Villa's in Las Vegas.......

Villa girls @ the Barstow Station

We took our annual Las Vegas Cheerleading Nationals trip last week.  I must say this years trip was a lot of fun.  We wanted to make sure we did a lot of stuff as a family.  Eddie and I talked about what we wanted to do while in Vegas before we left, so we had a little agenda with us for the first time.  A few of the things on our check list were:

1)  Eat at Hash House A-Go-Go.  (We saw this place on one of our favorite shows, Man vs. Food)

2) Visit The Pawn Stars Pawn Shop. (Another          of our favorite TV shows)

3)  Take the kids to Circus Circus.  (It is a lot nicer then it was back when I was a kid)

4) Win a National Championship. (That one was more for me)

 Here we are driving by the Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop from the awesome hit TV show, Pawn Stars.  I friggin LOVE this show.  The historical things that come through those doors is amazing.  We could only drive by because kids are not allowed inside the shop.  The coolest part about our drive by was that they were filming as we went by.  So to get more out of our drive by, we circled the shop three times.  It was awesome.  One day I will actually go inside.  One day.


We went to Circus Circus the first day we were there.  It was really the only day that I had free from Cheerleaders.  The Villa's won BIG at Circus Circus.  Joshlyn walked right up to the Star Darts game, tossed her one dart and NAILED the star right in the center.  It was so cool.  She walked away with an enormous Lion Pillow Pet! 

Madison wanted to play every game she came across.  Even the really hard ones.  I had a set budget of $10 per girl and that was it, so I let them play what they wanted to play.

They had the most success with the Grabber Nabber game.  Taking home 4, count that 4 pillow pets from the grabber nabber.  Add Joshlyn's giant lion pillow pet, and that is a whopping 5 BIG pillow Pets won that day.

 It was quite the event and all left totally satisfied and Happy!!!

Sutton loves Daddy Kisses

 Joshlyn had a great time at the Jamz Nationals event.  She took tons of pictures of her Jamz idols.  Her most memorable moment came when she got to meet and take pictures of her Tumbling IDOL John.  He is the most show stopping tumbler I have ever seen.  i don't blame Jossy for idolizing him.  She has decided to try out for the Jamz cheer staff when she turns 18.  I love this idea.  It is nice to work really hard for something you love.

Joshlyn tackles the BBBLT

 Finally, our last stop before leaving Las Vegas, Hash House A-Go-Go!!  We tried to find it once the day before, but failed.  Luckily we tried again the next day before we left.  I am so glad we did.  The food was AMAZING!!  HUGE, but amazing. 

Eddie goes for the Man vs. Food Favorite, Fried Chicken and Waffles Benedict.

I took on the Chicken Salad Sandwich.  It was good, but the side of Mac and Cheese was UNBELIEVABLE!!!

 I highly recommend this place to all who visit.  But Order and share.  One meal is WAAAAAAAYYYYYY too big for one person.  Eddie was the only one to finish his food.



Although the portion size of Eddies meal was enough to feed a small country, Eddie took it down, and took it down hard.  Way to go baby!


All in all this trip was great.  My cheerleaders did AMAZING and I was one proud coach.  We took home a second place trophy.  That, so far is my highest placing.  Next year, Im going for #1!!!! 

Music to my ears.......

Madison is now taking piano lessons thanks to Grandma B.  I was lucky enough to get a beautiful piano for Christmas and Madison is happily taking lessons.  She loves the piano.  Her face lights up when she plays the songs her teacher gives her and realizes that it is an actual song and not just random notes.  I love that she gets it.  

I know we were all given gifts in the premortal existence, and it is our responsibility as parents to help our children develop these natural God given gifts.  So I am very thankful to my mom for being the financial backer for Madison to take piano.  Her teacher is wonderful and very patient.  We love Jenny.  I love how music fills our home. 

I coach Cheerleaders.......AND IM PROUD OF IT!!

Being raised in a family of athletes, basketball players, I guess it was just kind of expected for me to eventually coach it.  Not that I ever had coaching basketball in mind when thinking of a future career.  But I guess if its not basketball, its a waste of time.  Well I am standing up and yelling out, "NOT TRUE"!  I love coaching and I am good at it.  I don't care what the sport, I love coaching.  It fills my soul with joy to teach and mentor youth.  But who would have ever thought of me, 6'4" Angela Burgess being a CHEERLEADING COACH?  Well that is exactly what I am.  And I LOVE IT!  I love having a creative outlet as well as being able to do what I love, Coach!  I see nothing shameful or wrong about it.  These kids that I see every day are major athletes.  They work their butts off and are in better shape then most other "athletes" their age. My girls are not only physically fit, they are expected to always look their best, be role models in the community and perform each game and competition like they are perfect.  They leave their worries and problems at home and bring it every time.  It is not easy, but they do it and I am proud to call them my athletes.  I love coaching this sport so much, that I am now working on moving into the high school level.  Sorry to disappoint those hoping that I would one day coach basketball, but I just don't have the passion for it.  Not the same kind of passion I have for making up awesome choreography and editing FIERCE music.

This is what I love doing and this is what I am proud of doing.  I don't expect others to like it, but I do expect them to respect my decision to do what I love.

Do I still love basketball?  Yes.  I love watching my brothers and I absolutely will have my own girls playing the sport that took me all over the country and paid for me to attend the best school ever!  But I will support whatever decision they make for their futures after they have ended their basketball career.  Anyway, I will get off my high horse now, but these are my true feelings and if you really want to know how much I adore coaching cheer, come and see my kids rock it out at their shows, then you will truly know how passionate I am about these girls and their sport.

First School Formal

A CTR and a Sunbeam

    Jacquelynn moved up into CTR 4 and was more then happy to show off her CTR ring.

 She also made me a picture that I get to keep

 My favorite was her explanation of what CTR means.  She knows it means Choose The Right, but if you ever get the chance, ask her what Choose the Right means.  I promise you wont be disappointed!

 Brooklyn moved into primary today.  My little Sunbeam.  She was kinda ticked off about not going into Nursery, but she adapted quickly.

What a PERFECT little Sunbeam!!!

Happy New Year

Bring on the new year.  With a new beginning and a new outlook, I am ready to take on 2011.  I just know this year will be amazing.  No resolutions, just faith!  I know that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be valuable in our lives.  

Every day ought to be the start of a new year and a new life. Such is the wonder of faith, repentance, and the miracle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

When I think of every day being the start of a new year, I remember the quote from The wise kung fu master oogway in the movie Kung fu panda,
yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."
The atonement of Jesus Christ gives each of us a gift at the start of every day.  Let us always cherish that gift.
 

My baby is just growing and growing....

 December - 8 Months Old

 November - 7 Months Old

 October - 6 Months Old

 September - 5 Months Old

August - 4 Months old