2008 in Review December 31, 2008

(I don’t know why it staggers the pictures I post like it does! I’ve tried to fix it, and it just doesn’t change! I apologize, it drives me crazy!)

2008 was a tumultuous year for me. It had very high ups and very low downs. Overall, I am glad to see it go!

I started 2008 as the maid of honor in one of my best friends NYE wedding.

 

 

 

 

January was also the month that I turned 28. My friend Liz and I celebrated our birthday’s together, as they are just 10 days apart. (I’m still not quite sure why Leann thought Bunny Ears were a necessity, but they were fun!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then, got to celebrate my birthday again with my Girls Night Girls, because 3 of us have birthdays within 2 weeks of one another! My beautiful friends, and fellow Aquarians, Jamie and Jeanette!

 

 

 

 

I decided at 28 I needed to really get serious about taking care of myself. The day after turning 28 I quit drinking and smoking and started running. That lasted for about 2 weeks until my “heart thing” started. Apparently when your heart stops beating every 3-6 beats that can make you black out and requires 2 months of appointments with specialists and tests. Turns out I’m okay, just a slight ventricle problem. All is A-OK now, as long as I don’t drink too much caffeine.

February brought the birth of my gorgeous niece Julia Gulia. I was fortunate enough to be there again when my sister delivered. She is one tough bitch, that sister of mine. I am so incredibly proud of her!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Spring wasn’t incredibly eventful. I started this blog, which I love having. I had started dating B, and was enjoying being healthy. I started drinking little by little again, which lead to smoking again. Bad Brooke. Also, I broke my digital camera sometime in the Spring and there are not a ton of pictures from that time period!

Sadly in April, my dear friend Terri died in a tragic motorcycle accident. I’d never lost anyone unexpectedly and the sadness was intensified by deep guilt as we hadn’t seen one another in almost a year. Terri changed my life in many ways, and she will never be forgotten by any of the lives that she touched.  

 

 

 

 

 

Also in April, one of my best friends Leann gave birth to her second baby girl, and I got to be there when beautiful baby Alyssa made her entrance into this world. Leann was a champ, and both mama and baby were happy and healthy!

In June my beautiful baby boy turned 8 years old. We had a super fun birthday party for him at a pizza parlor with a great play room, including a miniature Ferris Wheel. I unfortunately can’t seem to find pictures of his party. Bad, bad, mom.

The end of June was time for me and a few of my girls to unwind…which meant a nice long weekend in Las Vegas. We relaxed, we partied, we gambled, and we had a great time. We stayed at the beautiful Planet Hollywood Hotel and Resort, and loved every minute of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The summer of 2008 also brought Christian’s first white water rafting trip. We took a 4 day excursion on the Rogue River with about 20 of our closest friends. C had fun while we were there, but has told me adamantly that he WILL NOT be going next year, because it was too scary. (He didn’t fall out once, and we didn’t go down any rapids that were too treacherous.) I bet once we get some swimming lessons under his belt he’ll be game for it again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In September it was back to school. My little man changed schools this year, and has adjusted so well to his new school. It is quite a small school, and the community there is so great. He is really flourishing and has made a ton of great new friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September was a hard month for me emotionally. There was a lot that went on in my family, and my sister bore the brunt of it. She is so strong and amazing. The love in her heart is so endless. She has her hands full as it is, and I’m not quite sure how she survived September. There are a lot of on going issues with my mother, and unfortunately she is in need of help that neither my sister or I are able to provide to her and she refuses to find herself. September was the crux of the issues. I am so thankful that my sister and I have one another, and our amazing dad, to lean on

October was thankfully a brighter, happier month in my life. C and I enjoyed some Friday night high school football games, watching a friends son play varsity football. I joined a lovely website for single parents to network and support one another, and inadvertently met an amazing man in Sushi Boy. Our first date lasted an entire weekend. After that weekend I knew that someone special had entered my life. Well, two special someones. Not only did I gain an amazing boyfriend, I get an extra cool 9 year old boy to spend time with too!

Less than a week after meeting, Sushi Boy took me to his friend’s Halloween party, and he told me he loved me. I chastised him for telling me that so soon into our relationship, but secretly I was giddy. (This picture would be great, if I didn’t have a beer in my hand!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day as Sushi Boy hauled me to the Emergency Room I told him I loved him too. It was a scary thing to say one week into a relationship, but that was how I felt. I was totally and completely in love with him already.

November and December have been amazing times with Sushi Boy and the C-Men. We all got to spend Thanksgiving together with Sushi Boy’s family. Sushi Boy took us all fishing (we didn’t catch anything.) Sushi Boy, Christian and I travelled to my hometown together to celebrate my favorite aunt’s 50th Birthday, and we were all snowed in together for the better part of 2 weeks. We had a lovely White Christmas together.

