I think it would be wonderful if I were better at writing down the important events in my life, and in the lives of my children. There have been so many milestones during this year and I haven't recorded many of them. I wish time didn't have a way of getting away from me.
Alyssa graduated from high school, after much pain and agony! Seriously, there were days during her school career when I thought I would never see the day she walked down the isle of the auditorium to receive her diploma! She worked her butt off this year and was so beautiful on the day of her graduation. She struggled through a math disability that was not diagnosed until after she graduated, and she suffered from depression and anxiety but she stuck through all the hard times and made graduating a reality. I'm so proud of her! She painted a huge mural for her high school and had an article written about her in the local paper. She received the award in her art academy for the best portrait painter. She's active in church, and just did a drawing for the Relief Society that is being displayed at our ward. She's very involved in the Great Life Foundation, and just finished a painting for them that they commissioned. That girl is one talented artist! She's also very busy writing a book. Alyssa enrolled in college at Weber State University and is almost finished with her first semester and is getting really great grades!
Jeffrey moved again in April to live in New Orleans until September while he installed security systems. This was his third summer away. I always miss him so much when he's away from home. I suppose it would help if he would actually check in now and then, but he's not very good at that. When he's away he does call and talk to his dad on occasion about the latest video game or computer part. And on rare occasions when he is having a medical problem or a girl problem he will call and talk to me about it. He built himself an awesome computer while he was gone and it has a very large monitor. It's also very loud! Now he's back home again and I love having him around. At times he's a tad loud and a lot messy, but I love his company. He is such a good boy!
Caden finished up second grade, which was so sad because he doesn't get to take Mrs. Hoffman with him through the next several years of school. That woman is the perfect teacher! Caden was diagnosed with a reading disability during 2nd grade. More than likely it's dyslexia but the testing people don't put labels on a disability like that. He is really struggling, and I don't know how to help him. He started 3rd grade and has a teacher named Mrs. Pales. So far, not impressed. Alyssa had her too, so I speak with experience when I say she doesn't much care about the kids problems and trying to help them through their problems. Poor Cado is just getting left in the wind in her class. He's such a bright boy, and I just have to figure out what the best method of teaching him is. He loves art, his sister Shaylee, swords, video games, and his pal Jesse who we babysit every day before and after school.
Shaylee started kindergarten! Bah ha ha, so sad! I have wanted to freeze that little girl in time from the moment she was born, and keep her by my side for eternity. But alas, she is growing up way too fast. She loves kindergarten! Her teacher is Mrs. Dollof. There is a boy in her class named Riley that she adores. The two of them have play dates after school and they run into each other all the time at the McDonald's play area. She loves the social aspect of school and she loves learning. She is very good at doing all of her homework. She tells me stories all the time about what she learned in school, and she sings the most adorable songs. One day this fall I was out picking an apple off of our tree and Shaylee asked me if it was a "Granny Smiff (Smith)" apple...ah how precious is that? She even learns about Granny Smith apples at school. Mrs. Dollof is absolutely wonderful! How thankful I am to teachers like her (and Mrs. Hoffman) who love and care about their students.
The major milestone in my life this year is that I went back to college! It was so scary! I haven't been to school in 23 years, and I was so nervous. I blame going back to college on my dad. So for what it's worth...Thank you dad. I have wanted to go back to school for many years, but have been too afraid of failing. In 2008 on one of my visits to my dad at the care facility he was in I was giving my dad a foot rub. He told me then that I should go back to school and become a nurse. He said that I would be very good at it, because I was compassionate. I told my dad that I was too scared and that my Jeff was in college so that would just be nuts. He told me that I didn't look like I was old enough to have a child in college and that I'd fit right in. Over the next year and a half I thought many times about what my dad said. With Lor's job situation over the last year, I just got tired of everything and decided I should take my dad's advice and change my life by taking control of it. So I'm enrolled at Weber with my daughter (now I'm old enough for a son and a daughter to be in school)! And so far, doing very well.
I also got to quit my job at TSA, which was one of the best days of my life!
Lor got a new job and it's going great for the time being. He travels a lot, or is working all the time. His office is an hour away from here so he puts in some long hours. I'm finally able to breathe again, and I'm enjoying the steady pay check. We went way too long without being paid from the other company, and it's not easy to live like that. I know Lor works hard and I'm thankful for everything he does for our family. In September we celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. Lor surprised me and took me up to Park City for an overnighter. We went to the Park City Hotel and stayed in the largest suite they have. It was so beautiful and peaceful and I wasn't ready to come back home. I enjoy stolen moments with my Lor, and wish we had more of them together. I'm thankful for the happy memories we have together, and for the life that we've built together over the last 23 years.
Cado was so brave! What a stud! Danz also knows how it's done!
The awesome Chappell's balancing a log!
The awesome Chappell's balancing a log!
playing spoons :)
Mom, Me, and Paula. Thank you mom for the memories!
Mom, Me, and Paula. Thank you mom for the memories!
My mom arranged a Gus and Peggy Chappell reunion for the family this year. We went up to the Church Girls Camp in Heber Valley overnight. It was so great and we all had a wonderful time. The facilities are awesome! We were able to do a confidence course as a family and most of us were able to climb a huge pole and do a zip line at the end of a rope that we walked across. Caden amazed me...at only 8 years old, he climbed that pole and walked across that rope without any fear at all! I was so proud of him. I found the experience terrifying but oh so fun! We played games, ate good food, went on hikes, and made beautiful memories with family. I'm sure my dad would have loved it!
There have been many milestones for me and my family this year. I'm so thankful for the lessons learned and the blessings in my life. Most especially I'm thankful for the love of a family!
