December 30, 2016

This was one of the best weeks of the year - perhaps the best week.  Between being together at the yurt, Christmas, and Moab - it was just fantastic!

December 29, 2016

The kids seemed to enjoy the Corona Arch hike.  Odd.  They usually don't enjoy hikes but that all said this arch was cool.  D and I took K and T to another cool arch - Delicate - for their first time.  Quite the iconic landmark.  And  Mexican food came through for Mason to enjoy this trip.

December 28, 2016

The Moab trip begins with a great surprise to stumble across a hike.  It was Longbow Arch and it was cool.  And the condo provides a place for games and movie watching.  Brilliant things to do on vacation.

December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas!  I love the spirit of Christmas and sharing things as a family.  The kids are easy to please and are happy and thankful.  And to remember the humble circumstance of the birth of the Savior and Redeemer of the world is just awesome.

December 24, 2016

Well, we had a yurt experience.  Not sure what to think about it.  Happy for the time together but not so happy about the really long night.  Highlights - snowshoeing in, playing cards, Miss Mary Mack with Sadie.  Squishing 3 of us on a little bed, having the top bunk not fall down, being all together with no distractions, seeing Darren really like it, having the freezing outhouse adventure with the girls.  :)

I think I would sum it up by saying it was good mixed with some miserable.  But in the end I'm glad we did it.

December 22, 2016

Lunch days with Ry and Cam have been great.  I need more one on one time with the kids but I'll take what I can get.

December 21, 2016

This Christmas, mend a quarrel.  Seek out a forgotten friend.  Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.  Write a letter.  Give a soft answer.  Encourage youth.  Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.  Keep a promise.  Forgo a grudge.  Forgive an enemy.  Apologize.  Try to understand.  Examine your demands on others.  Think first of someone else.  Be kind.  Be gently.  Laugh a little more.  Express your gratitude.  Welcome a stranger.  Gladden the heart of a child.  Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.  Speak your love and then speak it again. // Howard W Hunter

December 20, 2016

Rylie and I have been having puzzle races where we each have a puzzle and race to see who can complete it fastest.  Fun, I know.

December 19, 2016

L Whitney Clayton's talk from 2015 Christmas Devotional is so good.  I so needed the reminder to "fear not".  Also liked this part, "Because of the Savior born two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, there is hope - and so much more.  There is redemption, release, victory, and triumph."

December 18, 2016

Heavy day today.  The world just seems so strong.  And so hard to navigate.  I'm very thankful for a Savior and His atonement.

December 14, 2016

Such an awesome snowshoe today.  We shoed up Willow Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It was fantastic.  And the steep parts going up made the best sledding parts going down as the snow was soft and you could slow down if you wanted.  Plus there's my favorite aspen forest along this trail.  And a meadow.  And it was snowing.  It was fantastic!

December 13, 2016

Cam has been extra wonderful lately.  Love that girl.

December 9, 2016

"Even at the tender age of 14, Joseph relied upon what he knew - he knew."  Sister Oscarson

December 8, 2016

Ry has been up for playing Dr. Mario with me.  Wahoo!  I even got Mason to play for a second.

December 5, 2016

Great FHE with the First Presidency Christmas Devotional and some hot chocolate.  Mason taught us some stuff from Seminary as well.

December 2, 2016

An amazing second cold morning with no scraping windows needed for Mason.  Happy morning when there's no scraping.

November 30, 2016

Put the snowshoes on for the first snowshoe of the season.  We went to Spruces and it was gorgeous!  So much powder and the only one who had broke trail before us was a moose. 

November 28, 2016

What a nice and very wintry day.  The girls were putting up Christmas and D put on Cmas music while M and I shoveled snow.  M was in his Cookie Monster hat and shorts as the snow came down and blew all around.

November 27, 2016

Dallin H Oaks - "Each day, we put on clean clothes.  But by day's end our clothes are soiled by moral exertions.  So it is true for each of us spiritually. 

By Saturday, every one of us needs to be washed and cleaned.  When we are soiled by sin, we cannot have the Spirit's companionship.  I don't think that one unkind act drives the Spirit away all week, but it turns down the volume a little.  By Saturday night we all need to be cleansed spiritually, and this happens on the Sabbath. 