These last 2 months have been pure heaven. Thank you so much, Sushi Boy, for an incredibly holiday season. Being with you and the boys is the best gift a woman could ask for. I’m so excited to see what 2009 has in store for us and the boys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year, friends! I am so grateful for all you wonderful people that I have had the opportunity to meet through this blog, and all of my beautiful friends I have in my life. It amazes me that you read my blabber, but I don’t think any less of you for it! I hope you all have a lovely New Years Eve, and stay safe! I’ll see you on the flip side!

My Funny Girl December 10, 2008

This is my niece, Riley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my niece, Julia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both Riley and Julia are the daughters of my sister, Brandi. They have different fathers.

On Saturday, I was walking around the kitchen holding Riley. We were looking at pictures on the fridge and Riley tells me, “Auntie, I have a secret to tell you!” “Oh…I love secrets,” I tell her. She then points the picture of the 3-D Ultrasound Brandi had when she was pregnant with Julia, and says, “I wanted Julia to look like that. But she came out Mexican, instead!”

I laughed so hard, and then she told me I couldn’t tell anyone. How funny is that! In the 3-D u/s picture Julia did look white, because it was just a sepia colored photo.

Eventually Riley told my sister what she had said. The glorious things that kids say…

(And yes, my 9 month old niece is totally walking already! How awesome is that?!?)

Ah ha! December 10, 2008

Sushi Boy is much more technologically able than I am. Apparently I have to turn the camera ON before  the pictures will download…psssshh…

Here are a few of the pictures from our trip to the coast this last weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi Boy, myself and C at Shore Acres. (Please keep in mind we’d just traveled 220 miles!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sister and I (and C’s head in the corner.) Apparently there was a memo to put our hands on our hips awkwardly…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi Boy and I at my aunt’s party. We’d obviously been enjoying the hosted bar….

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time EVER, my sister is a brunette…turns out it’s actually her natural color now! She said she feels much smarter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sister’s fiance to the far left, my sister and the birthday girl, aka The Damn Hottest 50 year old I know!

I have more that I will post later.

Haven’t Scared Him Off Yet! December 8, 2008

A conversation with my sister, via text messages this morning.

Me: Sooo….what did you think of Sushi Boy?

Brandi: Hated him.

Me: Really?!?

Brandi: No, silly. He’s cool!

Me: Oh…phew!

Brandi: I think he seems like a good match for you. What did he think of us?

Me: Couldn’t stand you…thought you were trashy. Liked everyone else though.

Brandi: Funny!

Me: He kept telling me how he could see himself living down there. But don’t get your hopes up, if he moves down there, he will be alone. I’m not leaving Portland!

Brandi: LOL Whatever…

And my Dad likes him too!

Me: So, what did you think?

Dad: He’s okay.

Me: Wow, Dad. Don’t be too enthusiastic.

Dad: He’s kinda short and bald. lol

Me: Yes, yes he is. ;0)

(He’s only about an inch shorter than me, which is not really short at all. Dad and I are both just very, very tall.)

Dad: As long as you like him, he’s okay by me!

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Many relatives at my aunts party Saturday night came up to me and told me how much they liked Sushi Boy. He was great. Such a trooper to  meet virtually all of my relatives in one short weekend. I have a ton of great pictures from the weekend, but haven’t been able to upload them yet!

The Verdict Is In! December 3, 2008

Sushi Boy is meeting my family. In all of their lovely craziness.

I got a call this last weekend from one of my aunts, that my other (most wonderfully favorite) Aunt Tammy is celebrating her 50th Birthday this Saturday night. My Aunt Tammy…well, there are not quite words to describe how amazing she is and how much she means to me. My Aunt Tammy and her first husband (who just divorced a few years ago, therefore he will always be my uncle) never had children. My Aunt Tammy and my mother are biological sisters and were adopted together when they were 5 and 6. Although I have many other wonderfully amazing aunts and uncles, Aunt Tammy was always the favorite. She is a second mother to my sister and I. All of our friends call her Aunt Tammy, and are always envious of having such a great aunt.

Anyhow…Sushi Boy, Christian and I are headed South Friday after work to participate in the birthday festivities! This means that Sushi Boy will be meeting my entire family. My big scary teddy bear of a dad, my amazing sister and her 29 kids, my aunts, my uncles, my grandma, my cousins. All of them.

I’m so excited. But at the same time a little nervous. (Okay, more than a little) I really love this man, and so desparately hope that my family and him like each other. I really don’t see why they wouldn’t. But I’m still keeping my fingers crossed!

