Elder Cothran-Draper

Our nephew Bryan flew to Utah from Texas on Monday and entered the MTC today to serve in the Riverside, CA mission. It was such a privilege to have him in our home for the last few hours before his mission. Uncle Aaron made it a point to wake him up early and show him a few key principles he might need to know in Cali. He had some good serious times and had some time to just hang out before serving the Lord for 2 years!He would put on ring tones for Halle and she would hold his phone and dance. So cute! When we got Bryan on Monday, he was so tired!

Aaron had some good flashbacks with how to pack your shirts just right (on the hangers and all) to how to put on your badge one handed. Bryan had kept this badge from after Aaron's mission all of these years. Perfect for pictures.

Oma (grandma Draper) helped him by hemming his suit pants just in the nick of time! She was so sweet and was sooo helpful! (and so cute!)

Here he is all handsomed-up in his suit. Kim... be proud.

He looked so good in his suit!

Halle just LOVED Bryan (but what kid doesn't?)

We told Bryan that this was his last kiss before his mission with a beautiful girl.

Bryan's camera came in the mail literally 5 minutes before we walked out the door. So instead of the nice, sit down meal we had planned, he opted for Burger King.
Yum Yum.

We got to the MTC and were ushered in by traffic helpers. There was a line up of cars and a huge line up of missionaries with a tag that said 'HOST, New Missionaries.' The van had barely stopped when an elder opened the door and started taking out Bryan's luggage. These were the Elders at our station.

We had time for one hug... (Bryan told Aaron, Now I'm excited!)

Then this Elder in front of Bryan just started walking away and Bryan was following. I yelled stop! I need pictures!

And then he was gone! Gone are the days of the sit down goodbyes. We seriously barely turned off the car.

Heavenly Father will bestow Power, Love and Protection upon his faithful sons.

(from the blessing Aaron gave him this morning)

Have a great mission Bryan. Thanks for being such a wonderful example to all of the cousins. We love you!

Halle Grace is 7, no 8 months old!

My sweet baby Halle is now 8 months old! I cannot believe how quickly that went by. She has grown so much in the last 3 months. Crawling everywhere, cruising furniture, she has 2 teeth on top and 2 on the bottom. She laughs all the time and loves to crack up at her siblings running past. She just got into the 'stranger' phase where she always wants mom. Life would not be the same without this baby girl.
I'm too big to be in a basket!

Soooo funny!

Yes! Standing!!! She has been standing since she was barely 8 months. It doesn't last long, but she would rather walk with your finger than crawl these days.

Oh, the sweet pointing chubby hands

Aren't those the cutest baby shoes ever! (from baby GAP, thanks auntie Jenna:)

Everything is funny to Halle. She will crawl to the top of the stairs and just laugh. You funny baby!

I love the teeth grin Sooo big and sooo cute! Love this girl!

One big item to check off the bucket list

I did it! I really, truly did it! I ran a Marathon! 26.2 miles.

This is me right after coming through the finish line. All I wanted to do was bury my head in Aaron's shoulder and cry. I hit my "wall" at 21 miles. I truly did not think I could go any further and I still had 5 miles left. When I hit 13.1 I was at 1 hour, 50 min. I finished 26.2 in 4 hours, 18 minutes. It was the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. Thanks Ashton's for letting us stay with you! My cousin Sacha has been training with me for 5 months. I could not have done it without her!
Are we there yet? 26.2 on our shirts.
It was crazy and I am crazy sore. I'm glad I did it but I will never do another one.
Marathon by 30....check. Sacha made us famous with her story... www.triathletesedge.com/run/my-fist-marathon.com/

Done and DONE!

First Day of School 2010

Happy 1st day of School! Ammon started Kindergarten and Alana started 3rd grade! Mac is just happy to be there :)

And now... let the wild rumpus begin!

That is more like it!

Thanks to our Auntie Catherine for the fabulous shots! and thanks for the whirlwind trip. We loved having you here!

The reunion of all reunions

Ok, this is the LONGEST blog post EVER! But seriously we just had the reunion of all reunions. It all started on July 13 when Anna flew in from Germany. Jenna just went home today. But we had soooo much fun with everyone! Only keep looking if you really care. 'cause it really does just keep going and going and going and going......(you get the point) Grandpa Johnnie putting our baby girl to sleep

Cousins party at the Cothran's!

Adorable Savannah playing with Halle

Anna and her Adorable Baby Bella. Bella was always singing, dancing and entertaining everyone.

The 2 Froot Loops themselves. (Look at even Grama's Earrings and ring!)

