Mele Kalikimaka from the Brookses!

Happy Holidays from Kauai!

It's been a busy and fun-filled year for the Brookses, leading to some big changes coming our way.  Those of you on Facebook may have followed the excitement day-by-day, but for the rest, we'll give you the year in review.

2014 started off as a relatively stable year.  We started our third year in Oakland, where we've been living in the same apartment for 2 1/2 years.  Scott continued working at Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream.  No big news.  All of this normalcy did give us the opportunity to indulge in our favorite passtime - travel!  The Michigan State Spartans gave us a reason to start 2014 with a trip to Pasadena to watch them play (win) in their first Rose Bowl since January of 1988.  So after spending Christmas exploring central Oregon, we drove down south to meet friends John, Emma, Jim, and Laura to ring in the new year and watch some football.

The next six months went by close to home, where we passed the fairly warm and dry California winter exploring lots of local hikes, venturing to Yosemite for Easter weekend, and gearing up for a much busier summer calendar.  Scott was slated to travel to Nestle headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland in June for two weeks of training.  So we made plans to have Caroline meet up with Scott afterward in Prague for another 10 days in Europe, giving us the chance to see a bit of Central Europe, mostly Prague and Budapest - both new territory for us.  We had a wonderful time in these two very distinct cities, and as always look forward to going back to keep exploring new places.

Soon after returning home, Caroline was back on a plane to Michigan to visit family and see both of our parents' new homes in the Detroit area.  Scott was able to join for a weekend as well.  It was great to be back in Michigan to see everyone after a two year hiatus.  The week after that, it was off to Albuquerque for a whirlwind "business" trip tending to our rental home as we saw some new tenants move in.  Another place we wish we could make it back to more often.  Late September gave us another opportunity to visit much of the Brooks family, as we gathered in Massachusetts to attend the exquisite wedding events of Scott's cousin Kyle and his new bride Kristen.  New England was another part of the world in which we hadn't spent much time, so we took advantage of our trip east to travel up to New Hampshire and Maine to see the autumn colors and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the region's famous parks (Franconia Notch, Baxter, Acadia).

Now to the big changes.  In November, Scott discovered an exciting opportunity to work for Nestle's Nespresso division, which is headquartered in Manhattan.  In no time, Scott found himself interviewing in New York, and accepting an offer shortly thereafter.  So by early February of 2015, we'll be moving to NYC to start a new adventure on the east coast!  

With a move from the Pacific Coast imminent, we thought we'd better take advantage of our proximity to Hawaii for one last 2014 trek.  We're sending this year's note on a rainy morning from our oceanfront hotel in Wailua, Kauai.  Even though it's raining, don't feel too bad for us - the sun is scheduled to come out soon :-)

Best wishes to all for a wonderful holiday season, and a happy, healthy new year!  And of course - let us know if you make it to NY in 2015!

Love,

Caroline & Scott

As always, proof that we're not getting any cheesier in our old age - it's just our way...

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2004

Christmas 2003

Christmas 2002

Happy Halloween!

November 1, 2014
Oakland, CA

For the past four years, in celebration of each Halloween since we've returned to California, we've attended the costume party thrown by our friends Dominique and John at their home in Oakland.  Scott is, bar none, the best at coming up with costume ideas that are creative, fun, reasonably easy to execute, not break-the-bank expensive and (usually) easily identifiable to others.  For some reason, though, the costumes he comes up with frequently involve me dressing up as a man, and usually a rather unattractive one, at that.  I gave up fighting it long ago. It's easier just to go with it. (Besides, it makes me look like a good sport!)  

This year, we decided to go as members of the '80s new wave band Devo, famous for their 1980 hit 'Whip it,' not to mention their signature red, energy dome hats (which we had to order from the official Devo fan website).  It's fun wearing something that looks like an upside-down flower pot on your head!

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We are Devo!

Grabishfarm Mulefoot Hog Farm-to-Fork Dinner

October 12, 2014
Dixon, CA

This past weekend, we had an opportunity to attend a farm-to-table event at Grabishfarm, a small working farm just outside Sacramento that specializes in heritage hogs, goats and guinea hens, along with ducks, turkeys and various other fowl.  

A Perfect Autumn Day in Maine: Climbing the Beehive in Acadia National Park and a Lobstah Pound Lunch

October 2, 2014
Acadia National Park & Bernard, ME

We arrived in Bar Harbor to a late afternoon not-very-welcoming committee of overcast skies, chilly temps and brisk breezes that felt closer to winter than the final day of September.  

Acadia National Park

Kyle and Kristen Tie the Knot!

September 25 - 28, 2014
Danvers, MA, Ipswich, MA & Around

The happy couple

At the end of September, we had the pleasure of attending Scott's youngest cousin, Kyle's nuptials to his beautiful bride Kristen.  After flying into Boston late Thursday afternoon, we arrived  at the Courtyard Marriott in the northern suburban town of Danvers, eagerly anticipating the 3-day weekend of scheduled wedding events.  First up was the rehearsal dinner on Friday, followed by the ceremony and reception on Saturday and finally winding down with a farewell brunch at the Danversport Yacht Club on Sunday. Let the fun begin!

