Burrows Family

September 11Th 2011

2011-09-10T18:08:00.001-07:00

The calamity of September 11th, 2001 has cast a long shadow. Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts. It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world. This week, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, along with Tom Brokaw, will pay its own homage to the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001.
There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.
Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well.
Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change.
But we are less faithful than He is. By nature we are vain, frail, and foolish. We sometimes neglect God. Sometimes we fail to keep the commandments that He gives us to make us happy. Sometimes we fail to commune with Him in prayer. Sometimes we forget to succor the poor and the downtrodden who are also His children. And our forgetfulness is very much to our detriment.
If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.
The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly “need Him every hour,” not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.
It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm.
Thomas S. Monson is president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Bon Voyage Christopher

2011-06-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today was a hard day........We drove Christopher to the airport for his trip to France. He is so happy and ready for the new adventure... You can follow up on this blog put together by his teachers.
Christopher will spend a month with the Vanderschooten Family in the North of France in Villeneuve-d'Ascq

http://www.skinfrance.blogspot.com

2010-12-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

Free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox

Christopher's English Paper..... Amazing he wrote it in 20 minutes!!!

2010-12-16T21:45:00.000-08:00

Chris Burrows
12-15-10
Period 7

Many are called, but few are chosen to be knights. For a true knight is not merely the shine of armor, nor a clang of the sword. Any man may don armor, wield a sword, and mount a steed. The true value of a knight, yea, what sets him apart from a common foot-soldier is what lies in his heart. Courage, bravery, honor. Yet it is neither how well he fights in battle nor how fearlessly he faces the terrible claws of the dragon in his mountain lair that determines his worthiness to be called a knight. It is the faith in God, the commitment to purity, the strive to bring about morality and righteousness to a world which is held firmly in the grasp of anarchy and terror, to be the light and example to those who live in darkness. The true weapon of a knight is of no carnal fashioning. It is no crude metal spike or club. The true weapon of a knight is the sword of righteousness, and his armor, the impenetrable armor of God. I therefore beseech whosoever desires to take upon him the title of knight, that he first swear his oath of allegiance to God to obey his commandments unto men, to love thy neighbor, and to live a life in accordance in every way with his will. By taking this oath upon themselves they assure the world that the chivalry and purity of the Knights of God will last far beyond their mortal years. They assure the heavens that there are still those on earth who hold true to the values of morality and chivalry. That God may know that although the swords of this age will rust and the castles will fall, even though the kings and nobles are done away and all that is now great and beautiful will fade into myth, that the light of His Knights still shines. That although we have passed on, their will always be a knight in this world who believes in Camelot.

Goolie time for Christopher

2010-09-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

Christopher for President!!!!

2010-09-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

christopher had to wright declaration for Ap Goverment Class and here is what he came up with.

Chris Burrows
Mr. Carnahan
AP Government
27 September 2010

In Response to the Decay of American Society, September 27, 2010
A Declaration by Chris Burrows, assembled in firm consciousness of mind. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one person to dissolve the political bands which connect him to an ignorant and stupid society, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth his separate station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle him, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that I should declare the causes which impel me to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all Men are becoming idiots, that they have ignored and blasphemed their Creator, and that they believe that they are endowed to certain rights to be freely given them by their government, that among these are Healthcare, Gay Marriage, and Abortion. That to secure these Rights, they attack those who are opposed to them, harass them, and defile their places of worship. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce what small number of thinking people remain in this nation under absolute Despotism by a group of so called Americans who are neither enlightened nor Despots, it is their right it is their duty to Wake Up the World to this conflict of Justice and of Basic Morality to defend both before they are completely crushed beneath the heels of those who profess to defend the same, such is the necessity which constrains me to this act of separation. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a supposedly candid World.
Whatever divine providence that was bestowed upon this nation in its inception is in danger of being revoked completely, for the people of this nation have forgotten all respect or reverence to that Supreme Being which grants them the breath to utter their accusations against Him.
The “Americans” of modern times are lead away into dead-end paths, pursuing immorality, profanity, blasphemy, and intoxication. The future of this nation, rests in their hands which are already full with a cell phone in one hand and whatever intoxicating substance in the other.
They have taken up their pursuit of being “individuals” by behaving and dressing exactly like all the other stupid, ignorant, “individuals” around them.
Their moral compass has been ripped apart, smashed, disregarded, and thrown away.
The society in which we live is quite frankly becoming an embarrassment to our founding fathers’ ideals, on which this country was supposed to be functioning on.
The churches of this nation who still hold to the Pure Word of God have been ridiculed, attacked, and insulted by society and by Other Churches in a manner that is neither Christian nor brotherly.
Other Churches have bent and twisted their doctrine so as to become accepted by this degenerated and ignorant nation, losing all divine power or spiritual truth in the process.
The proclaimed “opened minded” liberals of this country have proven to be some of the most closed-minded, illogical, and un-progressive people this nation has ever seen.
The education of this population is frankly pathetic, and throwing more money at this problem will do nothing to fix it.
More Government Programs are instituted for the purpose of wasting money and driving society backwards.
We must therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold the rest of the population of this nation as ignorant, whose only “progress” is backwards.
I therefore, appeal to the Supreme Judge of the World for Rectitude of my Intentions, and do so in the Name, and by the authority of the Principles upon which this nation, The United States of America was founded. And for support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, I pledge my Life, my Fortitude, and My sacred Honor.

