so they were back in the pool last night as well! With new swimmers on the team, the girls were showing everyone the ropes.

Jacob started his 7th grade year yesterday. With so many problems last year at the closest middle school and ending the year at the residential school, Jacob is now in a program for children with needs similar to his own. I have been struggling for this now for years. Jacob is so intelligent, often times it makes getting him the things he needs in school a challenge. Jacob is now in a middle school 15 miles across town. It is a huge school, but they have many great programs there.

A visit with friends close to the heart!

2007-09-02T15:44:00.000-04:00

While we were in Texas we were able to spend some time with the Grove family. We met Shane and Chrystal when we lived in Virginia in 2001. Julianne was only a few months old, and they had just had Alexis. Chrystal needs some advise on being a mom. From that moment, our friendship blossomed. I was there with Chrystal when she had Josselyn. Shane was out to sea. She and the girls stayed at our house until Shane got home so that we could help her adjust to having two children. It was hard to leave such a close friendship when we moved to California. They soon moved to Texas.

The Burch and Grove Children (l to r): Josselyn, Nate, Victoria, Julianne, Jacob, Alexis

Josselyn and Nate

The Grove Family... near and dear to our hearts

Chrystal and I after we had been swimming.

The kids eating lunch. My mom was great. She made lunch for us so that we could spend time together and not stress on making the food!

More Texas trip pictures

2007-08-24T17:49:00.000-04:00

I have so many pictures from my trip. I will post one more set of pictures after this and then move on to August. These are all pictures with my mom and dad in them. Boy did we have a great time with them and do we ever miss them so very much!!!

This is my mom and dad before church on the Sunday before we left to come home.

This is mom and I after church. I had already changed my clothes.

This is Julianne and her 'Ampa sitting outside enjoying some time together.

This was an evening we decided to make s'mores in the fire pit outside. We had a great time!

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

2007-08-20T14:30:00.000-04:00

We arrived in Plano, Texas on July 14th and were able to go the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on the following Tuesday with my mom and dad. They were having a special exhibit on Star Wars . Most of my family is crazy about Star Wars, Jacob and Charles in particular; Julianne and Nate are also getting to that point. Victoria and I are not as into the Star Wars craze, but we had a great time at the museum. In Victoria's words..."We love exhibits."

Jacob in front of R2-D2 and C-3PO

A token moment in front of some Storm Troopers.

It amazes me the size difference between Julianne and Nate and the Wookies!

My mom, Rhonda, and Victoria.

My dad, Casey, and Julianne.

Victoria and Nate trying to make a robot that will stand.

It has been way too long...we'll start in Georgia

2007-08-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

So I know that I have not updated in awhile. I have been very busy this summer. We were planning a trip to Plano, Texas to visit my parents as a family, but Charles did not get leave so I decided to drive by myself with the kids. It was a long drive... 1400 miles. To break up the trip I made a stop just outside of Atlanta, Georgia to see my sister, Alex, and her family. The Fosters moved from Carson City, NV. in 2005 and we moved from Elk Grove, Ca. in 2005. We have not been able to see them since that time. It was great to see them, but the visit was too short. The kids had a great time together! My three youngest children and Alex's kids are the same age.

Victoria and Kaiti

Julianne and Sidney

Nate and Owen

The Foster Family:

Owen, Kaitlin, Alexandrea, Sidney (Craig was at work)

Virginia Zoo

2007-07-10T00:30:00.000-04:00

Nate, Julianne, and I went to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk while Jacob and Victoria were at camp. It was a short little venture, but we had fun. It started to pour on us for the last half hour we were there. We have a season pass to the Dallas Zoo and can get into the Va Zoo for free. We will definitely go back again. Thanks mom for getting us the pass!

R-Camp 2007

2007-07-09T15:24:00.000-04:00

Jacob and Victoria went to R-Camp the last week in June. R-Camp is the camp our church put together for rising 3rd graders to rising 8th graders. Charles and I drove a van full of kids up to Pennsylvania on Sunday and I drove a van full home the following Saturday. The kids have a blast and learn a lot about God! What could be better?

The kids cabins were gum flavors. Victoria's cabin was Bubblicious.

This is Jacob and Kirk (his lead counselor). Their cabin was Double Bubble.

