Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

The girls of the family go together this weekend to have a little getaway.

It was much needed for all of us.

Sarah invited us all up to her Dad's cabin in Bear Lake. It was beautiful and cozy and perfect. We even had the opportunity to see 3 moose outside the cabin.

There was more food there than we could ever haven eaten. 

We did a Favorite Things exchange. 

That will be a fun tradition. Heidi 

brought the best thing...a massage therapist!

She treated us all to a half hour massage.

It was divine! 

Grandma Hale brought everybody a pair of jammies. The little girls jammies

needed some alterations done so Grandma brought up her sewing machine.  

We watched movies, took naps, played games,

did crafts, made jewelry, 

you name it we did it.  

Speaking of games...we played an epic

game of Sardines. This is a photo 

of all of us hiding in the bathtub.

The girls loved it.

Sunday morning we held a devotional.

Julia and Evelyn led the music.

The older girls did the prayer, Young Women theme, a scripture and a thought. 

Then my Mom talked to us about the importance

of Motherhood and I read a talk by Sheri Dew.

Before we all started to leave we took a 

group photo together. We can't wait to go back. 

Jennifer, Ronda, Tana, Julia, Megan, Ally, Shaylen, 

Evelyn, Sarah, Sawyer, Heidi and Sydney

Bear Lake Getaway

We always love our mid winter getaway! It is so nice to have it to look forward to after the Holidays are over.

Every Presidents Day weekend we run away to either Bear Lake or to Midway.

The kids had a great time swimming. 

The family enjoyed playing the part of the 'Shoulder Angel' from Studio C during the weekend. 

We went to the sinks to go sledding. What an adventure that turned out to be. We were all exhausted after that one. 

It was a great getaway! 

Flashback Friday: Camp Hunt

Nate and I have a tradition that we do with the kids. The summer of the year that they turn 11 we take them on a camping trip one on one. Nate took Ethan and last year I took Ally.

We had so much fun together. We went to Camp Hunt up in Bear Lake. Even though it was around the 4th of July our first day it just rained and rained. Cute, brave Ally decided to go for her swim check. It was COLD outside of the water I couldn't believe she wanted to get even colder by getting into the water. I was super proud of her, especially because her Mom was too big of a wuss to do it. Of course she passed the swim check. 

The next day, when the sun was shining, I got my swim check out of the way so we could enjoy all of the waterfront activities.

We went canoeing and kayaking and swam in the lake. It was perfect weather.

Here are our swim check chips. The board shows that we stayed in the Crow campsite.

During some of our free time we went into Garden City and got us a raspberry shake. Ally found this blow up Dolphin so we picked it up too for her to play with. She had a great time with it.

I thought she was a little bit crazy when she wanted to get up before sunrise and go canoeing out on the lake. I really thought that once the alarm went off that she would beg to sleep in but nope, she dragged me out  of bed into the cool, crisp morning air and away we went.

It turned out to be the highlight of our camping trip for me. It was so beautiful and calm. I loved being out on the water with my Ladybug. Such a sweet memory.

We loved participating in the campfire songs, the skits, and all of the activities that Camp Hunt had to offer. It was a great trip!

Flashback Friday: Sydneys Baptism and the Lodge 2008

We always enjoy our time as a family up at the Laketown Lodge. But this particular trip up was even more meaningful. We had it planned to go up for the weekend of our niece, Sydney's baptism. It was the first weekend of March. Well, the fourth of February is when my Dad and his wife Fran, had their moose accident. My Dad ended up only being released from the hospital the day of the Baptism. They allowed he and Fran to travel up to the Lodge to participate in the Baptism and then he headed straight back to the hospital for one final check and was then released. He had been in there for a month. We were so grateful we were able be together with him in celebration instead of in mourning.

The Lodge is always full of good times and good food and this day was no exception. We returned after the Baptism to eat a feast and to take some pictures with Dad.

Dad with my brother, Travis, and his two boys, Garrett and Tyler.

Sophia Kelsey and Grandpa Burke

Evelyn, Nate, Ryland, Ronda, Ally, Dad and Fran and Ethan Mills

Garrett, Sarah, Travis, Julia, Dad and Fran and Tyler Burke

Jennifer, Shaylen, Ridge, Dad and Fran, and Sawyer Skidmore

Kai, Joe and Sophia Burke with Dad and Fran

Wyatt, Dad, Sydney, Fran, Heidi, Logan, Travis, Carson and Megan Muirbrook



Laketown Lodge: January 2013

We love to go to the Laketown Lodge in Bear Lake.

We try to go atleast once a year as an extended Burke family.

We always have such a great time. We get to kick back, relax, eat a ton of food, let the kids run wild with each other, just have a great time. We love it.

Ryland, Ally, Shaylen, Cole, Evelyn, and Ridge

 Getting ready to go out into the frigid, single digit temps to go sledding.

 Evelyn

 Ally

 Ryland

 Sawyer, Ally and Shaylen

 Evelyn and Megan

 Cole, Shaylen, Megan, Sydney, Wyatt, Garrett, Ethan, Tyler, Austin, Sawyer, Logan, Ally, Evelyn, Ridge, Ryland, Julia

Can't wait for next time!

For The Record.....

She DOES NOT take after her mother. I have NEVER watered my garden while topless and wearing a sequined skirt. Just so you know. Plus, I don't think I could pull it off as well as she does.