The Prock Family

We've moved.

2009-09-16T21:51:00.000-07:00

The new blog is located at http://jeffprock.wordpress.com

Come check it out.

Congratulations to the Duffuses

2009-07-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Jackson Joel Duffus was born on July 15. He weighs 7 lbs. and 14 oz. and is 21.5 inches long. I'm curious to hear what Miles has to say on the matter.

2009-07-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I took the kids to ride a horse yesterday. We're considering getting lessons for Maddie, but we'll have to see.

The kids have been spending a lot of time playing in the water the last week or so. The temperature has been over 100 degrees a few of the days, so a break from the heat was nice. Now it's raining and cloudy, but still hot. Heat + water = horrible, muggy weather (some simple math for you guys). I'd rather have dry, hot weather.

I'm leaving in the morning for the Pasayten Wilderness, which is a National Forest here in Washington. We're riding horses into camp (14 miles), and then around camp and up to the top of a mountain to end the trip. I'll post some pictures when I get back some time next week. Until then, enjoy these photos of some water fun and riding Sierra.

A Reminder of Times Long Past

2009-06-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

There are certain things about being two-years-old that I don't remember, mostly because it's been nearly 27 years since I was a "terrible two". It's amazing how quickly a child changes as they change from a toddler to a full-fledged "big kid", as Maddie likes to call herself. Lately, Bradon has been a big reminder of just how fast those changes come about.

It seems like the boy has gone from just learning to walk to jabber-jawed big boy over the last two weeks. It started when we informed him that he and Maddie would be attending their first Mariners game. Bradon was already a big fan of Ichiro Suzuki and Adrian Beltre due to some well-placed posters that he sees first thing every morning. Now that he was going to see them in the flesh, he was pretty excited. He displayed his excitement by informing every stranger on the street that he'd be seeing "Ichiro and Beltre!" at the game. It really helped him out of his shell.

Another change that has come about is Bradon's knack for using longer sentences. It's not longer one word phrases, but near paragraph-long orations on what he did while I was at work. It's really interesting to hear what he has to say these days.

We love how he's changing. He's a little more of a handful, as his inquisitive nature has also bloomed some, but they're welcome changes. I'm anxious to see what else is waiting in the wings.

Wiggly Worms, Catch with Ichiro, and Needed Family Time

2009-06-28T16:45:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of what's been happening with us over the past few weeks. Enjoy.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Like Father, Like Son

We're a Mariner Family

Rally Time!

Serious Fans

Look What Grandpa Taught Us!

Can I Eat It?

Lunch on the Shore

Learning From Grandpa

This is How You Catch A Whopper

An Unwanted House Guest

Rufus the Ravager

Or Not

The Gentle Rocking of a John Deere

2009-06-24T18:45:00.001-07:00

Another gap between posts, so another update and hollow promise of keeping this thing a little more up-to-date. I mean well, I really do, but things tend to get a little hectic around here and this tends to not be a top priority. Luckily for us, we were able to see and talk to some of you recently, so not all contact has been lost.

It was good to have Charlie and Debbie up recently. They came up to see to see us and then watch Madison in a dance recital, but there was a glitch in the recital plan. We ended up at Bonaparte Lake, where Charlie decided to school me on how to pull rainbow trout from the water. Score was 4-1 in favor of the senior circuit (heh heh). Everyone went, and we had a nice lunch consisting of Subways on the shore of the lake.

A few days after Charlie and Debbie left, Sarah and I took the kids to Seattle for their first Mariners game. Surprisingly, both Mads and Brado sat through the whole thing. Bradon even pretended he was playing catch with Ichiro, and would yell every time he would come out into right field. Needless to say, we all had a good time, especially since the M's won. Mads and I cheered when Franklin Gutierrez' grounder was booted by the Diamondbacks' shortstop, bringing in the game-winning run.

After the game, we all drove down to Tacoma to see Jared, Erin, the girls, and Charlie and Debbie. It was a short visit, as they were all getting ready to travel back to Utah for a few weeks while Jared is at the academy for his job. It was good to see them all.

Now we're back home, and things are back to normal, which means a hectic pace. Today, Bradon, Maddie and I mowed the front field. Bradon fell asleep during his turn.

I'll try to post some pictures soon, as I'm sure you're all anxious to see instead of read. It was good to see and talk to you all. Come back next week, ok? Same bat time, same bat channel.

Anniversary Trip

2009-05-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I celebrated our seventh anniversary by taking the family home to see family and friends and enjoy a Mariners game in Seattle. We also took a trip to the zoo with Sarah's mom. The kids had a lot of fun there.

This trip was really just about seeing people we haven't seen for a while. We were able to see my brother T.K. and his family for a bit, and Sarah and I played a round of golf with Nic and Jessica. Fun was had by all.

Sarah and I left the kids with Holly and Steven when we went to Seattle. They took in a park with some water features and had a good time. Sarah and I had a ton of fun at the game. I got to see Ken Griffey Jr. and Adrian Beltre blast homeruns, and the home team won. It was nice to be able to spend some time alone with Sarah. It's been too long.

We stopped by to see Erin and the kids on our way up to Seattle. Shae, the new baby, is looking good. She's a little chunk. Also got to see Debbie, as she's up helping Erin while Jared works. She and Charlie are coming up in June to see Maddie's ballet recital. We're really looking forward to that. It was really good to see Erin and the kids. Everyone is doing really well.

I was also able to spend some time with Steven. We took in a UFC fight at a friend's house, and then caught Terminator: Salvation afterwards. The fights were good, but the movie wasn't that great.

Next trip planned is a camping trip in August to Beverly Beach and deep sea fishing for Steven and me. Should be fun.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the trip. I'm going to follow this post with an all-picture post to catch you guys up on what the kids have been doing lately.

