Catching up

                                          

             Yes I know it has been a while, but BreAnna has been really busy. So I (Elena) have taken over!  Christmas 2012 we did a little family talent show when all of the family was out, we had such a great time! In July 2013 we went to Midland Texas for the Ross Snow family reunion. First we stayed in Colorado at my Aunt Robbie's, on July 1st we went to Water World! We also celebrated Addie's birthday. Then we headed for New Mexico, where we visited Carl's Bad Caverns. It was actually quite fun and quite cold.


             Our next destination was finally Midland, Texas!!!! On the 4th of July we went to the Rock Hounds baseball game.


                                                 Caleb caught a baseball!!!!

 Finally we eventually had to leave after 9 days.

Summer!

This summer, we did quite a lot. We redid our mudroom, and redid my bedroom.(BreAnna's too.) In the mudroom, we knocked out the closet, so we can have more "cubby" space to put all of our coats, book-bags, shoes, etc. We also painted the walls yellow, and found a cute red rug for the floor. There is two mirrors on either side of the walls, one that is like a shelf a little bit and a mirror. It is surprising, but we now we have more space then when we had the closet. Mom would like some funky, cute hooks, but we are still looking right now. (but other than that, it is done!)
For my room, we painted the walls robins egg blue.We took down the bunk beds, got new bed spreads, and got new curtains. it truly looked like a whole new room. We want to put up some pictures on the walls and do some other stuff, but we probably won't be done until next summer. 
* I will put on some pictures once the rooms are picture ready.

Halloween!

Halloween was crazy! Mom didn't get home till five, so we had to do our jobs to get ready for the trunk-or-treat. We didn't have time to go trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, but we went to Grandma Snows house instead. For Halloween, Caleb was Darth Vader. Elena was Luna Lovegood, Ashlyn was a Chinese lady, BreAnna was a Ladybug, and Mom was a witch. Dad said he was a helicopter pilot, but Caleb said he was a storm trooper, so it works either way.

Elena turned 10!!!

For Elena's birthday party, she did an around the world party. BreAnna, mom, and I, were the flight attendants, and Caleb was the captain. We started at the airport were they filled out their passports, then they got on the airplane, and went to Mexico. They had tacos and we gave out this Mexican drink mix. Then they went to France, were they made outfits out of newspaper. They got these tote bags for that. Italy was next. They got to try Italian sodas, and since Italy has a lot of music and art to do with it, we gave out these little statues, that had then playing instruments. Then they went to Egypt. They got in groups, and wrapped someone up in their group in toilet paper. Their souvenir was a mummified candy. Then they went to China. They had some rice, and fortune cookies, and they got to keep their chopsticks. Then they went to Samoan islands, were they made leis, and ate pineapple, and bananas. Then they had pavlova in Australia (for the cake). After that they opened presents in America.
                           This is Egypt.

Here is Samoan islands.

Here is our crew.

Caleb really didn't want us to take a picture of him, so he was goofing around, and we got this picture, which was the best picture.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLYN! (a month ago)

 Dear Ashlyn,
You are just so sweet and kind. It's so fun to talk to you. You can play with little kids amazingly.  You very helpful in the house.  Both by doing your chores and you fights the least. You are always willing to share and have a cute smile. We love having you in our family.
                                                                                                  Love,
                                                                                            Your Family

P.S Ashlyn turned 12 on April 17th.  Both Mom and I enjoy having her in Young Womens.

Chopped

     Recently our favorite family home evening activity is based on the Food Network show Chopped. Chopped (for those of you who don't know) is a cooking challenge were cooks have to make a dish in a certain amount a time. The catch: every episode there is a basket  that contains foods that they have to incorporate into the dish.

Mom and Ashlyn are the judges.  Elena and I were on one team, Dad and Caleb on the other.

Black eye

It was kind of a black eye. I hit my eye on the corner of my P.E locker. It hurt like crazy.

