June 2, 2012, was a very special day when our sweet Audrey was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was able to choose the program and had talks by Grandpa Burton and Isaac. Audrey, Kaylee, and Brianna, sang "When I am Baptized." Tyler created a beautiful slideshow about Audrey following the Savior's example to be baptized. Audrey has such a strong and pure spirit about her, and it was simply magnified at her baptism. She was radiant! What can I say, she truly is our angel that brings goodness and so much happiness into our lives. We love you, Audrey! We are so glad you chose to be baptized!
June 2, 2012--Baptism Day Audrey Ellyn Burton
(2 top photos taken by Uncle Curtis)
Jon baptized Audrey at the Midway Stake Center, Midway, Utah.
Audrey and best friend, Lucy, on Audrey's birthday.
It is our tradition to take our kids to Salt Lake when they turn 8. We stayed at the Crystal Inn, swam, rode tracks, ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory, and went to a lot of Church sites. Here, Audrey is in front of an amazing etching on the top of the Conference Center.
Audrey in front of the depiction of Christ coming to the Americas, also at the Conference Center.
In front of Church Office Building. It was closed when we went, but will have to go to the top next time we are in Salt Lake!
All of us in the Conference Center.
Jon and Audrey in front of the fountain on the roof of the Conference Center.
At the end of the school year, Audrey received the Academic High Achiever award for the top academic female in Mrs. Hogan's class. Pictured with Audrey is her classmate, Grace Wunder, who received the Citizenship award for their class.
Southern Utah is a great place to visit in the Springtime--not too hot and not too cold. We spent the first part of our week at the Ranch owned by Jon's grandmother. Yes, along with free accommodations, there is usually some digging, cleaning, or yard work that comes with the deal:) This time it was digging a trench to connect the pump house to the electricity. Little did we know that the trench would offer our kids, and the other cousins, endless hours of entertainment. It was shocking how many games they could invent using the trench and how much fun they had playing in a hole in the ground!
We were also able to get in some hiking and playing by the river. I love being out somewhere so remote, away from civilization, listening to the wind whip through the canyon. I feel so free and at peace. This is the perfect escape, that is, when you have indoor plumbing. You see, everything was shut off to the cabin because of the digging, so we were without running water, power, and, worst of all, toilet facilities. Let's just say I am very thankful for indoor plumbing and we will leave it at that!
View of some of the Ranch property from opposite hill. Grandma Foote's cabin is on the right hand side at the bottom of the cliff. (A-frame under the "triangle" rock formation.)
The kids in the trench: Nathan, Ruby, Audrey, Melissa, Maddie, Isaac, Tyler, and Camille.
Melissa, Audrey, and Nate relaxing by the river
Jon and Nate digging in the sand
So, after our "adventurous" but very fun stay at the Ranch, we headed over to St. George to stay in a condo with Chris and Stacey. We went on some hikes, played tennis, and the kids got in a lot of swimming. The men went off and did their favorite bike ride on their favorite trail--Gooseberry Mesa. Tyler has proven himself as a mountain biker so Jon invited him along as well. Don't ask me how I allow them to go on this bike ride when you see these pictures! Jon assures me they are very careful. Yeah right. I say my prayers every time they go. Anyway, they love it.
The last night we were in St. George, we went to.... well....paradise. Brad and Lindsay Foster invited us to go to her parents' house in St. George and swim at their pool. Their backyard has everything from a treehouse, pool, and pond, to amazing landscaping and flowers galore. The pool had a high dive, low dive, and a zip line! The kids and adults had so much fun! The best part for me was their patio--technically I think you would call it a Conservatory, but everyone gives me a strange look when I call it that. Sliding glass doors on two sides, lots of gorgeous plants, comfy and padded patio furniture, a gentle breeze flowing through, and soft music that truly made me feel like I was on an island instead of in the desert! I was in such a trance and state of relaxation that I didn't even think to take pictures, sorry! You will just have to settle for pictures of the kids in the pool at the hotel and pics of our hike to Snow Canyon. And I will keep visualizing my dream Conservatory!