News

2010-09-27T12:15:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,
Another summer seems to have come and gone so quickly. Here in Oregon we have to take maximum advantage since we get quite a bit of rain the rest of the year. This year it seems as if summer ended from one day to the next. One day it was sunny and since it has been cloudy to partly cloudy with rain. Well, whatever the weather is we enjoy our home and just hanging out.
At the beginning of the summer we had the opportunity to take a trip to Brazil to spend time with Ingrid’s family. We spent the last part of June and the first part of July in Brazil, mainly in Sao Paul, except for 5 days that we spent at the beach in Caraguatatuba. All in all, we had a great time watching world cup soccer on Brazilian television, eating awesome food and visiting with family. In August we visited the Highland Burrows as well as the New Harmony Burrows clans. In Highland we got to do some hiking and also see the retaining wall that McKay built for his Eagle project. That was quite a project and we enjoyed that memory of him. We were also able to help a little with the landscaping. Christopher and Alexandro helped Ashton dig some of the holes around the house for the plants to go in. The yard was looking quite nice. Later in August Leon and Alexandro visited Mother and Dad and had a great time. Alexandro particulary enjoyed the new above ground pool. Most of the days we were there, except Sunday, he spent in the pool just playing and having a great time. We were also able to participate in a Family Home Evening with Mother and Dad and their friends. It was a fun group.
Alexandro had just started 7th grade and is attending the same middle school that he went to last year, but he has decided that being a 7th grader is much better than being a 6th grader. He is enjoying his classes and really likes his teachers. He continues to take piano lessons and also practices his electric guitar. One of his favorite activities this summer was a going to a weeklong summer camp on how to make stop-action movies at a local TV station.
Christopher is now in 10th grade and continues to enjoy high school. He has some tough classes, but still has a fun time learning the material. He enjoys his release-time seminary class and I enjoy it too since he doesn’t need to go to early morning seminary. He is also on the soccer team and is the starting varsity goalie. As a parent it is a little nerve-racking, but he does a great job and makes some excellent saves during the games.
Ingrid stays quite busy teaching fitness classes at a local gym. Her main focus is Zumba, which is a fitness class based on latin dance moves. She had a great time attending a International Zumba conference in Florida in August. There were instructors there from all over the world.
Leon continues to work at Salem Radiology with this being his 10th year with the group. Time has sure gone by fast. His church calling also keeps him busy. He was recently called to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher in the ward, so this usually requires several hours of preparation during the week, so that the Sunday lesson goes smoothly.
We look forward to reading your letters and feel free to come visit us anytime.
Love,
Alexandro, Christopher, Ingrid and Leon

Evening Out at the National Bunraku theather and Tea ceremony in Osaka March 27th

2010-08-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

An evening at the National Bunraku theather
Bunraku is a form of puppet theater unique to Japan. Using traditional legends and plays originally written for Kabuki, the puppet theater has remained popular since its inception. Founded in the city of Osaka, Japan in 1684, bunraku has evolved to be a complex and popular form of theater.Traveling storytellers using puppets had long been a part of Japanese culture, but not until 1684 was the tradition articulated as a distinct form. Takemoto Gidayu formed his Osaka puppet theater with the help of the great playwright Chikematsu Monzaemon and a theater manager and financier named Takeda Izumo. Chikematsu concentrated on adapting kabuki plays for the new theater, concentrating on stories with themes of loyalty and other Confucian values. Using knowledge garnered from other puppet work, Takeda introduced innovations into the puppets’ mechanics, including moveable eyes and eyebrows.
Osaka has been the capital for bunraku, traditional Japanese puppet theater, for many centuries. The popularity of the theater form had grown in the city during the Edo Period when bunraku (like kabuki) was a rare kind of art entertainment for the common public rather than the nobility. The National Bunraku Theater in Osaka is one of the few places to view the fascinating art form today. English programs and earphones are available. Performances are usually held in three week runs in January, April, June, July/August and November.
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called chanoyu (茶の湯) or chadō (茶道; also pronounced sadō?). The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called otemae (お手前; お点前; 御手前?). Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the tea ceremony.
Tea gatherings are classified as ochakai (お茶会?) or chaji (茶事?). Chakai is a relatively simple course of hospitality that includes the service of confections, thin tea (薄茶 usucha?), and perhaps a light meal (点心 tenshin?). Chaji is a more formal gathering, usually with a full-course meal (kaiseki), followed by confections, thick tea (濃茶 koicha?), and thin tea. A chaji may last up to four hours.
The tea ceremony (sado: "the way of the tea") is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking tea. The custom has been strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism.
Nowadays, the tea ceremony is a relatively popular hobby. Many Japanese, who are interested in their own culture, take tea ceremony lessons. Tea ceremonies are held in traditional Japanese rooms in cultural community centres or private houses.
The ceremony itself consists of many rituals that have to be learned by heart. Almost each hand movement is prescribed. Basically, the tea is first prepared by the host, and then drunk by the guests. The tea is bitter matcha green tea made of powdered tea leaves.

Tea ceremony equipment:
Some of the most important instruments.
(Chasen: bamboo brush for tea preparation)

Osaka - Japan Saturday, March 27th 2010

2010-05-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

We had a late start today , we decided to sleep in and do some laundry after all the traveling. We had a great Curry lunch in one of the places that was soon to become the kid’s favorite eating spot. This was a tinny restaurant with the husband cooking and the wife serving and cleaning the tables. I had a chicken curry with spinach and corn, my friend Natsumi had her curry with eggplant and everybody else got the curry with the famous Tonkatsu (breaded deep-fried pork).

We spent the afternoon exploring the Osaka Castle, it is beautiful with all the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The construction of Osaka Castle (Osakajo) started in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been destroyed by Oda Nobunaga thirteen years earlier. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. It was the largest castle at the time.
However, a few years after Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the castle and terminated the Toyotomi lineage in 1615. Osaka Castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in the 1620s, but its main castle tower was struck by lightening in 1665 and burnt down.

It was not until 1931 that the present ferro-concrete reconstruction of the castle tower was built. During the war it miraculously survived the city wide air raids. Major repair works gave the castle new glamour in 1997. The castle tower is now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier accessibility. It houses an informative museum about the castle's history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Late in the afternoon it was time to head out to the Sumo wrestling competition!!!! Oh, boy that was a fun experience such an interesting event we sure learned a lot about the rules and different ranks. My favorite thing was watching the people and all the advertising and fun signs. We also enjoyed all the delicious snacks.

