Wednesday, December 21, 2005

The Girls Out Number The Boys

Ella Mary was born this afternoon at about 1pm. She is doing great and so is mom and dad. Big sister Kate was going to get a chance to meet her this evening. They are hoping to go home Friday morning. She was 6lbs 13oz and just over 18 inches long. So now we have Kate, Maddie and Ella in the girls corner and Ben and Sam in the boys corner. We are looking forward to meeting new cousin number 2. We will get a chance to see them next week and now Maddie is no longer the little one of the bunch.

Four Days Down In The Cold

We have been in the cold of Wisconsin for four days now and are still not getting used to it. I thought it would be like riding a bike and you never forget how to react to the cold, but I guess I was wrong and still dread going outside everyday. I think that it might be worse for Maddie since she has to put on the monster suit as we call it. She can't find her fingers or even move her arms in it, so she hates having to get into it. We have been doing a lot of hanging out and last night we went to my cousin Alex's basketball team who actually is on the team my sister coaches. Maddie enjoyed the game since she is so used to being at school and watching whatever is going on. This week we are at Chad's parent's house. Maddie is enjoying rolling everywhere to get where she wants to go. She doesn't do that at home, so it is nice to see her trying new things. She still is trying to get the crawling thing down. She gets up on all fours, but still doens't quite know what to do after. She just rocks her butt up and down.

Cousin number 2 is on the way. Grandma Heff called this morning to say that Alan and Tracie were at the hospital. We can't wait to find out if it is another boy cousin or if it is another girl cousin.

Friday, December 16, 2005

And He's Here

Well to continue the last post...

Samuel William Chapman was born at about 7:30 last night. Weighing in at 7 lbs and 19 inches long. Everyone is doing great. Big brother Ben got some time to spend with his grandpas as his grandmas were at the hospital with mom, dad, and baby. We can't wait for the chance to meet you. Hopefully Amy will survive in the house full of boys. She can always come and visit Maddie and I for some girl-time.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

A New Cousin Is On The Way

Well it is early, but one of Maddie's new cousin is on the way. My brother-in-law, Joel called today at about 2pm to tell us that they were at the hospital. I also talked to my mom and they said they broke Amy's water at about 3pm and her and my dad were just leaving to go see them. I didn't think that we were going to get the chance to meet baby Chapman while we were home, but it looks like we will get to meet and greet the new little one.

My sister-in-law Tracie is due on Christmas Day, so it looks like we will get to meet two new cousins while we are home. We are actually trying to get packed tonight as we will be heading to Dallas tomorrow afternoon after our basketball games. We fly out on Saturday morning and it looks like it will be to a lot colder weather and some snow. We can't wait to get home and just get a chance to have a break and relax. For all of those who we will see, see you soon. For those who will be in different places, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sunday, November 27, 2005


I like to help mom with the laundry, okay I lied I just like to play in the basket Posted by Picasa


An evening ride at Harris County Posted by Picasa


Well she is half Heffelfinger Posted by Picasa


In the car again, it is either there or school Posted by Picasa

Just Three Weeks Away

I'm not sure if my mom is going to make it for three weeks waiting for us to come home. Chad and I are not sure if we will make it either, we are getting excited to go home for a break. I am actually looking forward to the cold weather. I know that you who are in the cold think I am crazy, but it is really hard to get into the Christmas spirit when it is still 75 degrees out. We are also looking forward to seeing everyone and getting to just hang out.

This past week has been fun with Jay and Jill being here. I think they enjoyed the time to just relax and not have to work. It seemed like we did a lot of just napping and talking and playing cards. But they seemed to enjoy it, so that is all that matters. We had lots of laughs and fun joking around with each other. Especially poking fun at Chad. (We all love him, but he just kept digging a deeper hole) Jay was my babysitter on hand for Monday's practice and Tuesday's game. By the end of the week he even had Maddie falling alseep for him, which is no easy task. I think Maddie was wondering where they went today when she got up and they were already on their plane to Minnesota.

Chad has just two weeks of classes and then one week of finals. He says that just having these two weeks of classes will make the next couple of weeks go by a lot quicker. We will be back to practice and games this week and for the next few weeks. Maddie is going to go into shock when having to go back to spending most of her afternoons and evenings at school. This week isn't too bad, I have two away games, but that just means that she will get to hang out with dad after his practices. The next two weeks are filled with games and then that last week before break is just practices since it is finals week with a game then on Friday afternoon.

