Wesley and Katie Chappell

2010-01-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

Countdown to CHRISTMAS!!!!

My lovely and generous aunts...Meresa & Mary made this treasure of a Christmas countdown for us this year. What an incredible gift. The kids totally loved putting on a new ornament each day and so did I!

My aunts mean so much to me. Thanks for all you do!

I love you.

The Gals @ Temple Square Christmas Eve
The Guys @ Temple Square Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas, Eva!

2010-01-24T20:45:00.000-08:00

Adventures in SLEEPING!!!

During Christmas Break, we had this great idea to ditch the cribs and get all 3 kids in toddler beds. Zoe was in a toddler bed @ 10 months, so we figured the twins now @ 15 months were well past the age of successul transition....

...pretty much everyone we knew held their breath & their tongue when we told them about our marvelous plan to leave babyhood behind us.....
....We went to WalMart and bought the girls two darling purple & green fairy beds that match their room adorably,
and we gave Zoe's old white frame to Eli...
....Fortunately, the kids have adapted really well to the new routine and their new found sense of freedom. Some naptimes are better than others, but for the most part, we are calling the change a SUCCESS!!!
Now we just need to install a traffic light in the hallway to help cut down on traffic congestion during the rush hours of 5-6AM.

2010-01-21T22:07:00.000-08:00

To Everything There is a Time & a Season....

...and this is the season to play catch up! I am sad that it has taken me so long to get my blog updated. Please forgive my slacker deliquency with posts from the holidays...but I am back & tonight I tackled Thanksgiving, so stay tuned, Christmas is coming soon! Who knows, I may even be up to date by Valentine's Day.

Love,

Crazy Katie & Co.

2010-01-21T21:45:00.000-08:00

Eva enjoying the loving arms of her Great Grandmother Gwen!
Zoe toasts the year with her dear friends Bennett & Bronwyn!
Eva stuffs her mouth with one more spoonful of
Papa's world famous sweet potatoes!
Eli ~ "Oh, I just can't take another taste!"

GRATEFUL ~ THANKSGIVING 2009

wow. what a fantastic year. last year at this time we were in ann arbor, mi with our dear friends following our annual tradition of the thanksgiving spread at weber's resort. this year we had quite a change....we were finally home for the holidays & boy, was it a celebration to remember! we started the day off with a mid-morning feast at my mom & dad's. they are famous for their delicious thanksgiving goodies. the kids ate & ate & ate. on the way back home to herriman they slept & slept & slept. it was perfect. in the early evening wesley's family began to arrive at our home for a lovely thanksgiving gathering & our 2nd dinner for the day! incredible to be back in utah, we never would have guessed. we are grateful for food, shelter, family, friends, children, health, safety, freedom, religion, education, jobs, and LOVE!

we are so very blessed.

2010-01-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

Just Promoting a Little Peace, Baby. Nov 09
Eva's very first little ponytail...Sweet. Nov 09

Elijah almost 13 months

Eva almost 13 months

Crazy kiddos....these babies just keep crackin' me up. Eva took her first steps on her birthday & has not slowed down since. Eli tried to catch up....but it took several weeks (5-6) for him to reach the level of Eva's skills. It made me giggle because he was the first to roll over, the first to crawl, the first to climb the stairs...

...but Eva won the walking race hands down!

Slow & steady wins the race.

I am proud of my little tortiose!

2009-12-18T11:27:00.000-08:00

The Happy Little Mermaid with her Mermaid dolly
Climbing the steps with daddy to Kingsbury Hall

Mom & Zbug anxiously await the MERMAIDS' arrival!
Wes & his girl.....so sweet.

Under the Sea....

....sometime in November we found that The Little Mermaid was being presented at the UofU

by a children's theatre company.

Zoe has been totally in LOVE with mermaids, so we couldn't help but secure 3 tickets & take her. Gub Gub Diane watched the babies and we had a blast.

She is such a fun kid.

Mermaids...how magical.

I love living with a 2 year-old!

2009-11-14T18:56:00.000-08:00

The Family of Things
An Awesome Halloween Moon
A Couple of Cute Little Things

The Cat in the Hat on the Prowl for More Candy

A Very Happy Halloween!

After a busy birthday bash monster mash in the morning, we took naps & prepared for a night of spooks, giggles, and fun on the town. We took all three little ones out Trick or Treating... and it was a blast! Our neighborhood has such a wonderful sense of community. Our adorable friend & neighbor two doors down gets all decked out in her witch gear & brews up some wicked wassail on her porch, along with plenty of cackles and delicious sugar cookies....the family down around the bend fries up hot scones in their driveway, and several houses have ceramic fire pits flaring for warming stations around the loop!!! Amazing.

What an incredible first birth day!

Happy One Year Mark Kiddos!

We love you little things!

2009-11-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

A little sisterly love....
unwrapping a million gifts....

a witch and her little black cat in a hat...

uncle a in all of his french glory...

oh, i love my little things!

mama thing & baby things

happy first bday, eva!
happy first bday, eli!

a little love for mama thing from papa thing!

the source from hence the things came...
aunts & uncles
grandmas & grandpas
gub gubs and papas
A special THANKS to all family & friends who helped to make our first fiesta for Eva & Elijah a huge hit! We had a blast & hope you did, too!!! Happy Birthday little things! We love you. We are so proud of you & so happy to have you as a members of our crazy little family!

2009-11-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

A Monster Mash Birthday Bash

Halloween Brunch

We had an awesome time celebrating Eva & Eli's first year of life on Halloween at a costume party & brunch at our home. I had so much fun decorating & preparing for the big day!
On the Menu:
Scrambled Dragon Eggs -

Crispy Crunchy Bat Wings (Bacon)-

Haunted Hash -

Bloody Spider Cider - Poisonous Pop -

Yummy Mummy Pumpkin Muffins -
Brittle Bone Breadsticks -

Demon Digits & Moss Sauce (carrot sticks & dip) -
Sinfully Sweet Sugar Cookies -

Sneaky Poisoned Apples with Golden Goop -
Freakish Fruits - Blood Red Berries - Ogre Eyes (olives) -
and BIRTHDAY CAKES (made by my wonderful mom)!!!

Eva's Beautiful Butterfly Cake
Eli's Animals on Parade Cake
A Feeding Frenzy !!!

Happy Bday Eva & Elijah!

Demon Digits with Moss Sauce
Ogre Eyes

The Annual Birthday Banner

I create a collage for the kids on their bdays highlighting the year's major events. For the twins' bdays on Halloween I did a Trick or Treat theme and listed little descriptions of each stage/event over the past year & whether it was a "trick" or a "treat"!!! It is so much fun for friends and family to reflect on the time gone by and the ways the kids have grown and developed! It is one of my favorite traditions that I hope to keep up year after year!

Sinfully Sweet Sugar Cookies
Sneaky Poisoned Apples With Golden Goop

Blood Red Berries

Freakish Fruits

Yummy Mummy Pumpkin Muffins

Bloody Spider Cider

2009-11-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

A Girl After my Own Heart....

