"To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3

The Burckhard Family

The Burckhard Family

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Our Little Housekeeper....

The truth is out....we admit it....we adopted Bella because I needed some help around the house. Ha Ha! Seriously, while I was working on the computer, I could hear her talking away to herself. I finally went back to her room and what did I find? Bella not only making her bed but her sister Grace's as well! She was so proud!





And, here is mine:


I guess I better get on the ball and get my bed made too. Bella is quite the slave driver!!

Love, Paula

Our Little Housekeeper....

The truth is out....we admit it....we adopted Bella because I needed some help around the house. Ha Ha! Seriously, while I was working on the computer, I could hear her talking away to herself. I finally went back to her room and what did I find? Bella not only making her bed but her sister Grace's as well! She was so proud!





And, here is mine:


I guess I better get on the ball and get my bed made too. Bella is quite the slave driver!!

Love, Paula

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Oops..... :)

Last night Kevin came out and said, "Oops, I think I just did something really funny." I looked up from the computer and said, "What?" He just stared at me. I looked at him once more questioningly, like "Well, are you going to tell me or what?" And then I noticed this....



Sam was standing right by us and burst out laughing too. Kev forgot to change his shaver to just a clipper. (He eventually shaved off the "mustache" too. But Sam HAD to get a picture of him like this!)

Remember how Bella was so "byoos" or "afraid" of Kevin with the goatee? Well, Grace took one look at him without the goatee and was "byoos" of him. I finally got her to realize that it really is OK and that Daddy will be fine and the goatee will grow back! She kept saying, "Goatee on again?" over and over.

Poor Kevin--He can't win with his little girls! As for me, I still love my Mr. Clean!

Oops..... :)

Last night Kevin came out and said, "Oops, I think I just did something really funny." I looked up from the computer and said, "What?" He just stared at me. I looked at him once more questioningly, like "Well, are you going to tell me or what?" And then I noticed this....



Sam was standing right by us and burst out laughing too. Kev forgot to change his shaver to just a clipper. (He eventually shaved off the "mustache" too. But Sam HAD to get a picture of him like this!)

Remember how Bella was so "byoos" or "afraid" of Kevin with the goatee? Well, Grace took one look at him without the goatee and was "byoos" of him. I finally got her to realize that it really is OK and that Daddy will be fine and the goatee will grow back! She kept saying, "Goatee on again?" over and over.

Poor Kevin--He can't win with his little girls! As for me, I still love my Mr. Clean!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Bella's First Haircut....

Today Bella had her first haircut at a salon.

Before:


During:


After:


Truthfully, I don't see much of a difference. :) Maybe the stylist was new? She was so timid. Oh well, Bella seemed to like having her hair done. Now we'll let it grow and I'll just trim the bangs until it's time for a "real" haircut.

Bella's First Haircut....

Today Bella had her first haircut at a salon.

Before:


During:


After:


Truthfully, I don't see much of a difference. :) Maybe the stylist was new? She was so timid. Oh well, Bella seemed to like having her hair done. Now we'll let it grow and I'll just trim the bangs until it's time for a "real" haircut.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Buddy Walk & Pumpkin Patch...

Today was a very fun day! Our whole family (except for Elizabeth who was scoring all the points for the VB team--she's the stats person :) headed out to Bismarck to our state capitol building where the 6th Annual Bismarck/Mandan Buddy Walk was being held. And guess who was asked to be the host family?



The weather was perfect: blue skies, low 80's, light breeze--a beautiful ND fall day! Over 1,000 people turned out to support loved ones with Down Syndrome. Kevin did a great job welcoming the group and sharing our journey! It was so encouraging to also have Grandma, Grandpa, and my brother Joe and his wife Brenda there to support us!
There were also many families from Minot who made the journey down; so maybe we will have to start our own Buddy Walk!


Also, Sam was a great Reece's Rainbow ambassador. He had a big basket of Lifesavers gummi candies that he handed out with Reece's Rainbow brochures and magnets explaining how they can support the ministry or maybe even adopt themselves one day! He would hand out the lifesavers and say "Be a Lifesaver; support Reece's Rainbow!" Do you think he takes after Dad, the life insurance agent, a little bit? :)

Here is a hefty dose of our day....










After the Buddy Walk, we went to Papa's Pumpkin Patch. It is an amazing place with so much to do...the kids had a blast!











Thanks, Bismarck Designer Genes for asking us to be the Host Family this year! We were humbled and honored to have been selected. And you put on one great Buddy Walk!

Love, Paula

Buddy Walk & Pumpkin Patch...

Today was a very fun day! Our whole family (except for Elizabeth who was scoring all the points for the VB team--she's the stats person :) headed out to Bismarck to our state capitol building where the 6th Annual Bismarck/Mandan Buddy Walk was being held. And guess who was asked to be the host family?



The weather was perfect: blue skies, low 80's, light breeze--a beautiful ND fall day! Over 1,000 people turned out to support loved ones with Down Syndrome. Kevin did a great job welcoming the group and sharing our journey! It was so encouraging to also have Grandma, Grandpa, and my brother Joe and his wife Brenda there to support us!
There were also many families from Minot who made the journey down; so maybe we will have to start our own Buddy Walk!


Also, Sam was a great Reece's Rainbow ambassador. He had a big basket of Lifesavers gummi candies that he handed out with Reece's Rainbow brochures and magnets explaining how they can support the ministry or maybe even adopt themselves one day! He would hand out the lifesavers and say "Be a Lifesaver; support Reece's Rainbow!" Do you think he takes after Dad, the life insurance agent, a little bit? :)

Here is a hefty dose of our day....










After the Buddy Walk, we went to Papa's Pumpkin Patch. It is an amazing place with so much to do...the kids had a blast!











Thanks, Bismarck Designer Genes for asking us to be the Host Family this year! We were humbled and honored to have been selected. And you put on one great Buddy Walk!

Love, Paula