The Buerglers

Last summer Eric's parents took us on a beach trip down to 30-A .  I was blown away. When we first moved to Atlanta everyone talked about Hilton Head being the place to vacation, but after we took a family trip there in high school we were all really disappointed and have never been back. I was skeptical about going to 30-A after all the hype. However, it does NOT disappoint. It's classy and family oriented, but still casual. It's clean. There isn't a chain or hotel to be found along the entire strip. Aaannnnnddddd. Let's talk about it being called the Emerald Coast for a reason. The water is crystal clear and the sand is pure sugar. Now, there are some faults....like sometimes you have to walk over the river and through the woods to get from your house to the beach, but let's not talk about that. This summer my parents treated my entire family to a trip to 30-A. We rented a huge house. The big cousins got to sleep in a bunk room. Each couple and their bab...

For the fourth year in a row, we and my siblings packed up with kids for our annual cabin weekend. It's just the 4 of us kids and our families and my grandparents.  With another baby and another pregnant mama added to the brood, we had an especially low key weekend.   We spent a lot of time in the house playing cards, doing puzzles, reading books, and chasing after the kids. It rained for a bit of the weekend, but we still managed to go into town, make s'mores, play bubbles out in the field, and celebrate Zachary's 4th birthday with a tasty cookie cake! Sunday morning was one for the record books. We went to Mass together, all 14 of us. There's only one Mass and the church holds maaaaaybe 150 people. Maybe.  There is not cry room or air conditioning. In fact, there is barely a narthex.   At one point 11 of the 14 of us were standing in the back holding screaming children, or battling morning sickness or other digestive issues.  So exhausting. Eri...

We are so excited to welcome Ellie to the Church, to receive the indelible mark on her soul claiming her for Christ.  My niece was Baptized at the beginning of the summer by our friend Deacon Dennis. Deacon Dennis has celebrated almost all our siblings weddings, and almost all our nieces and nephews baptisms. We're a big fan!  One of the reasons we love him is that he gets down on the kids level and talks to the siblings. He also personally talks to the parents and Godparents about their responsibilities.  David and Paige chose my sister Katie to be the Godmother and my brother Alex to be the Godfather.  I absolutely adore photographing Baptisms so the photos and photobook made the perfect Baptism gift for Ellie.  Katie and Sam knew they were pregnant but hadn't announced it to the family yet, so they privately asked Deacon Dennis for a blessing on the life growing within her.  My parents hosted another beautiful...

Valentine's Day is tricky. Eric and I (Eric especially) don't like to get caught up in too much commercialism surrounding holidays, yet I do like to do a little something fun for the kids.   This year I was going to be in Savannah with the girls on actual Valentine's Day so Eric and I planned a special dinner and little gifts for the girls a few nights before.  We got the girls a card a little gift each. Evie got a new blanket and Maggie a new cloth diaper. We live in exciting times over here at the Buergler house. Seriously though, I have zero toleration for candy and trinkets.  I made a simple cheese and meat fondue for family dinner. It was nutritious and entertainment all at once. Evie loved dipping her veggies in the cheese and Maggie had fun watching the action. Evie has really loved coloring, using scissors, and using her stamp set so I capitalized on this.  Instead of buying Valentine's for her class I helped her cut out hearts and write a messag...