Maddie, AJ, and Bradon

Bradon, Cousin Holly, and Mads
(Yes, Bradon is naked.)

At the Zoo with Grandma

Having Fun on the Longboard

Bradon and Dad Shreddin'

A Trip to the Lake

2009-05-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

We all took a trip to Lake Osoyoos for a bit while the car was getting new tires put on it. Just throwing rocks and snapping pics can be fun and relaxing.

I'm playing in a charity golf tournament this Saturday. It benefits the local Border Patrol Shop With A Cop Foundation. I'm not much of a golfer, to which Nic and Josh can attest, but it's for a good cause. Should be fun.

We're looking forward to seeing some of you at the end of the month.

Sugar Highs and Dirty Hands

2009-05-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

The blog has been on hiatus. A lot has happened since the last post.

Mads turned five...

...and got a bike as a present.

Bradon went to the Evel Knievel School for Daredevils...

...and used his new training to climb a tree with Dad.

In other news, we're officially gardeners now. We have some strawberries and raspberries going right now, and hope to have some tomatoes and onions soon. Let's see how long we can keep the stuff alive.

Besides being a gardener, I double as a handyman. As some of you well know, I'm the world's best mower of lawns. You can now add creator of chain link dog kennels and constructor of homemade multi-head sprinkler systems.

The 25th of this month marks seven years of marriage for Sarah and I. We're going to catch a Mariners game in Seattle sans kids, and then spend some time at Holly and Steven's. It's a cliche, but it's amazing how fast time goes by, especially as you get older. When I was Maddie's age, time used to drag on. Now there doesn't seem to be enough. It just seems like yesterday that Sarah was walking down the aisle, looking absolutely amazing in her wedding dress.

Anyway, we hope to see some of you guys over the summer, though it seems like the better the weather gets, the more there is to do around the house.

Happy Birthday, Mads!

2009-04-24T11:16:00.001-07:00

Today is Madison's birthday. The big five. They grow up so fast. Nana showed up two days ago, and the party's tomorrow. Looking forward to having a ton of extra kids running rampant through the house and around the yard. All for a good cause, right?

Hey, Erin!

2009-03-26T09:41:00.001-07:00

I'm wearing a black shirt today.

Yeah, all the blues and grays were dirty, so what was I gonna do? Still wearing blue jeans, though. Gotta stick with the tried and true, you know?

When Sarah and the kids went home for A.J.'s birthday party, they stopped along the way at a waterfall to get some fresh air and have some fun.

That's My Boy!

2009-03-25T09:57:00.001-07:00

I think we can officially call Bradon a Mariners fan. Sarah called about bringing home some M's posters for Bradon's room. I've been wanting to put some up for some time now. She came home with these two gems.

Ichiro and Adrian

Bradon and I are going to hang them up tomorrow. I'm anxious to see if this is Bradon's first step on the road to crazed Mariner fandom.

I swear I'm not being a crazy father. Bradon can stop being an M's fan whenever he wants. Heh heh.

Quick Hits

2009-03-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

*Sarah and the kids are gone this weekend for a birthday party at Holly's. Just me and the dogs, so I guess I need to go buy some steak.

*Seattle now has a Major League Soccer team named Sounders FC. They played their first game yesterday, beating the New York Red Bull club 3-0. With Erin, Jared, and the girls in Tacoma, we might have to catch a game.

*Sarah and I bought some new cell phones yesterday. Expect a call soon so I can give everyone the new numbers, as we're probably going to cancel our home phone.

*Maddie's birthday is next month. The big number 5. Man, does time fly. Lots of family coming up for this one, and plenty of Maddie's classmates from pre-school. Should be about 15 extra kids here. Pray that we all make it through alive.

It's Almost Time For Some Real Baseball

2009-03-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, spring training for Major League Baseball is in full effect. This means Mariners baseball in the Prock household. So expect some major face time for the team on these pages. I refuse to apologize to anyone not a fan, as the Mariners are the greatest thing since sliced bread, and I feel bad for anyone that thinks otherwise. Just prepare yourself.

Heaven On Earth

So, Leonardo and Barbie, eh?

2009-03-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when Maddie asks Dad to play Barbie with her. T-U-R-T-L-E POWAH!

More Computer Trouble... Kinda

2009-03-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

So, our brand new 20" iMac was getting really hot. I'm talkin' 70 degrees celsius hot. It only happened a few times, but we decided to take the computer back to Best Buy anyway. The trouble with that? Well, Best Buy is three hours away in Spokane. Sarah made sure to talk to as many people as she could over the phone, and they all said to take it back as the temps it was reaching were too high.

At first, we were worried. Sarah had already put quite a few pictures on the computer and she hates losing pictures. Trevor at Best Buy said not to worry, though. He said they could switch our current hard drive into the new computer we would be getting, and that we wouldn't lose anything.

Long story somewhat shorter, we get to Best Buy, are told they can't switch the hard drives as they don't know how to do that, end up with a bigger, more powerful computer (24" with a bigger processor), and the guy was able to do a file transfer to our new computer. We didn't lose anything, pictures included.

Everything worked out about as well as it could have. I'm still really impressed with the iMac, as a whole. Anyone out there looking for a new computer should seriously consider them.

Skype Is Pretty Sweet

2009-02-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

For anyone interested, our Skype contact name is "fourprocks". The kids have been talking to Nana every night for the past week. They think it's pretty cool when they can see her on the computer when she's so far away.

We're Baaaaaack!

2009-02-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

I know the internet missed us. Well, we missed you too, buddy.

How has everyone been? A lot has happened since our computer melted and we lost our access to the internet. Here's a quick rundown.

