Stuff

Brooke Doesn't Like

Butterflies used in decorations

Movie talkers

People who text while you're talking to them in person

mixed nuts

horchata

those alternating sticky-edges Post-Its that pull out like an accordion

whining and/or sticky children

Hallmark movies

animal art 
filters
crafts

carbonation

gossip

dry highlighters

what hoodies do to my hair

public venting

TV

lipstick or chapstick

excuses

having to take a shower (once I'm in, I like it.)

shoes with heels

closed-lip smiles

styrofoam

"LOL"

inconsiderate people

apathy

wet socks

perfectionism

Sudoku

being an outsider

rolling my tongue

sugar-coating

Brooke Likes

bracelets

constellations

singing along

wind storms

moccassins

parking in the back of the parking lot and walking in

Kleenexes

closed-captioning

taking the stairs
trust

mixing colors

plays on words

walking arm-in-arm

wiggling my toes
affection

too many pillows

men's hair when they're overdue for a haircut/shave

country roads

headphones

The Family Proclamation

short fingernails

underlining

Nalgene bottles

winking

sliding in socks on hard wood floors

sneezing twice in a row

a good conversation 

canals

wearing a watch

cinnamon (sugarless) gum

snow angels

when someone's face lights up when they see me

dirt

sincerity

peanut butter

running my hands through grass

laughing

no money for Chippendale dancers

Last night, my mom threw a temper tantrum--and boy did it look familiar.
You can ask Gina. I've been known to throw my share--usually when I'm hungry and have no patience to figure out what to eat.

Mom's temper tantrum had ALL of the necessary components for a real good grown-up temper tantrum.
It started off with a scowl, and then out of nowhere, her Sudoku puzzle book went flying across the room, immediately followed by her mechanical pencil and the shout, "I hate Sudoku! It's sooo hard!"
And then the whining started.
"I already did all the easy ones and I can't do the hard ones!"
"I have a headache."
"Don't look at me! Stop laughing!"
"I want my mom!" (when I responded, "She doesn't want you. You're being naughty.") "I KNOW!!"
"I don't want to work tomorrow!"
"Dad's going on a campout and he didn't leave me any Chippendale money for the dancers ... I don't have any dollars!"
"I went to get a cupcake at work and it had a HAIR on it!" And then I got the story of the hairy cupcake.
I offered some suggestions of MY favorite things to do on a bad day. HUGE VETO.
"I don't WANT to watch Harry Potter! Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"Even the dog doesn't want to be with me! She asked to go outside an hour ago!"
"My sister loves me. I want my sister!"
And then when I went in for a hug to make her feel better:
"Get away from me! You smell like Zumba!"
We went another round about how she can't do the hard Sudoku puzzles and she's already done all the easy ones. I tried her help her by throwing her books into the fireplace. But we have a gas fireplace and they just bounced off the glass. Then she got mad at me for "destroying" her books. 
I reminded her that she's not allowed to have PMS anymore. They cut out her "girl parts" last year.
"Oh. Okay. I'm fine, then." And she calmed down and smiled.
That was short-lived.
Soon she stood up and went off on how she's "not allowed to do ANYTHING because I don't have any girl parts!!" Complaining about being suppressed and having to live up to too many rules.

Man, it was really funny to be on the receiving end of this! All she was missing was a full-body melt-down to the floor and possibly some crawl-stomping up the stairs.
And she failed to finish the end of her rampage with: "Our pets heads are falling off!"

But still--I learn from the best.

my family--quoted

Just over two weeks ago, our little Amanda got married. That's right. She's 10 years younger than me, and married. And I couldn't be happier for her. We got to welcome Lee into our family and we're so excited that our zoo is growing! I could do your typical: "This is what we did:..." post, or I could just slap some pictures on here with some funny things people said. Honestly, I think you'd get a much more entertaining and accurate conception of the weekend with just the pictures and the quotes.

"I don't want to hear you anymore"--Grandma when she took out her hearing aid after Sydney kept belching next to her at the game table.

"I'm looking for my almost twin."--Vicki after she discovered that she and Brenda were wearing the same outfit. This was NOT planned. Nor was it planned the first time this happened ... or the second ... third, fourth or fifth times. The seventh one might be planned, though.

After the sealing ceremony, we went to the Joseph Smith Building for a small family luncheon. There was a microphone and family members were taking turns sharing memories of Lee or Amanda and wishing them congratulations. Lee had a lot of representation because his family are better speakers than we are. Everything that had been said was very complimentary and Lee was placed on a pretty high pedestal. Then, Amanda's little sister Alex went up to the microphone and opened with: "Lee put mustard in my shampoo. He's not as nice as everyone says he is."

"I didn't hear it snow last night!"--My mom in her leopard-print pajamas, still half asleep, squinting out the window at the 4 inches of snow that appeared overnight.

"I LOVE shooting my cousins!"--me after laser tag.

"My hips don't lie."--Steven talking about doing Zumba at a ward activity.

"Where are the cookies? And where should one be?" [cupping empty hand in front of her]--Sydney, requesting a cookie.

"We have an awkward relationship." --me and Makay while trying to get our hair in each others' faces while hugging.

"Did you see my dancing shoes?"--my Dad when he bought new boots and wanted to show them to Steven.

"My daughter is SHORT!"--Kristyn, observing Tabytha with all of Hampton's friends. Taby's a month older and a foot shorter than all of them.

"Somebody make a decision!"--Kim with 5 people in the car, asking what we all wanted to do next.
"Shopping!"--Brooke
"Of COURSE you'd make THAT decision!"--Kim

"I'm so proud of you! Now do the Macarena." Makay to my dad after he asked me to dance.

I love my family. We're going through some pretty rough times at the moment. But we're strong, and underneath the ridiculousness is a LOT of love. And love is pretty darn powerful, y'all.