Memorial Day Celebration at YMCA

2007-06-20T08:33:00.000-04:00

The YMCA celebrates opening their outdoor pool with a games and a lot of fun. This was a dress up like a lifeguard. There are more pictures in a post below as well. I did not really get any great pictures of Victoria during this day.

They did not want to cut off the tags on their glasses. Really I think they liked the kids looking a little dorky ;)

The kids were pushing watermelons with their noses. Julianne and Jacob are in the same lane. Jualianne was excited because she beat Jacob. Julianne was quite a ways behind the kid in the other lane, but ended up pulling ahead by a hair in the end. She is like her mommy and is very competetive.

Victoria lost her heat by just an inch or two.

Charles' Birthday

2007-06-20T08:27:00.000-04:00

We decided we had had too much cake after my two cakes, so for Charles I made two big cookies on his actual birthday and a brownie type of cake for his party. Nate decorated the confetti looking cookie. Isn't it cute!

My Birthday...

2007-06-19T18:32:00.000-04:00

Charles made me two birthday cakes this year. He did a fabulous job! And I am not thrilled with the picture of me with Jake, but we were having fun! Jacob was squeezing me really hard!!!

Random Pics...

2007-06-19T18:21:00.000-04:00

Gymnastics

2007-06-19T18:01:00.000-04:00

Nate, Julianne, and Victoria just finished up their first gymnastics classes.

Charles' new Saturn

2007-05-16T23:01:00.000-04:00

Charles has needed a new car for quite some time. He has been looking for a good used commuter car. After months of looking we went down to Saturn today and bought a new Saturn Ion for a really good price! I was amazed. We love Saturns. The first car we bought when we got married was a Saturn. I think his smile is one of excitement and relief that he will not break down on the side of the road.

Random picture of Jacob

2007-05-16T22:57:00.000-04:00

Jacob is in a residential school right now. It is challenging, but he gets to come home on Sunday. We have seen a marked difference in his behavior. It is very encouraging. This picture was taken on one of his recent visits home.

Victoria's new hair

2007-05-15T09:18:00.000-04:00

I took Victoria to get her hair trimmed a couple of weeks ago. She decided she wanted it all cut off. We compromised and this is what she pick out of one of the books. I think it makes her look older. We have a couple of different styles that she can do, but this is the usual.

Mother's Day Tea

2007-05-15T09:13:00.000-04:00

Last Friday I went to Julianne's classroom for a Mother's day Tea. We had a blast. She served me cookies and punch (no tea) and presented me a hat that she made, a book she wrote and illustrated, a letter, and a card. It was a blast. I will have to take a picture of the hat and post it.

Family Time...

2007-04-16T13:07:00.000-04:00

The weekend before Easter my sister, Delana, and her husband, Dan, came up with their two boys for a visit. While they were here they went to Busch Gardens with Jacob and Victoria. They all had a great time. Delana, Jacob, and Victoria came home drenched because they went on the water rides, crazy if you ask me (it was a bit chilly).

This is a picture at Busch Gardens with Dan, DeeDee, Joey, Jacob, and Victoria.

Of course they went on the carousel. Jacob looks like he is chillin' on the horse.

Charles and I stayed home with Nathanael, Julianne, and Logan (he was a little over 1 month old). I had a great time having a baby in the house!

Easter

2007-04-10T12:48:00.000-04:00

Easter morning came early. Charles and I are teaching 2nd grade at church and had to be up early to get ourselves and the kids ready to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus! During the service all children, 4 year old to preteen, performed in front of the church. That included all four of our kids and Charles and I. We recited two scriptures and did a dance to a song. All of the kids did a great job. I have heard rave reviews from our friends that Charles was great to watch. I am so proud of all of them! This picture is after the service.

Snow in April...

2007-04-10T12:36:00.000-04:00

This weekend was crazy! The temperature dropped again and it snowed on Saturday morning. I don't really think it snows here in Virginia Beach as a rule, but both Charles and I were looking at each other in amazement with the size of the flakes and the fact that the snow started to stick. Of course by mid afternoon the sun came out and the snow was gone, but snow in April was a sight to see!

Our First Trip to Busch Gardens in 2007

2007-04-03T08:25:00.000-04:00

On March 25th we decided to take our first trip to Busch Gardens Williamsburg this year. Our season passes were a Christmas gift from Charles' mom...thanks mom! We spent about three or four hours there. It got cold in the later afternoon, but we had a great time.