....of all three children, Eva is certainly the most like her mother. Poor little girl. Ha ha. She clearly has my appearance, but she also inherited my attitude, my stubborn independent streak, and my temper (YIKES!). Sometimes she does things that just make me giggle....because I think, "Oh, Eva. You got that from me." Anyhow, I also passed on to her my lifelong desire to be a punkrocker. I think I dressed up as a punkrocker for Halloween 5 years straight when I was in elementary school. I LOVE being able to pass on such cooky desires to my little ones, so I dyed their hair blue the day before Halloween & took them out shopping at Costco. They were the talk of the store. It was so much fun! Having two little punkers on my hips reminded me of my ALL TIME favorite song by Sandi Thom.. I wish I was a Punkrocker! The day I got home from the hospital after having Zoe, I had this song blasting out the walls of our Michigan home. You might remember she was born with a killer punk hairdo. We were dancing & singing all around the kitchen~it is such a fun memory!! So, I put it on the other day & cranked it up in honor of my blue haired hippies. We sang & danced once more. I LOVE this song. It makes me tear up.... so I thought Iwould include the lyrics on the blog..just incase any of you are longing for revolutionary days gone by.

PS. Lou, if you're reading this,

this song ALWAYS reminds me of you!

Te quiero, hermanita! Feliz Cumpleanos!

I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker ~ By Sandi Thom

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker

with flowers in my hair

In seventy-seven and sixty-nine revolution was in the air

I was born too late into a world that doesn't care

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

When the head of state didn't play guitar

Not everybody drove a car

When music really mattered and when radio was king

When accountants didn't have control

And the media couldn't buy your soul

And computers were still scary and we didn't know everything

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

In seventy-seven and sixty-nine revolution was in the air

I was born too late into a world that doesn't care

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

When pop stars still remained a myth

And ignorance could still be bliss

And when god saved the queen she turned a whiter shade of pale

My mom and dad were in their teens

And anarchy was still a dream

And the only way to stay in touch was a letter in the mail

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

In seventy-seven and sixty-nine revolution was in the air

I was born too late into a world that doesn't care

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

When record shops were still on top

And vinyl was all that they stocked

And the super info highway was still drifting out in space

Kids were wearing hand me downs

And playing games meant kick arounds

And footballers still had long hair and dirt across their face

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

In seventy-seven and sixty-nine revolution was in the air

I was born too late into a world that doesn't care

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

I was born too late

into a world that doesn't care

Oh I wish I was a punk rocker

with flowers in my hair!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLEoxUf-KUM

2009-10-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

eli testing out daddy's new wheels & bearings & zoe's new pads!
check out jah's new skater shoes from aunt fudge.

they say "be nice" and have an arrow pointing to a globe!

love 'em, thanks nanny!

getting ready to rip it up!

zoe is the cutest little boarder chick i have ever seen! she has always loved riding on wesley's long board, so we decided it was time to buy her the proper riding gear. we went shopping a few days ago & purchased her a new helmet, elbow pads, & knee pads. what a doll! you should see her shred it now with her daddy. good thing we live next an awesome skate park...this girl could be the next tony hawk!

2009-10-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

all smiles :) eleven months old ~ eva helena & elijah sherdon

we're going on a pumpkin hunt...

pretty as can be, miss zoe marie

almost 2 1/2 years old

picking out her very first pumpkin

Happy October!

Mom,Zoe, & Eva @ the Pumpkin Patch

Let the Treating Begin!

2009-10-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

side by side ~ checking out the chickens

wes offering zoe to the geese

eva offering her cracker to the geese

zoe's first horse ride
a trip to the farm
a few weeks ago, we took a fun fieldtrip to thanksgiving point farm. we saw a ton of different animals. zoe rode a pony, we went on a wagon ride, and picked (illegally) some berries. :) it was a a great morning. the kids were really great, the weather was awesome, and we asked for a season family pass for christmas from santa (grandma & grandpa w)! we can't wait to return.

2009-09-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Some Snapshots from September

*Super Star Stephens!!!*

We love cheering for Susie at her high school volleyball games!

Her team is undefeated & we are so PROUD of her!

2009-09-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Fun Times @ the Utah State Fair!!!

2009-09-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

A Silly September Smile

Zoe Marie 28 months old
Lunchtime is always an adventure with 3 little ones!

Eva with a blueberry beard!

Eva & Eli enjoying the fruits of their summer labors...

...fresh tomatoes from the garden.

I LOVE that my kids enjoy raw FRUITS & VEGGIES!

2009-09-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

Elijah & Eva get ready to take big sister Z to her 1st day of preschool
Hmmmmm...
Where should we explore next?
Enjoying the last few days of summer!
Teamwork, Baby!
Eva, is that a FORD you're riding??

When You Are a TWIN...

...EVERY DAY IS A PLAY DATE!

Eva & Eli are over 10 months old now, I can hardly believe that is true! They are so much fun these days. They are starting to play with each other & fight with each other over toys, snacks, & sippy cups. They love to climb the stairs as fast as they can (because they know it is a BIG NO NO!!!). They love to play outside on their push bikes & buses. They love to chase Zoe around and she is constantly making them giggle. They love to sing songs, read books, and play peek-a-boo. They are also becoming BIG fans of DADDY (thank goodness). They are healthy, strong, and growing like MAD! Eli weighs 20 pounds and will probably pass up Zoe on the growth chart within the next few months! Eva is up to a whopping 18! Only 6 weeks until their first birthdays. Time flies when you are having FUN. I can't wait for their BIG MONSTER MASH HALLOWEEN/BIRTHDAY BASH!!!

We're going to have a blast!

I love you little munchkies!

2009-09-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

A step in the right direction...

....Zoe Bug started preschool at a great dance academy a few weeks ago...to celebrate & start the year off right, I bought us matching pink Chuck Taylor All Stars!! How funny. Almost everyday now she tells me, "Mom, I wanna wear my Chuck Taylors!" It kills me. She is so adorable. She loves school and tells me all the time how she wants to go to school "by herself" and "play with her friends" and she "loves her teachers!" I am so proud of her. She is so much fun. (Oh, and I am taking full advantage of the limited window of opportunity when it is actually cool to show up to school wearing the same cheesy high tops as your mother~ ha ha ha :) )

2009-08-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

THIS is the PLACE......HERRIMAN, that is!!!

As my Grandma Gwen put it, "We hit the motherload when we moved into this neighborhood!" I couldn't agree more. We live in the coolest city on the most awesome street with the best neighbors in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD! I LOVE living here, and I wouldn't change a single thing about this place (except maybe the weeds that seem to multiply over night in my flowerbeds!). On the 24th of July, we were invited to participate in

a neighborhood bike parade for the kids,

followed by a spray down by the fire truck hose,

followed by a block party BBQ...

...with a huge inflated waterslide....

....yummmmmmy summer treats....

....& fun fun fun in the Summer Sun!

What a great day~and a great way to spend our first 24th of July back in Zion. We are super blessed to have such great instafriends here.

This REALLY is the PLACE!

