Christmas Letter Dec. 2014

Dearest Family and Friends,

As we have reflected on this year, we are humbled by all of the wonderful things we have been blessed with. It has been a great year for us and we have so much to be thankful for.

Greg- In January Greg had his Music Composition Recital at UNLV. Many of his pieces that he had composed over the last two years were played. It was a very rewarding and beautiful experience for us. In May Greg graduated from UNLV with a master's degree in Music Theory and Composition. Although he has a deep love and passion for music, in August he got a new job as an Educational Advisor at Nevada State High School. To us, this job was a tremendous opportunity and answer to prayer. He really enjoys working with the students and has learned so much while being there.

Haley- Last February we felt strongly to stay in Las Vegas and decided to buy a home here. It has changed our lives to be homeowners, but we really love having the extra space, especially since I am expecting our second child. We will be having another girl at the end of January. It has been a good pregnancy so far and we feel so blessed to be able to have another child. About the time that Greg got his new job, I got offered a position as a substitute teacher at Nevada Virtual Academy. It is an online school here in Nevada, so I get to work from home. So far, it has been a very rewarding experience.

Emily- Emily turned two last May and continues to amaze us with what she knows and understands. She loves to sing songs, read books, draw, dance, and paint. I guess she is a typical girl. She is so excited to get a little sister and has already told us that her name is Kylie. I guess we'll see about that.

We are grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ and this time of year to reflect on His birth. We wish you all a very merry Christmas!

With Love,

The Burrs

Gobble, gobble!

On Sunday, November 23 we went up to St. George after church to visit Greg's grandparents. We had a really good time and Emily loved getting so much attention!

A few days later we headed up to Provo. We spent Thanksgiving with my sister Ashley and her family. Here is Emily playing in the leaves with her cousin, Delaney.

Emily and Cheyenne played together really nicely too. Cute cousins!

Ashley was nice enough to take some family pictures of us while we were there. I love Emily's pose here! So cute.

My little Emily

My two favorite people

Aren't we cute? 4 and a half years of marriage. I'm so blessed!

I take holiday weight gaining pretty seriously. 9 more weeks!

Getting ready for the Thanksgiving feast with the Dilsavers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Once Thanksgiving was over, it was time for Christmas stories!

So cool!

On Saturday we went on a walk by Bridal Veil Falls. The kids LOVED it, even though it was really cold and windy.

Playing before church. Such a fun trip. Thanks Dilsavers!

When we got back from our trip we started decorating for Christmas. Emily really likes the decorations.

Merry Christmas!

On Friday we went to go see the Christmas lights at the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory. It is becoming a Christmas tradition of ours...especially since you get a free chocolate at the end!

Emily and Greg

Me and Em

Yesterday I attended a baby shower of my cousin's wife, Brooke (she's due two weeks after me). It's fun to live only 30 minutes away from them and who doesn't love girl time?

Autumn in Vegas

I am 30 weeks along and 30 years old! We can't wait for our baby girl to get here, even though we don't have a name for her yet. January 28 can't get here fast enough!

On November 11 it was Veterans' Day and since Greg didn't have to work we decided to go to the Springs Preserve.

Emily had a great time looking at all of the plants and animals, but her favorite part was the playground!

So cute!

We saw some pretty cool exhibits, including the butterfly one! They were huge and EVERYWHERE!

I don't know if this picture does it justice...

It was such fun family outing and it even warmed up by the time we left!

On Thursday we went to the temple and took turns doing initiatories. Emily loves walking around the temple and seeing Angel Moroni. 

She's a pretty religious girl, I mean, look...she LOVES to study her scriptures too.

Last week Greg got released as Young Men's president. The Young Men in our ward were pretty sad to have him go, so they came over Thursday night and surprised us with dinner. It was a fun night! Greg will miss serving with them.

I must admit that there is nothing that is much funnier than listening to their conversations at the dinner table...

The following day I took Emily to the park...her favorite place.

Then she played the piano with Greg...another one of her favorite things!

Lazy Saturday morning at our house...

Our little Emily.

Halloween Week

Halloween was so much more fun this year. Emily was excited to participate in all of the Halloween activities. On Monday night we carved our jack-o-lantern.

Nothing too fancy, but it turned out great!

Emily loved being our little helper.

We rewarded ourselves by making some yummy candy corn cookies. Then we ended the evening watching one of my favorite Halloween movies: Disney's Halloween Treat.

Emily was pretty patient all week waiting for it to be Halloween and then finally it came!

Emily was Princess Aurora (AKA Briar Rose). She doesn't have her crown on in this picture.

I was a magic 8 ball. Everyone kept asking me if I was 8 months along...

Haha, not quite! I've got 3 more months. Greg was Zorro, but he wouldn't let me take a picture of his awesome costume. It was a fun Halloween.

To end off our great Halloween, we finally sold our blue car. It was bitter sweet I guess. I bought it back in 2008, right before I graduated from BYU. It's been a lot of places: Utah, Idaho, Washington, New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio, Nauvoo, and Nevada. It's been a good car mostly, but now that it has 227,000 miles on it...it was time to move on. 

Utah in October

On October 17, we headed up to Utah to see Greg's sister, Malerie. She had just returned home from her mission in Calgary, Canada. Since the whole family was there, we decided to go to Cornbelly's. 

We all got lost in the corn maze, but still had fun!

Greg and Eric played some "Pumpkin" Dodge Ball. 

Emily helped.

It was pretty hot for an October in Utah...and I kept telling Greg to bring long sleeves...

Emily has turned into a little prankster. She kept going around to people and putting rocks in their shoes...even people she didn't know! What a weirdo!

...just to prove to you how tough he is!

Watching people in awe.

This picture is to show you that I am in fact growing. 

On Sunday, October 19 Malerie gave her homecoming talk. Greg and his mom played a great musical number and then we ate some yummy soup for lunch. It was fun to have the family all together again.

Sunday afternoon we left West Jordan and headed to Provo. We wanted to meet Dillon's future wife. Emily was pretty tuckered out.

Ben stole my camera pretty soon after we arrived and thought it would be funny to take pictures of "random groups". He got some good ones. Well, as it turns out...we like Dillon's fiancee pretty well. Especially because her name is Emily!

Cute little Ephraim...although he's not all that little anymore. He's almost a year old! Hi Cheyenne...

To make it even more awesome, our cousin Alan was there. Never a dull moment when he's around. He took a lot of selfies with my camera...

Although we were only in Provo for a little while, it was fun to see three of my siblings! Can't wait to come up again at Thanksgiving! Nice pumpkin, Dillon!

On Monday night we got to be the "Family Night Phantom" and take cookies to someone in our ward. It was fun to make Halloween sugar cookies. Maybe we can make it a tradition.

For the last picture, I thought I'd show you one of Emily's favorite places to play...in the dirt!