Little Miss Suzy Q

Okay, so I've been really busy lately- for about the last year I guess. I haven't blogged for FOREVER. I have been just doing the mom/wife thing. It's my favorite thing to do though so it's good. I need to update with a few pictures. I will do that soon, but in the meantime, check out my other blog. Here I've been taking pictures of stuff I've made like cards, gifts and handouts for Young Women. I have been sharing them with my sister. I never had a link to it on anything before, but now I do. (ha ha).

I only have three followers...sad. If you love me at all sign up as a follower so I don't look like such a geek! I would love some comments as well. Thanks, hope to see you over there. :)

A"Little Bear" Moment in The Burningham Home

One day last week everyone was up in our bedroom talking before bed. We had been talking earlier that day about how Ted had taken Hapkido lessons years ago and how he would come home and try all of his latest maneuvers on us twisting our arms behind our backs etc. We all remember it well. While we were all in our bedroom, Ted opened his bottom drawer and took out his Hapkido gee and put the top on and began looking up Hapkido moves on the computer we have in our room. The drawer was now open and the magic began. The boys discovered the puzzles that Ted had in there. Those metal puzzles made out of rings and different shapes and you have to try to take them apart. Someone also had Ted's boomerang out. This went on for about an hour. I was sitting back on the bed watching Ted sitting at the computer looking up Hapkido moves wearing his little outfit and everyone grabbing treasures from the bottom drawer and trying them out with such fascination and wonder and it totally cracked me up. I could picture "Little Bear" and his little friends in a storybook depicting this very scene. Remember the story where he puts a box on his head and thinks he landed on the moon? It would definitely work. I should write it!

My Mom's Funeral

Well, I have been putting it off, but I have decided I want to document my mom's funeral. My Mom passed away on Feb 5, 2010. She had been sick for a long time so I thought I was prepared, but it's been hard. Anyone who has lost their mom can understand I'm sure. She was a sweet, gentle person and I love her. I will post more about my mom's life later, but here are some pictures and thoughts from her funeral.

The above pictures are from the last day I spent with my mom. In fact, it was her last day on earth. It was a Thursday and I was at home painting Dallin's bedroom worrying about all the things I had to get done that I didn't have time to get around to. Ted was in Colorado taking the ATLS course and test so I thought I would dig in an finish painting Dalin's room so I could check that huge task of my list. Hayley didn't have school that day so she offered to help and Morgan who NEVER misses a class decided to stay and help too. I wasn't complaining about being overwhelmed or anything it was just one of those awesome "coincidences" that the Lord blesses us with. We got to work quickly, but were barely started when I got a phone call from my sister Shannon telling me that Mom was worsening. She had been doing poorly for several weeks and we would rush to her side and say our goodbyes, but then she would improve a little and so I wasn't sure how seriously to take each call. I was planning on bringing the kids to see her that weekend so I told Shannon of my plans and went back to painting. Shannon called again a little later telling me that Heather, the hospise worker was telling her that Mom 's time was very short. Heather asked my Mom if there was someone she wanted to see before she went and she told her she wanted to see me. Of course she wanted to see everyone, but I live an hour away and everyone else lives in town. (My brother Mike lives with his family in Denver and had flown out about a week earlier to say his goodbyes, but had to return to work.) I knew I had to get down there asap. Kade would be home in any minute from kindergarten so Morgan, Hayley and I got our shoes on and prepared to leave. (No time for hair and make up although the girls look adorable anyway.) When the bus dropped Kade and our neighbor Jared off there was no one here to pick Jared up. After couple of phone calls I finally called my friend Sharla and she not only took Jared, but also took Kade which turned out to be a great thing because the girls and I were able to spend all day and evening at my Mom's. She kept telling me she had a couple of things she wanted to tell me, but all she could get out was "I love you." That was enough. We stayed till about 8:00 tht night. We all thought my Mom would pass away that day with all of us around her, but I don't think she wanted to miss out on having us all there. She passed away just before 5:30 am the next morning. I knew she was going, but it really hurt. Even though she is still my mom and that she very much exsists, I feel kind of lonely. Kind of like an orphan. weird I know.

My Mom asked Shannon to do her hair and make up and Shannon wanted me there with her so we spent the tuesday together doing just that. At first i was really difficult to see my mom's body and to touch her, but it ended up being nice to be able to do this one last thing for her. The funeral was on Wednesday the 10th of February. I was actually looking forward to it as weird as that sounds. It was nice to see the people that loved her come to say their goodbyes. It was really comforting to see the people that came for her and also those they came to show their love for us. Ted's family was awesome. All that could be there came and I felt so much love and appreciation for them. even my sweet friends from the neighborhood made the hour trip. Many people sent cards, flowers, gifts and food. I was so touched!

Dallin and Tanner we pallbearers with their cousins. All of the grandsons were able to take part except for Kade and Benjamin who are still too young.

This picture (above) makes me cry. It's just makes it all too real.

This is me with my Dad and all of my siblings. L to R Mike, Shannon, Kirk, Dad, Me, and Brad. (Okay, this is off subject, but look at me. Why the heck am I so much shorter than the rest of my family? It's not fair!)

