Turning 8 is great!

Today I did an amazing thing. I took the time to actually stick batteries in my camera! Oh sadness, there at least a thousand things I should have taken pictures of last month... AKA Tom and Zach's birthday, Kaden's 50 mile bike ride for Scouts, Kym and Adam's wedding, a trip to Rexburg that included "Bear World", the beautiful changing fall leaves--oh yeah, and of course Halloween.
Sigh, at least I can rely on Super Grandad for pictures of most of those events because he is smart and actually keeps his camera functioning. SO do you want to know what finally drove me to put the batteries in?????


Take a look at this


What does a birthday party with 13 kids spell??? You got it.... C R A Z .... No, I mean

F U N !!! It was Tanner's 8th birthday and he just wanted a "few" friends to come over and play. They were actually all really well-behaved boys and perfect little gentlemen to the adorable two cutie pies from across the street that came over to see what all the commotion was about (One of them is disguised in a power ranger costume. That's my kind of girl).
So, what do big brothers do during these kinds of parties?

Yeah, survival of the fittest in this family.Check out Ryan peeking in a present (He got caught by the camera). It is so hard to convice a 3 year old that none of the presents are for him. All those neat toys!Look at cutie pie with the blonde hair hanging out in the back. Someday these boys will have a hard time looking at presents over a beauty like this...Happy Happy Birthday, Tanner Dear. Eight is great and SO ARE YOU!

Draperland Update

I told a friend the other day that I was waiting to post until I had some pictures for everyone, and she said, "Why?" So told me to just POST and dig down into my thoughts right now. For some reason, tonight that sounds like a pretty good idea for this female sitting at the computer missing family, friends that have moved, a husband that is still at work, and just wishing there were someone right here in the room to have a deep talk with.
There is some exciting news in Draperland...BABY #5 is on the way! That is great news in itself but my poor family is being so patient right now with Mom being sick and pretty sluggish, let alone not able to smell certain smells ( which involve cooking most of the time). I always feel terrible during pregnancy when I look around at my family and realize that, yes, they are going to have to entertain themselves through one more movie or fend for themselves in the kitchen one more meal until I have the strength to get up and get things going. But my mom said to me once that someone told her when she was having the exact same feelings that, "kids are resilient. They will be OK and you will, too. It will not permanently damage them."

Isn't that a nice thought? No guilt. Every mom needs to hear that every once in awhile.

We are so excited for a new little person in our family, and as you can well imagine, I get told by all well-wishers that they hope it is a girl. I won't lie. Looking at floofy dresses and buying barbies sounds dreamy, but let it be known that I would be thrilled to have another son. There is something comforting in that thought. Got the boy clothes, boy toys, continuing the same male routine. They are my men. Besides, what is better than being surrounded by strapping young men as they grow taller than you?

Well, we will know the week of Thanksgiving what it is. I promise to announce as soon as we walk in the door from the ultrasound...then we will talk baby names.

Labor Day Fun Part 2--The Dogpile!

Nothing like the fun of a dogpile. Tanner is having loads of it.

Too bad for the littlest guy on top.

Labor Day Fun Part 1

Tanner's first fish!

We Made a memory today...

Who's kids are these?

By order of my sons, I have been forced to stick their new favorite pictures on our blog. This is how it all went down.

A BIG BOWL OF HOMEADE WHIPPED CREAM.

(which for all intensive purposes was for a fruit salad)

THE SONG "BAD TO THE BONE" STARTED PLAYING ON THE STEREO.

A LITTLE BIT ON SOMEONE'S NOSE.

FACE PAINTING FIGHT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.

The longer the song went on, the more artistic it got. What started as a little dab here or there became a face mask on everyone--who knew that heavy whipping cream could feel so moisturizing.

I could just lie and say that it was one of them that started it.

Too Bad they know the truth... :)

Red, White, and Blue

Here it is again! We are getting excited for the town parade that ends with a water party in the street. The picnics with hot dogs, jello salad, and yummy watermelon. Followed by a bright fireworks show in the sky full of colors and loud booms.


With every BOOM, I think about our National anthem and the Star-Spangled Banner that was still there the morning after. This past Sunday, we enjoyed a talk at church from a man whose ancestor was next in command to General George Washington and served with integrity. He also told stories of when, years later, he served in the army and how the example of his great grandfather stood with him.





Tonight for family night, we talked about our British Ancestors that left their lives to come to America and travel with a handcart company to a place where they could worship how, where and what they may.





This is the legacy that precedes us.








This is the responsibility we have for future generations.
















Awhile back, I stumbled across this picture of Elder Ballard and President Uchtdorf at President Obama's inauguration. Don't you love their smiles? This 4th of July, we will be thinking a little deeper around here. Past all of the glitter and sparklers. Past the food. It is going to mean something more.


One Nation Under God...

Happy 4th of July!!!

Memory Monday

Grandma Mary Lue

For years I have stared at pictures of them and wondered what their laugh was like. Or their hugs. When I was eleven I would go through Grandma Kay's dresser full of her belongings, I used to try to figure out her her favorite clothes or look at her sewing projects that she had been finishing and wondered if they were for me. I wondered what the large inserts for her bra (post surgery) were for and if she hated wearing them.

Grandma Kay

I was three years old when they passed away within a very short time of each other, both in their fifties. It is now, after all these years, that I realize the magnitude of what that must have been like for my parents who were in their twenties when they lost both of their mothers. With Grandma Mary Lue it was sudden and too soon. With Grandma Kay it was the long, drawn out pain and the rocking chair she would sit in to move back and forth, back and forth, while hugging her chest because it hurt so terribly from the cancer.


Yet somehow I do know them. They are a part of my life everyday. I have felt their love and support and yes, definite laughs as they watch this granddaughter muddle through. Grandma Kay had 4 boys in a row. She knows. Sometimes that is just enough to get me through that moment. With Grandma Mary Lue, I have been told I have her personality. I can't wait to be around her because I wonder what it would be like to be around your mother's mom. What is it like? I have always thought there must be something special about that. A maternal grandmother's love.

I think if they were here right now the message would be simple...

Live today to the fullest. Love all those around you as if today were your last.

Love you, too, grandmas.