This is my sister, my beautiful Aunt Tammy and I on Christmas Day last year. My sister was very pregnant, and yes, I am totally a giant!

Have I mentioned I’m from HickVille? August 18, 2008

(Before I type this post, I have to mention that I LOVE the town/area I grew up in. There happen to be a lot of rednecks there, and I happen to love them. I’m not dissing my hometown, but anyone who’s ever been there, knows that it is essentially HickVille, USA.)

I was text messaging with my sister this afternoon. This was part of our conversation:

(After a long delay with no response from my sister)

Brandi writes: Sorry, I was on the phone with Dad. He says hi, thanks for calling this weekend. He was worried sick.

Me:Pssh! I talked to him Friday!

Brandi:He’s just playing. I didn’t talk to him either. He must not have been bored.

Me: Yah! Did you know he has a new lady friend?

Brandi: Ya! And did you know we are related to her?!? LOL!

Me:                  (I couldn’t type for a while, I was laughing too hard)

Me: OMG, are you kidding me?

Brandi:She’s umm…Papa Cliff’s (My dads father) brother’s step daughter I think. So only by marriage. But still funny!

And that, ladies and gentleman, is reason 836 why I am from HickVille!

The Sailors Say Brandi, You’re a Fine Girl… August 8, 2008

My sister is a saint. I could only hope to one day be half as compassionate as my sister is. She is absolutely amazing. She goes out of her way to help others and care for people.

Growing up I always knew that my sister would be an amazing mother. I couldn’t wait for her to have kids, and to be the fun auntie that spoiled my nephews and niece’s rotten. I was going to be a career woman, with either a husband and no children, or a child and no husband. I didn’t want the responsibility of both. (Funny how that has actually worked out!) My sister and I did a lot of babysitting as a team. She was always the one the kids liked. They wanted Brandi to play with them, Brandi to hold them, and Brandi was the one who could comfort them to make them stop crying.

I was 19 when I *oops!* accidentally got pregnant. The standard reaction of my mom’s friends and co-workers when she told them she was going to be a grandmother was, “Oh my gosh! Brandi’s pregnant?” At the time I thought it was wildly hilarious! My sister was a bit of a wild child, and didn’t really play by anyone’s rules. I on the other hand, led people to believe that I was the good girl of the two. I guess in comparison I was the good girl, but I was certainly no angel myself, I just had everyone fooled. Now thinking back on those comments, I believe their comments were because she was the compassionate one. The one of us that everyone knew would be an amazing mother.

So before my sister became a mother, she was an aunt. C and I were fortunate enough to have my sister live with us for the first 2 years of his life. Brandi was more help than I can ever express, and her and C’s bond I think will always be strong because of how close they were in those first 2 years. Even though Brandi has lived over 200 miles away for the last 5 years, Christian still loves his TeeTee something fierce.

Brandi now has two beautiful daughters of her own, and is a (almost) step-mom to four beautiful children whom she treats as if they are of her own body. I lovingly refer to this group of 6 kids as my sister’s 29 kids. She is amazing to these children. She has the patience of a saint, and an overabundance of love.

Lately not only has she been caring for her 29 kids, and babysitting another, she has been taking care of our mother. Last night I got a text from Brandi that she was taking mom back to the ER. After her last hospital stint a few weeks ago, they discovered that my mom was so malnourished that her body was eating itself…muscle and bone. There was no fat left on her body. On top of her sever malnutrition, she was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer. She is now on a plethora of medications, and a strict diet of protein powder shakes and vitamin supplements. Her stomach is smaller right now than it was after her gastric bypass surgery 7 years ago.

So…the text message from last night. Brandi got a call from mom, who said her feet were swollen, red and tight. That’s not a good sign. Brandi text me around 9:45pm that she was on her way to the ER with mom. I woke up to 2 text messages this morning, one from 11:45pm saying that they were going to do an ultrasound on moms foot, and that they didn’t know anything yet. The next one was from 1:30 am saying that mom has a blood clot and an infection in her leg. The last part of it said, “It sucks to be me right now! Or in the a.m. it will.”

Because this morning she has to go about her normal day. She doesn’t get to call in sick, or take a personal day because she was at the ER with our mom until the wee hours of the morning. She has to just keep going. Because her 5 month daughter will still get up early and need fed. And the other 28 kids will need her too.

I feel incredibly guilty that I can’t be down there to help her out. She has so much on her plate, and she never stops. She is a giver. She is absolutely amazing.

I love you Dahli, and am in awe. You are so much more than I ever could be.