For Morris

Growing up, Ashley and I referred to my dad as "Morris."  In Ferris Beuller's Day Off, Cameron and Ferris totalled Cameron's dad's vintage Ferrari.  Ashley and I always loved Cameron's line "When Morris gets home, he and I will have a little chat."  I had plenty of times in high school and college waiting for my dad to get home so we could have a similar chat.  And that is how we started calling my dad Morris.

I haven't called him that in years, but somehow, it still fits him.  My dad is a dude that demands respect.  Most of my boyfriends were afraid of him and for good reason.  He doesn't play games.  He is hilarious but can be pretty intimidating.

My dad means more to me each year.  Now that I am a full fledged adult (35 for crying out loud) I understand a bit more about the sacrifices he made for me and still makes for me.  Just recently, I had a friend over to my parents' house and he couldn't believe my dad drove the piece of crap that he drives.  My dad is a federal magistrate judge and could drive any awesome car he wants.  But he chooses to drive a beat up 94' Toyota Corolla with a bazillion miles on it.  My mom got a brand new car last year.  That's how he rolls.   Material things are not important to him and he would rather my mom have money to spend on the grandkids, etc.

The last two years, I have been through a lot of emotional heartache.  My mom and sister and friends have listened to me for hours and helped me work through a lot of it.  But there were times (sometimes at 11:00 at night or the middle of his workday) that I needed to call my dad and get advice.  And he always had the time and the best advice.  My dad doesn't hold back.  He will tell you exactly what he is thinking and sometimes it is hard to hear.  But he is always right.  And I know he loves me more than anyone (except maybe my mother) so I know he has my best interest at heart.   He gave me the courage to pull the trigger on my divorce because he demanded happiness for me.  He wouldn't allow me to stay in a situation where I wasn't going to be able to be happy.  I love him for that.

Last weekend, he came over to my house to help me with my car that wouldn't start and ended up helping me with my finances and insurance as well.  Even though it completely freaked him out to see how disorganized I am, ("Brookie, you have got to get organized!" repeated over and over...) he gave me good advice and helped me get on top of things.

Today, I am grateful for you, Dad.  You have taught me what a real man is.  You are strong in the gospel. You always lead out in our family and have high expectations for us in every area of our lives.  I really appreciate the influence you are on my children.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to Sam, too, who is the father of my children.  I will always love him for giving me four bright, beautiful, happy kids.  They love him to pieces and I appreciate that he is a fun, involved, committed dad.

Happy Father's Day to the men who read this blog..yes both of you. haha.  Good fathers make a huge impact in the lives of their children and I don't think we celebrate good dads enough.  This is your day!

Summer Family Photos 2012

We recently got family photos taken by my good friend and photographer Jill.  Check out her website here.  I always leave thinking there is no way she got anything and she always surprises me.  Buster was out of control..running in every direction but I think she still managed to capture his likeness. 

Blog friends, this is where I need your help.  I bought four groupons for large canvases on so that I can hang these photos on either side of my armoire.  I have one huge one for a family shot and three smaller ones for a grouping of other shots.  So please tell me which of the first two family shots you like better and which of the other shots your would put into the grouping of three.   I am also including photos of all four of my kids though I won't be using those in the grouping. Thanks in advance!!

Family photo 1:

Family photo 2:

Photo 3 (boys):

Photo 4 (big boys):

Photo 5 (Buster and Mama):

Photo 6 (Sammie and Mom close up):

Photo 7  (Sammie and Mom trellis):

Photo 8 (Sammie and mom garden):

Photo 9 (kids):

Photo 10 (Sammie rose petals):

Gratuitous photos of the kids:

Bachelorette: London Calling

This was one of my favorite episode this season.  And it wasn't even because of the Kalen drama.  I totally saw that coming because Kalen is so dumb and I think he didn't even care that he was going home.  I wonder if the producers put him up to some of the stuff he said.  I loved how Emily said she wanted to go all "West Virginia back woods hood rat crazy on him" or something along those lines.  My very favorite was how he interrupted her and she said "I love to hear you talk but not until I'm through..I got that line from you."  The girl has spunk and I love it.

No, this episode was my favorite because I love Jef with one F.  I loved their date.  I loved how Jef talked about being on "a two on one" with Jean and Emily. I loved how Emily and Jef got the hell out of there when Jean left the room..though that was probably staged.  I think Emily and Jef have so much chemistry. Jef is normal and real and I loved how he told Emily about how he felt about her when they were having dessert on the London Eye.  I melted during their kiss.  I am into him them.  I hope they end up together but I'm not holding my breath. 

