Baby Dolls and Cress Creek Trail

Taking advantage of the few nice days here in Rexburg :) Ty had to take a test in the morning, so while we waited for him to get back the boys played outside. This is what Tyler came home too... Pyper was asleep so they had to use a doll but then they both needed to have there own. After watching them with the strollers I am sure glad that Pyper wasn't in them. They are great big brother's and love pretending.

 Once Ty got home we packed up and headed out. We have been to this trail a few times and we really love it, part of it is paved and it's about a mile in half, perfect for little ones. I am pretty sure they ran the first half of it, Ty and I were running to keep up. We had to stop at all the information board's along the way. Once we reached the top we sat down and had a little picnic. Pyper loved being in the backpack and talked the whole time. Landon loved to go exploring OFF the trail and would even hide in bushes and down steep hills so that we couldn't find him. He would pop out and scare us, he thought it was pretty funny. On the way down Cohen got a bit tired so he sat down and relaxed for a minute. Then he got right back up and was off running to catch Landon. Tyler loves to go for drives, look @ deer, so while in that area, after our hike, we did just that. Because the kids did so great we couldn't resist stopping for some soft serve ice cream cones. We ended up finishing out the night at Stu and Lindsey's where we got to meet there new puppy, have a BBQ and make some paper masks. They were all asleep by the time we got home, long day. Such a fun day! Can't wait for summer when these days will become more regular.  I LOVE MY FAMILY!

Cookie Monsters, Snow Much Fun, and Night Time Activities

Since we couldn't choose just one cookie to make we chose 3 and they are all MY favorites :) Snicker doodles, Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip...YUMMY!!! The boys had lots of fun helping and trying the different kinds. Cohen had fun in the flour and Landon is an egg-spert at cracking eggs! When I went back through the pictures I found Landon posing with the pouty face in more then just this one...this boys trouble haha.

SNOW MUCH FUN!!! We finally got a little snow on the ground so the boys went outside, yes without a coat (where are their parents!). They thought it was fun to drive their power wheels toy around in the snow and they even thought it was fun to ride their bikes...until...Landon's bike fell on him. He told Ty that he got in a fight with a kid at school, he won, and you should see the other kid :) Pyper stayed warm inside with mom!

This is what we do at night time. Rather then try and get them to settle down and read books we let them jump off furniture haha. We were playing with the camera and Landon loves getting his picture taken so we did some fun action shot of them jumping in the air. 

This was just yesterday...right?!?

He started with smiles, then to coo's, laughs and giggling, rolling, crawling, walking and quickly to running. First came dad then mom :) followed by dog, ball, hi and bye. Now where do I begin, then it was one thing to the next now it's all over the place... Learning his letters, the sounds they make..then to his numbers (don't forget the Spanish version to), writing his name and the rest of the alphabet, learning to tie his shoes, ride a bike with no training wheels, swimming without floaties and so much more....I can't even keep up :) I am so proud of him!

Pyper, We love you...

Pyper Ann Draper born June 14th, 2011 @ 9:08 PM. Weighing in at 6 lbs. 14 ounces and measuring 19 inches long.
7 Days: 7.1 lbs and 19.5 in.
14 Days: 7.5 lbs and 22 in.
8 Wks: 10.6 lbs and 22.8 in.
4 Months: 13.2 lbs and 25 in.
6 Months 14.7 lbs and 26 in.

When I found out I was having a little girl I was ecstatic, I love boys but I was ready for a girl :) I was definitely scared, girls are different then boys, right? :) Who would have known though how perfect you would turn out. The labor went smooth, you were healthy and beautiful with a full head of brown hair and blue eyes. It truly is a miracle and you have been a huge blessing in our life ever since. The boys of course welcomed you with lots of hugs and kisses, so happy to have a little sister. Landon was and still is the best oldest brother ever. Always making sure your safe, comforting you when your sad, keeping you away from Cohen :), quick to help with anything, wanting to be part of every milestone, fights mom for cuddle time, loves playing house with you, making you laugh, wrestling with you and teaching you new things. Cohen also loves having a little baby in the house, he has a big heart and only wants the best but at times doesn't understand the word "gentle." He also likes to wrestle, take horsey rides, try to carry you and cover you with blankets and pillows "your fort." He makes sure though that you are always out of harms way and that nothing around you is small enough for you to choke on. Between both your brothers you will always have someone looking out for you, you will probably always get your way, you will be tougher because of them. You have them and your father wrapped around your fingers..maybe me a bit too, hahaha. From the day you were born you were ready to play with the boys, very alert, active and full of personality.

