I've Been Playing Candy Crush

Yes, I fell into the black hole that is Candy Crush. That is my excuse for being gone for so long! I've finally reached a point in the game that I have to wait too long before another level opens up; so, my addiction has been wavering!

Enough about that. What has the Brew Crew been up to? Well, we had the privilege of sharing our blessings from the end of January until about a week and a half ago. Family friends of ours while waiting for their new home to be built, had temporarily taken up quarters in a small travel trailer. Mark and I suggested that they use our spare bedroom, and we would make room for their kid-o's. They finally took us up on our offer! So, we went from a family of 4 to an family of 9 really quick! When the children (our two, Austin and Abi, and their 3, Cameron, Remington, and Lyla) went to bed, it just seemed like a nice evening hanging out with friends! When all the children were awake, things at times became more complicated. But for the most part it was a blessing. It was a blessing for me, and a blessing for Austin and Abi. I often reminded them of a verse that God put on my heart shortly before they moved in: Hebrews 13:16 Don't forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God. Before they moved in, other friends questioned our sanity. They asked if we were scared to lose our friendship with our friends. In the end, our friendship was not only intact, but even stronger than it was before! Some of the highlights from our 3 month slumber party:

 Lyla LOVES Austin. Every morning or any time we would return home, she would make a running leap to hug him!

 

These two, Abi and Remi, had their days when they were BFFs or mortal enemies! Sometimes within 5 minutes!

 

Mark and Javier. These two kept us entertained nonstop!

Lyla helping Mark build a shelf for my laundry room. That didn't work out, but Lyla was so excited to help!!

Lyla, Abi, and Remi having a tea party with a tea set that was my Grandmothers.

 



Our family made sure to clear our calendar for Winter Jam this year! We also helped transport some of the youth from our church, as it was also a youth group event. Some of our favorite bands were there: Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, and Thousand Foot Krutch to name a few!

 

Austin waiting to enter the concert, rocking his blue Mohawk!

 

One of the youth worshipping!

 



Abi turned 10 on March 11th this year! Her request for a birthday party this year was to have a few friends over for a spaghetti dinner, Paris style, and then to have her friends spend the night. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away on Abi's birthday, and his funeral was the morning after her party. Abi was a good sport, understanding that sometimes things don't work out the way you always plan for them to. She did get her fancy spaghetti dinner, and was happy enough with that!

Even the Eiffel Tower is edible!

Abi and (her very best friend!) Luke!

 

We have really slacked on the field trips this year. We tried to make up for it this spring. We took a field trip to the George Ranch where the kids got to see what life was like in the the 1800's.

 











Here, Austin and Abi did an impression of old people that started with "Back in my day sonny..."

Abi was most curious to see the inside of ever building on the ranch!

 

Field trip number 2 has become kind of an annual trip. We packed a picnic for Memorial Hermann Park, which Mark was able to join us for this year, and then went to the zoo for one of their free admission days! I made sure to pack the camera because I wanted to take spring photos of Austin and Abi. I pulled up some spring pics of the kids from the last 4 years to see how much they've grown!!

Spring 2010

Spring 2011

 

Spring 2012

Spring 2013

 

Spring 2014

I love these two with my whole heart!

She is so beautiful!

And he is one handsome fella!

 

Then we went to the zoo!

His personality makes me laugh!

Silly, silly kids!

 

I love this picture. Abi's face is priceless!!!

 

Of course, I can't forget Easter. This year we didn't give the kids Easter Baskets. I've always dreaded giving them baskets anyways because then the holiday, like Christmas, slips away from the true meaning of what we are celebrating. I don't want them to look forward to Easter because they get more STUFF, but because they can have new life! They have a way to heaven because Jesus died and then rose again three days later! We did give them one item each, and they seemed okay with that!

 



Easter 2014

Easter Part II

Since we attended the Easter service at church on Saturday evening instead of Sunday, Mark and I were able to sleep in a little. Then we headed to a local park to meet with some of our small group members and with the Bender/Domino group for a picnic and Easter egg hunt. Our group always try to plan a get together for Christmas and Easter that we can include the kids in...and eat!! This year is the first year that we met at a park. It was actually better, I think, because there was really no clean up and the dads took the kids on a search for treasure through the hiking trails in the park using the geocache option on their phone. The kids were SO excited!!! While they did that, moms hid the eggs and chatted! They didn't have enough time to find the treasure before it was time to hunt eggs, but I have a feeling this won't be the last time we hunt treasure!!!

Abi AFTER she ate, that's why she's smiling!! 

Pacey warning me not to eyeball her cookie!

 Luke and Alicia scarfing down their food so they can go play

Kathryn playing it cool

Mark, super cool!!

Easter 2011, Part I with a Little Extra Thrown In!

This week I went out to do a little shopping one night, and when I got home, Abi had lost a front tooth!! When the kids found out the truth about Santa Clause, they drew their own conclusions about the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny. So, Abi had thrown her tooth into the garbage after she ripped it out!!!

Snaggle Tooth!

The shopping I did this week was to put together a family Easter basket to be given away after the Easter egg hunt at church. I had a good time putting everything together!

Lots of fun goodies!!!

This morning we made Easter eggs the good old fashioned way!! This is the first time the kids have really  ever dyed eggs. Honestly, I don't like to put in the work to dye the eggs.

Vinegar stinks! 

 The finished product

On the way to the Easter service this afternoon, we stopped by a nearby "lake" to take some pictures of the kid-o's. I was so happy to see how the pictures turned out!!



Easter Sunday 2010

I suppose Easter weekend began like any other weekend-o-fun. Friday night we had Aunt Marie, Deve, Sluz, and Aimee over for burgers and game night to celebrate Mark's 31st birthday. Then Austin and Mark went to a guys movie night while Abi and I stayed home to paint our nails. Saturday morning began with cooking. I made a dessert and potato salad for our small group Easter get together. Unfortunately, I am a dork and forgot to take the camera. Hopefully, someone can forward me their pics! We had a great time; I spent time truly bonding with Pacey- she not only puked on me this time, but peed on me as well! She's so cute, I don't care! The kids and I came home while Mark worked the 5pm service.

Sunday morning was, as every Easter is, a special and exciting morning. Each year I struggle with deciding what that one special thing is that I am going to put in their basket. I love that Easter is a holiday to celebrate, but I hate that it is so commercialized with yellow chickens and chocolate bunnies! I struggle each year with not wanting my kids to feel left out from the candy-o-rama traditions; I want to be sure that they grow up knowing why our family celebrates Easter. It's not just because Walmart says we should. I want them to get some candy, but not for their candy to overshadow the true focus of the season. Last year, the AJB's each got a Bible for their big gift in their baskets. This year I made them each a bracelet with their names and a charm-a cross. Both were excited that they had a cross. We then got dressed in our Easter's best-




the AJB'S finding their baskets


2010 Easter at Copperfield Church

*****2009**********2008***********2007****


Abi at the Easter egg hunt


Austin at the Easter egg hunt

After church, we went home for a little rest. We went to Mark's dad's house for Easter dinner- it was super yummy! Mark and the boys threw the football around while Abi played with Tom's latest addition to the family, Alex.

Abi and Alex- a very lazy puppy!

We ended the day with family movie night- Alvin and the Chipmunks, the squeakquel!
The Brewer Family 2010