Just can't Keep Up!

It has been a LOOOOONG time since we (I) have updated this blog. Sorry if you are a follower, for being such a slacker, and for those of you that don't hardly check our blog I am sure you never noticed and don't even care. HOWEVER~ A lot of things have been happening in our lives and because we were SO busy, I've opted to post a bunch of pics to catch us up on our life via blog. We are hoping to try to do better w/blogging going forward. Happy November!

Joe & Steph


PresLee's Birthday Visit in Idaho
(She turned 2!)
She looks so much like Josh at times it is uncanny.  And she has
his little witty and joking personality. :)

showing off the new outfit we gave her

Uh, yeah right trying to get a kodak moment is not that easy

See what I mean?



Showing Aunt Ashley her "fishy" pond in the front yard before we went home



THEN WE HAD GRANDKIDS VISIT AGAIN....

along with a few weekends of cousins

What you don't see is that we had 4 kids and a dog sleep with us
 while we watched Richards kids and Mason and Carter...
whew good thing we bought a KING size eh?

Playing in our shed/playhouse.  Mason & Carter were helping Bucca :)

Carter wanted to wear the light that Bucca had on his head

just showing us that cheesy smile and making anyone jealous
that they are not in such a cool "play house"

You can see the light didn't fit Carter near as well as Joe (Bucca)

Then we had a Ninja Turtle Pizza Party while the boy's were here.  Aunt Ashley & Paul borrowed us the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Movies, so Mason thought this was WAY TOO MUCH FUN!

COW-A- BUNGA  Dudes~

We each had different masks, in the same colors as the turtles
 with whatever scraps we could round up

Carter didn't like to play, but he did like the pizza and breadsticks!

Then we kept Mason for the weekend after Sara went home.
  We took him to the pumpkin patch and Black Hills Farms Corn Maze
 w/my sister Andrea and her son Zachary.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA...WE MISS YOU!!

On OCT. 8th we decorated Josh's grave for his birthday. Mason was so cute and sang to him and told Josh how nice his grave looked all decorated.  He didn't realize we were listening.  So sweet ...



Mason, Steph, Joe and Rawley wishing Josh a Happy Birthday wishing we still had him here :(



HALLOWEEN TRADITION

Munga wanted to do her traditional "HALLOWEEN" dinner while the kids were here so we had a party with Aunt Ashley, Uncle Paul and the kids.   The Menu was disguised intol spooky & gross cuisine.  We had:
 Rat's (meatloaf shaped into rats)
Eyeballs (deviled eggs made to look like eyes)
Witch's Fingers dipped in blood (Breadsticks that look like fingers/sauce)
Monster Brains and Werewolf Scabs (Guacomole Dip w/ Chips)
Mummy's (hot dogs wrapped w/dough to look like mummy)
Worm Sandwiches (bbq hotdog curled slices on buns)
Witches Brew (Rootbeer over dryice)
Fangs dipped in EarWax (apple slices w/ carmel dip)
Troll ears and fingers with Pus (carrot/celery sticks with ranch dip)
And for dessert:
Batgut Brownies and slimecream 
(brownies w/choc chips and caramel served w/ icecream)

 MOAB 1/2 MARATHON

Joe ran the Moab 1/2 with my little sister Andrea.
 So we made it a weekend and went down to enjoy some sunshine and good company!

They made it! Andrea hurt her knee running, so Joe ran the race then went back to escort her in.
 AHHH what a nice guy huh?!

Me and Andrea

self explanitory...beautiful Moab!



Mason picking out a pumpkin.  So many to choose from~
UH? this is supposed to be under the halloween pics? OOPS



MY BROTHER GETS A NEW- "DO"

This is my brother Jason after his surgery on October 25th (taken 2 days later) to remove a brain tumor.  He found out a few weeks prior that he had a large tumor growing on his brain stem that had spread into his left lobe around his frontal area into the optic nerves and into the right side.  SO....needless to say this is ONE LUCKY man to be here!  It was a bit nerve wracking for all of us waiting at the hospital while he was in surgery and then experiencing some setbacks and complications following surgery. But he is a fighter and is doing so much better!  He does have quite a battle scar but considering the alternative of not being here he is doing amazingly well.   Looking forward to your full recovery! 

We have been to the doctors and hospital a lot lately for someone or another and we are hoping he is the end of the chain of scares and trialsin our family for a while!  Love ya bro....