After 2 hours of Sumo it was time to explore the night life of Osaka and also grab dinner at a Ramen noodle stand…….I would fly to Japan just to have those noodles again……..SO, SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDD…..
Ramen noodles are very popular noodle dishes in Japan. Chukamen noodles which are made from wheat flour are boiled and put in various flavored soup. Although ramen originated in China, there are many regional sociality ramen available in Japan, and ramen shops are located all over Japan.
Ramen is quite simply Japan's premiere fast food. Ramen is something of an obsession in Japan. Yearly guides to the best ramen-ya are published in all of Japan’s major regions. Famous ramen-ya are promoted in tourist brochures right next to cultural and historic landmarks. Outside these local landmarks, crowds gather at lunch and dinnertime, willing to line up and wait regardless of the weather, sometimes for as long as an hour. Ramen stadiums, featuring five to ten ramen-ya from all over the country, are a common feature on the upper floors of department stores.
Many ramen-ya have a ticket vending machine. To order, buy a ticket, and then hand it to your server once your Ramen is ready he will hand it to you. The buttons are always in Japanese. This particular ramen place people just stand up and eat next to the counter. I tell you the food was so good who needs a chair?????

After our delicious meal we walked around town went to a bakery and got some amazing cream puffs…….Good thing we did a lot of walking we definitely ate way more than we should. But the food was so good it was hard to say no =;)

Japan March 25th and 26th

2010-05-10T16:36:00.001-07:00

On Thursday After grabbing some delicious pastries at Nagasaki train Station we took off to Hiroshima. As always the trains were on time and we had a nice ride enjoying our bento boxes.

Oh my, what an amazing experience to read and hear all about what took place here in Hiroshima and to be standing at peace park… A very humbling experience indeed, so sad…..
Hiroshima is the principal city of the Chugoku Region and home to over a million inhabitants.
When the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the city became known worldwide for this unenviable distinction. The destructive power of the bomb was tremendous and obliterated nearly everything within a two kilometer radius.
After the war, great efforts were taken to rebuild the city. Predictions that the city would be uninhabitable proved false. Destroyed monuments of Hiroshima's historical heritage, like Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden, were reconstructed. In the center of the city a large park was built and given a name that would reflect the aspirations of the re-born city: Peace Memorial Park.
Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park is one of the most prominent features of the city. Even visitors not looking for the Peace Park will likely stumble upon the large park of over 120,000 square meters. Its trees, lawns, and walking paths are in stark contrast to the surrounding downtown area.

Before the bomb, the area of what is now the Peace Park was the political and commercial heart of the city. For this reason, it was chosen as the pilot's target. Four years to the day after the bomb was dropped, it was decided that the area would not be redeveloped but instead devoted to peace memorial facilities.
The park's main facility is the Peace Memorial Museum. Consisting of two building, the museum surveys the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. Its main focus though is on the events of August 6; the dropping of the bomb and its outcome in human suffering. The personal details displayed are quite upsetting. The museum is geared to accommodate its international visitors.
The A-Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The building served as a location to promote Hiroshima's industries. When the bomb exploded, it was one of the few buildings to remain standings, and remains so today. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Dome is a tangible link to Hiroshima's unique past.
Between the Museum and the A-Bomb Dome is the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. The Cenotaph is an arched tomb for those who died because of the bomb, either because of the initial blast or exposure to radiation. Below the arch is a stone chest holding a register of these names, of which there are over 220,000.

Hiroshima Castle, sometimes called Carp Castle, is five stories tall and its grounds are surrounded by a moat. There is a shrine on the grounds, as well as one main gate. Hiroshima developed as a castle town, whereby the castle was both the physical center of the city and the source of its prosperity.
Built in 1589 by the powerful feudal lord Mori Terumoto, Hiroshima Castle was an important seat of power in Western Japan. It was spared the destruction that many other castles met during the Meiji Restoration, and survived into the modern era. Unfortunately, like the rest of the city, Hiroshima Castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945.
Rebuilt after the war, Hiroshima Castle's wooden exterior makes it a reconstruction with a considerable semblance of authenticity. Inside the castle is a small but informative museum on Hiroshima's history, Hiroshima Castle, and Japanese castles in general.

Just before heading back to Osaka we had some amazing Udon noodles for dinner soooo goood!
Udon is usually served hot as noodle soup in a mildly flavoured broth, in its simplest form as kake udon, served in kakejiru made of dashi, soy sauce (shōyu), and mirin. It is usually topped with thinly chopped scallions. Other common toppings include tempura, often prawn or kakiage (a type of mixed tempura fritter), or abura age, a type of deep-fried tofu pockets seasoned with sugar, mirin, and soy sauce. A thin slice of kamaboko, a halfmoon-shaped fish cake, is often added. Shichimi can be added to taste.
The flavor of broth and topping vary from region to region. Usually, dark brown broth, made from dark soy sauce (koikuchi shōyu) is used in eastern Japan, and light brown broth, made from light soy sauce (usukuchi shōyu) is used in western Japan. This is even noticeable in packaged instant noodles, which are often sold in two different versions for east and west.

Japan March 24th Nagasaki

2010-05-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

We had a great time Exploring Nagasaki for a day.
As one of Japan's closest port cities to the Asian mainland, Nagasaki has played a prominent role in foreign trade relations for many centuries and was the most important of only a very few ports open to restricted numbers of foreign traders during Japan's period of isolation.
Glover Garden is an open air museum, exhibiting mansions of former Western residents of Nagasaki. It is located on the hill where Western merchants settled down after the end of Japan's era of seclusion in the second half of the 19th century.
The exhibited buildings include the mansions of British merchants Frederick Ringer and William Alt and the former residence of Thomas Glover, a Scottish merchant. A nice panorama of the city can be enjoyed from the garden.

In the evening we were ready to get some delicious noodles this is the only place in Japan were you can eat this traditional dish called Chanpon!!!! So, So Tasty…..
Chanpon - Hearty chanpon noodles that embody the culture of Nagasaki

Nagasaki chanpon was created when Chin Heijun, a Chinese restaurant owner in Shikairo, suggested a cheap and nutritious dish for visiting Chinese students who lived frugally at the time. The first version was just a simple combination of pork and bamboo shoots, but eventually it came to include locally abundant ingredients and seafood such as squid, oysters, and shrimp harvested from Nagasaki's coastal waters. Also characteristic is the unique flavor achieved by adding Chinese lye to the noodles, which is normally included in the skins of Chinese dumplings. The origin of the word "chanpon" is the Fujian word shapon, which means "to eat a meal." Some believe it combines the sound of the Chinese bell, chan, and the pon sound of Japanese drums. One can say that Nagasaki's chanpon is a specialty born in Nagasaki yet matured under the influence of its creators, ingredients, and environment.

