New pics...well newer...and here's to hellth I mean health

Ahh.. a more recent photo only 8 months old!  We haven't changed too much other than Jacob's hair now covers his eyes and I am back to being a brunette.  I am sure that will change soon!  Let's see updates with the Brook kids: Both made their AR goals and will get to attend the AR trip and both are on the honor roll!  Proud mama moment!  Go Brooks Go Brooks Go!  Thank you to our sweet cousin Megan C. Hurt for helping our fun lovin' girl achieve reading success this year!  Addison has signed up for tumbling and is cartwheeling all over the house.  Hmm..guess that isn't really new news.  Jacob will be signing up for bowling on Saturdays.  All part of the "Brooks get healthy band wagon".  I once decided that being healthy was dangerous.  You know you exercise then you ache or fall down running and get hurt. Well so far so good and no injuries, BUT I did cut my finger last night as I was trying to slice some fresh veggies!  We have slowly incorporated the good stuff into our diets as not to shock our system.  What we have learned: we now crave healthy food, drink more water, and J and I have both lost a few pounds.  The goal is really to be more healthy and isn't focused on weight loss, but lifestyle change.  So here is to health!

Moving Forward...

 

Not only has it been nearly four years since I last posted, but the most recent picture I have uploaded on my computer is from 2012! This was from our trip Sontag Trip to Branson in July 2012.  Ahh..should I title this post moving forward, catching up, or where do I start? 

 

A few highlights in the Brook life since my last post: Addison and Jacob now attend Lone Star Elementary School in Sapulpa and we love it!!  I can not say enough positive things about the teachers, curriculum, support staff, and administration.  They are wonderful and the school has a small town feel.  Both kids are doing very well and are on the honor roll. We are very proud parents.  Jasson is now working for a company called NORIA and loves it!  He is seems to have found his niche.  We have yet, another new dog.  Daisy is chocolate lab and is nearly a year and half.  We are now at two dogs, two snakes, and eight fish.  Hopefully, no more pets for awhile.   

Vacation!

Finally, we went on a family vacation and headed south to visit my sister over fall break! We had a very busy trip which started with the camera breaking. Therefore, I have no pictures to post, but did buy a disposable. However, I don't know how to get those pictures on this blog :( Bad news looks like I will need a new camera. Good news looks like I will be getting a new camera. Bad news again..I'll have to pay for it!

Our adventure started out with a night stay in Houston where we had a quick visit with Amy, Iris, and Ricky. We were so tired we had pizza in the hotel room. We enjoyed the Houston Children's museum the following day. It was awesome! Then later that afternoon headed to Galveston. After finding our hotel we headed to the beach! This was the first ocean experience for the Brook kids and they loved it! We had a nature lesson on sea shells and the little muscles that live inside. A few came out and attempted to bury themselves into our hands. This day was my favorite because I love the ocean! We all layed on the beach digging for shells and swam in the salty water. Both kids dove right in head included! Of course, I brought along Jake's earplugs but no life jacket. However, Jasson and I stayed in the water with them the entire time and "rode" the waves on the boogie board we just had to buy. That evening we went on the ferry to nowhere. The purpose was really just to give the kids the experience. We saw many dolphins and the seagulls came surprisingly close to us too. That night our quest for the perfect seafood ended in disappointment. We let Jacob order lobster and fish. He loved the fish, but lobster served boiled? was a no go. The food was barely warm and took for-ever! I think I had less patience then Addison and Jacob! Ugh I hate to wait.

The next day after a bit of beach combing we headed to San Antonio! By the time we arrived we were all so tired the kids just swam in the pool. We took advantage of the hotel's free finger food dinner and popcorn. Amy's family met with us and later that night we had dessert in the restaurant in the parking lot of the hotel.

