This Is Us

  I created this picture with Brichette’s first day of Kindergarten and her last day of High School.  It’s so hard to believe that she’s graduated and an adult. I want her to stay little so I can do my best to protect her from all the bad in the world. I know that’s not possible, so I’ll make sure I am always here for her when the bad things happen. I hope she knows that her dad and I will always be here for whatever it is she needs. I hope she also knows that her Heavenly Parents and Jesus Christ love her so much and will always be there no matter what! I am so excited to see what our Heavenly Father has for her future. I know that no matter what her future is, she is going to be amazing! She is so kind, smart, talented, caring, thoughtful, wonderful, and more. She is such a bright light that she’s going to shine ✨ no matter what. I am so blessed to be her mother and her friend! We love you Brichette! Good job!

  I can’t believe Brichette is 18. It’s crazy how fast time goes.  Since we couldn’t have a big party, we decorated the yard and her car. Then we asked family and friends to drive past. Some honked, others stopped and chatted awhile. It was really fun! I really wish the weather would have been better (it was cold and rainy), but it makes for good memories, right? My parents, sister and her family, and Nick’s parents stayed for cake. Here is what I wrote on Instagram/Facebook for her: Happy 1️⃣8️⃣th Birthday Brichette!!! I don’t know where to start... I am so emotional today! 🥰🤣😭😲🤪🥲😍 I wish I could eloquently write down everything I’m thinking in my head! 😖 But, that’s not me! So I’m just going to try my best! I can’t believe you have been here on earth for 18 years! It feels like just yesterday we were driving to the hospital, so excited (and nervous) to meet you! I was so worried I wouldn’t be the mother you deserve, and I still feel that way. I already had so much lo...

In April of 2019 Brichette went to her first Dance.. Prom.  We searched and searched for a pretty modest dress that wasn't outrageously priced.  We ended up settling for the one she wore.  It wasn't to expensive, was kinda modest, and was pretty. I did her hair.  I really enjoy created hair styles. I did two braids across the top of her head, then pulled on them to fan them out and loosen them up.  I then pulled all her hair into a ponytail a little to the side.  After it was all in a ponytail, I put another little elastic and pulled the middle through so the ends didn't come through (I made a big loop).  Then I parted the loop in half and wrapped the elastic around one half.  Then fanned it out.  We added a bedazzled clip and some little jewels, that you "screw" into the hair (you twist them into the hair until they are in as far as you want and won't fall out).  We also pulled a few hairs out by her face.

On Saturday night Brichette lost her other front tooth. She was eating pizza, and then said "Daddy look!" She walked over to him, and I thought there was something wrong, but then she showed him the tooth. She was so excited, and was running around. I can't believe she has already lost 4 teeth. AND... she has 3 others that are loose, plus her adult molars have already come in (we are getting those sealed on her next check up). I just can't believe how fast she is growing up! *Side note: Please excuse her messy face* She wanted me to take a picture of her this morning with her money from the tooth fairy. She forgot to put it under her pillow Saturday night, and I forgot to remind her. So we got it under there last night. :) She's so funny, she got excited that you could see her pink finger nail polish. Silly girl! Love You Brichette!!!

So Xander's hair has been getting longer, and I knew it was time for a hair cut, but it takes so long with the scissors, and he's afraid of Nick's trimmer, that I have been putting it off. Well last night I told him that he needed a cut hair (I know it's backwards, that's what the kids call it, cute huh?!?) and he said "Okay, but can we use Daddy's trimmer?" I was so shocked and said with a lot of enthusiasm "YES!". I was excited that he would let me use them. So I got it out, put the 7/8" on, and he covered his ears with his hands. I showed him that it wasn't very loud, and told him that he couldn't have his hands there because I didn't want to cut them with the trimmer. I moved his hands down a little, then he put them to his side and said "How about right here. Let's have my hands here". I laughed and said okay. He was so good. He didn't move and just let me trim his hair. He was so excited about it, and ...

Brichette's two front top teeth have been loose for some time now. She lost her two front bottom teeth about 8 months ago and they came out fairly quickly, so I was thinking these two would too. But they haven't. Actually the one that has been loose the longest is still there. Funny! So last night as I was flossing Brichette's teeth the one half came all the way off her gum when I pulled the flosser back out. She was bleeding all over the place, and wasn't as scared as she was when her first two came out. She was giggling and getting way excited. So I asked her if she wanted me to finish pulling it out. She said no, but then I reminded her that it didn't hurt. It was just a light tug and then it was out. I was so afraid she was going to swallow it while she was sleeping, but I didn't want to say that because I didn't want to scare her. Finally she agreed to let me finish pulling on it. I barely twisted it and it came out. She was so excited to put it unde...