I honestly have nothing to say about Emily's date with Sean.  He is such a nice guy.  He is a good guy.  He says all the right things but there is no chemistry.  He is not funny or even all that fun.  I think he will be in the final two but not picked...there is just something missing.

The group date was fine.  I lose more and more respect for Ryan (the dumb ox) every week.  I am so disappointed in Emily for saying she is starting to like him.  He says the dumbest things.  He drives me crazy.  He bugs me worse than Kalen did.  I want the ox gone.  I'm tired of his dumb little gifts and his ugly scarfs and his dumb letters and his arrogance. 

I thought Arie was good on the group date.  He was so nervous but he pulled through and was funny.  Arie's biggest strength..other than being gorgeous..is that he is truly funny.  I do feel like sometimes Emily and Arie have nothing to say to each other and he just tries to kiss her to fill the time. 

I think Emily overreacted in her anger at the other guys that no one said anything to her about Kalen.  No one wants to be the tattle tell.  And Doug is now firmly in the "friend category" because he tattled to Emily.  Did you love his reaction when Emily told him she wanted to be alone and he had to kind of shrink away?  haha.

I was grateful to see Alenjandro go home.  I kept wondering "why is he still here?"  I predict Travis will go home next week...he is only still here because Emily has had other guys she needed to send home more. 

What are we thinking this week?  Who are your favorites?  It seems everyone is cheering for Sean but me.  Jef all the way!

Sunday Thoughts...Not of the Spiritual Variety

*When I first sit down in Sacrament meeting, I glance at my shoes and silently congratulated myself on their cuteness and the sweet deal I got on them.  My friend Heidi put me on to them.  They were $3.50 on clearance at DSW.  I have the receipt to prove it.  I was so excited to find neutral low heeled sandals.  (I would later leave Sunday School, limp out to the car and go home to change my shoes...you get what you pay for.)

*Mitchell loves to get out of our bench during Sacrament Meeting and wander up and down the aisle.  He smiles at everyone and is about the most charming 2 year old you have ever seen...so I allow it.  I debate whether anyone cares and if I need to go get him.  I figure everyone is giving me the single mom pass. He is completely quiet..just a little distracting.  When he finally walked across the front, I send Luke to grab him.  Luke took him out in the hall and brought him back sopping wet from the drinking fountain.  I decide letting him wander is the lessor of two evils.  I grabbed him a dry shirt when I went home to change my shoes.

He still gives the best smooches.

*When I went out in the hall to get Buster, I ran into a friend who said "I know Ryan is your favorite."  I respond "How did you know?" and wonder how she has an inside track into my mind.  Ryan is my current favorite child (I think it is okay to have a favorite child as long as it constantly changes.)  She goes on to talk about the Bachelorette and I realize she is talking about Ryan on the show.  My Ryan is still my current favorite child..probably because he cuddles me every morning in bed and comes up with new compliments everyday like "I like your eyebrows mom."


(sneak peek of the new paint, darling Ry Ry and my lion mane hair=hair appt. this week!)

*Back in Sacrament meeting (intently listening to the speaker) I debated whether I had picked the right clothes for our family photo we just had taken..I reworked all the outfits in my head and scolded myself for not cutting Luke's hair BEFORE the photo..it looks so much better now.  I also wished I had worn the dress I wore to church today and not the outfit I did wear.

*I looked around and noticed which guys in our ward were wearing blazers/suit coats.  I have a weird theory about the strength of a man's testimony in correlation to whether or not he wears a jacket to church.  Go ahead and tell me I am full of crap..I don't care.  I will still hold fast to my theory.  Maybe it is just that I like a man in a suit jacket.

*I notice my friend David on the stand who is in our bishopric.  I think "I have the nicest people in my ward."  I really truly do.  David came over with a couple other guys last week and helped me move my furniture for the painter.  They also took all the stuff off my walls.  They are coming back tonight to put it all back.  Another guy in my ward, who lives across the street (Doug) insists on mowing my lawn every single week.  My lawn has never looked so good.   It means the world to me.  Look at that lush grass:

So what is the verdict folks?  Do you wear painful heels to church in the name of fashion?  Do you think it is okay to let Buster wander the aisle during Sacrament meeting?  Is it okay to have a favorite child?  Do you think there is a correlation between testimony and suit coats?  Talk to me.