We confess our sins to the Lord and those we've wronged, and if serious, we speak with our priesthood leaders.  When that is fulfilled, we partake of the sacrament and make a new commitment.  Then we have the promise that we will always have His Spirit to be with us. 

We all need the cleansing that comes from partaking of the sacrament on the Sabbath day."

November 23, 2016

Put the kids in the car for a long drive to the North Rim of The Grand Canyon.  It was cold and snowy and Grand.  We did a walk out to the Bright Angel Viewpoint that included a little careful walking on slippery parts.  We also hit a few other viewpoints with a Grand view.  Kids were great and Mason made me laugh all day.  He has great snowball throwing accuracy.  My favorite part was the snowball karate chopping right before we left. 

November 22, 2016

Darren sings, "I'm closer now to 50 than to 40".  (Maggie's Dream - now that he's 45.  :))

We spent part of his birthday in Snow Canyon.  We also went to a movie (Fantastic Beasts) and Red Robin. 

November 21, 2016

Mason's laugh is aweome.  Especially when he is laughing at Sadie.  Also, he and I totally jive on the song - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye by Train.

November 18, 2016

First cold winter hike of the season.  Only a few inches of snow up Little Cottonwood on the hike to Cecret Lake but it was cold at the lake.  I really like my hiking friends of Lorien and Sariah.  They are game for anything and are so kind and funny. 

November 17, 2016

I'm getting old because I am really starting to like pie.

Also, would it really be 6th grade at Sego Lily without Temples and Tombs?  No.  No it wouldn't.

(Cam, Karli, Grace, Megan, Adi, and Emily in the back)

November 16, 2016

I really like tennis shoes.  They're pretty much the only shoes I wear.  Besides hiking shoes of course.  But that's for when I'm hiking.  :)

November 15, 2016

Type 2 fun - miserable while you're doing it, 100% worth it when you're done.  :)

November 14, 2016

Which kid do you think did which thankful page?

(Answer - C, M, S, R)

November 12, 2016

Playing PIG (basketball) with the kids - awesome.  Going to the zoo with the kids - also awesome.

Giraffes were great.  Lions were cool.  Lion cubs were way cool.  Ostrich was funny.  Elephants were fat.  Rhinos were icky.  Otter was awesome.  Polar bear was cute.  Seal was special.  (Swimming upside down.). Mr. Turtle was slow and steady.  Snow leopard was fluffy.  Gorilla was huge.  Orangutans were the best.  (With the 2 year old being my favorite thing we saw.)

November 9, 2016

Today I hiked with Kelly and Tami and then I wished my middle school BFF a happy birthday on FB in bubble talk.  :).  Both of these things made me smile.  And the crazy election is over.  President Trump?  Not so sure that makes me smile.  But neither would President Hilary Clinton.

November 5, 2016

How I love our one night a year GNO at Tara's cabin!  This year we had the four of us - Tara Covili, Patty Murphy, Mary Ellen Messick, and me.  We are getting older because we ate less treats, went to bed less late, watched less movies, and went out less.  And yet I had as much fun as ever.  I love chatting with my Snow girls and smiling and relaxing and just being friends. 

November 3, 2016

Just thinking about my dad tonight and what a great dad he is.  Love that guy, and love the memories with him, and love this pic of him.  "Come in if your nose is clean."

November 2, 2016

It's the start of colder hiking.  32 degree for our hike this morning felt cold.  It's also the start of college looking for Mason.  Snow College open house tonight made him "an official Badger".  Although no one is actually committing to go there, apparently they're still official.  :)

October 30, 2016

Ry is our best pumpkin carver.  And she likes it.  Sadie thinks she likes carving but she actually just likes someone to carve it for her.  But she found a cat template and got the gooey stuff out so that probably counts as mostly carving.  Ry had serious carving skills this year with pumpkin teeth.  My kitty pumpkin carving skills were not much in the way of actual skills.