This is a picture of the kids before we entered the park.

Julianne and I at the Pet Shenanigans show. We were freezing!

Charles and the kids with one of the Clydesdale horses.

Cousins: Nate and Zach

2007-03-13T08:39:00.000-04:00

Nate and Zach had a great time playing together in Texas. Even with the 3000 miles that separates them, they continue to talk about each other and ask when will be the next time they can hang out and play together. It was great to watch the boys have a terrific time playing while they could. I know Nate looks forward to the next time!

Nate and Zach playing by Ampa's pool. Good thing they didn't fall in; it was cold!

A bunch of monkeys at the zoo.

Nate pulling Zach in the wagon at the zoo. They enjoyed pulling each other.

My mom and my sister

2007-03-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

Two of my favorite people! This is my mom, Rhonda, and my sister, Heidi, on our trip to the Dallas Zoo when Heidi and i wereboth there for a visit at the end of February. The trip was not long enough! I wish that we all lived closer together.

Nate's first plane ride

2007-03-05T21:42:00.000-05:00

Nathanael and I went to Texas for a long weekend on Feb. 23. I realized this was the first plane ride he has been on. Boy was he excited!

This is a picture of Nate looking out at the plane from the gate. He kept trying to get on before they were ready to load the plane.

This is the first picture Nate took from the plane window. He is fascinated with taking pictures.

He is excited to be in his seat and flying in the air like Superman. This is the hat he picked at the store the day before we left.

One more of his pictures from the plane.

Don't cry over spilled milk...

2007-02-19T16:21:00.000-05:00

This is a common occurrence in our household. I cannot tell you how many messes in the morning have to be cleaned up because of cereal that has been knocked over. Usually it is because the kids are trying to do other things while they eat their breakfast. Although Jacob is the oldest, I think he may spill the most. This kind of brings back memories I have. I was notorious for knocking things over and making messes. Who am I kidding...I still make messes!

This does however remind me about life situations. Life does not really ever run smoothly. There are many instances of spilled milk so to speak. What I do, and what I am trying to teach the children to do, is to do our best to clean up whatever mess we made, be open and honest about our messes, and move forward a better person because of it being more aware of what caused the mess and how to prevent it from happening again. While I think there are times where we just need to cry in life, and yes even over spilled milk, there are many more situations God has given us to smile and laugh. I know I was laughing at Jacob when I saw the milk all over his clothes and on the floor, and while he was not laughing then, he can laugh at the picture of it now!

The Barker Boys

2007-01-31T22:55:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post a picture of my nephews Zachary and Noah. My sister Heidi and her husband Brandon have adorable kids! Zachary will be 4 in March and Noah turned 1 in November. Zach and Nate are only two months apart and really have a great time together. We sure wish the miles were not so far between us. Who knows maybe one day we will find ourselves in close proximity again. Until that time we will have to rely on trips, phone calls, pictures, and the like.

The "Killer Bunny" Phenomenon

2007-01-21T21:42:00.000-05:00

So there is a new craze going on in our house. My sister told me about this card game, I guess it is a role-playing game. Anyway...I searched for the game around town. I should have bought it off of the internet when I first saw it. I looked at stores like Target and Toys-R-Us with no luck. Then I called around to Comic Book Stores. I was told they could order it. The problem was that I wanted the game now. We went into one of the malls and by chance found it in one of the stores. So now we are having a blast with this game. We have introduced it to some of our friends who seem to enjoy it. Jacob and Victoria both love it. Charles and I are loving it. We can't wait to get more of our friends involved in playing it. It is a blast. I was put off by the name of the game at first, but after looking it up on the internet, and now playing the game, I have to say it is great fun and addicting (thanks Heidi!). Now if only my sister lived closer so that we could play together!

Here is a little bit about the game...
Killer Bunnies is a fast paced, action filled card game, in which you must try to keep as many Bunnies alive as possible, while eliminating your opponents' Bunnies. The problem: Your opponents are armed with weapons and will stop at nothing to keep you from winning the game, which can get dreadfully vengeful, horribly nasty, hilariously messy, and just plain fun!

