Christmas Party(s)

Jonathan and I have been making the rounds the last two weeks with Christmas Parties. To start with, my workplace hosts a wonderful Christmas party each year at the Jackson Country Club (there are lots of perks to working with Doctor's). It is always a really nice event, starting with cocktail hour, 4 course dinner, and then open bar with lots of dancing. Each year we have complained that no one stays until the end and this year we were out to shut the place down. And we did...We have several new girls this year who are close (yes, Miranda I said close) in age to Jonathan and I . We decided to fix up Miranda with Jonathan's good friend Gabe because we knew for 1.) he would think she is hot and wouldn't want to her turn down, and 2.) they would have a blast together (and they did).

We all had way too much fun for a Thursday night and be at work the next morning! One of the girls I work with, is kind of a tom boy (mean that in a good way) and can be shy. We decided it was our mission to give her a make over and she agreed. I must say that she looked beautiful! Also, I mentioned that she is shy...well never, ever say that to my husband because he will make it his mission to draw you out of your shell. He decided that since he couldn't get Erin to dance that he would really embarrass her and give her a lap dance (see photo below). Well, the talk of the office the next day was how our Husbands really had a "good time" thanks to the free booze. I quickly took to his defense and explained that he wasn't feeling his alcohol that's just his personality and he always goes for shock mode, sober or non-sober! Like I said we all had a great time and made some fun, new memories!

Jonathan and I after our wonderful dinner!

The infamous lap dance! Check out every one's face around. Leigh and I have our heads turned laughing hysterically!

Lauren, Miranda, Me, Erin, and Leigh

Clinton and Leigh

Gabe and Miranda

Gabe and Miranda "Prom Style" Photo

Gabe and Jonathan (aka...trouble)

Doesn't he look so sweet and innocent, NOT!

We also had Jonathan's office party this week in New Orleans, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera. We had a wonderful time and we always enjoy getting to see everyone~

Graduation

Ok, so I am a little behind in posting...There has been a lot going on around our house the last month. Starting with my brother graduating from Mississippi State University (Jonathan and I are not forgiving him for going there)! We are so proud of him! My parents decided to host a party for him at Briarwood Country Club in Meridian. We had the best time dancing and celebrating the night away with all our family and friends. When my parents decide to throw a party they really know how to do it up right (a.k.a...our wedding)!

This is towards the end of the night and my oldest brother and I decided to show everyone our moves or, lack of moves...and no, we didn't plan our outfits to match one anothers!

I kept trying to get Derek to smile with his beautiful girlfriend Holley, but he hates pictures, so Jonathan decides to jump in and plant his happy face in the photo I had been trying desperately to capture all night!

and then there are those who don't mind having their pictures taken! One guess at who it is???

This is Brent's cake I had made to match his invitations. Now, keep in mind the day that I picked up the cake it was snowing and ice was all over the roads (we weren't even sure if there would be a cake). I went to look at it and the cake lady said, I just put the red on, it will darken up and not look pink the longer it sits. Guess what, it remained pink and never got darker!! Oh well, it still tasted good!

The graduate and his proud parents!

Taking his walk...

Winter Wonderland

So, as I sit in my office this morning and look out the window watching the snow fall to the ground, I am overcome with the joyous feeling that it's Christmas more than ever! My decorations have been up since the week before Thanksgiving (yes, I am crazy), and I even participated in the after Thanksgiving madness (I mean shopping). But, all of that has not made it feel like Christmas until now. It's kind of ironic that the XM radio is playing "Let it snow, Let it snow" as I type this post.

I have had a few people ask that I post pictures of my Christmas decorations, so I am going to oblige and let all 3 of my readers see. I have to say it has been a work in progress over the years, but each year it keeps getting better and better. I owe my Mom a huge thank-you for helping me decorate my tree. Also, Rachel helped me with the wreath for my front door. I had all of the stuff for it, but I just couldn't wrap my brain around what I wanted to do with it. So, sweet Rachel stepped in and saved the day. Thanks Leigh for loaning Rachel to me! :o) It really was a lot of fun decorating because somehow as the day went on, more and more people stopped by the house to visit and offer up suggestions. My mom, Heather (sister-n-law), Brent (brother), Ms. Brenda (mother-n-law), Leigh (friend), Lauren (Leigh's little girl), Jessica (neighbor), and Rachel (friend) all stopped by sporadically, so my mom decided that everyone who stopped by needed a hot cup of apple cider. I wished I had taken picture's, but unfortunately I was a little pre-occupied. Hope you all enjoy the pictures! They aren't the best decorations ever, but like I said it's a work in progress. Maybe in about 10 years, I will have decorations like Callaways, or not!

The attempt at making my tree look like Callaway's trees (still a long way to go)!

This is the center of my mantle. Take a look at those cute little packages my mom found me! There was only 1 bundle left, so I detached them to spread them out.

My favorite bargain this season is the stockings! Last year Jonathan, Daisy (yes, she has a stocking too), and myself had the Pottery Barn stockings with our name monogrammed on. Well, I found these this year at Sam's Club for $10.88!! Can you believe that? Then I found out later that there is a designer one that looks the same that cost over $100 a piece. Regardless of what my husband says, it does pay off to bargain shop, even if you didn't know you needed new stockings! :o) How could I pass them up?

OK, so this is the top of my tree. I learned a valuable lesson the night I did this. Never ask your husband his thoughts, unless you really want to hear it! I turn to Jonathan, as he is so deep in a TV show and ask "baby, what do you think of the top of the tree," to which his response was..."if you were going for the whole 4th of July firework explosion look, then you mastered it!" God love him, but that was not the answer I was looking for after spending two days on this tree!! It took him about a week of coming in everyday for him to finally say, "you know, the house looks really good and you did a great job." I guess he needed time to process it.

