NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament

Tony got a press pass to the NCAA basketball games at the Qwest Center last Thursday and Saturday. A dream come true for him! We saw little of him, and he saw much basketball!! He only took the camera one day and only took 2 pictures!! I am sure he can tell you much more about it!



Don't forget to scroll down further, I have added lots of pictures today!!!

Easter Eggstravaganza

The girls got to have LOTS of Easter egg hunts and found too much candy!! Olivia has found a liking to jelly beans...in my prior life (the one with just one kid), Addison NEVER would have been found eating jelly beans at 19 months. More like 2 or 2 1/2. Guess more kids makes you less uptight!! Addison enjoyed helping Liv find the eggs as well.

We had been in Omaha since Holy Thursday fo docotrs appointments, ultrasounds and the NCAA tournament (Tony had a press pass). We had so much fun with our family. We were all pretty tired by the time we got home on Easter Sunday evening, but was glad to have had the time to see everyone.

Addison enjoyed dying Easter Eggs much more this year than last year. She stayed with it until the very end!

Easter morning we went to church with Cassie and Lou. The Easter Bunny visited Cassie's house while we were gone. So the girls had a little hunt as did the big kids!!! We had so many cute pics...bear with me as I try to narrow them down for you!

After Easter at Cassie's house, we trekked to York to Mamo and Bampo's house for Easter dinner an more Easter Egg hunting!!

So you can see we had an eventful Easter and lots to do!!!

Shrine Circus

The lighting was terrible on the pictures, so not to many to show. We did have a great time though, and Addison's favorite thing was the baby elephant pooping and peeing during the show!! She did not like the live alligators. She got to ride a pony! She was extremely giddy in the car leading up to the circus, and then got shy around the clowns and wouldn’t talk to them. We had to buy popcorn, mommy’s snacks that she brought were not about to cut it.

Jumping in an inflatable jumpy thing: $3
Riding a pony who keeps pooping: $5
Buying popcorn and a bottle of water to satisfy your child: $10
Watching the excitement in her face doing it all: PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming....Shrine Circus

Shrine Circus, watch out...here we come! Addison has earned herself a "date" night with just mommy and daddy tonight. She gets to see the Circus. We took her last year, and she absolutly loved it, so when we saw they were in town again, we couldn't pass it up. Check back, hopefully on Wednesday for some pictures. It will depend on what time we get home and how much Bracketology Tony has to do if he gets the pictures downloaded!!!!

Mommy Experiences

Most people who read this blog are family, but for the VERY few who are not, let me tell you something about myself. I am a passionate person, and one of my passions is children. When I was working as an occupational therapist, I loved seeing the children everyday and the delight they got out of accomplishing something so many others take for granted. I still pray for many of those kids that I worked with, and have found many other children who are sick or just need some extra prayers. I am not sure how I stumbled upon this website, but it has captured my attention, my heart and I find myself praying for this fmaily everyday. I will not give you the whole story, as I want you to click on the link and fall in love with this amazing family for yourself. The VERY short version of the story, is that Tricia was preparing for a double lung transplant when she found out she was pregnant. Doctors advised her and her husband that carrying the baby would be very risky, through their faith, they choose life for their little miracle. She was born by emergency c-section at 24 weeks and some days. Both mom and baby are stable, Tricia has been listed on the transplant list, and now they wait. Here is their blog: http://www.cfhusband.blogspot.com/


Nate, Tricia's husband posted on his blog about doing something really neat for Tricia. (This was the original post: http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/2008/03/for-tricia.html )Coming up with a list of things I as a mom can not wait for Tricia to experience with Gwyneth. So here is my list:

Tricia, I can not wait for you to experience:

Slobbery kisses and hugs

the words, "momma" and she knows it means you

when she walks into your room at 5am and "just wants to snuggle with you"

when you have been gone all day, and she runs into your arms the minute she sees you

"Mommy, I love you"

a toothless smile

the way she can communicate a 1000 words with just her eyes and her smile

watching her dancing to the music on the radio

when she starts asking about God and Jesus

explaining the difference between a truth and a lie

when she realizes that male anatomy and female anatomy are different and wants to know what that "wiggly thing is" (you can read further down my blog to see my recent conversation with my 3 year old)

explaining that a bridal shower does not mean "actually taking a shower"

potty training!!!!

learning to sleep through the night

My list could go on and on!