Bradon turned two on Jan. 31st. After a small party here, he, Sarah and Mads traveled home for another party at Erin's to go along with Cali's first birthday. Grandma Debbie was there, which was a treat. I couldn't make it, as work kept me here. Sarah and the kids had a good time, though.

We also went to the Seattle Mariners' Fan Fest with our friends Jason and Molly, who brought their little girl Katelyn. We all had a great time, as you get access to most parts of the stadium that the regular fan never gets to see. We ran the bases, caught pop flies in the outfield, hit in the batting cage, and threw a pitch or two in the bullpen.

Getting Ready to Run the Bases

In the Dugout

Stee-riiiike One!

A Natural Leftfielder

The Mariner Moose

This last weekend, we were in Spokane on a family trip. We were there for multiple reasons; to pick up a new computer, and to take in the monster truck rally at Spokane Arena. They're the loudest trucks I've ever heard, but they are fun to watch. Those little cars they put out there with them don't stand a chance. They literally get ripped to shreds. Bradon especially liked the Batman car, while Mads rooted for the one that looked like a dog.

Soundproofed and Ready for the Action

Gravedigger in Action

Last Year's Champ, Batman

The reason they're so loud? Well, that would be the 1500(!) horsepower each truck is putting out. Pretty sweet. During intermission, there were some freestyle motocross riders that came out and put on a little show. You don't really appreciate what those guys do until you see it live. The pictures for that didn't turn out great, but, trust me, it's amazing.

As for our new computer, we bought a Macintosh from Best Buy. We like it. It's easy to use and they have pretty good reputations as far as reliability goes. Maddie likes it because she can use the built-in webcam to talk to Nana over Skype, which is like a video phone that uses your internet connection. Now she can say good night in person each night.

So, now that we're back online, expect regular updates. Hopefully you all didn't abandon us. Talk to you all next time.

Oh, one more thing. Sarah wanted me to start up the Picture of the Week again, so I'll do so here. This week's picture comes to us courtesy of my work with our new program, Photo Booth.

What can I say? I'm a happy guy.

A Quick Update

2009-01-16T22:20:00.000-08:00

First off, we're all doing well. Madison is having fun at school, and continues to participate in her dance class. Bradon still misses her when she leaves, but our homemade sledding hill seems to help him forget that she's gone. As for Sarah and I, well... not much has changed. Sarah is still working a few days a week at the ski shop, and it seems like all I do these days is work. Life is good, though.

We're planning a trip to the Seatte Mariners' FanFest at Safeco Field on Jan. 24th. That is, if I can swing the days off. It'll take some doing, but I think I have it in me. It'll be time to celebrate Bradon's birthday when we get back from Seattle, so we have that to look forward to as well.

Yep, Ol' Brado is turning two-years-old. He's growing up pretty quickly, as his new thing is to let us know when he's gone to the bathroom in his diaper. Time for some pull-ups and a toilet seat, I suppose. I can't wait until the day when we don't have to drop cash for diapers, though.

If you're wondering where all the blog posts have gone, then you need look no further than our broken computer. The fan gave out, and the built-up heat subsequently fried our motherboard. We're trying to salvage some pictures, but the thing'll hit the scrap heap afterwards. If anyone has any suggestions on what type of computer to buy next, let us know. I'm leaning the way of a Mac, but we'll have to see.

Anyway, I'll try to keep this up as much as possible, but it's difficult when I have to use the work computers as this is an improper use of the equipment. They're probably watching me type this out as I... uh... type.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

From up here in North Central Washington, the Procks want to say Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends. Thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts.

Here are some pics showing the kids enjoying a few of their gifts.

Thank You, Santa! *wink, wink*

Bradon and His Conga

Best Teddy Bears Ever!

Thank you, Nana!

Old Man Frost Has Been Busy

2008-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

Winter has officially put a cold twist on life around here. The last couple of weeks has seen the thermometer dip into the negatives, and snow and ice cover the ground. Yesterday was the first day where we were able to go out and enjoy it, though. The winds have been pretty intense.

It'll at least be a White Christmas, which is one of the many things that I love about living here.

On another note, we were thinking that we were going to do one of two things: take a trip home during Christmas, or take the trip down there over New Year's. Turns out we might not do either. The passes on Highway 97 between here and there have been pretty bad. WSDOT normally does a pretty good job on keeping them fairly clear, so we're going to play it by ear, so to say.

Through the Eyes of a Child

2008-12-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Madison has been drawing a lot of family pictures by hand. This is her first go at using Paint on the computer to accomplish the task.

That's Mads on the left, followed by Sarah, me, and then Bradon. I told Mads she made herself look like Elmo. She strongly disagreed.

2008-12-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

Sarah and the kids had a photo session a few days ago. She got some pretty good shots of them.

Last night was the Christmas Festival here in Tonasket. The kids got to see Santa and ride on top of a firetruck. Bradon was really excited to ride the truck. He kept saying the lights were "cool". Mads enjoyed it, too. It was actually a longer ride than I thought it would be. We drove around town for about five minutes. It was cold, but fun.

Afterwards, we came home and watched Kung Fu Panda, which apparently goes great with macaroni and cheese.

It was a late night - the kids went to bed at around 9:30pm - but we had a lot of fun.

About Snow and Eruptions

2008-11-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

Well, it's not much, but snow is finally here. And it couldn't have come any sooner. It's been cold the last few weeks, and I'm of the mind that if it's going to be this cold, we better have some snow to go along with it. Prayers answered, I suppose.

Bundled Up and Ready

Snowball Manufacturing

The World's Smallest Snowman

Like I said, not much, but we'll take it.

On a more scientific note, Madison and I made her first baking soda/vinegar volcano. Following the directions from the internet didn't get us much of an eruption, so we went all-out with the vinegar and baking soda and got the job done. And, yes, she's wearing her fairy Halloween costume from two years ago.