A Working Weekend in the Duke City

August 22 - 24, 2014
Albuquerque, NM

After a pretty hassle-free 15 months, our tenants at the house on Quail Run decided to move back to LA and it was once again time to do the usual inspections and maintenance on the house in preparation for new tenants.  Even though we weren't feeling quite ready to let it go, we considered putting it up for sale this time and Scott even spoke with a well-known, local Realtor while I was in Michigan last month.  While we were not unhappy with the agent's recommended list price of $265K, he believed that the value is only likely to rise further this year. And so we decided to list it on the rental market again, despite the stress and inconvenience of being absentee landlords.  

Our house on Quail Run

Caroline's 24-Hour Selfie-tastic RomCom Movie Montage Trip to Grand Haven

August 12 - 13, 2014

Grand Haven, MI

During my almost two-week (mostly solo) trip to the Detroit area to visit family this summer, I decided to give my mom and stepdad a break from my frequently larger-than-life presence in their house.  So in the middle of my visit, I embarked upon an overnight adventure to my hometown of Grand Haven, located on the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan, to enjoy the local state park/beach and various other old haunts from my youth.  

Although the weather was a bit chilly, feeling more like late September than mid-August, I enjoyed my 24 hours in Grand Haven as much as I anticipated and loved being able to confirm that my hometown is just as magical now as it always was!

At my favorite section of the beach at the south end of Harbor Drive just before it ends

Mini Family Reunion in Michigan!

August 8, 2014

Royal Oak, MI

Following a two-year absence from our home state, Scott and I decided we really needed to make a visit back east.  Almost immediately upon our return from Prague and Budapest, where we had spent 8 glorious days in July, we booked a couple of plane tickets to Detroit.  Unfortunately, as it is planning season at Nestle, Scott was able to get away only for a long weekend but I booked my trip for 11 full days (not including travel days).  I timed my arrival so that I was just able to cross paths with my Aunt Nancy as she began her trip back east to Virginia from Grand Haven, where two generations of our family grew up and Nancy visits every August.  

My mom and stepdad graciously hosted a lovely and delicious bbq dinner of beef brisket, scallops and avocado salad, corn on the cob, panzanella salad, fruit salad and donuts for dessert (Christopher's favorite) at their new home in Royal Oak for the occasion.  It was so wonderful to reconnect with everyone, including my aunt, and I look forward to visiting her in her upcoming retirement in Sarasota, FL and Grand Haven in future years!

The family!

Easter Weekend at Yosemite National Park

April 18 - 19, 2014

Yosemite National Park, CA

The last time we visited Yosemite National Park together (infamous Kris Koeller-organized camping trips aside) was around 1999 or 2000 back when we were newly arrived Californians. Over this past winter and into the spring, we'd been doing a lot of hiking in the parks near our home and a couple weeks ago we hiked the popular "Little Yosemite" area of one of these parks. Although we continue to experience drought conditions here in California, it had just rained a bit and we were enjoying the small waterfalls and rushing waters flowing amongst the boulders so much that we decided that it was high time we returned to the real deal.  "Let's go to Yosemite," we said!  As luck would have it, Scott had a work holiday on Good Friday so we made it a date.  

We arrived in the park to gushing waterfalls. Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park

Dent May - Live in San Francisco!

January 24, 2014
San Francisco, CA

Last night we went to check out the self-proclaimed "unpopular" indie pop singer Dent May (whom Caroline discovered by accident on a trip to H&M some months back) and his band at Slim's in San Francisco.  It was a good show, especially owing to the intimate venue that Slim's provides, and it was fun to see Dent up close, even if we were in the running for being the oldest fans in attendance.  Caroline's only regret is not asking for a photo with the singer when she had the chance, spotting him as she did wandering the bar area before he took the stage.  

As an unexpected bonus, Chris Cohen opened for Dent May, putting on a good show, and we enjoyed seeing a previously-unknown-to-us artist.

Enjoying Dent May from our spot on the floor just a few rows back from the stage

The MSU Spartans Go to the Rose Bowl...and So Do We!

December 28, 2013 - January 2, 2014
Los Angeles, Hollywood & Pasadena, CA

We returned home from our Scott-has-a-couple-days-off-from-work-so-where-do-you-want-to-go? road trip to Oregon on Christmas Day, feeling exhausted, but fulfilled.  After a mere two days at home simply preparing to depart on the next leg of our journey (we were only home because Scott had to return to work), we hit the road again on the Saturday before New Year's, heading southbound this time.  We always said that if (when, I mean when!) the Michigan State University (Scott's alma mater) Spartans were going to the Rose Bowl, then we'd be going too!  And then they went and did it!

Tailgating at the Rose Bowl with old friends!