july 27th - madness on hutchinson

We had a great breakfast this morning at Fitzwater Cafe and Alex ate more french toast than any small human in history.  Daddy and Alex went to the market and Mommy and Gemma went to Whole Foods to divide up the grocery list.  The whole Burger clan came over to our house for an afternoon/evening of booze, food, and grab assin'.

The kids had a great time playing and Alex was so happy to see all of the them and run around the house.  It was like romper room in our house with all six kids here...soon will be a seventh.  Yikes!

july 26th - happy birthday mickey...not the mouse

We had a pretty boring day of watching mommy take seven naps, so Daddy and the kids actually got an unexpected bonus day of bonding.  Alex and Daddy put together every puzzle he owns several times, and Gemma watched....sneaking an occasional piece away from us when we were not looking.

Mommy and Daddy went to the Powel House in Old City to celebrate our neighbor, Mickey's, birthday.  It was a very nice evening out in the heart of the city's historical area in an amazing old mansion.  Jackie had a bonus night of hanging with the kids and puzzles.

july 25th - mommy's home

Last morning of quality time with just Daddy before Momma comes home from her business trip in Chicago.  The kids watched 'Frozen' together for the 57th time this week and then we went for a walk to get coffee and Alex's usual in the Italian Market.  Alex HAD to push Gemma's stroller so it was a LONG leisurely stroll.

Mommy got home at 9:30am, and Alex came home from the store with a big bouquet of flowers for her...he was very proud.  Dropping them on the ground didn't stop him while he was running top speed to jump into Mommy's arms.  We went out to lunch at Beau Monde and the kids were very happy to have Mommy home.

july 24th - toys are great

Grandmom Burger came over last night to hang out with the kids and have dinner.  She brought Alex one of Daddy's toy trucks from back in the day and he has not stopped playing with it since.  Gemma is starting to work out the quads in her bouncer and really gets going when music is playing.

july 23rd - jackie keeps them busy

Jackie has had the kids out and about playing with all of their friends this week.  Alex and his buddies always have a good time together and Gemma never stops smiling.

july 22nd - missing momma

Day two of Mommy being gone, everyone is still alive, no missing limbs.  Alex is on a 'Frozen' kick right now, so he wants it on a continuous loop.  Daddy is limiting the intake for both the fear of dependency and to spare the humiliation of involuntarily belting out some lyrics in meetings.  Catchy tunes.  Alex is also loving watching videos on the iPad these days, so we have been making videos with him so he can watch himself.  He really loves watching videos of himself...vanity, shmanity.

july 21st - mommy go?

Mommy left this morning on a business trip for the entire week, so it is just Alex, Gemma, and Mr Mom (Daddy)....and Jackie, of course.  It should be an interesting and fun week full of poop and screaming.  Alex was a little upset that Mommy left...but felt better after he got to pick out his own mismatched pajamas.

july 20th - at least he ate with his hands first

Alex began the day by putting on two pairs of big-boy underpants...we assumed for added protection.  Not very effective since neither pair did anything to hold in his first pee.  We went for a walk into Center City to run an errand, which required a cup of coffee for Daddy and the mandatory mini bavarian fudge brownie for Alex.  All of us waited for Mommy to go in the stores, so we used several sets of stairs as our personal jungle gym.  On the way home, Alex kept the sanitizer company in business by increasing Burger household demand due to "Backdraft" cruising down city sidewalks.

july 19th - a visit from mike mike

For some reason, Alex cannot conquer using "Uncle," so he just repeats everyone's name.

Uncle Frank = Frank Frank
Uncle Ryan = Ry Ryan
Uncle Gary = Gar Gary

We had a visit from Mike Mike today.  Uncle Mike came down to Philly and pick up a crib for the new baby.  Alex has been saying all week that Mike Mike is coming to "take his wall."  Apparently his headboard occupies a larger role in Alex's mind.  We had a nice lunch and Alex entertained himself on the walk home.

july 18th - only 17 1/2 years left before gemma can vote

Our little baby is officially one half year old.  Gemma spent the day doing six month old things...sucking on her hands, slobbering, and giggling.

Our neighbor Catherine's son passed away suddenly and our street has been full of very distraught family members coming and going.  Alex was such a sweet boy and took flowers over to Catherine.  She was so appreciative and sobbing, we all almost lost it....so sad.  Alex really knew something was up and he gave her a big hug.  Every adult out there was pretty much crying.  Then, Carmella gave him a big plate of "choplate" chip cookies.  Mission accomplished.  Score for Alex.

july 17th - cannot find the words

Lucy has been on vacation for the last week, so they were reunited this morning.  It entailed a high pitched shriek and them running to each other for hugs.  Alex was very excited when he came home and told us he kissed Lucy on her knee and her mouth.  Trouble.

july 16th - you wit hutchinson?

The Hutchinson Street crew got together for our quarterly neighborhood party tonight.  This evening's festivities were held at Spitalieri's, a new italian restaurant that was opened by a woman who lives on our street.  The kids had a great time, the food was great, Alex stuffed his face with Sarcone's bread, and Gemma got lots of attention.  The musicians were arguing over what instrument Alex should play...but he said drums :)

july 15th - spaghetti legs

The only thing(s) that wake Gemma up in the morning is a good dump in her pants or when she gets all tangled up in the bars on her crib.  She always ends up with at least one limb hanging out between the bars...she thinks it is hilarious.

july 14th - holy jigsaw

Alex is a master puzzler now.  He is getting so good at putting his puzzles together and immediately has to put another one together or "break it" so he can do the same one again.  He gets a huge grin on his face when he gets to the last piece and after he puts it down, he waits for his applause.  Probably giving him a complex.

july 13th - everyone is german today

Somehow everyone became German today since the World Cup final between Germany and Argentina  was played.  The match went scoreless through regulation, and Germany scored an amazing goal in extra time to win 1-0.  Alex and Gemma hung out with Daddy and watched it all happen...four more years until the next World Cup.  Crazy to think Alex will be 6 years old next time we are watching.

july 12th - hanging with virginians

The kids woke up a little further south than they were when they went to bed, and Alex only had one thing on his mind...PANCAKES!!  We took the kids for breakfast that seemed to take forever.  The adults waited patiently, but Alex told every person that walked by wearing a Silver Diner t-shirt that he wanted his pancakes.  Poor kid was starving.  Gemma already ate, so she just grinned.

