The Zoo

OK, so I know it's lame to just copy and paste from my blog to this one, but it saves so much time and energy. I have to add a couple of pictures at the first though. Heath, I'd love to see the cute one of Sadie that you took. Thanks for the trip guys.

We hit the zoo again. This time we went with Becca, Jaxon, and Hudson, Heather and Bridger, and Grandma Draper. It was a good zoo trip. Rylie was our guide as this being her 2nd time, she's the pro. The kids had a lot of fun being together. Cute cousins. (The picture to the left is Cam, Jax, and Ry being elephants.) We tried all afternoon to get a picture of them all together and looking at the camera, but it didn't happen. It's funny what odd things become the favorite of the trip. This time around Rylie and Camrie had fun climbing on this bronze rhino. ("Ride 'em cowgirl", said Cam.) Jaxon's favorite part was the entire zoo, Hudson just enjoyed sleeping in the stroller, Sadie's favorite part was the train ride, and I'm going to say Bridger's favorite part was the rhino because he said "rhino" so cute. Camrie wouldn't let her Grandma get too far away and Sandee was busy holding all the grandkids up to see.Good trip to the zoo. Train tickets - $1 each. Nerds rope - $.75. Tickets to the zoo - $20 if you're Angee, $8 if you're Becca or Heather. Time with cousins - priceless. (P.S. Bridger is no longer allowed to wear his Red Sox shirt on game day. The Red Sox won Game 1.) To end, here is my favorite picture of the day:

Question

As I'm trying to get Christmas somewhat started I am wondering what the price range is for the cousins.

Jax & Huds

Here are the Torsell boys.....from one extreme to the other. Hey Em, do you recognize Jax's shirt? Jaxon wanted to show Tay really bad!

CHRISTMAS CALENDER

This year I am asking that you submit 1 or 2 pages of pictures layed out (HORIZONTAL) how you wish, decorated as you wish that summarize a few highlights of this last year for your family. Please keep the format compatible...WORD, PDF, JPEG. Please try to send them to either nicole or me via email by November 12th. Thanks for your participation.

We had a fun visit with Grandma and Aunt Cole this past week. We had a fun busy week. We had dental appointments, fundraiser deliveries, read books, went to the library, walked to the park, fed the ducks, had a picnic, went shopping, ate a lot (too much), watched movies, played and watched soccer games, but most of all we had so much fun being together. Jessie wanted to tell everyone that the girls got some High School Musical 2 stuff and FAKE fingernails. GOOD TIMES!

Rylie's Birthday

Thanks to everyone for the generous gifts and phone calls. Rylie felt very special.
(Notice Rylie's cute marker "5 years old" hand. It's quite fitting as she loves to draw and color.)
Rylie had a good, uneventful birthday. It started off with pre-school and a birthday crown to wear all day. After that she waited around until 4:00 finally came. 4:00=birthday party time. It was Rylie's first friend birthday and it was a hit. She invited 8 of her friends and everyone came. From left going clockwise: Maddie Winterton, Adrianna Austin, Aspen Peterson, Tyson Alger, Nathan Clegg, Rylie, Cambrie Martel, Camrie, Caitlyn Elswood, and Annie Watson. The kids decorated cookies and laughed and talked the whole time. They ate a cookie and had some ice cream and then Rylie opened all her presents. She got Aquadots, Polly Pockets, Play-do, and Littlest Pet Shops. What else could a 5 year old want? We ended the party with an exciting game of pin the smile on the pumpkin and a rousing game of ghost, ghost, witch (duck, duck, goose). It was a fun hour long birthday party and everyone left with a plate full of cookies and a smile. Kenzie commented, "wow mom, you really went all out and even got balloons." (My kids are learning that I often times just get by.)

After the party broke up we had dinner for which Rylie asked if I could make Ramen Noodles. "Yes Rylie, I can do Ramen Noodles." She opened the rest of her presents from us and was happy and surprised with rollerblades. The kids got her a 2 pack of Ice Breakers and they weren't even all gone by the end of the nite. She wrapped up her birthday by playing with her Polly Pockets while watching a little bit of Charlotte's Web. Happy Birthday Rylie! Enjoy being 5.

Thanks for the birthday!!

These are picture albums so I can fit a picture of each family member so Bridge can look through it. I thought they were so cute! (and buy one get one free at Kohl's)
Here's the shoes...finally some church shoes other than sandals!
I also bought this new shirt with the money....I loved it! (even though it looks like all my other shirts) :)

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted you to see a little bit of what I got with my birthday money. I haven't bought new shoes in maybe 5 years. Mom gave me some for my birthday around 3 years ago and those are my newest(other than flip flops)...so this was an excellent investment!

Thanks again!!

p.s. I just had to throw in the picture of the tent. It was too cute to resist.

Happy Tons of Birthdays and Hudson's Blessing

Just thought I would post a few pictures that I took today. A big thanks to the Torsells for letting us all enjoy their house. Hudson was a stud on his blessing day.

What's a Draper get together without some football? I'm not sure who is having more fun, the kids over 12 or the kids under 12.
Jaxon loved the frosting. Check out the frosting on his ear. :)
Yum. It pays to have your birthday in October.
Cute little buggers.
Heath had to be quick to get in on the blowing out the candles.
Pretty cool Grandma!
A big thanks to everyone. Rylie and Camrie were definitely spoiled.

Cam's Birthday

Here's some pictures of Cam's birthday. She had a good day and the kids all seemed to have fun. She couldn't wait to go to Grandmas. Seeing Jaxon was a bonus and they played hard.

Jaxon was really hoping it was his birthday today.
This is probably my favorite birthday photo I took.
All those Draper kids enjoying the presents. I have lots of pictures with Rylie's freshly washed but not done hair. That happens.
I'm glad we could be the first to introduce Jaxon to play-do. He now knows it doesn't taste good.
3 years old. My how time flies. Becca helped me with the cake. Phew.
Happy Josh's birthday celebration as well.
This picture is great. "Why won't Sadie smile at me?" :)

The End.

Sand's pictures

Here's some fun pictures from the C Draper computer:
Like father like son. If only you could hear Bridge say "lawn mower".
"My feet are so toasty." "So are my knees."
Cute kids.
Peach delight anyone?
Jenn and her baby.
Big Huds.
Yummy treats at Grandmas.

It's finally complete!

Dad finished the stump! It's no longer just a stump- check it out.

Pictures.....

I FOUND IT!!!!!!!

In case any of you are wondering what "it" is...it's the location for our next family vacation!!! I am very excited about it and I hope that you will be too! It is close to Lava hot springs, so there will be some good fishing in the river, hikin' in the mountains and tubin down the river!!! The cost will be the same as last year...$200.00 per family. I would appreciate it if you paid half by the end of November, and the other half by the end of March. We have already sent the deposit to reserve this location, and the dates are a definite August 6-9 2008. If you would like to see where we will be staying -- the website is lavaschoolhouse.com -- if that doesn't work, just let me know and I'll find it for you!!! I'M EXCITED!!!!