2009-08-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

Wes & Zoe after getting a spray down by the fire truck
Have you ever seen a cuter pioneer????

Kids @ Heart

The adults line up to take the fire hose full blast!

Z & her long lost friend Lucy reunite!

Eva & Eli sip some juice & eat popsicles

@ the neighborhood block party!

2009-08-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

Zbug & her idol Emmy after being soaked by the fire truck

following the neighborhood bike parade.

Zoe gets in on the water fight! Stick 'em up!

The giant waterslide we rented!

2009-08-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

Herriman Beach

We recently discovered a treasure in the mountains above our home...a little man~made lake with clean, sandy beaches & a beautiful view of the Wasatch Mountains. We have spent several hours sunbathing, sand castle building, & picnicing. What a summer treat! Who needs the Great Lakes of MI when you have Lake Herriman...ha ha ha :)

2009-08-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

"HI YEVA!!! HI YAI YAI!!!"

"Welcome to MINE house!" says Zoe.
Gub Gub Diane is the best Grandma on Earth. She is constantly looking for the next BIG surprise to bring over to our kids! A few weeks ago, she was on KSL.com & saw this cute little log cabin. Of course, she just HAD to get it! She brought it over late on a Sunday night so Zoe would be surprised when she woke up on Monday morning. It was a HUGE hit! We have spent nearly every afternoon outside playing in our new house. Thanks, Gub Gub! We love you!

2009-08-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Sugar Babies Jenessa & Amanda came to stay for a few days!
Beach Bums....Fun in the Sun @ Herriman LakeElijah catches some ZZZzzzzs in the sand

Princess Buttercup livin' it up at the beach!

Miss Zoe builds a sand castle!

2009-08-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

Grandma Merritt & Aunt Kari with Eva & Eli

Camping at Strawberry
Eva chillin' with Uncle A
Grandma Merritt & Elijah swing Zoe in the big yellow swing

2009-06-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

~ A typical Zoe moment ~

singing & dancing in the rain

splashing in the mud puddles

beneath a beautiful rainbow

with Eva, Jenessa, and Amanda.

Take time to smell the flowers....
...an Ode to Zoe....
There are so many things I LOVE & ADORE about Zoe.
Here are a few of my favorites:
1. She is such a remarkable person.
She has an amazing spirit & an incredible energy about her.
She is the most insightful 2 year old I have ever met.
2. She is friendly and outgoing.
She loves to hug & kiss her friends, parents, & siblings.
She makes new friends very easily.
3. Her voice.... especially now that she talks so much.
Each day she says some new phrase...
....it blows my mind and almost
always cracks me up.
4. Zoe is very creative & intelligent.
She is always inventing new games & songs & stories.
5. Her contagious laughter.
6. The love & adoration she has for her father.
She LOVES her daddy so much!
7. The way she grabs my ears & pulls my whole head toward
hers to give me a big kiss over & over & over.
8. Her imagination. Wow. Incredible what this girl thinks up.
9. Her pure beauty. She takes my breath away.
10. Her unconditional love for me &
her patience with me as her mother.
We have so much fun together!
I am so blessed.
I love you, Zbug.

2009-06-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

Say "CHEESE!!!"

How is it that life just keeps flying by faster?

These little ones are SO BIG these days. They are constantly cracking me up....and Zoe is constantly cracking them up...so we all just sit around & giggle at each other all day long like a bunch of looney goons!!!! :) Eva & Elijah are almost 8 months old...they are eating like crazy...they still breastfeed, but they have also increased their palates to enjoy the likes of avocado, zucchini, cheerios, peaches, pears, applesauce, grapes, strawberries, apple juice, mum mumms crackers, and snocones!!! :) It still trips me out from time to time to look at these two little faces & really let it sink in that they are mine & they are twins.

Life is certainly a trip.....Enjoy the Journey.

2009-06-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

The only thing constant is CHANGE!!!!

All Smiles ~ Eva Helena & Elijah Sherdon

SUPER BIG & SUPER SMART!!!

Eva & Eli are now 7 months old & constantly on the GO!!!

Elijah is almost crawling.....ahhhhh~ Watch Out World!

Eva is signing "milk" and loving her big sister Zoe!

Both babies enjoy walks, stories, bouncing on the yoga ball, swinging in the big yard swing or hammock, hikes in the hills, singing songs, & anything with ELMO!

Last weekend they went on their first over night camping

trip & had a great time!

I can NOT believe it has been 7 months since

they officially joined our family.

We love you guys! Keep up the good work!

2009-06-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

A Memorial Day Hike

This year we took the kids (Tyke included) up a nearby canyon for their first real hike in the Utah mountains. Everyone seemed to have a great time & the trip was a success. We look forward to spending many more afternoons in the gorgeous hills near our home!

2009-05-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Zoe Turns Two!!!

I can hardly believe it, but my firstborn is now officially a two year old toddler! Time certainly flies when you're having fun & anyone who has spent time with Z knows that she is a blast! I LOVE birthdays, but I don't celebrate birthdays...I celebrate the entire BIRTHWEEK! It's a tradition I started for myself several years ago, and this year I was super stoked to pass the tradition on to Zoe. We started out the birthweek with Zoe's first trip to Hogle Zoo on Mother's Day and ended the week with a big Luau with family & friends on Saturday. Between Sunday & Saturday we had slumber parties with grandmas, visits from aunts & uncles, surprise gifts, treats, balloons, a trip to the aquarium (Zoe's favorite spot)

and FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Happy Happy BDAY Baby Girl!

We love you so much!

2009-05-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

Elijah & Gub Gub (Grandma) play with the giant beach ball
The Pinata FINALLY broke open!!!

ALOHA from Bennett & Bronwyn

fun with friends @ zbug's luau!

2009-05-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

A BIG Birthday Breakfast

Eva, Zoe, & Eli Start the Big Day off with Pancakes!

What a beautiful girl you are, Zoe!!!

Your natural & simplistic beauty take my breath away.

I can't believe I am lucky enough to be your mother.

You are gorgeous on the outside & inside!

You inspire me.

When Z woke up on her Birthday...

.... GiFtS covered the kitchen table &

BaLLOonS were all over the house!

Birthdays are so much FUN!!!!

Zbug & Mom ~ On our way to the Aquarium!

2009-04-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

An Aquarium in the Desert....

...What a Grand Idea for a Friday Family Fieldtrip!

up close & personal with the stingrays in the touch tank
Finding Nemo

Daddy introduces his girls to the Utah Brown Trout

Wow! I just love this quote!!!

We had a fantastic day @ the Living Planet Aquarium on Friday. Zoe LOVED the fish & hop hops (frogs) & ssssssss (snakes)! She was so super cute running from exhibit to exhibit. She couldn't get enough! She hasn't stopped talking about our little field trip all weekend! I hope to take her back on her birthday in a few weeks!

