january 18th - happy birthday gem gem

Baby Gemma got round two of birthday festivities today for her actual birthday.  After a long day of partying with all of her friends and cousins yesterday, we spent the day at home playing.  Not by choice...there was a terrible storm in Philadelphia with freezing rain.  All the bridges were closed, accidents all over the place left roads shut down....we stayed inside to preserve life.  We did manage to walk two blocks for breakfast with Gramps and Grandmum.  Hawthorne's finally reopened and Gemma was able to get the experience that we have been missing for the last year.

We spent the day slowly unwrapping Gemma's birthday gifts and playing.  Both of the kids love the new tunnel that Gemma got from Kyle and Lila.  We got to eat cake again, make a mess again, and go straight to the bathtub AGAIN.  Without all of the people around, Alex finally got to show off his pipes and sing Happy Birthday.

january 17th - look who's ONE

Our baby Gemma is officially one (almost).  Today was her first birthday celebration and Mommy pulled out all the stops to make it a great celebration.  Her party was all about being a lady interested in things that sparkle...big surprise.  As usual, everything was planned perfectly and our house was decorated beautifully to go with the theme and showcase how AWESOME our kid is...again, big surprise.

It was a full house this year with our close friends and family, along with 15 crazy kids running around screaming.  All of our friends have been busy over the last couple years popping out kids, so the party dynamic has changed a bit.

Alex was very excited to sing happy birthday to Gemma because he has been practicing with Mommy.  Gemma was a very sophisticated young lady and tried to eat her smash cake with a spoon.  We really had to persuade her to dig into it with her little hands.  We cannot believe she is already 1, but are really looking forward to seeing the milestones that are yet to come!

january 16th - arlo lives

Alex was reunited with his long lost buddy, Arlo, this afternoon.  Jackie took the kids over to his house for a play date and Alex was really excited.  He told Jackie "Alex is so happy at Arlo's house."  We went to dinner at Stella to get some pizza and Gelato (for Alex).  Alex was picking up his pizza and folding it like Daddy...big milestone...proud moment!  On the way home, we finally got him on video talking about Philadelphia.  Whenever he sees the skyline he points it out and says "there's Philadelphia Mommy!!!"...doesn't really get that he is IN Philadelphia.

january 15th - books and carbs

Gemma is growing up and really interested in reading books....she is really starting to love story time, however, not as much as she enjoys her carbs.  Give her a piece of bread and she is occupied.

january 14th - bathing in the clouds

Daddy filled up the big tub for Alex to take a bath in hopes that it would make him feel better.  He ate a bit of his pasta tonight for dinner and then stood up and vomited in the middle of the kitchen.  Magical.  We dumped some bubbles into the tub and then turned on the jacuzzi jets.  There should be a warning on the bottle based on how quickly we almost lost both children in the resulting bubbles.

january 13th - just another day

Nothing really eventful today.  The kids went to the nest for some time out of the house.  The weather has been ridiculously col, so there is not much anyone can do without getting frostbite on your nose.  Alex is even voluntarily putting on his mittens to go outside.  A first in the Burger household.

january 12th - just put my pajamas on

Gemma is feeling better and is started to get her giggle back.  She has been relatively happy even though she has been sick, but still lacks interest in being photographed when it is time to hit the hay.

january 11th - invasion of the sickies

Alex and Gemma have both been under the weather...Gemma is mostly because her two front teeth are coming in, but Alex is in rough shape.  He has been throwing up randomly and has some nasty snot situation happening everywhere he goes.  Gemma was so tired she just decided to lay on the floor and pass out...then the two of them used Daddy as a pillow for a couple hours.  Needless to say, the bathroom did not get worked on this afternoon.

january 10th - relaxing sunday

Sunday hangover for Mommy who eventually needed some fresh air and dragged our tree to the Christmas tree recycling lot down on Broad and Catherine.  She got some good use out of the kids new Radio Flyer wagon....in addition to a few weird looks and comments.