Pre-eruption

First Science Experiment

Fun was had by all. Who knows? Maybe Mads is the world's next great scientific mind.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-21T21:44:00.001-08:00

We have plenty to be thankful for this year. Great family, great friends, and a wonderful life. We just want to thank everyone for a great year. We probably don't communicate with most of you as well as we should, and for that we are sorry. Just know that you're all in our hearts.

As many of you already know, Sarah had surgery to remove her gall bladder today. She's had abdominal pain off and on since she was pregnant with Bradon. Gall stones will do that. Well, problem solved. Everything went as well as could be expected and she is doing fine, besides the pain and discomfort she's feeling. She's hoping this'll help with her pain, though. Thank you to everyone that called and sent flowers. She really appreciates it. I'm sure she'll contact everyone as soon as she's feeling up to it.

Dave Cameron '08

2008-11-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

I am an avid reader of USS Mariner, a blog run by a few Mariners fans that I find very informative. One of the guys in charge, Dave Cameron, has been nominated for a $10,000 college scholarship. Dave is going for his BS in Economics at UNC-Greensboro. If you could find a few minutes to head over and cast a vote for him, I'm sure he would appreciate it greatly.

Here's the link:

http://tinyurl.com/VoteDave

Remember, vote for Dave Cameron. I know he's got a huge lead, but every little bit helps. Thanks in advance.

The Fruits of Our Labor

2008-10-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

We recently took a family trip to an apple orchard down the road. The orchardists that own it invite friends and family over when the picking season is done and everyone makes apple cider out of the remaining apples. The owners constructed their own cider press out of spare parts. It's pretty ingenious. After all the apples have been squeezed, everyone sits down to a potluck lunch. It was a pretty good time, I must say. And we have a ton of apple cider now. We won't have to buy apple juice for months.

On a sadder note, we've all been under the weather lately. Everyone else is on the tail end of it, but mine is just starting. I must've waited too long to get my free flu shot from work. I should get now, while I'm sick.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone that called and sent cards wishing me a Happy Birthday. I really appreciated it. And, Charlie, I hope that squirrel gets his nut back.

Fight Night, Round One

2008-10-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

And here are your contestants:

Name: Mads "The Mad Dog" Prock
Age: 4.5 yrs.
Height: 40 in.
Weight: 44 lbs.
Reach: 20 in.

Name: Bradon "Cobra" Prock
Age: 1.5 yrs.
Height: 33 in.
Weight: 31.5 lbs.
Reach: 15 in.

Let's get it on!

Now that you've seen our little pugilists duke it out, here's a background to what happened. Mads and Bradon were having a jolly time throwing bubbles at each other, so Sarah decided she'd do some stealth videotaping. It turned into what you just witnessed. Pretty funny, if you ask me. Sorry about the orientation of the video. Just cock your head to the side a bit.

Happy Birthday!

2008-10-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, today is my birthday. Please shower me with love now! That means you too, Nic!

Going Back to Cali...

2008-10-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sarah recently got back from her California trip. She and Holly really got hooked up while they were down there. They ended up getting front row seats to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, VIP tickets for the Ellen DeGeneres show, and went to Universal Studios.

Let loose the photos!

He Looks Shorter in the Cartoons

Central Perk from Friends

George Clooney's Batmobile

The Most Recent General Lee

As is apparent from the photos, Sarah got to visit possibly the coolest thing she could have while she was there. Her visit to the set of Friends was "the coolest part of the trip." But she also shook Jay Leno's hand, met Warren Sapp of NFL fame, and got to do big kid stuff at Universal Studios. Ah, the benefit of taking trips sans kids.

She's obviously back now, and we're glad for that. The kids and I are happy she had a great time, but the place just isn't the same without her.

On a different note, it's officially chilly up here. It's constantly freezing temperature or cooler after the sun goes down, and I'm sure snow is just around the corner. I, for one, am glad. I can't wait to turn the yard into a snow park. But, with harsh weather looming, we had to take the trampoline down. So Mads, Bradon, and I had our last flurry of jumps on our main source of fair weather fun.

Cheesy to the End!

Unadulterated Fun

So, let the snow come. We're ready and waiting.

Picture of the Week

2008-10-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

This week's Picture of the Week is by request. Funny enough, Sarah requested this one.

I know it's been a while. I'll update this thing in the next few days.

The Flattering Picture of the Week

2008-09-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Pay back... that's all I can say.

1984

If I Never See Another Mason Jar...

2008-09-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to put in a quick post to say that things have been busy around here. Sarah's turned into a fruit-canning machine. The kitchen is now full of canned apples, canned peaches, peach and apple pie filling, homemade pickles, and caramel apples. We won't have to buy canned fruit for at least two years. Now I get the pleasure of transporting said canned goodies to the basement for storage. Yessss!!

Also, Mads has been a busy little bee. School is going well. They took their first field trip to an apple orchard a week ago.

How Come No Ladder?

Ballet has been fun, too. They won't let Sarah into the class while they're dancing. Parents are a distraction, I guess. But all that matters is that Mads is having a good time.

Hope everyone is doing well. Talk to you all later.

She Almost Covered the Co-pay

2008-09-19T11:19:00.001-07:00

Sarah is taking a trip to California with Holly at the beginning of October. She had a great idea that included picking some apples for a local grower to make a little spending money for the trip. Her friend Ali and she figured that they could make $20 per bin full of apples, and that they could fill one bin every hour or so. $160 between the two of them for eight hours isn't so bad, so they went for it. Turns out it's harder than they thought to fill a bin full of apples. To make a long story short, they both ended up with $18.23 in their pocket. Hardly worth it.