October 27, 2016

Fantastic first time at the temple with Cam.  Ry came with and we brought Megan and Abby Marsh.  Cam was all smiles (sometimes a little nervous smile) and she kept thanking me for taking her.  Great time with the girls.

October 24, 2016

Mason is home safe from Texas.  Wahoo!

Came across a quote I wrote down almost two years ago by TS Elliot.  He said, "If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?"

October 23, 2016

I love when the girls spend time together.  This morning they were drawing for 2 hours.  They have been great to each other lately.  I probably cursed things by saying that. 

Also, playing Speed (cards) with Ry is way fun.

October 22, 2016

We just saw a coyote cross the road in front of us just south of Scipio.  Kinda cool.

October 21, 2016

Today was a good day.  My parents came to Bryce Canyon with us and I loved spending time with them - even though most of the time was driving.  I also got to hike with D and the girls in some awesome scenery.  Hoodoos are just cool.

October 20, 2016

"Be where your feet are.  Enjoy the moment.  There will come a day where there won't be another day." - Clint Hurdle

October 19, 2016

Rylie finished her soccer season tonight and it has made me think about this fall season.  A couple of thoughts:
1.  I really miss watching Mason play.  He was such a solid player and I loved watching him play defense.
2.  Cam and I were totally gypped out of her season.  That knee injury was no fun and I would have liked to see her soccer smile this fall.  She loves playing soccer and has really looked forward to it.  However she handled it great - better than me.  :)
3.  Sadie has been fun to watch this season.  She's not the fastest or strangest but she gets in there and hustles and is consistently in the right spot and gives great passes.  She has had a lot of assists this season.  I have a lot to learn from her about sports and life.
4.  It has been fun to watch Rylie's season evolve.  I was frustrated with her playing time at the very first of the season but by the end of the season she was playing the entire game rotating between left defender and middle defender.  Way fun to watch her play all game.

October 18, 2016

What would I do without my Rylie?  She's just so great.  One of my favorite things to do is watch movies with her.  We definitely don't do it enough. 

We celebrated her birthday with a movie and bowling and a caramel apple and fries and a shake.  Hannah Wilcox decorated her room and it was so cute and fun and birthday-like.

I asked her some things she really likes now at 14.  She said - movies (especially super hero movies), Zupas, fruit, board games and card games and outside games like Cornhole and backyard volleyball and kickball, break rolls, The Flash TV series, and road trips (the driving part).

October 13, 2016

At the Mt. Timpanogos temple today a worker shared with me that today is the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Timp Temple. 

October 12, 2016

Fantastic fall hike to Silver Lake.  The yellow reflection in the lake was so cool.

October 10, 2016

The Red Sox lost so they're out of the playoffs.  We took some tissue over to the Algers to dry their eyes.  :)

October 9, 2016

I know that my Redeemer lives!

October 8, 2016

Beautiful fall day.  We spent it at a couple of soccer games.  Sadie played so good.  She had two awesome assists out of their three goals.  It was fun watching her play hard and work hard and see some results.  And Ry has fallen into the roll of permanent defender.  Fun, I know.

October 7, 2016

Happy Cam's bday!  That girl is so great.  Funny, kind, grateful, talented, thoughtful, and keeps perspective.  She said some of her favorites are - The Old Spaghetti Factory, soccer, doing crafts, drawing with sayings, Kung Fu Panda, jumping on the tramp, blue (turquoise) and purple, and friends.

October 6, 2016

Great hike today.  I don't know why but I sure like the second hamongog above Alpine.  It's a 3.5 mile 2700 foot elevation gain to get there but I enjoy it after I've made it. 

October 5, 2016

"We can know some things without knowing all things."  Brother Neuenschwander. 
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dennis-b-neuenschwander_knowing-believe-believing-know/

October 2, 2016

Sometimes it pays to be old because you want to take the scenic drive and then you come upon the most amazing display of fall by some aspens that you've ever seen.  Hwy 14 was so cool with the yellows and oranges and lava fields. 

October 1, 2016

I do like Zion.  Observation Point hike has been on the top of my hikes I want to do list for awhile and now it has been checked off the list.  It was amazing and hard and did not disappoint. 

