Festival of trees

I just made some really yummy salsa with cucumber, fresh pineapple and sweet onion. Just chopped up everything, and add jalapeno if you like them spicy. I do. Add sea salt to taste and if you like it sweet, add a little sugar. Nice and refreshing.

Dana will be having shoulder surgery on the 29th. Hopefully it is the last for our family for a while. This year made it for all of us. Naivasha had knee, Ashton had broken nose - got that fixed, Shirley had knee, Dana had will have his other shoulder done in a few weeks.

We went to see the festival of trees. Every year, we have a huge event called  "festival of trees," where our kids had performed many piano performances. The event is to raise fund for Primary Children Hospital. Lots of trees were donated, decorated, auction off, loads of wreaths, ginger bread houses, lots of goodies, quilts, etc. were auction off to raise the money. It is an amazing sight. A land of magnificent colours of lights, Christmas trees, people everywhere, loads of music, festivities, and colours, colours, colours.
McKay's mission president and wife did a tree for McKay and his companion Jace. It was awesome. Everything is made in Romania except the tree. Thank you to the Lundbergs.
For McKay's birthday, we celebrated his life by having some of his favorite food, seafood, and cream cheese pastry. We did not have the cheese cake this year. We took flowers to his grave as well.

Dana shaved his beard, since Shirley told him, the beard might not be the best example for his young men, since he is the young men president. So he shaved some of it. Naivasha, Ashton and Shirley thought it was hilarious. We really like it. He kept that for the night and than it was cleaned up before he went to Church the next morning.

Dana and Shirley took some short trips in October and saw some magnificent Fall colours on our motorcyle drive.

We also got a raft this summer. Dana and Naivasha took it out to deer creek after they put it together.  Dana was laying back and Naivasha was rowing, a guy and his wife were on a boat near them, the man said, "Do you know why single woman live longer, because they want to  aka when you are married you do not want to."  Dana said, "THIS IS MY DAUGHTER"  They quickly row away.  Never comment on what you do not know.

what is it about knee and surgery

Well it is my turn to have knee surgery. I can truly empathize with Naivasha with her surgery. It went well. It sure hurts like the dickens ( I do not know why people say that, the only dickens I know of is Charles Dickens who wrote beautiful books).
The next day, Naivasha was the perfect host for our friend - Lakin's baby shower. Dana and Naivasha sure did a great job. I was told I walk around like "Frankenstein" I thought I looked more like the Hunchback of  Nordtrodam stumbling around the house. The worst is going to the bathroom. The fear is sitting down and missing the bowl and landing on the floor, or trying to get up after and cannot (looking like a baby giraffe or baby colt trying to get up on their skinny legs ) and having to call for help. It is just as bad, putting on underwear, with  only one leg that have strength and the other is a useless limp piece of no good leg. One of the good thing is I do not have to dress up (which I don't anyway) and walk around in your underwear with no one at home - sorry for the vision. ha ha

garden fresh taco and salad


 Dana did a great job this year. We have the best garden. We used it daily. This is a great taco or salad

julienne the zuchini, tomatoes, onion and cut up limes and basil and cilantro

You will need grated cheese - Mozzarella or cheddar, whatever you prefer.  I have a bowl of chopped avocado, sprinkle with chopped basil and cilantro - salted, black pepper and lime juice to keep avocado from turning brown.  

Of course for taco, you will need tortilla. I used raw tortilla and fried it up. You can buy ready made tortilla as well or even use naan or roti (parathea) to make the taco. You can use fish or cooked shred chicken or cook ground turkey, pork or beef as well. Put them all on the tortilla or roti to make taco.



or you can make salad instead.

It is just as wonderful. If you like

it spicy, add chopped jalepeno



or chilli, or hot salsa to top

taco or salad.



this is a fresh fish salad with veggies from our garden. Even the Basil.





enough to die for it.

Like Ashton said on his facebook, he misses his brother. Everyday, We miss his smile, his physical presence, his music and just having McKay around. We do know he is watching over our family. We also know that he accompanies his dad and brother when they give priesthood blessings. We are so honor to have him in our lives on earth for 20 years.  He is constantly our example and strength when we want to stumble ahnd give up. Thank you McKay. We love you very much.

He gave his live for his beliefs.

ground beef and noodles

1 lb ground beef or pork or chicken or turkey
3 tbsp.oyster sauce
1 tsp. grd white pepper
1 thumb size peeled ginger - minced
garlic4-6 cloves garlic - minced (use less if you prefer less
green onion
rice noodles or leftover cook spaghetti noodles or egg noodles or cooked ramen noodles

steam the noodles in steamer, unless you  are using one of the other cook noodles

Heat wok/pan very hot.

Add oil, add ginger, garlic and green onion,  Saute for a minute, add ground meat. Brown, add oyster sauce and white pepper.

Serve cooked meat mixture over warm noodles.  I served mine with chopped chillies/jalapenos. Yummm Yummy. 

pictures speak a thousand words





Ashton graduated from Lone Peak High School








Ashton and dad stood under this bridge of ice. 3 minutes later, the whole bridge collapse.





Be a tool for others

We have an incredible stake president. Since he is always serving God and us, Dana and some of his priest quorum members decided to be a tool and serve this incredible stake president - Gottfredson. They tried to dig a trench for irrigation with young Jason Gottfredson supervising. The ground was really wet,soggy and muddy. I think this is the first time some of these young men got to hold a shovel. We had popsicle after about 30 minutes of work. I am not sure when summer is going to get to Utah.

Ashton senior trip

When our kids graduated from high school. We let them pick a driving trip with mom and dad. McKay chose Seattle, Naivasha chose San Diego and Ashton chose beach and Universal studio. We ate at gump shrimp shack (movie Forest Gump) and spend Friday at Universal and Saturday on the beach. We left Thursday and came home Sunday.





Harley riders

Towards the end of July, Shirley and Dana took a motorcycle trip and rode for 1150 miles trip to Wyoming and Montana. By the time we got home, our butts and tail bones (especially Shirley) did not want to see another motorcycle trip for a while. We even made it to the top of the world and back. Very cold and lots of snow.

We saw bison's and incredible landscapes on our rides. We stayed in some very small motels. Never let a man decides where you stayed on a motorcycle trip. We went with another couple - Lyn and Andy Wihongyi. Andy and Dana planned the trip and where we stayed. It was definitely a men's trip. Next time, the girls will plan the trip. Ashton was in Oregon hanging out with Christopher and family. Vasha took care of home front and work.

Some places still           

had snow.

Dana crown came off'

and with his beard,  Ashton thought

daddy looked tough.

        Had to wear our leather

several times. It got cold and wet

Burrows family reunion 2011



Samuel McKay



It has been a few months since I wrote, because I got old and forgot my email address for my blog. Took me all morning to get it found.  In July, we had a family reunion for the Burrows side of the family at our house. We went to seven peak, to a movie, to our property to go 4 wheeling and a pinic and visited McKay's grave. It was wonderful to see the new babies, including Samuel McKay (Nika and Sterling"s) who is named after McKay. Thank you.

All the cousins and Mckay's niece and

 nephews

at the grave side.

Isabelle and Max playing

under our porch sand box