Claire's Dream Comes True

Last year, Claire set a goal to ride a pony before her fourth birthday and today she did it! Yes, I'm still nine months pregnant, but I waddled out to Reed's Dairy Days with the girls (and a supportive Hooma in tow) to make it happen for Claire. As I suspected, the horses were a lot bigger than Sophie had expected and she bailed out after waiting in the hot sun for a turn. Sophie was delighted on Claire's behalf though and she clapped and cheered the whole time Claire slowly toured the corral. After Claire hopped off her pony I asked her what she planned to do now that her dream had come true. She said, "Fight bad guys!" The other picture is of Claire on the day we went to see a King Tut exhibit--she posed and asked Hooma to snap the shot.

Easter 2012

 Claire discovers her crown jewel--a sculpey Pascal from the Tangled movie

 Sophie kept taking elements from her basket far away so Claire couldn't intervene...

 Claire loves bath bubbles

 So does Soapy

 Sophie wanted all the books read to her immediately

 Claire found her Rapunzel and Eugene dolls and introduced them to Pascal (HUGE thanks to Uncle Chris!), note Sophie happily being driven around in our new extremely popular umbrella stroller

 Claire mugs while Sophie dresses up as a just hatched chick.

 Dinosaur Claire sort of helps dye eggs before Church

 After Church, Claire and Sophie took their egg hunt very seriously. This was "go" time.

 The Harry Potter stylin' biff on Claire's head happened just minutes before we left for Church.

 Sophie stopped to eat the contents after finding each egg.

 Claire gets help from Hannah to make sure she's only getting her allotted amount of eggs.

 Daddy helps Sophie catch up.

 

Lobster Sophie helps make Lobster Bisque, Roasted Sunchokes and Lion House Rolls for Easter Supper.

"Will helping get the foods into my belly faster?"

Great Growing, Eloise!

Eloise Elizabeth Burch...*thinking* about arriving August 17th. We had our halfway ultrasound today and she is going to be a very pretty lady with luscious lips, long legs and a huge brain!

It's Spring--let's hike!

 Best Friends share a laugh in their nest.

 Claire's recipe for "Octopus Cookies"--they were a big hit. I asked her who the one she had deemed the "perfect one" was for--was it for Daddy? She said "No way Mom! It's all for me!" She rolled and shaped the dough and frosted and decorated all by herself.

 Claire climbed the Cress Creek Trail near Heise all by herself.

 Snacks at the summit with Daddy, Claire and Aunt Hannah.

Momma, Sophie and Eloise (she's invisible because she's a ninja) at the summit. We saw a huge bald eagle!

Burch Girl #3!

Well it looks like the third sister is on her way! She (or that's how it looked today) will arrive about August 17th and we are very excited! I knew from the day I posted Sophie's first steps video but wanted a healthy developed ultrasound before I sent the news out on "teh interwebs." This of course complicates our move to Oregon for medical school, but we think it will work to send Adam on his own in early July and then I'll come with all the girls a few weeks after this one comes.

Cute Sophie Video

Sophie looks for backpacks to wear all day. She's sure the kids are all having crazy fun times without her at school (clown flavored ice cream, etc...).

Valentine for Hans

Dear Uncle Hans,
      I'm keeping "The Cheese" all warmed up for you and I'm playing your Civ4 game until we can play together again. I'll ask Mom if I can keep pajamas on until you come back (like I do almost every day). You're a popular uncle!
Love,
Care

(Original script: Hey Unka Hans! Thank you for visit me! I'm a mermaid in Oceana and I have a friend who's a robot...I was over there first..Sophie!...I need to play piano and where's my chocolate sandwich? Is it school yet? Why are you typing, Momma?)