The Radmall's Halloween Party, '08

Birthday Compliments

Celeste: A great match for Richard. Funny and very smart. Thinks carefully before speaking and, therefore, speaks intelligently. Is goal-oriented, but still lives 'in the now.' Has a gorgeous, big, white smile. Is very patient with her nieces and nephews.

Nelson: Has the mind of a stand-up comic (G-rated). Is very helpful, but always quiet about his acts of service. Has twinkly, joyful eyes. Is man enought to 'fro his hair and dance in tight white pants, and also wear green tights. Works hard. Runs marathons.

Julie: Is disciplined. Likes to laugh, especially at Robbie. Helps anyone, anytime. Is petite and cute. Is great at 'doing hair.' Loves kids and has endless wells of patience. Is a fantastic dancer.

Love,
Laurie

Mom and Grandpa

August 2006

Love,

Laurie

. . . In which Richard and Celeste begin their blogging-life together

Hi all,

We wanted to let everyone know that Celeste and I have started a blog together at richandceleste.blogpsot.com (also it's linked in the title of this post). We actually started it a while ago, because we wanted there to be a few things to read before we started sending people there. You'll notice that there is a survey where you can vote on what the title of the blog should be. Feel free to voice your opinion (as we don't have one ourselves).

And to make this post even more fun, here's a fun picture of Darth Vader on a swing set! Whee!!


















Thanks all,

Rich

Happy First Birthday, Jaxon!

What a cutie! He had a happy birthday, and loves playing with his new toys. Thanks to Grandma and all his aunts and uncles for making his birthday so special!

Love,
Laurie

"This is a great dance party, Mom!"

Okay, okay, I know I'm posting a ton of photos of my kids. But I can't resist! These are a couple of short videos from the reception.

Our Vacation/Reunion Back East

Riding the merry-go-round at the carnival on the Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, NJ.

Savanna and her cousin Emma building sand castles at the beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
Where Jaxon was lying aleep, safe and sound, before the scary wave incident.

Before the nap and wave. Jaxon was a good sport to smile for me - he really didn't like the sand or noisy ocean.
Palmyra temple in the background (we're next to the Smith family log home).
At Niagara Falls, on the "Maid of the Mist" boat that took us close to the falls.
The "Big Piano" at FAO Schwartz in NYC.
I know it's corny to take pictures of signs, but I forgot t0 take a picture at the theater. Plus, I left my souvenir "Wicked" cup in the taxi afterward. Sniff. :(

Austin was a really good sport about all the car traveling we had to do. He slept like this for a long time, until I finally moved his head up for him, so he wouldn't wake with a sore neck.

Laurie

Draper Days!!

20/July/08

Hey y'all, here are some pictures I took of the D-days fireworks. I don't know how many other pictures got taken, and I didn't take pictures of anything else, but there were some volleyball matches played that I think will live on in the memory of many. . .

(I picked this next one because it looks like a UFO. Exploding.)

-Jon

Journal entry about Savanna and Austin

Savanna: I’m a talker! I’m talkin’ a lot!

Laurie: That’s good! That means you’re a thinker, that you’re smart.

Savanna: Four plus four is eight! Five plus five is ten!

S: (after a pause) Mom plus Savanna equals love.

L: Ohh! How sweet!

S: Mom plus Mom equals love! Mom plus Jaxon equals love!

L: What about Mom and Dad?

S: Mom plus Dad equals one hundred percent love!


July, 2008

Austin’s current favorite catchphrases include the word “double.” And two exclamation points.

We get ice cream?! Double sweet!!
I fell on my knee and it was double ow!!
Jaxon is double cute!!

The Answers!

Figured it out yet? Well, if you haven't, here it is for you to see!

Poem #1 was written by Mom about a lizard-skin Gucci handbag.

Poem #2 was written by Jon about a Mr. Potato Head.

Poem #3 was written by Robbie about an oil spill.

Poem(s) #4 was written by Carrie about a corn dog.

Poem #5 was written by Tam about a missionary name tag (surprise!).

Hope y'all enjoyed it! This was a great game Mom, Jon, Rob, Tam and I played on Monday night when Rob & Tam invited us over to their house for dinner. I think we should all play it together, sometime!

Love, Care Bear

Fun fun and fun!

I have some fun poems for you! On Monday, I played a game in which any kind of poem was written about any thing, and once everyone had written theirs, the poems were read and guesses were made as to what the subject of the poem was and who had written it.

Those of you who played, know who you are. As for the rest of you, see if you can guess who in our family wrote which poems, and what they are about! I'll post the answers on Saturday.

Poem #1:
Slung over her shoulder with style,
She carried it mile after mile.
Her stiletto heels matched perfectly
Its flexible scaly surface-ity.
So expensive it was,
From the top house of duds,
That it remained quite fashionably emptily.

