The Brown Brick Road

Rec bball

February 3, 2026

Both Spencer and Maxwell played rec basketball this year and had fun seasons. Neither team won a ton but they put forth good effort. Maxwell’s team was both 8th and 9th…and I didn’t go to many games because that’s just not cool. These pics all came from the team’s funny IG account!

That’s the end of rec basketball for Maxwell which is sad. Next year he gets to be a coach which will be fun!

Spencer’s team didn’t fare much better but he definitely showed his skills out there and put up lots of points all season! He got to be on a team with two of his besties so that made it extra fun.

https://flic.kr/p/2rULBGM

Spencer actually tried out for an AAU team last weekend and made it. I’m not sure how that’s actually going to work with baseball but….we’ll see!

See you tomorrow!

Stuff

February 2, 2026

Other stuff around here…

It’s fun when you and your bestie have birthdays one day apart!

Samantha deserved a little treat last week after a doctor visit so we went to CFA and got 3 of the surprise cups. We were hoping for the golden cup to get free CFA for a year but…no luck. She did a cute unboxing on her cover star….

Spending that birthday money at – where else? – Sephora!

Love that girl!

More birthday

January 30, 2026

After cheer Samantha came home and seemed much more excited about her new vanity! She got to work organizing…

So cute! We then had tacos and took a break for brother’s baseball and basketball and then it was finally time for cake and presents!

She was excited to finally get all those cute clothes she picked out on our shopping spree last weekend!

The next morning it was back to school in her cute new sweater!

I think she had a fantastic 11th birthday…even if she didn’t get a puppy. 🙄 Happy birthday, Samantha! We love you so much!

Birthday!

January 29, 2026

Samantha woke up to even more balloons on her birthday…

and to Starbucks, of course!

Then it was off to school on a cold day!

I then went up to school for lunch with CFA for her and cookies for her class!

While Samantha was at school I set up her very special birthday present! A cool vanity in her bathroom completed with lighted mirror! I was very pleased with the setup that GJ and I cooked up!

Samantha came home from school – with all of her friends in our cheer carpool – and was excited to see it! While I didn’t quite get the excited squeals I was hoping for, I do think she loves it. 🙂

Then it was off to cheer where they got more birthday treats!

More birthday fun to come!

Celebrating Samantha

January 28, 2026

Last weekend we had the most fun party for our birthday girl! One of her besties couldn’t come to the party because she was going out of town so she stopped by that morning to drop off a gift…

cuties! While Samantha was at school that day I got the house party ready…

https://flic.kr/p/2rTHWUY

I think she was pleased when she got home!

She was ready for all of her friends to arrive!

The sweetest group of best buddies!

https://flic.kr/p/2rTHqc9

We then loaded up to head to hibachi for dinner…but I had a surprise stop on the way!

Five Below is all the rage with this age and I can see why! So much fun stuff! I told them they could each get one thing…and we were there for 45 minutes while they all decided. The best!

https://flic.kr/p/2rTBwkr