The Buerglers

Though these are not the preferred version of the Catholic marriage vows, we are all familiar with the similar vows to these in the secular world, Priest: (Name), do you take (name) for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? Bride:  I Do. These last two or three weeks has been a trial against every aspect of our marriage vows. For better, for worse... I just came off my busy season for work. I was tired exhausted, cranky, and drained in every aspect.  I was running on empty.  This coupled with the everything else that happend this week (see below), I wanted to give up.  Not on my marriage, not on my daughter, but on myself.  I wanted to lock myself in my room for a month.  I cried in public. I cried at bible study.  I cried talking to my cube-mates.  Worn thin. This morning Eric calmly said to me, ...

My fellow youth ministers and I regularly get asked "What's your real job?"  Or, "It's so nice of you to give up your weekends in college to have the teens hang out at church" Never mind that the three of us are married, some with kids , and all with degrees related to our field. Though work as a youth minister is never over, the  busy season  of my work as Confirmation coordinator at a large parish is over... 5 months of insanity, collecting paperwork,  talking to parents, coordinating schedules for 27 high schools and 204 students, recruiting chaperones, keeping kids holy, rationing the donuts for myself the teens, retuning 3500 emails, planning a retreat for 200 with support staff of 40+, 9 weekly classes, and 2 Confirmation Masses with the bishop.... I joke and kid about these things, but in reality I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do, and I love the miracles I witness in teens lives.  Afte...

The mom from my first non-family photoshoot referred me to a co-worker.  I was excited to work with someone other than Katie and Sam or my sweet Evie. Their daughter Kaylee was such a ham.  She was so fun to follow and shoot in action. The parents wanted some 18 month pictures and a few family shots to use for their Christmas card.  They had no real style, look, or feel they were going for.  I tend to shoot more "lifestyle" than posed, so I went with what I was comfortable, but I had a few poses in my back pocket. And by back pocket I mean this app on my phone. Right as we hit a stride with Kaylee's portraits and tried to transition to family photos, she had a meltdown. She wanted nothing to do with her mother. And once we finally got her comfortable with mom and then dad would enter the scene, she'd start all over again. I improvised and did my best to work in some shots of her with each parent.  I think I only ended up with one or two family shots...

Measurements: Weight: guessing around 25-26 Length/Height: 30+ ?? Eats: 3 full meals, 2 snacks, 30+ oz of formula, 8-10oz of water Diapers: busting out of size threes, still rocking the cloth diapers 95% of the time Clothes: 18 months in tops and dresses, 18-24 in bottoms (thanks fluffy butt!) Firsts for Evie Sept 11 pulled up to standing once Sept 18 regularly pulls up to standing Sept 20 can transfer from couch to table Sept 25 Trip to the botanical gardens Milestones  Pulling up Walking with help Sits down from standing  Transfers between toys/couch/table New foods: bacon, baby gouda, PB&J Dances to music or on command to the word "dance" Curious about what is in boxes, baskets, purses, and will sit for 20 minutes cleaning them out Will play by her self for a while or "read" Gaining balance and confidence Responds to verbal commands or questions like, "Where's Daddy?" or "Go get Delaney...

Little B's big Halloween debut was a few weeks ago at a Fall Festival with her Aunt Leeann and Uncle Dan.  When actual Halloween rolled around, it was all my sick-with-the-flu-for-a-week brain could do to make sure all the costume parts made it into the same bag. On Oct 30, Evie and I went to the Mom's group Halloween party at the Church. We only stayed for about 25 minutes.  Since Evie is still not a walker, yet weighs 27 pounds, I just can't hold her for very long.  We had fun saying hi to our friends and to my co-workers. Actual Halloween day we went to my parents house for a pizza party with my sister, grandparents and mother-in-law.  Evie dressed up (this time we forgot her black undershirt. Thankfully she was wearing a purple sweater!) We took her for a wagon ride ( an early birthday gift from Grandma and G. Daddy) to the neighborhood cul-du-sac party.  All the kids looked so cute in their costumes.  Some of my favorites were a family of ...

As we flip the calendar to November, we begin the twenty day countdown until we close on the house and move. As I am preparing for this I realized that I've never shared an apartment tour with you.  Eric and I had planned on cleaning the place before we took pictures, but I am glad we didn't.  I mean, honestly, it's humbling to put pictures of my house looking like such a wreck and in the beginning stages of transition, but I think it will be fun to remember what our apartment looks like on the day-to-day of my busiest week of the year. Welcome to our apartment! The entry way (right) and the hallway to Evie's bedroom and bathroom (left) Evie's Bathroom / Guest Bathroom Evie's Room.  Evie shares a room with our storage area and bike racks. I cannot wait until she has her own room and we can paint!!!  In the center of our apartment is the kitchen, living room, dining room.  The last two-three months Eric has turned our dining room into an office. ...