Some more Howell kids

Brayden 5 months
Kent, Tori, Austin & Brayden
Austin, almost 3
Taylor( 2 months) I just got back from Cleveland and had a wonderful time with my grandkids.

yes I am partial, but they are beautiful!! 

Taylor Howell at 2 months

Isn't she cute? She now weighs in at 13lb 8 oz . She is a big girl and very smiley.

Little Bridger Danen Bateman

Hello everyone! I finally found a computer and I thought that I would share a couple pictures of our new little addition to our family. He is such a good boy so far and we are loving every minute of it! Bridger is very lucky to have such a great family around him! Thanks to everyone for being a part of it and always being so supportive of everything! We love you all!

Coyote Gulch 2006 - Update

Well, we had a great back-packing trip this past weekend. My dad, myself, Kenzie and Mason went down to Coyote Gulch in Southern Utah. It was a great trip with tons of frogs, lizards, and fun.



Here's a link to a photo gallery of the pictures I took.

Here's a link to a panoramic view of the canyon (really cool - click and drag inside the picture to view 360).

Backpacking

Some of the Drapers went backpacking, some of them didn't. Here's a picture of the ones that did. :)

I have a career!!!

I would just like to let everyone know that I finally have a career (even though I don't officially start it until about August). I accepted a teaching job at Clinton Elementary. I will be teaching in their functional skills classroom with students with severe disabilities. I am very excited to finally, after 51/2 years of college, be a teacher!!!

Please go see this movie!

I realize this movie is not in Utah, or Oklahoma, or Kansas, or Wyoming, or Ohio, or Colorado, or even Lehi yet...but, please watch for it. We went to a sold out showing yesterday (opening day) and it received a standing ovation and lots of clapping throughout the movie. The movie is incredibly powerful and incredibly important. Everyone should see it. And don't think I'm trying to lead you down a path of more liberal politics (even though I'd like to) the movie is not political at all. It is an incredible look at Al Gore's struggle to bring global warming into the world's conciousness. The movie is very startling and the facts as they are laid out are mind blowing. Watch for it to come to your city. And then go see it with your entire neighborhood. It's very worth it. You can view the trailer and learn more about it here. Peace out.

B-R-A-Y-D-E-N.

First I get an announcement telling me you're graduating from High School (apparently they let 14 year olds graduate these days), now today is your birthday which means you must be 15. I know it's a little difficult to keep up with the growth charts of all the nieces and nephews, but this is crazy. Could you possibly be EIGHTEEN? No. Not possible. Oh well...however old you are I hope you have a great day. We love you Brayden.

I thought i would just let everyone know that Sarah Cooley and I are officially engaged as of last night. We are so excited and have decided to get married on September 6th in the Salt Lake Temple. Sarah is so excited to finally join the elite club of the Denny's!!!

Ryan the Realtor

Congratulations Ryan for passing the Real Estate exam and the State exam! Ryan has been going to the U full time, working full time and going to Real Estate school full time. WHEW!! Does anyone need a realtor? We love you!

Bec & Jack-Jack

Tis the Season

Bring on the watermelon and BBQs in Kalyn's back yard.

A Letter From Elder Ostler

Here is a note from Andrew. We talked to him on Mother's Day and he sounded fantastic. He even sang to us. He loves what he is doing.

>>Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 14:22:39 -0400>>Dear Mom and Dad,>We are allowed to send an e-mail this week because of Mother's Day, in case we need to send you anything about if we got transferred.>Anyway, don't worry about me, I didn't get transferred, and am going to be here in Olean for another 6 weeks. That will make seven and a half months. The reason that President Francis is keeping me here is because he wants me to have a baptism before he moves me somewhere else. Elder Gochis and I hope to have a baptism before the end of this transfer. There are a few prospects that we are working with. The most promising one right now is Ryen Willis, a member referral. He is the grandson of a member in the branch. The only thing is that he is hard to get a hold of. We have also been finding more people, and we are persistently trying to follow up, and I think if we continue to try diligently, we will find someone that will accept the gospel and be baptized.I am thankful for such a wonderful family that I am glad to be a part of. It is good to hear all of the news about everyone, and it sounds like the family is being blessed. Seeing so many different family situations out here, I am always in awe at how blessed I have been to be raised by two wonderful, loving parents, with seven other brothers and sisters.>I am trying to serve the Lord as best I can, and I love bearing testimony of things that I know to be true. Finding just one person that is genuinely interested and really wants to learn about the gospel and change their life for the better makes it all worth it. In the past six months, I have taught many people the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every time I teach it, I feel the spirit of God reaffirm the truth of it unto me. I love the Holy Ghost, and I know that it truly does bear witness of the truth, because I have felt it witness to me many times. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the earth. I know that a man will get nearer to God by reading the Book of Mormon, and abiding by it's precepts, than by any other book. I know that, because I have read it for myself, and I feel the spirit as I share it with others. Remember that sincere prayer and diligent scripture study will help you out in life. I hope you all strive to become closer to God each day. I can't wait to talk to all of you on Mother's Day. Who knows, I might even sing a song over the phone for you if you're good! I love all of you, and hope you all have a great week.>>Love,>Elder Ostler

Bridger Bateman

Cute little guy.....

NEW ADDRESS...WE'VE MOVED!

The Kynaston family of McPherson Kansas have a new residence....change your address books if you have one!

Brian, Emily, Taylor, Jessie, Lexi, and Kelcie Kynaston
1102 Cobblestone Ct.
McPherson, KS 67460

(620)241-4647

There's a birthday in Oklahoma.

