Once upon a time, the powerful fairy, Maleficent, unexpectedly showed up at the christening of King Stefan’s daughter, Aurora.

She was clearly not welcomed, but she insisted on giving the sweet child a gift. For her gift, Maleficent gave her a curse and proclaimed, “Aurora will grow in grace and beauty, but before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. Only to be awakened by a true love’s kiss.”

The MARVELous trio… Pepper Potts, Agent Peggy Carter, and Scarlett Witch, were there to give their own special blessings for Aurora, so they stepped in to protect the child.

Scarlett Witch tried to use her ability to manipulate chaos magic, and remove the curse, but Maleficent’s power was too strong.

Agent Carter stepped in to try to negotiate with Maleficent, but it would do no good. Maleficent was resolved in her hatred for King Stefan, and consequently, Aurora.

Pepper Potts attempted to fight Maleficent with her clipboard, but again, she was defeated by the overwhelming power of the great fairy.

As soon as Maleficent left the celebration, the MARVELous trio promised King Stefan they would raise and protect the child, and hide her until after her 16th birthday. So off into the hideouts of S.H.I.E.L.D. they went…

Of course, Maleficent, being the powerful fairy she is, was able to locate their secret location and would occasionally pay the child a visit.

What started off as strong disdain for the child, or as she liked to call her, “Beastie,” slowly blossomed into fond affection.

The jealousy and bitterness she once felt towards the child, was replaced with love and compassion.

Maleficent found herself slowly believing in the power of love once again.

“Beastie” had captured her heart. She tried to undo the spell she cast, but the curse was much too strong to be broken. Maleficent would spend the next 15 years trying to stop the inevitable. Maybe, if she worked with the MARVELous trio, they would be able to find a solution together. To be continued…

Want to see if the curse manifests on Aurora’s 16th birthday? Stay tuned for Maleficent & the MARVELous Trio II coming out Halloween 2034.

True as Agent Peggy Carter…

Brave as Maleficent…

Soul as Scarlett Witch…

Glow as Pepper Potts…

And Red as Baby Aurora…

We’re 13 years strong with these Halloween stories of ours! The girls are still into it. They decide their character/costumes and we come up with a story together. Thankfully, it was mainly one costume I had to make (Maleficent’s) and the rest were pieces that had been thrifted. Whew! Halloween prep for 5 kids in intense!

Have a look back at our past Halloween stories…
2018: The Greatest Showman
2017: England News & Beyond
2016: Cutthroat Kitchen: Bratcher Edition
2015: The Mystery of the Missing Leia and Yoda
2014: The Zookeeper’s Wild Day
2013: The Mystery of Pinkie Pielilocks and the Three Bears
2012: The Adventures of Spider-Girl & She-ra
2011: Barbershop Quartet
2010: The Three Little Piggies
2009: Hannah and Gretel
2008: The Untold Story of Oz
2007: Little Red Riding Hood

Happy Halloween!!!

The girls are all obsessed with The Greatest Showman, and Glow wanted to P.T. Barnum, so that set the stage for this year’s Halloween concept. P.T. Barnum, in this case, has a special variety of curiosities from Laura Ingalls Wilder, straight for the Prairie, to Luke Skywalker from a galaxy, far, far away, and Honey Lemon from Big Hero Six. We had wanted to replicate the scene in the movie where Barnum puts up the posters of the acts and then they all sing, “Come Alive,” but if you follow on instagram, you know we’ve added another Bratcher girl to our family, and she came earlier than planned, so we ran out of time to put a little song and dance number together, but I think these posters convey the story the girls wanted to share this year.

Have a look back at our past Halloween stories…
2017: England News & Beyond
2016: Cutthroat Kitchen: Bratcher Edition
2015: The Mystery of the Missing Leia and Yoda
2014: The Zookeeper’s Wild Day
2013: The Mystery of Pinkie Pielilocks and the Three Bears
2012: The Adventures of Spider-Girl & She-ra
2011: Barbershop Quartet
2010: The Three Little Piggies
2009: Hannah and Gretel
2008: The Untold Story of Oz
2007: Little Red Riding Hood

Happy Halloween!!!

Our Brave is obsessed with all things 1980s, so for her 11th birthday, she requested an 80’s themed party. Her obsession started with the music, Ben introduced her, and now she’s always playing 80s music. While on our little Palm Springs get away, we set up this intimate celebration for her. Of course, every quintessential 80’s party must have that neon laser backdrop. I used this file and had it blown up to a 36″x48″ colored engineering print. It’s a bit grainy so large, but it did the job. And of course, everyone got their own 1980’s ‘do and I’m proud to introduce you to the Class of 1987…

I researched typical 1980s cake’s and pineapple upside down cake was one of them, but I wasn’t sure if my girls would like that one so much, so we went with a classic homemade chocolate cake with big pops of neon. We spent the rest of the weekend watching 80’s movies, 80’s documentaries, and jammin’ to our 1980’s playlist. We love our totally, radical, 1980’s loving girl!

Her birthday was back in August, so I’m a little late in sharing this, but life has been crazy for us lately. I’m behind in sharing lots of things and I have plenty of other things I want to share, but time these days… I just don’t have much of it.

Where did time go?!! This girl has grown in leaps and bounds this year in maturity, but she’ll forever be my baby kid! Her heart has grown so much in compassion and love for others, especially babies. She never really cared for babies before, and didn’t like when I held babies, but she loves them all so much now. I see that natural nurturer in her coming out, but I guess I’m not surprised because she has 3 older sisters that take real good care of her.

She’s my cuddle buddy. Loves to sleep. She deals with her problems by sleeping. Green is her favorite color. She will always have something green on. Hates reading, but loves math. Yoda is her favorite character. Doesn’t like dresses (though I hope she likes the birthday dress I made her). Loves to draw. Wants to be near all the babies. She’ll say I’m her best friend, but if Ben is around, she’ll make sure to say it’s the both of us. Doesn’t like the movie Coco. Wants to be a zookeeper. Loves short hair and is debating if she wants bangs. She’s our quirky kid and does and says random things, which she thinks makes her the funniest sister.

We love you, Glow! I know year 7 has some big things coming up for you and I can’t wait to see how God continues to grow that big heart of yours!  

Anyone been following since her birth or before? I’m sure you’re in shock she’s 7 too! Tell time to slowwww dowwwwn pleaseeee. Go down memory lane and read how I hypnobirthed her out into this world here.

It’s such a blessing to celebrate 13 years of God’s faithfulness in our marriage. We’ve walked, weathered, and worked out some of the kinks (there’s more to come for sure!) that happen when you put to stubborn sinners together. By God’s grace, we remain committed to this cycle of loving and forgiving just as Christ has done for us. We’ve had a couple big fights this year, and I even said “I despise you!” all mad and mean to his face, but seriously, thank you Jesus for grace and forgiveness and all the fun of making up afterwards. (Though we still don’t agree about the issue we were arguing about .)

This guy still makes my heart pitter patter, and when he’s at work I just think of his face and big heart and I get all melty. I still declare he’s the handsomest and I love every wrinkle and grey hair that’s made an appearance. (I call him my silver fox.) He’s grown in leaps and bounds in his love for our Savior this year, which just trickles down and blesses our family, and makes me even go more crazy for him.

The past year has been probably one of the toughest for our family, but God is good. He’s got plans better than ours, and we’re rolling with it, and I’ve got the best rolling partner there is. This guy was definitely made just for me!

Cheers to 13!

Most thankful for the freedom I have in Christ! Happy 4th of July friends!

Artwork by Brave Bratcher