Tag, you're it.

3 Names I go by:

1. Rachel

2. Mrs. Chappell

3. Ray-Ray (what nephews call me)

3 jobs I have had:

1. 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher
2. 7th Grade Reading Teacher

3. Childcare Assistant

3 Places I have lived:

1. Rexburg, ID

2. Rancho Cucamonga, CA

3. Draper, UT

3 Favorite Drinks:

1. Chocolate Milk

2. Water

3. Apple Juice

3 T.V. Shows I watch:

1. LOST

2. The Office

3. Arrested Development

3 Places I have been:

1. Washington DC

2. New York

3. Texas

3 people who text me regularly:

1. Rick

2. my school friends

3. Rick

3 Favorite foods:

1. chicken

2. cupcakes

3. watermelon

3 Favorite books:

1. Book of Mormon
2. Lord of the Rings

3. Anything Young Adult, including: Sorcery and Cecelia and Hunger Games

3 Favorite Colors:

1. Red

2. Green

3. Blue

3 Favorite Hobbies:

1. Reading

2. Cooking/ Baking

3. Exercising/ sports (trying to get back into this one)

3 Things you can find in my refrigerator:

1. Milk

2. Eggs

3. Butter

3 Things I do everyday:

1. Write a "To Do" list for the day

2. Feed the baby

3. Spend time with Rick and Evan

3 Things I am good at:

1. Cooking/ Baking

2. Teaching

3. Sleeping

People I want to tag: (feel free to be like me even if I don't tag you!)

1. Bethany

2. Erin
3. Katie
And, a nice little picture to brighten up anyone's day:

We are all enlisted...

Rick has done it. He's signed his contract and is waiting for one of his top jobs to open up. He aced the ASVAB (of course)... He also scored a perfect on his SAT verbal section, so it's no real surprise.

We are really excited, and nervous of course. We don't know how long it will take for one of Rick's jobs to open up. BUT, I am sure that everything will work out how it's supposed to. With the economy the way it is, Rick and I felt that this would be a great investment with excellent benefits (even though the enlistment pay isn't that great). We can work it out.

And of course, Evan approves.

Evan's hair

I think he's going to be a strawberry blond. Here are pictures of him yesterday before we went to my friend Bre's bridal shower.


And the picture below is of Evan today after church. I left early with Evan because I wasn't feeling very well. He slept in his car seat for about an hour and a half. It was so nice.

5K or Bust!

I am signing up to run my first 5K ever! It's at the Phoenix Zoo and Rick is running with me! I am so excited! I began running and exercising this week! I sadly only got three days in, but I was so occupied with keeping Evan happy after his shots on Thursday that I completely forgot to work out!

It's getting harder and harder to go back to work. I thought it was supposed to get easier. Oh well I guess that's life.

Also, Rick's enlisting in the Air Force on Wednesday for a specific job. No luck getting jobs here, No luck getting in as an officer, so he's enlisting. It is so scary and exciting at the same time.

Evan almost rolled off the changing table on Friday night. I didn't think he was supposed to be doing that. He gives us lots and lots of smiles now! And, we can get him to laugh as well! Love that boy!

The Bumbo

I knew that this thing was going to be a lifesaver when Evan was older, but he already enjoys it. He would sit in his cousin Ollie's Bumbo in California for about 45 minutes at a time, just looking around at everyone. It's so nice because Evan is a very demanding child, wanting to be held all the time. Now that he's a bit older, I can actually put him down in the Bumbo and get a few things done around the house.
Evan loves his bumbo.
What's going on mom?

Coming Up in 2010

What am I looking forward to this year???

I made a list of goals OR New Years Resolutions, BUT I think that this is a bit different.

I'm looking forward to...

-seeing Evan grow and discover the world around him. He's already doing so much and I can't believe how fast he's growing. I want to do my best to be there and see it ALL!

-Rick finding something that will allow me to stay at home with our child.

-Rick learning more about enlisting in the Air Force I can't help but think about what a great adventure it will be for us.

-A book club that I am going to be participating in through church.

-Running more and becoming more active so I can be healthier.

-Growing closer to Rick as we go to the temple at least once a month together.
-Finding all the adventures that will come our way in 2010. We are at the point now where we have really no idea what is going to happen to us in the next year, and I am really excited about that. We just need to have faith and do what is best for our little family.

What is everyone else looking forward to this year?

Good-bye 2009, Hello 2010

2009 was a great year for Rick and I. Here are the top 5 things that happened to us:

5) I finished my first school year at awesome Mountain View School
4) Rick graduated from Devry University with his Bachelor's Degree
3) We traveled to Washington DC and New York in March for Rick's graduation present.
2) We celebrated our 1st year wedding anniversary in June.
1) Our little boy Evan came into the family in October.

As you can see, 2009 was an awesome year for the Chappell family. It was also our first full year as a married couple.

Every year I make a list of goals, both spiritual and temporal that I would like to accomplish in the year. In 2010, my main goal is to be more active, in everything from church to school activities to physical exercise, so here's a list of the goals that I have for 2010.