We hope that you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. We are thankful for all of you and can't wait to see most of you at Christmas.

Thursday, November 10, 2005


Here I am at 5 months Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

And We're Off

Basketball started over 3 weeks ago and this week we have finaly started games. After our game last night, I think I would have likes another week of practice. I know the girls were ready to play and I was too a little bit, just so I could see where we are and what we need to work on. There were some stressful times in the game, but we came out with a win by 4 points. It would have been 6, but we let that last second shot go in, just so the game could be over. Definitely our posts are our strong point of the team and that is what we will be focusing on. I am looking forward to this team, they have some real potential and should be able to come out with some good games. They might be stressful games for me, but I know that they will be good. Chad starts games next week. He is now up to 5 guys, while football is getting ready for their play-off game this weekend. He is scheduled for game on Tuesday and they are still going to play. If football would lose, that would mean the rest of the team would have one day of practice and then a game. It could be a rough day for him next week.

Our time now seems to be taken over by basketball, but that is our life right now. Maddie seems to enjoy all the attention she gets from all the girls and parents when we are at school. She is adjusting to eating her dinner in her stroller instead of a high chair. As games get started we will be having Caitlyn babysit for her. Most game days one of us play at home and the other away, so Maddie will at least be at school with one of us.

Most of our free days are spent running errands or catching up on housework. There always seems to be something that needs to be done. We are starting to look forward to Christmas and our trip home. It seems like it is so far away, but it actually isn't that far at all. We'll be home in about 5 weeks. With everything going on now, I sometimes wonder where the week goes. We are also getting excited for Jay and Jill to come and visit. We can't believe that Jay will be here a week from Saturday. It seems like Thanksgiving is so far off, but it is just about 2 weeks away. Chad I know is looking forward to the end of the semester and being able to actually have a break from school.

Maddie is still growing everyday, but now it seems like it is more long that out, which is good. We will go to the doctor at the beginning of December. We are waiting to be able to wear all our cute "winter" clothes, but it is hard when it is still 85 degrees out. I think a front is coming later this week and so it is suppose to get down to about 70. Perfect fall weather huh?

Monday, October 31, 2005


making sure Daddy doens't lose any more arm hair from the grill Posted by Picasa


Happy to be eating something other than cereal and milk. These were some green beans. Posted by Picasa


Trying to be bigger than I am (Daddy thinks I should be walkign soon) Posted by Picasa


Daddy can always make me laugh Posted by Picasa


Before the Astros went down with Shelly and Christian Posted by Picasa

Happy Reformation Day!!!!


Ha Ha Ha, everyone was thinking Happy Halloween.





Well we did a little celebrating of Halloween here. Maddie got dressed like a pumpkin and went to school. All the office ladies and basketball girls just thought she was the cutest thing ever. So we survived our first Halloween. It has been raining most the evening here and so there weren't too many kids out on our way home from school.

The past week seems to have flown by. I think part of it is basketball. We have been practicing for two weeks. We had cuts (no one got cut), but we split the teams and so today we could start working on specific things. It is going good. The JV team has a good possibility of being good. It is just a matter of the girls all getting along that may be more of a problem. We play our first game next Tuesday. I am looking forward to the season, but I just wish we had a little bit more time before we had to play.

We headed to the football game on Friday night, it was a North. I am glad we didn't pay to get into the game because it was a blow out. We won 56-3. There was a point where you started feeling bad for them, but then you remember it is North and forget that feeling.

Saturday we had the Dinner Auction for the High School. We left Maddie with one of the senior girls and she seemed to do alright. Alright enough that Caitlyn said she would babysit again for us. On the way to the auction we called my dad because Chad and I were remembering where we were a year ago. We had thrown a surprise party for my parents 35th anniversary and we had also announced that we were pregnant. It seems like so long ago and Maddie is already getting so big. We also had to laugh about the Chicken Mole that Chad ordered at dinner that night.

Well here are a few shout outs-

Mom and Dad Happy 36th Wedding Anniversary

Congrats to Ben and Sarah who will be adding a brother for Matthew in April

Happy Belated 2nd Birthday Matthew

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Are you an Aggie or Longhorn?

This a true story...