Bachelorette in Bermuda...Like Anyone Still Cares

So this week was crazy for me. Bananas. Ridiculous. It was the last week of school with all of that craziness. And I decided to have my house painted, so we were living between my mom's house and Sam's house and our house.  I wasn't smart enough to pack a suitcase so I made about a dozen trips between the three houses each day.

Once I get my furniture put back where it goes and some things hung on my walls, I will show you the before and after pictures! There was some other emotional stuff going on this week too so the Bachelorette post didn't happen. I did watch. I did enjoy it.

Since I can barely remember my own kids' names right now, it's a safe bet that I have forgotten most of what happened Monday night. But I will give you what I learned so far from this season of the Bachelorette (most of this is from Monday's episode):

1. Don't ever, under any circumstances, talk about being the next bachelor. I don't care if that is the sole reason you came on the show. Don't be talking about it. (Ryan, you are such an idiot.)

2. Don't ever tell Emily you won't "love on her" anymore if she gets fat. (Ryan...this is also for you!)

3. Don't ever give Emily a 7 page letter to read at the cocktail party..save it for the fantasy suite (yes, Ryan, again for you.)

4. Quit worrying about the other guys in the house and focus on your relationship with Emily. (I can't honestly remember why Chris was so mad at Doug but I do remember that Chris came off looking like a total arse.)

5. Don't play the dad card (Doug, this one is for you. Why does Emily think he is so perfect?)

6. If you get the chance to kiss Emily and she wants you to, you better take it. (Jef with one F, this one is for you, kid!  I like you Jef, she likes you...we want you to bring the romance.)

7. Don't wear knee socks to the cocktail party/rose ceremony unless you know it is a joke and the bachelorette will think it is hilarious. (once again, Jef, this is for you.) Did you all notice his socks? My mom thought his slacks were still on the hanger and he was just waiting until the last minute to put them on so they didn't wrinkle.)

8. For the love of everything holy, don't cry on your two-on-one date. Personally, I thought Nate had the rose in the bag. And then he started crying...about his brother. Bye bye.

9. Along the same lines, don't cry when you are eliminated. (Michael, long hair dude, this one is for you.) You barely knew her. We never saw you talk to her. Quit crying, at least save it until you are off camera.

10. Finally, watch Arie and do everything he is doing, because he is doing everything right...he gives the other guys a hard time, but does it in a way that is legitimately funny so he gets away with it. He kisses Emily every chance he gets, and he is hot. Done deal.

I think it is fair to say we could end this thing right now..we know who the winner is going to be.

We are off to one of my favorite cities on Monday...London! I can't wait!

Bachelorette: Living Like a Gypsy King

I loved last night's episode of the Bachelorette.  Emily has some spunk and I'm so glad she sent Alesandro packing during the cocktail party.  His little rant about how "marrying a woman with a child is a compromise" made no sense.  It just made Emily mad.  And I'm not sure he even understands what the word compromise means.  His intonation pattern was hilarious.  I laughed out loud when he talked about living like a gypsy king.  He said it again in his exit interview in the limo!  The best was when he said to Emily, "you don't plan for a kids and a family..it just happens.  Like you forget to use protection one night and BAM!  You're a dad!  He may be the stupidest guy ever on the history of the show:

Let's start at the beginning.  I only got to see the first part of Emily's date with Chris because our DVR crapped out and skipped ahead to the group date.  Did anyone else see the whole date?  I heard I missed Luke Bryan.  Bummer.  I like Chris but I don't see why she thinks he is so hot.  I loved it when Chris said, "Emily looks really hot in a harness."  Seriously?

I thought the group date was lame.  Like bringing in a bunch of kids and asking these guys to play with them will show Emily what kind of dad they would be.  Anyone can be enthusiastic and fun for a twenty minutes with someone else's kid on a playground.  I'm just glad no one has a hidden camera on me when I take my kids to the park.  I'm usually sitting on a bench texting or complaining to a friend about the heat/cold/wind. 

The best part of the date was Emily's blond friend asking the guys the questions like "have you ever had a one night stand? or "have you ever cheated on your girlfriend?"  I loved when she starting telling Sean how hot he was.  I thought she stole the show.  Sean and Doug were the clear favorites with the  Emily's friends.  Sean knows all the right things to say and I think he is genuine.  We will see.  Doug still bugs me.  He is a little too intense and plays the dad card too hard.  I do feel bad for him with his story about growing up in foster care.