2009-04-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

sisters & friends ~ a kiss on the cheek
zoe (2years) and eva (6months)

eli - almost 6 months....time flies!
getting ready to crawl...good form little man!

my smiley guy....eli loves to play with his feet these days

2009-04-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

Eva Helena & her cousin Jenessa
Miss Zoe Marie ~ The Proud Big Sister
Elijah Sherdon & Aunt Fudge

An Easter Blessing....or Two

We were lucky to have Eva & Elijah blessed in our new ward on Easter Sunday. Wesley did an incredible job wrestling 2 six month olds and keeping his cool during two very touching priesthood blessings. We had a ton of support from family & friends...thanks to everyone who spent their Easter celebrating Eva & Eli with us. We love you all! We also had a gorgeous sunny afternoon brunch & open house at our new home. What a wonderfully special day!

2009-04-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

*An Eggtraordinary Easter*

zbug experienced her very 1st easter egg hunt this year & it was a total blast! in our new neighborhood they have a tradition of hiding eggs at a nearby park the saturday morning before easter. the fathers show up 30 minutes early & hide all of the eggs....later the kids line up & go crazy running through the playground searching for their eggtra special treasures! zoe found over a dozen eggs, and she was high on sugar for the following week. our new neighborhood is so great~there is a wonderful sense of community here. we love it!

2009-04-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Children are the hands
by which we take hold of Heaven

life is beautiful ~ an update from katie & co.

the last month has been a fun & crazy whirlwind of activity, hence the lack of blogging...but now i am starting to feel the ground under my feet again so i wanted to document a little update. on march 9th, we closed on our very first home. buying a house was an exhausting & exciting process, especially with 3 kids under 2 in the car on most trips out to look at properties, but we finally found the perfect home & it was well worth the wait. our home is in a wonderful neighborhood with fun new friends on all sides. we have a gorgeous yard...the previous owner was a horticulturist & she has desertscaped the entire thing. we also have a peach tree, 2 plum trees, 2 cherry trees, a butternut tree, a large herb, veggie & strawberry garden, & grape vines all along the back fence! my grandpa sherd has his fingerprints all over this place. i know without a doubt he led me to this home. there is a fantastic hiking/walking/biking trail that runs between all of the back yards of the houses in the development ~ with 4 fabulous parks within walking distance from our home. i can not say enough good things about our new ward & neighbors, and we are out of the city enough to escape the yucky inversion & light pollution, so you can see a million stars in the sky at night! we couldn't ask for more. we have been blessed beyond our imaginations. during the last four weeks, i have been rushing around trying to set up some sense of normalcy for the kids, unpack a billion boxes, and prepare for the twins' blessing on easter sunday. we had a wonderful easter with a ton of friends & family members there to support us. wesley did an awesome job blessing two babies, and we enjoyed a lovely brunch at our new home following church services. i am so grateful to be back home in utah, to be in my very own home, and to be surrounded by a lot of love & support. my next project....a luau for zbug's 2nd bday party.

wish me luck! :)

2009-04-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

eva & eli in the double stroller from gub gub (grandma diane)

we are out on the hiking trail that runs past the back of our house every chance we get!

this day was a bit chilly, but we couldn't resist the fresh mountain air!

1 of 4 parks within walking distance from our new place

zoe digs for hidden treasure at a nearby park

ANOTHER FAVORITE AFTERNOON ACTIVITY

zoe reads to her siblings

this day her selections were from the qur'an, the book of mormon, & the tao te ching. i guess she figures they are ready for a course in world religion. she cracks me up! if given the choice.. do you want to play, watch a show, or read?...she almost always says, "IWANAWEAD!"

2009-04-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

miss zoe crocker

zoe loves to cook!

here she is making her world famous snickerdoodle cookies in our new home.

sir eli 4.5 months
princess eva 4.5 months

2009-03-07T21:28:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-03-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

2009-03-02T19:47:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-03-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

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! :)

2009-03-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-02-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

Who Would Have Guessed????

Zoe & Olivia play with Melissa's twins

Kolyn & Karl

On Valentine's Day I had a lovely reunion with two of my best friends/former roommates from my days at Snow College. Heidi, Melissa, & I were quite the crazy crowd of hippies back in the day.....ha ha. We could often be found cruising around the great town of Ephraim in Heidi's lime green VW bus, affectionately named, "Sweet Pickle." Seeing my friends again was a trip...but what was even crazier was seeing all of our beautiful children together for the first time after all of these years. Heidi now has two adorable girls...and they were the 'official' babysitters for the day because ~ get this ~ Melissa & I both have 2 year olds...Zoe & Hazel....and even crazier, we both gave birth to twins last year....Kolyn & Karl and Eva & Elijah! Life is funny. Thanks for a great day, girls! I hope we can get together again soon! Lots of Love to you & your adorable kids!

2009-02-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

growing bigger by the minute!

ELI IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN EVA!

HE HAS GOT AT LEAST 2.5 LBS ON HER.

~my little princess buttercup ~

HAS ANYONE SEEN MY BABY ZOE?

Zbug is such a BIG girl these days.

She LOVES to play school, work at her desk,

help clean the house,

& babysit her brother & sister.

I can NOT believe my baby will be 2 in a few more months!

Time flies.

I love you, Zoe.

2009-02-21T22:11:00.000-08:00

twins are certainly double the work...

....but MORE than double the fun!

2009-02-21T21:51:00.000-08:00

MY PRIDE....
...& MY JOY!!!!
EVA HELENA

Elijah Sherdon

3 1/2 months old

2009-02-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

MY GIRLS

Zoe & Eva crack me up! Every morning Zoe can NOT wait for Eva to wake up. When she finally opens her little eyes, Zoe jumps up on the bed and yells, "HI V-VA!!!" She loves her sister.

tres amigos

Making Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies with Aunt Wendy & Gentry

3 months old

2009-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

A FEW RECENT PICS OF OUR NEW LIFE IN UTAH

Zoe & Antoinette @ her 3rd bday party

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!
Amigas por SIEMPRE
This is what I call 'Having your Hands Full'
I love to cuddle my babies

*Super Stars*

*Eva & Elijah Chappell*

2009-01-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

Zoe Marie ~ 2 months

Elijah Sherdon ~ 2 months

Eva Helena ~ 2 months

Livin' the good life...eat, drink, sleep & play all day!

2009-01-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

January 20, 2009

A day that changed history!

"On this day, we gather because we have chose HOPE over fear, UNITY of PURPOSE over conflict & discord!"

Zoe & Antoinette celebrate the future of AMERICA!

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

OH......YES WE DID!!!!!

Katie & friends @ an Obama Inaguration Party!

"The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation."

2009-01-16T21:49:00.000-08:00

Zoe's 1st Snow Day!

Maddy & Elizabeth show Zbug why Utah

has the Greatest Snow on Earth!

Cousins are the COOLEST!
Zoe, Eva, & Eli have had a total blast getting to know all of their cousins!

Eli's Fan Club

Maddy, Lizzy, & Amanda give Eli a bath

Trae visits from Colorado!

2009-01-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

We have found an interesting trick to quiet the babies...yoga ball therapy. Here Madalyn & Sydney take their turns bouncing, bouncing, bouncing!!!
Sweet Smiles!
I love this stage when the social smiles emerge!
PRICELESS!

