Burk Family Womens Conference

Every year the female decendants (in-laws included)of my Grandma Burk, get together for a few days and hold our own version of Womens conference.
We have a service project, do crafts, share testimonies, talents, and expieriences, and basicaly uplift and edify eachother.
This years conference was held at my home. So Adam took the kids down to his parents house in the valley last week while mothers, sisters, cousins and infant nephiews gatherd here.
Thursday night was spent visiting and getting settled in. On Friday, Lydia taught us some card making techniques and we made sympathy cards to be donated to hostpitals for women who've lost their newborns. My mother lost a child who was stillborn several years ago, so she was able to help guide us in the process of making them.
We then took tunrs sharring things that we've learned in the past year, and my mom and grandma gave a devotional on slowing down, taking time to do what is most important in our lives and drawing closer to our Father in Heaven.
Saturday was spent packing up visiting some more and saying goodbye.
I love our womens conference tradition. I love all the women in my family, and look forword to getting together again next year.

Summer Vacation !!!

We spent summer vacation this year in...Drum roll please........The Valley of the Sun! Yes you read that right. The great thing about not living in the valley is it's actually kind of a fun place to go on vacation (even in the summer).
We started planning this vacation months ago and we really tried to let the kids do most of the planning. We voted unanimously to go to Amazing Jake's and Sunsplash. The kids also wanted to go to Skateland and eat at Panda express, Dad wanted to go to the Bass Pro Shop, and I wanted to not have to cook or do chores for a few days. I also wanted to eat good ice cream.
It turns out that we all were able to do everything we wanted!
We drove down to Mesa on Tuesday and went strait to Amazing Jake's. After eating lunch, we PLAYED HARD!!! We did EVERYTHING!! We bowled, climbed the rock wall,

mini golfed, drove go carts and bumper cars, Ate some more, played lazer tag, rode in the Tea cups
and on the Frog hopper,
Got a little dizzy on the roller coaster

and played video games and then Ate dinner! Whew, no wonder they call that place AMAZING!!
Once we'd had as much food and fun as we could stand, we drove to the Dobson ranch Inn, got settled in and went swimming.

After we had a good nights sleep (and slept in:), we had a great breakfast at the hotel then we went to SUNSPLASH!!!! My mom met us there and we had blast playing in all that water! I was surprised how brave the kids were. They went on all the slides even the ones they had to ride alone. Caleb loved the Master blaster and the Bonsai slides. Sarah enjoyed the Pirates Cove and the Lazy river, and Eliza liked the Dragon Tail slides and The Banzai slides. My favorite was the Slide shaped like a V. I can't remember the name of it... but WOW that was thrilling. Honestly, it was one of the scariest things I've done. Dad also loved the "V" slide which he rode on with Caleb. He also liked the Black Hole Slides.
We ate dinner that night at Panda Express then we drove on over to the Bass Pro shop.
It was more fun than I'd expected. There was so much to see and do.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped and got some Ice cream at Cold Stone. YUMMY!!
We appreciated another good nights sleep and a great breakfast, then we checked out of the hotel and we went to Skateland. Eliza did awesome, Caleb and Sarah still need a little more practice before they start to enjoy skating... but in any case, it was a great work out.
After we left Skateland we got some lunch then ran a few errands and headed back to our home in Taylor.
Once Adam and I got the kids tucked into their own beds, we went out on the trampoline to lay down and look at the stars. The weather was cool, the night was quiet and dark and the stars were so bright. We decided Mesa can keep Sunsplash, Amazing Jake's, Skateland and even The Bass Pro Shop. As long as we get to keep the stars....we're good!

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summertime?

We Irrigated the lawn (well, our pathetic attempt at a lawn) on Thursday. We accidentally let the irrigation run too long, and our trampoline pit got completely filled!
We certainly couldn't let this happy accident go by without taking full advantage of the situation. So..........We played!
And it was AWESOME!!!!!!!
We did miss Sarah who is spending the week with Grandma Quist in Mesa. So I guess we'll have to "accidentally" let the irrigation run too long again next week!

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent The weekend in the valley!! We attended Angela's H.S. graduation and had a blast hangin' out with family for a few days. We played games, ate yumy food, and visited. We stayed with the Andersons, and got to help Heather celebrate her birthday. Going out to dinner with the Gurr's was something we havn't done in a while, it was so fun! Thank you to everyone who helped make this last weekend unforgetable!

Last Week of School !!!!!

Wow, what a week...
On Monday the kindergarten classes went on a field trip to the park. I was able to tag along and we had a wonderful time!
Tuesday was Field day. he kids all got to participate in fun activities like Tug-o-war, relay races, gunny sack races , and water fights. It was super windy (what else is new) and a little chilly. But that didn't stop the kids from wanting to get sprayed with water by the firefighters. I somehow managed to stay dry, but the kids got soaked. We all had a blast.
On Wednesday and Thursday the kids made fun art projects and played lots of games.
Friday was the last day of school. It was filled with some sad goodbyes, and lots of hugs. The kids LOVED kindergarten, but they are looking foreword to first grade.
The kids received their report cards and we couldn't be more proud of each of them.They all did their very best in school this year. It is amazing to see how much they've grown physically, socially, and academically.
We are going to have a blast together this summer, but I'm sure it won't be long until we're counting down the days until school starts again.

Here are some pics. of our walk to the park.



Eliza Loves playing basketball.


Sarah made some huge bubbles!


Run Caleb, Run!

Back Together Again

Our ward had the annual Father-n-son camp out this weekend. Unfortunately, Adam had an important job come up at the last minute so he and Caleb weren't able to go.
They did have an awesome time together though. On Friday night they went out for Chinese Food and stayed up late watching Kung Fu Panda. On Saturday Caleb got to go to work with Adam. Then they went fishing, and last but not least they went to the "Buggy" shop and test drove one of the new Polaris Rangers. Caleb said it was better than a camp out. Thanks Dad!
While the Boys were out having fun together, the girls were at the ward Mother & Daughter retreat. It was held at a The Tenny Ranch in Heber. We played games, sang songs, ate TONS of yummy food and slept on a BUNK BED!!!! I love the sisters in my ward and it was so much fun getting to know some of them better.
It was a great weekend for everyone, but we are so glad to be "back together again."

Gila Valley Temple

Last Friday we took a family trip to the open house of the Gila Valley Temple. We were met there by some of the Gurrs, and we all took a tour of the temple together.
Being in a Temple (even one that hasn't been dedicated yet) is always so much more special when you are there with family.
It was so great to teach the kids more about temples, and to watch them marvel at the beauty within the temple walls.
One room of the Temple had the most beautiful chandelier that I have ever seen. It was nearly impossible to take our eyes off of it. Eliza and Sarah especially loved the sealing room. (the room where you get married.)
All of the kids loved getting to spend a little time with their cousins, and grandparents.
After attending the open house, Grandma Gurr showed the kids the elementary school that she attended. Part of it has been turned into a museum. We had has fun looking at all the "cool old stuff". I was really surprised at how interested my kids were in everything. They thought the old record player was way cooler than an i-pod.
They got to sit in an old school classroom, and Sarah even sat in a chair that once belonged to President Spencer W. Kimball.
We had a wonderful day together. I am so grateful that Adam and I were Married the Temple so we can be together as a family for eternity.