EXCITING NEW LOOK

Look at Braylee now. Short hair, can you believe it? This is what happens when you take her for a trim. In her mind, she knew all a long what she wanted. This is my child that knows what she wants and no one can talk her out of it. I was a little freaked. She looked so grown up so of course I had to put a bow in her hair to knock off some years. Braylee was so excited, she said she felt so new. It was like her birthday she said. I thought that was so cute. She is my baby and growing up too fast right in front of my eyes. I giggle with her and we have lots of conversations about everything. She loves to play, and she is so happy doing it. I find myself watching her from afar and I wish I could live like her--happy, free, happy, loving, happy, excited, happy, no care in the world...

This is Ava Houghton and Brindlee. Ava is our newest member of our family. She is my second niece. She belongs to Cinco and Ashley Houghton. She has a special spot in my heart. I was able to give her her first bath and be her nurse when she was born. It is amazing how Heavenly Father works his miraculous plan. It so happened that I was working that day at the same hospital Ava was born. It was my first day and boy was it memorable. Anyways it was an awesome time to be included at a very special time in their lives. I am indeed blessed. Ava comes on Saturday nights for a date night with me. She gives her parents a break and gives me and the kids somebody to kiss, hold and fall asleep with. As I look at this picture, all kinds of memories come pouring in. Brindlee was my first, she was so little and sweet. She has gotten bigger but not less sweet. She is growing up so fast. It thrills me to see how attached all of my kids are to this sweet little one. I am grateful to be a mother of 3 wonderful kids that love to show their love.

This past week was spring break! This was awesome because I got to sleep in every day! On Thursday my family and the Coons went to the Blue Bell factory in Brenham,Texas. We were able to learn how to make ice cream! After the factory we all went to take pics by some blue bonnets, they were so pretty!! Spring break was great and so was the ice cream.

-Brindlee

I was playing three football games.It was fun we played in Dallas.We played against the longhorns,Buffalo Bills and the cardinals. I couldn't handle all three games.Then the next day we had to go home.Then my team played four games my friend Xavier got hurt in the game.The whole season we never lost a game until we lost by one touchdown we came in 2nd place.

OH NO NOT The Blue Pan

Here we are on Sunday night. Eating brownies that are thick and gooey and so delicious. Todd actually broke the magical blue brownie pan but don't worry everything has worked out. We just have to tweek the temperature.
This week has been a great week. At the top of the list was watching Brindlee do the pole vault. That is right pole vault. If I knew had to download the video of her I would. I will work on that next. She did a fantastic job. I was just hoping she would not fall. She had 3 tries and she almost went over on the second try. She carries a very long, skinny pole, and she has to run down the small run way and she puts the pole in a hole and she is suppose to fly in the air over a pole. It is always so great to see your children try and do new things.
This week we start Spring Break. We are going to stay around here and check out things in good ole Houston. It is exciting to spend time with my kids. They are blossoming into such wonderful little flowers. They have the cutest little personalities. They tease me, hug me, love me, hold my hand, rub my back, and they treat me like I am the best mom ever.
We have a contract pending on our house. We are all very excited and nervous at the same time. We feel very blessed in every since of the word. Today at church, Jen Lindsay(primary pres) spotlighted Breyson. She started to cry and of course that made me cry. It will be so hard to leave because of family like her. We feel her love and yes she loves my kids like they belong to her. So many people came up to us today at church and said so many nice things about our family. This definantely will be a very difficult place to leave.
Each day gets closer to the day we move. I need to stay positive and excited so my kids will too. Hopefully, we will always be a close family and be able to lean on each other. My kids seem to be excited for the change, am I? Life is interesting and full of adventure, I hope that this adventure will be the best one ever.

START YOUR ENGINES!!! Pinewood derby, what a great race. Todd and I were a little nervous since last year he won the whole thing and it is hard to prepare him just in case he didn't win. For weeks we prepared him on Good Sportsmanship. When it all came down to it, that sweet boy taught me more than I could ever teach him. It was definately my shinny moment as a parent. Breyson got 3rd place. He was so excited. As the event ended, one of the boys and his mother came up to me and he said, "I didn't race my car, not one time!" Are you kidding me. Two hours later and no one realized this little boy hadn't raced. It bugged me to say the least. Todd and I felt so bad for him. Everyone was leaving. I grabbed as many boys as I could and asked them to race their cars with this boy. He started to smile. Breyson came up to me and I told him the situation. I asked him if he could give him his trophy and I explained that it was up to him. I knew I was asking him something that would be really hard for him to do. He didn't ask any questions but turned around walked up to that boy, placed his arm around him and said, "here, you can have my trophy" and he said, "no, I can't", and Breyson said, "yes you can because you didn't get to race", and he said, " okay, thank-you". It was definately a parents proud moment. I told Breyson I would make him another trophy. On the way home he asked if I could make it a gold one. Well, let me tell you, I did make it a gold one because in my eyes his sweet child-like attitude deserved a gold trophy. Life is sweet especially when you see it in the eyes of a child.

Well, it has been 4 years in Houston and it is about that time again to giddy-up. The house is for sale and Arizona is calling our name. After many prayers and visits to the temple we feel pretty strong that Arizona is the place we need to be. Although it is very hard to think about leaving, it is something we need to do. Houston has been so good to us. It will be one of the hardest moves. I guess I am getting too old to be moving and uprooting our family. Life is always full of changes.