Don't laugh, this is a little creation I made. I wanted to put something in my urns and since I have no green-thumb this is what I came up with.

This is my front door. I have to tell a funny story that happened during the guys weekly poker night at our house. We had two new guys show up and when they walked thru the front door, they turned to Jonathan and said, "dude, these Christmas decorations rock, it looks like some kind of celebrity lives here!" Jonathan turns to me and I'm just glowing, cause it made my night to be compared to a celebrity (those guys are welcome in our house anytime! :o)). Even if they didn't mean me, just my house (I'll take what I can get)!

Give Thanks...

As I drove to work this morning, my thoughts were racing about the upcoming Holidays and how it is so easy to lose track of the real reason why we are all able to celebrate. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I wanted to take time to give thanks.

I have been so blessed in my life and especially this past year. I often think, "what did I ever do in this world to be deserving of such a wonderful life?" I know there are days when we get down and feel like nothing is fair or going right, but when I truly think of what I have to be down about, it makes me feel so selfish.

God has blessed my life with the most wonderful husband who I love, adore, and look up to. He makes me proud everyday. Our new businesses adventure has taken off (which is a good thing), but it has pulled him away from home a good bit the last few weeks. Poor thing has had to give up opening weekend of deer season, Ole Miss vs. LSU tickets, Saints Monday night tickets, a USM football game and he hasn't complained (that much)! He's been under so much stress and he is going thru all of this, so that he can provide for his wife and our "new" house fund! :o) I thank God everyday for bringing Jonathan and I together.

I have to also give thanks for such a wonderful family. Too often you hear of sibling's not getting a long or parents that don't even speak to each other. I have to say that I have been blessed beyond belief to have two amazing brothers. They are so opposite from one another and me, but when we are together we have the most fun! Both of them have two amazing women in their life, that loves them very much. I use to pray all the time that God would place special ladies in my brothers life that they could share their lives with. I also have a mother and father who I admire and love so much! They have sacrificed a lot to make sure that my brothers and I never went without. They have been the best and most influential teachers I have ever had!

Some of you may know that my grandfather has been ill the last few years. It is such a blessing each and everyday that he is still here with us. My grandparents have been the most wonderful grandparents. They are always loving, kind, and supportive. I am truly blessed that I get to share them with Jonathan.

This past year I was also blessed to receive another family! I now have two wonderful sister-n-laws who are so precious and loving. I also have 6 nephews and nieces who bring joy to my life in a whole new way. My mother-n-law is one of a kind and I am so thankful that we have such a great bond.

I know this blog goes on and on with me giving thanks, but I can't help it. Many of you know that I work in a hospital and as I walked in this morning, it meant even more to me on just how thankful I am. There are a lot of sick people who can't spend this Thanksgiving with their loved ones, so I don't take for granted the time that I get to spend with mine.

So, to sum it all up...As we go through the Holidays remember all the great things in life we have to be thankful for and if we have the opportunity to share something with another that brings joy, lets do.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

USM Football

We all got together and tailgated for USM's last home game of the year. It was really cold, but we had a lot of fun. Tailgating has come a long way since we use to tailgate back in college. I think we were the only tent that didn't have a flat screen TV hooked up to a dish. It's such a great feeling that comes over me whenever I walk back on campus. Here are a few pictures from the weekend...Go E-A-G-L-E-S!

My Mom and Dad enjoying the great food!

My brother Derek and his girlfriend Holley.

Holley is a die hard Ole Miss fan, so I appreciate

her showing support for the eagles that day!

My silly brothers just had to show where their support is.

Brent is a die hard Georgia fan and Derek bleeds orange & blue.

It just so happened that these two teams played each other

while we were tailgating. Thanks to all the folks around us

with TVs, they didn't have to miss the game!

Who knew...

That I actually married a Movie Star!

OK, so maybe not a REAL movie star, just an extra in the Indian Jones Stunt Show in Disney World.

In case you can't tell by now, Jonathan and I spent last week in Disney World. I had a work conference there, who on earth would schedule a "work" conference in Disney World? This was my third time going to Disney World, but Jonathan had never been so we took advantage of the free room, packed our bags and hit the parks running. We had a great time and it was so fun to watch and listen to him scream with excitement on all the great rides!

The picture above is of my sweet husband getting to play an extra in the Indian Jones stunt show. I knew before we sat down that they would be picking people out of the audience and of course as suspected, Jonathan was the first to stand up and wave his arms as if to say, "Pick me, Pick me!" He has later informed me that he is a movie star now and he doesn't let the fame go to his head. Don't know about you guys, but I haven't seen a movie star paycheck yet!

Here are some pictures of our work/vacation/2nd honeymoon trip!

Me letting my inner Minnie come out!

Jonathan taking a lunch break... :o)

The "Newlyweds"

I gave in...

After all this time of reading everyone else's blog and thinking what a great idea... but, "would I ever have enough to blog about?" I caved and have now become a blogger! I don't make any promises to keep this updated regulary, because quite frankly, I still don't have enough to blog about. But, I will do my best to keep everyone updated about what is going on in "The Chappell" world (still getting use to that)! The only promise that I can keep is that I am not a good speller, nor a profound writer like my friend Saranne! If you want to be entertained, I highly suggest you checking out her blog. Once I learn how to add people to mine, I will add her on there!

What a Wonderful Day...

This had to be, hands down, the most perfect and beautiful day of my life. It by far exceeded any expectations or thoughts I may have had about our wedding day. I got to marry the love of my life on the most gorgeous October day. Dunleith Plantation took my breath away and all of the people I love the most were there to help us celebrate. A HUGE "Thank You" goes out to my parents for making all of my little girl, "Cinderella" dreams come true!