dancing on the Temple Grounds

Work trips with the family are fun.

Joshua had to go to Salt Lake for work and we decided to tag along. 

We stayed at our favorite family hotel which I think was key to our enjoyment.

While Joshua was at meetings all morning we invited the Claybaughs to come and swim with us for the day and into the evening. 

I love having Shelbie live closer (3.5 hours is closer than 6) and it was great to catch up while the kids played in the pool for hours. We spent about 7 hours in the pool and the kids slept GREAT!

I think our best idea was to go eat dinner at City Creek and explore that fabulous new shopping area. 

The kids loved walking around the temple so much that we are determined to make it a yearly tradition in the fall.

In the words of a great family friend, Mark Gilberg "This is Living in Utah!"

Utah is beautiful!

 Harrison slept nicely by the pool. 

 Blue Lemon...Sweet Potato fries are THE best. 

We love our Uncle Tanner

 Siri's "Say Cheese Face"

 "The spot" or "our spot" where Joshua proposed

 Getting our dance on at the temple grounds

 Love my family even though we are missing a few. 

The kids LOVE uncle Tanner. 

Fall is here

There is something special about the Fall season. 

I forgot what the desert was like in the fall. It comes alive and blooms almost like a spring but in much warmer fall-ish colored tones. 

 I have been so used to Fall on the Wasatch Mountains for the past 13 years.  Taking drives up to Sundance and American Fork Canyon with all the bright colors and crisp weather that it really hasn't felt like fall here. More like summer, a more enjoyable summer where we can be out chatting with our neighbors anytime of the day. We can go for morning walks after 8 am and its still tolerable. But the fall does have its place here in the desert and I find it quiet beautiful in its own way. 

For instance the massive Sunflowers that dot my parents yard big and full reminds me that its fall and the mustard color of the Broom Bloom is my favorite at this time of year. Driving across the strip the brush has a golden tone which also indicates its fall. And nothing beats the smell of fall. No matter if your at the top of this great State or at its southern most mesa... the fall has a wonderful exciting smell. 

Here's to a golden fall. 

six

My little boy turned 6!

Chamberlain 

Your special day went something like this.

Breakfast in bed with your FAVORITE blueberry waffles.

You opened up one present which happend to be a new Superman shirt with shorts from Grandma Chamberlain.

Off to school you went.

You took football shaped brownies to share with your class.

Dad picked you and your friend Cyrie up from the bus stop where you came home sporting a birthday crown, which you had worn all day at school.

You played and played with your friends.

Skyped with Grandma Burgess and opened up presents from her.

We had hot dogs (per your request) with Uncle Dave, Aunt Sarah and Grandma and Grandpa Chamberlain fresh off the grill for your birthday dinner. 

You ended the night going to the Tuacahn to see Aladdin with Grandma and Grandpa Chamberlain. 

You came home around midnight with a huge smile on your face, completely exhausted.
It was a super day!

Chamberlain,

Your favorite things are superheros! You can't seem to get enough Batman, Spiderman and Star Wars.  

Right now you enjoy playing with your superhero legos.

Your favorite color is Blue for the Cougs! And you tell everyone you know that your Bishop is a Ute fan (that must be very troubling for you). You have lots of friends in the neighborhood and at church you are also very good at making new friends. 

 Your favorite food is Dad's Hot Dogs on the grill with salmon, steak, avocados and blueberries. 

We love you son. We have loved every minute spent with you and the adventures that you take us on.

We have loved sharing this life with you and are looking forward to the next 6 years and beyond. 
Happy 6th Birthday!

Great Grandparents

My Grandparents along with my Aunt Suzie and Uncle Mike were in town for my Grandpa's Sisters funeral and we were lucky enough to have them drop by and spend the afternoon with us. We dont get to visit them as often as we'd like, so we take advantage of the time when they like to visit Souther Utah in our cooler summer months.  

While we sat and talked the afternoon away I snapped a few pictures for history.

 Harrison with Great Grandpa Kent

 Harrison with Great Uncle Mike and Great Grandpa Kent

 Harrison with Great Grandma Johnson

 Siri LOVES her Great Aunt Suzie especially since she was willing to paint her nails pink...

a day at our favorite lake

I cant believe its already September and that last weekend was the first time we have been to Lake Powell this entire summer. I guess having a baby the last week in June didn't help in our water activities this summer.

However, September, is in my book one of the BEST months to visit our favorite lake, for two reasons;

1. The water is warm. We are talking like 80+ degrees

&

2. You have the lake pretty much to yourself. In other words there are a handful of people compared to the millions of people in the middle of summer. 

We went with my parents out to spend the day at Lone Rock Beach and check out Antelope Marina which is beautiful. I might add Mr. Burgess, that I would like to go on an afternoon date with you to the floating restaurant on the lake. It looks very yummy and what could be better than eating on our favorite lake with no kids!

I also wanted to take the kids to Horseshoe Bend which is like a few miles south of the dam and a quick walk from the road is the edge of the cliff and its beautiful...Chamberlain quickly changed my mind when we were walking across the bridge and he said; "Mom I get really dizzy when I look over the edge." Then I noticed his body start to sway back and forth and then I thought maybe its not such a good idea to take the kids to a 300ft. ledge. 

I love living so close to the Lake and I think Josh does as well since he is determined if we live this close to two lakes (Sand Hallow, and Lake Powell) to get a boat. I certainly agree.

The sooner the better. 

Chamberlain,

Im so proud of you! You swam to the buoys twice. Which in my book is totally awesome since I think the buoys have a creepy feeling and it was a long swim from the shore. 

Great Job!

 Harrison loved being outside the entire day and was the perfect baby the whole trip, he loved looking around at everything and was all smiles. 

Our campsite for the day. 

It looks as if we have the lake all to ourselves.

 Our mini Burgess lake on the lake

Perfect babysitter while we played in the water.

Blessing Day

On Sunday September 3rd Harrison Joshua Burgess was given a name and a blessing by his Father Joshua Reid.  It was such a lovely uplifting Labor Day Weekend spent with lots of family and friends. 

We feel so blessed and loved from all those who were with us both physically and in thought. 

I knew it was going to be a heartfelt day when the opening Hymn was We Are All Enlisted.  Which my Grandma Laura used to sing to my sister Shelbie and I when we weren't getting along as well (which unfortunately was often in our youth).

I feel like through pivotal and important moments in my life, since her passing, my Grandma Laura has been there with me. Whither it be through feeling she is there, feeling the need to call and tell her what has happend or in this case which has happend before...through song. She almost always had a church hymn she would lightly and lovingly sing to remind us of what we should be doing or to help us remember we are blessed and that life is good. 

This Sunday was a reminder that life is good at Burgess Junction and that I Ashleigh Burgess am blessed with 3 beautiful children and a Handsome Husband whom I love very much.  Especially our newest edition Harrison who has been such a joy and I have treasured literally every moment spent with him. I think thats what happens by your 3rd child. I feel like I embrace each moment more than I ever have before and I have learned to just go with the flow of Harrison.

I guess I should admit that just like Siri's blessing day I got caught up in the moment and enjoyed the hour and forgot to take pictures... so we staged some pictures later in the week.

I guess we did get a few shots in of the day from Josh's phone.

A blurry picture of people and Siri eating her dessert...

A Very Happy Family. 

 My three boys

 My most favorite people on earth!

 A proud Father.

 Grandpa Ken representing the Burgess side... This was the only picture I got of the two together. 

Funny Faces.