Couldn't get enough of this little guy!!!

Louis!!

Cousins!!!

 So we started doing this COUSINS night where we get all the true Brintons together and hang out. They did is last fall and I wasn't able to go but we decided to have one at Traci's new house (which by the way I cannot wait until she owns it so we can remodel, I love the vintage look and feel that this house has!!! ) It was so nice to visit everyone and meet the new members of our clan! We shared lots of food, laughs and pictures -granted some of the pictures may not be the best. Couldn't have asked for a better weekend. I can't wait to do it again and hopefully we can get some more of our peeps there!!

Crafting from Pinterest

I may not have the best craft hand like others in the world and I can't crochet like my sister or my grandmas, but I like to try my hand at it and if I actually finish the project well I give myself a B+  I saw this idea on Pinterest and loved it. For the longest time I have been saving up some wood to cut up and make some projects out of them and so for my birthday Eric got  me a router. It is amazing and so I knocked out the numbers for our house. Yeah it was not too complicated but I was proud of myself. Next project: Making coat hanger/wood shelving for her new home and starting/finishing :) the picture frames!

The "LAKER" of them all!!!

Okay, really I should be letting Eric tell this story because he is the one that pulled this monster through the ice but he said I would be more specific. :) We decided to make one more trip to the Lake before the season is over because the days have been pretty nice here and it won't be long until we are hittin' the water with the boat. Fishing had been pretty slow for the first two or three hours but around 7 we had a bunch of hits and then pulled out a huge ling and he literally was all head, that was the biggest one we have caught with that big of a head. then I was getting some nibbles on my pole and started playing with it and Eric picked up the pole next to me and started jiggin and then mine quit and his started bouncin. So I gave up and went to check the other poles. He could tell that whatever was on it was bigger and we were thinking it was a ling the way it was swimming with the line and then with no warning it took off and that pole was just a singing!! No lie and then he stared reeling it in and as soon as it saw that hole again it was gone. I had left the camera at home because I thought, "last night of fishing and we probably won't catch much." Boy was I WAY WRONG!!! I tried to get the footage on my phone just so we could see the pole bending and hear is zipp'n. That didn't do it justice. Eric would be able to see the glow jig for a minute and then it was gone. He thought at one moment the fish was getting tired so I brought the lantern over and set it beside the hole and all we could see was this big tail end go floatin by the hole. Seriously I was freaking out because I have never seen something that big in the water in real life and at night made it look so much bigger and I started screaming and I look up and Eric's eyes are just wider than ever and he is grinning from ear to ear!!! Then we realized that he still hadn't landed this fish on the ice yet and so it wasn't over yet. We were trying everything from keeping the line away from getting cut on the side of the hole and not to much tension but not too much slack. I sat at the hole just watching and all was calm again until that fish showed his face at the hole and it was all we could do from keeping ourselves from flipping out again. We both wanted to get that sucker out of there and then again neither of us wanted to stick our hand near his mouth, and for a moment I wasn't sure that the hole was big enough to get him out. then without hesitation Eric grabbed a gill and chucked him on the ice..... Then the celebration and screaming and hollering began!!!! I don't care if no one else was on the ice to hear us or see us or how much bigger anyone else's fish is, that memory will be forever!!!! Eric then realized that he really didn't have that fished as set as he thought. it was through his lip and it was one of our old poles and an old jig, but as calm as Eric stayed, everything paid off!!! His arm was dead and he couldn't even hold the fish up for longer than 5 seconds without shaking uncontrollably! He pulled it onto the ice at 7:26 p.m and fought him for about 20 minutes at about 50 ft deep, and he said at one point he almost ran out of line when the fish was running. Yes I was able to time him but as for the amazing footage well sadly only Eric and I will be able to remember that. I always am prepared with my bag of cameras and stands for wherever we go and the one time, one time that I think no I can leave it here... well you know the end of that story. I look at it this way if I would have brought it we probably wouldn't have caught that Macker!!! Right?.... The rest of the night was pretty slow as well but we did pull out three other ling and two little Lakers. I must say that is the best way to end the season!!!

 It's pretty crazy that they can grow to be this big and even bigger! The official record for Mack out of the Gorge is 51 lbs 8oz and 45 1/8" long and that was in 1988.

 Even though we thought he would weigh more he made up for that in length. Plus we were wondering what his summer weight would be or if they lose that much during the winter or not.

Eric let me snag a picture in with his big monster.

My niece is about 42-43 inches tall and this big boy is just a bit shorter than she is.

Quarter of a Century..

So turning 25 feels like another day - except the next day after, I rolled over to turn my alarm clock off and get up to get ready for work and I literally felt OLDER!.... Okay that was probably the fact that I have been doing "Insanity" and my limbs aren't as limber as they used to be.  More and more I find myself doing things or saying things my mother does... but truly I am my fathers daughter!!!  Just the other night we were joking about my cooking skills and my mom says I get that from her, ex: "Hey mom were these green beans in the microwave for dinner?" or as someone is doing the dishes and dries and stacks the Tupperware on the stove and then.... oops burner got left on or was still a little too hot and we just put another brand in the bowl.  Yup it happens and I am pretty sure that all of us Girls have done it!! My sisters and I always joke when we do something that our parents do and then we make fun of each other but honestly that is why we love them!!! Dad- he has taught me so much this past year and I hope that I can take that attribute further in my life. He has always been the quite one and I guess he had to be with a bunch of women around.  But he is strong and when someone he loves or cares about is hurt or being attacked he stands up and he in my eyes has become the superhero in my "child's" eyes. He has taught me several things growing up but this past year a lot of those things have been put to a whole new meaning. Math was never my strong suite and it was always a Love-Hate relationship for me but he was patient and helped me the best he could and he was good at it. Now doing math is still love/hate but a bit more love than hate and teaching the kids at school has been easier because I have learned to be patient with them. Mom - she really is a good cook  and I hope to be at least half the women she is when I am older and love my husband just as much as she loves my dad. I have learned from both my parents to love and will do my best to raise our family like they did theirs. I can't say who I got the crazy goofball talents from but I think my sisters can attest to the fact that I was the one who  was the life of the family... :) And maybe the one who gave my parents the most gray hair?....  :) I have the best examples to look back upon clear down the family tree!!! So when my Birthday came I felt I should really be saying "Happy Birthday" to my Parents because they gave me this life and have taught me more than a parent could and I am ready to live the next Quarter of my life with a strong spirit and put those talents both given and learned to the best use that they have taught me. I truly have the best family in the world!!!

I miss my little nephew!!

Okay so I just had to post this because I got to talk to Laurel and Louis yesterday and I went and looked at pictures from when he was born to now. He looks all grown up and is starting to get on his knees to crawl. His teeth are coming in and his hair is still in that cute little Mohawk! Miss that kid! And I miss his parents, can't wait until she comes down in March!!!!

I think we can say we are "officially moved in"....

It's been a while and we have gotten into the swing of things but there is plenty to still be put a way or given away! We finally got the rest of our furniture here yesterday it only took them two extra weeks but I am glad that it is here and everything is looking great!!!. I finally used our washer and dryer for the first time, I have been cringing at the thought of our nasty water going through my brand new appliances but they work amazing and it even sings you you when the cycle is done!! LOVE THEM!! Enjoy the pictures.