About Us

Rex:

Chelsea says: Rex is like nobody I’ve ever met before. He is very goofy and I’m pretty sure has never been embarrassed in his life. On our Honeymoon, he casually walked up to the pool on the cruise ship deck, put his arms out and fell, all 6’4” of him, face first into the pool. I recorded him doing this from the other side of the deck so as not to let anyone know that I knew him, but he had no embarrassment and went on swimming as if nothing had happened. Of course, that was after he received a stern lecture from the lifeguard on duty. Apparently, they didn’t want that big of waves in the kiddy pool. Haha!

He has an uncanny ability to see everything with a “glass half full” perspective. When I desire to be negative about a situation, he points out all the positives. This perspective spills over into his relationships, as well. He always sees the potential in everyone – me, the kids, and even perfect strangers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him actually get angry, and according to his family, they haven’t either. It’s sort of a family joke when someone says that Richie (childhood nickname that his family still uses) is going to be mad about something.

He is also one of the humblest people I know. He is teachable and quick to apologize when someone feels he’s done wrong or if he realizes he’s done wrong. He is an incredible father and does whatever he can to give each of the kids the attention and time that they need and desire.

Asher (at 14) says: Dad is old, and the T-Rex was named after him. He’s obsessed with tacos.

Abby (at 9) says: Dad is the world’s best chef. He’s the best dad ever. I like to play “Tickle the Daddy” with him. I like it when he snuggles with me. I like it when he tries to stick his tongue up his nose. I love how he spoils us. I like how he thinks candy is healthy. He loves kids.

Olivia (at 7) says: Daddy is cuckoo. He takes me out to eat. He takes me to school on my birthday. I like to play the game where he lays down and puts his legs in the air and I get on his feet, and he plays airplane with me. He is the best dad ever. He always loves to spend time with me. He loves tacos. I love when he throws me on the LoveSac.

Chelsea:

Rex says: Chelsea is firm in her beliefs and yet incredibly patient with others and very accepting of their views. She loves completely and serves continually. She is an expert comforter and is very mindful of others’ needs. She will give her shirt off her back to someone in need and will talk to them for hours about whatever troubles them. She is also very fun loving and is a good prankster. When we had just started dating she coordinated with my sister to sneak into the house and move a bunch of my stuff in the kitchen and contaminated the house by stashing Nerds (which are illegal in the Broderick home) all over the place. Material things are far less important to her than people are, and she would always rather give than receive. She prefers and expects to run a well-organized home but doesn’t take it to the extreme.

Asher (at 14) says: Chelsea is patient. I can always count on her when I need a ride. She makes the secondish best mashed potatoes ever. She makes my dad pretty happy.

Abby (at 9) says: Chelsea is really good at taking care of kids. She is the world’s second-best chef. She’s really kind to others, and she loves to help others when they’re hurt or sick. Chelsea loves taking us to school. I like to go to Bahama Bucks with her to get treats. I love to snuggle with her. She’s an awesome bonus mom because she reads me bedtime stories and lets me get water (so I’m not thirsty) every night.

Olivia (at 7) says: Chelsea takes me to the store and library, and she is really nice. Chelsea teaches me how to read with the library books. She’s a really good stepmom because she folds my laundry. She helps me take baths.

Asher (14):

Rex says: Asher is extremely smart and loves to laugh and has a fun personality. He plays the trombone for his 8th grade band and loves to take things apart. His favorite thing to do is play video games and watch YouTube, and he also enjoys getting out to do fun activities. His most recent obsession is fishing. Last season he woke up at 4:15 in the morning so he could get dropped off at the lake with his cousin to go fishing before school started.

Chelsea says: Asher loves video games, like most teen boys. But he also loves figuring out how electronics work and building things. He has a brilliant mind and is always using it for something creative. Any time he is around, you can be certain that there will be something fun to do, maybe not safe, but fun and creative. Haha! His most recent invention was designed by taking apart his old light sabers and creating a nerf blow dart gun using bits from some of his nerf guns (of which he has MANY) and parts from other things he’s disassembled. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a world famous inventor one day.

Abby says: Asher plays with people a lot. He plays basketball with me. He teaches you stuff. He might teach the baby how to behave and walk.

Olivia says: Asher is really good at making stuff. He can teach the baby how to make stuff. He makes good forts.

Abby (10):

Rex says: Abby is adopted and is a total sweetheart. She is small for her age and can seem timid, and she loves giving and receiving affection. She is a total people-pleaser, but she also knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to let you know if she’s upset when she doesn’t get what she wants. She tries her best to be good and feels bad when she slips up. She truly wants to do what is right. She loves to play with her little sister. She loves to try new things, and most recently became the resident family expert on doing the worm. She quickly put me in my place when I attempted to show all the kids how to do it.

Chelsea says: Abby has the most compassionate heart. Anytime she learns of someone not feeling well, she will continue to pray for and ask about them until they are well. She loves playing with friends and loves candy! She will choose to be with friends over any movie and can be bribed to do just about anything if there’s candy involved. She is always looking for those that are being left out and she will “make them her friend”, as she says. She sings with her school choir, and she also loves learning piano and is not shy about singing/performing solos in front of others. She sang “When Christmas Comes to Town” by herself for two extended family talent shows. She has a self-confidence that is to be admired.

Asher says: Abby can be kind to people even when you’re mean.

Olivia says: Abby is really kind, and she makes friends a lot. She loves to make people happy. I like to play dolls with her on the trampoline. I like playing on the swings with her too.

Olivia (7):

Rex says: Olivia clearly did not want to join the family until after her big sister had been adopted and was the result of her mom’s 4th round of IVF. She is very smart and observant. If we aren’t sure how to get to someone’s house, we can usually rely on her to tell us where to go. She is very imaginative and is happy to keep herself entertained playing with her toys or drawing/writing, but her favorite thing to do is play with her friends, big sister, or cousins. Olivia is also an opportunist. She recently successfully negotiated with the Tooth Fairy by writing a letter asking for more money because it was one of her front teeth. She then left a note under her pillow when Abby lost a tooth to see if she could get in on that action, too. Unfortunately, the latter effort was not successful.

Chelsea says: Olivia has the funnest and funniest personality. She is always so observant and is better at directions than I am. She’s saved me from mindlessly going to Walmart instead of Costco multiple times. She is super inquisitive and has loved being able to read and write. She often leaves love notes (or sometimes notes when she’s feeling sad about something) around the house for us to find. She loves toys (especially her Bunny and Paw Patrol toys) and is often content playing by herself in the toy room for hours, although she does prefer it if she has a friend to play with her. She is a rule follower and likes to make sure that everyone else is following the rules, too.

Asher says: Liv is really caring.

Abby says: Livy is really good for making friends because she made a friend at school who speaks Spanish. I like to play dolls with her on the trampoline. Livy is good at keeping track of stuff. She will probably be able to find the baby if she looks away and then looks back. I like to play “Keepy Uppy” with her. It’s where you try to keep the balloon in the air.