HOliday Letter - 2017
Happy Holiday’s From the Chapman’s
Welcome to another Chapman family letter. That must mean it is approaching the end of 2017, and if we are actually on our game, it is just the beginning of December!
Tumultuous: Excited, confused or disorderly. That may be how we describe 2017. You should not take that to mean 2017 was bad, but, it was full of ups and downs with plenty of disruptions to the order of our life. Our little, localized, life was as full of great fun, new experiences and every growing kids which is what I will focus on here.
Molly is now 7 and in first grade, this is her first year in full-time school. She has taken it by storm. There was some pain in getting used to the long hours, fatigue from school and getting used to what real life will be like, but nothing she hasn’t since beaten. She is already reading & writing beautifully and has been called out for her gifts in art. She continues her gymnastics, is in Girl Scouts and is taking up rock climbing (taking it up like a mountain goat!). She did have a tough surgery to tend too this year (see here) which she of course handled like the seasoned surgical pro she is. Molly, as always, is a tough little girl. We know this as parents because she can run us through the wringer, but we are always proud of her and do our best to get out of her way as she continuous to put the world on notice.
Caden is 10!?!?!?!!! and in fourth grade. His obsession with all things sports has continued and this year he started competitive soccer. This stepped up his commitment from an hour of practice a week and a game (with dad as his coach) to 6 hours of practice a week and games and tournaments many miles from home with a coaching staff at his back. Despite his belief that he is not good enough at anything, he is excelling at math, reading and science. And good news...he has decided he wants to be an engineer!! Other activities keeping him busy include math league, rock climbing, hiking 14ers and the upcoming ski season. Caden has been and continues to be the hardest worker I know with a never say die attitude. I hate the amount of stress he brings on himself, but know he will be successful in anything he does.
And how about those parents? Jonathan (40...by the time you read this, f^%k) and Katy (39) have been almost entirely focused on family and work. Katy has taken commitment to family to a whole new level. She is now the Louisville Elementary PTA President...practically runs that school. She spends hours behind the scene ensuring a high level education for all students AND spends even more hours focused on being involved with her own kids. And, if that wasn’t enough, she has spent the rest of her non-existent time taking care of her parents (7 trips to Portland this year!). Jon doesn’t have much more to report, but there is a looming possibility for a job change in the near future...stay tuned. We did run a Tough Mudder together this year! So there is that...
Then there is the travel! Always love talking about where we have been. I am not sure we have had as many trips as normal, but we still had some good ones! Highlights include: A California Tour to visit Jon’s old digs and going to our friends wedding. Another epic road trip to see Katy’s old digs in Montana and visit some friends in Washington. The aforementioned Portland trips (Here is #1, and #2 and #3) and a quick venture to see the Total Eclipse!
I guess after writing this I can say we had a pretty good year despite what seemed like more than the normal stresses of life, but I guess that can be chalked up to growing up. As always, please use this website to explore our adventures (remembering that I am not nearly as consistent with it as previous years). And of course, we hope this letter finds all of our friends and family doing well and enjoying their own lives (through the ups and downs). We hope 2018 brings us the chance to see you all once again.
Love Jon, Katy, Caden and Molly!