Under the Mistletoe

When I packed my bags for Christmas, I was packing for 18 days and three stops - Atlanta, Salt Lake and San Fran. It was an overwhelming undertaking . . . so I ended up shipping a box to Utah. Haha oh the things I'll do to not check a bag.

The first stop was Atlanta for Christmas. It was wonderful. I gained 10lbs eating, but lost 10lbs laughing. Highlights include:

Sister time. My parents house has five bedrooms, and since there are five girls that means two people have to share. There have been plenty of times when this caused serious problems (#firstworldproblems), but this year there were four beds, four sisters and two bed that were never slept in. That's how awesome of a Christmas it was.



Sugar cookies, but not just any sugar cookies - darla's sugar cookies. The World's Best Sugar Cookies. We talked about these cookies whenever we weren't actually eat them, so to say they consumed our Christmas is not an exaggeration. We even discussed the difference in shapes - the Christmas trees were the clear winners, with stockings falling close behind and stars fall so low on the list they actually got thrown away.


Fuel for our big shopping days - reindeer pancakes


and Chickfila . . . and Diet Coke


Horrible, horrible Christmas PJs


The annual Christmas hot tub party


Pinkberry



Throw in a handful of movies and that just about covers it!

And just like Christmas was over and Caisa, Sam and I were boarding a (delayed) plane for Utah

Parental Visit

When I told my parents I was moving to Connecticut, just like Kelli, they immediately started to plan a trip to visit NYC. So I moved into my apartment on a Wednesday and took Friday off. Not to move, but to go to NYC and spend the weekend with Mom, Dad and Kelli. Apparently they don't like unpacking boxes, rude.

But it was a fabulous weekend.

We stayed in Brooklyn and enjoyed the view.


Shopped, ate, walked and shopped some more.


Was impressed by Harry Potter in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.


And we took a carriage ride through Central Park. I never thought I'd say this, but I loved it! I mean, Kelli wouldn't let me play JB's Christmas album on my phone for ambiance, but it was still one of those classic NYC Christmas moments I'm glad I've had.


Thanks for coming!

First Timer

This is the only holiday decoration up at my house right now . . . but I'm obsessed.


Remember that hot glue gun I purchased? I finally used it. And if I do say so myself, I nailed it.

Love.

Dear

Dear Blogger,
I've been cheating on you with Twitter and Instagram. Sorry I'm not sorry.
Love,
iPhone Newbie

Dear Mover,
When you looked at all of my wardrobe boxes and said, "Wow, the closet in your last apartment must have been lots bigger." It really hurt my feelings.
Love,
I Have No Idea Where It Is All Going To Go

Dear Design Blog Lovers,
I need floor lamps. I generally hate floor lamps. Please help.
Love,
Picky with High Expectations

Moving has been consuming my life lately. Don't move around Christmas - otherwise your apartment will look like this


instead of this


84 items total (boxes plus furniture) - how did I get that much stuff? - and I easily have 20 still left to unpack. I'm surrounded by boxes.

Operation Two Trees

When you get the best Christmas Tree Ever every single year, it gets tougher and tougher to top yourself. Luckily, we're awesome so we manage.

Last year our tree was A.Maz.Ing. I mean it was so wide it didn't fit through the door. It almost didn't fit through the double doors. It consumed the room in the best possible way.

So this year we were starting to feel the pressure - or at least that was the mind game Dad was trying to sell. However, growing up with him the sisters and I have mastered the Art of Dad. We couldn't get any taller. We couldn't get any wider. So the only other place to go was multiples - naturally.

We started the day with a cheer. I'm not even kidding. Dad said, "One. Two. Three. One Tree." While we all screamed "Two Trees." We were just trying to fit in with the other Black Friday crazies.

We found the biggest tree on the lot, and Sam proudly sat down in front of it and starting chatting "Occupy Christmas! We are the 99 percent!" We all died laughing. This is going to go straight to that kid's head, but wow, she's funny. I have no idea where she comes up with this stuff. Unfortunately while the tree might have been big, it wasn't perfect. So while it was really funny to try it just wasn't meeting the quality standards.



But then we found it. The perfect tree. It was tall and beautiful. Even Dad was sold.


Now we still had to convince Dad to get a second tree. So I decided . . . flocking! It wasn't a tree - it was an activity. And cheaper than a movie or dinner! We kept getting "no" but finally wore him down. We successfully walked out with two trees. We've been begging for two trees for years, and I honestly can't believe it finally happened.

Caisa texted a picture of the tree to her boyf. His response: "To big?"
We almost made her break-up with him. I'm sorry, there is no such thing as too big. Don't worry that we had to cut off about 6 more inches once we got home (hilarity with the saw ensued) because the tree was too tall. And yes, it touches the ceiling. Who needs an angel?


