It's a Wonderful Life

Last night we set up the tree. Brooke put up most of the ornaments herself. Later, as we were sitting in the glow of the Christmas lights and talking, Brooke was saying that she likes her childhood. These are part of her childhood memories. We would miss any family member that is not here. We have a mom, a dad, a child, and a dog. Our family is whole, even though we feel small or have other experiences that leave us aching or wanting including living with the seemingly unfairness of life.

But she is right. We do have a wonderful life and glad to have life itself. We have so much to be thankful for. We are thankful for our nuclear and extended family, friends, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for our warm home and jobs, school, health, for living here, and for this time of year.




Bella is really not the reindeer kind of dog.

Thanksgiving 09

Mom and Dad and Derrick and Amy's family came to our house this Thanksgiving. Many blessings! Glad to spend time together. Enjoy the slideshow...

Slumber Party!

Brooke at her last swim meet.



Dad made hot dogs and Brooke's favorite homemade mac and cheese.


Bella really wanted some of our dinner.


Mom holding the magnificent strawberry birthday cake (at least in taste!)


According to Brooke's friends, she has "one" boyfriend.


The birthday crew


Making ribbon hair bands - they turned out really pretty


The PJs


Good-night everyone.

Something Sparkly

Brooke's getting ready to have another birthday. She worked up the courage to...






Notice anything new and sparkly? Look really closely. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.) She chose her birthstone color and loves having her ears pierced now!

What a Halloween!

Brooke was dressed for Halloween in her white cat costume by 10 a.m. Her girl scout troop was going Halloween rollerskating and collecting children's books for a service project. Fun!






Halloween Mom




Halloween Dog


Halloween Dad


Later on Halloween, Brooke met up with her friend Sydney. They were excited about going trick or treating together.


They had a great trick-or-treating night including stopping at Brooke's teacher's house, one of the nursing homes, and at their school for a party. In her stash of Halloween loot, Brooke's favorite items besides the Butterfingers were a squishy toy rat and a pop from her teacher.


Halloween Moon in Nebraska. It was a really pretty, clear night, and we were glad it didn't rain.

The Fix-It Guy

Last night Stewart was tightening a slightly leaky shower faucet. At times he has given our daughter fatherly advice such as:

When you get married, it'd be nice to find someone who knows how to cook. It would be helpful if they know how to clean, too.

Last night he remarked:
When you get married, make sure it is a guy who knows how to fix stuff.

Brooke: Dad, couldn't I just call you?

Butterfly Morning

Stewart says, "We were walking out the door to go to school. I was asking Brooke a question about that day and noticed she wasn't paying attention to me. She was staring at the driveway. We both walked over there, and she picked up this butterfly. We stood there for awhile and watched it flex its wings. Then we took it over to the flowerbed, to the Lamb's Ear plant, and set it on the leaves. I snapped a few quick photos on my phone and then emailed them to Brooke later that afternoon. That was a nice memory that morning."

Fall in Wisconsin

Last week Brooke and I headed up to Wisconsin for a very short weekend. Many in my hometown celebrate Dam Days (I know, who named this anyway?) after the completion of the large earthen dam (vs. a Marshan one?). The celebration was in swing with lots of activities for the kids and many neighborhood garage sales. Mom and Dad had a massive garage sale (including a "for sale" sail boat) and spent a good part of the week organizing, sorting, and back-hurting-lifting heavy items (ugh!) in preparation. Isaac, Brooke, and Jake happily sold apples and lemonade at the sale. Amy kept up with some of the kids at the youth olymics and took pictures while Derrick, Taylor, and I worked our way through the 10K race. We met up at the end for the closing ceremonies and later enjoyed watching the bike race, train ride, and Folliez talent show that Dad has directed for years. I can hardly remember a time before the Folliez existed. Brooke had a pre-Folliez piano practice, but I did not get a picture of her actually performing (I was turning piano pages). She was surprised when the audience started snapping as she played the Pink Panther at the performance, but she kept up with the beat. And the little kids were very cute dancing, strumming their imaginary guitars, and even just staring at the audience and stage lights (deer in the headlights) during the song. Definitely some up and coming talent!! ;) And always great to see family!

Stewart has branched out on his own

Stewart recently decided to create his own blog space where he could do, well, whatever it is he does.  Head on over to his new blog to check it out.  http://stewartbrewer.blogspot.com/

Your Highness Logic

Today I'm home from work with Brooke who is sick with a cold. Here is a Brooke joke from a few days ago:

Brooke: If we call queens "Your Highness," shouldn't we call kings "Your High-ner" (like waitress and waiter)?
(Laughter)

Then Brooke asked Stewart for help with something.
Stewart to Brooke: Sure, Your High-nie!
Brooke (thinking in her head before her dad's above remark): And princesses and princes should be called "Your High-nie!"

Brooke and Stewart kept laughing and jesting about "your heinie" and about whose joke it was.
(More peels of laughter...)