Stay tuned for the never ending saga in the life of the Denning's...  Until then.  TTFN

The Fairy Tale Wedding

We are so happy to see our daughter Ashley so happy! Ashley our only daughter and youngest child, became Mrs. Paul Draper on August 14th. The wedding and reception was held at my sister in law's parents home. The home is HUGE, and fit the criteria for a "Vintage wedding" that Ashley wanted. Though we only used the outdoors, the backdrop and ambience of this house was truly amazing! After a ton of hard work doing everything ourselves to save money, we pulled off a truly exceptional and memorable event.  We did hire a caterer (Marble Slab Creamery) and photographer (Ryan Christensen of Innovative Photography) and even had a DJ (Justeen Young) because we needed the expertise of those to make that night perfect.  We hope to add more pics soon when we get some back and yes we are relying on those of you whom took photos since we couldn't. These pics are in random order, but I have labeled them so you know what they are. :)
 Congrats to MR. and MRS. PAUL DRAPER!!!



                    

                       Nevous Groom AND....
                    You should of see the Bride!







The Ceremony

 NOW for the Random PICS..... Some of the fun at the wedding. We had a fun non traditional wedding with an old fashioned icecream parlor and dancing. Memories that I am sure will be around when Ashley and Paul are old and gray. 

The Garter Toss Begins....



Ashley's Ring



Gorgeous Wedding Cake made by Paul's Relative!



Some of Ryan's work...he could use these 2 for pictures a lot I think...they look "HOT"



Paul and Ashley
(hmmmm I think the gene pool will produce some mighty fine Grandkids!)



Taking in a moment..."I can't believe we are MARRIED!"



Time to Cut the Cake



Leaving the Reception



Paul & Ashley aka Mr. and Mrs. Photoshoot Model

The 57' Red Chevy Convertible they were chaueffered in

Beautiful Bride (Just saying I think she could be a model)
I know I am her mom, but seriously! Look at that gorgeous woman!

         

Paul and Ashley getting the royal treatment via Paul's uncle
 who owned the car~ Schweeeeet!



Paul and his friends



Ashley with the sunset backdrop....kinda ironic like the song...
"Sunrise, Sunset.....she began a new life with that sunset"

      Thus we are now empty nester's and life began for us as "old people" I guess?

Our baby girl is getting married! (Bridal Showers and Bridal Pics)

Ashley got engaged on May 23rd and the date was set for August 14th. When I knew my little girl was getting married I knew that I had to do something.  After going with Ashley to see Mama Mia the previous summer, I teased her that when she got married that I was going to perform at her bridal shower just like in the show... WELL?! I had to make good on that promise, so I had my lil' sis Andrea help me with a rendition of Super Trouper complete with lipsinc and dancing! Ashley was a little surprised, but she didn't disown me for the embarrassment so all is well :) 

We had a lot of fun at her 'non traditional' bridal shower. Paul came too and it was a ton of fun! Not to mention the 2nd act that followed us after we ate and started to open gifts! (My sis found a few guys to fake a male strip show since Ashley kept teasing that she should have strippers at a bridal shower)....ah ha.... never tell us something that you aren't prepared for! LOL

DRAPER SHOWER

Then Lynn Draper thew a nice shower for Ashley as well...She got so many nice things and we had a tasty lunch along with a chance to get to know Ashley's soon to be in-laws and exended family. Plus they have a killer cool historic home that is amazing and I got to chance to see the inside!!

Barbara (Paul's Mom), Paul, Lynn (Paul's step Mom), Ashley, Stephanie

THEN CAME THE BRIDAL SESSION!!!

We hired Ryan Christensen from Innovative Photography to take Ashley's bridals and shoot the reception. (pics to follow) He was awesome! Ashley wanted her pics done at the Bonneville Salt Flats, so Joe and I hauled a couch that she bought at the DI in our truck for 3 hours in the pouring rain and wind to a location that was dry...but VERY windy! (you can tell in the photo's just how windy it is) However, the pictures turned out amazing and Ashley looked absolutely stunning!

THEN ...The last Bridal Shower

 thrown by my good friend and neighbor JoAnne Murdock. Ashley also received many wonderful gifts at  that shower. I was wishing I could have a bridal shower after 32 yrs of marriage, man I could use a few of the things she received at all her showers!

The Rehearsal Dinner provided by Kurt and Lynn Draper complete with yummy food from Mo Betta' Steaks and a wonderful game that is a tradition in the Draper family when someone gets married. It is called the 'shoe game'.  The engaged couple have to answer questions simultaneously to see if they agree on the same answer.

 It was hilarious! And the food was yummy!

 And it was fun to get to know all the new relatives!