The next day we purchased the necessary flocking supplies and then danced to some JB Christmas music while flocking. I loved it. It really makes for a beautiful tree.


We all flew home the next day so we didn't have time to decorate the flocked tree - I was just expecting to keep it looking like it had snowed in the foyer - but then Mom sent this message:
Dad decided to dedicate the tree to you girls.


(aka they used all of the old, mostly homemade, corny ornaments that we won't let them put on the "real" tree anymore) Ahhh, they miss us.

I love Christmas. Now I need to go buy my own tree this weekend.

Sistersgiving

Thanksgiving might be my absolute favorite holiday. Those two extra days off make for a perfect four day weekend. It was relaxing, sleep filled and full of family and food.

We didn't take a single picture at the Thanksgiving festivities, so I made the sisters pose before we went to bed. And Caisa grabbed the turkey. No one knows why.


The Thanksgiving traditions lived on.

#1. The Turkey Trot


#2. Which leads to the more important tradition - QT

No, but really. When we were emailing back and forth about doing the Turkey Trot this year someone actually said something to the effect of, "Come on. If we run, we can go to QT after." That is motivation right there folks.


Thanksgiving might also be my favorite because it means both Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one. Which leads to:

#3. The hunt for the perfect Brooks family Christmas tree


. . . more to come

Vampire Weekend

When I found out I was allowed a "trip home" - you know, because my wife and kids haven't moved yet - I started plotting right away. I had just moved, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Did I really need to go back to SLC? Yes. And I decided a surprise would be lots more fun.

I wasn't sure how surprised the sisters would be, seeing as I had just moved 11 days before and I would be seeing them for Thanksgiving in another 6 days. Was it really enough time to miss me? Sam went to an early Breaking Dawn showing and as she was walking out of the theatre to her car there I was - the stalker creepily lurking by her car.

Then we went to Yogurtland and surprised Caisa. Sam was shocked and excited. Caisa just looked at me and said, "You would." Then we stayed up way too late talking. Had an old school Friday Night Dinner at Teppanyaki. Dragged Caisa to a Saturday matinee of Breaking Dawn. And enjoyed Cafe Rio with Shannan and Evan.

I think Sam's tweet says it all:
It's almost unhealthy how good of a mood my sisters, #twilight, and @melissastewart5 put me in. #notsosecretobsessions

All she needed to add was: catching up over breakfast with my two favorite brides-to-be Kathy and Kathryn, hitting the chocolate chip jackpot in the cookie dough, seeing Candice, oh and Diet Coke. I really was incredibly happy all weekend.

Surprise!


Love her . . . and her Team Edward obsession.


Wait, we haven't taken any photos this weekend?!


Caisa preparing to freeze at the last home BYU football game . . . sixteen layers later.


Oh SLC to JFK, I know that flight all too well. And it's worth every minute.

Correction

I went back to see the rest of the apartment today. Correction - it was an old lady sleeping on the bed. I really do love grandma's houses.

Yes, That Just Happened

I was looking at apartments with a realtor this weekend and when we called one of the places on my list the owner just asked us to knock before we entered because she hadn't been able to get a hold of the current tenant. No problem. We show up, knock, no one answers so the realtor gets the key out of the lockbox and we walk in. I'm looking around, taking pictures, opening drawers and then round the corner to the bedroom . . . and there is an old man asleep on the bed! Yes, we'd been in the unit for about 5 minutes without knowing (or waking) the current tenant. Apparently I have a thing for old folks homes, because despite quickly sneaking back out without seeing the bedroom and bathroom that place is a front runner. Go figure.

Love, Your Parking Neighbor

Before I left there was one last thing I had to do - leave a note for my note loving parking neighbor.

Dear Parking Neighbor,
I hope your new parking buddy is excellent at interpreting your parking instructions. I would recommend a diagram. Best of luck.

Dear Parking Neighbor,
I hope your new parking neighbor's car breaks down and just sits there collecting dust for a year.

Dear Parking Neighbor,
I just wanted to thank you for being such a considerate parking neighbor. I'm moving, but will think of you whenever I see a note on a car. I can only hope I'll be as lucky at my next parking spot.

Dear Parking Neighbor,
I hope your car enjoys the extra space it will have until the new tenant moves in. I know your dust needs room to breath. And you need room for however it is you back into that spot.

Dear Parking Neighbor,
I really will miss you. Whatever will I blog about :)

Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

I'm going to miss this view on my drive to work in the morning.

It still doesn't feel real. I still feel like I'm just on extended business trip. But I miss my closet so it must be real. I moved. I left Salt Lake. Part of my relocation package was movers - who packed and moved me. So my apartment was almost 100% still put together until the day before the movers showed up. It never felt real. And then one night I unplugged my DVR (tear) and the next day 5C was empty.

