Full Moon at Sundance

The kids were excited to treat Larry to his Father's Day present... a night time chair lift ride up the mountain. We picked up dinner on the way and just hung out on the grass until 9pm when the moon rose in the sky. It was pretty cool... and pretty cold. Thankful that Lindsey encouraged us to take a lot of blankets. As much as we may have made fun of her, I would be the first to admit that we used every one of them! Ashlee treated us to the yummiest chocolate cake when we got home... I woke up and had it for breakfast too!
-Brenda

Nauvoo Trip 2008

Memories of our trip:
When we first got to Nauvoo, we rolled down our window and asked for directions to the Nauvoo Visitor center and it turned out to be Gay Smoot from Orem Utah, Mother of one of my neighbor friends, Linda. She is a temple missionary. It was a delightful surprise. We quickly went to the visitor center and to our surprise we discovered Amy in the parking lot leaving for the day with her companion. We were so excited and quickly made plans to meet. It was so good to see Katie & Amy together. Larry, Ransom, Katie & I went and did a temple session in the morning and Gay Smoot was there. We caught up on family news and she walked us through the sealing rooms in the temple. The girls went together and did Baptisms. We took Amy & her companion to lunch. She told us there weren't many options and told us to meet her at Subway... only problem was there were two Subways in town, who would have thought? While we waited at one, she was waiting at the other. We finally met up and were able to spend time together. She was our tour guide when we went through Carthidge Jail. It was a good experience. Ransom got stung by a wasp. Ransom's highlight of the trip was finally being able to throw rocks in the Mississippi River. Ransom taking Conrad on luggage cart rides in the hotel hallways. Watching the Olympics... Michael Phelps trying 8 for 8. Kelsie texting Josh. No phone service anywhere! Walking around the temple for an hour the first night while Kelsie talked on the phone... hearing cows? Conrad's noisy airplane ride there and a surprisingly quiet ride on the way home. Rendevous in old Navoo play " I can do this". Ransom throwing cran-apple fruit... Hey! we don't do that here! Ransom at the swimming pool "Everyone can see your junk!" Ivy Bakery with yummy food, especially the caramel rice krispy treats... recommended by Lindsay Bowerman. Lindsey co-piloting with Larry. Fort Madison. Seeing BYU Vocal Point group with Eric & Scott Sackett from Orem! Dropping off groceries to Amy's porch. Dottie's diner 2x's chicken fingers. Kelsie getting picked up at the airport by Josh and going to the Brian Regan concert. Ransom wants to move to Nauvoo and become a spider & tent caterpiller exterminator, Trail of Hope... Ransom "I've been walking all day with hope, I need a break". Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. The smell of hair mousse and shaving gel in the bathroom... ugh!
-Brenda

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Bridal Veil Falls on Fire

We are keeping our eyes on the mountain by our home. It has been smoldering now for nearly a week and I just can't figure out why they haven't just dumped some water on it. The last couple of days it has spread with help from the winds... it's all I can do to not drive up the canyon every so often and keep track of it.
-Brenda

Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon

Y/W Hike to Stuart Falls

We went hiking to Stuart Falls tonight with the young women in our church family. I never want to be this tired, out of shape or over weight again. This is crazyness how life can get too busy and there is no time to take care of myself. It felt so good to be outside in the beauty of nature. When we got home, Kelsie and I laid on a blanket outside and talked. Larry came home with groceries and I was too tired to help bring them in. I just watched him ... how sad!
-Brenda

Conrad's First Hair Cut

Katie decided that Conrad's hair was getting long enough to be a comb over... in other words, it was time for a haircut... and a haircut to go he got! The trick was keeping up with our little guy!
-Brenda

2008 Birrell Family Reunion

We just finished up Larry's family reunion and had a great time. Here are some of our favorite memories we gathered on our way home:

Plenty of hanging out and being together, watching the cousins connect with one another, hammock rides, outdoor movies, tin foil dinners (all those potatoes and carrots!), the river adventure, the hot, hot, hot dust trail, animal ball in the field, Sydney painting Brent's face, football game until Bri's injury (Larry: it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt), HUGE tenacious mosquitoes, Tyler & Austin giggling all night, Joe's bloody hand, volleyball, softball, new discovery: coconut marshmallows, Kelsie's first try of Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Squirt & Fresca... didn't like any one them, Scott to Zac at every meal... Who get's to eat first? The ladies :( , Ipod name that tune, Dennis's puffy mosquito bitten hand, Ryan's stubby toe, cousin's sleeping together in one great room, Kelsie & Ryan singing together to Cameron's Ipod, Cameron telling Abby, Kammi & Austin to shut up... it was Austin & Tyler, Taylor walking into sliding glass door, Alex wearing Kristen's flip flops and Kristen wearing Sydney's flip flops on the way to the river, Hal losing a glass lens and shoe on the river... , Scott conducting before mealtime, See's candy from Paul, Lindsey talk's with Brent, Brent & Carolyn games: Orange race with stick, pie eating contest, suck beans with straw and put in soda bottle, water balloon toss, 3 legged race, eat crackers and whistle, balloon hop, Angie liking our chair... Dennis liking our chair... taking pictures.
-Brenda

Sandi, Julie, Jessica, Dennis, Zach and Cameron

Scott, Tyler, Mandi, Brenda and Kelsie

Austin, Kammi, Taylor, Angie and Larry

Craig, Brianna, Kevin, Abby, Ryan and Jill

Scott, Gary, Hal, Lindsey, Alex and Betty

Ashlee, Joe, Kyle, Kassi, Kristen and Sydney

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I am a stalker.

I was headed to Chicago for the CHA Summer Show with Pebbles Inc. and while we were waiting for the flight we noticed that American Idol favorites were there (minus David & David) Someone mentioned Jason Castro and I was up stalking before I even gave it a thought! All I could think of was Kelsie and my Mom would go crazy! We took pictures and then got on our plane... only to learn that they were on our plane! How lucky is that? I waited until he got off the plane and had him sign the only thing I could get my hands on... a barf bag. Kelsie squealed with delight and my stalking was worth it.
-Brenda