September 11th, 2011 you were blessed by Tyler A. Draper @ the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Your dad did a great job with his blessing and you had many friends and family there to stand in the circle including, your uncle Aaron, Travi, and Stu Stu, Great Grandpa Jones, Great Uncle Rod,  and 2nd Cousin Josh (or something like that).. he can be your uncle too haha. Lots of love and support  from family and friends. Words can't describe how amazing you looked and how much love your dad and I have for you!

At 5.5 months you started eating solids/baby food and ever since then, there is really nothing you wont eat. Your favorite is anything we are eating or anything you can feed yourself :)

At about 6.5 months you were trying to figure out the whole crawling thing. 

At 7.5 months you were crawling all over the place.

And once you were crawling you wasted no time at climbing on anything and everything. You are not content to sit and play on the ground, you will usually take off for the stairs or anything else around to stand against. 

Pyper we all love you so very much and are excited to be part of this amazing journey with you. You will grow to be one amazing girl/women. So proud to call you our daughter! <3

Winter Water Park...

One of my kids favorite things to do in the winter ,when it's snowing, is to get all bundled up and go play at the park. They love the splash park more in the winter time then in the summer. They could have played for hours but I bribed them with  hot chocolate when we got home, YUMMY!  :) 

Choose The Right!

For FHE we made homemade pretzels and shaped them into the letters CTR which stands for Choose the Right. Along with it the kids got CTR rings so they have a constant reminder. Such a valuable thing to instill in your children at their young of age.

I took this message from a talk by elder L. Tom Perry:
"I hope and pray that you great young people of the church will have the courage to constantly choose the right! Moreover, I suggest that each of you find or create reminders to help you and your loved ones choose the right when a choice is place before you. There is power in a tie tack, a CTR ring, or a white dress hanging in the closet if we associate them with our desires of purity and righteousness. Even more important than physical reminders is to have the conviction deep down in our hearts to live the kind of life that will cause us to make the choices, not only for peace and happiness in the world right now, but also for peace and happiness eternally."

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of god."

My Testimony...

I am not someone who can get up wherever and whenever and just share my testimony, someone pretty much has to put me on the spot to do it. I am not proud of this, but I am trying to be better at it and I even made it one of my new years resolutions. So guess who stood up the first fast and testimony meeting in church? Yes your right I DID! I don't know what I said or even if it made sense but I did it! My face was red, my voice was shaky, palms sweaty..said um and like every other word but I did it. Even typing this is getting me nervous hahaha. I want my children, my husband, my family and my friends though to know that I have a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...I might not vocalize it all the time but hopefully I show it in my actions. The week after I bore my testimony my visiting teachers came over and instead of teaching a lesson they asked me to bear my testimony hahaha I think someone above is getting me back for all the opportunities I missed out on. So here I go a 3rd time so far this year.
I have been so blessed throughout my life, I was raised by wonderful parents who have been strong examples to me through every aspect of my life. I have 2 amazing brothers that have played a role in who I am today and they have married great wives. I have married a wonderful man and with that I couldn't ask for better in-laws. Now I have 3 of the greatest kids. The path that has brought me here has not been perfect and I am no where close to being perfect now..I still have a lot to work on but where I am at now... I am happy, our family is happy. I/We couldn't have done it though without the knowledge I have now, the knowledge of heavenly father's plan for us, the knowledge of temples and eternity, the knowledge of the gospel, the knowledge that through everything my family loves me and will always be there, that heavenly father loves me even though sometimes you wonder why he is putting you in tough situations, and the church loves me. Like I just said heavenly father doesn't always make like perfect for you, you will face trials and from them you learn and grow. Tyler and I have gone through trials and we couldn't have got through them alone. I am sure we will face many more to come but because we have faith we WILL get through them together. I have a testimony in temples and that families can be together for eternity. Through that I strive to better mom, wife and daughter. When it comes down to it worldly things don't matter... it's what you learn, what you do for others, who you strive to become, that you can take with you. I have faith that all I know to be true, that Jesus Christ suffered for us, so that if we make mistakes we can repent and be forgiven for them. That president Monson is our prophet and what he says and does come from and our inspired from heavenly father. That temples can seal a family together for eternity and that after I pass I will see my family again. I still have so much to learn and my faith and testimony can only grow from here. I want my children to know of my testimony and faith. I want to teach and show them, lead by example so that one day they can share their testimony with others. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Start of Something Great!

WooHoo! I am finally a blogger, hahaha! I have been wanting to do this for years now but always had an excuse like, why a blog I live by everyone I know :), or lost the camera so can't upload pictures, need adobe Photoshop to add fun things, need a new laptop or it's so overwhelming where do I start. Well this was my new years resolution all the above excuses no longer work anymore. I am just going to take it day by day do some recent posts and catch up on the old. I am most excited about all the old stuff, it will be fun to look back and see how much everyone has changed and all the great memories made. Well I am no pro at this but will try very hard not only to keep you updated but for me as well. Thank you for visiting and check back often! :b