The big day finally arrived. Today we would conquer SEAWORLD! The purpose of this crazy drive all over the place trip (well to see Amy, Iris, and Ricky too of course). Wow what didn't we do at Seaworld? We stayed about six and half hours I know! We saw the Baluga/Parrot show, Shamu show, and the sea lion show. We touched and fed the dolphins. We played/lost/won about $50 worth of boardwalk games. But hey it's vacation and who could resist the cute prizes? Besides spending $50 bucks to win them is waaay more fun then spending $20 to buy them at the local Disney store right? Oh, I forgot about the penguins and the alligators we saw too! The kids rode a mini rollercoaster and played on the playground. Our favorite was the Shamu show of course. Addison was so excited to see the giant whale leap into the air Jasson thought she just might cry! Jacob spouted out the facts of whales to me during show. Both were in awe as were Jasson and I. It was neat to be able to show the kids dolphins in the wild, dolphins in captivity and then have the opportunity to feed and touch them! So exciting! After a few more purchases we were all pretty worn out! And yes, we did wear matching shirts. If anyone were to get lost it would be easy to spot us because the four of us looked alike. Who have I become....a minivan and now this??? We had to the Riverwalk for dinner. Probably not the best idea since everyone was tired and hungry, but when you only have a few days you have to cram as much into it as possible. After a tasty, but uneventful dinner it was time for bed!

Sunday sent us packing! Packing for a long drive home. We said our good-byes and pleaded once again for Amy to move to Oklahoma. It's just not right for a sister to have a baby and then live so far away. Who does that, right? Anyway, it didn't work so off to Oklahoma we headed. Do you remember I said long drive? Well how about super long. That's right I listened to a man though my paper map, my phone GPS, and my memory said "GO STRAIGHT" my man said "GO LEFT" so left we went. Left took us to a very dark curvy hilly road about an hour out of our way. So our leasurely drive home (we stopped to shop at all those wonderful outlet malls), became the nightmare drive home. There are perks to having a dad that has been to like every cemetary in OK. GPS didn't know where we were. We didn't know where we were on the paper map, but dad was able to guide us back to a civilized road and finally at 9:50pm and almost 13 hours after our journey began we were HOME!

Best Vacation Ever!

Quarterly Report

Well it's about time for my quarterly update. It's been awhile so I thought I would get fancy and type in blue and italics. It's been so long since the last post and I didn't read the last post I can't remember where I left off. Hmmm...What's been going on with the Brook's?

Jacob is halfway through football and I think he is looking forward to the end! He is already talking wrestling and basketball. He likes first grade and his teacher, Mrs. Tanner. I think he is quite social as he prefers to eat breakfast at school instead of taking the AR test in the morning which I want him to do. He has gotten all 100's on his spelling tests and I am still processing that he celebrated his 7th birthday. The other day I said "Daddy and I have been married 7 1/2 years" Jacob's response "and I'm 7" wonder how many years it will take him to figure that one out..LOL. Thinking of kid comments Addison and Jake were telling me that the wanted a sibling which there will be no more at our house. I explained that "no we are not having anymore children" Jacob replied "well you could go out and have a really good time and come back pregnant". Not really sure where he heard that line, but quite certain he is watching too much tv. I assured him that "NO, there would be no more babies at our house."

Addison is adjusting well to life in kindergarten. After my heart healed from the day she brought home a sad face she hasn't had any more. She is quite independent and styles her own hair daily. She kinda has the messy pulled up look. Her personality reminds me of a cross between Punky Brewster and Denace the Menace. A good mix for the household. I've gotten over my anxiety that when the teachers see her lunch they must think I am an unfit mother, but why pack something she won't eat? So dry cereal, yogurt, and string cheese it is! I got to go with her to the Livesay Orchard in Porter and she packed our lunch for us and did a great job! She let me have a sandwich :).

October brings excitement to us. We will go on our first vacation since the children were 1 and 3! We are headed south to San Antonio for fall break! I am excited to just get out of town! We plan to go to Galveston and spend one night just to show the kids the ocean and experience a ride on the ferry. Not my favorite. I have always had this anxiety of bridges, ferries, etc. ugh I do not like not being in control and over water...AAHHH...but I must put this aside so the kids can experience fun! Now I am planning on taking life jackets (just not telling Jasson hehehe). Yes life jackets for the ferry ride over to Galveston! We also bought an old Coke machine! Jasson and I have wanted one forever and lucked into one really cheap at a garage sale this weekend. So get ready ice cold beverages all summer long for just .45 cents! WooHoo

Summer's End

Summer is quickly coming to an end. Only three more days until the very first day of school! Jasson started his first day today. Calculus. I will have to wish him luck with that because as you know I am no math wizard! Hmm...haven't blogged in a loooonggg time! I am so busy at work. Budget cuts have cut much of my help which means more work for me. Yippee! More work for me means less time to blog.