Zoe's long awaited trip to Grandpa Don's barn to see the new baby lambs. Zbug LOVES animals & she loved seeing the sheep. She kept saying, "More, more, more!" and she didn't want to leave the barn. I swear, she is not my child....when I was a kid you couldn't have paid me to spend time over there! :) My dad was so proud of her! He had a blast showing her around & introducing her to all of his furry friends!

Grandma & Grandpa with Zoe @ the barnyard

2009-01-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve 2008

Woolstenhulme Family Party
Maddy & Jenessa with Eva & Elijah

Syd & Susie take on the twins!

Zoe spreading some Christmas Cheer!

The 9 SUGAR BABIES + 1 SUGAR BOY!

We had a little get together with all of my nieces & parents on Christmas Eve. It was a blast! It was so good to see everyone again.

I love my nieces!

2009-01-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

Eli asleep in the sink....
....Zbug asleep in my bed....
....and Eva snoozing on the couch!

Adventures in Motherhood
So... last week was the first official day I was home ALONE with all three kids. Up until then, my nieces, cousins, friends, sisters, grandparents, aunts, husband, and in-laws had all signed up to volunteer with Chappell Childcare. I must admit, I was a touch nervous about being alone. I had NO idea how I was going to make it through the day...especially Zoe's naptime... but I was also a bit excited to see if I could succeed & keep us all alive until Wes returned from work at 5. I am happy to report that we were all ALIVE & WELL and there was even a moment of silence during the afternoon when all 3 kids were sleeping!!! I was so impressed with myself I had to take a picture of each slumbering child (even if one of them was asleep in the bathroom sink)! I have to say, each day life gets a little easier. The four of us are figuring out this
delicate dance day by day!

2009-01-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

Aunts Wendy & Mitzi

Uncle A

Auntie "M"

You've heard

"IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO

RAISE A CHILD"

and I am here to say that's especially true when you are trying to raise 3 children under the age of 2! We have been so blessed to have so much help & love from our families with the arrival of our new babies & our move across the country. In December, my Aunt Meresa came out to stay for a week. She babysat, cleaned, cooked, and helped me through a million doctor appointments. It was incredible to have her around. She was a joy to have in our home. The day after she flew out my 2 older sisters, Wendy & Mitzi, came to help me pack our suitcases & fly to Utah. We had a busy couple of days & then headed home to Salt Lake City. We each took a child, a carry-on, and a deep breath as we boarded the plane. I could never have made it back home without them! In addition to aunts & great aunts, we have continued to be blessed with the presence of Uncle Austin. We are convinced now that the reason he moved to MI was just to help us get back to UT. Wesley drove across the country with Austin & Tyke, meeting us in Utah 4 days after we flew home. Austin was an amazing help throughout our entire pregnancy, birth, & move. We will never be able to repay him for his time, patience, & efforts.
Thanks to everyone who helped us get back to Utah!

We love & appreciate you.

2009-01-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

2 months old....time flies!

2008-11-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

Sleeping Cheek to Cheek ~ Elijah & Eva

3 weeks old

Big sister Zoe sniffing Eli's stinky toes! Ha ha :)
Zoe cracks me up with these kids. She is always doing something funny, and she is constantly trying to help out.

She is such a great kid!

Big sister kisses!
Sweetest slumber.....

2 happy little hippies

i can't believe it has been 3 weeks since these two crazy kids joined our family. in ways it seems like just yesterday i was pregnant & a size beyond belief....in other ways the whole pregnancy seems like a dream and i feel like eva & eli have always been a part of our family. zoe is adjusting well. she loves to help mom & dad and gives the babies 6,000 kisses a day! she is so full of love and laughter. i feel so blessed to have her little helping hands by my side. speaking of blessed...wes only had to work 5 days this whole month. it has been incredible to have him around to help out & give zbug the extra love & attention she needs right now ~ not to mention all of the help he has given me around the house. i feel really blessed to be a stay-at-home mom at this stage in my life. i am so lucky to be able to devote all of my time & energy to my family. i am grateful that i was born in a country & a time where i have the choice to work outside of the home. i know that the majority of women in the world are not afforded such a blessing. i hope i never take for granted the incredible opportunity & responsibility i have been given to care for these three amazing kids!

2008-11-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

Good Times with Grandma

2008-11-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

Cookies for BREAKFAST?

Only when Grandma comes to play!

Together Zoe & Grandma have baked 6 dozen cookies! Wow.
Can you say, "Sugar High?"

A Shopping Spree with Grandma

Zoe's new doll from Grandma Diane

Zbug modeling her new butterfly pjs from Grandma Diane
Her pjs say "sleepy head" on the front.
I thought this picture was the perfect "sleepy head" shot.

The past week Zoe has had a blast playing, shopping, & baking cookies with Grandma Diane. Wesley's mom came last Monday & will fly out tomorrow. She has been a huge help washing tons of loads of laundry, cleaning floors, playing with Tyke, scrubbing the oven, & SPOILING Zoe. We will certainly miss her helping hands & look forward to seeing her again in 3 short weeks! We Love You, Grandma! Thanks for everything!

2008-11-17T16:14:00.000-08:00

eli loves to be awake & looking around
eva the love bug

2 weeks old

2008-11-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

Miss Eva & Sir Eli ~ One Week Old
Sweet dreams..........

Zoe LOVES being a BIG sister!

Zbug & Eli

2008-11-09T09:14:00.000-08:00

Zoe & Eva
Gretty, Eli, Zoe, & Eva
Goodbye Hugs & Kisses

Farewell to Aunt Fudge

Saturday, Nov 8, 2008

It's crazy to think a whole month has passed since Gretchen came to stay with us! We had so much fun laughing & playing together. We certainly appreciate all of the help that she gave us. We could never have done it without her!!! She was a HUGE support! We were so sad to say good-bye. Zoe was kicking & screaming, "NO" in her carseat when we dropped her off at the airport. It was heartbreaking. Luckily, we will be back in Utah soon & we can all laugh & play together again! Thanks for EVERYTHING, Nana ~ the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the moral support, the back rubs, the foot rubs, the laundry, the floors, the trick or treating, the trips to the hospital, and the endless hours of babysitting!! We LOVE you!!!!

2008-11-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 3, 2008

Headed Home??????