My last weekend was spent going out in style.

Kathryn and I had our last Thursday TV night. We went to dinner at Em's which I had always heard was great but had never been. Next time you're in SLC, go. It's small and charming and delicious. And then we "audibly gasped" and swooned over Damon. We chatted wedding, apartments and life. I tried not to cry. Kathryn may not have made a big appearance on this blog, but she was a big part of why I loved SLC. And I made her do something I hate - I had the server take our photo :) Thursdays and PF Chang's takeout will never be the same.


Since my bed was packed up in the back of a truck making its way across the country I had to stay in a hotel. So I convinced Samantha to come up and stay at the Grand America with me for an evening. The old men in the elevator asked where our black tie attire was for the event in the ballroom, but we just snuck cookies from reception, enjoyed the hot tub, ordered room service . . . and then SLC even left me with a little present when we woke up. The first snow.






I had my ups and downs with Utah, but I was honestly sad to say goodbye.

Closet, I hope your next owner appreciates you as much as I did. I miss you.


Saloon doors, you will be missed.


5C - you were a fantastic "first."

In Honor of Retirement

You know how your phone only holds 100 texts. Oh yours doesn't have that problem? Weird. I feel some texts are just too good to delete when your inbox gets full. Reading them over and over again just makes me smile. Some are inside jokes and others are never going to be publicly published, but here are a few that just remind me Reason 1,569,002 I Love my Family and Friends.

No Self Confidence Issues Here:
Samantha: My face is too beautiful to have hidden.
Shannan: That's weird my phone didn't ring. Sam: Were you laying on top of it? Because sometimes I put it between my boobs and I don't get service.

Why We Are Friends:
Erin: Tell the team I said, if you can't win, get ejected :)
Mel: If we were Scarlet we would have ended up with him for sure!
Holly (re DC): This is why we are kindred spirits. Cause I am drinking one right now!!
Holly: It feels like a night of Annewithaney, pizza and a Sonic drink! Am I horrible?

Dave-isms:
Dad (in honor of Whitney): I am sleeping I will spit on you!!!
Caisa: Rude. Dad is not a speedy clothes taker offer.
Samantha: Dads new advice: "You can tell a snake it's not a snake but its still a snake."

Sister,Sister:
Caisa (during the Olympics): haha same here. I'm mostly excited for ladies singles. Not to be confused with all the single ladies :)
Samantha: hahaha lesson on Bathsheba :)
Caisa: We just saw Eclipse. Sam said it makes her want to "nuggle." True story.
Samantha: SORRY YOU'RE NOT SORRY. YOU SIT ON A THRONES OF LIES. QUIT SNACKING ON CHILDREN WHILE THEY DREAM.
Caisa: Bahaha. "Go talk to Feelings Coach Sam. I can't handle all your feelings right now . . ."
Caisa: Why is it that driving home from the Nichols at night with the top down jamming to BSB takes me back to HS?
. . .
That's right. BSB is on the radio thanks to Star94's 90's weekend :) good times jamming to BSB in a convertible.

Words of Wisdom:
Samantha: Unlimited fountain DC is my only motivation for the work world.
Caisa: Eating ice cream cake poolside. Reason #37 why I'm gonna be a student forever. Who needs Louboutins when you don't wear shoes?
Samantha: DC makes the world go round.

Sister's Weekend

After SYTYCD, Kelli stayed and we played for the rest of the weekend.

Caisa and Sam had a flag football game. They were down two players, including their QB, so sadly it wasn't as exciting as normal. Plus Kelli whined about the cold weather the. whole. time.


We ate.

We took a drive up to Sundance.


We shopped.

We went ziplining. I won't lie. I was a little nervous. But we looked so sexy in those helmets and harnesses we just couldn't resist! It was a gorgeous Fall weekend, and so much fun to be outside up the canyon.





All in all, fantastic sister time.

So You Think You Can Dance Dance Dance

When little Miss Melanie won SYTYCD the sisters decided to make a weekend out of the SLC tour stop. Kelli flew out and everything! I missed Cat introducing the dancers and dance, and Mary of course, but the show was so fun and had most of my favorite dances. I loved it. Oh, an Melanie is A.MAZ.ING. 22 dances. That's right - rockstar.

The crew


We stole Sam's camera when she asked us to take a picture of just her and Kelli. The nerve! So naturally Caisa, Candice and I took obnoxious pictures instead.


Mel was at the show too, and when she came over to say hi she made me cheese it up and take a photo with Mitchell - who was injured and watching the show nearby.


These two are ridiculous together, but thanks to them we got the VIP treatment.



Such a fun night! I can't wait for an LA trip Melanie!