Cute Cute Cute Elena

I just love this Picture! so cute.

Elena get's Glasses

Before....

After..

Isn't she cute?

I got one!

Here is a better picture for Santa claws.

Beware of Santa Claws!!!!!

         Once upon a time the Birchell family was heading up the mountain to a Christmas party were Santa would be making an appearance there. In previous years the youngest of the bunch was terrified of Santa. See.  Ok so this one isn't as dramatic but he really was screaming and crying.

When he heard the cheerful ho ho ho he would let out a blood curdling scream and then cry until the Santa had left. Needless to say he woulds not sit on his lap. The youngest pretty much knew now that Santa was a nice man know. I mean he is five years old. Still, as they were heading up the mountain the dad said teasingly, "You still afraid of Santa Clause, Plower?" (Plower is the nick name for the youngest) . This was his Reply,

*"When I was little I thought Santa had claws. That was why his last name is Clause and he wears gloves. But he really has small claws, huh?

And so the family got a pretty good kick out of it and mom cleared up the whole claws thing.I guess it's just funny to see what goes on in side little kids heads.

The End

By Caleb Birchell

Retold by BreAnna Birchell 

* This is exactly what Caleb said

'Tis the Season to be Sneezin'

       Besides the colds that most people get during this season, our family has gotten a little more then that. One person got pink eye.  Half of our family got a nasty little stomach bug.  The person that had pink eye got the  stomach flu the worst. At least we are all getting this done and over with before Christmas.  Merry Christmas!

Turkey Day...

Was fantastic!  We ate a lot and had lot's wonderful pies. Here are are favorites.

Dad: 
It's close one between smoked turkey and pecan pie.

Mom:
She enjoyed the coconut cream pie and taking a nap with baby Madeline.   

BreAnna:
I loved having family and pie (apple) whenever I wanted.

Ashlyn:
She has the same thing as me.

Elena:
Liked being in the parade and seeing one of her friends over the weekend.

Caleb:
*Well, eating turkey a lot with my boy cousins and then having a sleep over with them.*


* His exact words*

Halloween

Elena: a Vampire with weird hair?

Ashlyn: A not so serious Viking :)

BreAnna: a princess, hey it's easy.

Caleb: still in love with spider man

Mom: a "Glamorous witch"
Dad: a high school wanna be, (yes in case you were wondering that is his original FFA jacket and tie)

I’ve Known Canyons  

I’ve known canyons  

All made of rocks and water

Pushing up the forms of layers

One is  Bryce Canyon, and oh!

 All those hoodoo’s standing up like people

 with dark red, light red, golden brown

 and  yellow sunshine.  

 I’ve known canyons.

I’ve known Zion  Canyon, and oh!

That humongous Weeping rock with

water showering down with its

 green moss on the rock and stone

I’ve known canyons.

I’ve known the grandest canyon of all

The Grand Canyon! And oh!

That gigantic, deep canyon, with

Dark red, light pink, and bright orange

A few streaks of yellow and gray.

I’ve known canyons

The diversity has grown

deep in me-like the canyons.

                          - Elena Birchell

I think this poem is amazing. She wrote for Reflections.

Four Corners

Our last stop on our most spontaneous vacation yet. We got Native American neclaces and Caleb got an arrow head.

The Grand Canyon

It was so amazing to see something that is world famous. It almost seem fake. It was gorgeous.

Zion's

Since we had a spontaneous vacation, on the way to Grand Canyon we stopped by Zions. We took a shuttle bus up and down Zions and stopped at weeping rock. Weeping rock is a rock that always has water runnuing down it. Zions is so pretty.

Our Hosts

Ok, so my face is a little funny in this picture and so is Elena's, but it was so fun to go to Aunt Derry and Uncle Randell's house. They had awesome bikes. Like bikes you don't see every day. Cute little goats and a pretty peacock. The food was amazing and everyone (except dad) enjoyed having eggs.