Trip to Oita - Japan March 23rd and 24th

2010-04-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Japan has one of the worlds most extensive and efficient railway networks, with clean and comfortable trains (including the super-fast bullet trains). We sure enjoyed gliding across the country of Japan.
Avaliable only to foreign travellers visiting Japan.You must have "temporary visitor" visa under the status of Japanese immigration law. Rail passes are not avaliable for people travelling on working holiday or student visas. The JR pass (All) must be purchased before you arrive in Japan. It is not sold in Japan.
Each of the five different passes cover different areas of Japan. Sonic express trains take approximately two hours to and from Hakata Station.

We were able to see the family's display of antique dolls for girls day... so, so cute!!!!

The Hina Matsuri or doll festival takes place on March 3rd every year. Its origins go back to China which had the custom of making a doll for the transferral of bad luck and impurities from the person, and then putting the doll in a river and forever ridding oneself of them. March 3rd celebrates Girls' Day in Japan, and from mid to late February families with daughters put out the dolls with the hopes their daughters will grow up healthy and happy. One superstition associated with this is that if they are late in putting away the dolls when the festival is over, their daughters will become old maids. Most displays consist of just a prince, (Odairi-sama) and a princess (Ohina-sama), but more elaborate displays include the dolls being part of a 5 or 7 tier diplay (hinadan), along with courtiers, candy, rice boiled with red beans (osekihan), white sake (shirozake), peach blossoms, diamond shaped rice cake (hishimochi), toys, and tiny furniture. Traditionally many parents or grandparents will begin their first display for their daughter, called hatsu zekku, when she is just a year old, but some families have passed their dolls down from generation to generation with the bride carrying her dolls with her to her new home. Aside from the displays, Japanese used to go view the peach blossoms coming out, drink sake with a blossom in it, and bathe in water with the blossoms. The blossoms represent desirable feminine qualities, including serenity, gentility, and equanimity.
The festival evolved into the form we can see today during the Edo Period (1603-1867), and it is still possible for people to buy Hina Matsuri dolls created during that time as well as the late 19th and early 20th centuries in antique shops during the season. Two areas that come alive with such displays and events like those above is Yoshimura and Yanagawa, both in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Natsumi’s aunt and family welcomed us with an amazing dinner!!!!

After a long day of Traveling it was time to go to bed, soooooo…….. After folding the tables and moving the pillows the dining room became our bedroom.

Once again we were treated to an amazing banquet for breakfast with pastries and local fruits……hummmmmmmmm so good!!!!

We enjoyed visiting with everyone and playing many board games seating buy the beloved kotatsu (a low table with a heater built into the bottom, covered with a large blanket to trap in the heat). Very cozy and fun!!!!

Amazing Cakes!!!!!!!

Guess what!!!!!!!! Time to eat again……AMAZING LUNCH!!!!!!!!!!!

We even got to see my friend’s cousin's Kimono, she just had her birthday and is officially an "adult", we got to see all of her pictures and it sure was an amazing celebration!!!! It is a beautiful kimono.
Seijin No Hi is the first holiday of the year after New Year's is all over. It is for all the women who have just become legal adults (age 20), and most families buy a kimono for their daughter. The typical kimono is 300-400 thousand yen, but much more extravagant kimono can be even as high as a million yen each. On the day the young lady will typically go to a nearby Shinto Shrine and pray for health, success, money, etc. It's one of the few times you will see anyone wear a kimono -- except for the grannies running around going to study or teach tea ceremony. The other occasions are graduation from a college, and once in a while at a wedding.

New Friends!!!

And more friends!!!!!!!!!!

The view of the cherry blossoms in the hills surrounding the village…So beautiful!!!

View from the pier to the cove next to the house.

Well as if we hadn’t had been pampered enough……..Here is an SPETACULAR SUSHI DINNER…….Oh My Goodness!!!!!!! This Family went above and beyond to receive us into their homes…….We were speechless…….

We will never forget this amazing Family. Our Hearts are full, there are no words to describe our gratitude…….

On the train we go!!!!!!! March 22nd.

2010-04-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

Tokyo and Osaka are connected with each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi trains require about 155 minutes to reach Shin-Osaka Station from Tokyo. Hikari trains are roughly 20 minutes slower than the nozomi, while kodama trains take about four hours.

Little Taishi was so, so tired....

Eastern toilet anyone????

Ok we are ready to ride!!!!

Maybe not, Sleep time so much needed....

Here is our apartment in Osaka; Leon could not stand up strait!!! The ceiling was so low…..Maybe Leon is too tall ….hahahahah.
We were only 2 blocks from the subway station, Tanimachi 4-chrome Station along the Tanimachi Subway Line and Chuo Subway Line. And about 4 blocks from Osaka Castle (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4000.html) a kind of “Osaka Central Park”. So, so beautiful…

In Japan the main purpose of taking a bath, besides cleaning your body, is relaxation at the end of the day.
The typical Japanese bathroom consists of two rooms, an entrance room where you undress and which is equipped with a sink, and the actual bathroom which is equipped with a shower and a deep bath tub. The toilett is almost always located in an entirely separate room.

When bathing Japanese style, you are supposed to first rinse your body outside the bath tub with a washbowl. Afterwards, you enter the tub, which is used for soaking only. The bath water tends to be relatively hot for Western bathing standards.
After soaking, leave the tub and clean your body with soap. Make sure that no soap gets into the bathing water. Once you finished cleaning and have rinsed all the soap off your body, enter the bath tub once more for a final soaking.
After leaving the tub, the water is usually left for the next member of the house. It is to keep the bath water clean for all members of the house that washing and rinsing is done outside of the actual bathtub.

Japanese futon you can fold it and put it in the closet. They usually have to be dryed under the sun to avoid the cotton inside to get wet and hard.

Srping Break 2010 Japan adventure March 20th and 21st

2010-04-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

After a year of planning the time finally arrived for us to go to Japan. We had such an amazing time traveling with our Friends Brent and Natsumi Nielsen and their two boys Aki and Taishi. We loved the sites, the country, the culture, the food but most of all we loved the people of Japan and new friends we made. What a clean and organized society. So much history and traditions……Amazing!!!!!