To top it all off, Sarah's money immediately went to the North Valley Medical Center. Yep, propping up a three-legged ladder on top of an apple doesn't do much for said ladder's stability. She took a pretty nasty fall and now has some very bad bruises. She thought it was hurt more than it was and went to the doctor's for x-rays. No break, and her $18.23 almost covered the $20 co-pay. She's doing all right now, but she's pretty sore.

It was a great idea, it just didn't work out like they'd planned.

Flattering Picture of the Week

2008-09-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

This week's picture is another troublemaker. All I know is you people better watch out next time we're in town. I'm starting to run out of funny pictures of our family.

That's on our way home from picking up Luke in Yakima. We've almost had that crazy dog for a year. Hard to believe.

They Grow Up So Fast

2008-09-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

Whatever happened to summer vacation. It seems that school starts up a lot sooner for kids nowadays. Here I am talking like I've been out of school for 20 years. Anyway, the reason I bring up school is this:

First Day of School

That's right. Madison is finally going to school. I'm pretty sure it's three days a week, and she didn't have any problems with Sarah dropping her off. As a matter of fact, she liked school so much that she didn't want to leave.

She's also started in a dance class. We even have to buy her some of those ballerina shoes. Their so serious about the class that parents aren't allowed to watch because the instructor doesn't want "distractions". Crazy, but she's having fun.

Bradon is quite the chatter box these days. He has started using whole sentences, most of which start with "I want...". He's also a terror on the trampoline, breaking such moves as the super butt bounce and the somersault.

Sarah and the kids recently made a trip to the local fair, and, in spite of it being extremely expensive, they had a lot of fun. Sarah's friend Ali brought her two kids, Hunter and Waylan.

Hunter

Waylan

Super Slide

No Rides?!? C'mon!

Obviously Having Fun

Let's all wish a quick recovery to my dad Charlie. Seems he was feeling spry and decided to play a game of Ultimate Frisbee with the youth at church. Well, his knee wasn't feeling quite as well as he was and it decided that it had had enough. One torn patella later and he was laid up in the hospital. He's feeling better now after surgery, but he'll be out of commission for a bit. So, here's to a speedy recovery, Charlie.

Flattering Picture of the Week

2008-09-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday, and you all know what that means. Well... yes, it's time for the Seahawks to get dominated again, but that's not what I'm talking about. No, it's time for the...

Flattering Picture of the Week!

Not really flattering, I guess. I just think this is a great picture of me.

Well, that'll do it for this week. See you all again next week, same Bat time, same Bat channel. Good night?

Two Guys, a Taxi, and a Bunch of Bagels

2008-08-31T14:47:00.000-07:00

We're back from New York. The trip was spectacular. Bear with me through the wall of text. Pictures will follow.

Manhattan is quite the place. There are a ton of people. We easily saw thousands upon thousands of faces the first day, few of which were the same face twice. The skyscrapers do just that, scrape the sky.

The first thing we did was check out the Empire State Building. It was just a couple of blocks southeast of our hotel. You could literally see it from our window on the 32nd floor of the Hotel New Yorker. Of course, the two of us being the most observant folks around, we saw it right away. Not really. We didn't realize it was so close, and only realized the fact after looking at a map.

The view from the top is amazing. The viewing deck is 86 floors up, or 1050 feet up from the ground. We could see out 25 miles that day, and you can basically see the whole of Manhattan and parts of other boroughs. The Chrysler Building, Madison Square Garden, the World Trade Center site, Shea Stadium, and Yankee Stadium, among other sights, were all visible that day.

After the ESB, we took a quick stroll through Times Square on our way to Central Park. Even though we wanted to check it out at night for the full effect, it's still quite the sight during the day.

Central Park is pretty sweet on its own. It is absolutely huge. You almost forget that you're in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world. You're only reminders are the occasional buildings that pop up over the trees on the horizon. You could spend a whole day there and not see it all. There is a zoo, two large lakes, Belvedere Castle, and a whole slew of sports fields in the park. It would take a few days to see it all.

But we didn't have a few days. So, after a fairly quick walk through the park, we headed back towards our hotel. Our cameras got a quick recharge, and we headed for Times Square. It's just as bright as you would think. Advertisements litter every wall of every building. Theaters, both movie and musical, are everywhere. Street performers pound out music for the throngs of people that crowd the streets. And there's tons of shopping.

That was day one. The next day consisted of a cab ride to the Bronx and a day game at Yankee Stadium. The home team, my "beloved" Yankees, were playing the hated Boston Red Sox in their last game against each other in the House That Ruth Built. You see, next year the Yanks are moving across the street into a new stadium. It's one of the reasons Nic and I wanted to take the trip. Yankee Stadium is a big part of baseball's history, and we wanted to see it before they tore it down. Our collective first impression was that it's not as big as it looks on television. There's only one screen in center field so, if you're not sitting opposite of it, you don't see all the cool videos and other such things. We were in the right field bleachers, and were privy to one of the coolest things you will ever see at a sporting event. The right field bleachers are home to the Section 39 Bleacher Creatures, and they make sure that everyone in the place knows they're there. They chant each starting Yankees name until that player acknowledges them with a raise of his glove. They must have been doing this for quite some time because all of the players responded real-quick-like. Like I said, one of the coolest things I've ever seen at a sporting event.

The game, for the most part, was boring until it was nearly over. It took a while for the BoSox to put up two runs, and it looked like they would pull off the sweep. That is until Jason Giambi was plugged into the Yankee lineup in the seventh inning. In his first at-bat, with the Yanks down 2-0, Giambi blasted a two-run homer right at us. Then, in the bottom of the ninth and with the scored tied at 2, Giambi came up with the bases loaded and roped a single into center to win the game. "The Power of the 'Stache" indeed. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up.

