Chapman 6

May God Bless all of you

2009-01-09T11:58:00.000-05:00

2009-01-09T11:52:00.000-05:00

The last day and the last hour that santa was going to remain at his mall post before heading off to the north pole. With all of TJ's excitement, we had to be very flexible and just praise God for our time together and Tj's safety, because off course nothing went as scheduled.

2009-01-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

We teach our kids to set high goals, and TJ put that to the test. The oranges around the bottom of the tree were not up to his standards, so he wanted what he called the "orangest orange on the top of the tree". His landing was not as planned and fractured both bones of his left arm.

With significant displacement of the fracture he had is day with his surgeon to reset his bones. He wanted to know every detail before it happened. It took longer than expected but Tj did great. He had this little bear on his bed when he came out of general anaesthesia.
While he proclaimed he was never going to climb another tree, I had to express to him that while he was in great pain from his great feat, fractures are easier to treat than obesity, so keep climbing champ. He just smiled ear to ear looking at me like I was talking like the teacher in the charlie brown cartoons.

Our home bible study group

2009-01-09T11:21:00.001-05:00

With a couple of extras

Home group Christmas party

2009-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

We had kids and parents every inch of our house, with an exception of a couple of extras this is our usual friday night group

Jason (who co-leads the group) and I read the Christmas story from Luke and discussed some with the kids. We played a gift exchange that always leads to a little marriage strife, but filled with laughter. The party moved outside for a huge and probably very illegal bonfire, and many stayed for the great fellowship.

Danielles first banquet

2009-01-08T20:19:00.000-05:00

Here is Danielle and Emily ready for the junior high banquet. (I am clearly not ready for this)

2008-12-08T21:35:00.000-05:00

A few moments on a 4 wheeler with Benjamin and you will understand why I am holding both of his arms.

2008-12-08T21:32:00.000-05:00

little did we know that we were about to be taunted with being dropped in a cactus pile by the crazy tractor driver. These boys together were so much fun.

2008-12-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

This little Eden Brooks was very addicting, she was just hanging out with me this morning allowing me to take many pictures. Of course she had a huge smile in between every shot.

2008-12-08T21:25:00.000-05:00

This was the most successful hunt I have ever had and I never even touched a gun. The good Lord blessed us with this great weekend together and gave TJ an experience that he will never forget. Although the hunt wasn't the only blessing. I asked TJ what was his high/low (which is a game we play in which you must reveal your high and low point of what ever we just experience) and he looked at me a little perplexed (because in his mind he knew I wanted to hear something about the buck). So I let him off the hook and asked what was his two highs of the weeked, to which he answered quickly "playing with Payton, Timothy,and Benj". Then he added "also the hunting". I pray we have many more of these experiences as a family.

2008-12-08T21:16:00.000-05:00

On the second night TJ saw the deer a long way off and when the antlers hit the sunlight he yelled "its a buck". He kept the scope on the deer for a long time until he had a good shot. When he shot the deer took off and he thought he might have missed, but thirty yards away revealed a perfect shot right where he was aiming. When we were waiting after the shot TJ says " does this mean I can sleep in tomorrow and play with the boys" He has his priorities straight.

2008-12-08T21:14:00.000-05:00

2008-12-08T21:09:00.000-05:00

This is just oozing testosterone.

2008-12-08T21:08:00.000-05:00

He and the boys were willing participants

2008-12-08T21:07:00.000-05:00

TJ was a little nervous for his first field dressing but was a great help until his buddies (Payton, Timo, and Benj) distracted him away

2008-12-08T21:01:00.000-05:00

Our second hunt ended with this big doe, TJ's first deer. He did it all by himself, and was very patient in taking a shot. The doe never took a step. The tongue pose is a long family tradition :)

2008-12-08T20:58:00.000-05:00

first morning in the stand and it was cold. we passed little heater packs back and forth to get blood back in our fingers. TJ was so patient and made the best of our time together. I thought of everything, snacks, water, toys to distract, empty bottle to fill, and an ipod video with cartoons on it. a couple of hours he leans over and whispers with a big smile "number 2"...... I didn't think of that

2008-12-08T20:55:00.000-05:00

Ipod and my own sprite, this IS first class flying

2008-12-08T20:49:00.000-05:00

TJ and Vic waiting for our flight.

2008-12-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

Here is Tj ready for his first airplane ride to Texas for his first deer hunt.