Exploring Shiba Park

This park is one of the oldest parks in Japan, opened to the public in 1873 together with another 4 parks, Ueno, Asakusa, Fukagawa and Asukayama. The parkland used to be very wide including grounds of Zoujyoji Temple, but those grounds were separated and occupied by the Temple after the war, which made the shape of the remaining park to a ring-shape. In the park, they have an artificial gorge called Momijidani, where you can enjoy nice view of the water fall of 10M high together with various types of rocks and tall trees. You will feel as if you are staying somewhere in deep mountain areas.

Zojoji Temple was built in the year 1393, and was moved to its present location in 1598. It is the main temple of the Buddhist Jodo sect in the Kanto area. Tokyo Tower now stands just next to the temple.
After Tokugawa Ieyasu had moved to Edo (former name of Tokyo) in 1590, the Zojoji Temple became the Tokugawa family temple. A mausoleum of the Tokugawa family can be found on the temple grounds, and the crest of the Tokugawa family still decorates the temple buildings.
Zojoji's main gate is the Sangedatsumon. It was constructed in 1605 in a contemporary Chinese Tang Dynasty style.

With 333 meters, Tokyo Tower is 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower of Paris, and the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower. It was completed in the year 1958 as a symbol for Japan's rebirth as a major economic power, and serves as a television and radio broadcast antenna and tourist attraction.
Visitors can ascend to the main observatory at 150 meters and the special observatory at 250 meters to get a bird's eye view of Tokyo. Under good weather conditions, Mount Fuji can be seen in the distance.

Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, the center of the shitamachi (lit. "low town").
The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built there for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple

Hum....... let's see...... cow tong, baby octopus, clams, squid or chicken???

When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of the Sensoji and symbol of Asakusa. A shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon. Besides typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries.

The boys enjoyed a dessert of chocolate covered bananas, very tasty!!!

Families can be together forever

2010-03-05T18:17:00.000-08:00

As many member of the family came together to morn and celebrate McKay’s life we were all able to focus on our blessings and the importance of the gospel it sure was amazing to observe all the family together and feel the love around us. People from so many back grounds and different continents all bond together in the gospel family such an amazing feeling…….

Shirley’s sister Jeanne and her mother “Grandma Choy” flew all the away from Malaysia

Melani and her husband Royce come from Hawaii

Burrows brothers and sisters flew in and drove from Virginia, California, Oregon and Oklahoma.

So Many People, So much Love

Family together to Honor and say Good bye to dear Mckay.

2010-03-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

Monday February 8th 2010 Highland Utah. It was time to lie to rest the body of McKay Choy Burrows.
It was with many tears of sadness and many smiles of beautiful memories that we all got to say good bye and to hope to one day be reunited again with him.
We will miss you dearly……

My Dear McKay......We will miss you......... “Death ends a life, not a relationship.”

2010-01-31T22:51:00.000-08:00

Love is stronger than death even though it can't stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death.”

“Have the courage to live. Anyone can die.”

Christopher graduates piano suzuki level 2!!!

2010-01-26T16:28:00.000-08:00

On January 10th 2010 Christopher graduated his Suzuki level 2 and did an amazing job playing Spiritoso by M. Clementi. The graduation took place at the Old Church in Portland and the acoustics in there was amazing!!! What a great evening with talented and gifted young musicians.

CHRISTMAS 2009!!!!

2010-01-18T21:49:00.000-08:00

December 24 and 25, 2009
As always Christmas was fantastic in Utah with Dana, Shirley and Family. We arrived on Christmas Eve and enjoyed reading the Scriptures, opening the stockings, getting new ornaments and eating some delicious Clam chowder, freshly baked bread and cookies prepared by Shirley.

On Christmas morning we all enjoyed opening the gifts and getting Christmas dinner ready. It was so nice to see Sean, Leslee and Little Summer she is so darling.

We all had a great time going to a movie and hanging out at the highland Borrows’ new home, or should I say Mansion…. That place is HUGE!!!! What fun.

Christmas Piano Recital!!!!

2010-01-18T21:35:00.000-08:00

December 20, 2009
The boys did an amazing job at the Piano Christmas recital at Madrona Hills retirement home as always everyone enjoys watching the kids playing the piano sure makes Christmas a bit more enjoyable for the residents at the retirement home.

2010-01-18T20:57:00.000-08:00

December 15, 2009
Christopher did an amazing job at the High school holiday concert he still enjoys playing the saxophone and has mat some very nice friends!!! We love to her him play.

Leon's Work Christmas Party!!!!

2010-01-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

Friday December 11, 2009

Salem Radiology had a very fun Christmas party this year we sure had a great time dancing and visiting with our friends.

Christopher is 15!!!!!

2010-01-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

December 12, 2009
Christopher celebrated his 15th birthday with some nice Lamb vidalo curry and a cheese cake. We had a movie night and also went out to dinner to Outback stake house in the middle of the week. Christopher wanted to do something nice to someone so he decided to baby sit our friend’s twins and we had a blast, they had so much energy and really kept us busy!!!

November Salsa In Seattle

2010-01-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

November 27th through the 29th , Ingrid had lots of fun in Seattle at a Salsa congress improving her dancing skills. She met some great Dancers and become even more passionate about Latin dances!!!!!

Thanksgiving 2009 at Black Butte Ranch

2009-12-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

We had a great week relaxing and eating at Black Butte, The weather was perfect high 50s to mid 60s a bit of snow on the ground when we got there but it melted pretty quickly.
We had a small meal since we were coming back home on Friday.
The boys really enjoyed eating the turkey breast and all the side dishes, we had a fun time watching movies, swimming and sleeping…..

2009 Fall Piano Recital

2009-11-17T15:27:00.001-08:00

The boys did a great job on their recital on November 14th. Their piano teacher was so very proud of their hard work and so were we, they did amazing!!!
Christopher played Op. 36, No 3, Spiritoso by Clementi and Alexandro played Minuet in G Minor by Bach. Way to go Boys!!!

Holloween 2009

2009-11-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

We had a great Halloween with our friends again this year. Christopher had a cold but enjoyed eating Alexandro’s candy. Christopher really enjoyed making and using his “Toga” for his Humanities class at school and it was a perfect Halloween costume =;)
I got to be a Cat woman for my Zumba class and everyone at the gym had a great laugh, we all had a great time at our Zumba party!!!

