Roasting Dilema's

One of our favorite summer activities is roasting hotdogs and marshmallows over a fire.  This round, John was trying to burn a stump from a tree we had torn down a few years ago.

 Karl & Sarah were trying to lay flat to beat the heat.

 Rachel didn't care, she figured burn it and eat it.

 Hyrum though, got a bit creative with beating the heat.

 He found a mask to wear!

But he loves his marshmallows!

Mowing in Style

After 2 lawn mowers, John finally gave up and bought a riding lawn mower again.

Air Plane ride

Good thing it was sturdy, but not sure who was driving that thing!

 Look out for that Tree!

 Or was that a Bush!

Rachel went to Prom

The best part about making a nice dress for a cost conscious kid is you get a 2 for 1 deal out of it.  1 Dress, 2 Dances!  This round, she did make me buy the guy his tie because the last one didn't match her dress!  We did invite Aunt Jana to come help with hair this round to give it a better flair.

 Afterwards she didn't want to loose the tie, so she kept it will her as she anxiously awaited the arrival of her group.

 Lots of pretty pictures later, and they were off for a night of dancing!

Sadie Hawkins Dance

Rachel decided she wanted to go to the Sadie's dance.  I, of course, was out of town when she realized that it was formal this year.  So she drew a picture of what she wanted and sent it to me.  I bought the fabric in LA and came home with less than a week to "get it done." 

Of course with no pattern, we did a lot of creating and tucking.  I wasn't sure how to do the top, so I cut it extra big knowing I could take it out of the shoulders and arms.  I literally pinned the dress on her to get the front right before I sewed it up.  She loved it completely, though she was still nervous being around her mom and pins...she didn't want to be the next human pin cushion (imagine that)!


But she was very happy with the results of the front of her dress!

So then it was sewing on the flowers to the front of her dress...lots and lots of flowers!

Then it was getting the bottom to the right length, so onto a stool for her to stand while I cut the bottom a bit more straight!

She loved it SO much that she proceeded to clear a path to twirl in!  What girl doesn't want to make sure there is a twirl factor here!








Then (Lucky not in the same day) it was off to get her hair and makeup done...well maybe we should keep her home...it turned out way to well!

 Front view  ....................and the back view

Reflections Contest....................1st PLACE WINNER

Rachel has taken piano lessons off and on for about 4 years...more off then on. This past summer we found a new piano teacher after taking a year off who writes her own music. Upon finding out Rachel has written her own music, Leda McCullough took it upon herself to help refine Rachel's talent to our utmost pleasure. Leda helped Rachel record one of her compositions, so that she could turn her song into the Schools Reflections Contest. Rachel was completely shocked to find her self holding not only a trophy, but winning 1st place for the 9-12th Grade. She is the youngest to turn a song in and get 1st place.
Rachel's Story: I was in one of my classes at school when the intercom came on and asked for me to come to the media center. I was surprised they were calling me, because I had never in all my years been called down to...well...anywhere. I picked up my stuff and went to the library and when I got there, there were lots of other kids. There was a staff member who came up to me and asked if I was Rachel. I said yes and he brought me to a table where there was a trophy. The teacher picked up the trophy and handed it to me. He congratulated me and told me they really enjoyed listening to my music piece. I then took my trophy and headed for my locker so it wouldn't get broken as I went into Lunch. As I walked to my locker I finally looked down and read the writing and had to stop myself from screaming as I realized I had taken 1st place. I hurried to put it in my locker and as I put it inside my locker, the lunch bell rang and I did a little scream in my head as I was late and headed off to lunch feeling pretty ecstatic.

Girls Trip with Grandma & Grandpa Burrell

The girls loved taking trips with their Grandparents.  But my folks felt kinda bad about not taking any of the other grandkids.  So this round they decided to take 2 of George's kids that were the same age as my girls.  The plan was to go to Phoenix for a wedding, then across Texas to David's house in Kentucky, up to Jonathan's house in South Dakota and then home...My folks came back and said 1) the trip was too long 2) the boys were not used to sitting that long, 3) never again without parents.  They have since taken my 2 girls many times, but not any others without parents.

 Loren

 Grandpa Phil Burrell

 Trevor & Grandma JoAnne Burrell

 Sarah, Loren, Grandma, Trevor, Grandpa

 Loren & Brayden

David, Rachel, Trevor, Camri, Sarah, Brayden, Landen, Grandpa's feet

 David on floor, Mariah, Camri, Rachel's back, Sarah

 Jill, David

 Mariah

 Mariah & Camri

 Nauvoo

 Jacob & Loren