Happy Days

Typical Emily: sucking her two fingers and carrying around her blanket and pillow. It's pretty cute. I'll be sad when she grows out of this really cute stage.

She loves Greg SO MUCH! She cuddles with him way more than me. I guess he IS pretty good at cuddling...

On Monday, January 27 Greg has his Master's Music Composition Recital. After two and a half years of really hard work, he did it! His concert was so wonderful and I was so proud of him. I was touched by all of the people who came to support him on his big day!

His parents and brother Eric were awesome to come down from Salt Lake to see it. It was a very happy night, even though Emily was really sick...

The Yis came too, but mixed up the time and showed up right as the concert was finishing. We were happy they made the effort to come.

Then... I didn't take pictures until Valentine's Day, which turned out being the best one yet! Greg is always so cute and thoughtful on Valentine's Day. He put white chocolate candies all over our bed (since I don't eat chocolate).

Then I found even more white chocolates on the dining room table with notes and flowers. Aren't those roses beautiful?? Greg's job at the floral supply warehouse really comes in handy. You might say, he's got connections.

Since Greg is a Brickoven Pizza alumni, he has mastered heart shaped pizzas. This one was particularly good. Doesn't it look like it could be on a bill board?!?!

Our yummy Valentine's Day feast: heart shaped pizza, bread sticks, salad, grape juice, and red velvet blizzards for dessert. 

Then to end off the perfect day, we got keys to our new house. We are officially homeowners!!

Here we are in our family room. You may be wondering why we have a fireplace if we live in Las Vegas, well... I was wondering the same thing! Come visit, it's in the 70's here!

Life with Emily

Emily NEVER eats all of the food on her tray. This picture is proof that she ate it all once.

Emily loves playing with her toy kitchen. She is really cute to watch. Especially when she tries to talk on her cell phone.

Emily is obsessed with shoes. She loves to take a pair off and put a new pair on. Here she is trying on her Ecuadorian shoes (thanks Whitney and Adam!) 

Today I noticed that it was abnormally quiet. I went to go check on her and found this! She managed to throw every item of clothing that she owns on the floor. At least she has a cute hat on!

In most pictures you see of Emily she has two fingers in her mouth... this picture is no exception. Here we are with some of Greg's family in St. George. In photo: Blake, Rachel, Dad Burr, Greg , Mom Burr, Emily, and me. 

Sorry Emily, you're not in this picture. A few weeks ago I got together with some buddies from church and we had a ladies' night. I never knew I was so good at basketball (j/k)!

My cousin Adam and his wife Aubry were in Vegas at a convention a few days ago. We were so happy they came to visit us while in town. We had a great time, even though Emily looks pretty grumpy.

A Christmas to Remember

All year long we had been planning and looking forward to going to Utah for Christmas. We were going to spend it with Greg's family. With our crazy lives, the trip was going to be something so special and meaningful to us. However, about three days before Christmas, our plans changed...

Greg's boss asked him to work until noon on Christmas Eve AND the day after Christmas. If we went to Utah we would practically miss Christmas Eve (because we would arrive in the late evening) and then we would have to leave to come home on Christmas afternoon. That would mean spending less than 24 hours in Utah and driving 6 hours or more on Christmas day. On top of that our car was having trouble. So, we decided it would probably be best for us to just stay home for Christmas.

We were really bummed about it all at first. I couldn't even listen to the songs 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' or 'White Christmas' (since it doesn't snow here). But then we decided to make it a special Christmas with just the three of us. So...

We made sugar cookies.

Here's the one I am most proud of (and of course it says Mom on it).

Then we started baking other treats: chocolate covered pretzels, caramels and peanut butter cups. Don't you wish you lived by us and could taste some of those yummy goodies??

We went to the mall to see the Christmas tree display and say hi to Santa!

Yeah, Emily is definitely a daddy's girl...look at that smile!

Then we went home and had a Christmas Eve feast of ham, potato casserole, green bean casserole, raspberry jello, rolls, sparkling apple cider, and cheesecake for dessert! We were stuffed!!

After dinner Greg read us Luke 2 and Emily insisted on sitting in her stroller...

Then Greg played his violin and we sang Christmas songs... well, he played and I sang!

Emily wasn't really into the singing...

At least she is cute though!!

We finished off the evening looking at Christmas lights and watching 'Meet Me In St. Louis'. I was so excited to watch it with Greg because he had never seen it before, but he fell asleep like an hour into it!

The next day we got up around 6:30 and Santa had come. Emily loved her gifts. She was so happy and entertained ALL day!

Gotta love coloring books... they're cheap and provide hours of entertainment!

It turned out to be a great Christmas. Greg said it was even better than last year. It is always a great Christmas when you get to share it with those you love.

BURR... Merry Christmas!!!

Last year I made a New Year's resolution to write a family Christmas card. The worst thing...I posted it on my blog so there was forever proof that I said it. I know this is a totally lame excuse for a Christmas card, but it is the best we can do and afford for this year. Next year you can expect a card (and I posted that on the blog, so I'll be sure to do it!) 

We started off the year moving into a two bedroom apartment here in Las Vegas. Since both of us serve in the youth program, we were grateful to receive so much help from the youth in our ward. In April we achieved three years of marriage. Naturally we rewarded ourselves and saw Bill Cosby live. We have had a lot of fun going on family outings to Mt. Charleston, the Springs Preserve, the Wetlands, the Natural History Museum, various parks, and regularly attending story time at our local library. Greg has been working super hard on his masters degree in Music Composition this year. Haley has devoted a lot of the year to posting on her Popcorn Reader blog that she completed. Emily has been walking, jabbering, and is the light of our lives. We feel very blessed. We are most grateful this year for our Savior, Jesus Christ and the hope and peace He continually brings to our family. 

We love you all so much. 

Merry Christmas!

The Best Time of the Year

Rachel (Greg's sister) got married on Tuesday, November 26 at the Oquirrh Mountain temple in Utah. We came up for the occasion. 

This is right outside the temple. Grandpa Burr and little Emily. Yes, her coat is on upside down...

Grandpa and Grandma Burr and Emily. It's no secret, Emily was tired and grumpy!

Their reception was that night in the Provo Library. Here is the Burr family, even Malerie (who is currently serving a mission) was represented in the picture.

Emily eating a pumpkin roll at the reception. I think she likes it! 

Since the wedding was right before Thanksgiving, my parents and little sister were in town and came to the reception. Here is Cassidy and my mom.

Here's the whole crew. 

Congratulations Rachel and Blake!

The day after the wedding I invited some of my co-workers over. We had so much fun catching up. They will forever be my dear friends. Thanks Marissa and Lisa!

Then we took Emily to the park and played in the leaves. She was so happy!

On Thanksgiving Day we hung out with my family. In was quite a fun crew: Dad, Mom, Whitney and Adam, Ashley and Ben, Derek, and Cassidy. Never a dull moment with this bunch!

 Emily all ready for church, Gemtek fly swatter and all!

Right before she got in trouble for playing with the ornaments on the Christmas tree...

On Monday, December 2 we went to Ethel M. Chocolate's to see the Christmas lights. Emily loved it even more than last year! It's no Temple Square, but it's pretty awesome!

Then we went inside to get our free chocolates. This picture was too funny to NOT put on the blog!

 Gotta love Christmas lights on palm trees!

The happy family, even though this picture makes me look three times the size of Greg!

 Our little cutie!

On Thursday, December 12, we went to see a live Nativity. It was outside and was so realistic. Here we are with the shepherds. Emily loved petting the real sheep.

Here we are with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas season.