Tonight was the JV football game against North (our rivals). Side note, we won 41-7. That was the only touchdown they scored all year. Sorry Pete I have to rub it in, you do every other time. So I got out to the game late, we had practice until 7. Chad was out there with Maddie and some of the other teachers. We were talking and watching and you see all the little brothers and sisters of the high schoolers playing with each other. Running around wild or throwing the football around. So we were all engaged in our conversation and two boys are sitting near by. One was a little chubby and eating some chile (since you know it got down to 55). The other boy was dead serious and asked the chile kid "are you an Aggie or Longhorn". Chile kid looked at him and said proudly "UT". The other kid looked at him and sadly said "Oh, I like the Aggies" and walked away.

I was thinking about this and it is kind of like being either a Cubs or Sox fan. Yankees or Red Sox. Michigan or Michigan State. Duke or UNC. You cannot cross over. Do you actually think Cub fans were rooting for the Sox, heck no. They were hoping they lost. That is how A&M and UT are. Chad and I have decided that we cannot decide who we want to root for. That is going to have to by Maddie's decision since she was actually born here. I am going with A&M because the people we are with the most are Aggies.

Just a thought about how much sports influence our lives, well at least our lives here. We are always defending our Brewers or Tigers, even though we know that it may be a long time before they are ever in the Series. Maddie has already become accustomed to watching Sportscenter and Game Day on Saturday for football. Well I don't see it as a total bad thing, but I just want you to think about how much sports are in our lives.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Cousin Vs. Cousin

Well the series starts tomorrow and in our family it is one cousin vs. the other. Maddie's cousin Kate lives in Chicago and is a White Sox fan (well at least my brother is- so I am assuming she is too). Then we have Maddie who is living in Tomball and has a spot in her heart for the Astros, but the spots for the Brewers and Tigers are a little bit bigger.

It has been crazy here for the last few days. There are people coming out of the woodwork looking for Astros wear and cheering them on. Don't get me wrong, I will cheer for them in the Series, but I have this feeling deep down in my heart, that I am betraying my Brewers a little bit. I am figuring that the same thing would be happening in Milwaukee if the Brewers got into the series.

Okay, okay enough of baseball. Now let's talk about football. Joel has been here since yesterday morning and is here until Sunday morning. We have already been to two football games and have one more to go. Joel, Maddie, and I walked over to the Tomball JV game last night, then tonight was the Concordia game- we won 46-14, and tomorrow is the Tomball Varsity game in the afternoon. Joel has gotten his share of football, but I'm sure is looking forward to the game tomorrow. Fort Bend Baptist, who we played tonight, also had some ex-NFL players as their coaches, so he thought that was cool. After the game, they dropped Maddie and I off and went out for a little while.

It has been good to have a little bit of a change in our routine, since it is usually just Maddie and I by ourselves during the day. She is still trying new foods. Today we tried some green beans and weren't real impressed with them. She has started squealing and thinks it is funny. She also giggles when she is being tickled. She is starting to sit up by herself for short spurts before she tumbles over.

Basketball has been good. The volleyball team lost last night, so we have full teams on Monday. That means we have 2 weeks with full teams before our first game. Thanksgiving doesn't seem that far away and we are looking forward to Jay and Jill coming to visit and then Christmas, going home to the cold. We can't wait to meet Maddie's new cousin #1 and after we come back after the new year, her new cousin #2 will come soon after.


Sunday, October 16, 2005


Trying to reach... Posted by Picasa


...getting closer... Posted by Picasa


...finally got it Posted by Picasa


Trying to get daddy's beard Posted by Picasa

Can the 'stros pull it out???

That seems to be the burning question here in Houston. I'm not sure, but I am told by both my mom and my husband that I should be rooting for the Astros and not the Cardinals. Chad thinks it is the right thing to do, since we do live here. My mom is still holding a grudge against the Cards from 1982. I guess I would too, if I could remember the series in '82. Me being 3 and all doesn't do anything for my memory. That is what we are consumed with here and that is watching all the band-wagon fans actually behind their team.

This past weekend we went to the Tomball Homecoming game. They played it on Saturday, which was odd. They lost in double overtime. They were playing Jersey Village. We got there right before half-time (we had to finish watching the Michigan State game). Maddie had fun just watching everyone and listening to the marching bands.

