First Day of School

Melanie is all ready for 4th grade. She will have the same teacher Tyler had in the 4th grade. She got this outfit from the DI for the Acheivement Day Fashion show. She added the accessories.

As of yesterday, all the kids are back in school.

Education Week Fun

Taylor and Graig with two of their favorite Education Week speakers, John Bytheway and Brad Wilcox. Graig and Taylor are dressed up because they are on their way to the youth dance. They had a good time asking girls to dance.

Cecret Lake Hike Number 2

Thursday we decided to take one more trip up to Cecret Lake. It was warmer than the first time but we got rained on a bit. It is fun to do a short hike to such a beautiful place. Tyler
Cecret Lake

Graigry

Fun at the Pool

We were so glad the pool water was heated. Tyler learned how to flip.


Fun with Dad.

Melanie, Kyle, and Debbie

Melanie, Jenna, and Warren

Tyler and Megan

Tyler flips into the water and then dives for a diving ring before swimming to the side of the pool.

Ride Day

It was a beautiful day for taking advantage of the rides at snowbird. Lots of blue sky and not too hot. Thanks Dad for the all day ride passes!! Taylor and Graig were the first ones down the Zip line in the morning and the last ones down that night. Here they go.
Tyler ready to go down the slide.

Jessica, Ashlyn, Tyler, and Debbie get off the Peruvian Lift

Graig, Taylor, and Melanie climb the wall.

Graig

Rachel, Melanie, Ashlyn, and Tyler with Mineral Basin in the background.

Melanie ready to fly down the Alpine Slide. On one of her runs down the slide a ground squirrel ran in front of her sled and got run over. She felt like a murderer the rest of the day. Sad.

It was Tyler's first year to be big enough to ride the zip line. He loved it.

Micheal and Mason are ready for an Alpine Slide

Melanie is a good flipper. Strangers clapped for her she was putting on such a show.

At the top of the Peruvian Chair Lift. Mary and Grandma Nelda. It is such a beautiful ride up and back. Very relaxing and quiet.

Megan and Tyler. The chairlift is a ride in and of itself.

You would think she would get dizzy. Turn your head a little to the left as you watch.

Melanie made sure she did ALL the rides, especially the bull.

Hiking

We went on all the traditional hikes this year - Cecret Lake (twice), Lake Catherine, & Hidden Peak. Waiting at the bottom for everyone to catch up. Graig, Taylor, and Kayla.

Debbie, Kyle, Emily, and Melanie

At the top of Hidden Peak. Wasn't sure if I could make it but I did. Aaron was my hiking buddy. I told him his job was to keep saying, "Good job Aunt Mary. We are almost at the top." He was a good cheerleader. We were some of the first ones at the top.


Graig and Taylor on their way down from Hidden Peak

Lake Catherine

Melanie and Linda rest at the Lake Catherine overlook

Melanie

Snowbird Christmas

Grandma Nelda brought each great-grandchild a gift she had carefully selected, wrapped and tagged. It was very sweet and they loved getting them.

One fun tradition we have at snowbird is celebrating christmas. This is the only time during the year we are all together so we celebrate with gifts for the kids.

Megan, Melanie, and Jenna got the beads to make matching necklaces. They spent lots of time making jewelry. They are going to be very well acessorized.

Rachel was so excited to get this Charpe (sp?) doll from High School Musical.

Ethan's toy lights up, moves and makes noise. What more could you ask for?

Slip n' Slide Day 2

Matthew playing in the water

Lindsay and Nathaniel

Hannah keeping Nathaniel cool

You want water? Come and get it!

Water boy!

6 Flags Discovery Kingdom

Hannah after getting off the Medusa

"Medusa"; a big roller coaster with tons of loops and corkscrews, the whole works- Hannah rode it while I held her stuff and watched.

The dolphin fountain at the entrance of 6 Flags

Wet after Monsoon Falls

Soaked after Monsoon Falls

"Monsoon Falls"

"Tony Hawk's Big Spin"- Hannah and I went. It was pretty cool. It was a roller coaster, but instead of cars you sat in a booth-type thing, and the booth spun around the entire time you were on the track. No loops, obviously, but plenty of hills and corkscrews!

"Roar" (aka black roller coaster)- Hannah and I went

"The Ark"- I went on this one while Hannah went on the Boomerang.

Full of insanity after stepping off the insane Boomerang

The "Boomerang"- there were 2 loops and a corkscrew, and after you'd gone through it frontwards, you went through it again BACKWARDS.

The swings; always one of my favorites!- Hannah and I went

Sting rays are smooth and rubbery and slippery!

Shouka the Orca was awesome!

Shouka (the orca) and Merlin (the dolphin)

Turkey vulture

Bald eagle

6 Flags turned out to be a blast!! None of the Drapers were able to go, but Hannah and I had a lot of fun hanging out together. She even got me to go on a few minor roller coasters! We also went to a killer whale, dolphin and bird show and got to pet sting rays.