After the game, we went back to Manhattan, took in some more of Times Square, got a bite to eat, and crashed at the hotel. The next day would bring a lot of time spent at the airport and flying over the entire country. I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say that delays are bad and finally arriving home and seeing your wife and kids for the first time in weeks is AWESOME!

I've left some things out, like seeing Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Garden, the world's largest post office, and the studios where they shoot Saturday Night Live and David Letterman. Not small things, but there was so much to see that it's hard to remember it all. Just know that we had a blast and would definitely suggest it for a trip to the rest of you. Just be ready for the organized chaos that is Manhattan.

One more thing. Just a piece of advice. If someone pulls up in an unmarked Lincoln Town Car and asks if you need a taxi, make sure you verify that they are what they say they are. Me and Nic? We just jump in and hope for the best. Now, on to the pictures.

THE PLANE RIDE EAST

DAYTIME VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW

AND AT NIGHT

CAPT. OBVIOUS SAYS "THAT'S MSG!!!"

ESB FROM 8th AVENUE

THE TOP OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

CHRYSLER BUILDING ON THE RIGHT

FROM 1050 FEET UP

BROADWAY IN THE A.M.

TIMES SQUARE, EARLY MORNING

IN FRONT OF ROCKEFELLER CENTER

ROCKEFELLER FLAGS

CENTRAL PARK

CENTRAL PARK SUBWAY

THE HOUSE THAT JETER BUILT?

NEW STADIUM BACK THERE

VIEW OF CENTER FIELD

WARM-UPS

A-ROD

JETER

WE MAKE THE PLACE THAT MUCH COOLER

THE PLACE WAS GOING CRAZY

THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT

HEADING BACK WEST

DON'T EAT BAD VEGGIE BURGERS

A REAL SKYSCRAPER

Flattering Picture of the Week

2008-08-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

We're back with another installment of the Flattering Picture of the Week. What I'm about to do may get me a in a lot of trouble, but everyone knew it was coming so I might as well get it over with.

Like I said, I'm going to pay for that. Oh well. It was worth it.

I hoped you enjoyed this week's flattering picture. See you again next week.

Flattering Picture of the Week

2008-08-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try and make this a weekly thing. So, if we have a picture of you, know that it will be used. Don't you remember the waiver you signed?

In the name of fair play, this week's picture goes to... me. Yep, I won't do unto others what I wouldn't do unto myself. So, here it is.

See you next week with another...

Flattering Picture of the Week!

New York, New York

2008-08-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but Nic and I will be heading over to New York for a three-day trip. Yep, we're going to the Big Apple. We're gonna see the sights and catch a Yankees game. I forget who they're playing, but we're going for Yankee Stadium more than the game. You see, they're tearing it down after this year, and we wanted to see it before they do it.

I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures. It should be a fun trip.

Silence Is Unnerving

2008-08-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sarah and the kids are at my mom's house right now. That's right, it's just me and the animals. I feel like I've been stranded on a remote island where my only friends are wild creatures and where I still have to go to work every day. It will be a while before I see them. I'm going to New York with Nic at the end of the month, and I won't see them until I get back. So, from now until September 1st. Wow, that seems even longer when I write it down.

They're having fun though, to hear Sarah tell it. The road is always so rough for her, what with two young children to handle, but she does handle them very well. I know I couldn't do it. But, that's one of the reasons why I married her. She's my rock.

So, what have the dogs and I been doing? Well, nothing really. I went to Wal-Mart and dragged them along. They seem to like the car more and more. I was going to go fishing with my neighbor Phil, but I got unintentionally by the klutz of the family, Bo. I was coming up the stairs with my hands full of groceries when Bo came charging up behind me. He took me out at the knee and I tumbled backwards down the stairs. I twisted my ankle pretty badly. So I'm a little lame right now, and don't really feel like doing anything.

Happy 25th, Sweets!

2008-08-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

That's right! My wonderful wife is 25 years old! *wink, wink* Really, she's 28, but don't tell her that.

I made her a cake, and would show you guys how it looked, but the camera was out of batteries. Oh well. She says it was good, and that's all that counts.

We'll be taking a four-day weekend down to Holly and Steven's to celebrate. We're really looking forward to it.

So, Happy Birthday, Sweetie. I love you.

Not Beverly Beach, but not much is.

2008-08-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

The above was our attempt at a family self-portrait. Sarah set the timer and then tried to get herself and Bradon into the picture, with somewhat successful results.

In the picture, we're at a little campground - I forget the name - up Toats Coulee Road in Loomis, Washington. We were checking the area for good camping spots and I think that's the one we're going to when we take our first family camping trip. Now we just need to get some gear.

The spot is really nice. It's out of town quite a ways, but not so far that we don't have access to emergency services if something happens. There's a fairly good-sized creek right next to the site, and there are some hiking trails nearby as well. We really liked it.

It Was Cold

On A Log Hanging Over The Creek

We also recently went to the town of Oroville's Centennial Parade. Not as good as its May Day Parade, but the kids had fun. Plus, as before in Tonasket, there was free candy.

Mads got to play with her friends. There have been quite a few new additions to the station up here, and everyone who comes seems to have kids, so Mads has made quite a few new friends.

Maddie And Miles

For When Agents Want To Fish, Right Jared?

Randomness

2008-07-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

So, it gets pretty hot up here. This area is the tip of the Sonora Desert, and it's been 95+ for the past few weeks. I don't deal with the heat very well, and we recently bought the means to cool us off, i.e. a kiddie pool.

BRADON LIKES IT

But a kiddie pool isn't the only thing to jump in around here when you want to cool off. When Holly, Steven, and AJ came up for the 4th of July, we took a trip to Palmer Lake. Kids and dogs alike - yes, even the biggest kids of all - can't resist the cool water on a hot day. Bradon ran straight in, to the point where he couldn't touch and I had to fish him out.

Come Here, Dog!

