Family Picture

Family Picture

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Legally Blonde and a Blonde

Frequent and dedicated readers of the Kevin and Leslie blog will remember that last summer I willingly discarded my hopefully-well-established masculinity in order to indulge my sweetheart by attending “Mama Mia!” Because of this thoughtless act of generosity I have spent the last year scratching and clawing my way out of the pit of metrosexuality: I now belch more, tell dirtier jokes, and no longer enjoy the simple pleasures of a pedicure. Well, it appears that despite my best efforts the dog days of summer have a way of infusing me with unnatural levels of estrogen because I have done it again. I spent the last year scrapping to take a single manly step forward; unfortunately, going to the play “Legally Blonde” may have been two steps back.

HOWEVER, if you think this post is just another meandering rant about a chick-flick, I exhort you to read on and ye shall be rewarded. True, Leslie and I, along with her mother and sister, went to see “Legally Blonde” last week in Hollywood. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t bad, but that’s not the point. As we sat in our seats skimming the playbill waiting for the lights to dim, Leslie grabbed my arm and in an excited squeal exclaimed, “It’s Bridget and Holly!” I looked over in time to indeed see Bridget and Holly walking past our row. Then, they sat down literally four rows in front of us!



For those of you who clearly have jobs and independently satisfying lives, I will explain who Bridget and Holly are: Bridget and Holly were on a little reality program called, “The Girls Next Door.”
The premise of the show is centered on life at the Playboy mansion. The “Girls,” three in all, Bridget, Holly, and Kendra (Holly is in the middle, Bridget on the right above), were Hugh Heffner’s girlfriends. Although we all thought surely this was a love meant to last forever, the group recently broke up and the girls went their separate ways.
To make a long story short, Leslie eventually dared me to go get my picture taken with them. At intermission, I watched as Holly left for the bathroom. Then, in a stalker-like fashion that even made me uncomfortable, I followed after her. In the lobby I caught up to her and trying my absolute best to not look like a lonely psycho loser who chases Playboy Playmates through theater lobbies, I asked in my least creepy voice if could get a picture with her. She was very friendly and someone passing by offered to take the picture. As I put my arm around her to get the shot, I just couldn’t help but thinking that Hugh Heffner’s withered, 80+ year old arms have been in this exact spot. Suppressing a shudder, I got the picture, thanked her, and went back to my seat where Leslie and I mused over our fortuitous brush with a B grade celebrity.

I must admit that although meeting Hugh Heffner’s ex-girlfriend isn’t exactly like having dinner with Jack Nicholson, this really was the first “celebrity” I’d ever met. The closest to celebrity I’d ever come besides this would be when I shook Elder Holland’s hand while on my mission. While I can’t be positive how broad the spectrum of celebrity is, I am pretty sure that I have now been to both ends of it!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Fiddler on the Roof

To celebrate my parent's 30th wedding anniversary, we all went to see Fiddler on the Roof at the Pantages in Hollywood. Chaim Topol, the original Tevye from the 1970's classic, was reprising his role for the last time (he has performed it over 2000 times!) and it was amazing!

He was very funny and delivered a performance that was fresh and highly entertaining...and might I add that even though he is now in his 70's, he still has quite the "stomp and shake" dance!

Before the show, we all went to dinner at an old steakhouse in LA called the Pacific Dining Car...I couldn't resist a picture in front of the cows!

Stacie wanted to join in the fun!

Topol's farewell performance led to a very long standing ovation...but he definitely deserved it!

Friday, August 21, 2009

HOUSE UPDATE

Another week gone by and our house looks more like a house than ever!!! With the roof on and the windows in, Leslie and I are ecstatic about the progress. Here are the most recent pics:






Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Speedily Scrapbooking the Sign In Book

The day before the wedding, my mom gave me the assignment to put together the sign in book for the reception...she promised that if I could put it together, she would make sure I had all the materials I needed and that I could keep some! Thankfully, my cousin Bekah and my cousin's wife Christina were there to help me!



It was all for you, Shana...and all for the fact that I wanted the cute stamps my mom bribed me with!

Going to the Temple

Two days before the wedding, Shana had the chance to go to the Newport Beach Temple and take out her endowment. It was so amazing to have us all in the temple together (sans Stacie and of course Kevin as he was still taking the Bar). As is tradition, we went to Cheesecake Factory at Fashion Island together afterward to celebrate...I love being with the family!

Only two days until the wedding!
Steve and my maternal grandmother, Grandma Donna

Steve and Tracy

Mom, Kevin and Me

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Annual Chapman Family Golf Tournament

I come from a golfing family... from my grandfather in his late eighties to my younger brother and everyone in between - we live and breathe golf (well, not all of us, but you get the idea). So, every year, in honor of my late Grandma Ruth (golfer extraordinaire) the Chapman clan gathers for a leave-it-all-on-the-green tournament. We are divided into teams of 4 and set loose on the course.

Well, much to the chagrin of the organizers, my family happens to be the best overall (my cousins should not refute this fact as they made sure to give us the heaviest handicap...+12) but we pulled through and won in the end! Our team consisted of my dad, my oldest brother Steve, my little brother Kevin, and then as the fourth player Shana, Mark, and me took turns with me teeing off, Shana hitting onto the green, and then Mark putting it in for us. We played best ball and had a blast!

Shana and Me hanging out looking like real golfers
(PS...I am like 5'7 and I look tiny next to Shana...I wish
I had long legs!)

Mark=non-golfer who just wants to have a good time
Dad=obsessed golfer
Shana=cutest golfer

Kevin=serious golfer


Steve=great golfer without a lot of time to play

For just out team, we had 4 golf carts...we were like our own little circus! It was Dad, Steve, Mark, Kevin, Kevin's girlfriend Jessica (who waited for him during his mission), Shana, and me!

As my Kevin was still studying for the Bar in Texas, I rode with my dad

Mark rode with Shana (duh...)

Waiting to tee off...


After everyone finished, we had a dinner and all the non-golfers joined us, including Cody...although, I don't think it will be long before he is playing too!

He's Back!! The Homecoming Party

After my little brother Kevin's homecoming talk in Sacrament meeting, we skipped the rest of church to "party" with everyone that came out to see him speak.

My three brothers (Kevin, Steve, and Mark) getting a little goofy

As an honorary groomsman, we had to make sure Cody's little tux fit...I think Cody thought grandma was torturing him!

Thankfully Daddy saved him!
Happy Boy!

House Update

Now that both Kevin and I are out of the state, we are relying on our builder and realtor to email us picture updates...and this is what we found in our last email:



Our house is now framed and this week they will start on the roofing! We are so excited!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

He's Back!! Dinner at Lucilles

Our family's favorite restaurant is Lucille's...whenever there's a family celebration, we go there and order up yummy southern style BBQ delights like tri-tip, smoked chicken, meaty ribs, grilled corn on the cob, cheesy grits, and creamy sweet potatoes. It's a family tradition! I just wish the Bar hadn't kept MY Kevin away!

Dad and Kevin
Mark and Shana...only one week left!
Shana, Mark, and my oldest brother Steve

Me, Stacie, and Kevin (back in normal clothes...looking mighty pale, for him at least)
Steve can never sit still! He was bouncing all over the restaurant waiting for the food to come!

With his little boy, Cody

Like Father like Son!! Cody rather enjoyed all the BBQ, and most of all the pickles!
However, he did NOT like being wiped off with the warm towels by grandma!