Poem #2:
The news was out, the chase was up, was it true? The word was "yup."
This was the last time their spud'd be beaten up.
An ear, an eye, a little hair, bits of things everywhere-
A gruesome sight- Oh, who would dare?
The children rallied, and what a sight
To see the big kids all take flight.

Poem # 3:
"We've run aground," he mumbled
Stubbled beard rasping on the radio headset.
"Nothing major, just a barrel or two."
A slick, well-oiled excuse
To hide a huge. Sticky. Black. Filthy. Lie

Poem #4: ( A collection of three, describing the same item.)
1.
sweet, bread on a stick
you hound me to eat you- now
my taste buds crave you

2.
My favorite meal of the summer,
To health nuts is oh-so-a-bummer.
It isn't a squash,
Nor is it goulash,
It's fat on more fat, which is yummer.

3.
Oh, sweet, sweet animal!

Twere it not for your carb count
My taste buds would surely
Devour your every inch.

Oh, if only you would be
Not so clogging to my arteries!

My fist longs to grasp
Your splintered handle.
But it is not to be,

Oh sweet, sweet animal.

Poem #5:
It describes who you are at every door
And the dedication to what you stand for.
Worn with honor and pride,
And only four inches wide,
It causes non-members to exclaim:
"Hey, you both have the same name!"

So there you have it! Think long and hard and Saturday you will find the answers...

my trip back to slovenia!

Hey guys, just wanted to post a little something of my trip back to Slovenia. I struggled with the decision of whether or not to go back for a while, but I'm really glad I did in the end- it was totally worth it.

First off, heres the new chapel. I can remember going there before I left when it was just concrete and just imagining all the members gathered in for the first sacrament meeting. I can't believe I actually got to be there! It was amazing to see everyone so happy in their new building.

This is Tanja and I at the beach. Tanja is who I stayed with. Shes been a member for a few years now but is less active, anyway, shes great.

This is Stanka, Tanja and I in Piran- a city on the Slovene coast.

Piran, which looks like most of the cities in Slovenia.

This is Jozica and I on our trip to Croatia, where I stayed for 2 nights with one of my investigators- Danica, who has a beach house there. Jozica is Danica's cousin.

Labin, Croatia- the beach where we went swimming.

This is Vesna and I at Bled, Slovenia. Vesna is my favorite convert and probably the person I'm closest to in slovenia- she got baptized 2 weeks before I left in December. It was so rewarding to me to see how much she has grown in the gospel since I left. She used to be a dancer on a cruise ships and worked for a string of hotels and her life was partying. She has totally changed her life around and is completely devoted to the Lord. Spending the day with her was definately a highlight of my trip.

Bled.

This is Monika, Sister Maloy and I in Zagreb, Croatia. Monika is another one of my converts who got baptized in September. We found her while contacting on the street- it was a really cool story and she is definately God's elect. Sister Maloy was like my mom on my mission and calls me her 7th daughter.

Crazy Cute Jaxon!

You've all seen how Jaxon used to zip around in his walker at Mom's house. He would run so fast, we'd have to watch out or he'd smash into our ankles and run over our toes.

This is one occasion (April 30) when he was really, really excited about being in his walker.

Stevenson Update

On Memorial Day, we visited the grave of Brady's Stevenson Grandparents.

He's like a little monkey -always holding things with his feet.

Julie, does he remind you of another other cute, chubby baby?

He loved to chew on those little plastic bottles.

At This is the Place Heritage Park.

Another cute one from the cabin.

It seems like our summer is flying by! This is good, because I was worried that Savanna and Austin would be really bored, after completing kindergarten and preschool, as well as not living close to their Draper friends. They miss Grandma and Carrie, but love to visit them and look forward to each Draper excursion.

We're really excited to see Jon Jon on Thursday! Wow - like Mom mentioned, so many changes to our family since he left (new babies, new fiances, etc.).

We're also looking forward to our Stevenson Family Reunion/Vacation, and I'll be sure to publish some pix when we get back. We are also really excited for the wedding!

See you all soon! Remember, you're welcome to come to our house and watch the Thanksgiving Point fireworks on July 4th.

Love, Laurie

Stevenson Sleepover

Look at our blog (radmallfamily.blogspot.com) and check out our post about our sleepover with Austin and Savanna. We had a great time :)

23 Days!

We are excited to welcome home Elder Jonathan Davis from his mission to Curitiba, Brazil on July 3-- 23 days from today!

Cabin Pictures

James and Bethany :)

Richard and Celeste doing a little Karaoke

S'mores

Wow

Richard and Robbie's spontaneous and synchronized backup dancing

Savanna singing one of the many verses of "Mother Goony Bird"

Baby Jaxon

Playing kickball in Uncle Robin's yard (the team that won)

The Long-awaited TALENT SHOW:

At the Manti Temple

Launching water balloons before the rain/hail