Dear family
and friends,
I can hardly
believe it’s been a year since I last wrote you all! We hope that this letter
finds you happy and healthy and as thrilled as can be!
Well. It’s
finally happened. MY PARENTS ARE EMPTY NESTERS. The other day, I called my mom
at 7 AM. Generally, she’s awake at 4. By 7, she’s made breakfast and lunch and
dinner, run errands for the day, gone on 2 runs, re-organized something in our
house, etc…etc…. Anyways, when I called her, she was still in bed. I was
shocked out of my mind but tried to play it cool. I hung up, immediately called
Brittany, and said: “MOM IS STILL IN BED AND IT’S 7 AM. I THINK SHE’S LOSING
IT.”
After a mini
intervention, it turns out that she is still stable, still happy, and enjoying
waking up at 7 AM. The empty nester life is one of luxury, you know? My dad
continues to be our happy, positive friend. I can tell he’s loving all the time
with my mama—dates for days!
Taylor
decided he didn’t want to spend the rest of eternity teaching history classes
to 8th graders, so he started his graduate program at the U, while
still teaching 8th graders full-time. Teaching has been a more
positive experience this year, and he’s received a lot of positive feedback. He
gets a little bit hated on because he’s now attending the University of Utah,
but we generously forgive him and tell him to try harder next time. Lexie
decided to get her second degree in nursing, the champion! She became manager
at the assisted living home she works at, and all her little minions call her
all the time with questions about what to do. When her and Branden and Brittany
get together, they like to talk about needles and medication and blood and
hospitals and stuff, and I mostly just cry and tell them to stop because
they’re scaring me.
Brittany
loves Dixie University, and I love visiting her at Dixie University because 1.
Her couch is the freaking bomb to sleep on, and 2. She is a little grown-up
doing grown-up things as a sophomore in college! It blows my mind. She is also
working on her nursing degree, and is now certified as a phlebotomist and a
CNA. She just took the final for her hardest class today, and naturally
celebrated by buying a little jean and gold dress for my baby girl. The other
day, Branden was like “Kaylee, maybe we should start paying Brittany for all
the stuff she’s bought our baby,” and I was like “No. We can’t afford that.”
Ben is
currently all graduated from high school, preaching and serving people in Vina
Del Mar, Chile. WOW how we miss him! My mom and I decided it was so hard to say
goodbye to him because he is everyone’s baby. He is doing so well out
there—working hard, playing soccer with Chilean babies, eating Chilean food and
loving people to life. We love him and are incredibly proud of the young man he
is.
I am 8
months pregnant and a college graduate! Honestly, Branden and I have no idea
what are plans are for the next year, so look forward to next year’s letter
because we could pretty much be anywhere in the world doing anything. Hopefully
we’re in the Bahamas doing nothing, although that’s unlikely. We are excited to
meet our little one here in a month. Branden is so cute about the whole thing. The
other day, I asked him if he was nervous about any part of parenthood. He
thought about it for a while and then responded: “There is one thing I’m
nervous about.” (I got all quiet and sensitive, ready to comfort him in his
fears.) “Kaylee, I don’t know how to dress a baby with their little flailing
arms and legs.”
So while
he’s worried about that, I’m worried about screwing the kid up. Regardless, I
love her dearly.
We hope that
you all have a marvelous Christmas season and a glorious year! Thank you for
your love and friendship!
The Brooks
(The empty-nesters, Taylor and Lexie, Kaylee and Branden
and unborn child, Brit, and Ben.)
Taylor
decided he didn’t want to spend the rest of eternity teaching history classes
to 8th graders, so he started his graduate program at the U, while
still teaching 8th graders full-time. Teaching has been a more
positive experience this year, and he’s received a lot of positive feedback. He
gets a little bit hated on because he’s now attending the University of Utah,
but we generously forgive him and tell him to try harder next time. Lexie
decided to get her second degree in nursing, the champion! She became manager
at the assisted living home she works at, and all her little minions call her
all the time with questions about what to do. When her and Branden and Brittany
get together, they like to talk about needles and medication and blood and
hospitals and stuff, and I mostly just cry and tell them to stop because
they’re scaring me.