Nate's Birthday Party

2007-01-12T09:29:00.000-05:00

This last Saturday we had a birthday party for Nathanael. He was so excited; for entire week prior to the party he kept asking me when his friends were going to come to his house. I planned on making him a cake. I try and make all of the party cakes special. He decided on a monster truck. I had a plan. When I talked to him about it he said he wanted a monster truck arena cake. What does he know about monster truck arenas? I did have fun creating the cake though.

The boys had a blast! They played with Nate's army men, went out and jumped on the trampoline, played pin the smile on Lightning McQueen, and enjoyed cake and ice cream. Of course there were presents as well!

Nathanael, Timmy, and Kyle

All week Nate said he wanted to invite Kyle. I did not know who Kyle was, but after many phone calls and information searching conversations with Nate, we found out who Kyle was. Thank goodness with such short notice (I called his mom on Thursday) he was able to come!

Nate jumping on the trampoline.

Julianne reading Nate the card she made him for his special day.

Some Christmas morning pictures

2007-01-08T07:19:00.000-05:00

Now that the holidays are over and I am finally not feeling sick, I thought I would post a few pictures from Christmas. We had a great day celebrating not only with the six of us, but with my sister Delana and her son Joey. It was great to have them visit for a few days. She is expecting her second baby in February.

Charles and Julianne on Christmas morning.

Christmas morning drives Charles and I crazy. We wake up early and expect the kids to be up early. I used to get up at 4 or 5 on Christmas morning. They don't usually get up until 6 or 7. By then we are laying in bed thinking of ways to wake them up.

Nate opening his stocking.

Victoria received a purse and wallet this year. She is stepping out of the little girl stage. Boy is that ever scary!

Jacob and Charles having fun on the trampoline.

Happy Birthday Nathanael Paul!!!

2006-12-30T10:38:00.000-05:00

Today is Nate's 4th birthday. This is a very special and emotional day for me. I am very aware that my baby is no longer a baby. He is an independent little man!

Another Girl Invasion...

2006-12-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

This last weekend we had another girl sleepover. It was for Victoria's 8th birthday. We welcomed 7 little girls into our home. The girls had a lot of fun singing Karaoke. They played, opened presents, had cake, and watched High School Musical. To me High School Musical is this generation's Grease. The next morning came early because we had church. Many of the parents came at 9 am and the other girls rode with us to church. It was interesting getting so many girls ready for the Christmas service at church! I talked the girls into taking a picture with me. They complained, but usually I am the one behind the camera, so I decided to change that up.
The girls!
Victoria and her guitar cake. Boy did that take a lot of work!

Command Christmas Party for the Kids

2006-12-12T14:23:00.000-05:00

The kids had a great time at the Jumping Monkey playing on the different bounce houses and then getting gifts from Santa. Jacob bouncing away.

Nate taking a break to have a drink.
Julianne sitting with Santa.
Victoria as she received her gift.

Church Christmas Party

2006-12-11T08:22:00.000-05:00

9 years and counting...

2006-12-02T08:45:00.000-05:00

Last week Charles and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary. We have had a wonderful 9 years together and I look forward to the many years to come. Our love has blossomed each year into a more beautiful, profound, and romantic adventure together. The unity we share in our love for one another and our love for God solidifies our friendship and passion. I delight in and respect the man my husband has become. He sacrifices so much to take care of our family. I appreciate everything, big or little, that he does for us. November 22, 1997

December 1, 2006

GIRL POWER!!!

2006-11-11T12:17:00.000-05:00

Julianne had a slumber party last night. Our house was invaded by little girls anxious to has as much fun as they could possibly fit into one evening. The girls came from as close as around the corner and as far away as the next city over.

We had pizza for dinner and lots of snacks to keep the little mouths occupied. The boys stayed at home, but retreated to safety zones. Jacob stayed upstairs most of the time. Charles was zoned into the computer. Nate on the other hand wanted to be in the mix of it all.

I had many activities and games planned to keep the girls busy, but they had their own plan of the way the evening should go. They were excited to get their pajamas on early in the evening and play, play, play. Julianne opened her gifts, all of which she loved, and quickly moved on to the next activity.

I had Charles pull out the Karaoke machine and the girls had a blast singing (even Nate and Jacob had fun singing). At one point Dawn, a close friend of our family, sang to the girls. Boy did they ever enjoy that! They enjoyed Dawn so much that when they woke up in the morning they were asking if she was coming back over to play. Next time she will just have to spend the night!

