Brody can...

• Count all the fingers one hand - "un, two" "un, two" "un" (starting over) "two"


• Sing his ABC's - "ABCD BDB GBGB DBD...."


• Say his colors - Boo, Geen, Ed, PoPo, Ink, Leyo, Nge, We just learned "Ite" today.

Mama can... write just enough code to make a bullet list in blogger, and thats all.

Snow Nights

We've had sooo much snow here that they've cancelled school the last two days. Actually, it isn't so much the snow, its the two inches of ice that is beneath the snow that seems to be causing the problem. Since we weren't here during the worst of the storm, Josh had to go right to work cleaning up the driveway and sidewalks. The boys welcomed the idea to go play after being couped up in the car for almost 4 hours. This was Brody's first experience in the snow and he didn't move around much. Partly because his boots are 2 sizes too big and partly because Josh had more fun shoveling snow on the boys as he did off of the sidewalk as you can see from the pictures.

Big, Hazardous Trip

The Millers




Sarah Makena Watson

But is was so worth it to spend time with this great family and to finally meet this pretty little lady!

The first leg of our trip to The Dalles was uneventful on Friday Evening. Then Saturday, we went on to Portland at the beginning of a freezing rain invasion. We made it but went about 12 miles at 2 mph. We passed several crashes on the way. I took some photos but it turns out one was a 3 person fatality so I won't post them as it seems a little morbid to me. We headed back to The Dalles that same evening but the insterstate between Troutdale and Cascade Locks was closed so we had to cruise on over to Hwy 14 on the Washington side in order to make it back. That leg only took about an extra hour.

Our trip back to the Tri-Cities on Sunday started about 3 pm as we had to wait until the interstate was opened up closer to home. Yikes! That trip only took about an hour and a half longer that normal but it was stressful! The roads were so bumpy, we couldn't entertain the boys on the extended trip with our DVD player because it kept skipping. So much for modern conveniences...really, they did great!

I've only been on one more hazardous drive than that. Back in college when we were returning from a ski trip in Kellogg, ID. That one was bad because it was only a two lane highway with lots of logging trucks, but this time, we had our kids with us. That always makes one more stressed, both for their safety and our sanity.

We are really glad to be home!

Quite Accurate

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first. A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change. You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project. You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. In love, you value harmony and mutual understanding. You will apologize or give someone the benefit of the doubt, if it means getting over a fight sooner. At work, you are good at building relationships and connecting with people. You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher. How you see yourself: Organized, dependable, co-operative When other people don't get you, they see you as: Opinionated, critical, and know-it-all

What's Your Personality Type?

PTA Tech Corner

I've been really surprised lately when I hear how little some parents know about the digital world. Since I am a parent now too, and also pretty geeky, I want to make sure my kids have all the advantages of this great new technology. But I also want to keep them safe. Josh and I need to try to keep one step ahead of them as they delve in to this brave new world, and so do other parents. I was pretty excited to hear about a new blog on a podcast that I listen too called Jumping Monkeys. The blog, PTA Tech Corner, was created to help not so tech savy parents keep up with their kids. I think that his newest post is very notewothy. PBS's Frontline has a new special episode called "Growing Up Online". I can't wait to watch this and discuss it with my hubby. How well do you feel like you are able to protect your kids online? Are you confident in how much you know about the digital age?

Expelled

So I am not really sure what to think about this movie. Many of you may know that I am a firm believer in Evolution (It's a fact ya'll) but also have NO problem believing that a higher power had a hand in the evolutionary process. It may sound contradictory to some, but it has always worked just fine for me. I've never really had a major problem reconciling my religious and scientific beliefs.

One of my favorite episodes of "Friends" is where Ross is trying to explain the concept of Evolution to Phoebe and she'll have none it. He is so utterly exasperated that she won't accept it. I'm pretty sure it addresses the whole "Theory" of Evolution debate as well. Remember your basic scientific method; in science a theory has been proven and tested and IS fact.

Anyway, back to Ben Stein's new movie. I think it will be interesting and I am planning to give it a view but that is all I am promising. I may be the lone Prock watching it and am probably going to have to one disgusted husband after he reads this post.




PS. It isn't even February and I've already given up titling my blog entries with Song Titles. Too tedious.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Sarah Watson is finally here! Jess had a successful VBAC early this morning that resulted in this little beauty joining us in this crazy world. I haven't gotten the chance to learn all of the details yet but we are so happy for them!

Work That Body

I thought I'd better make sure I was really going to survive before I posted about going to classes at Bikram Yoga College - Tri-Cities. Wow! I've made it through 2 Saturday classes so far and it really was easier the second time.

This is the Wikipedia definition of Bikram Yoga:

Bikram Yoga, also known as Hot Yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury and a Los Angeles, California based company[1]. Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (40.5°C) with a humidity of 40%. Classes are guided by specific dialogue including 26 postures and two breathing exercises. Classes last approximately 90-minutes. People of all levels, ages and body types practice and start together as this is a beginning yoga class.