Tomorrow is the big day. Basketball starts. It sure doesn't feel like basketball season. I think that that is all because of the weather. It is hard to get into a winter sport when it still feels like summer out.

Maddie is doing good. She has a little cold, so that doesn't always make us happy. We are starting to eat solids. This week we have tried sweet potatoes and seem to like them. We have also found our toes and love to put them in our mouth. Her life is going to be flipped upside down too as basketball starts, but she is tough and I'm sure she will survive.

Friday, October 14, 2005

Last Weekend Of Freedom

It would seem that our normal routine of being able to be home in the evenings at a reasonable time, is coming to a near end. Okay, a definite end. Like say Sunday. This weekend is our last free weekend before basketball starts. We think we are ready, but we will see what try-outs brings. I have been watching some of the girls in athletic period and I think that it will be interesting to see how they develop through the year. Some of them are not at a level that I would hope they would be at, but they all seem to have a good attitude about it and are willing to correct the things that need correcting. Chad seems eager to start the season and it looking forward to coaching basketball this season. He got to take last year off and so we will see how this year goes.

Other than just preparing for the season, there hasn't been too much going on. The golf outing was on Monday. We woke up to rain and cooler weather, but by the time they all tee-offed, the rain had stopped and they got all 18 holes in. Maddie and I were out there in the morning to help with registration and to get things going, but we then went home when they all went on the course. We had some errands to run and got those done in the afternoon.

The school year seems to be just moving right along and sometimes I can hardly believe that is it already October and basketball season. Christmas will be here before we know it and we will be bearing the cold Wisconsin winter. We are already starting to look at our plans for next summer and it doesn't seem like it is that far away. It is just a few months and baseball season will be here and then it will be summer.

We are looking forward to the next few months, even though we know it will be a challenge with two teams and Maddie to juggle, but we figure with all the help that has been offered, we should have it down to a science in no time. We look forward to Joel spending a few days with us, we are trying to think of some things to do on Saturday, so if you can think of any place in Texas you wan to see, let us know. Then we won't have visitors until Thanksgiving and then it will be home for Christmas. That doesn't seem that far away. That is what makes it easier to make it until then.

Thursday, October 06, 2005


1st attempt at cereal, didn't quite like it then, but now we love it (that was about a week ago) Posted by Picasa


Daddy and Maddie, ready for Homecoming Posted by Picasa


Up close and personal Posted by Picasa


Wondering "why do these people take my picture all the time?" Posted by Picasa


Laughing at daddy Posted by Picasa

4 month old Maddie- A healthy 9 month old

Yes, you heard right, Maddie is a healthy nine month old. At least that is what her doctor said. She went to the Dr. yesterday for her 4 month check-up and she weighed in at 16lbs 4oz. and 26 and 3/4 inches. So she is a little big, but really long. We are hoping that she keeps growing long and will be a tall forward someday.

We have been keeping busy the past week with Homecoming (which was last weekend), the Michigan/Michigan State game, planning basketball practices(tryouts), watching volleyball, and getting ready for the golf outing. Maddie went to her first varsity football game, her dad even got her a mum to wear, she would have rather eaten it, so we hung it on her stroller. Rita, the secretary, made it for her. Then it was watching a disappointing Michigan State loss to Michigan on Saturday. Sunday was a relaxing day, for dinner we went to Keiper's, so Paul and I could start thinking about tryouts coming up in about a week. Tuesday we went to Volleyball at Luther North the girls lost in 5 games, it was a really good match. Yesterday was the doctor and shots. Maddie then slept most of the day away.

Not too much else going on, just waiting for basketball to start and hoping that it goes good. We found out that we are having Minnesota visitors for Thanksgiving again. This year they are flying and Jay doesn't have to work the whole week, so he is coming the Saturday before Thanksgiving and everyone else is coming on Wednesday night. We are looking forward to that visit and also Joel coming in just 2 weeks. Well it is about time for Maddie to eat breakfast.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005


Airplanes make us sleepy Posted by Picasa


Cousin like cousin (both giving free shows) Posted by Picasa


Christina able to get Maddie to sleep anywhere Posted by Picasa


Kate and her new cowboy boots (when she walked in them she looked like she just got off a horse) Posted by Picasa


Ben waiting for the baseball game Posted by Picasa


Ben and Nemo  Posted by Picasa