Spiritual Goals
1) Go to the temple the second Saturday of each month.
2) Read at least 5 scripture verses a night.

I know that the scripture verses seems a little wimpy. Once upon a time though, I used to read a chapter from the Book of Mormon every night. Now, I can hardly open the book with how exhausted I am.

Temporal Goals
1) Run a 5K in February.
2) Run a 10K in June.
3) Run a Half Marathon Labor Day Weekend at DISNEYLAND with my sisters.

Yeah, so those are the main goals that I have this year. Hopefully, I'll be able to achieve them so I can move on to something different next year.

Happy New Year!

Cousins

Evan loved spending time with his two older and rambunctious cousins, Casey and Ollie. Casey loved Evan. He always wanted to hold him and kept sharing his dinosaurs with Evan. So cute. Ollie was a bit more indifferent. Since Ollie is only a year old, I think he just was a bit confused as to what the loud crying thing that everyone was holding actually was. He would just stop and stare at Evan a lot of the time, look around at us, and then keep on walking around or playing or getting in trouble. Here are some really cute pictures that I got.
One of Casey's Christmas gifts was a bucket of dinosaurs. He pulled all of them out and put them by Evan.
Casey usually has weird faces in his pictures. Sitting by Evan.
He wanted to hold Evan, so he had the help of his mommy and Auntie Sarah.
My mom is holding Evan in this picture and it's the next morning. The first thing Casey did when he saw Evan awake was he went to grab his dinosaurs, and started shoving them at Evan. My mom had to hold all of them, since obviously Evan was much more interested in his crazy cousin than the dinosaur toys.
Picture of Evan and Casey the day before we took off back to Arizona.

We tried taking pictures of all the boys. I have a new found respect for photographers, because here were the best three pictures we got, and they really were not that great.
It was so much fun having the whole family together and seeing all the boys. Too cute. We do need a little girl in the family though. Maybe the next kid for my sister or I.

Universal Studios

My dad bought all of us kids tickets to Universal Studios in Hollywood, so for the very first time in my life I went to Universal Studios. The tickets were cool because we can go back four more times within the year for no admission cost! Evan was good while we were there. It was an extremely exhausting day though. It was a lot of fun, but super-crowded while we were there.
Getting ready to go on the Simpson's Ride.
Almost on the ride.
With Evan after the ride. He was pretty content.
Our little family before eating lunch at Universal Studios.
The huge Homer doughnut that we bought at the Kwik-E-Mart.
Evan after waking up. He actually looks kind of chubby in this picture!

Thanks to my parents again for the awesome Christmas present of Universal Studios!

Christmas Day

Evan was so spoiled by all of his family. He got so many toys and clothes, it was great. Thanks to my family for all of your generosity in spoiling Evan with lots of clothes and toys.
My Dad holding Evan in his Santa Suit. As you can see, Evan wasn't too happy at first about being put in that silly outfit.
Evan's pile of gifts. Spoiled, aren't we?
"I want more!" Just kidding. I just don't think he liked that suit.

The rest of Christmas was spent with family in Orange County. By the end of the day we were all completely exhausted. It was a busy, busy day for Evan, but he did very well traveling to a different place and letting so many complete strangers hold and love on him. He really does have a tough life.

Christmas Eve

We drove out on Christmas Eve (early in the morning) to California. The ride was pretty good. Evan does not like his car seat but, he did a great job (meaning he slept) most of the 5 hour ride to California. We spent the rest of the day relaxing with family. It's been a tradition to watch "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" on Christmas Eve for a number of years. So, we got the boys (Casey, Ollie, and Evan) in their pajamas and attempted to take pictures of the three of them together. Attempted being the key word. Then the boys all went to bed, and the rest of us settled down to watch the movie.
Evan blissfully asleep on Christmas Eve.
Rick and I with Evan. He eventually woke up from all of the camera flashes.
Casey (4), Evan (2 months) and Ollie (14 months). Attempt number 1 of getting their picture.
Attempt #2. It is really hard to get all of them face the right direction. I'm amazed that Ollie stayed still for so long!
Evan smiling at the camera. I don't know what it was or who made him smile, but he has been doing it so much lately!
I think that Evan is laughing at Auntie Bethany in this picture!

Auntie Sarah comes to visit!

My older sister Sarah came and visited us in Arizona the week before Christmas. She flew out on the 17th from Arlington, Virginia and got to meet Evan for the first time. It was so great getting to see her and to spend time with her. She spoils Evan so badly. She even bought him a Santa Suit to wear (pictures are coming). Here are some pictures of Auntie Sarah visiting our family.


Auntie Sarah and Evan after dinner. Evan and Auntie Sarah again.
Evan and his Santa Hat. I couldn't resist putting it on him early.
Sarah and I (Evan also) at the Mesa Temple to see the lights. Here's an idea for me to remember next year: Don't go on the Monday before Christmas. Everyone and their mom had the same idea. It wasn't very fun. Mainly because Evan pooped and it took forever to get through the crowds to go in anywhere. Alright. My rant has ended. Next year we'll go the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Evan and Sarah at the temple. Thanks for visiting before going to California! Evan loves you and misses you!