That's right. Big kids, too.

I Don't Need This Shirt

Our River Rats

Oh, here's one quick, flattering picture of Holly and her boy, AJ.

CHEESE!

Catching Up...

2008-07-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I last posted. I guess it's time to catch everyone up on what has been going on.

Let me start with Ol' Bradon. The boy got his first haircut. He did great, and looks pretty good.

This Ain't No Thang...

No more curly locks.

Madison has done two weeks of swimming lessons. She had a lot of fun with it, and surprised me when we went to Palmer Lake on July 5 by just running headlong into the water. She couldn't get enough.

Yeah... I'm A Fish

The Boys Say Hi

And We All Love Ice Cream

We all had a good July 4. I had to work, but Steven, Holly, and AJ came up to visit for a few days. It was good to see them. Emily came up with them, and she's staying for a few weeks. She's got her learner's permit and has been begging us to let her drive. I've never feared for my life more than when she's in the driver's seat.

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well. I'll try not to let so much time go between posts.

Fear My Word Power!

2008-06-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

I think this speaks for itself.

I've Got Something On My...? Where?!?

Another New Addition, and Some News

2008-06-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Sampson

Yes, another new face in the house, and another mouth to feed. We seem to go through cats like they're going out of style. At least he was free.

Sadly, we have some news. Two of Sarah's grandparents have cancer. Her grandmother, Joan, isn't doing so well. We recently made a trip to see her and the rest of the Ward Family. To keep it short, the trip was really great, and it was good to see Joan. She's handling the whole ordeal really well. We got to see Sarah's brother Matt, his wife Kristin, and his daughter Zoey.

Zoey

They are doing well, and it was good to see them.

We were able to just relax for a few days. We found a really cool museum that was right next to a big park. The kids had fun at both, and I fooled around a little myself.

It's Not As Bad As It Looks

I'll Do It!!!

HEEEEEYA!!!

As far as Sarah's grandfather goes, I'm not sure of the details, but we were able to make a trip home and see him as well. He seemed to be doing well, and he was able to handle the family getting together for a family photo.

The Family

This is our first family photo with Bradon. Not too bad, eh? Sarah really likes it.

Our prayers go out to Sarah's grandparents.

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

I know this is late, but I wanted to wish all the fathers out there a Happy Father's Day.

To Charlie, thank you. Who knows where I'd be if you hadn't come into my life and set me straight.

To T.K., Jesse, Matt, Mike, Brian, Chris, Jared, Alex, Josh, and Steven; keep up the good work. Man, I know a lot of dads. If I missed anyone, let me know.

To all the other fathers out there; good job, and make sure you have tons of fun with your kids. That's where the joy in life comes from.

Congrats to Chris and Alicia!

2008-06-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

So, the new addition has finally arrived. I'm not exactly sure when the baby came, but Chris and Alicia are finally parents. Congratulations, guys! I'll post some pictures when I get them.

Tonasket's Founders' Day Parade

2008-06-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

This parade was a lot better than I thought it would be. It was fairly long, but there were some good floats and other displays.

America's Finest

Heya, kids!

I can't wait for the candy!!!

Wait... what did you say about CANDY?!?!

The kids had a blast, especially Bradon. He got a real kick out of all of the horses and clowns. Plus, Mads got to be on a float with her soccer teammates. We couldn't get a picture because she was in the middle and was hard to see from where we were, but she said it was fun to be in the parade. We're looking forward to next year's.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Sweets!

2008-05-30T20:10:00.001-07:00

That's right. Six wonderful years ago, Sarah and I said I do. A lot has happened since. Kids, jobs, dogs, houses... the list goes on. We've had a ton of fun, and have made some good memories.

I just wanted to say thank you to my wonderful wife. I don't know what I would do without her. Here's to a hundred more years of the same. I love you.

Indiana Jones and the Worst Ending in the World

2008-05-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I were able to catch a movie last weekend. It's good to have friends that watch your kids and dogs every once in a while. Thanks, Holly and Steven.

So, what did we go see? That's right, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If you haven't seen it already, you should go catch it. Just make sure someone else pays for your ticket.

It wasn't horrible. The beginning was good, and the middle held up. But the ending... oh, the ending was horrible. The movie never really felt like the three great movies that preceded it. It just never really felt like an Indiana Jones film. Don't ask me why, it just didn't. However, I dealt with it since my wife and I were enjoying our first movie without kids in I don't know how long. Then came the end. I won't spoil it, but shame on George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for allowing it to happen.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - 6/10

If you really want to see a good movie that's out right now, go see Iron Man. Sure, it'll help if you enjoy comics, but I haven't read a comic in years, and I still loved it. Good action, Robert Downey Jr. was exceptional, and the supporting cast was great. Jon Favreau did a really good job with this, in my opinion. It was a better "say hello to [insert superhero's name here]" movie than Spider-Man.

Iron Man - 9/10

Wow. I've seen two movies this summer. Is the world about to come to an end?

Now Batting...

2008-05-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure Maddie could DH for the Mariners right now.

I know she could pick a better first than Richie Sexson. And I'm pretty sure she's faster than Jose Vidro. Now, if we can just get her to run to first without chasing the ball first.

Say Hello To Scooby

2008-05-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

So, we recently took a trip to Gresham/Vancouver to visit some folks and test the waters concerning trading in the Nissan Xterra. We need an all-wheel drive ride, and the Nissan had problems that we were both getting tired of.

I like staying at Holly and Steven's because I get my Steven fix. I could do without seeing Holly.

We were interested in looking at Subaru's. Sarah liked the Outback, and I liked the Forester, so we wanted to look at both. I'll tell you right now why I don't like going to car dealerships: salespeople are vultures. A lady started walking up to the car before we had even parked. She was talking to me about how she could help before I put foot one down on the ground. Horrible.