january 9th - reading at a 3 year old level

The Dreby clan came down to Philly tonight for dinner and a slumber party.  Lila and Gemma were in bed early, but Alex and Kyle were up late reading books and playing with cars.  They ran through first 100 words in English then in Spanish to keep things interesting.

january 8th - alex's sweet tooth

Grandmom Burger came down for dinner tonight and brought Alex a couple treats.  He had his choice between a cupcake and a cookie...pretty evident which one he chose.  He had to take a bath in the sink afterward.

january 7th - viva la mexico

We are all excited to go to Mexico in a couple weeks and have been talking about it with Alex to get him fired up too.  He officially has beach fever as much as the adults in our household.  So excited talking about it and he said "Mommy, Alex is so happy."  C'mon...doesn't get any better.

january 6th - snow angels and butt sniffs

Alex was super excited to get out in the snow this afternoon.  Gemma could care less but did like the snow hitting her face on the walk to The Nest.  Alex learned how to make snow angels and with the ground being covered he did not realize he was laying in the street...not good.  Rufus came out from next door and did a bit of butt sniffing.  Alex now knows why he cannot eat yellow snow.

january 5th - oh crap

Gemma's new obsession is stair climbing.  She loves the steps and is really slick about waiting until we aren't looking and then making a break for it...very quickly.  If you turn your head for a second, she will be halfway up the steps.

january 4th - work tomorrow, pajamas today

Last day of holiday break before Mommy and Daddy are forced back to the grind by the man.  No one in the Burger family made it out of our pajamas.

january 3rd - saturdays are for brunch, rest, and correspondence

One benefit of early risers in our neighborhood is that you can get a jump on everyone else by getting to the brunch spots before the line is out the door.  We went to Honey's on South this morning...Alex got his pancakes with powdered sugar AND syrup...life is good.  Gemma spent the day lounging and catching up on reading, while Alex helped Mommy write out Christmas Thank You cards.  He wrote in every one...in his own language but the fundamentals successfully instilled.

january 2nd - jackie's back...temporarily

With Daddy working on the bathroom non-stop, Mommy has been taking one for the team on Alex and Gemma duty.  That said, she has not been able to finish up all of errands before going back to work and is danger close to putting the kids up for adoption.  Jackie came to hang out with them this morning to alleviate some stress and then we went out for a nice lunch at Good King Tavern.  Alex was a sophisticated "almost three" year old who placed his napkin in his lap like a big boy.  Gemma not so much....shoved food in her mouth by the fistful and made a mess.

january 1st - first hangover of the year

Very long day of bathroom renovations for Daddy and Uncle Frank, while Alex and Gemma had the time of their lives playing, running around, and giggling.  Mommy ridded the house of anything related to Christmas and we had some hangover comfort food from the local pizzeria to ease us into 2015.

december 31st - farewell 2014

A quiet new year's eve at home on Hutchinson Street was just what the doctor ordered after a busy Christmas and a week full of bathroom renovations.  Farrah, Ashlyn and Drew were here to hang out with Alex and Gemma.  The kids made their own pizzas and played pretty hard.  They were even losing clothes at one point...but the night ended quietly with a movie.  The adults got into the booze in true NYE fashion so we are not completely old...yet.

december 30th - the christmas hangover

The inevitable aftermath of Christmas took place today in the Burger household, which included organization, hanging, cleaning, and more organizing.  We went to Cherry Hill to do some size exchanging and ended up having dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen.  Alex had an ice cream sundae as big as his face and Gemma was loving on pizza crust.

december 29th - daddy's little helpers

The kids made a trip to Home Depot this morning to help pick out some tile....Alex made sure we had the right measurements before we left so we knew how much to buy.  Gemma got a paper cut while looking through the paint samples and left a bit of a blood sample in aisle 15.  Beeps and Grandpa Mike came down to Philly for the annual Christmas dinner festivities.  They read books, played trains, and ate cookies.  Good times, big laughs.