Summer didn't bring much excitement to our household this year. We did a lot of swimming and even tried out the new Sapulpa Aquatics Center a few times. We had a great visit with Amy, Ricky, and Iris. Now I must find Amy a job in Oklahoma so we can see them more often.

Jacob started tackle football. He is adjusting to the heat, but Addison and I are not. Now that Jasson is at school it is up to me to go to all the practices in the heat. Not such a good time can't imagine why anyone would choose to do that in full pads. Jacob is very excited about first grade and can't wait for "back to school" night tomorrow.

Addison had a cavity filled today and did very well! She hasn't decided if she is ready for school or not. Shopping for school supplies was nightmarish. I still haven't found watercolors or craft glue, however I do appreciate that the list was smaller this year than last. Thankfully, we didn't have to re-mortgage the house to buy supplies.

Hmm

Hmm.. I couldn't think of a clever post title today. I am grouchy because I am feeling overworked which is my own fault. Therefore, all titles I thought of weren't appropriate. I know this is a passing mood and things always work out. I have control issues and when I can't control I get a little cranky!

Saturday the kids and I were leaving Wal-Mart when we were asked if we wanted to look at some craft projects and make a donation. The cause was a worthy one and had I any cash I would have donated. We walked across the drive way and Jacob said "mom I have change left over in my pocket I could donate". He walked back to the table and patiently waited until the lady was finished speaking to someone else. To me it felt like forever, but he waited so calmly and quietly. Finally, the woman left and it was Jake's turn. He handed over his money. I was so proud! I did not suggest he give his money he did it all on his own. He had taken some money from his piggy bank to buy a toy from Wal-Mart and then donated the change he had left over!

We also spent the weekend out by the pool. So nice and sunny! A little too sunny. We were a little to hot pink on Sunday to swim without shirts on. Best of all the weekend brought Amy and Iris home! I can't believe how much Iris has grown. So cute!

Addison stated on Saturday night that she was "calling Amy out" which means Addison will now get to be Iris's mother and that Iris should come to live with us. Addison was quite upset when I explained it wasn't that easy and that we couldn't take Iris home with us.

We are gearing up and are super excited to have everyone over Saturday for a swim party. Hopefully, the forecast won't change and we will have sunny nice weather!

Catch up...

WOW! It's been awhile since the last post. I feel like all I do is play catch up. Meet myself at the front door leaving sometimes. Life as a working mother of two can be very hectic.

Jacob and Addison are both full swing into t-ball. On different teams in different towns of course. Can't do things the easy way in the Brook house. The late nights are really rough for us. I am still debating is it harder on me or the kids? Jacob is my child that reminds me it's 8:00 o'clock and time for bed. Only 18 more games for Jake and 13 for Addison to go! I think this summer the only activity we will do is swimming in our own backyard! Well that's if the kids' allergies calm down. Both have had itchy, red, watery eyes, a cough, sneezing etc. Keeping them in the house is about the only thing that works. Jacob is doing very well in school and is reading chapter books now. Addison is doing well and reports "no trouble" when asked how was school? I wish I could say the same about home! She will be writing sentences tonight when I get home for her behavior. Yes, I know she is 4, but she must learn that all negative behavior has consequences. Jacob lost his sixth tooth last night and seemed disappointed that the tooth fairy only left a dollar! I found out he was skipping breakfast at school (lunch lady told me we have $75.00 on our account) he told me he was trying to save money. I guess I talk about money too much. It's amazing what a six year old can pick up on! Anyway, I did tell him he better start eating and of course he did not need to worry about money that we have it under control. Then he said well I need to lose weight! So again another lecture that a six year old should not be worried about weight! Oh my goodness they grow up too fast!

We are also looking for a new home for Bella. I know I know....go ahead and say it. A 4 year old is not ready for a dog and since she is to rough with poor little Bella we feel Bella would be better off with someone else. The good news is Jasson knows a lady at work and they are going to have a trial night on Wednesday. Cross your fingers. And yes I have learned my lesson!

I will go to New Orleans next week for work. I am going to try cajun food since the first time I went I was a vegetarian. My first long trip by myself. This should be interesting. Any good book recommendations?

My dad is home. He sounds groggy today. I guess recovering from quadruple bypass isn't the easiest thing to do! He hasn't smoked in a week and since my trip is for an anti-Tobacco Conference I should have lots of good things to bring back for him!