On Monday, November 3rd we were discharged from Providence Hospital. We were super excited to get home, relax, & bond as a family. At 10 AM the following day, we visited our pediatrician for the twins' 2 day old check-up. She suggested that we have some blood drawn to check for jaundice levels. We went to the lab, stopped by Costco to buy Z some diapers, ate some lunch, went to the polls to VOTE (YES, WE CAN!), and headed back home in the late afternoon. Once we got home, the doctor called us to report that the jaundice levels were elevated & asked us to check back in the hospital that evening for phototherapy, evaluation, & observation. She was concerned because the antigen E antibodies that were present in my blood during pregnancy were transferred to both babies. This could have potentially caused a serious threat to their health, resulting in blood transfusions, or worse. Needless to say, that is not what we wanted to hear. We had been home less than 24 hours and were exhausted! We were missing Zoe and she was misssing us. We were tired, scared, and overwhelmed, but we repacked all of our bags and headed back to the hospital. Once we got admitted and settled in, the babies began their phototherapy. They had to stay in bilibeds unless they were eating or being changed. They also had biliblood tests drawn every 6 hours from their heels to evaluate their progress & health. The next day, Zoe came up to the hospital with Gretchen & played all day in the playroom of the pediatric ward where we were being treated. It was so great to see her & spend the day with her. She lifted our spirits. Wednesday night Wesley took Zoe home & Gretchen stayed with me in the hospital. The babies' levels continued to drop & their health improved. More prayers were answered & we were discharged - again- this afternoon. We are so HAPPY to be home !!! After thoughtful reflection, we feel so blessed. With everything that can go wrong with pregnancy & birth, we are so lucky & fortunate....what's a little jaundice phototherapy?

We have been blessed with three beautiful, healthy, happy children. We thank God for them and for you all of your continued thoughts & prayers!

p.s. HOPE WON!!!!

2008-11-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

Eva & Eli ~ 1 1/2 days old
Aunt Nana fallin' in love with baby Eli Uncle A chillin' with baby Eli

Sisters & Best Friends

Daddy & his girls!

2008-11-06T13:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween

12 hours before induction

14 lbs 3oz & 40.5 inches of babies inside that belly!

Gretty the butterfly
Brit the ladybug
Zbug the bumblebee

The annnual pumpkin carving contest!

Zoe won, of course!

2008-11-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

Eli & Eva ~ 1 Day Old

2008-11-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

Finally, after 12 attempts, a boy joins Donald's Dozen!

Welcome to the world, baby girl!

We Love You!

2008-11-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

Our Birth Story
Chapter 1 ~ At the end of week 37 of the pregnancy, Katie started showing symptoms of cholestasis, a common liver disease associated with elevated hormone levels when carrying multiples. After consulting with our midwife, Mary and OBGYN, Dr. Marback, we decide a scheduled induction would begin 11/1/08 at 9AM.
Chapter 2 ~ Saturday, 11/1/08 We arrive at Providence Hospital & the water is broken for Baby A (EVA). Katie’s body tries to get in a rhythmic pattern of labor contractions, but after 5-6 hours a suggestion is made to introduce a very small amount of pitocin to get the party really started. After much prayer & deliberation, we agree. Around 7PM, Katie’s body takes the hint from the pitocin & things get moving. By 10 PM, we are fully dilated & move to birth in the OR. Hospital policy dictates that all multiples must be born in the OR ~ just in case there is a need for an emergency c-section. A huge crowd of doctors & nurses accompany us to participate in the birth, if the need arises. Our midwife Mary negotiates to allow Katie to deliver in her hospital bed, as opposed to the standard procedure on the OR table. Phew! What a relief to be in a comfortable bed to give birth.
Chapter 3 ~ Eva is born al~natural on 11/1 at 11:35PM!! She weighs in at 6lbs 13 oz and is 20 inches long. Wesley accompanies her to the warmer to get her stats & welcome her to the world. Shortly after an initial evaluation, she is on Katie’s chest & the wait begins for brother Eli to enter the world!
Chapter 4 ~ Eli quickly slides right into place, head down and directly above the cervix. His heart beat continues to be strong & healthy. Suddenly we begin to realize that he is not going to be born before midnight! We all laugh & joke in the OR about the twins having separate birthdays. As the clock strikes twelve, our midwife Mary suggests that we go back in our labor & delivery room to birth Eli. Dr. Marback agrees that we can get out of the OR because all is going well with Baby B! YEAH!!! We go back to our little ‘birthing cave’ and start working hard to help Eli be born.
Chapter 5 ~ On Sunday, 11/2, at 1:25 AM Eli joins us peacefully and naturally!! We all laugh about having these twins in two different places on two different days! Both placentas detach fully and we all breathe a huge sigh of relief! Eli weighs in at 7 lbs 6 oz and is 20.5 in. long.
Chapter 6 ~ Around 2:30 AM the room is finally quiet and both babies are happily nursing in tandem. Wes & Katie both stare into each other's eyes. What a night! What a journey! What a blessing! Every prayer has been answered and there is no doubt that angels are present in abundance. We offer a very humble prayer of gratitude and try to get some rest! We are certainly going to need it.

2008-11-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

Big sister Zoe meets Eva
Eva Helena born 11/1/08 at 11:35 PM ~ 6lbs 13oz ~ 20 in
Elijah Sherdon born 11/2/08 at 1:25 AM ~ 7lbs 6oz ~ 20.5 in

Our fabulous midwife, Mary & her adorable daughter, Addie
Both attended our birth and were a huge source of love, light, strength, & support!

2008-10-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

A busy bumble bee invades the pumpkin patch
TRICK OR TREAT!

Halloween Story Time at the Library
Today Brittany & Gretchen took Zbug to a fun Halloween story time @ the library. They listened to some fun books & went trick or treating around the library. Lots of Zoe's good friends were there, too. She had a great time! Later, they went to a pumpkin patch. Thanks for a fun day!

Happy Halloween!!!!

2008-10-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

A Day in the Life with Aunt Gretchen

Zoe has had such a great time the last 2 1/2 weeks with Aunt Gooch! They have gone to the park, invented all kinds of new games, gone on fun outings, and played, played, played!!! As you can see, having so much fun has been an exhausting experience. Twice now ~ Zoe has fallen fast asleep at the lunch table! We have always called Gretty - Gretchen Anna - and now when you say, "Zoe...who is your favorite aunt?" She will yell, "NANA!!"It is super cute.

2008-10-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Womb

Thirty-Seven Weeks and Waiting

Recently, one of my best friends ~Naomi, came over to do a photo shoot of my belly. She did a fantastic job, & we had a ton of fun. She is really talented. Here is a little preview of her work. Thanks, Gnome! Iam so lucky to have such talented friends.

2008-10-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

FALSE ALARM!
We really thought yesterday was the day, but alas, we are back at home with 2 empty car seats! It all started at 3 AM when we swore my water broke. We called my monitrice, midwife, & OBGYN. We decided to go into the hospital around 10 AM. We spent several hours in triage for evaluation & it was determined that my water did not break, there was just some funky mishap. The babies were monitored via ultrasound & external fetal monitors & both looked great ~ plenty of fluid, lots of movement, very reactive, both head down, & happy. We were checked for dialation & were dialated to 4 cm...but not in any real rhythmic pattern of labor. The lovely Jamaican doctor that was treating us told us we could go for a walk around town & come back in a few hours to see if the labor was progressing or we could choose to be admitted. We chose the walk around town. We went to get a bite to eat & walked around the hospital & went back to get checked a 2nd time. Nope! No change. No further dialation. No more established pattern of contractions. Nada. Nothing. So, we loaded everything back up & headed home. Who knows how much longer my little ones will choose to stay inside my lovely womb. I have completely stopped even trying to guess. I am just going to go with the flow for now & see what happens. Today it is back to the same old routine of non-stress tests. I am kind of bummed because I was really looking forward to meeting these kids, but I guess I can wait a little while longer. They can't stay in there forever, right? I just pray they come out to play before Aunt Gretchen goes back home on the 8th. Thanks for all of the thoughts & prayers that were offered on our behalf yesterday. We really appreciate all of your LOVE & SUPPORT!