I did my best to deflect her. We ended up talking to the sales manager instead of her. He was much better.

So, after much deliberation about leg room and dog room, and a quick test drive, we went with the Forester. Say hello:

SCOOBY

During our trip down there, we were able to visit with Erin and the girls. Needless to say, our kids are all very big fans of Chuck E. Cheese.

Check The Gear...

Oh! HELLO!

GIRL TRAPPED IN TUBE!!! STORY AT FIVE!!!

No matter how much Sarah and I hate dealing with car dealerships, visiting with the Dooley Clan is always fun. Just wish we were able to see Jared. Next time, my man. Have your paintball clothes ready!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2008-05-11T09:20:00.001-07:00

I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!

So much love...

This one goes out to all of the mothers I know. I'm lucky to be blessed with two, and I wanted to say thank you to both of them. So, to my mom, Lola, I love you. Thanks for the trips up here to see us, and for everything else you do for us. And to Debbie, who took me in and has treated me like a son, thank you.

To Martha, we love you very much. Thank you for all that you do.

To Sarah, mother to my kids, I love you. I don't know what I would do without you.

To Erin, my sister from another mother, you're such a great mom.

And to mothers the world around:

if you happen to stumble across this blog and read this, Happy Mother's Day! Keep up the good work.

Here They Be!!!

2008-05-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

I'm a little amazed at myself. I actually put up pictures of the dogs before I put up any of the kids. Nice to know where my priorities lie.

Eh, you guys have all seen the kids before. I guess I wanted to show off something new. Just kidding.

Anyway, here are some recent pics. Still no sports pictures from the Madster though.

GIVE ME HAPPY!

Like father, like son...

I'm da KIIIIIING!!!

The Two Princesses

As you can see by the picture of Mads there, Sarah and the kids recently took a trip to Disneyland. I wanted to go, but Sarah said I couldn't. She's quite the tyrant. They had a lot of fun, and Mads finally got to meet some princesses, something she didn't get to do last time. It was Maddies third time at Mickey's place, and she's never going again. HA!

So, there they are, Erin. Don't say I never did anything for ya!

Just Some Good Ol' Boys...

2008-05-04T21:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I mentioned some new dogs in the previous posts. I just thought I'd offer some proof that they exist. Meet Bo and Luke, the Dukes of Tonasket:

Bo

Luke

They're great dogs. A little rowdy, and they have a habit of mauling Bradon when they're loose in the house, but we like them just the same.

They're big fans of the lakes around here. We took a trip down to Wenatchee today so we could do some shopping. On the way back, we stopped in a small town along the Columbia River to let the dogs run for a bit. It's hard to get Luke out of the water once he gets in it. Bo is warming up to it, but Luke is older, so he handles it better.

Anyway, there they are, our two rapscallions.

A New Job?

2008-05-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

I am a huge Mariners fan. So huge, in fact, that I find my fandom is seeping its way into Sarah's pysche. She loves going to games, and we're both anxious to take the kids to their first game.

A funny thing happened on that front this last week. Years ago, I was turned onto a site called USS Mariner. This site is run by a few diehard Mariners fans. They post game threads, and general discussion threads about the club. This site has infected me. It has turned me from a casual fan that would catch the occasional game into someone who pours over the minor league rosters looking for the next Mariners superstar. I even went so far as to send an email to the club detailing some roster moves I thought they should make.

Well, they actually made two of the moves a few days later. If you ask me, the moves were a direct effect of my email. Stop laughing, Nic!

So, there you have it, folks. Say hello to the new general manager of your Seattle Mariners!

A Quick Recap

2008-05-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know these things, I'll make a quick run-through of everything that has happened over the last five years.

In March of 2003, I joined the United States Border Patrol. After spending five months at the academy in South Carolina, I was transferred out to San Diego County to start working. Sarah and I moved out there and spent the next ~4 years there. During that time, we had both Madison, who was born in 2004, and Bradon, who arrived in 2007. Mid 2007, work offered me a transfer to Oroville, Washington. Sarah and I had wanted to transfer out of San Diego for a long time, so we jumped at the chance. In September of 2007, the four of us arrived in Oroville, WA.

Up here has been great. We bought a house; a nice little place on about two acres of land. The yard needs a lot of work, but the house is in good shape. And, since moving into the house, we bought two dogs. I, especially, was excited. I have wanted dogs since we moved to San Diego, but we couldn't get them because we were in apartments all of the time. So, we went crazy. We now have two dogs, a yellow lab named Luke and a golden retriever named Bo. We call them the Dukes of Tonasket, seeing as that's where we live.

Work is good. It's a lot slower than it was down south, but we didn't move here for the work. It's near impossible to buy a house in San Diego County unless you are a gajillionaire, which we are not.

To recap:

A new job, some new kids, plenty of moving, a huge transfer, some new dogs, and here we are.

We're loving it. I'll put up some pictures of all of it soon.

Welcome...

2008-04-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

Two peanuts walk into a bar. One was assaulted.

There. Now that the ice has been broken, let me welcome you to our blog. That's right! The Procks have joined the blogosphere. Do we really have anything worthwhile to say? Well, if you consider "worthwhile" to be the grand tale of how I got arrested last night, then... no. Nope, Sarah is not akin to Paris Hilton whatsoever, and I don't resemble one of Paris' boyfriends in the least. However, if you consider "worthwhile" to be updates on how this family is doing, and if you enjoy stories about our trips to the lake and other such places, then this is the place for you!

Plenty has happened to this family over the past five years. New jobs, new kids, new pets. We've moved so much you could call us gypsies... uh, minus the theft and such.

Oh, but those stories are for other posts. Right now, let me just say "Welcome!" again. Thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see plenty more of you further down the road.