We spent the afternoon at the Boyce's, which closely resembled the community pool during a 7-day heat wave.  There had to be twice as many kids as there were adults in this place....absolutely insanity.  Alex was himself...doing his own thing and picking his spots.  He went on the trampoline for a while and had a blast.  Then, he nestled up near 3 older women to watch Frozen.  Showing compassion and sensitivity to get next to the ladies was a strong move...but doing so with his shirt off and his pythons out may have come off as over the top.

july 11th - beware gemma's wingspan

Alex helped Mommy make Rice Krispy treats today to bring down to Virginia for Josh Boyce's birthday party.  Gemma's curiosity now comes with a hand (or two depending on level of excitement) with enough dexterity to do some damage.  After the kids had dinner, we loaded them into the car and spent the night at a hotel in Reston to break up the trip.  Alex was super pumped about sleeping in a hotel....until we got on 95 and he said "all done car...Alex's bed."

july 10th - steve tevere or kirk baker

Alex is a little monkey.  Every time we watch this video we crack up uncontrollably.  He is getting big and strong.  He loves swinging on bars.  As long as the bars aren't vertical and he isn't in an orange jumpsuit, we have been moderately successful parents.

july 9th - arrrrghhh!

Our neighbor, Mickey, gave Alex a pirate's eye patch from an event she went to down at Penn's Landing.  He has been playing with it all day without putting it down, but he did share it with Gemma for a nice photo op.

july 8th - stationary no more

Gemma is teetering on the edge of full mobility.  She is now full on sitting up in her chair, getting up in everyone's business.  She takes after her mother.  Now she is even mustering up the energy to scoot across the floor.  Not quite a crawl so much as doing the worm across the floor...sans music.

july 7th - i can do that too

Alex and  Gemma are really interacting now that Gemma is trying to do the same stuff.  They sat in bed together this morning and watched Micky Mouse.  Although, once Alex got a hold of mommy's iPhone, they started watching videos of the two of them.  Gemma is standing on her own two feet more and more.  She is getting really strong and making mommy and daddy frightened about how quickly she may be running around the house.

july 6th - lance armstrong meets rocky balboa

Alex woke up this morning with the itch to get out on his bike again.  He would not stop talking about it, so we took the kids over to Kelly drive and the art museum.  He was so proud of himself and tried to ring his bell at other bikers.  When we got to the Rocky steps (not quickly), he only had one thing on his mind...running.  He ran up the steps with Mommy and was trying to race other people.  Once he got to the top, he ran like a madman - then he spotted construction cranes and had to take a look.

Baby Gemma graduated from cereal only to some avocado today.  She was a little unsure about it at times, but she is not one to refuse some tasty food.

july 5th - only 114 miles to hamilton

We left Millersville this morning and headed over to the Schaefer's house in New Jersey to hang out with friends for a little post-July 4th, July 4th party.  Alex make a b-line straight for the trucks in the yard and barely came out of them for the rest of the day..."drive time!!" The pool water was not quite the 95 degrees Alex experienced in Millersville and he had little interest in taking a dip.  Gemma played with her friends Charlotte and Addison before taking a snooze.

july 4th - america man

The weather was not exactly agreeable today, but it didn't stop Alex from getting outside to ride his bike and get behind the wheel of every car for more driving expeditions.  Gemma was unbelievably adorable in outfits number 5, 6, and 7...and put up with a mini photo shoot administered by mommy.

We had some company over for a nice dinner on the grill prepared by Gramps.  Janet tried to challenge Daddy to a cupcake eating contest and failed miserably.

july 3rd - vacation in exotic millersville

We took the kids to Millersville last night so they could wake up on a mini-getaway to celebrate the birth of the USA with Gramps and Grandmum.  Alex was really excited to swim in the pool and talked about it all week.

Alex had plenty of sticky buns, put enough hours in behind the wheel to drive across country, rode his bicycle with both Gramps and Grandmum, slept on an air mattress with daddy, helped mommy make handmade burgers, and came close to needing CPR.

Gemma had her first experience swimming in a pool, took a nice afternoon nap under the willow tree, stood up all by herself against the ottoman, managed twelve wardrobe changes in three days, and wore the hell out of as many hats.

july 2nd - momma's girl

Baby Gemma loves her Mommy more than anything and can always put on a smile on her face for momma.  She is getting bigger by the minute and is loving on the solid foods.  If she is at the table and not being fed something, she has this new high pitched "i want something" squeal.  Anything she can do to get our attention and some food in her face.

july 1st - seven minute abs

Gemma is working out the abdominal region these days...sitting up in her chair every chance she gets to be part of the action.  She doesn't miss anything and just soaks Alex in (watching him and learning) - with a lot of giggles along the way.

june 30th - beeps and sugar go together

Alex spent the day at the Seger water park with his buddy Mikey.  He and Gemma needed to cool off in this ridiculous heat we have been having.  Grandma Beeps is going across the pond on vacation, so she came to visit the kids before she jets off on her trip.  She brought a nice variety of desserts, which Alex assigned to everyone.  Mommy - Cookies, Alex - Cookies, Daddy - Cake, Gemma - Boobies.