Please peek in on this family and say a prayer for them when you do. I do not personally know them, but they have been placed on my heart and in my prayers.

Future American Idol Winners

We were having a little too much fun last night during dinner, annoying daddy with our singing into the pretend microphone...a lipstick tube!!

FINALLY...PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a picture post, since it has been FOREVER!

A few from Christmas morning! Addison got the homemade cabbag patch doll that I had when I was little! She takes VERY good care of her, and named her Dorothy.

Mom, Cassie and I took the girls to see Elmo! They both had a great time and ate way too much popcorn and fruit snacks!! The concert was during nap time, so we weren't sure how they would do, but they both did great and no whining!! The baby behind us was less than thrilled with Elmo and the Seasme Street Gang!

Cassie and Lou are getting married on April 11th and have asked Addison to be a flower girl!!

A few weekends ago, we went to Wichita to celebrate Londyn's 2nd birthday and Sydney's Dedication. We had a lot of fun, and the girls enjoyed seeing each other. The time went by WAY to fast! We have NO pictures of the birthday girl, she was not wanting to smile for us when we tried to take pictures!!

So check back in a few minutes, I am making another post!!

Still no pictures...sorry, but a funny Addison story.

I must preface this with, so to all the men in Addison's life if she says anything to you about this. We did NOT teach her this. Follow along in the conversation we had on the way home from gymnastics on Thursday evening:

A: Mom, you know what boys have?

Me: (afraid to take this further) What do boys have Addison?

A: They have pee-pee's.

Me: Okay, but we shouldn't talk about that. It is something that is private.

A: I know. I used to call it a "wiggly thing". But now I will call it a pee-pee.

Me: (trying to contain my laughter - how do I tell her this is really not something we should talk about?) Okay.

A: Daddy has a pee-pee, and so does Kevin and Leo and Lou.

Me: (now laughing, knowing that if she says this to anyone, they are going to die; either of embarrasment or of laughter) Addison you are right, but we should only talk about this at home. We don't talk about this kind of thing with other people.

A: Okay mommy. Are we still going to see Londyn for her birthday?

And with that the conversation was over thank goodness.

Your laughter for the day!!! Sorry if this offended anyone, but I thought it was hilarious!

So I really am convinced that no one looks at our blog, besides Cassie and Jenny. But just in ase someone else who I don't knw about does, I will explain the lack of posts and pictures.

Life around the Chapman house has been nothing short of stressful and chaotic. In early December, Tony and I found out I was pregnant. We were shocked...you all know the history and problems I have had. We had decided that we would begin to start "trying" in hopes that I would be pregnant by late spring or ealry summer. It has always taken at least 8 months in the past, and we expected this to be no different. We also thought perhaps just a little more time for Olivia would be good. She is naughty and we thought we cold work some of that out of her before another one came along. Don't get me wrong, she is just learning that her actions have consequences and she will try to push the envelope and see how far she can take it. When we tell her no, she usually ends up crying; however, that does not seem to stop the behavior that she intially got in trouble for. Oh well. Back to baby news...so after 1 month, I just had this feeling. I was not even late yet, and tried to take a test about 6 days earlt. It was clear to me that I was pregnant at that time, however, Tony was not conivnced. He wanted me to take another one in a couple of days. Waiting those next coupl od fays was torture, but I did and we took another test. He was convinced then.

Of course, I was sick almost immediatly after finding out. Always my luck. No break for the weary. So December was a whirlwind month trying to get ready for Christmas, feeling absolutly terrible and trying to hide it from Addison who we thought would tell everyone. We did finally tell her because I could not handle the conversations she would have with me EVERY day:

A: Mom, are you throwing up again? What's wrong? Are you okay?

Me: Addison, I am okay. Please go to the living room with daddy.

Later that day:

A: Are you going to be sick tonight mommy?

Me: I don't know, maybe.

A: When will you feel better? It scares me.

So with that we told her. She told us it was a baby boy and his name would be Olive. No, I did not forget to write an "R" on the end of that. Olive is the name of the dog of one of her friends. Cool, huh?!!

I promise pictures will soon be posted. Please bear with me, I am still sick and can barely hold my head up some days.

A Mother's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Our Snuggle Bug

Since you got to see lots of pictures of Addison, I thought I would share a few of our little snuggle bug. Olivia is growing like crazy and in total admiration of her big sister.





