2011

It has been a while since I have written... It seems like this year has been busier than ever. I am going to school at night to get all of my education professional certification...Nights, weekends, more nights have kept me moving more than I knew possible. I am reading, writing, reporting and maintaining my straight A average... It has been harder at times than I anticipated... A little more stressful at times, but I am half way finished, studying for my exams, and getting my professional portfolio prepared! The kids are all busy with projects and activities. The girls are in full swing of baton, and preparing for competitions again...Halle is prepping for her first solo performance in the novice category. She is also going to compete in Marching, and possibly modeling. Addie may or may not compete in her age group for marching. She has a penchant for NOT doing what she is supposed to--in true Addie form...

Both Girls are Miss Gainesville princesses this year:) Fun fun fun stuff! DJ is busy with student council at Archer, winning the school spelling bee and competing at regionals to get the word curmudgeon in his second turn:( BOOO! DJ is also playing basketbal and seems to really like it! GO DJ! All of the kids and mom are playing tennis and we all LOVE it! I have started to play competitive matches in a ladies day league and am 1/1 so far (even though I won by forfiet~a win is a WIN!!!)

I will try to post pictures and update more often!!!

Summer 2010 Pictures

Halle and Crystal Miss Florida

Halle, Princess for Miss Florida Gator 2010

DJ at the Fillmore skate park. RipStick...

Halle, DJ , Syd Hinkley 24th of July parade

24th of July in Hinkley, Utah

Addie playing at Blue Springs

Halle jumping off the dock at Blue Springs


Jamie's AWESOME chocholate chip ice cream cake! Biggest ice cream sandwich ever! YUMMY!

DJ, Halle, Addie Chalk Creek Canyon 2010

Jamis Birthday

Summer 2010, farewell

It is August. It is time for our fun summer to come to a sudden and abrupt end:( And for that I say "Yea!" and "BOO!" at the same time. I am excited to get the kids back in school and back on a somewhat organized schedule. I am excited because I am back taking classes to finish my education certification (now that I am a teacher). I am excited because fall means FOOTBALL season is once again here. I say boob because I am in such a happy Zen place and have gotten SO LAZY this summer that I am dreading going back to work again. I have been here there and everywhere this summer and have really enjoyed traveling with the kids. Not that we went anywhere super spectacular, but summers at the beach and in Utah are the best. The kids LOVE going to Fillmore and love seeing their cousins from Colorado. They love seeing their Fillmore friends and hanging at the pool and chillin around town. They get spoiled rotten by Grandma Olson, and that is just the icing on the cake.

We went saw did done a lot of fun things this summer. Miss Florida, the beach, Disney, Rodeos, parades and carnivals in the park, visits to new distant cousins, lunch with Grandma Great, rides up the canyon were all some of the fun things we did over summer break.

While we were gone touring around, it was out with the old and in with the new. Our tile floors were replaced with beautiful NEW hardwoord floors. They look so shiny and nice and are soooo much nicer to walk on. The kids love to slide across the floors in their socks :)

We took a lot of pics and as lazy as I have been, I have yet to post any. I will get to that this afternoon...

So farwell summer 2010, we have loved every relaxing minute of you.

Daytona Beach June 2010

The family leaving Daytona Beach...
Girls tuckered out in the Hotel after all the fun

Fire pit on the beach. So relaxing to watch the sunset and the full moon rise over the water.

DJ's "Hollister" pose

Addie found two Jellyfish. She picked one up and said "look mom". I said, "Addie, I think it is out of a swim suit" (thinking it was a silicon implant for a swim suit). DUH! Jamie had her put it down so she wouldn't get stung. Now I know what a jellyfish look like.

Kids on the beach after smores sat night.

DJ roasting mellows for smores... his first attempt was a flaming fireball.

Hey....It caught fire...again...

Ricj goooey goodness....

I love ice cream!

I love chocolate.... YUM!

At the beach, YEP, we had ice cream for dinner:)

Photo shot for Dawn. Recognize the shirt?

Check it... We have arrived at the beach...Cute and stylish little beach bums...

Addie's baby pool we made her. About 1 foot deep and lots of fun after playing in the surf~

Halle's Birthday

Opening Presents
3 of her favs on one shirt: America, Peace, Monkeys!

OH MY GOSH!!!! REALLY!!!! SO surprised and excited!

Kit, my American Girl doll I wanted SOOOO BAD!

Addie gets a little Ahhhhhh-D...

Halle is oh so happy:)

Kit and Halle... Twins with Halle's new haircut:)

A new America Girl- HALLE!!!

MAY pictures in reverse order...

Our super busy MAY in pictures. Awe to be finished with all the activities and relax a bit!

Halle and Addie at the THOMAS CENTER after DJ's recital
DJ after his recital

DJ piano recital

DJ's first Tennis Tourny

I am ready... Watch the ball... Go!

Halle's "America" celebration end of 1st grade!

Daisy Graduation! She is know a Brownie!

Halle at her baton recital... State Champion trophy. Classic Addie w/ tongue out.

Halle and Addie St Pete Florida for the Autism Walk w/ Jake. Don't know what kind of tree this is but it was really cool.

DJ St Pete Florida Autism Walk

Yep. 6 different liquids all stacked not mixed. From bottom: Honey, Karo Syrup, Dawn Dish Soap, Water (died red), Vegetable Oil, Mint Green Alcohol ... Cool Job DJ!

Halle's group and their trophy's for the year!

May's GRAND FINALE of events

What a grand finale to our year May has been for the Burton family...
DJ had his first science fair. He did a project on different density's of liquids and had a very nice project. He was able to tie it in to the unfortunate, but recent gulf oil spill...
Halle had her end of the year program and sang some wonderful "ALL AMERICAN" songs. Great red, white, and blue!!!

Halle had her baton recital--and received her STATE CHAMPION trophy!

Halle and DJ each had their last football games. Halle cheered for the league winners of the 8 and under division and DJ played for the championship of the 14 and under division--only to come upa touchdown short... Great game, and lost to some GIRLS in the ward. YEP, girls! They are 13 and so cool, it took some of the sting out of losing.

Halle graduated from Daisy Scouts to brownies. I couldn't go to the bridge celebration, so DJ went in my place! He took some great pictures for me!

Last Saturday, DJ played in his first tennis tournament. He won some games, but lost both matches. We are so proud of him and he signed up for another tournament this June! He has only been playing for a few months and I am glad that he is eager to practice and play.

And finally, DJ's piano recital was last night. He played O Susanna! and did a great job!

PHEW! One tired momma, but we made it through the year! Looking forward to sleeping in, no after school activities, and just chillin' this summer... We have Disney, the Beach, Miss Florida, and FILLMORE to look forward to..... AWWWWWW...

Another Fun Singing Time

Mini Penants and poms "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ"
Larger Penants with the words to the music:)

OK.... What team are you on??? Gator, BY-Uck, FSU, Edward? Jacob???

Today, we talked about how the kids are all on the same team--Our Heavenly Fathers as we learned the song of the month "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ"... So I made sports penants with the words on it to teach the song, then little sports pennants with the words "I belong to the church of Jesus Christ" to sit on the piano with the poms and #1 fingers. The kids who sang good took turns coming to the front to be my helpers and to cheer for the singers. The kids WERE INCREDIBLE!!! They sang SOO reverntly loud, you could hear them all over the building! It was AWESOME!!! They really got into it and did a super job--and had SUPER fun singing/cheering:)