The Bulgrien Family: June 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

PA, Day 3

Michael got this picture of us. I was amazed! It is almost impossible to get both children looking (normally) at the camera. It only took him 3 shots! I really like this picture. Thanks Mike! Oh, and no, we didn't color coordinate on purpose. It just happened.

Day 3 was church day. We went to the big program that Mike and Leta's church has for children. It was fun! Afterwards, we had lunch and a relaxing afternoon.

While getting ready for church, Daddy had some coffee. Livi needed some too! I can't blame her. Uncle Michael makes really good coffee. I make mud!

Olivia had to wear bracelets just like Mommy.

She chose to taste them all first. Not like Mommy!

The man in the picture with Kevin is Dave Barr. He and his wife lived right behind Kevin's family in Africa (if I'm remembering the story correctly). They now live in PA...about 3 minutes from Mike and Leta.

Surprisingly, Olivia went right to him!

However, not for long. She adores being with Daddy!

Katrina got to ride in our car on the way home from church. She was hiding and I got her picture. She's a sweetie!

That afternoon, Julia and I decided to paint our toenails! Julia did mine and then UNCLE KEVIN did hers!! She really liked this!!

Kevin didn't think he'd do well, but he really did! I was tickled that he did this for her!

Matching toes!

Olivia really enjoyed her Uncle Michael! Even more so once he caught on to Livi's favorite sitting place....shoulders!

Oh, adorable story. Jonathan and Benjamin were inseparable the whole week. They played constantly and slept in the same bed each night. On Sunday night, Benjamin came downstairs very upset. He said that Jonathan didn't want to sleep with him anymore and that he was very sad because he really wanted to be with Jonathan. Apparently Benjamin must have misunderstood something because Jonathan was very concerned when he found out that Benjamin thought this. He came right downstairs and cuddled Benjamin. You could tell that Jonathan was thinking very hard about what to say.

He told Benjamin that he really enjoys him and wants to have him upstairs with him. He even made a little plan about how to sleep. It was so sweet to see Jonathan console his little cousin. I cried.

(notice how sad both of their little faces are)

They got everything all cleared up and then headed up to bed. It all worked out in the end. Here is the result.

God is so good to bless us with our family. To give my little Benjamin such nice cousins is amazing!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

PA, Day 2

On our second day, we had a nice, relaxing time at home. We started off by playing a game on the Wii as a family. It was fun! Then the children all went swimming while Michael did some grilling. We ate outside (it wasn't 178 degrees there like it is here in Texas). What a fantastic day!

Kevin, Julia and Katrina playing Big Brain Academy on the Wii.

Julia and Uncle Kevin. I love Kevin's grin here. He was happy that the girls liked him so well.

Michael and Leta had the excellent idea of getting Olivia her own little pool to play in while the big kids played in the big pool. Livi was thrilled!

Olivia managed to get Julia to play with her for a bit too!

Julia and Olivia. This turned out really well. It is hard, no, impossible to get Olivia to pose.

After Julia went back in the big pool, Olivia picked grass, one blade at a time, and put it in the pool.

Michael, the Burger King.

Julia and Olivia again.

Ben happily hopping back in the pool after lunch. He was so happy to have his cousins to play with!

Bulgrien kids in the pool!

The Bulgrien Boys!

Benjamin loved Mike and Leta's swing set.

Olivia did too. She spent a lot of time on this one part.

Whew! Tired!

PA, Day 1

It is hard to know how to break up all of the PA pictures. I took TONS! We don't get to get together with the PA relatives much, so I didn't want to miss anything. I also wanted to have lots of pictures for Mom and Dad Bulgrien since there would be pictures with all 5 of the grandkids together.

So, I will try to do it one day at a time with a couple of different posts. There are going to be lots of pictures because this blog is for my family.

So, without further ado, I tackle this job!

We arrived in PA at about 8:30 Friday night. Katrina was in bed, but the rest of the family was up waiting for us.

Julia and Olivia hit it off right away. They cuddled up right after we got there. They were great buddies all week. Julia was a great help with Olivia! After I unpacked all of Olivia's things, I told Julia that she was welcome to pick Olivia's clothes out each day if she wanted. She DEFINITELY wanted to. It was like having her own dress up doll. So sweet!

Olivia also took some time to relax on Daddy while watching Uncle Michael put Legos on his head. Great entertainment!

Benjamin and Jonathan played a game of Lego Star Wars on the Wii!

We had a little dinner and then all crashed. What a long trip!

You can't contain her!

No container if off limits for Livi!! See

And now we can add Water Cooler Baby!

Camping Weekend

(I'm doing a lot of "catch up posts" since I have had a very busy few weeks and have fallen behind.)

A few weekends ago Kevin and Benjamin went on a Father/Son camping trip with the church. Kevin took off of work on Friday and they headed out. They were going to be gone until Sunday afternoon. Benjamin was very excited.

He and Kevin usually have a camping trip every year where they get to go out and be alone. Since I absolutely loathe camping, it works for me as well! Last year, when Kevin and Benjamin got home from their camping trip, Benjamin declared, "Mommy, next time you and me can go alone and do your kind of camping at the hotel." Smart boy!

Here are some of the pictures. Since Kevin was in charge of the camera, I don't know exactly what the pictures are of, and went off of Benjamin's description! Beware!

Very happy boy right before leaving for the weekend. He loved his new hat that Mrs. Nae got him for his K graduation!

Benjamin demonstrating how he is going to catch a huge fish. He didn't end up catching any...he said fishing was too boring. ;-)

Benjamin said that this picture is of him and a friend named Sam that he met on the camping trip. He said that they are undoing the tent poles.

He said that this is a picture of him and Sam setting up the tent. Notice how Benjamin's arms are crossed over his chest as he accomplishes this amazing feat!

On the way home on Sunday, Kevin took him to look at the dam. The water was very high!

Benjamin says that he is drinking a Dr. Pepper in this picture. Funny how he doesn't have a soda, but a stick. Perhaps he was wishing he had a Dr. Pepper?

Just watching.

While the boys were away, Olivia and I just relaxed. Friday night a friend came over and played cards while Livi was sleeping. On Saturday, we went out shopping with Grammy Evelyn after having breakfast.

Grammy putting on Livi's shoes because Livi is convinced that I don't know how to do it. Perhaps she finds consolation in the fact that Grammy is just as big of a shoe addict as Livi is!

Livi and Grammy having coffee together. Notice that Olivia has her own sippy, but she didn't want that awful thing!

A quick visit to Sally's Beauty Supply. Grammy insisted that Livi needed a picture here. She said that you can never start too young. LoL.

After Sally's, we headed over to Payless Shoes. I bought Olivia a pair of dress shoes. Grammy enabled Livi's habit by purchasing her 2 other pairs of shoes. It was funny. We walked into the shoe store and they both bolted down the aisles. She pulled down any shoe that was shiny and tried to stick her foot in it. It was like taking her to a toystore! Oh, Olivia had fun too! (snicker)

On Sunday, Olivia and I went to church together. She looked adorable!