Chapmans vs washburns

2008-12-03T20:18:00.003-05:00

Here is one way to burn off those thanksgiving calories. Darcy of course taking the photo op

2008-12-03T19:57:00.000-05:00

Here I am trying to intimidate my 7 year old niece

2008-12-03T19:56:00.000-05:00

I think I am getting in her head

2008-12-03T19:33:00.000-05:00

Notice the great spiral deep left and then notice where Denae is with her hands ready to catch

Redneck pool draining

2008-11-30T22:05:00.004-05:00

Daddy...Hey TJ we need to drain the pool and haul it off.

TJ...wow that would be cool if we could shoot it and let the water explode out

Daddy..... (thinking I have to be the responsible one) let's do it

Camp Church

2008-11-26T10:02:00.004-05:00

I don't know why pictures are vanishing but here are a couple more of the last day of camping. Camp church is always exciting, we fill a large area near a river and the praise just sounds better surrounded by trees. I can't remember who spoke, but it was a great lesson of depth and insight:). From around 50 to over 400 this year brings so much energy and fellowship, which is such a blessing to so many. The kids want to stay the whole week next year.

technical difficulties

2008-11-24T08:53:00.001-05:00

2008-11-23T22:15:00.004-05:00

The friendships that are made or made deeper is the real reason we started the campout. Families need times to step off the treadmill and just allow God's creation to speak in a manner that brings peace and yields to great perspective.

Kickball gone wrong

2008-11-23T22:10:00.003-05:00

Pedro or "nacho libre" began a battle against our team as he attacked me and others. This escalated to an all out effort to throw him into the river.

Nobody knew he had the death grip from Spain.

In the end the masses always win.

2008-11-23T22:04:00.001-05:00

One of the few traditions for each of eight years is the saturday kickball game.

2008-11-23T21:59:00.001-05:00

There is just something great about camping

Nothing but each other to soak up and enjoy the true blessings

Fort Wilderness Campout 08

2008-11-23T21:55:00.002-05:00

This year was amazing, the weather was perfect and over 400 people from church came out to enjoy the weekend.

A lot of Swimming......

.........relaxing

......campfires

...and bike riding all weekend

2008-11-10T20:57:00.002-05:00

The "princess" and friends

2008-11-10T20:56:00.001-05:00

Action shot of Trevor

2008-11-10T20:55:00.000-05:00

You would think with Vic as the judge Danielle would have won as well but she didn't, and we have filed a protest.

2008-11-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

Trevor won the jello inhalation contest, I was so proud

2008-11-10T20:52:00.001-05:00

Here is TJ in the rootbeer slam contest

2008-11-10T20:28:00.001-05:00

All dressed up and headed to the fall festival. We have "Susan from Narnia", "the lollipop princess", "Ben-10", and "TJ the hunter"

Pumpkin Fun

2008-11-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

2008-10-26T19:21:00.000-04:00

Busy weekend but had a little down time so Darcy took Denae to see high school musical 3

And the rest of us went to the Rodeo.

2008-10-19T21:00:00.000-04:00

So I am chasing a big garter snake ( I don't know why, actually i do, trevor was in the background yelling "get it Daddy", and I just can't walk away from a challenge) on the back porch in the dark and as I am reaching down to grab it this little snake strikes out from under a toy. Unless it is really obvious we have a kill first and identify later family policy. Well it was harmless but I figured it out right after I removed an important part to its survival, its head. We have been having pigmy rattle snakes often on the porch so we are less tolerant these days

2008-10-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

Here we are teaching the worship for the younger kids. Either I have having to try really hard to keep their attention or I am having some stomach issues

2008-10-19T20:42:00.000-04:00

Here is Darcy and the kids at the Dolly Parton concert. They had a great time, but keep humming "Jolene"

2008-10-19T20:37:00.000-04:00

You may need to blow this one up to see. Trevor went down to the pond to get water for the garden, and look what he sees. We have a little visitor with lots of teeth.

Dedication

2008-10-19T20:36:00.000-04:00

Danielle's new job is to keep the front yard mowed, it takes about two hours per week and she has been doing a great job.

The weekend was busy so here she is mowing after dark, which is only possible if you don't have any neighbors.

2008-10-05T21:51:00.000-04:00

Final day of celebrating the big 13 was on her actual day (4th) We were at a hotel for one of my conferences and it was great time together

Mommy pampered her for her big day.

While I was gone during the days the rest had so much fun together. Darcy and I thank the Lord,s great wisdom each day in giving Trevor to TJ. His world would just not be the same.

2008-10-05T21:45:00.000-04:00

Another present was to be able to camp in the camper (next to the house) all night with her best friend of almost 10 years. Emily's parents went to ACU so they said they were pretending they were roommates in college together. I know it will fly by but I don't have to think about that for a few more years.

