There more to life than motor bikes and toliet bowls

So things have been have been busy here at the Burwell manor as Spring has arrived on Long Island and the rain has begun to drift away our house has become a buzz with the fresh air and warm sun that greets us each day.
Spring means yard work, random trips to the park, and an occassional stop by the ice cream man. We are enjoying this season as a family and began new adventures each in our own way. I thought I would give you all an update on what is happening around here and hope that you too would update us with what is new with you.
Kara seems to be a good place to start. Kara LOVES spring it means running in the yard, swinging on the swings and getting to ride her hot pink car. She has been fascinated with the older kids as they ride their scooters and bikes and is trying to keep up with them and unfortunately has a few straps to show for it. She has began talking at a rapid rate and is almost able to keep up with her big sister, ok maybe not but she enjoys telling you things are "broken" and still loves her "Mickey Mou" and "Pooh" which she now grabs the remote and runs to you with it. She loves the birds and enjoys pointing them out to you and also likes to pick flowers and telling you "yellow" which is her word for flower, we are still working on that.The item that Kara has been most excited about lately is the toliet. She loves to encourage her friend Tricia and her cousin Dehlia who are in the process of potty training. She loves to say yeah and throw in her own toliet paper and wave goodbye as the pee pee etc floats away. Nothing will defeat what she did last night. She actually became one with the toliet bowl!! And no to what your thinking we do not allow our 1 year to pull an all nighter of drinking and end up sucking up to the porcelien goddess no this was done perfectly sober. We were at my in laws house when I couldn't find her so as I looked around at the usually places I was surprised to see that she was in the bathroom. As I watched before my very eyes she was wading up toliet paper and dipping it in the toliet and then sticking it in her mouth and sucking the water off. AS I ran I am sure you can visualize...just like in the movies... a slow motion run with a big open mouth NOOOOOOO....but it was too late. The deed was done. So Kara is currently having her mouth suctioned out to free her from any bacteria that may have creeped into her mouth and I am taking a class titled : How to deal with a toddler who wipes the wrong end.
Lanie has been busy this Spring with a number of different things. She has began a friendship with some of the neighborhood kids again and has enjoyed riding her friend Shawns motorbike. She has actually become consummed with riding his motor bike that each day she counts down the minutes to when she can spend time with him to ride bikes together. I am glad she is outside but I am waiting for her to ask to get on temporary tattoo so she can look like a real biker! Lanie has also been involved with Girl Scouts and has now made orchestra for her cello so we will get to go and see her perform next week which is exciting. She will also have a chorus concert as well as two dance recitals. She is quite a thespian this all fits in to her love of shows and always willing to throw one together for her family and friends.Lanie is loving school and is doing a unit on butterflies. She loves learning about nature and is ready to raise her own butterflies at home.We are proud parents to say that Lanie got straight A'a this quarter and we are very proud of her!
As for Doug and I we are enjoying the weather and starting to do yard work as we prepare for the summer a head. I am looking for a summer job that will allow me to be home with the kids but still bring in some bacon or maybe just a pork rib or two. Doug is trying to fit in golf when he can, and we are looking forward to his birthday June 3 and hoping to see the new Yankee stadium soon.
Well that is it for the Burwell's, until the next update enjoy this beautiful weather!

Wonderful day for our family!

So today was a wonderful day for our family our new nephew was adopted and now has "the official" stamp. He was part of our family the very day he was born and we are so proud to call him nephew and cousin. We know that Jeff and Kim have been through a lot to get to this joyous day and know now that it was worth it all.
Jeff, Kim and Connor we love you and look forward to watching Connor grow!