The weekend before Thanksgiving we spent in York with Tyler and Latisha and their little girls. The girls Mamo took them to the Children's Museum in York. They really enjoyedplaying store and ringing up groceries and taking my money. Olivia was checking out the blocks and train set. Londyn and Olivia really enjoyed driving the truck.




Poor Sydney had to stay home!





Addison enjoyed playing with the farm legos.




Olivia enjoys looking at the Christmas tree and playing with the Polar Express bell! It has been so much fun to watch the girls marvel in the Christmas lights and see how excited Addison is for Christmas and the anticipation of Santa!

The Many Styles of Addison

We decided this weekend, we were staying home and allowing the girls to rest and get all their germs out of their system so we were healthy for Christmas. We didn't do much. Layed around the house, played Legos, had tickle wars, took naps and Addison played dress-up with her own clothes. Addison frequently likes to play dress-up with her own clothes. I think secretly she wants to see how many outfits she put own, get dirty and leave laying on the floor for her mom to pick up and tell her to put her clothes away or in the hamper. So Sunday, I decided I wanted you all to see Addison play dress-up, so we took pictures of EVERY outfit she had on...brace yourself and then feel sorry for me, she laid on the floor pretending to help me put the clothes away.

Her 1st morning outfit (the pj's were different that night!)

Almost got away with this ALL day!

I said to smile

You have got to be kidding, it is 20 degrees outside - put something warm on.

And so she did. Slippers and all

Check out my sweats!

I got hot mom! I wanted to wear my "tappy shoes".

Please stoptaking pictures of me.

This is the last one! Notice the headband on my forehead. Sweats compelete with tap shoes.

Addison is defiently a ball of fire and always brings excitement to our "lazy" days!!

Happy Anniversary to Us

We just celebrated out 8th anniversary! It has been an amazing 8 years fo Tony and I. Our lives together have been full of so much excitement, heartache, and best of all full of love. When I look back to our wedding day, and the events leading up to it; I particularly remember our wedding ceremony rehersal. I had specifically told Tony and his friends no to be late. I was worried because the Colorado-Nebraska game was on (that was when we were a good football team); it went into overtime and my mind started thinking he would be late. Low and behold I got to the church with my mom, and Tony and ALL his groomsmen were already there, so guess who was late.

We had talked about our vows before, and I gave Tony strict instructions he was in no way allowed to cry at the wedding because then I would and my make-up would run and I would be a mess. So we got all our crying out during the rehersal...i couldn't stop crying. Tony, being the strong man he is was great!!

The day had finally come nad mom woke me up at 7am telling me she felt like an expectant mother!! I really just wanted to be sleeping, but beauty called and we had to get ready! When we arrived at the church to get dressed, mom wasn't ready and I was worried she was not going to make it back for the pictures. I don't think we had cell phones yet to call her. She mad eit and looked like a radiant mother!! I was amazed at how calm I felt and was feeling until the minute te doors opened and we were to walk down the aisle. I froze...my heart was overwhelmed and I couldn't believe all those people looking at me, there were there to witness Tony and I delcare out lives and our love to each other; secretly they just wanted to see my dress! Mom and Kevin were ready to start walking and I remember whispering to them that I needed to catch my breath before we started or I was going to lose it!! I didn't and the day was perfect!!

Thank you Tony for being my very best friend and sticking with me through the heartaches and difficult times in our lives. I could not have gotten through one single minute without you by my side. Thank you for always believing in me and allowing me to try things and then change my mind. Thank you for being by my side and honoring my deicison about my career, I know it wasn't easy for either one of us. Thank you for honoring me and loving me everyday. I love being your bestest girl and pray we have a lifetime of love and happiness ahead of us. Tony, you are an amazing father and I love watching you play with the girls and see how they love being with you. We prayed so hard to be parents and I know at times, we never thought itwould happen. Addison and Olivia have made us truly believe in miracles and that if we put our trust in God, he will fulfill our lives. My medical condition and problems have truly tested our faith, and everytime, we have dug deep and prayed and trusted in Him. I imagine our life with more little ones running around and I pray God has that same plan for our life together. I love you Tony!!!

We decided to spend our anniversay with the girls this year. No candellight dinner, no romantic movie, but laughing, singing and playing with our 2 little miracles. We even got to see Santa on our anniversary. Here is Addison sitting on Santa's lap asking him for "a train and a dolly with pigtails".