Well that narrows it down doesn't it? Happy happy Birthday Tim! I'm not sure what people do to celebrate birthdays in Oklahoma, but whatever it is I hope it includes lots of fun, lots of your favorite foods, and a few presents to open. And I think having your sisters wait on you is also a pretty good idea. We love you Tim.

Happy Birthday Aly Klug.

I certainly hope that along with keeping one of the biggest banks in the world running that you stop today to eat some cake, maybe take a really long lunch, and open a few presents. On second thought, calling in sick is in order. Happy Birthday Aly. We love you.

Grandkids are Great!!

Here are the fabulous four!!

My Wonderful Mother

I love you Mother! What a great example you were and are to me daily. I only wish I could give you a big hug. I visited your grave and left a few flowers there--sorry they were not daisys--but they were left with love and rememberance of all you taught me. This red writing is for the apples you loved so much.
Pam

Bridger Danen Bateman!

Heather had her baby on Saturday, May 13! He weighed a whoppin' 8lbs. 12oz. and was 21" long! Pictures will be posted soon!!

I love you Mom.

I thought it would be fun for Mother's Day to have everyone (all 100 or so of us) add a baby/kid picture of themselves. Nothing could make a Mother's heart melt more than seeing pictures of all her babies as kids or babies. If you've got a baby/kid picture you can upload this is a great day to share it. I for one can't wait to see them. I love you mom. (And I'm saying that while sucking my lip.)

Thanks Mother.

Today I'm thinking about our wonderful Mother and all the wonderful Mothers in the family. Have a blessed day. Because you've all surely blessed our lives. We love you Mothers.

Life is great

Just a quick check-in to let you all know that life is great at the Draper home.

D

South Pasedena Track Meet.

Gunther and Hannah both made flames shoot out of their shoes at the South Pasadena Citywide track meet. Hannah took first place (running the last leg) of the fifth grade girl relay and Gunther is the fastest first grader in South Pasadena (he was a good twenty five yards ahead of everybody else). They were both excited. Nice job track stars.

We were on the news!

A couple of Saturdays ago we went to an interesting event. Perhaps some of you heard about it. (It took place in 130 places across the world.) It was called "The Night Commute" and it was to raise awareness about the plight of young children in Northern Sudan. You can learn more about it here. The civil war in that country is creating victims out of the youngest and most helpless of all: the children. During the night the rebel army kidnaps the children from the villages forcing them to join the army and become killers (and many themselves are killed) when they're only 4 and 5 years old. The small girls are abused and many killed. To protect themselves, the children they must walk every night up to five miles to "protective cages" where they spend the night. Children as small as two years old make this "night commute" every night and then return to their village in the morning. We walked to the grounds of City Hall in Santa Monica where about three thousand people spent the night writing letters to Government letters and sleeping on the lawn. (We didn't sleep over, but just spent several hours participating.) We got interviewed and were on the news that night. It was a nice way to help Gunther and Hannah know about and be a cause for good in world events.
PS: earlier that same day we took G&H to hear Lech Welesa speak at a Polish Festival in Santa Monica . Lech created and led the Solidarity Union to victory in Poland defeating the communist party in 1989. He won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in making Poland free. Quite a historical day of world events we had.

Two New Additions at the Willey's

KRISTEN'S NEW CAR!! Happy speeding tickets?? Just kidding!





Yea!! We got a trailer----HAPPY CAMPING!!

WE ARE MISSING THE MEME!!!!

Hey Val,

I'm thinking you need to call Vida and tell her to answer or choose someone else! We're missing this fun family connection! THANKS!!!!!

xoxoxoxo- Lisa

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORGAN & LAUREN!!

A BIG HAPPY #2 BIRTHDAY TO TWO SWEETHEARTS---twice as exciting, twice as fun, twice as busy.
Grandma and Grandpa love you! Have a fun day!

Twice the cake.

Let's have cake today. But, let's make it twice the size of normal. Let's open presents today. But, let's open twice as many. Let's blow up balloons today. But, let's blow up twice the amount. Let's sing happy birthday today. But, let's sing it all the way through twice. Let's open presents today. But, let's open twice the presents. Let's say Happy Birthday. But, let's say it twice: Happy Happy Birthday Birthday Kate and Benjamin. We love you.

Change in plans

Garrett and Jane have decided to bless Taylor on another weekend. I think it was just not working out for them for many reasons, one of which is that this weekend is graduation for UW and there are no motel rooms available within 100 miles of Laramie making it hard for them and everyone wanting to attend.

I will let you all know asap when the new date is in case you are interested in coming.

Thanks for the love and support.

Love you, Janet

Taylor's blessing day

Garrett and Jane will be blessing Taylor this Sunday (May 7th) at 8 (yes I typed 8) am. Sacrament meeting is first so it will start at 8 am. Sorry I know that it is very early. It will be at their ward in Laramie and we wanted you all to know that you are invited to attend if you feel like a road trip. We would love to see you all. I will provide further info as soon as I have it. We will also be having lunch together to celebrate about noon. Hope some of you can make it, but we know that it is quite a distance.


Love you.... Janet


This is a preview picture of Taylor in her blessing dress we took last weekend at Jon's Graduation in Sheridan after we attended Andrea and Eddie's graduation the same weekend in Provo! It was a long and travel filled weekend and well worth every minute and every mile to attend both. Isn't she gorgeous?

We think so...Come on down and see her in the dress in person. :)

Hugs...

New Graduates!!!

Andrea and Eddie graduated from BYU last weekend adn it was wonderful to be there. We are so very proud of them both! I thought you all might like to see a few shots of the happy grads.

CONGRATULATIONS E & E!!!!!