Sprained Ankles and Basic Training

When I was around 12, I sprained my ankle while playing soccer. I remember that I just taped it up so that I could keep playing and I went on. I remember that I hated having an ankle sprain because of how much it hurt walking on it afterwards. I didn't rest it like I should have, and now my ankles always snap, crackle and pop!

BUT yesterday, I was going to my friend Christy's baby shower, and a group of us had gone in together for a gift for her, so I was carrying one huge box, one huge bag, one small bag, and one small box down our three flights of stairs. I missed the very last step and landed HARD on my ankle. It was really painful!

NOW, I have a sprained ankle (at least I am sure it's sprained, I just don't know how badly). I can't bear very much weight on it because it will begin to hurt really badly! So, I am just resting and hopefully it will begin feeling better tomorrow so I can go to work and actually teach--- not just sit down.

On the other hand, Rick will be going to Air Force Basic Training in about 9 days. I am so nervous and scared about it, but really excited for him at the same time.

I know it's what we're supposed to be doing, and if we couldn't handle the time apart from each other (Basic Training is two months) then Heavenly Father wouldn't have wanted us so strongly to go forward with this plan.

I'm planning on staying in Phoenix until the school year ends. His graduation from Basic is in the middle of May, so I will get to see him for a few days, and then he has to go to Keesler Air Force Base for his Tech training. Then I will go visit my sister, Sarah for a while and then I am planning on visitng my family for about 3 weeks/ a month. After I visit them, from there I will be going to Mississippi to spend time with Rick during the rest of his training.

We are so excited for this adventure that we are going to be on! Probably in May we should find out where exactly Rick and I will be going as our first base assignment. We have several locations for the domestic US picked out for our wish list, including: Washington state, Colorado, Nevada, Missouri, and Massauchusetts.

And for the international wish list, we've included: England, Japan, Italy, and Germany. We are so very excited. Of course, we could be placed somewhere completely different, but we know that where we end up is where we're supposed to be for that time!

Walk in the Wild 5K

Rick, Evan, our friend Jennifer and I walked a 5K at the Phoenix Zoo today. I was intending on jogging/ running the entire race, but I didn't do so well with training this past month. Evan was good through the first leg of the race around the zoo. And then he began fussing. Rick ran the race and ended up lapping Evan, Jen and I. Then he took Evan so Jen and I could walk and finish the race. And our time was: 54:04! Not bad for walking the entire race!!! Rick's run time was 24:35--Also pretty good. I am stoked that it took me less than an hour to finish the race walking!!
Jen and I before the race.
Rick and I before the race.

Evan happy and smiley before the race.

Jen and I after the race! I made it!

And here are some of the pictures from after the race.

Rick and Evan in front of the rhino.

Evan and I in front of the cheetah. I love cheetahs! And last, but not least, finally a good picture of Evan and his happy smile!!! I love this boy and I absolutely adore him. He is amazing and I can't wait until I can stay at home with him all day long, everyday!

February Flying By!

My mom came to visit last weekend. It was a lot of fun. She spoiled Evan with books, clothes, hugs, cuddles and kisses... but that's what grandmas are for.

I am reading a new series of books called "Enchanted Inc". Such "Chick Lit", but they're a lot of fun. Also enjoying re-reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books. I am now on book 4, "Battle of the Labyrinth". but I lent it to my mom and sister in California, so I won't be able to read it for a while.

The past couple of weeks have been crazy. The first week in February we had our annual field trip to the Arizona Science Center. A bunch of 7th graders, with chaperones for 8 1/2 hours at a Science Center is absolutely exhausting. Then I had a reading conference that I went to. Then my mom visited that same weekend.

Last week I had parent teacher conferences and another day off to go over reading materials and plan a reading intervention program for our school. (even though, hopefully I won't have to work next year).

I haven't been working out very well because of how busy we've been, but I am going to still try to jog/run/walk the 5K on the 27th of this month. I also pulled a muscle in the back of my leg, so I guess resting is good for it.

Valentine's Day was fun. We had Romano's Macaroni Grill (yummy!). We had a coupon for a free appetizer so I tried fried calamari for the first time. It just tasted like chewy shrimp. The penne rustica is AMAZING from there. Then we went and saw "The Lightning Thief" movie. It is one of my favorite movies and they totally butchered the story in the movie. So sad. I was very disappointed. Rick was so sweet. He got me writings by Thomas Paine (I am such a history nerd; I squealed in delight!), and a work out DVD that's Jillian Michaels. AND a chocolate caramel apple from Rocky Mountain.

Then on Sunday morning he surprised me with a beautiful leather bound journal (I love writing in a journal and I've been complaining on how I needed a new one). Evan got "Snuggle Puppy" from Rick and I and a Valentine's Sleeper from his nana and papa Carpenter. I got Rick a Marvel Superheroes calendar, a Star Wars T-Shirt, a copy of the LDS bible in Spanish and a beautiful hardback copy of "The Hobbit". So much fun.

Evan update: He's in the 13-14 lb range now. He's getting to be a big boy. He loves reading books with mommy. And he loves his bath time. He loves talking to you and giggling and laughing. He still has huge eyes when his picture is taken. He is always amused when you make "num num num" noises at him, and when he watches his cousins go crazy. He loves being an "airplane" and flying around. He loves it when his mommy dances crazy for him. He also loves checking himself out in the mirror (he's so hot right now). He loves staring at orange colors, including Cheetos bags and canisters.

He is putting everything in his mouth, including all of his blankets, toys and books. He is drooling like crazy. He is staying up for longer periods of time and doesn't fuss as much anymore. He still loves nursing and doesn't take a bottle from mommy at all. He's getting better at taking a bottle and formula from Grandma (when mommy can't pump at work). He is starting to roll to one side, but his butt and arm are getting in the way of him rolling onto his back or tummy. He is holding his head up really well also.

He's in 3 and 6 month size clothes. The 3 month clothes are getting to be too short on him (his long sleeve shirts are now 3/4 length), even though he isn't really filling the clothes out too much. He'll be 4 months on the 28th of this month, and we can start him on rice cereal!

Now, some pictures!

Tummy Time! FAIL!

Evan acting cool with his sunglasses on. I'm surprised he kept them on long enough for me to take the picture.

This is Evan's friend, the snoring dog. Without fail, when Evan gets upset, you press the button in the pillow, and the dog begins snoring. Evan will stop crying when he hears the snores. It is too funny!

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!