September 30, 2016

Awesome day with D and Cedar City and Kolob and Taylor Creek and such a cool hike and clear water and walking in the stream and huge orange rock walls and not an arch.  Don't forget to bring your hiking shoes after checking into the motel or you might have to drive 20 minutes back to get them.  :)

September 28, 2016

You can't beat a sunny fall day hiking in the mountains amid the yellow trees and seeing 3 moose and a pine cone eating squirrel.

Septembe 27, 2016

Joke of the day from Sadie - What do you call a pile of cats?  A meow-tain.  Ha ha!

September 26, 2016

Yea that the boys have a volleyball net to play on.  They're hilarious.

September 24, 2016

It was hard not watching Cam be able to play in her game today - darn knee injury.  But we had an awesome night with us girls watching the General Women's Meeting.  There was such a great spirit while we watched.  It was a great meeting.

D is with M, Giff, and Muff in Zion hiking the Narrows.

September 23, 2016

Just what I needed - a hangout with Cam tonight.  Panda Express picnic on the living room floor (Ry joined us for that part) and a movie (Kung Fu Panda 3) with blankets and pillows and hanging with my eleven year old on a rainy, cool, fall Friday night.  Love it.

September 22, 2016

BYU soccer game night.  We saw some goals (4 - all from BYU), some rain, and some lightning.  Thanks to the lightning there was a delay so we headed home at half time thanks to already seeing a games worth of scoring.

September 21, 2016

That moment when your son comes up for a snack and is humming High School Musical. :)

September 19, 2016

Listened to such a great talk at work today that Kelly sent me.  It was Elder Eyring talking about crops that take longer to reap but we still need to put the effort in and see the little beauties as we wait to reap what we've sown.  ("A Law of Increasing Returns")

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/henry-b-eyring_law-increasing-returns%e2%80%a9/

September 18, 2016

Good and beautiful fall Sunday evening with the family playing Cornhole and Spikeball and enjoying the kids company.

September 17, 2016

Two funny things tonight.  1.  When we were playing vball against the boys and for three games straight we had the score 23-19.  As in Monsters Inc, "We have a 23-19!"  (By the way, WAY fun with me, R, K, & T vs. M, Giff, Muff, and Clay.)  2.  When Cam said, "Rylie is being as quiet as corn." Quiet as corn? Bwahaha!

September 14, 2016

I love hiking after a rain storm.

September 12, 2016

After watching  Mormon Message, Cam summed it up by saying, "You don't have to win - to win."  So true.  You don't have to come in first place to have succeeded.

September 11, 2016

Great article - https://www.lds.org/blog/sitting-in-the-space-of-not-knowing?lang=eng

"As much as we want Him to, God does not always give us neat explanations that tie up in a bow.  He is His own interpreter; He reveals Himself in His own way and in His own time, line upon line."

Also a great quote from President Monson, "Life was never intended to consist of a glut of luxury, be an easy course, or filled only with success.  There are those games which we lose, those races in which we finish last, and those promotions which never come.  Such experiences provide an opportunity for us to show our determination and to rise above disappointment."  (April 1989 GC)

September 10, 2016

My favorite kind of date today.  Hiking followed by dinner followed by some movie watching.

September 9, 2016

"I feel like pleading with my brethren and sisters to set their faces firmly to the front and decide to enjoy the blessings with which our Father has blessed us. 
"There are seed of happiness planted in every human soul.  Our mental attitude and disposition constitute the environment in which these seeds may germinate.  There is as much need for sunshine in the heart as for sunshine in the world.  Today as perhaps never before mankind needs encouragement and cheer. 
"It is a duty to seek to acquire the art of being cheerful..."
David O McKay
Just like Lorien mentioned yesterday - if we would have noticed and talked about some things we liked about the Mt. Aire hike instead of talk about what we didn't like, we probably would have had a different experience.

