Our New Baby Brother

Thomas John Brooks
Born: December 14, 2008

We can already tell he will be smart because he has figured out how to drink out of a big boy bottle and never had to use a preemie bottle. :)

Joey loves to go to the hospital to see his little brother Tommy. It is hard because he has only seen him through the glass and wants to hold him. He has had some funny things to say ...

"When are they going to take Tommy out of that tote."

His grandma was giving Joey a hug good-bye and said I sure love you Joey and Joey replied, "Don't forget to be loving my baby brother."

Joey is loving the snow!

Playing with friends

So Joey was playing with his friends this afternoon and suddenly they come running into the house SCREAMING!!!! I thought something was seriously wrong, but was mistaken. They were SOOOO excited because they had been trying for a long time to get all the basketballs stuck in the basketball hoop. They laughed themselves silly. It was quite an exciting moment! Way to go boys!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Here are Nate and Tara. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with all my brothers here, except Kenny who is on his mission in Ireland. I had to steal these pics off Tara's blog since I didn't take any. THANKS TARA! That is why you and Nate get the top spot!

Dad, Mom, Nate, Joe, Julianne, Diane and Norm
note ... we never did get a whole group picture of us all, but here are some of us

We had a fun weekend playing games and hanging out. We also went to Tuacahn and saw the live nativity.

Shooting hoops with the cousins

Go Cougars

We are BLUE!

Lost Tooth

Yeah! Look who lost his first tooth!

Soccer Season is Over

This is one intense player!

Go Red Raiders!!!

Note ... this is one of the few times we will ever cheer for a RED team

What a lucky boy to not only have Grandma & Grandpa, but also Gma (great grandma) and Don at a game!

And last but not least .... the long awaited trophy!

Happy Halloween!

A baseball player and an In-and-Out worker. Hope you can tell which is which ....

Joey Milestone!

Wow! Joey held a dog for the first time last night. He held a Yorkie puppy!!!! Way to go Joey! He was so brave and proud of himself. I got a picture of it on my cell phone, but don't know how to transfer it to the computer :( . What great neighbors we have ... the Stephens ... to be so patient and loving to help Joey overcome this fear.

You're Not Alone ....

Michael McLean with our family

November is National Adoption Month! As board members of Families Supporting Adoption we help plan an adoption celebration every November. This year our local chapter invited Michael McLean -- famous Mormon composer and musician to come and present a musical fireside. (OK it isn't quite November, but this is when he could come.)

There was a reception before the fireside where we "mingled with Michael." (Don't we sound hoity-toity?!?!) We invited birth mother's who had placed their babies to come and meet Michael. He was so personable to them and wanted to hear each of their stories. He looks a lot older in person! The fireside featured 3 of his songs that he has written about adoption -- one of which is entitled "From God's Arms to My Arms to Yours." He also talked a bit about how he has suffered from depression. He is so down to earth. Joe conducted the fireside and since it was a family fireside -- our whole family sat on the stand. The Tabernacle was filled to capacity -- standing room only -- and they were turning people away. It was a neat, memorable evening.

For your gee whiz collection .... did you know that he helped write the script for Mr. Krueger's Christmas?

Fall Break

We spent fall break up at Renae and Mike's house "tending" their kids while they went to San Diego. We had a great weekend! Here are some pictures....

Dinosaur and Bean Museum Pictures

At Lagoon

Here is Norm on his favorite ride at Lagoon. It was so hard to get him off the Merry-go-Round!

Ain't No Bugs on Me

OK -- yes I know that this is disgusting, but the only thing worse is knowing they are alive. I have been noticing tons of bugs especially cockroaches around our house ... inside and out. Joe asked his buddy at work Eric Dodge who he uses to spray his house for bugs ...... Eric does it himself and gave Joe some stuff to use yesterday. It is bug spray from a farmers supply place called Steve Regan Company. They claim it is the same stuff professionals use. I am a believer!

Fire Station Field Trip

The Kindergartners had a field trip yesterday at the fire station. Joey .... I think you are girl trapped!

Joey's Birthday Party

There is nothing like a whole bunch of friends to help you celebrate your birthday!

