Fox Trot

Hi Everyone,

I had an amazing experience this week after I met with a life coach for one of my Dancing With the Stars segments.  She gave me some great advice which I have been using and it has made quite a difference for me.  I am juggling so many things right now with my 7 day a week dance schedule. When I get home each day, my night shift starts with all the kids.  I am so programmed, like most of us moms are, to power through whatever life demands of me and make the most of it.  Some days have been harder than others and I found myself breaking down, exhausted and stressed out.  The life coach advised me to approach each day with honesty. And not to pretend that everything is ok and power through whatever is on my plate.  I have been trying to vent my truth with someone, accept it and refocus on what lies ahead of me each day.  Derek and I are three months into this competition. I am so happy to have come this far.  I am approaching each day with an athlete’s mentality now and focusing on the finish line.  We can see light at the end of the tunnel as the finals are only 3 weeks away.

The truth is I really want to be there and I am determined to do everything I can to be my best each week.  It amazes me how much more strength I found by simply changing my attitude and committing to each day.  I am excited about our dance tonight which is the Fox Trot, and we had a great time rehearsing our team dance.

I am giving my kids lots of positive praise for their patience and understanding through this process.  It is almost over and they really want me to win.  Rain is excited each week to have a new dance to watch as she shouts “Mommy Dance!” while watching me on the Tevo all day long.

Neriah and Sierra watch from home most weeks and love being at the show when school schedules allow.  They have asked me for dance lessons and I will definitely do that for them.

Everyone is pulling for me.  I realize that in such a depressing time people are actually enjoying the escape of the show.  Knowing that it brings many smiles after heavy days, during tough times, makes me feel really good.

Please keep voting!!

Halloween Costumes

I’m at rehearsal again, no time to talk. But, I wanted to share some valuable info with you about Halloween I did an interview for ET/Insider and BabyCenter.com this morning.  Linda the Editor in Chief of BabyCenter came over to help me make easy last minute costumes for the kids.   It was amazing — and I couldn’t believe how cute and creative the costumes turned out — a little lion and  a beautiful ballerina.  Both costumes incorporated items from around the house with one quick trip to the craft store — but Linda let me in on the real secret to success- a gluegun!! No mother should be without. We are all set for Halloween.  Check out his link for some “home made” Halloween

tips:  www.BabyCenter.com

Pushed to the Limit

Hi,

As I continue on this crazy dancing ride, I am learning so many things about myself.  I am doing things that I never imaged I could pull off.  I am pushing my body to the limit each week.  I am exhausted and  emotionally drained and yet somehow I find the strength to keep going everyday.  I am so thrilled by the support that my entire family has given to me over the last 10 weeks.  As hard as it is for them to not have mommy around all the time, they continue to share the excitement each Monday brings with a new dance and another stressfull week.  David has been in my corner every step of the way, and every questionable moment I have, it helps me to stay on the right track.

I am exactly 1/2 way through the Dancing With the Stars season, and most of us are honestly worn out! Days like today that I am more exhausted than usual because Rain and Shaya kept me up ALL night long,  and I haven’t had a day off in 10 weeks, I remind myself how blessed I am to have my amazing family!  I am filled with gratitude to be surrounded by so much love.  I also love what I am doing, even though it is totally demanding.

I know I am starting to sound like Tony Robbins, but I just had to put it out there for all the busy mommies, how important the support at home is , and how the little kisses make every day better.

A reporter asked me what I am going to do when this is all over, I 
said, “I am truly looking forward to waking up with my family and 
asking them, What should we do today?”  I miss those times…..

Love,

Brooke

Half Way Through DWTS!

Hi,

Samba

Hi,

I am back it the studio as usual, learning the Samba!!!  I am so 
excited about this dance.  Finally a sexy latin number that we can shake our booties too.

Thanks so much for all the votes last week.  It was a very special night for my family, and Neriah could not have been more precious.  One day we will look back on that moment.  Time is flying by so fast in our lives.

Lots of you responded to my sleep dilema, thank you for your feed back. The truth is we are all too tired and I am working too hard these days to spend any extra minutes to correct our sleepless nights.  I actually miss Rain so much during the day that our time together, even if it is at 1:30am, is delicious to me. As soon as I finish the show, some tough love will be in order.

I have been starting my rehearsals a bit later this week and enjoying  my mornings with the kids.  Shaya is crawling all over the house and Rain is right there with him pretending to be Mama.

I’m off to do an interview with ET.  Gotta go.  More to come…

Love, Brooke

911

Hi,

By the time you read this it will probably be show time again.  For me, it is Sunday evening, and I am about to collapse in bed, review my rehearsal tapes one more time and hopefully get a good night sleep to prepare for tomorrow’s performance.

It has been an intense weekend, especially yesterday when Derek and I  almost found ourselves out of the competition.  Saturday, on the CBS stage, we were practicing as usual when Derek accidentally tripped over a box, while walking backwards.  As he tried to break his fall, by jumping up, his foot caught a stage light which sent him further into the air.  He landed on his back on the wooden dance floor and smashed the back of his head.   He was disoriented, blacked out for a few seconds, and was flattened out in pain.  He couldn’t move, I sat beside him as he layed there and we waited for help to arrive.  Our producers called 911 and the paramedics arrived to carefully examine him.  He suffered a neck injury last season which had him down for a week, so the reoccurance was definately scary.  They rushed him off, stretcher and all, in the ambulance for further testing in the ER.

Derek once told me that dancers were clumsy, now I have to believe him.  Even as they wheeled him out, he was talking about today’s rehearsals and assured me that he would be ok to dance. That was the last thing on my mind.  I wanted him to be okay.  I went home to wait for his results.  After a cat scan and many other tests, he received a clean bill of health and we were back at it today as scheduled.  With a huge headache, and a little dizziness, the show goes on….