So the girls had a great time, stayed up extremely late, and woke up very early this morning. I made them a big breakfast, they watched another movie, and played until their parents came to pick them up. Julianne had a great birthday!

CHARLES IS HOME!!!!!!!!

2006-11-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

Charles came home on the USS Ross after 190 long days of being apart. Since the beginning of the year he has been gone for 8 months.

It has been a long road over the last year. Charles has been gone for a long period of time and there have been many challenges while he was gone. Monday started with a burst of excitement as the children and I got ready to watch the ship come home. We left the house later than I had planned, but still arrived at the pier with plenty of time to spare. There were many activities for the kids to do while they waited, but we were anxious to see the ship.

When we were finally allowed on the pier, we could see Charles and the kids anxious waved and yelled to him. The first kiss had happened, all the new dads came off the ship, the CO, XO, and CMC were reunited with their loved ones and then we were allowed to cross the brow. Charles was there waiting with open arms. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched him embrace the children. I was overwhelmed with joy and love. We are reunited as a family once again.

The children and I are blissfully happy. We know there will be times of separation again in the future, but for right now, we know we are a complete family. God has protected us as a family. He has given us the strength to make it these last six months. We look forward to the fun adventures that are to come in the near future.

Halloween

2006-11-02T00:49:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of the kids before we headed out to trick or treat. The girls' friend, Justina, came over to spend the evening with them. They had a blast! Victoria was a witch, Julianne wanted to be a princess (may people said she looked like Princess Di), and Nate chose to be the infamous tiger (the tiger has been used almost every year by one of the children since 1998).

More Halloween Pictures...

2006-11-02T00:17:00.000-05:00

Nate seriously considering whether he wanted to try and keep up with the girls or not. He took his time going from house to house at times frustrating the girls.

Justina, Victoria, and Julianne had a blast going from house to house collecting candy! At one point a firetruck and police car from the base parked and distributed candy to all the kids. I wish I had a picture, but it was challenging enough keeping track of all the kids in the mob of children.

Jacob's difficult week

2006-11-02T00:08:00.000-05:00

Jacob has had a very challenging week. He got into a lot of trouble last week at school and at home. It is hard to be a one parent household right now, trying to find the correct discipline. One of the things Jacob lost was his privilege to the fun of Halloween. Boy did I feel guilty, but the impact really seemed to make a difference. He did so well last night without complaining or causing any problems while we were out, I let him go home and hand out the candy. This is the last few minutes before we turned off our light for the night. It is the first and only picture he let me take of him.

New Pictures

2006-10-17T01:01:00.000-04:00

Julianne and Nathanael lounging in the yard.

Victoria heading to school.

Nate having fun.

Victoria was Student of the Month for September

2006-10-06T01:02:00.000-04:00

Student of the Month for Responsibility!

Victoria reading to Nathanael during the assembly.

Jacob...

2006-10-06T00:44:00.000-04:00

It took awhile, but I finally downloaded a few pictures from the little party we had for Jacob when he got home from school on his birthday. Jacob getting ready to open presents.

Flight test lab from Grandmother.

Skateboard from 'Ampa and 'Amma

Pictures of Charles

2006-09-19T10:58:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of Charles. I was talking to my sister Heidi and she said I should put them up on the blog. I don't know why I did not think of it...Thanks Heidi!

This is a picture of Charles holding the Father's Day T-Shirt we sent.

Charles in Jerusalem on 6/1/2006

Charles in Corfu in August.

2006-09-11T11:36:00.000-04:00

11 years ago today Jacob blessed us with his presence. I remember how excited I was, but also how scared I was to be a mother. It is a joy to watch Jacob grow and explore. He has always been very active, he loves a challenge, and he is one of the smartest children I have ever been around (I'm not just saying that because he is my son).
The one thing that amazes me about Jacob, above all else, is his love for God. The depth of his love for God and his knowledge of the scriptures provide him with the strength to be successful each day. He loves others the way Jesus loves us. I learn something daily from watching him.

Happy Birthday Jacob!!!

