RAINBOW -- August 4, 2008

We had a wonderful convention! Enjoyed the preps and the meetings before the convention as well as our usual Chappell family steak and lobster feed for all the workers before convention. Enjoyed having Carl & Ester G., John & Ester L., Dana & Marilyn W., Dave & Karina B. and little Annalise, and Courtney & Wade H. (CA) stay with us. In the evening after the clean-up day, there was a gorgeous rainbow -- such a fitting ending to wonderful days!

Rainbow over the pond

Close up of rainbow over our field

Paxton & Shaelyn ready for convention

(Brent's pic)

Ellie & Ava at convention

(Shelley's pic)

Courtney & Wade

Dave, Karina, & Annalise

HORSE BACK RIDING WITH ELLIE -- August 13, 2008

Kent had promised Ellie on her birthday way back in January to take her horseback riding, and it finally worked out with everyone's schedule and weather to go yesterday afternoon at Heather's. Kent and Ellie had a wonderful time!!! Heather and her girls went along. It was a beautiful day and a fun afternoon. Kent & Ellie really enjoyed it -- a very special day! Thank you, Heather!!! Ava also wants to have her day with Grampa horseback riding, so hopefully that will work out before school starts.




Ellie with the little pony.

Ellie all ready to go!

















Down the lane....












Enjoying the ride!











Grampa & Ellie

A beautiful and peaceful ride!

A special day!

SUMMER FUN IN JULY 2008

Lots of fun at cook-outs, swimming, sleeping out, etc.! A great summer! ( I borrowed a few of these pictures! Thanks, guys!)

Gramma & Grampa with Shaelyn












Ellie, Ava, & Paxton had a sleepover in the girls' playhouse. Uncle Brad & Tucket joined them!












Brent & Paxton camping out beside their garage













Little Miss Shaelyn
(5 months old)












All smiles!













Brad taking spin on little dirt bike a fella at the shop gave the girls. Looks like he belongs in the Shriners' parade....











Brad's family at the beach in FL with all of Shelley's family for a week











Ellie at the beach in NH


















Ava at the beach in NH


















Ellie, Ava, & Paxton enjoying the pool













Paxton ready to go off the diving board













Hi guys!













Shaelyn loves the water too!

Boys at the pool (Jody's pic)

Girls at the pool (Jody's pic)

Kids having fun at the pool (Jody's pic)

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE FROM BARCELONA TO VENICE

June 24-July 10, 2008 -- We joined Butch & Janis Caston, Don & Eve Strassburg, and Warren & Sue Wainwright from California in Barcelona, Spain for a wonderful 2 & 1/2 weeks. We spent a few days in Barcelona before embarking on our cruise with stops in Nice, France; Florence/Pisa, Italy; Rome, Italy; Naples/Capri, Italy; Santorini, Greece; Athens, Greece; Debrovnik, Croatia; and ending up in Venice, Italy. I'll add more pictures later....











Celebrity SUMMIT
cruise ship

Butch & Janis, Warren & Sue, Kent

Eve & Don, and Sharon

KATIE & NATE'S WEDDING -- JUNE 21st

Katie wanted a casual beach atmosphere wedding out by the pond on the farm. It was a gorgeous day and a lovely wedding!

Katie & Jodie (the wedding planner!)

Katie & her attendants before the wedding

Roger & Bonnie

The cake with fresh peonies

Nate & his buddies before the wedding

Garret bringing Bonnie

Nate's parents -- Dale & Sarah Ball

Kristy & Hannah bringing Grampie

Waiting for the bride!

Here comes the bride!

Saying their vows

Mr. & Mrs. Nate Ball

Nate & Katie

Tables for the buffet dinner reception were set up on the front lawn with fresh peonies on the tables

Johanna with Paxton & Shaelyn

Brent & Shaelyn

Brad, Shelley, Ellie, & Ava

CONGRATULATIONS NATE & KATIE!!! BEST WISHES!

BRONCHITIS!

I had a bout of bronchitis for about the whole month of June and hardly had any voice. It would have been quiet in this house, except I coughed till I think Kent was ready to go crazy! :) So this BLOG has been quiet for a while too.... Now it's time to update since we are back from our trip to Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece. While we were gone for 2 1/2 weeks, lightning struck our modem, but we are finally back up and running again.

JUNE PIANO RECITAL -- SAT. AM JUNE 21st

Ellie & Ava had their last piano recital before the summer vacation. They will start up again in the fall. That was on Saturday AM, and then we went to Katie and Nate's wedding at the farm in the afternoon! A full day and beautiful weather!