Changes all around---

So many changes!
Andy now works for American Extrusion International.

As a member of the sales team, he'll be traveling to these places:

(He's over sales in Europe, Middle East, and Africa)

Because of this, we got this book in the mail today:

And, we will no longer need this setup:



He was officially released as seminary teacher last Sunday.  After three years, he has really grown to love the kids, and we'll both miss hearing all 21 (would have been 26 this year!) tromp down our stairs each morning at 6 am.  (really, we will!)  But- it would be near impossible to teach when he's traveling up to 40% of the time.  And, everything happens for a reason-- the Lord is aware of every circumstance in each of His childrens' lives.  The timing is just too perfect to believe anything else--the new seminary teacher is going to be great!! 

And, secretly (or not so secretly :), I'm excited to have our basement back!

I'm so proud of Andy- he works so hard for our family and is doing everything he does to the best of his ability.  We're sure lucky to have him!!!

Magic Waters

This last Monday we took the boys to Magic Waters-- the little waterpark in Rockford.  They Loved it, with a capital L :)  Cute boys--

 Drew was having so much fun and going down so many slides, this was the only picture I got of just him :)

 While Drew & Daddy were in line for the roller coaster waterslide, Grant was having fun playing in the kids area. For a few minutes he just layed on this turtle-- silly kid!

 Grant, practicing his moves :)  I really have no idea what he was doing, but it was funny!

 Happy Boy!

We got into the park with a gift card that Andy's co-workers gave him on his last day at United Way-- that's right, Andy got a new job!  More on that in the above post--   Anyway, right as we were about to leave the waterpark, they started having electrical problems and had to close the park down.  SO, our tickets are good for another whole free day!  It's the gift that keeps giving :)

Do You Believe in Magic?

Well, Drew hopes we do!  He loves to do 'magic' tricks (something he watches his father do for him often). His specialty seems to be making things 'disappear'.

The first and only rule to viewing Drew's magic: close your eyes :) :)

He had just turned the big card into a little card ;)

Mack Talks :)

This little boy is growing up way too fast!!  BUT, we're loving how much he interacts with us lately!

Bham Family Reunion 2011

I am so lucky to have married into such an awesome family-- seriously!  The Burningham Fam is just so much fun!  We had a great time laughing, sweating, playing, sweating, going, dying of heat, eating, sweating, talking, dying of heat, and just spending time with them.  The reunion this year was in San Antonio-- never again will we travel there in JULY-- ugh:

Yes, it was crazy hot.  Yes, I don't remember the last time I couldn't cool down-- even in A/C.  Yes, we went through a ton of sunscreen.  Yes, some of us learned that sunscreen actually does expire (therefore, got burned ;).  BUT-- we honestly had a really great time!  We were not ready for it to be over.

A big, huge thanks to Andy's bro and sil Tim & Lisa for their awesome planning.  And to Andy's Aunt, for her hard work and planning as well-- everything went off without a hitch!  (and when you're planning for 26 people, that's not easy to do!)

We were able to go boating one day, do a ton of swimming at the Resort's pools, go see an actual Texas Ranch with Texas Longhorns, go to SeaWorld, see downtown San Antonio, and some were able to do a session at the San Antonio temple-- what an awesome trip!!

 Texas Longhorn and us :)

 Stick 'em up!

 Drew with Pistol Packin' Paula and the outlaw at the Ranch

 Some of the Bham clan in front of Sea World

 Remember The Alamo!

 On top of the Tower of Americas in San Antonio

 Walking along the beautiful Riverwalk

 At the Riverwalk Show (see the band playing on the bridge in the background)  Mack is naked b/c he had just blown through his second outfit of the day-- that's all I had brought with us!

 Mack did a whole lot of hanging out in his carseat/stroller :)

Grant in the Ranch's 'out house' ;)

Whitney comes to visit!

My lovely and wonderful sister decided to marry an awesome man-- the only downfall-- they have to live in Australia :( for a few years.  That means we won't get to see her or Adam very much.  BUT, she had to come back to the states one last time for a visa issue-- so, she got to come visit us!  Yay!  We had a lot of fun, and the time went way too quickly.

As always, she gets some awesomely cute pictures of my kids. I love it when Whit comes to visit for tons of reasons, this just happens to be one of them :)

Look at that chub scout :)

We love you, Whit!!  Can't wait till you live closer again-- and until then, Grant will continue to ask me often, "Mommy, where Winty?" ;)  Love ya!

July 4th-- Loving the Fireworks!

We had another awesome Independence Day-- we've got some great friends who always have us over for a BBQ, and then the Beloit Firework show is always outstanding!  Little Mack slept right through the whole thing, and the two olders loved the display :)

Getting everyone {read: the boys} to smile for the camera should be considered a full-time job :)