September 8, 2016

Good day with time spent in Provo.  Hiked Squaw Peak that was cool with some red fall leaves and a work out to get to the top that felt like an accomplishment.  And Lorien taught me a new word - accoutrement.  Fun, I know.  Then this evening it was back to Provo for a BYU soccer game.  I do like college sports.  Had a good time with D and Ry and Sadie.  "Don't ruin my pizza night tomorrow!"

September 5, 2016

Such a good, relaxing, stress free, enjoyable day.  There was:
Playing cards.  The Blind Side.  Walk to the temple and to the ducks.  Seeing the view south from the Randall's house - it's so pretty.  Squishy mattress sleeping (makes for good memories).  Cornhole/Bocce at the quad (I loved this). Walking around campus.  Acorn playing and tossing (remember Mason's tossing and Cam's stacking acorn tops).  Morty's for lunch (best sweet potato fries).  Mini golf fun.  Aggie ice cream.

September 3, 2016

My expectations are just not realized sometimes.  I had a vision of D and I hiking with the girls happily as they skipped to Cassidy Arch where we would sit and chat and eat our lunch while gazing upon the beauty of Capitol Reef.  What happened was two girls (1 wouldn't even come) crying and complaining most of the hike up only to make it to the arch where we sat down to eat smashed sandwiches with wind blowing sand in our eyes.  I really need to not have expectations.  On the bright side, we had a great hike back down and once back int he wash we totally enjoyed climbing in the rocks and finding cool mud stuff.

September 2, 2016

This summer we enjoyed looking at clouds and finding different shapes.  Today we found a Syd the Sloth while driving to Richfield.

August 31, 2016

That moment when you have to call the 13 year old in to help the 9 year old with her homework because you're not sure you're helping her correctly.

August 30, 2016

Mason was so funny tonight at about 9:30.  He was hilarious with his soccer ball and his funniness.  He had me laughing and it was a great 20 minutes.

August 29, 2016

The backdrop tonight for Ry's soccer game made me sigh.  It was so pretty.  Thank you North Lake Park. 

August 27, 2016

Such a beautiful evening to watch Ry play soccer.  She played in Ephraim which is a place that is dear to my heart and the weather was amazing.  Warm but with a slight breeze to make it a little cool.

August 26, 2016

If Ry is bored enough she'll humor me and play Dr. Mario with me.  Also she has picked up the ukulele and it's so cool.

August 25, 2016

I'm still thinking about the fun hike yesterday up AF Canyon.  Quakies were cool and coming upon a view of Timp as we rounded a corner was even cooler. 

I usually don't like hiking with a ton of people, but it was good to see all these ladies after not hiking with them this summer.  We called it our back to school hike and it was a hit.  And it was a new trail to me - Lame Horse - which was fun.  And not lame.

August 24, 2016

The boys are back!  I felt like listening to Troy sing from High School Musical as Muff rejoined the group after being out of the country for six months.

August 23, 2016

"This is a noisy and busy world that we live in...if we are not careful, the things of this world can crowd out the things of the Spirit."  - Joseph B Wirthlin

August 22, 2016

Back to school was a success.  The hardest part was Cam trying to figure out how to do her hair.  D gave the kids blessing tonight - what a good experience.  Mason was blessed to find a subject he enjoys and prepare for a mission.  Ry was blessed to find good friends.  Cam was blessed to be extra kind to those who need it.  Sadie was blessed to work hard at school and keep helping at home. 

(Mason was still sleeping during this picture since his early class doesn't start until tomorrow.  And really - he would not have wanted to be in a picture.)

August 19, 2016

I don't want summer to end.  I need a few more wildflowers to enjoy, a few more lakes to relax at, a few more meadows of green to visit, a few more waves to jump over, a few more campfires, a few more snow cones, a few more times rowing the kayak, a few more homework-less evenings, a few more mornings where it takes a minute to figure out what day it is, a few more sleepless nights in a tent.

