Kari Jo Chappell Clarke 1979

Gretty & Zoe March 1st, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 2 of MY FAVORITE PISCES

I am ultra blessed to have two wonderful lives to celebrate over the last 2 weeks. Kari & Gretchen are not only two of my very best friends, I am also honored to call each of them my sister! I hope you 2 had a fantastic birthday, & I wish you all the very best in the year to come! Thanks for all of the love, support, light, & laughter that you bring to my life!

You mean the world to me!

Love, Katie

Memory Grove Memorial Park ~ Summer 2006
Chappell Family @ Memory Grove 2006

Dreams Do Come True

For years I have had a beautiful daydream, and last week it finally came true! Before we moved to Detroit, you could find me on an any given afternoon running or hiking the trails with my dog Tyke in my favorite spot in Salt Lake City....Memory Grove Memorial Park. I love this park so much! Every time I was homesick for Utah, I always pictured myself back in Memory Grove. I had spent so many hours there that I had the trail memorized....the different sights, sounds, and smells during all different seasons. I even took a picture of this park to my the births of my children so I could go there mentally for an escape from labor! :)

After Zoe was born, I dreamt of a day when I could take her to Memory Grove & share with her its beauty & mystique. Last Saturday my dream came true....only times 3! Not only did I get to share a very special place with Zoe, but Eva & Elijah were there, as well. It was a gorgeous day full of love, laughter, & light. I am so happy to be back on the trails that hold so many wonderful memories for Wesley & me. Hopefully next time Tyke will also join us! He'll be ECSTATIC!

Gretchen & Zoe check out City Creek
Wizard Wesley & Sorceress Zoe explore the park
with their walking sticks that double as magic staffs!
Super Cute! :)

Hiking up & down Gold Star Hill @ Memory Grove

ZBug & Aunt Fudge @ Memory Grove
Making Memories @ Memory Grove

Zoe seemed to LOVE Memory Grove as much as I do!

Chappell Family March 2009

Memory Grove

Salt Lake City, Utah

The Twins' First Trip to the Park

Eli rode in the pack on my chest, Eva slept in the stroller,

and Zoe walked by my side!

After surviving our great escape to the backyard, I decided to get really CRAZY and try to take all 3 babies on an outing to a nearby park. For weeks I had been contemplating how I could manage to walk 1/2 mile with a single stroller and 3 little sidekicks. I had imagined all kinds of different scenarios & finally decided the best plan would be one baby in the stroller, one in the baby pack on my chest, and Zoe walking by my side. To my COMPLETE surprise, our trip was not only a success, but it was also very enjoyable! :) The weather was lovely, the kids were great, and the fresh air was so refreshing! I liked the pictures of Zoe playing on the playground because you can see the majestic view of the mountains across the Great Salt Lake Valley. Man, have I missed those mountains living in Michigan for the last 3 years! I just LOVE to look out the window at any location in the whole city & feel the warm embrace of the mountains' arms surrounding me!

I can't wait to be outside with the kids EVERYDAY this summer!

Miss Zoe Marie 21 months
Sir Elijah Sherdon 3 1/2 months
Princess Eva Helena 3 1/2 months

Our Great Escape!

Recently the weather in Utah has been unseasonably warm, and I couldn't be happier. I LOVE warm weather & I can't wait for SUMMER! So, a few weeks ago, when the temp rose above 50 degrees, we rushed out of my sister's basement & escaped to the sunny backyard. The babies chilled in their bouncers in the shade of the patio & Zoe & I jumped on the trampoline & played soccer. It was a great alternative to our regular afternoon routine, and I was so proud of myself for getting 3 infants outside and back inside all alive,

I just had to document it! :)

Old Friends Meet New Faces

Two weeks ago, one of my favorite students from Horizonte, Miss Felicia Brown, came to visit us with her wonderful sister Summer & nephew Taiden. We hadn't seen Felicia for over a year! It was great to see our old friends & introduce them to the newest members of the Chappell Family!

Summer, Felicia, & Taiden meet Eva & Eli

FUN WITH DADDY

on VALENTINES DAY!!!!

Wesley is constantly inventing new ways to challenge & entertain Zoe. They are always laughing & goofing off! Their latest games include the 'ceiling walk', 'free fall', and 'super toss!' Zoe certainly trusts her daddy a lot to let him toss her around like a circus act! They have a ton of fun together! Zbug LOVES her daddy!