Update

It's been a busy week at the Burgener home! We just completed several trips to Idaho, and last weekend the Jackson family were here for Abby's play. We had a lot of fun with them, including a trip to Temple Square to see the lights.

This Friday, Landon finally finished finals week. This has probably been his most difficult semester so far, with Calculus and a Mineralogy class taking up a lot of his time. Already we know that he earned an "A" in his field camp class, and we're hoping for many more such fabulous results! He's a stud for working so hard in school.

Kylie also said goodbye to her sweet primary class on Sunday. Since we'll be out of town next week, she'll have new kids when we get back! The call to be a Sunbeam teacher caused a lot of stress and even some tears in the beginning, but she has truly seen the blessing of our Heavenly Father, helping her to relate to the children and find joy in teaching them the gospel. She loves those kids and is so sad to see them move on. Now she has to break in a whole new group of three-year-olds!

We are now preparing for yet another trip to Idaho...this time for Christmas! It'll be an all-out gathering of the entire Jackson family, which has been long in coming. We're both really excited for the holiday - both for the celebration of Christmas and some well-deserved time off from work and school! Just pray for us...the snow has been crazy here in Utah, and we're a little apprehensive about the drive.

And just for those of you who are wondering what working for an Advertising agency really entails, here is a little taste of ThomasArts:

yes, that is the CEO of our company singing "Burn, Baby Burn," on the karaoke machine...

And here are the rest of our fearless leaders...

Yep, TA is a riot. And sometimes feels vaguely like an insane asylum. That's what a 50 hour work week will do to you. It's a veritable certainty that Kylie will soon follow.

Merry Christmas everyone! We wish everyone safe travels and a very happy holiday. We're very grateful for our wonderful families and friends, who are the support system that keeps us going. We love you all. We also feel so grateful for the many things we have been blessed with, and for the happiness that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings us. We know that we couldn't do this alone.

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens

My sister is amazing. Last year, she wrote a grant so that her 5th grade class, and the rest of the elementary school she teaches at, could put on a musical rendition of “A Christmas Carol.” It was so successful that she was able to use the ticket sales from last year to make this year’s production even better! Below are just a couple of pictures from the event. Congratulations, Abby, we’re really proud of you. You’re kids are very lucky to have you as their teacher. When I grow up, I'm gonna be just like you!

All the kids before the show. Aren't their costumes great?

Scrooge & Marley


The climax


Curtain!

Peru Preview

Some of you may know that Landon served his mission in Peru, and we're planning a trip back there in the summer of 2010 as his graduation present. We're pretty excited about it. This week, for a surprise FHE from Kylie, we went for a preview of our Peru trip at the local library, where a man from Peru was singing and playing a bamboo flute for Christmas. In addition to the Christmas songs, he played a few Peruvian folk songs that Landon recognized. He may have even been a little "homesick." Here is one of the songs:



You can find more on his website: www.bambooperu.com. We had a blast, and can't wait to experience the real thing in a couple of years!

Congratulations, SP!

This weekend we had the privilege of going up to Idaho again for Landon's little brother's baptism. We are so proud of you Spencer! You're already making great choices. We love to play with you and be around your happy attitude. He's so adorable - he asked Kylie to give the family talk. She was really nervous, but it went ok.

SP and his Dad, Kelly Burgener, who baptized him December 6, 2008.

The whole Burgener clan - except Dallin, who we can't wait to talk to on Christmas morning!

While we were there, we also got to meet Sadie's adorable little sister, Hannah (top left), who happens to be dating Miles (bottom left). We loved talking with her and hanging out with her, and hope we get to see more of her! Thanks for hanging out with us Hannah!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Last night was a very fun FHE for us. It started off with Kylie's mad cooking skills. She created a pot pie with a snowman on top - an appropriately wintery dish to kick of the month of December.

Since we don't happen to live near a national forest, we bought our tree at Smith's. But it still smells so good! Landon is putting the lights on...

The grand finale! Didn't it turn out good? Landon surprised me with 2 new Christmas ornaments - they are beautiful, I wish you could see them in this picture. We also bought a couple while we were in Rexburg this weekend. So we've almost doubled our collection! The star is also a new addition. We're proud of it.

Our second Christmas together. We can't wait!

Annual Burgener Christmas Tree Expedition

Each year, our Burgener family hikes up into the woods near Island Park, Idaho, and cuts down their own Christmas tree. We have had so much fun being a part of this tradition twice now! Kylie came with the family once before we got married, and this year we were able to go again.

Landon was given the honor of cutting down the tree this year - a first!

There was much sledding...

Snowball throwing...

Scenery gazing...

And general merry-making.

The tree turned out beautifully, the cocoa was delicious, and even though the car battery died and we had to chase down a group of hunters to rescue us, it was a perfect day. This tradition is so much fun, we're thinking of carrying it on into the next generation - provided we live conveniently near a national forest that sells Christmas Tree permits, that is. :)

Giving Thanks

This year, we are very thankful for...

Grandma and Grandpa Wilkes coming home from Montana, where they have been serving as Temple President and Matron of the Billings Temple for the last 3 years.

Fun siblings and cousins to hang out with us, even if we're boring married people.

The Wilkes Turkey Bowl! And the ability to use our muscles and be outside on a beautiful afternoon.

Our wonderful family - their hospitality, generosity, guidance and love.

Thanks Burgeners, we had such a fun trip and can't wait to go back! We love you all!

Pizzaria

A little while ago, we tried our hands at making our first-ever homemade pizza (Thanks Elizabeth, for the recipe!). Chelsea and Kyle came over to sample of efforts, - which were a definite success - to play Mario Cart on the Wii, and to watch a blast from our past, The Mighty Ducks. It was great! Thanks to Chel and Kyle for always wanting to have a party with us.

Chelsea with the finished product.

Landon creating a Chicken Alfredo masterpiece.