MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Come back soon for Christmas pictures from our Chapman Christmas celebration at Jay's home. The day after Christmas we will be leaving for Myrtle Beach to go camping for 4 days. Jamie's family and Landon's family will be there also, not camping though - they are going to be in a resort. Watch for pictures soon.

Kylie's 5th Birthday

We celebrated a little birthday party at grandpa and grandma's house before going to Jamie and Renea's house for the "Princess Party" for Kylie's 5th birthday. Her birthday was December 17.

We took Ben, Clayton and Kylie to Meadow Lights to ride the train to see the lights and hang out in the candy store. Kylie was the only one that would sit with Santa - Ben and Clayton too shy or too old!!! We will be going over to Jay's home along with Jamie's family and Joe's and celebrate Christmas today with the family. Watch for pictures from our family Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Our visit to see Baby Ella Chapman

Katy, Joe, Randy and I drove down to Jacksonville, NC to see Landon, Haley and Ella on Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's about a 2 hour drive from us. Kim and Steve were there also over Thanksgiving so we got to visit with them also. Ella is a beautiful little girl. Landon had just purchased a wii, so we played games of bowling against each other.

Katy and Ella

Haley and Ella in the nursery.

Grandma Kim and Ella

The whole family-Kim, Landon, Haley & Steve Chapman

Ella's first outing - we all went to Chili's to eat.

Landon and Joe at Chili's

Thanksgiving at Jay's home

Jamie and Renea cleaning up after a food fight!!! KIDS!!

Randy, Diane, Jamie and my niece, Sarah Todd

Jamie and Collin (Jay's oldest)

Diane, Katy, Randy, Sarah, Renea (Randy's women)

The boys were outside playing, this is the rest of the crew.

HOLIDAY GALA NIGHT AT CHURCH

Diane, Renea and I hosted a table at church. There were almost 200 women at the event. Diane and I (mostly Diane) decorated the table yesterday and we had the event tonight. Below you can see that Randy was one of the servers. He's so handsome in his bow tie. It was a fun evening to see all the beautifully decorated tables, each in their own different designs.

Renea, Randy, Diane and I after eating.

This Weekend in the Mountains

We drove up to the mountains this weekend to visit friends. On the way, we took the Hickory Nut Gorge tour. Starting at Columbus, NC we took the back roads up to Asheville. We saw many historical sights, stopping at Lake Lure and Chimney Rock to walk, take pictures and enjoy the beauty of the colorful trees and mountains, and purchase apples from the orchards. The above picture of Randy is overlooking the town of Columbus after taking all kinds of hairpin turns up 3,000 feet to the top of White Oak Mountain. At the top are a bunch of condominiums. No way would we live up there!!

This is the river that runs beside the town of Chimney Rock.

We finally arrived in Waynesville, NC where our dear friends, Patsy and Jim Ferrell opened their home to us. We enjoyed wonderful fellowship, dinner and an overnight stay in their home. They took us to Barbara's Orchard for apples, mountain pie and apple bread.

This is the view from their sun room. This picture does not capture the beauty of the trees and mountains we enjoyed.

Randy this morning in their sun room before we left for Asheville.

Randy and Jim outside their home this morning before we left.

We then headed for Asheville where we attended church at Asheville Mennonite. Our long time acquaintances, Barb and Sanford Yoder, are now living in Asheville and Sanford is pastor of the church. It was so encouraging to see them again and hear how God is working there in Asheville. We had lunch with Barb and Sanford after church and got to catch up on family and how we both ended up in North Carolina. Then it was time to head home. It was a fun weekend hanging out with friends and seeing God's beauty in the mountains.

Halloween Day

KYLIE dressed as a fairy at her preschool party
DIANE in her preschool room for her party!

Jamie, Renea, Kylie, Clayton and Grandpa

Jamie and Renea going to a costume party!

The grandkids going house to house-Clayton a clown basketball player, Kylie the princess fairy, Ben a Hurricanes hockey player, Noah the man!

Jeff's family in Illinois

Stacey's cousin got married this past weekend and Stacey, Emma, Isaac and Abby were all in the wedding. Jeff and Abby above.

Jeff and his beautiful family!

Stacey, Emma, Isaac and Abby

This was all of Stacey's family but the picture did not turn out well and I couldn't figure out how to fix it!

Emma, Abby, and Isaac

Isaac and Abby

Welcome Home from Iraq Landon!!

Randy and I drove to Jacksonville to see Landon who has returned from Iraq a week ago. It's about a 2 hour drive and rained most of the day in Jacksonville. We spent the day with Kim, Steve, Adam (Natalie's husband) and Haley and Landon. Steve spent the past two days painting the baby's nursery, living room and kitchen. Landon took Steve, Randy and I on a tour of Camp LeJeune. It was fun to see the base and where Landon works and to hear all that he has been involved in the Marines. Congratulations to Landon who was promoted to Corporal. Later we all went out to eat at Tony's Seafood and Oyster Bar Restaurant. YUM!

Haley made this sign to welcome Landon home - outside their apartment!

Landon in the front of his apartment.

Haley and Landon

Haley and Landon in the freshly painted nursery. Ella Marie is to arrive in about 6 weeks.

Adam and Landon - good buds!

Kim and Landon and Haley's newest family addition - a male puppy that is a blue pitbull.

Haley and Kim

The gang hanging out in Landon's living room.

Randy and Steve and Kim in the kitchen.

The building that Landon's works at Camp LeJeune.

Explaining how this amphibian truck/tank - whoops, sorry, Landon, I forgot what it is called!

Steve and Landon in front of his battalion sign.