Christopher does a great Job as Goalie

2009-09-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

We were so happy for the boys, the team is improving....Christopher is really enjoying soccer. It is fun to go to the games.

September 12th 2009 - Trip to Crater Lake our 2nd favorite spot in Oregon!!!!!

2009-09-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

Crater Lake - Like No Place Else on Earth

Crater Lake has inspired people for hundreds of years. No place else on earth combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost two thousand feet high; two picturesque islands; and a violent volcanic past. It is a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom.
Crater Lake is located in Southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range, 100 miles (160 km) east of the Pacific Ocean. It lies inside a caldera, or volcanic basin, created when the 12,000 foot (3,660 meter) high Mount Mazama collapsed 7,700 years ago following a large eruption.
Generous amounts of winter snow, averaging 533 inches (1,354 cm) per year, supply the lake with water. There are no inlets or outlets to the lake. Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet (592 meters) deep, is the seventh deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the United States. Evaporation and seepage prevent the lake from becoming any deeper.

September 15th 2009 - Christopher Makes the JV Soccer Team for Sprague High School!!!! He is staying Busy...........

2009-09-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, 2 games this week and the team keeps losing.....Positive side..........Christopher gets loads of practice.........

Leon's shop is a "Guys only" place

2009-09-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

09/08/09 BOYS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

First Day of school, I'm afraid this is not the most traditional pictures but the boys were guffing off so I made sure to have my camera ready =;)

08/18/09 Day trip to Silverton to visit the Oregon Garden, a spectacular 80 acre botanical garden.

2009-09-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa Burrows, afterwards we went out for lunch at a nice German restaurant in Mt. Angel, we sure had a good time. We love when they come to visit =;)

The garden was created to showcase Oregon’s significant nursery diversity for Oregonians and others to enjoy. Some believed it was possible and donated time and money. It was not easy. The Oregon Garden site in Silverton was selected in 1995, groundbreaking occurred in 1997, and the grand opening was in 2001.

08/14/2009 Climbing South Sister!!!!! The trail to the summit of South Sister gains a staggering 4,900 feet of elevation! What a Rush........

2009-09-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hike to the top of South SisterIt's a non-technical but very demanding climb of the state's third-tallest peak.
About the Hike: Oregon's third-tallest mountain has a path to its top. Admittedly, the trail up 10,358-foot South Sister is exceedingly steep, long and rugged, but no technical climbing skills are required and the rewards are great.
From the summit - a broad, snowy crater with a small lake - you can see half the state. If this sounds too demanding, here's a secret: the loop to Moraine Lake, halfway up the mountain, is just as picturesque. This lower hike avoids the final trudge up cinder scree, yet still offers views 100 miles south to Mount McLoughlin. What's more, the weather's better here. The summit often generates its own little cloud, complete with whiteouts, wind, and a miniature blizzard.

Relaxing at Black Butte August 10th 2009

2009-09-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

Just hanging at the house, Grandma Burrows had a great time winning!!!!

2009-08-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Tuesday August 11th

We decided to go on a hike to Canyon creek Meadows.

The B&B forest fire burned a third of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness in 2003, but the cliffs surrounding Canyon Creek Meadows served as a natural fire break, leaving the valley as a "donut hole" of green in the midst of the burn. We hiked by silver snags at the start and end of this hike, but there were millions of mountain hemlock seedlings thaat sprouted naturally after the fire. Beargrass, huckleberries, and many other plants that rely on fire are thriving as well.

Leon with his dad George Burrows and Christopher

Time for a breack!!!!

This meadow is a well knownWild flower santuary.
there are great views of Three Fingered Jack's summit pinnacles.

As you can see, Christopher was enjoying himself very much!!!

We Climbed south up a steep, rocky moraine to a notch overlooking a stunning, green cirque lake at the foot of Three Fingered Jack's glacier.

The flowers were gorgeous!!!!

2009-08-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

Monday August 10th.
We arrived at Balck Butte last night and today decided to go explore a lava tube just north of Bend, Oregon.
We had a great time at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
Newberry Volcano is one of the largest shieldshaped volcanoes in the lower 48 states, coveringover 600 square miles. The Monument is located along a group of faults known as the Northwest Rift zone. A complex geological history indicates that the volcano has erupted hundreds of times during the last half-million years. The most recent eruption was 1,300 years ago suggesting that the volcano is still active. The caldera of Newberry is commonly referred
to as Newberry Crater but it is truly a caldera like Crater Lake. This feature formed after a series of collapses following big eruptive episodes and now contains two crystal clear lakes. The Monument also has many other fine examples of common volcanic features such as cinder cones, ash flows, lava tubes and flows, pumice and obsidian deposits.

We went into the lava tube it was 42 degress in there, the boys loved it!!!!

As the cave got smaller and the tunel got narrower Leon and I decided to wait untill the boys craweld to the end. the cave was so low we had to sit on rocks along with other parents.

We drove to the top of the butte to enjoy the vew!!!

Alexandro loves to be creative with his pictures, here he is "holding" his dad and Christopher.

2009-08-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

July 27th -31st Rogue River Rafting Trip.

Oregon is such a beautifull place, we loved rafting the cristal clear water of the rogue and watching all the wild life, what a great trip!!!!

2009-08-07T22:30:00.000-07:00

July 18th, Salem art fair 5K run.

Ingrid and Christopher ran the 5K in Memory of our friend Josh Grahm, he passed away T-cell Non-hodgkins lymphoma. We loved him very much, he will always be in our hearts and minds.

2009-08-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

July 5th - 12th

We had a great time in Black Butte swiming and hiking.

Iron mountain was a beautifull scenic hike we sure enjoyed all the sunshine and our friends company.

2009-08-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

July 4th 2009.

Ingrid gets 2nd place on the Stayton , Oregon 3K

2009-08-07T21:35:00.000-07:00

June 21st 2009 Trip to Seattle.

We had a great time celebrating father's day and enjoying Seattle, we love to go there.

We took Leon to the space needle restaurant for his fathers day dinner.

2009-08-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

June 19th 2009,

Ingrid had a great time running a 5k.

Her friend Brenda drove from Madras Oregon to run with her.