Yes, it really is that hot and our class is packed with people. It also doesn't always feel so "beginner". I was so dizzy during my first class I had to lay down for 1/3 or more of it. Last Saturday was not nearly so bad. This studio is owned by local ladies that we've known since elementary school. Angie acutally went to Nursing School with me at ICNE also.

We'll see how long I keep it up, for awhile I hope. I feel great afterward. A little too sweaty perhaps, but great. Actually, here is a picture of me right afterward. Josh wasn't home last week and I was showered before he arrived. This week, he looked at me like I had the plague. "I've never seen you that sweaty before!" Obviously, I have not been working out enough these past 15 years. Was there ever a doubt about that?

Democrat Man (Part two)

So the results of this quiz line me up with John Edwards. So either I'm a flip flopper or the wording of questions really has an impact on what choice you make. There are some different areas of interest in this quiz as well so the calculation may also be different. See if the results are different for you too!

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Happy Happy Birthday Grandma O'Neal! You are looking pretty fantastic for 82. I just hope you've passed down some of those good genes my way. We Love You GiGi!

Oops, I did it again!

Sorry! Didn't realize I changed the real title to my blog when I was changing the banner. I fixed it now so you actually know who the entries are coming from :).

Livin' in the Projects

Scrappy projects that is. Part of my focus is to get moving on some of my scrapbooking projects that have been hanging around waiting for me. I am good at shopping but haven't been that great about creating. So this week I've done five cards from a kit and altered the Halloween Album that I'll put the boys' Halloween pictures in every year. Luckily they are so young and I only have 4 Halloween pages to put in it before I am caught up. My plan is to put this one away with the decorations and bring it out for them to see every year. This is just the front, but the back is solid purple and distressed.



Can you tell I am home from work today? Angie (Childcare) was sick and needed some rest to recoup so she was closed today. It worked out OK to be home because Boone was so puny, I probably would have had to come home anyway. He took a nice long nap and seems to be doing better now though. He kept complaining that his eyes were hurting this morning (headache?). Oh well, that was at least a reminder that I need to get his first eye exam scheduled. Toodles!

Fat Bottomed Girls

According to this, my children will be geniuses. But we already knew that didn't we?

The Name Game

Oh My Gosh! I always thought Jason Lee and Nicolas Cage were bizarre for the names they chose for their kids but their infractions are minor compared to some of the others on this list. The Jackson family should just not be allowed to procreate!

Democrat Man...

Wow, I always new I was a liberal but Kucinich should be my candidate of choice? Never saw that coming! I learned that from a quiz that Mandy posted about in her blog. I suppose it is a quick and dirty way to learn specifically about issue stance for each candidate. This way you aren't relying exclusively on media coverage or the mass appeal of a charismatic candidate. Although I do feel it is important to support the candidate whose views align with yours on issues you find most important, there is something to be said about supporting a candidate who can win. Therefore, Kucinich just cannot be my man (or my woman)! Go Out, Get Informed, Make a Choice, and Don't forget to VOTE!!

Oh - If you didn't get the title reference, it is a song by the great John Lee Hooker. He wrote it when he was supporting John F. Kennedy's bid for the presidency in 1960.

Time to Say Goodbye...

Until next winter. Well, it is officially the end of Christmas in the Prock house. January 6th is here and our tree is dead. The Three Kings came today and left the final holiday gifts for the boys and the boxes are out to put everything away.
This needs to change too:



Not sure if you can read that but it is my 25 most played from iTunes. All but two are Holiday songs. Now it is time to start rockin' to the tunes I buy with my iTunes gift cards. I've already purchased Wilco's oldie "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and I'm anxiously awaiting April for the release of Jack Johnson's new album. Come on Spring...

Bad Coffee Day

This really is the most horrifying thing I've ever tasted.  I truly am a Starbuck's junkie (some may say snob, Sorry Bexy!)  I prefer dry mocha powder to any syrup and am learning to be okay with nonfat milk in my mochas.  But bittersweet syrup? or sugar free syrup, whatever the heck it is, is NOT good!  Those Baristas caught me on a really bad morning, feeling guilty for what I'd eaten the day before, not quite awake enough, or maybe something else...I agreed to try it.  But trust me, it will never happen again!

- Lene Nystrøm Lyrics

One Little Word

Instead of making resolutions that get broken by the end of the month (or sooner) I've decided to use Ali Edwards' "One Little Word" concept for this year. By using one little word for all of my goals, it should help to make them clearer and more achievable. So this year my word is F O C U S.

fo-cus: noun

1) The center of interest or activity; an act of concentrating interest or activity on something.

2) The state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition.

These are some examples of how I want to use my word:

* Focus on making healthier choices for my body.
* Focus on making individual time for my boys.
* Focus on my creativity - scrapbooking, photography, etc.
* Focus on collecting and documenting family memories.
* Focus on my relationship with my husband.
* Focus on acquiring the new property.
* Focus on improving our finances.
* Focus on making our home run smoothly.

I guess with all of those topics, it might look like I won't be able to FOCUS at all. I do think just having one word to refer back to WILL help to remind me of what my goals are. And sharing them with you all can't hurt either!

Blessings in this New Year to YOU!