2008-10-05T21:41:00.002-04:00

One of her presents was a dress for her first 7th grade banquet at school. I made it clear I would be watching at all times and would not allow any boy in her personal space (which I feel is about 11 feet in all directions)

Danielle is a Teenager!!!!

2008-10-05T21:38:00.000-04:00

Thirteen years ago in Dallas, TX I remember running down the hall for an emergency c-section due to some complications and I remember looking at the OB and she said lets try one more time. Darcy pushed as hard as she ever had and while it seemed like an eternity out popped a little head, and then the rest of this 4 1/2 lb miracle. She's a lot bigger now, she cries much less, but her eyes are as big today as they were then. I remember like yesterday taping the sign of her announcement on the door of our third floor apartment in Irving. I would leave for school early and I would poke her and make her wake up so I could see her (then I left her crying in Darcy's sleeping arms saying "I think she's hungry") I would rush home late and keep her up just to hold her and dream about her life. I pray just as much as I did then, I worry just as much as I did then and she brings joy to my heart just as much as she did then.
Thank you Lord for Danielle

2008-10-05T21:24:00.000-04:00

Darcy took the kids to the oldest theme park in florida(Cypress Gardens) because they had a special day for residents and it was worth the drive. Many of the homeschool families from our church went and they had a blast

The sign of a great mommy is to see the benefit of driving a couple of hours away for an opportunity to bless the kids with a fantastic day and also to jump right in having more energy than the four combined. I am so thankfull for her.

2008-10-05T21:11:00.001-04:00

Vic and I in the woods, "maybe we should move the tree stand to another tree, that one has poison ivy?" "It is just a little I'll just rip it out with the machete" because I was thinking in all my life I have never had a BAD reaction, just little ones.

Let me tell you over almost every inch of my glorious naked body I am adorned with these blessed lesions that now have put a new respect in my mind for poison ivy. This is 8 days into the process and relief is not yet in sight. I think I have it in areas my wife has never even seen!!

Family Walkathon

2008-10-05T21:03:00.001-04:00

We have friends about to go to Africa to help an orphanage that they support and they had a walkathon to raise awareness. We all participated walking a min 2 miles to raise awareness and money.

Danielle went 6 miles! Darcy and Denae went 3, and the boys and I fulfilled the minimum of 2 and went back to the rv to cool off.

2008-09-21T20:33:00.000-04:00

It turned out great which means not green or orange

As a dad there are things that my kids want to do that just don't make sense to me, but as my wise wife has informed me "they don't have to make sense to YOU". I just close my eyes and see the little girl I was just holding in my arms yesterday, alright maybe ten years ago. At least she is the only one getting older.

2008-09-21T20:08:00.000-04:00

Our soon to be teenagers main request was that mommy do some color changes to her hair.

We will have to see, but its not looking like the color on the box

2008-09-21T20:04:00.000-04:00

We had to rope this one and Zac hit him on the first try. Here I am flipping him on the ground. Actually the picture looks good, but the ending was not as pretty, taking us all down with him.

It took all bystanders to hold so we could change this bulls reproductive future. We finished just before the bull calf sniffing Dean attempted a mount. I don't know who would be more embarrassed Dean, the calf or his wife next to him :-)

2008-09-21T19:56:00.000-04:00

all tied up and getting ready to remove her best weapon against us.

I am not a cowboy but I do play one on the weekend

2008-09-21T19:55:00.000-04:00

Actually for almost forty years I have been playing one, and hopefully for another forty. We needed to remove the horns off of this small cow and she was not having any part of it. Anytime I can get some visitors involved I let them handle the heavy work. Zac, a young man in the youth group at church was a huge help. The rodeo was much shorter with a little help.

2008-09-20T22:36:00.000-04:00

Things are starting to get back to normal. We are FINALLY dried out and getting back to farm work. TJ said "this was the best day of his life" considering he has had a lot of great days in his eight years that was saying a lot. This was a "man" day, and TJ, Trevor and myself loaded up sheep to haul across the state to sell,and picked up some cows (after a short rodeo) and headed back. On the trip was nothing but laughter, and just having great fellowship together. We got home and the work continued together with separating cows, bulls and just trying to add a little more funk and manure to our bodies. We are very tired but very blessed that we spent a day together doing things that were a little out of the ordinary, working our bodies like God intended and laughing while we did it.