2009-08-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

June 12, 2009 Christopher graduates 8th grade!!!!

My gosh high school next year, I can't believe!!!!

2009-08-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

June 9th 2009, Alexandro graduates 5th grade. time to say good bye to Abiqua school. It sure was a fun graduation with a lovely breakfast and lots of hugs and good bye notes...

Bye Mckay.... We will miss you.....

2009-08-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

Weekend of May 31st, time to send Mckay off on his mission to Romania.

We had a great time with all the family members and spending time with Mckay, sure was hard to say good bye.

We are so proud of him, he is such a great boy we love him so much.

"God be with you untill we meet again...."

2009-06-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers day 2008!!!

We had a quiet day, Alexandro's cub scout troop made homemade chocolates, they were really good!!!! I also got some gourgeous flowers.

2009-06-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

05/08/2009 - Alexandro had a great time at the Air and Space Museum field trip, the kids had a great time making airplanes.... It sure was a fun trip for the kids, One more month of school...

Marathon May 03 2009

2009-05-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

Ingrid Did it!!!! She ran the Eugene 1/2 marathon and finished in 2:10 Hrs....

It fells so good....

Washington DC trip for Alexandro's school 04/27/2009

2009-05-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

It was time for the 5th graders to see all the things they learned about in American history and goverment this year. We had some fun, but it sure was a hard trip for Alexandro. He got really sick and we had to go to the hospital. We ended up going home early. He still had some fun though. We are just glad he is better.

We have walls 04/25/2009

2009-05-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Yeahhhhh, we got the shop painted outside and the walls are up!!! It will be ready soon!!!

Alexandro is 11!!!! April 23 2009

2009-05-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

This year alexandro celebrated his 11th Bday with an Indiana Jones ice cream cake!!! He had a blast with his bodies from school, going out to dinner at his favorite restaurant - Outback Steak house- and of course opening his gifts, he loves the videogames.

Alexandro in Willie Wonka Play at Abigua School 04/14/2009

2009-05-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

Alexandro did a Great Job as Grandpa Joe in Willie Wonka, he even got some singing parts.

He will sure miss Drama next year, it has been such a fun activity for him.

We are so proud of you body you sure worked hard.

Treasured Family moments Brazil 04/2009

2009-05-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes it is hard to believe that we are so far away, you get sad and homesick, you pull out the pictures and you, cry...... Finatelly it is time to go visit, it goes buy so fast....Make it slow down please.... We just have to treasure every moment and make it count....

Then it is time to go and you have to say good buy....tears are coming down, you walk to the plane, the doors close and you don't know when you will be back, will things change a lot or a little???? you take memories and moments with you .....and you cry.........."

Brazil 03/21 till 04/05 2009

2009-05-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

My nephews are growing way too fast...

For Spring Break Ingrid and the boys took off to Brazil.

We had a great trip visiting the famiy

We got to splore the artifacts and the city for a day.

It sure was fun to spend time with family, Ingrid got to spend time with her cousin Flor and also with her sister Yeld Maria.

Alexandro's Portuguese really improved and he had a blast hanging out with his cousin Vinicius, they were 2 peas in a pod.

Christopher also enjoyed hanging out with the "club 14" - all cousins that are his age, it is really fun to see them together.

Pinewood Derby March 19/2009

2009-05-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

Alexandro was proud to show off his Ferrary. Him and Leon spent a lot of time putting it together and it was worth it, he got second place... Way to go Alexandro!!!!

wires, wires and more wires March 17th, 2009

2009-05-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

Ok this week was dedicated to wiring the chop....My Gosh !!! We got loads of wires. We also got the shower in...

Ingrid girls weekend March 13th 2009

2009-05-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

Ingrid had a great time spending the weekend with her friends at Lincon City scrapbooking and going out to dinner.....Marrionberry pie and ice cream is always a big hit.....hummmmmmmm

The Concrete floor is in 03/2009

2009-05-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

We can't believe the floor is in, Now we start the slow moving phase

ski weekend at Black butte 03/2009

2009-05-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

Christopher and Alexandro had a great time with their friends, Andrew and Taishi at Black butte. It was a perfect weekend for skiing.

Alexandro's Presentation on Colonial Days March 2009

2009-05-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

Alexandro's class did a great Job recreating the Colonial Days. Alexandro got to be a Wig Maker, it sure was a fun day for the 5th graders.

March 03/2009 siding goes up!!!

2009-05-10T19:54:00.001-07:00

Things are looking good!!!!

Siding 02/2009

2009-05-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

They got it all set up for the siding in one day!!! Looking good...

The roof 02/2009

2009-05-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

The roof is on.... ready for the siding....

It is coming to life 02/2009

2009-05-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

It's moving fast, This thing is huge

Wall go up February 2009

2009-05-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

We are getting the wall on....

Brazilian Carnaval in Portland - Oregon February 2009

2009-05-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

Leon and Ingrid had a Blast dancing the Samba and having a great time with our friends Brent and Natsumi Nielsen. It was a loud fun night, We left at 1:00 AM but the party continued until morning.

Leon's shop is starting to come to life 02/2009

2009-05-05T21:13:00.001-07:00

Leon, can't believe that his dream is coming true.

Valentine's pijama/crazy hair day for Alexandro at school

2009-05-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Alexandro loves Crazy hair day, Fun, Fun , Fun

Alexandro's Poem

2009-02-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

I am From…

I am from the fields of grass surrounding my home
The rolling hills in Chinook Estates, and the bookshelves
Filled with undiscovered books.

I am from the musty cabinet filled with board games,
Anxiously waiting for my parents to wake up on Christmas
Morning, and trips to Brazil to visit tia (Aunt) Flor.

I am from “skiwampas” (Leon’s favorite made up word) and, “keep your back Strait!”

I am from rice and beans my mom makes for dinner,
The sizzling stir fry that tickles my taste buds, and the
Bubbling lentil stew that is one of my favorite dishes.

I am form Grandma Presset’s love – which will stay with me forever, my hunting buddy uncle Doug and uncle Kenton’s gigantic movie room.

I am from ten years of family life, and a future that is yet to be discovered.

Written by Alexandro Burrows – February 2009.

