Pot and Pan Rack

Thank You Ross! We Love our new pot and pan rack! Our pots lived in 2 cardboard boxes under the table here in Texas the past five months, eagerly awaiting their new place to hang. Ross did a beautiful job! He took the rim of an old wagon wheel from our farm and reclaimed wood from an old building on the farm to construct this work of art that serves a practical purpose in our home. Ross and two of his friends have a metalworking business in Montana called Stronghold. They build climbing boulders as well. If you'd like to see some of their work, check out their website www.strongholdfab.com 

Texas Holiday Memories 2009

This was our first Christmas season in our new home in Texas, so we had FUN starting new traditions, decorating "our first home", and celebrating our Christmas here before venturing to Colorado to celebrate Christmas day with Jeremy's family. We got our very first Christmas tree. The past two years Jeremy and I lived in a small apartment, so we were not allowed to have a tree per the apartment complex. They were considered a fire hazard, so we got our first tree and Jeremy and I set aside an evening to decorate it.

Jeremy and I were each given ornaments by our parents every year growing up, so our tree was a reflection of each of our lives.

We had fun sharing stories and memories with one another as we pulled our ornaments out of the boxes.

Our parents continue to give us shared ornaments, so we had fun hanging those on the tree and acknowledging the symbolism in them of the life we've chosen to share together.

I started our stocking tradition and had fun knitting and felting our stockings. This is Jeremy's.

And this is mine. I found the pattern at a yarn shop in Montana when I was up there for Ross's birthday. I knew right away that it was time for another project.

After having so much fun decorating and getting in the Christmas Spirit, we decided to have his department over for an end of semester/holiday party. We had a wonderful evening of great food, good conversation, and fun games! There was lots of laughter and celebrating as the semester was over and folks could relax into the Christmas Spirit!

Jeremy and I celebrated our own little Christmas the morning before we drove up to Colorado. We decided to make it a theme of stocking gifts , and we could only give each other things that would fit in our new stockings. It was our own little Christmas moment, and it was wonderful!

Cloud Dancing was not forgotten. She loved her new toy!

90 Years and 60 Years - 2 Amazing Women!

My Grandmother is one amazing woman! Grandmother Downs Chappell turned 90 years old on December 5, 2009. The entire family - all children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren made it to Ruston, Louisiana on Saturday, December 5th to celebrate the life of this woman that we each love so much! She is an avid fan of Louisiana Tech University - doesn't miss a home football game or basketball game, and I think she makes it to the baseball games as well. She graduated from there, all 3 of her children graduated from there, and some of her grandchildren graduated from there. By the looks of things, I think some of the great-grandchildren may attend there in the future as well.

There was no better way to celebrate her 90th birthday than to kick it off with a tailgate party in preparation for the last Tech football game of the season! We enjoyed gumbo and cake. We all went up to her box seats during halftime to see the President of the University give her the game ball signed by both the Coach of the football team and the President of Tech. A portion of the band came up and performed a special rendition of "Happy Birthday" for her - it was quite the celebration!

We went on to my aunt and uncle's house for a celebration that evening where the Mayor of Ruston attended and issued her a declaration declaring December 5th to be Juel Downs Chappell Day, and my uncle (who is a state representative) issued her a declaration signed by the governor of Louisiana declaring December 5th to be Juel Downs Chappell Day. It was quite the celebration! And seating was hard to come by, which meant some of us ended up in the stairway.

It was a lot of FUN being together with all of the Family, celebrating my Grandmother!

We continued in our celebration the following day as we honored my Mom! She's not one that likes too much attention, but we couldn't let our time together pass without celebrating her 60th birthday, which was December 9th! This was a big year - Ross turned 30, Mom turned 60, and Grandmother turned 90! We Love You Mom, and we're glad we could celebrate and honor You as well!!!

Christmas With Grandmother Lynn

We went back over to the farm the first weekend of December. Newt, Kristy, and Ross all were still there, and my Grandmother Lynn was wanting to make gumbo with the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. We made plans for Friday evening gumbo with Grandmother. I spent the day with her.

We decided that afternoon to decorate her house with some Christmas touches.

We began realizing that it would be our last evening together until after the holidays. So, we decided to make it our Christmas dinner with Grandmother, and it was a wonderful evening indeed!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving on the farm this year. My Grandfather went back into the hospital 2 days before Thanksgiving, so sadly, He was not able to be with us on the farm to celebrate. It made for a different, more laid back type of day. Everyone broke up into shifts of spending time with Granddaddy in the hospital, so throughout the day, we were all with him at some point. Jeremy and I drove in from Texas, Newt and Kristy drove up from New Orleans, Ross flew in from Montana, and Aunt Pam and Uncle Pete and my cousin Chris flew in from California. My Dad noted that it was the first time to have all of his children together since mine and Jeremy's wedding, which was 2 1/2 years ago. So, it was a pretty significant and special time to all be together. We missed getting a group picture before my cousin Chris flew back West, but this is the rest of us on Saturday night following Thanksgiving when Dad treated us all to Indian food - Yummy! Please continue praying for the Lynn Family and my Grandfather as He continues to remain in the hospital.

Chris & Elizabeth Visit!

Jeremy's brother Chris and his wife Elizabeth came to visit us! Chris started working for Schlumberger the Monday after Thanksgiving. His training started down in Houston, so they took a week visiting friends and family in Texas and Louisiana. We had a FUN few days with them!

We grilled one night at home, and Jeremy shared his home brews with them - I think they were a hit!

We enjoyed going to one of the local wineries here in Bryan, Messina Hof Winery! And, we introduced them to the Spirit of Aggieland by taking them to Yell Practice on Wednesday night, the night before the Aggies put up a good fight against the tu longhorns! It was great having them here! We look forward to the next visit!

Cochon de lait

Ross turned 30 on November 6th!

Chocolate Meringue Pie was his cake of choice!

My Mom and Tucker, my Dad and Mary Beth, and I all flew in for the festivities! We celebrated at Ross's home in Bozeman, Montana, and for us, it was all about meeting and celebrating with Ross's community up there! I loved it because there were young and old, and everyone in between. There were 6 month olds and parents of Ross's friends, professors, bosses, lots of dogs, and friend after friend after friend.

I even made a new friend! Rebecca. A cup of tea was shared between us in the days following, and the seeds of a new friendship were planted!

We had a blast! I love it up there! Big Sky Country! We all piled into the Pathfinder the next day and headed down to Yellowstone, hoping to see the wolves! No wolves this trip, but the elk and bison and antelope greeted us. I love all of the crazy thermal fun stuff you can see in Yellowstone! We enjoyed hot chocolate and tea in Cooke City and then made our way back. Pictures from Yellowstone are on a different camera, so if I get copies, I may post a few later.

One of our site seeing stops along the way was to see this climbing boulder that Ross and his two business partners (Strong Hold) built for the City of Bozeman! They are under contract to build two more for the City at other parks. If you'd like to see what he's up to and some of the different projects he's been involved in, you can check out their work at www.strongholdfab.com

We are all really proud of him! Cheers to our 30s! I love you my brother and wonderful friend!