And were you all dying at Ryan when he said he wants Emily to stay in shape after they get married.  If she gets fat, he "would love her but wouldn't love ON her."  Sheesh.  That was classic and HE STILL GOT A ROSE.  Idiot. 

I loved how she sent Tony home because he missed his son and she didn't see a future with him.  I thought she was really classy about it.  She continues to impress me.

I still really like Jef.  And yes, Kaari, he only has one F.  His hair kind of bugs me but I can get over it.

And speaking of bad hair, who the heck is this guy?  He never speaks.

I was hoping she would cut Kalen on the spot when he demanded that Emily let him finish when she interrupted him.  He looked awful last night and I died that he still got the rose.  I am convinced the producers made her give it to him.  I loved Emily's line "I love tall, skinny and funny.  I don't love tall, skinny and condescending."  Amen sister.

Travis, aka (Horton..thanks Greg for the nickname) decided that it was time to get rid of the stupid ostrich egg.  Don't you love how the producers used that clip of Emily throwing the egg in the previews to make it look like she was mad at Travis.  I wish she was.  He is a baffoon.

Are we all loving Arie?  He is so cute and they are cute together.  He will be in the final two.  That was a really cute date at Dollywood.  I have a soft spot in my heart for Dolly Parton. That woman has abused the plastic surgery but she is still one of my favorites. 

Next week, we are off to Bermuda.  I predict the fireworks will start and she will be kissing everyone.  I think Arie is the only guy she has kissed so far.  Good for her!

Bachelorette...Muppets Take North Carolina

It is past midnight but I can't let another day go by without giving you my thoughts on this week's show.  I am loving Emily.  She is so darling and I think her personality is really coming out more this season.  So here are my quick thoughts...I will add photos later...I gotta get to bed!

*Ryan.  I'm not a fan ladies.  He seems cocky to me and sorta miffed that he had to go to Emily's house and make cookies on his date.  I thought he would be thrilled to get into her personal space like that.  I have to admit I think that super long letter was a turn off.  He chose the worst time to give it to her...and monopolized way too much time at the coctail party.  I don't like him.  He seems fake to me.  Don't forget he wore no tie to the cocktail party with his shirt unbuttoned half way down.  C'mon, Seriously!

*I know I am going to take flak for this but I loved the Muppets date.  I thought it was darling and funny and original.  For once, Fleiss got it right.  Thank you for not putting us through another filming of a fake soap opera!  I would have liked to have seen more of the singing, dancing and stand up but maybe that was all there was.

*My very favorite outfit on Emily was the pink sparkly skirt and white tank top in the Muppets show.  She looked so cute in that.  I wish I could rock an outfit like that.

*I am crushing on Jef.  I know!!  I'm a grown woman and he seems like such a teenager but he is cute and I'm so glad someone good is representing Zion!  Emily loves him too.  You wait.

*Doug is an idiot.  I'm calling it right now.  If someone leaves their kid for 6-8 weeks to go on the bachelor/bachelorette, they ARE putting their role as a parent on hold.  Emily did it last season and yes, Doug, you are doing it now (even if your kid told you to go.)

*Everyone is being too hard on Kalen.  Yes, he is over-the-top.  Yes his lips are too shiny and he seems like a little boy trying too hard.  I don't like him and he will be going home soon enough.  But he is taking too much grief for nothing.  He was classy about not making Emily decide between him and Aaron (and yay that Emily sent Aaron packing for being so rude in that exchange.)

*Stevie is sooo unattractive.  I can barely look at him.  Please Emily, send.him.home.

*Still dying at the two Alejandro/Alesandro...do they ever talk?  Are the producers making her keep them for diversity?

*Poor Joe.  He was nice but I run into this same problem dating.  Some guys are so great, so nice but you just know you can't marry them or there is no spark.  Gotta let 'em go.  She did the right thing.  I could totally relate to her when she said she wished the date had gone badly or that something could have given him a warning that it wasn't going to work out.  She is a good person.  And his answer about where he sees himself in five years was ridiculous.

*I think it is nice of Emily's mom to babysit Ricki while Emily does this stuff.  However, I thought Emily's mom looked a little sleazy in those cut out sleeves....mutton dressed as lamb? 

*I like Chris.  He seems like a super nice guy.  Do we think he's hot?  Emily goes on and on about how attractive he is.  I ain't seeing it.  Remember he was the bobble head guy.

*Dave "Wolf" seems like a good guy.  Someone mentioned in the comments that he is a "document destruction specialist"...like he shreds paper for a living?

K, what am I missing ladies (and Greg?)