5 questions with Brian Brooks

1. What is your favorite childhood holiday memory?
My favorite childhood holiday memories started each year at Thanksgiving. My mom had six other brothers and sisters, so she had a big family. We usually hosted Thanksgiving dinner and our whole family would come over. It instilled in me at an early age the importance of family, and kind of kicked off the holiday season for our family.

And as a basketball junkie, I loved playing in Thanksgiving tournaments in high school. We played in a Thanksgiving basketball tournament at Lincoln and a Christmas tournament at Pekin while in high school. It created a love of holiday basketball tournaments for me of which I still enjoy going to today.

2. What is your favorite part of the holidays now?

Spending time with my wife and kids. Especially now having two of our kids be adults and living elsewhere. Great for Jen and I to have all 3 kids back home at same time. My favorite time of the year. (minus the weather!!)

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?

I don’t know that I have one. I enjoy listening to Christmas music in general during the holiday season. Especially the older/more traditional songs. I feel it helps remind us what truly matters in our very busy lives.

4. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Christmas Vacation. We watch it as a family every year as a tradition.

5. What is your favorite holiday snack?

I don’t really have a favorite holiday snack. I probably need to stay away from all of them at this point!