One thing I love about Wintertime is watching the bald eagles that nest near Deer Creek Reservoir. One day there were six sitting near each other on the ice. Their massive black wings are so easy to spot against the snow and they are so beautiful and majestic. Does it mean I'm getting old that I enjoy bird-watching?
Audrey was able to participate in a dance camp sponsored by our very own Wasatch Waspettes. They only received 3 days of instruction, but Audrey had fun. She is in the middle at first, but comes to the front row half way through. She has such a light in her!
Tyler played in a Junior Jazz league in January and February. He did a great job and seemed to really have fun with it. His greatest claim to fame was when, in the last few seconds of a game, he chucked the ball from the opposite 3 point line and swooshed the last basket of the game. The crowd went wild, the refs threw their arms up in amazement, the high school basketball coach was going crazy, and Tyler's team was going crazy. He had quite a few people talking about it for days after. If only we had been videoing!
Isaac also played in a competitive basketball league that he has played with for a year. They worked really hard, practiced twice a week, and took 1st in their division! They are a great bunch of kids.
Isaac and his team top left to right: Ben Harris (coach), Conner, Will Richards, Isaac Burton, Davin, Sam Ballsteadt (off to the side. He was one of the coach's 4 year old sons who would give the team pep talks).
Bottom row: Will Harris, Jude Ballesteadt, Hawke Ballsteadt, McGuire Law (Not pictured: Coaches Joe and Jamie Ballsteadt)
We are the champions!
Jon and I went on a special date to BYU's Traditions Ball, hosted by the Alumni Association. My brother-in-law, Curtis, was actually in charge of it, so we had great "connections." It was a wonderful night full of dancing to a live band, delicious refreshments, and entertainment in an amazing atmosphere. I hope the BYU Traditions Ball can become an anuual special date night for Jon and me. We loved it!
It was so fun to dress up in formal attire. As a mother of 4, I don't get that chance very often! I did wonder what I was going to wear, but I remembered some fancy dresses I had seen in my Mother-in-law's basement. Lynda was a Home-Ec. major at BYU and became quite a gifted seamstress. This is one of the dresses that my mother-in-law made in the 60's! What some people see as "old," I see as "vintage." When someone said they loved my dress and asked where I had found it, well, it made for a good story:)
..........and the rest of 2011 was great. Wait. I digress. My kids would be very sad if I didn't post this video. However, it does need an explanation: You see, my sister, Katie, has this amazingly creative family and amazingly talented kids who put on a puppet show every Christmas for their family. I thought that was a great idea. Having said that, please do not compare our puppet show to the Isaak's. Comparing just ain't that fun! So, without further ado....here is the Burton's version of a Christmas puppet show. Just in case you get a little lost, the point of the whole thing was that "what goes around comes around." I'm sure you got that though, right?
My father-in-law, Neal, has said that May is his favorite month because the Heber Valley looks so beautiful. I would have to agree. Driving from Heber towards the mountains, I simply stare and the beautiful vista in front of me. I love the contrast of the blue sky with the white snow-capped mountains, and then the white mountains, contrasted with the green grasses and leaves. No doubt there is a Creator, and He is an Artist.
View of Mount Timpanogos from our house. Can you see the Indian Princess lying down across the top? Great Indian legend about this mountain. My favorite view in the valley!
I don't know what the kids would do all Summer without a trampoline. The joy and unity it brings to my children has outweighed the injuries.........so far.
Nate....up close and personal! When he wasn't on the trampoline, Nate was on his bike. And Isaac playing basketball. Audrey received the Academic Achievement Award in her first grade class. Audrey's 7th birthday on field day! Audrey's friends who came to celebrate her birthday: Allison Besendorfer and Lily Child. Memorial Day at the Richmond Cemetery in front of Grandpa and Grandma Lewis's headstone. Great Aunt Dottie and friend at the Richmond Cemetery. Nathan's favorite way to fall asleep--with his right hand in his left armpit!