"Girl" day was a little different as Darcy explains. We just had fun being together as girls. First we went to our friends the "Mootharts", where we can be sure to be encouraged and laugh alot. The next stop was our favorite thrift store "The Vine", where we dropped off some things. But while there we ran into some friends from church. Then we went to the mall for lunch and just looked into all our favorite stores (which we visit maybe twice a year). It was fun just looking and not being in a rush. Next, the shoe store where I got some new running shoes and finally Target....which we all decided is actually our favorite. We finished the day picking up a movie and then headed home to see our boys. The movie was great by the way if anyone hasn't seen "Penelope".
All in all, we just enjoyed being girls and celebrated in the love we have for eachother. Having a soon to be teenager (2 weeks away) I am so grateful and blessed to love every minuted I have with them. I just thank God daily that we truly do enjoy eachother both the past and the present. And now, because of our Lord can go into this next stage of life with Danielle with excitement and joy of knowing it just keeps getting better. I Love this family.

Great Weekend

2008-08-26T22:24:00.001-04:00

All in all great weekend. We had some goal setting time where each kid set three personal goals so we can all encourage each other to achieve. I was very proud with their goal choices. Trevor pushed the envelope but brought it together in the end. We had great prayer time together setting our minds throughout the weekend. We played games together and just had so much fun TOGETHER. That is difficult during regular schedules but we were brought back to where we needed to be. We left feeling great, only to be a little deflated that we were still flooded with a herd of cattle and sheep living on our front porch. We have many hours of pressure washing to come.

2008-08-26T22:03:00.003-04:00

Trevors not tall enough to get it in the right spot

Here is TJ trying out some new rehab equipment

2008-08-26T22:02:00.000-04:00

Even at the hotel where my conference was they made the most of their time. Here they are at the expo area having fun on equipment from vendors

Of course SLIME!!

2008-08-26T21:55:00.002-04:00

Tj is somewhere in the middle of this crowd getting slimed

2008-08-26T21:52:00.000-04:00

They also had a huge water park for the kids to play nonstop

Also fun for the big kids

2008-08-26T21:48:00.000-04:00

We had a great time this weekend. We stayed at the Nickelodean hotel so the kids had fun seeing characters that I didn't know

We are VERY grateful this morning

2008-08-22T13:29:00.002-04:00

Thank you for all of your prayers. Denae summed it up when she reminded us of the redeemer song that tells us who has the power to tell the water you can only go this far. Well it came just far enough but not over the edge. We have no idea of the cleanup we are about to have but all we can say is THANK YOU LORD that we are safe and dry. This video shows our driveway up to the house which is now an island. The video was taken after the water had come down almost a foot. We are loading up the car to leave for the weekend for my annual conference, so we pray this weekend will renew us all.

2008-08-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

2008-08-22T11:37:00.000-04:00

We always wanted lakefront property. 15 acres of lake and 1/4 acre island for everything else

Just unbeleavable

2008-08-22T11:34:00.000-04:00

We spent hours yesterday, bringing two tons of sand to raise the floor of the corral. guess it didn't help

Sheep pasture, deeper than the height of the sheep

This roadway to the cattle pens

we dug a pond on this side to drain the swamp. The pond is out there somewhere

2008-08-22T11:28:00.000-04:00

Here is the garden, sort of. all you can see is the little citrus tree

WOW

2008-08-22T11:26:00.000-04:00

Here is the left driveway, you can see the line of debris. That is how much the water has gone down already

Here is the right side

2008-08-21T20:49:00.000-04:00

The sheep seem to love their new accomodations. The only dry spot around.

2008-08-21T20:47:00.000-04:00

The rain and wind is just pounding on the side of the house. It is blowing through the block into the girls room. We pulled the carpet up and trying to minimize damage.

2008-08-21T20:44:00.000-04:00

bigger turn for the worse, while I was at work we had VERY good friends come and save the sheep one by one they loaded them in the canoe and brought them to the house.

There is a very small amount of land above water and it is still pouring. Please pray this can stop before it enters the house.

2008-08-21T20:42:00.000-04:00

It has taken a turn for the worse, this is our back yard and it is still pouring down.

Rain Rain Rain

2008-08-21T20:11:00.000-04:00

It has been raining for days and this morning it filled one of the pastures

as you can see the sheep went up to a high spot but the dog would not leave her post. I had to drag and carry her out.

2008-08-20T20:53:00.001-04:00

When you own a swamp, there is always good mud to play in

Danielle and Denae had some girls stay over they met at camp.

TJ and his friend Max were spying on them and the punishment for getting caught was a good mud bath.

Denae was collateral damage, falling in.

2008-08-20T20:45:00.001-04:00

Pat was gracious enough to give my a hand on the farm.

I would add a joke for Pat's benefit but too many eyes are on this blog :)

2008-08-20T20:40:00.000-04:00

It was so good to see Pat and Carmen again. The kids have been apart for a long time but picked up right where they left off.