The girls and their friends

2006-09-08T15:14:00.000-04:00

Fun, Fun, Fun

2006-09-02T10:56:00.000-04:00

The kids go back to school on Tuesday. In so many ways I am grateful; I am ready for the summer break to be over, but there is a part of me that will miss some of the freedom we have had this summer. On Wednesday I went with the kids to the Gator Pool, a small waterpark on base with waterslides. The kids swimming instructor, Nicole, lifeguards there. We had a blast. She took her lunch time and spent it playing with the kids. I am grateful for the love she shows my children. Nicole, Julianne, and Nathanael going down one of the smaller slides.
Jacob making one of his favorite faces as he goes down one of the slides with a nice drop.
Victoria waves to the camera as she enjoys herself on one of the slides.

Charles sent me flowers!!!

2006-08-09T22:05:00.000-04:00

These are the beautiful flowers my husband sent me. I am so excited.

Fun with Family

2006-08-02T01:27:00.000-04:00

This weekend Charles' mom and grandmother were here. It was a short visit, but it was great to have them here. The quality was great. On Saturday we went to the beach. From the house it only takes about five minutes to get there. Here is a picture of mom with the kids:

The kids are getting to be so brave in the water. The swimming lessons are really helping. The girls spent most of the time in the water. Nate played at the waters edge most of the time and Jacob used the time to build a fortress in the sand. I am grateful that we live so close to the beach.

On Sunday, after church and naps, we ventured out to dinner and went to see Pirates of the Carribean. It was great to have fun with our family. We cannot wait until the next visit.

Life is non-stop

2006-08-02T00:50:00.000-04:00

I keep wondering when the day will come that I can just sit at home and do nothing. Unfortunately with four children, that day does not seem to ever arrive. Since summer started I have had something going on daily. First the trip I took, then the week long camps both Jacob and Victoria participated in. Last weekend I went to the women's retreat. We have swimming twice a week, weekly appointments, and many other things. Just in the last week Jacob and I were both sick and then Charles' mom and grandmother come for a visit. It was a wonderful visit, but I am exhausted.

One thing I have learned through it all is that I can manage. Daily I reflect on Philippians 4:13 and 1Corinthians 10:13. He is my strength and will not put more things on my plate than I can bear. There are some days (many actually) that I am not sure how I am going to make it through the day, but I make it through (often with much prayer).

I have to say I really dislike being a single parent. I am grateful that I do have an amazing husband that will be home in 3 more months to help out. Until then I face each day as it arrives. If I look at the scope of the full 6 months it is too overwhelming, but taking one day at a time, I feel like I can I can manage. Thank God for email. I remember the days without, I am grateful that is no longer the case.

So I will continue to face life as it arrives. I know there are not very many chances to catch my breath right now. I do however know that I will grab every opportunity that arises to take a time out and enjoy a bit of time to myself (even if it is at 1 in the morning).

Julianne is growing up

2006-07-26T23:13:00.000-04:00

Each day I watch the children and each day I notice something new about them. Today we were sorting through the girls clothes and I discovered many of the things that fit at the end of the school year already do not fit.

Julianne was really excited because a couple of the skirts that still fit Victoria also fit her. Today she wore one of those skirts. I could tell she felt like a big girl.

It is difficult to see the children grow so fast. I know that Charles will be blown away by their changes when he return in November.

Traveling...

2006-07-26T23:05:00.000-04:00

We have done a lot of traveling this summer. I feel like I have hardly had a chance to breathe before we hit the road again. These are two pictures of the kids in the van during our trip to North Carolina.

Another tooth...

2006-07-26T22:48:00.000-04:00

Victoria lost tooth number three today. It was a pain to pull out, but we were determined. She was so excited!

Women's Retreat

2006-07-26T14:04:00.000-04:00

This weekend I went to a Statewide Women's Retreat. I went looking forward to the "me" time I would have. I have to say walking away from it, I pray that I am a better woman of God. I learned so much. There are so many things I want to take away from this weekend.

Practically I know that God uses me and all of my imperfections, but I think it really hit me this weekend. The reality is that He puts many people in my life for a reason and I sit back way too often. I feel like I really need to start sharing my life with others. God has changes me in so many amazing ways.