We went to Pizza Factory after Joey's party. We mentioned it was his birthday and they asked how old he was and he said 6. They brought out a mini pizza in the shape of a 6. It was fun!

Happy Birthday Joey!

WOW! does life get any better than turning 6? Joey woke up this morning at 6AM. He has been so excited for today. He has had his school birthday treat planned for weeks. We are having a friends birthday slip-n-slide/swimming party after school so more posts later..... assuming I survive :)


Here is Joey in his new birthday clothes and his new horn for his bike.

Rain is falling all around .... 26.2 miles

Yeah! Laura and Renae made it all the way in the rain! Can you see their blue lips? Gotta love Renae's choice for an afternoon marathon treat --- Icecream. She has always loved icecream. Santa brought her some one year for Christmas! WAY TO GO GALS!

Julianne and Joey with Joey all bundled up because it was so wet and cold. We were at the finish line cheering the runners.

Amanda made a sign for the runners that says, "Run, Run, Run as fast as you can ....."

GO Cougars

Go Cougars! On Friday night Joey demanded that the whole family where their Quest BYU shirts to watch the BYU game. He to called and/or email everyone and told them that if their Quest shirt was dirty they could wear any BYU shirt. We also had a late celebration of Grandpa's birthday and an early celebration of Joey's birthday.

Happy Birthday Dad & Grandpa!

Some boys just never grow up!

October is a busy month of birthdays for our family. Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Happy Birthday to Darrell!

I don't remember for sure, but I am thinking this picture may have been taken on the day we had Jim McMahon day at our school in Roy. We were all so excited to wear our BYU stuff. Isn't Darrell cute there on the far right?

I love this picture of Darrell because it reminds me of Jack in Roy. Jack was our next door neighbor in Roy who didn't really like kids. He would often park his car in the driveway over the sidewalk to discourage us from riding big wheels, trikes, etc. in front of his house. It didn't discourage us a bit .... we would just drive into his driveway and over his grass and then get back on the side walk.

Well I could on and on about my brother Darrell. Being the oldest I remember the day he was born and how excited we were. He had the cutest doggy baby bottle that a neighbor gave as a gift. I still have guilt issues over the time I broke his arm because while we were playing in the front yard in Roy I launched him off my feet and he landed on his arm. He was probably about 5 years old when that happened.

Darrell is a great conversationalist and listener. I like to ask him about political, current events, & legal things I don't understand because he can explain things well without making me feel like am clueless.

Happy Birthday Darrell!

Happy Birthday to Renae!

All ready for school! Go Valley View Vikings!

I bet Renae remembers all the words to the school song!

We are the Valley View Vikings we are the best oh yes the best

We know other schools are good, but not as good as Valley View

Come on and learn at Valley View at Valley View at Valley View

We know other schools are good, but not as good as Valley View!

Let me introduce you to my clown friend Narae. (pronounced Nay Ray) She had another clown that would help her out named Purpee. We won't mention who Purpee was ...... All I can say is that together no one could top them. They were a class act.

Renae is my little sister. If anyone needs cooking advice, entertaining ideas, or looking for an ear to bend Renae is the one. Oh yeah, she is a good photographer, too. I could go on and on about all her great qualities. Yes I am the older, wiser, bossy sister, but really she is the wise one and a tad bit bossy, too. :)

Happy Birthday Renae!

More great pictures of Renae here, here, here, here, and here

Go Red Raiders!

Joey and his soccer coach

Joey had his first soccer game of the Fall season on Saturday. He has the BEST coach ;)! Joe got this shirt at work on Friday and it matches the uniforms so well that it is now his official coaching shirt. Joey played well and the team had a lot of fun. They aren't supposed to keep score, but of course the boys do and know which team scores the most goals. Especially when it is a lopsided game. Joey scored 4 goals and played very intensely. No surprises there! Joe and Joey were a little disappointed that the uniforms are red ..... they feel like they are betraying the beloved cougars .... so Joe wore his BYU hat to just make it clear that he is still a very LOYAL cougar fan!

Joey and Preston