Mrs. Brooks Goes To Washington: Swearing-In Day

Swearing-in day at last! Lots of family, friends, and pictures. We gathered in the office at the lovely reception prepared by Kathy Murray, Sandy Garvey, Nita and Rebecca Maddox, and Tiffany Noel. We only had 2 tickets to the gallery, so family took turns sitting and watching the action on the floor. Of course, we had TV’s set up in the office and could watch everything from there. Mo took our three-year-old granddaughter, Rebecca, onto the floor very briefly. There were lots of kids down there, but Rebecca could only take a little bit of it! Mo’s mom and I got to be in the gallery when all the Congressmen were sworn in at once. After that, we got 25 passes to the gallery, so just about everyone who wanted to could go. Unfortunately, not much happening on the floor by then

One really special thing was getting our pins. Mo got his member’s pin and I got a spouse’s pin. Those things are POWER! (At least around the Capitol!)

Later in the afternoon we had a ceremonial swearing-in with John Boehner. They were all set up in a large room with TONS of cameras. We had to wait for a while for Speaker Boehner, who was taking a break. When he came in the cameras started snapping! It was like the paparazzi! Crazy!

Here’s our day in pictures:

Doesn't the office look great?


Tiffany Noel, Rebecca Maddox, Martha, Mo, Sandy Garvey, Kathy Murray, Nita Maddox

Mo and his parents, Betty and Jack Brooks

That's good cake!

Getting ready for the Ceremonial Swearing-In

The new Congressman and granddaughter Emma

Speaker John Boehner organizing us.

It's a masterpiece!

Speaker John Boehner, Congressman Mo Brooks and family

After the ceremonial swearing-in we all attended a reception held by the Alabama Delegation for the three new Alabama Congressmen, Mo, Martha Roby, and Terri Sewell. It was held in a committee room in the Rayburn Office Building. We got there a little late and the room was PACKED! There was “speechifying” going on, and Mo and I were whisked to the podium. The other two new people had already spoken and it was Robert Alderholt’s turn. Spencer Bacchus introduced Mo and he said a few words. It was really nice.