August 16, 2016

Crazy afternoon with my mom's heart rate dropping. However I loved that Rylie would road trip with me for 4 hours to Richfield and back (for stuff for my parents to then stay in the hospital.)  Although we decided if we were going to drive 4 hours we would rather go to Moab.  :)

August 14, 2016

Such a good Sunday.  My primary class even went OK.  Then it was lots of family time and even some relaxation.  There were games that even included K and T.  (Cover Your Assets and Fence Golf.)  Also lots of coloring and creating by my girls.  When Rylie said, "Mom!  Cam is hiding in the bathroom and locked the door so she doesn't have to share the popcorn." There was laughter from me instead of frustration.  :)

August 12, 2016

How was this the first time I have gotten a snow cone this summer?  Cam, Sade and I enjoyed our summer goodness.  We also crossed the last thing off the list on Cam's summer bucket list.  It was one of the best summer bucket lists I've seen.

August 11, 2016

I love doing mom/kid camping with the Kings.  So fun.  Sitting in their tent playing games while it rains will be a good memory for me.  And then we were greeted to a rainbow. 

Other fun things - playing "I'm going to the moon and I'm bringing...", playing paddle ball, hike to Scout Falls, chilling with Sadie in the tent, canvas painting, and throwing rocks in the water trying to get Garrett wet. 

August 8, 2016

Finally finished Mockingjay Part 2 with Rylie.  It took us 2 1/2 weeks to watch the 4 Hunger Games movies.  Rylie loves her movies and I love watching movies with her.

August 6, 2016

Yuba came through for a great play day.  Kayaking, swimming, sand castle building, the diving game, paddle ball, and more.  Fun, I know.  It was a great way to spend a summer Saturday.

August 5, 2016

D+A.  22 years.  It's official - I've been a Draper longer than I was a Christensen.  Also official - Uinta green is my new favorite color.

August 4, 2016

D is loving his chess game on his phone.

August 3, 2016

Finally got the Draper/Murphy/Covili camping in the books.  I do love camping with my girls - especially when Sadie sleeps in the back of the pilot with me.  We had such good conversation from 10-11:00pm.

August 2, 2016

Kenz via Instagram - President Hinckley, "Marriage is beautiful when beauty is looked for and cultivated."  (With a picture of flowers and a lake.)  Love that girl.

August 1, 2016

Just a lame day.

July 30, 2016

I thought Deer Creek was not the best choice for kayaking as it was rocky and windy and there were so many people and then the girls said how much fun they had and they loved playing in the lake and kayaking with big waves so apparently it was good enough.

July 29, 2016

So sad the Draper vacation is over.  How I love being with my family.  Even in a hot condo an hour away from home. 

July 28, 2016

Awesome couple of hours at a Park City park.  Volleyball on an awesome sand court, kickball with a flat ball after it popped in the bottom half of the first inning, and the most epic game of Draper soccer.  Team boys and Sadie vs. team girls.  I can't wait for round two!

July 27, 2016

Uinta vacation day today.  Kayaking on a beautiful mountain lake is, well, beautiful.  Hole in the wall Mexican place in Kamas was delicious.  Best chimichanga I think I've ever had. 

July 26, 2016

Snowbird was way fun and it was a great first full day of the D Draper family vacation.  Apparently Sadie is a rock climber.  Watching Mason and Tanner have a rock climbing race made me smile.  As did watching Mason and Camrie on the coaster.  Tony Burgers came through for dinner with amazing shakes.

July 23, 2016

Cam has wanted to see fireworks this year and since we didn't get to on the 4th we told her we'd take her to a Bees game when they had fireworks.  Funny thing - the game went forever (12 innings) which made waiting for fireworks even longer.  Then they finally started and we were in seats that had an overhang and couldn't see all the fireworks.  At least Sadie was a little better without seeing them all because she let me know every 10 minutes that she doesn't like fireworks.  (I believe her as the tears and plugged ears and fast heartbeat came.)

July 21, 2016

It's hard not being partly in charge of Rylie's soccer team.  Let it go...

July 18, 2016

Sadie got hiker of the day as she rocked it and even enjoyed hiking above Cecret Lake while we were camping there.  And we are awesome at 24 hour camping.  Next time I call no flies.

July 16, 2016

Today's hike - one marmot, two moose, three lakes, lot of flowers, and a gazillion people.  I guess that's what we get for hiking on a Saturday.  (We went to Lake Catherine.)