2008-10-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

baby update

well, another prayer has been answered. we have made it to 36 weeks (the deadline considered to be full-term for twins). if the babies come now, they will not be classified as premature...phew. what a relief. last monday, we had another growth estimate done at our ultrasound & baby girl was estimated to be 5 1/2 lbs and baby boy was pushing close to 6 lbs. they should continue to gain 1/2 lb a week each from here out...so my guess is that now they are both 6 lbs +. i am now measuring an incredible 48 inches around my waist...yes, that is 4 feet! :) wow. no wonder my skin is itching like crazy and none of my pants fit. i have been having some great warm up contractions for the past week or more. on sunday, they were coming every 10 minutes for over 7 hours. i started to think we might be dealing with real labor, but i took a bath & everything came to a screeching halt. oh well, it's probably better anyway because my midwife & monitrice were both out of town this weekend for a midwifery conference. now that everyone is back in town & zoe is comfortable staying alone with aunt gretchen, we are all anxious to get this party started!!! hopefully our healthy, happy babies will be arriving shortly. we'll be sure to let you all know when that moment comes! in the meantime, thanks again for your love, prayers, & support!

2008-10-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

You don't choose your family.

They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

~Desmond Tutu

2008-10-18T05:45:00.000-07:00

A Legacy of Love

My greatest heroes have always been my grandparents. The lives they have lived are a shining testimony of hard work, love, dedication, dreams, and sacrifice. Two years ago today I flew home to surprise my Grandpa Sherd on his 80th birthday. He was so shocked...I will never forget the look on his face when I walked into his home. It was one of the best days of my life. We had a huge party to celebrate his life and the love and adoration we all have for him. Sadly, it was the last time I saw him alive...he died just 6 short months later. I am so grateful for all of the love and laughter that we shared during our 30 years together. I always felt like he was the one person in the world that 'got' me. I never felt like he judged me....he only loved me. And so today with a heart full of love & gratitude I want to say, "Happy Birthday, Pops! I sure do miss you. You mean the world to me. You always will."

Til we meet again...

...Katie

2008-10-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.

friends forever ~ katie 7 years & gretchen 16 months

Aunt Fudge Has Finally Arrived!

On Saturday, my little sister Gretchen (aka Fudge) flew in from Salt Lake City, Utah! She will be staying with us for the next month & I couldn't be more grateful or excited! Gretchen is one of my dearest & closest friends. I have missed her so much while living in MI. We talk on the phone nearly every day, but nothing compares to having her by my side. I am so thrilled that she will (more than likely...cross your fingers) be here for the birth of the twins. What an extraordinary experience to share. Gretchen is a wonderful aunt and has already taken over Zoe's heart. Zoe won't even nap so far because she is so thrilled to have a friend to play with non-stop! Gretty is also worth her weight in GOLD! Within an hour of setting foot in my house, she had picked up every single toy that was strung about the living room & swept the kitchen. She is constantly on the move...cleaning, cooking, washing, entertaining Zbug, and helping me complete little projects that have been on my to do list for far too long! I can not express how much I LOVE my little sister and how grateful I am that she has put her life on hold, sacrificing time & money, to be here with me at this time. I don't know if I will ever be able to repay her. The words "Thank You" just don't seem adequate! I love you, Fudge! You are the best little sister & friend in the world!

2008-10-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

mama zoe & baby arianna

mama arianna & baby zoe

best friends forever! zoe loves you anna!

A day full of PLAY
yesterday zoe had a huge day full of play....and she loved every minute of it! in the morning, her long time boyfriend corban came over to hang out. zoe was very attentive to his every need. you can see below she is trying to feed him apple snacks and assist him with his sippy cup. she is such a hands~on, touchy~feely kid. she loves to give hugs & kisses!!! luckily, corban is a good sport & took all of her manhandling in stride. in the afternoon, zoe's best friend arianna came to play. they had a great time pushing each other around the house in the stroller. it was hilarious. the person pushing would act like the mommy & give the person in the stroller a binkie so she could pretend to be the baby. it was so cute! this kid cracks me up! thanks for making me laugh every single day z-bug! i love you!

2008-10-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

" here corban....take a sip....there you go!"
"now let me give you another fist full of apple snacks!"
" maybe if i lean back far enough

he'll get the hint that i want to be kissed!?!"

"maybe i should come at him from the side...

...that might get me some lip lockin'!"

2008-10-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

Zbug & Uncle Nashwan
Lots of hugs & kisses for Uncle Nash
The Chappells & Uncle Nashwan
Zoe & her 2 favorite uncles...Austin & Nashwan

One of my first & favorite students while teaching in Ann Arbor was a young man from Yemen, named Nashwan. He had a fantastic personality and always made me laugh! We grew to be very close friends & have remained in touch over the past 2.5 years. Wes & I even officially adopted him as a younger brother. On Sunday, we met Uncle Nashwan for dinner at a delicious Middle Eastern Restaurant in Dearborn. We introduced him to Austin & had a lovely night. The best part of the evening was watching Zoe love & kiss him! She thought he was great!

2008-10-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

Picking out a Pumpkin @ the Pumpkin Patch
Goats and Sheep & Pigs.....Oh My!

fall time in michigan

last weekend we took a trip to a local cider mill and had a blast welcoming fall to the midwest. we played in a pumpkin patch, visited animals at a petting zoo, and enjoyed some delicious fresh apple cider and donuts. yummy.

2008-09-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the MOTHERSHIP!

Another Week Bites the DUST!

We have made it to 32 weeks, and Monday will mark 33! Yipee!!! As you can see...we are all growing, growing, growing. A week ago at our ultrasound our baby girl weighed in at 3.5 lbs & baby boy was close to 4 lbs! They are expected to gain about .5 lb/week from now on, so I am really excited about that. On average, at this stage of development, babies measure 16 inches long. Okay people, that's over 7.5 lbs and 32 inches of baby wrapped up in this belly! Amazing. I have surpassed the waist & weight measurements I recorded at the time of Zoe's birth...you could say I pretty much look overdue! :) Wesley's nickname for me is the "mothership" and he calls Zbug my little "droid."

This week I started my non-stress tests on Mondays & Thursdays. Both days the babies perfomed well & their heart rates were considered to be healthy. I also met with my OB & was able to ask her a million ?s about the possibilities during birth/delivery of these little ones. I will continue to have non-stress tests twice a week, doppler ultrasounds every other week, growth ultrasounds once a month, and OB/midwife appts. every two weeks. I can't wait for Gretchen to come in 2 weeks to help out with Zoe during all of those office visits!

What a crazy journey this has been, and as it winds down I try to remind myself each day of the miracle I am living. I never want to take for granted this awesome experience!

