NEW BLOG SITE

Dear friends and family,

We aren't the best at blogging and keeping updates, but I realized that one of the reasons I don't like blogging on my personal blog is because I hate its weird name- www.myryllyfe.blogspot.com. I chose it when blogs were "like so totally new." (It was kind of like when people gave themselves email addresses like: jamminjess43@hotmail.com, etc :) Also, since Ghana we don't update our Ghana blog EVER. So I know this is REALLY annoying to those whose blogrolls consist of about 4 Strayer blogs at this point but we are consolidating. We started: http://mikeandchelseastrayer.blogspot.com/ and that is what we'll be updating from now on as a family. (Mike will probably still keep his personal blog: www.reluctantconquistador.blogspot.com). We might make it private once the baby comes, but we'll let you know.

For now, to make up for the annoyance of changing all your blog lists, I've posted a ton (3 posts!) on our new blog! check it out.

xo-chels

TED revisited.

I was so sick at TEDIndia this November that I never really got to talk or spread the word. Now that I'm feeling a little better I wanted to share some of my favorite talks that I basically was just so inspired the whole time! I LOVED it. Tell me what you think:

Pranav, by the way, was the nicest guy ever. I went up to him later that day at one of the meals and just told him how inspired I was and impressed with his work. Here we are both in India and he noticed I was at BU and said, "I'm just across the river. We should get together sometime." Amazing.

Blood Donation Box Checking

We were telling funny family stories the other day and it came up that Mike was totally embarrassed once when he went to donate blood. It was right after we got married and right before he went to Africa with me and instead of checking the box that said "I've been to Africa." He had to check the box that said something like, "Have you had sexual contact with someone who has lived in Africa, a sex worker, etc." He wanted to clarify with the technician, but it just never came up. We were all laughing and my little sister Kati said she had an even better story.

She was filling out the same paperwork and missed that particular box so the lady had to read it out loud. "Have you ever had sexual contact with anyone that has lived in Africa, a sex worker, etc." Kati wasn't really listening and said very matter, "Yes." and then "My sister." The lady's face looked shocked and then said, "maybe I should ask that again...."

Kati just thought she'd said "any contact with someone who has lived in Africa" and thought of me. We all laughed so hard last night about the mix up and what the blood donation worker must have thought.

I love my husband...

Sometimes I can't get over how much I love my husband. He'll do something simple. cute. ordinary. And It'll make me stop and just smile ear to ear. I feel like my entire notion of belief, faith, and hope is wrapped up in the simple idea that if we could find each other, anything is possible.

I had him make a Christmas list the other day. It only had about 10 things. Mostly practical. Two of them were: cornbread and reeses pieces.

I LOVE him!

Thanksgiving bump!

I was just reminded of our horrible Thanksgiving meal last year in Ghana. I worked all day cooking food that we brought from the US and trying to make things as nice as possible. Brandon and Mike actually killed and cut up a local Turkey and we invited all our friends over. People were putting gravy on top of chocolate cake, complaining that the men weren't fed first, and ordering me around to get them glasses of water. I think it was summed up best when one neighbor said when I asked him why he wasn't eating anything but the turkey meat, "If I eat your food I will throw up in my mouth."

Needless to say, this year was much better! We had the most beautiful Thanksgiving meal. A bunch of friends got together at Ben and Sus' place and it was decorated so cute and the food was amazing.


This is Mike's and my contribution: a green salad, sweet sweet potatoes, and savory sweet potatoes. It was GOOD!

Yes, that is homemade cranberry sauce (the best I've ever tasted), garlic cream cheese mashed red potatoes, and Homemade artisan bread. Amazing.


Here's the cute table with turkey shaped chocolates all the way from Burdicks in Harvard square that we all love! AND not to mention that for my B-day Sus totally remembered my favorite wedding present-- one of those silly glass cake holders that can also be a punch bowl-- and she remembered how sad I was to get rid of it to go to Africa even though I don't really bake or display cakes or use punch bowls, and she got me one! Only it also can be used for chips and dip so its amazing!


This is the cute maternity outfit that my mom got me for my b-day. The first picture is me normal and the second one is emphasizing the bump a little. I think I kept flashing people with my new boobs all night, so I'm sorry about that....

A little late...Halloween!

So this year we decided to be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mike looks totally handsome but my Hillary wig was kinda struggling.

Little Baby Strayer

I' m a HUGE fan of reading other people's blogs and getting updates, but I am not so great about updating myself! So I thought I'd take a stab at being a better blogger and updating more. To begin with is our new little adventure below:





We are due around April 17th and we don't know the sex. It's going to be a surprise, even to us! So far everything looks healthy and strong on the baby's end although I feel like I'm not very good at this pregnancy thing. I'm well past the first trimester and still feeling pretty sick.

I haven't been very productive work-wise and I'm terrified that that is a sign of things to come.....

But yesterday and today I felt some kicks and the ultrasounds and kicks make everything seem worth it. :)

Love ya, chels

Basketball Studette

I stopped exercising about 8 years ago when I started going to Africa because every time I jogged people would shout, "Who is chasing you?"

This video is a homage to my more athletic days.....



***P.S. Thanks Jared for this video montage, for highlighting only my good shots, creating JPI, AND even letting me be the first girl in the league!