I realized this weekend how important it is to give 150% every time we step onto the dance floor, because we never know what may happen, or how our time may end.

Please keep voting, we need your support, and we are not ready to go anywhere!!!

Love, Brooke

Lunch Box Snacks

Hi,
 
Shaya is 7 months old now and he just cut his first bottom tooth! Sierra also lost her first two this month. I am thrilled at how much all of my children enjoy each other.  Rain is going through something new, not wanting me to hold Shaya.  She insists that I pass him to her Papa whenever he is close, and in her limited vocabulary and frustration, she can only point.  I believe it is all due to my hectic schedule.  I have never devoted so much time to anything in my life.  I miss the lazy days with nothing to do but hang with my kids.  I think we will take a relaxing vacation when this is all over.
 

I’m totally enjoying learning the Viennese Waltz this week.  It is romantic, soft and sweet.  The song they chose for me this week is very emotional.  I want it to be a surprise, but it is about parents and children.  My mom will be sitting in the front row with David, as always, and one of my daughters will join them for this special performance.  I will be dancing for them this week, and I hope I can hold it together.  I am sure my mom will be moved as well, hopefully not to tears…  All of the footage I have shot with my kids is so meaningful to me, I can not wait to share it with them one day when they are old enough to enjoy it.
 

On the home front, I am running out of ideas for lunch box snacks.  I try to pack healthy, fun foods for them like, jello, string cheese, nuts, yogurt, crackers, fruit, edamame, etc.  They’re getting tired of those.  Anybody have any creative suggestions?  My kids have never been sandwich eaters, poor me.
 

BTW, to everyone who has been voting for me on DWTS, thank you so much!

Brooke

Sleepless In Malibu

Hi,

I’m at rehearsal right now, waiting to shoot the results show. The energy at our studio is quite different on Tuesdays as all of us await our future on the show. I am committed to keeping my vibe light and fun although I think the judges

were hard on everyone last night. I am relieved that the Paso Doble is behind me now because my whole body hurts from the intense training this week. At this point, anyone could be leaving the show, and I really hope it’s not Derek and me. Please keep voting so we can keep dancing.

I’m walking to the stage now. Wish me luck!

BTW, I am getting desperate for sleep. I’m thinking about a sleep nurse to train Shaya and Rain to sleep through the night. I have never done that with any of my babies, and I’m not sure it feels right. Here is a site that I am looking into for sleep specialists - www.sleepyplanet.com.

Any thoughts about sleepless nights? I sure wish they would go away…..

Brooke

Recipes

Well, I made it through week one on Dancing With The Stars, 
what a relief!  Derek and I surprised ourselves and we only 
hope to have another successful performance tonight!!!

I  had a crazy, exhausting week, both physically and mentally.  
Tonight’s dance is very intense and difficult.  Sweet, funny 
Derek has really been tough on me this week, but only because 
he is pushing for quality and I am trying my best to bring it.

On the home front, Shaya is 6 months now and it seems that 
he is sleeping less and eating more at night.  Since he was  
born, Rain has been waking up once every night as well.  David 
and I haven’t slept through the night in months and we are
truly exhausted.  Last night my mom spent  the night and   
kept the babies for us.  David and I took a sleeping pill at
8pm and slept for 9 hours!!! It was heaven and I do feel like   
a new woman today.  I highly recommend getting caught up 
on your zzzzs  at least once a week, if you can.

Another thing I have been doing is trying to organize some  
simple and  easy meals for my family because I don’t have  
the time I use to, to cook as much at night when I get home 
from a long rehearsal.  I still  want everyone to eat healthy,
fresh food.  So, I did a little research  and wanted to share  
some quick, yummy recipes with you that take less than 15

minutes to prepare.  Good news is, they taste like you have  

been cooking all day.  I will try to continue to add to this   
list with some of my  favorites.   I would rather spend less
time preparing and more time  sharing with my family!
I googled - simple recipes in 15 minutes or less - and this
great site  came up.  Check it out and let me know what you
think.  If anyone has  any healthy easy meals, please share.

Here is my personal favorite roasted chicken recipe that my  
family LOVES.

preheat oven to 350
Massage a whole chicken with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt,
pepper and a bit of cumin. Add 1/4 cup of water or white
wine to the bottom of a roasting pan. Add a whole garlic
flower (really yummy onbread when cooked really  well) .
Add a cup of pitted olives to the pan.

Place chicken in center and cover well with aluminum foil.
Cook for 45 minutes - 1 hr.  Remove foil, baste with juice
and cook for another 45 minutes till golden brown.

The longer you cook it, the juicier and more tender it is.
Note: I often prepare my chicken with everything mentioned
and throw  it in a large zip lock bag.  I keep it in the fridge
all day untill it’s time to cook.  Anyone can turn on the oven   
and put it in for you. YUMMY!!!!

Love,

Brooke

A Post from Poppa D

Brooke is off to rehearsal, She’s trying to learn a new dance routine, in only four days, the Paso Doble. The pressure on her is brutal, but I know she can do it!

 As I sit with my two youngest children on Saturday morning, I shared the most beautiful moment with them.  It’s just them and me, all alone. I shared the most beautiful moment with them this morning.

I put one of my older girls’ slipper puppets on my hand and started to interact with Rain and Shaya. They were so excited about our new guest. They were laughing, screaming and giggling! This was the first time I saw them holding hands and actually connecting. It was special.  We had a real conversation and shared a moment I will never forget.

Sometimes I try so hard to work and provide for my family that I forget how much more important these moments are. To all the fathers out there, I know it is hard, but try the slipper puppet game.

It is a beautiful way to start your morning!

Best,

David