2008-09-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

Am I Forgetting Something?

In an effort to be ready for the unexpected, and out of shear excitement & anticipation, I have packed the hospital bags (several times), set up the nursery, bought diapers, wipes, clothes, towels, bottles & binkies, acquired 2 bouncy chairs & 2 exersaucers, bought another car seat, and prepared the crib!! Technically, I could still be carrying these kids 7 weeks from now, but better safe than sorry, right? Besides, I am just seriously

SO EXCITED!!!!

So now, I need your help.....what am I forgetting? I know that there has to be something I've overlooked. Please let me know your thoughts, suggestions, and questions!!!!

2008-09-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

the bags are all packed
the dresser/changing table is well stocked

2008-09-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

we have 2 teddy bears from grandma kath

2 homemade quilts from great grandpa & grandma merritt
2 bouncy chairs
2 exersaucers
2 going home outfits & hats
and 2 welcome home signs from the sugar babies!

2008-09-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today we went on a little family field trip to Kensington Park. We went to the petting zoo & then spent the afternoon playing by the lake. Zoe LOVES animals, so she was completely thrilled to have such a great hands on experience with her barnyard friends. I think the horses were her favorite. She just stared at them for the longest time. We had a great day. We will really miss the fantastic metro parks Michigan has to offer when we get back to Utah!
Zoe was completely mezmerized by the horses.

She could not take her eyes off of them.

Checkin' out the chickens.
Lovin' on the lambs.
Finally, making sandwiches with Daddy for lunch! Yum.

We had a delicious picnic by the lake!

2008-09-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

A playdate at the park ~ 16 months old
Zbug & her good friend Arianna taking a snack break at the park.

2008-09-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Katie + Wesley =
ZOE!!!!

Lately a lot of friends & family members have been telling me that Zoe is starting to resemble me more. That's a relief considering that for the first 15 months of her life we looked NOTHING alike....People thought I was her babysitter more often than her mother! Ha ha. The other day, I was looking at these pics of Wes & I at ages 4 & 5 (they hang on the front of my refrigerator door & I spend a lot of time standing there these days). I started to notice a few similarities between Zoe & me and if I looked at our toddler pics long enough & then looked at some recent pics of Zbug, I could see a good mix of us both in her sweet smile. :)

It was 2 years ago today that I took the pregnancy test that read positive and first alerted me of her existence. What an incredible day! I remember waiting the 3 minutes for the test to process & breaking out in a cold sweat. It seemed like an eternity. When the word PREGNANT finally flashed across the little screen I started to jump, scream, cry, and laugh all at once. I was so thrilled!!!!! I was so grateful. Crazy enough, just at that moment of extreme emotion, Wesley felt like he should call me from work. He never called at that time of day, so when my cell phone rang ~ my heart skipped a beat. I tried to act normal when I answered because I wanted to tell him we were pregnant in person...not over the phone. But, he knows me all too well. He knew something was up. Infact, he knew I was pregnant (We have always had this really crazy sixth sense with one another. With this current pregnancy, he knew we were having twins long before any doctor did).

Anyway, looking back, the last 2 years have been the best in my life! I can't believe how lucky I am to be Zoe's mom. She is an awesome person...she has been such a joy and inspiration to me. I will never forget 9/18/06. It was one of the most magical days of my life.

2008-09-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Things About Carrying Twins
10. Breaking the news!

Making the phone calls to tell everyone we are having another girl...

...and a boy!

That was super fun! No one would believe us!
9. Receiving a ton of prenatal care & pampering from great doctors &

our incredible midwife, Mary.
8. Bi-weekly ultrasounds. We will totally fill a photo album with pics of these kids before they even leave the womb!
7. Lots of love & support from family & friends.
6. Getting to choose a boy name & a girl name! I like Eva Helena for our daughter & Elijah Sherdon for our son. Eva & Eli!!!! Yeah!
5. Feeling twice the kicks, turns, twists, & love jabs. My favorite part of the day is when the twins are dancing the tango,

even if it is usually at 11:30 PM.
4. The 3500 calorie diet I am on! Wow! For the first time in my life, I am actually trying to gain weight and smiling as the scale numbers climb to the sky! Who can complain about being told to eat ice cream everyday??? Not me! Thank goodness I had all of those years of shake making experience at the Little Chick while growing up.
3. Being chastened for doing too much on a daily basis…

...constantly being told to lie down, relax,

put my feet up, & slow down.
2. The look on people’s faces when I answer, “November” to their constant curious question of, “When are you due?”

I know I look like I am ready to pop right there in the produce section, but technically we still have 5-9 weeks left in this journey!
1. TWO NEW AMAZING PEOPLE WILL JOIN OUR FAMILY AT ONCE.

We are SO blessed!

I can’t wait for the upcoming day when I can meet them face-to-face!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Love, Mom

2008-09-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

I CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE!

This photo was taken during a trip home to Utah in October 2006. I was pregnant with Zoe at the time, but I kept teasing and saying that I was sure I was going to have twins...one boy & one girl. Here I am practicing for twins with two baby dolls. Isn't life funny? Now, lo & behold, 2 years later, almost to the exact month & date, I will be holding REAL twins...

...one boy & one girl!

I have been wanting to find a way to work from home ~ maybe I should set up a hotline where people can call me & I will predict what they will be doing in 2 years! What do you think? Give me a call at 1-888-futureU!

2008-09-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Back to Bi-Weekly

Great news! I went for another ultrasound this week to check the blood volumes in the twins' brains. Both were still within the normal range. Because we have now had several consistent reads within average ranges, our maternal fetal specialist said we don't have to continue to come back every Monday. He asked that we come back in 2 weeks, instead! We will also do another growth measurement at that appointment. Halleluiah! We are so glad these little ones aren't showing any signs of distress or anemia...thanks for all of your prayers, thoughts, & support. The pictures on the left are of baby boy's face ~ front facing & the pictures on the right are of baby girls' profile. Pictures only a mother could love! I am so excited to meet them face to face in a few more short months!

2008-09-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Kermit & Kousins

We recently discovered that we had a whole family of toads living in one of our window wells. This week Austin & Wes headed up a successful rescue effort for the frog fam. All amphibians are now safe and sound in the wild Michigan woods behind our home. Good job, boys!

2008-09-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

Labor Day Picnic At Lower Huron Metro Park

Uncle Austin, Wesley, Zoe, Dejvis, Uncle Denis, & Aunt Anisa

2008-09-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

Labor Day Fun with friends from Albania
Zbug picnics with Ola & Dejvis
Zoe & Aunt Anisa
Playing soccer with Dejvis
Zoe & Uncle Denis

2008-09-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

GO UTES!!!!

Last Saturday Wesley & Austin went to the Big House in Ann Arbor for the season opener between the Michigan Wolverines & the Runnin' Utah Utes! Zoe & I camped out in the basement for 4 hours & watched the game on TV. What a rush!!!!! The boys from the U put on a great show & I couldn't be happier that my alma mater kicked some midwest big ten Michigan booty! My blood is still red ~ UTAH UTAH UTAH UTES!