Some of the grandkids. Look how adorable these people are!

50 years!!!

Ted's parents have been married for 50 years. We had a small family gathering to celebrate at Maddox. (well, small to our family is probably big to some). Awesome family!

Getting Out Of Dodge (our Christmas break trip to Henderson)

We always go somewhere after Christmas. Preferably somewhere warm. We usually end up driving south to the Las Vegas area in Nevada. Warm? Well, let's just say "warmer than home". The average high temperature was around 50 degrees so it got pretty chilly at night. Hearing that there was a major snow storm happening at home made us feel a lot warmer though. And it makes you just feel warmer somehow when you see palm trees and live flowers!

Our trip started the Sunday after Christmas. We went to church Sunday. After Sacrament Meeting we came home and got our stuff ready to go while Ted took care of a couple of things at the church. (Bishop duty) When he got home he took one of his famous 2 minute clean up sessions. (this includes a shower, the man is amazing.) and we all piled in the car, said a prayer and then we were on our way.

The ride down south is always so exciting. We are all energized and talkative as we anticipate the days full of fun ahead of us. The drive went really fast this time. We didn't stop for lunch. Instead, as we drove we ate turkey sandwiches made on bread that Janie Nebeker gave us for Christmas. We stopped only twice for bathroom breaks. One of those stops was the traditional stop at the Holiday Inn Saint George. We showed Morgan the picture of the Shiv wit Indians getting baptized and told her the story about Grandpa. (a very funny inside story). We were laughing pretty hard about that. (no, it's not racist. Just classic Grandpa)

The longest part of the drive is always the distance between Saint George and Henderson. We We arrived after dark, checked into the hotel and then headed over to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Yum That place never disappoints. We almost always eat at a Cheesecake factory the first dinner of any vacation. We decided to forgo the desserts. We are always way too full for cheesecake. We were all tired from traveling and so we went straight back to the hotel and called it a night.

Day 2 We slept in. Our kids were especially happy about this. We got lunch at Panera and then decided to shop some Christmas sales to get some clothes. Later, Hayley and Morgan went for a swim while Ted and I went to the gym. We ate pizza that night from a pizza place by our hotel. They only serve personal sized pizzas so we got 5 of them. They were really good.

Tuesday we went to the arcade it was a big arcade and the boys were in heaven. Dallin won a stuffed animal from the crane game. It was so ugly! He gave it to Kade, but Kade is no dummy. He immediately gave it to me. He acted like he was giving me this great gift, but I could tell he hated it. Ha ha. I saw a cute little red-headed girl who was about 8 years old and took the animal over to her and asked her if she wanted it. Of course she politely declined. So funny! I finally placed it on the crane game where it came from and as I was standing there talking to Morgan by the machine with my back turned toward the creature someone must have decided they wanted it because it was gone when I turned around. It was only a matter of minutes. I was glad (and surprised) someone wanted it, but regretted the fact that I missed seeing who took it.

Wednesday we went to a different arcade. It wasn't quite as good as the first one we went to, but it was still fun. No scary animals won this time. We went Bowling at Southtown. They have a Christmas tree in the lobby that is made up of a bunch of Poinsettia plants. It is so pretty. We went up to Lake Las Vegas to get Pizza from our favorite pizza place, but it was closed down. So sad. It's pretty up there, but always deserted. No wonder our pizza place went under. We visited the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and everyone chose a peice of chocolate to eat after dinner. We ended up eating at the Elephant Bar.

We also went to a Disney movie called The Princess and the Frog. Oh, and we went shopping at the outlet mall. Since it's not very warm here most of us bought jackets.

Today we all slept in again. That may be the best part of our vacation. We went to a movie and ate dinner at Claim Jumper. We bought some dessert and brought to the hotel to eat at midnight as we celebrated the New Year. We all set off those little confetti things you get at the grocery store that look like little bottles. We stayed in these great rooms at courtyard Marriott that had balconys that look over the Las Vegas Strip. We went out to count down to the New Year and set off our "party poppers". When we set them off we scared a guy that was on his cell phone standing on the sidewalk beneath our balcony. Oops. The fireworks on the "Strip" were great. They were shot off of the roofs of many of the buildings. Tomorrow we head back home. School starts Monday for everyone and vacation comes to a screeching halt! Including all the fattening food we have been eating! Back to the trenches. Sigh.

JOY TO THE WORLD! Christmas 2009

What a wonderful Christmas this has been. I am so thankful for my family, friends and especially for my Savior. He has blessed us so much this past year. Madison traveling to Osorno, Chile to share the "Good News" of the gospel, Morgan returning from Malaga, Spain from her mission, Hayley graduating from High school and starting college, good health, much love, opportunities for growth which though not always easy to endure, are necessary and ultimately appreciated, a warm house and plenty of food. (Too much food at times). My heart is so full!!
It's so fun to spend the Christmas season with Kade. He gets so excited about Santa!


Joseph! So cute!


Our traditional Christmas Eve Pajama Photo on the stairs!
Another Burningham tradition - All the kids sleep together in an upstairs bedroom. They are so cute. I love these people!

The calm before the storm.

Here they come!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.