2008-08-16T12:52:00.000-04:00

It was a rough last game, we drove down the field and scored, then TJ connected a pass in the end zone for the extra point, and I have forgotten what happed the rest of the game:)

Anyway, the boys did great, each improving every game. Here is Trevor getting his trophy which he says "This is the first award I have ever gotten" with a giant smile. Trevor was the cornerstone of the offense at center as each quarterback wanted him to be their snapper.

TJ at his first time ever to play football found the end zone many times passing, running and receiving. It was so much fun coaching these kids and I was so proud of them

TREVOR GOT A TACKLE

2008-08-16T12:43:00.000-04:00

All season trevor has just missed many opportunities to get a tackle and this was the last game of the season. Trevor was at linebacker and the play was to the fullback right down the middle. Trevor held his ground, closed his eyes and reached out coming up with his first game tackle of the season. GO TREV!!!

This makes me smile every time it happens (which was often)

2008-08-16T12:38:00.000-04:00

We have played eight games, we have about 5-6 plays that we have run every game and here we are in the last game after the huddle after I call the play 4 times looking in their eyes they run to the line and TJ looks back at me with a big smile "what is the play". So I run up whisper the play and he ALWAYS turns his eyes the direction he is running, just in case the defense didn't hear the play.

2008-08-16T12:30:00.000-04:00

Halfway through practice we ended and put the footballs down and picked up the surprise I brought, WATER BALLONS

2008-08-16T12:27:00.000-04:00

Alright hilarious, we had a young man that had never played balloon toss, so click on the picture and see the boy next to me who threw the balloon as hard as he could and nailed Danielle right in the cheek

Just look at Denae's determination

2008-08-16T12:20:00.000-04:00

Relay races with water balloons between us......

....then without hands and having to pass the balloon.

Surprise Visitor

2008-08-16T12:04:00.000-04:00

Brandon was working on a cruise ship that was in port near our house so the girls were able to go visit. They had a great time with an old friend. The boys had to head to the practice field for our last football practice.

The BLOB!!

2008-07-27T19:21:00.005-04:00

Here is me getting launched 20+ feet up by a couple of guys that were easily over 500lbs together
I still have bruises from the landing

2008-07-26T12:07:00.000-04:00

We played hard. Tree climbing, basketball, dodgeball, frisbee golf, swimming, kickball, soccer, tire swings....., so much that I am even sore. We woke up early and crashed hard each night. The girls had such a great camp experience, and we were even blessed by the week.

2008-07-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

The Boys and I joined them on Wed night to stay for a few days.
Tj and Trevor were so excited that they were going to "camp"

2008-07-26T11:57:00.000-04:00

There were 10 kids that committed their lives to Christ!!

2008-07-26T11:56:00.000-04:00

The kids had a hard time keeping up with this counselor. Although today she said she doesn't have a muscle that isn't sore.

2008-07-26T11:51:00.000-04:00

They also had time to sit around and laugh about nothing

2008-07-26T11:47:00.001-04:00

They had team building activities, sports, crafts and water sports.

2008-07-26T11:41:00.000-04:00

They had a lot of personal bible study time

Group worship

and classes.

Improv night

2008-07-26T11:12:00.004-04:00

Here is Danielle and her group doing a duet that became a solo

SUMMER CAMP 2008

2008-07-25T22:09:00.000-04:00

Darcy was a counselor at Lake Aurora Christian Camp and here are her girls. She had so much fun meeting and getting to know; Kinsey, Kayla, Shawnee, marjourite, Alli, Olivia, Rachel, Deanna, Danielle, Denae. TEN girls in her group(the largest group) and she said everyone of them were very special to her.

Adversity

2008-07-22T15:21:00.001-04:00

TJ had a rough series, lost yards, fell over the runningback, threw an interception and missed the tackle allowing the defense to score. He didn't want to go back in. The next series it was his turn at wide reciever and while he didn't want to be on the field I tried to encourage him to just try to remember every play is a new start. I told him if he got behind the cornerback the ball would be there and he might get a touchdown.

We were on our five, he did get behind the corner and while you cannot tell the ball came down in his hands and he took off! One play, one pass, one catch, and one long run for the TOUCHDOWN. He didn't seem to remember any of his mistakes after that.

TJ and his girls (triplets)

2008-07-22T15:13:00.000-04:00

Some things he just gets honestly :)

Darcy, Danielle and her friend Hunter teaching the songs.

2008-07-22T14:41:00.004-04:00

The kids did the video, so you might get dizzy

Mix-match day

2008-07-22T14:39:00.000-04:00

This was the absolute easiest day to dress the kids....and yes that is Vic in the back right.

Crazy hair day

2008-07-22T14:31:00.000-04:00

Darcy hauled in kids from five different families.