The cute Margie and Jakey :)

Froot Loop Neckalace day Shopping with the daddies

Playing dress up at Auntie Liza's house
Eleanor, Mac, Margie, Lizzie and Ammon

so sweet! Garrett rocked Halle to sleep

Love this shot! Grama Annie is reading stories to kiddos. Look at Ethan, Jakey and Mac. The 3 3-year-olds! Halle's special cousin Eleanor.

Cute kiddos swinging the much loved Halle

Grama Annie watching a movie with a lot of grandkids!

Auntie Jenna giving loves to Halle

Grandpa Johnnie Rocking Halle to sleep on the hammock

cousins!

Grandpa Johnnie and Beckham

The "big" kids hangin' out in the trailer

Bella crawling like Halle

Most of us took a hike up to the meadow

The Cothran fam

Grandpa Johnnie

This is the most blissful Alana picture.

The chaos of orange slices and pretzels when we reached the meadow

My hot Aaron man :) with Zorro (Aaron's shirt says "welcome to the gun show")

Xander the way too grown up 11 year old!

Auntie Stephanie with baby Beckham

Grandpa Johnnie and Lizzie

The "Happy Birthday to us ALL!" party! Jenna made the COOLEST rainbow cupcakes!

Um, yeah. This one is for you John. That scarf is awesome... Thank you!

And my husband is good lookin' even in a scarf (and his daughter in the background looks a lot like him!)

From Afghanistan John sent scarves for all of the women. We all put them to our own creative use:
The big kids in the tents (one night there was a HUGE thunder/lightning storm and they all came running inside! Ask xander, he tells it the best)

Pagah stories at the tent. Thanks Pagah!

Party time for the adults! Oh yeah!

Auntie Anna reading stories

Does your FHE set up look like this?
Or like this?

We were sooo glad that Tom and Jen joined us! Tom had just gotten back from a long trip!

This is cutie 3 month old Joel.

I love this Emma B and her cute boys, Ethan and Beckham

The famous Martin family. Margie, the sweetest, smiliest girl, and Jakey the coolest 3 year old.

During a rain storm, Auntie Sarah hid out with the girls underneath the table.

The GINORMOUS slide we rented for a HUGE day of FUN!

Oh, for cutes!

2 cute babies with very wet pants!

Poor Lizzy with blisters on her hand!

3 very cool dudes hangin' in a shark pool

One of the best shots of the whole reunion. It is so wonderful knowing that your siblings love your kids :)

Why not hang out at the kiddy pool? I love my sisters!

I just love this picture of Becca. I know she will probably hate it but she is just too cute!

The MEN

The Women

The official Olympics! Thanks Martins
Dan looks waaaay to excited about this one and Aaron was waaaay too fast at it. Dad, you figure out those stockings yet?

Marrick LOVED the slide! Wahoooo (thanks auntie Becca for being the official kid-catcher at the bottom of the slide :)

Happy Grama Annie! The QUEEN of the reunion!!!

We swam one day at Grama and Pagah's neighbor's pool.

The 3 mischeivious 3 year old boys :) hee hee hee X 3!

This pic cracks me up. You wait around for 20 minutes and kids are bound to make a playground out of anything

Everywhere I turned, someone I knew.

Of course we took 20 kids to the Bean Museum!

The Johnson kids looking at 7 cameras

The adorable Martins. Margie, the smilingest girl, Jakey the coolest 3 year old you'll ever meet and Jim Bob on his way in just a few weeks. :)

Em and the boys. Cute as can be and then cuter than that!

Oh, Sarah and Orion. I could not believe how tall Orion has gotten. He is such a handsome kid! And Sarah is just amazing :)

Halle had some GREAT helpers at the reunion
Garrett LOVED baby Halle! and baby Halle LOVED Garrett! Thank you

Oh my word, this beautiful, oldest grandaughter Katie is such a sweetheart! I have never seen such a responsible, fashionable, sweet 9 year old girl! She was such an amazing helper with baby Halle!

The Johnson kids.
Emma, why do we ALWAYS have to squat?

I did not get one of everyone but you can imagine 7 sets of parents and grandparents along with all of these kiddos. My favorite part about this picture is my 8 month prego sister Becca on the right :) Love ya bex. Jim Bob is going to be so cute!

What a reunion! A little chaotic to have EVERYONE at Grama and Pagah's house! We learned, cried, laughed and had a great time, never to be forgotten. I just want all of my amazing siblings to know how much they mean to me. I loved seeing each one of them and thier beautiful, talented, amazing families. We truly are blessed.