december 28th - happy birthday ryleigh

Cousin Ryleigh turned two years old today so the big party was back at Uncle Ryan and Aunt Erin's house in Jersey.  The kids got to play with all of their cousins and had a lot of fun.  Daddy caught Alex sitting in the toy room singing frozen songs into the microphone radio that Ryleigh got for Christmas.  Hilarious.

december 27th - the party is upstairs

Daddy was busy today in "the construction site" so the kids got in some park time with Mommy.  They went out for a long stroll in the new wagon and stopped at Seger since it was such a nice warm day.  We went to Nina's for dinner in the Italian Market and had a great dinner, which ended with Alex double fisting cannolis....and Gemma was giggling so hard while playing peek-a-boo behind her napkin that she projectile vomited on herself.  Did not stop laughing.

december 26th - franklin square

We got out of the house today for the first spin around the neighborhood in the new wagon.  Gemma enjoyed a banana from her new favorite seat at Whole Foods.  We went to Franklin Square tonight with our neighbors Chip and Mickey.  They have a Christmas light show and a pop up beer garden with fire pits....and FUNNEL CAKE.  I have never seen Alex look more like a crack addicted 2 year old than watching him eat funnel cake.  Cake covered in sugar.  He barely took a breath.

The Square also had mini golf, which Alex liked for a little while.  He played for a bit with Daddy's help.  Once he realized the purpose was to get the ball in the hole, he modified his game by just placing his ball next to the hole and tapping it in the cup.  Why do adults start at the beginning so far away from the hole??  The carousel was also a winner.  Alex got to ride the zebra and Gemma rode some weird mythological cat.  What happened to horses?

december 25th - pure joy

Apparently, Alex and Gemma were on the "nice" list because Santa was very kind to them.  Alex got his Thomas (and friends) train set that he has been talking about for months.  "It's Thomas....and Percy....and James.....and Henry.....and Harold.!!!!!!!"  Gemma got a new stroller for her baby dolls and LOVES it.  Mommy and Daddy got the kids a wagon, which is Gemma's new favorite place in the world...she just sits in it and makes everyone serve Princess Gemma.  Big smiles, Magic.

Off to Beeps and Grandpa Mike's house for Christmas brunch and, as usual, they are both eating cookies 30 seconds after we walk in the house.  Gemma's new pleasure food are Beeps' pizzelles...she cannot get enough of them.  Alex eats whatever is out, but chocolate chip are his favorite.  Gemma got Mommy's refurbished baby doll crib from when she was a little girl and her baby cup in the "green box."  Alex got a cool car from Grandpa Mike that he immediately knew was an "antique car"...a winning gift.

Burger Christmas was at Uncle Gary and Aunt Charissa's house this year.  All 7 kids were there and it looked like Christmas exploded in the living room.  Lots of fun and lots of cousin love.  Alex and Farrah are inseparable and Alex is always excited when they get to see each other.  Gemma was climbing on boxes all over the place because she thought it was hilarious.

december 24th - here comes santa claus

Back to Philadelphia to make sure we are home for Santa.  Alex was super concerned about putting out snacks....he chose cookies and beer for Santa and an organic carrot for Rudolph.  Both he and Gemma got their Christmas baths and were in their Christmas pjs in anticipation of the big guy magically coming through our fireplace (which is a gas insert...good luck Saint Nick).  Santa worked hard to put together Alex's train set, which was more challenging the 6 years of college.

december 23rd - christmas eve eve

Off to Millersville for the kickoff to the Christmas celebrations and Gemma was all smiles to be hitting the road for an adventure...she lasted about three minutes before passing out...almost longer than Mommy.  Mommy and Daddy made dinner for Gramps and Grandmum, which consisted of lobsters that we had delivered.  Alex thought they were cool until the moved and then he almost had a heart attack.

Alex made Christmas cookies with Grandmum and ate his body weight in Chocolate...got some stuck in his new back teeth that are surfacing.  Lots of fun, lots of food, lots of adult beverages.  Alex was super pumped about his new train and Gemma was super pumped for one more thing to grab and annoy Alex.