Ahhh Sleep Baby Sleep

So now that I have come off of my political soap box it is time to head back into family mode. The Burwell house is starting to get back to normal after the last few wild weeks we have had in our home. We do ask that you keep us in your prayers that our family will heal from the waves that have hit our home. I am happy to announce that Kara now goes down for naps and bedtime with little to no crying and is always happy to spend time with bedtime bear (thanks Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff). The transition was hard but I am happy that we went through the storm. As for Lanie she is feeling better and has now been able to go to sleep peacefully. She is really growing into being a great sister and truly enjoys "showing" Kara lots of new stuff. Doug is working hard and trying to get things back in order in our home. I am balancing childcare in my home and being a mom. I am looking forward to spring when the kids can play outside where the air is fresh (although I truly believe you should never rush the seasons). We are looking forward to what God's plan is for our family and wish many wonderful days for you in 2009.

Family is everything!

Today was a wild and crazy day for our family.I am sure that their are times in everyones life when things are not always as they should be. As we go through life there are ups and downs and tests along the way that really allow us to step back and ask ourselves what is really important in life? Each season in life holds it's own adventure. I feel that this blog is a bunch of metaphores.
What I am trying to say is when everything seems to be at it's end as long as you have a family to come home to you are lucky. I am also happy to have my faith to help get through any situation.The love of my husband and the smiles and hugs from my children could be all that I could ever ask for. As Doug has quoted to me this week "as long as I have you guys I have all I need" God seems to know how to put the right people in our lives just when we need them. You never realize all that you have until you think about your health, your warm home and a full belly.
I am truly happy to have love ones that are there with a listening ear, a helping hand, or a loving word.
I know this is a serious blog which I am trying to be more of a humorous blogger, but I was feeling a little sentimental.
If you are reading this and have given us loving words, helpful support, or just thought of us we love you are thankful for you.
Love, Jenny (future humorous blogger)

Grieving as a Family

As many of my readers may know we lost a dear and loving family member right before Christmas and her name is Aunt Sue. The loss of Aunt Sue has been one that was not only sorrowful but extremely shocking to all of us. Aunt Sue was what appeared to be a healthy woman with a normal life and going through life as all of do so the loss of her was shocking not only for the adults but for my own children.
Lanie was very sad when we told her about Aunt Sue she was sad, and tearful but seemed to continue on with things as they would for any 8 year old. The only problem is she really wasn't going on as a normal 8 year old as I soon found out. While in Cincinnati she got the stomach virus that was going around she often cried and was extremely upset. Doug and I couldn't figure out why it was lasting so long and why she wasn't healing. We took her to the emergency room where they did many tests they decided it was indigestion. Lanie continued to have stomach problems and often crying in pain when it was time to go to bed. We really could not figure it out and often became frustrated with her, which I now regret!
I was laying in bed last night I feel that the Lord spoke to me and maybe a little help from Aunt Sue it occurred to me what was happening with Lanie. She was having anxiety attacks, just like I have experienced in my life. I know you say an 8 year old having an anxiety attack? Well when you lose someone so close to you and so real to you it can be scary. When Lanie woke up this morning I went in and spoke with her about how she was feeling and what was on her mind and in fact what I thought was true. She not only expressed to me that she was afraid she would die but that people around her including me would not live forever. The thought of the idea that no one lives forever was terribly painful for her. I remember as a young child feeling that same way realizing that not everyone can be here forever. So we talked for a while about how there isn't enough room for everyone to stay here on earth and how heaven is such a wonderful place to be someday with God. It is very hard to comprehend at 8 or at 37 how we can't just keep everyone we love here on earth with us so there is no sorrow or loss. After talking for a while we decided to implement family fun night and we are going to continue to talk more about her feelings and anxieties.
Today was a life lesson for me. The lesson here is that although "things" may look fine they are not always "fine." I realized that 8 year olds can act brave when deep down inside they are just as sad as her grieving parents and family.
The loss of Aunt Sue has grieved our WHOLE family, but there are positive things that have come out of it, a wake up call for check ups, a need to talk more about daily life with the ones that we love, to cherish each day and most importantly.... to hug each other everyday.
We love you and miss you Aunt Sue.