Family Birthday lunch for Ingrid Sunday Feb 08-2009

2009-02-14T17:36:00.000-08:00

Leon and the boys helped prepare one of my favorite dishes for Sunday dinner, Seafood and mushroom risotto… We had a fun day just hanging out, Ingrid got to open her gifts and we had a delicious flourless hazelnut chocolate cake for our family Bday “party”. Her Best Friend Beverly made the cake, it was delicious….

Ingrid's Birthday February 2009

2009-02-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

This year for my birthday I wanted to have a girl’s night with all the great women that have touched my life in so many ways.
I am so blessed to have such great friends, most of them made it and we had a blast.
Thank you ladies…..

Romantic Dinner - Hawaii 01-09

2009-02-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

Well we took advantage of our 14 year old babysitting abilities and went out to dinner at one of the restaurants in the hotel where we were staying, The Fairmont Orchid. The food was amazing. We had a great table with ocean view and someone was playing Hawaiian songs on the guitar.
Ahhhhhh…. Need I say more?

Helicopter ride Big Island Hawaii 01-2009

2009-02-14T17:06:00.000-08:00

We had a great time flying over the volcano and exploring Hilo. We enjoyed eating some delicious fresh tropical fruits and seafood.
The Helicopter ride took about one hour.

Jet skiing in Hawaii 01-2009

2009-02-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

Leon had one afternoon off and we took the boys jet skiing. We had a blast, sure was fun. Dolphins came near us and we could almost touch them we skied for 2 hours.

Hawaii January 17th-24th

2009-02-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

Ok, we decided to get some sunshine; Well Ingrid and the boys got most of it. Leon was busy most days attending a medical conference.
We had a great time relaxing by the pool and exploring Hawaii’s big island.

Christopher Performs

2009-02-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

On January 13th we attended Crossler middle school winter concert.
Christopher performed in Jazz and Orchestra Band, he did a great job.

Leon's Bday

2009-02-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have been slaking lately, so… I will try my best to keep things updated more often.
January 3rd Leon celebrated his Birthday with chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream; we had a quiet night here at home. O Saturday night we took Leon to Outback steakhouse and the boys had a great time eating their sirloin steaks and baked potatoes.

2009-01-03T22:23:00.000-08:00

On Monday December 22nd we decided to go to Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon. It was a nice drive up the mountain with beautiful scenary with icecles dangling from the trees and lots of snow.

On Tuesday December 23rd, we went to Hoodoo ski area.

We had a great time watching the kids going up on the lifts and coming down the mountain on their skiis and snow boards. It was a perfect day, we even got some sunshine.

Ingrid and Leon did a little snow biking and Dana and Shirley took most of our pictures. In the evening we went out to eat some mexican food.

When we got back from the restaurant we enjoyed some cookies and watched a movie. What a fun day.

2009-01-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

Dana and family arrived with the Great Arctic Blast of 2008 in Oregon.
The conditions on the roads were terrible it took Leon 2 hours to get to PDX (Portland airport) to pick up Dana and family, and another 2 hours to get back home.
An overturned 5th wheel crashed on southbound Interstate 5 near Wilsonville slowed traffic. And in south of Salem, Oregon State Police responded to numerous reports of vehicles sliding off the I-5 near the Kuebler Boulevard SE exit, according to dispatchers.
It was 34 degrees outside, just a hair above freezing. Along with patchy freezing fog in the North Willamette Valley, road conditions were slick and visibillity limited.

Thousands of folks in homes were without power across the Portland metropolitan area. Crews worked through miserable conditions on Christmas to reconnect power severed by large frozen tree limbs fallen into overhead power lines.
As of December 26th, more than 10,000 Portland General Electric customers were without power Since Dec. 19, PGE crews have repaired 380,000 outages and responded to nearly 2,600 downed wires across the operating area.

It sure was a site to see. Church was cancelled and we enjoyed watching the snow outside, cooking some paella, watching movies and visiting.

It was a nice quiet day for us.

2008-12-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

The boys did a great job on their piano recitals and had a great time at the christmas performance at school. It sure is fun to watch them demonstrate their talents.

2008-12-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

Christopher celebrated his 14th birthday on December 9th!!!! He had a small party with some friends. They had a good time playing video games and watching movies. The next day Leon took the boys airsofting.

2008-12-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was lots of fun in Utah with Grandma and Grandpa Burrows. We relaxed and visited, had a great meal and also enjoyed going out to a movie. the guys had a good time watching football and Ingrid enjoyed reading her book and helping grandma with the food.

2008-12-18T20:04:00.000-08:00

Deep sea fishing was an adventure, we all got sea sick but it was worth it we got some great fish and even had some delicius sushi.

2008-12-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

The boys had a great time paragliding and enjoying the beach in Mexico

2008-12-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun going to Mexico in November we stayed in Pueto Vellarte and enjoyed being pampered 24/7. We stayed in a gorgeus house and enjoyed the endless sunshine and delicius food. it was superb.

2008-12-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

Halloween!!!!! we had a great time with our friends and had way too much candy. what a fun day.

Alexandro had a blast at school with lots of goodies, Hummmmmmmmmm very tasty treats.

Alexandro's surgery

2008-10-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

Alexandro was a good camper, his surgery went well and he had to have casts on for 6 weeks.
He finatelly got his casts off today and is moving slowlly but happy to be able to shower again...So Am I.

New School

2008-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying Crossler Middle School especially my health theacher Mr. Jones I think that I am going to enjoy thisyear a lot!

Christopher

2008-10-04T23:28:00.001-07:00

I can't wait to read everyone's stories =;)

2008-10-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

I got in!! I was getting an error when I tried to log in intially, but finally was able to access the blog. I already had a google account, but followed the prompts to set up a new account. When I tried that I got a message that there was already an account with my e-mail address, so then I was prompted to log in again with my existing account, but this time it worked. I don't know why. If you don't have a google account you will need to create one in order to be able to make posts on the blog.

2008-10-04T22:05:00.000-07:00

Alright , once you get to this page just click on " New Post" (Upper right corner) , and you will be able to add your paragraph to the blog.

getting started

2008-10-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am trying to get lots of information going for this blog so everyone in the family can add and create their stories here, Please keep it going =;)

Ingrid (Didi)