I want God to shape me. I know it requires absolute trust. I think I have problems with that, but I am working on it, praying for it. Our trials often harden our hearts. In order to be shaped by God, our hearts must remain soft. I want that, but there definitely is an inner battle. I want to have the faith to push through whatever I face. I need to continually be real and always be open. Sometimes it is so hard to be completely open because of my fear of what people will think of me. What I need to remember is that I need to be concerned about God not other people. One of the biggest things I have struggled with for years is being a people pleaser. I have changed and grown, but there is still a part of me that worries about what others think.

I think one way that I am preventing God from working powerfully in my life is the amount of control I try to have on everything. I am not giving God the power to work in me. I am trying to take all of his control away and replacing it with my control. I think about all of the things that Jacob (my son) goes through, all of the trials he faces. He definitely has issues and does things that are not acceptable, but his love for God is so amazing...so pure. He is not concerned about the way others perceive him; he only wants to please God. Oh what I can learn from him. What we all can learn from him.

I have a lot more that I learned, but I thought I would start with this for now. I cannot change everything at once, but with God I can do all things.

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)
2Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Chaos...

2006-06-25T23:21:00.000-04:00

My life revolves around chaos. I think I thrive on it. By the end of the month I will have traveled all of the place both by car and plane. I flew to Oregon and then California in the middle of the month, I drove to Pennsylvania on Friday and home on Saturday, and at the end of this next week I will be driving to North Carolina.

There is definitely never a dull moment in the Burch household. I think we live to have our heads spinning around in circles. I guess that happens when there are six people living in a household and school is out for the summer. I know my adventures don't come close to the many places Charles has visited, but we have adventures still.

The great thing about all of the chaos in my life is that God is the center. I know that he is going to protect my family and guide us to make the wisest decisions. I am grateful for every precious moment I have whether it be in California spending precious moments with the Barker family, driving the long trip home from Pennsylvania hearing the kids bicker in the backseat, or picking up the phone and hearing my moms voice on the other end. There are so many things I think we don't sit back and appreciate throughout the chaos of daily life. I am learning to see each moment for what it really is...a gift from God.

Missing Charles...

2006-06-10T17:50:00.000-04:00

It's the little things...

I miss him for the way he teaches the children how to ride a bike...and tie their shoes.
I miss the way he gets the kids ready for bed, tucks them in, and prays with each of them.
I miss the dimples that appear when he smiles.
I miss eating cinnamon rolls late at night because he has had a craving (so much for my diet).
I miss his soft embrace, the brush of his lips on my neck, and our late nights having Quiet Times and then praying together.
I miss so many things...

School Pictures...

2006-06-05T03:18:00.000-04:00

Wow, the school year is almost over and the kids are ready for summer. How fitting that the school pictures from this spring are a beach scene.

Victoria is excited to move on to second grade next year.

Julianne is finishing up her first year in Kindergarten.

And Jacob promotes on June 14th. He will be attending Great Neck Middle School next year.

Swimming Lessons...

2006-06-05T02:36:00.000-04:00

We joined the YMCA in January. That was one of the best things we could have done. The children take swimming lessons twice a week and have improved in leaps and bounds. When lessons first started Nate would not get into the water and none of the kids could swim. Both Jacob and Victoria can swim almost half the length of the pool now, Julianne is working on swimming a shorter distance, and Nate will put his face under the water. The three oldest are learning to dive as well. I look forward to seeing how far they are by the time Charles comes home in November. I know he will be astounded by their progress!

Love...

2006-06-03T14:48:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite pictures of Charles and I. We took this picture during our trip to Virginia in October before we moved back here. It has been difficult with him away, but we are learning to communicate amazingly with email. We have been married now for eight and a half years and have definitely had our ups and downs. Our relationship now is stronger and deeper than it has ever been. I am grateful to have such a wonderful man in my life!

2006-06-03T14:34:00.000-04:00

The friendships God gives us are such a treasure. I am grateful for the many true friends that I have. Charles has been gone over a month now and I don't know where I would be without the love and support of my friends.

This is a picture of Nate and his best friend Timmy at the beach. Even at 3 friendships are important!

Its a new era...

2006-05-02T07:32:00.000-04:00

I thought I would try something new. This is a great way to share what is going on with our family and share pictures as well. Charles left for his 6 month deployment yesterday. It saddens me to say goodbye. We will miss him so very much. Hopefully time will fly by and before we know it he will be returning home. Here is a picture of the kids and Charles before he went to the ship.