Holiday Fun...try again

I don't know why some of you are having trouble seeing our holiday fun. The link works when I click on it. It does take some time to load, but it eventually does. Try this...someone let me know if it works this time.


Hey, I just made a total elf of myself. Check it out by clicking the link below.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9549318278
This elfin' greeting brought to you by OfficeMax®.

Holiday Fun

Check out our holiday fun!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9549318278

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Sometimes we just run out of time to put our pictures onto a CD and then load them onto the blog. Today is definatly one of those days. But i thought I would just share in words what has been going on around the Chapman house these days.

Life is crazy, life is hectic, life is busy, but we are loving life and living it to the fullest. Over the weekend we decided that it was so nice outside, we just could not not put up the Christmas lights. So Tony got out the ladder, untangled the lights and up they went. Then things started to get a little out of hand...the boxes of Christmas stuff were out, and could not just sit there for a few weeks, so we put up the tree, put on the lights, put up the inside decorations, put up the outside decorations. Put away the trkeys, the pumpkins. One would think we are boycotting Thanksgiving this year. Trust us, we are not...life is just busy and we have no free weekends until the middle of December. Addison is marveling in the decorations and can not get enough of the singing snowmen. She takes them with her everywhere, and even into the bathroom with her. She has standing snowman in her room that she insists on using as a night light - it makes the sun look dark. I have no idea how she is sleeping in there, it is so bright!!

We are starting some new Christmas traditions this year and will start on Decmeber 1st, so I am anxious to see how Addison enjoys this. She can not understand that Christmas is still 40 days away, so tomorrow, we will be making a countdown wreath. You know the ones we made when we were little, it was construction paper garland. We are making one of those!

Addison is busy making her Thanksgiving Prayer Book full of things she is thankful for this year. You will be happy to know it includes her fmaily, her grandparents, her cousins, her very best friend Keyara and of course, Shrek. Yes, I am a little embarassed to send the picture of Shrek to school; knowing that it is probably not the most approriate thing for her to be thankful for. But this is her project and so we will let her take it!! Hiding and cringing the whole time!

Olivia is in full walking mode. She looks like an abused child to prove her walking skills. She has a bump on her head, a bruise on her forehed, a bruise on her cheek, and this moning, she managed to get herself a fat lip. Not just a small fat lip, but a huge one. I actually was a little worried she might need stitches, but after the blood was washed away, and the tears stopped, we decided no stitches.

We head to York this weekend to finally meet Sydney. Tyler and Latisha had a little girl in October, and we are finally going to meet her this weekend. We have given Addison all the lectures about how to touch her softly, and to only touch her toes and hands. We should be giving the lecture to Olivia.

Pictures will follow soon, in the next couple of days...i promise!!

Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car Pictures

***Please note - I am having trouble getting the video to work. Not sure what to do. Hopefully it will work soon.
***Don't forget to read the post right before this one!

Addison was VERY excited when she found out who the "special friends" were going to be. This is Tony showing her inside the auditorium what we were doing and her reaction! We loved seeing how excited she was to be seeing The Wiggles. The Wiggles house was all Addison saw when she entered the auditorium, and knew immediatly what she was going to get to see! She just could not believe that she was going to see a "Wiggley Concert". We of course had to get in line with all the other parents to see how much we could spend on souviners. We opted for a cup with the Wiggles on it, as it seemed the most practical. While waiting for the concert to start, daddy taught Addison how to blow through the straw to make it sound like a whistle, a very loud ear-piercing whistle! Mommy was not real happy!!

Addison wanted to know if she was going to be able to see her boyfriend, Jeff. She loves the purple wiggle, Jeff the best. She has a little boy in her class named Jackson; who she told us was her boyfriend the 1st few days of schools. About a month after school hd started, we ran into Jackson and his mom in Walmart. I asked Addison after we left if that was Jackson her boyfriend, she politely reminded me that only Jeff was her boyfriend and she could only have 1 boyfriend. How silly of me to forget!

Our seats were good, not too far away that Addison could not see, but far enough away that some of our pictures were not real good. Here are some pictures of Addison, our dancing Diva.

The diva dancer in action:

Bye Wiggles! Hope you had fun Addison. Mommy and daddy REALLY, REALLY had a fun time with you and you were so good on our trip!