Lange's Pony Farm

This past week, April 11th, Jord got the chance to go with her pre-school class and ride ponies!

Alan assigned blogging task

Today, Sunday March 30, 2008. Most of the Brock family is sick, Karen says it is time to update the blog... nothing much has been added for many months. Feeling the pressure from her sisters, she assigns me, Alan, the task. 11 entries, all in the same day... some sort of record!

You see she is in bed with the flu... most of us are still suffering from this last week of illness. So, we are keeping the Sabbath by updating our online journal. What I have found is that if you are not good at keeping a journal, you can keep a blog - which is kinda like keeping a journal. Which is kind of something we have been asked to do. So, this may be my only attempt at "blogging" I may resign the post once she is better. Regardless, how many men do you know "blog"? I think I can take great pride in saying that I am the first with my brothers, too bad I didn't win money for that one (which of course would be betting or a wager and that wouldn't fit with keeping the sabbath holy, so it is probably better that I didn't win money). And probably the first with my brothers-in-law, which makes me first! Kind of like trendsetting....

What would Karen Brock do? I'm responsive, are you?

These first several pictures which are posted result from a group, a strange group, in Logan Utah. Karen does some consultation with these people (school district) she calls her work "Responsive Schools" and somehow she has... well you know how people can "smoke their own dope?" Somehow Karen got them to smoke her's, rather than their own..... Notice the bracelets, this group of people had them made and presented one to her. Karen brought one home for me...... yeah, right! Can you hear it? "Hey, Brock, what is that on your wrist...? "

"All is safely gathered in"

Karen spent the last week in Utah and I managed to hold down the Fort(?) Seth got stiches in his chin, all three kids had the stomach flu which resulted in what we call the dreaded NUMBER 3, and Seth cut his own hair. When you cut your own hair when Dad's in charge, well... being somewhat stylistically challenged, the best option is a buzz cut. It's easy, neat, little time is lost, and although you may not like it, it does grow back. Good thing the girls didn't cut theirs.... Karen may have been, well, uh... more willing to preserve the original cut.

One might ask is "take me to your leader" a rhetorical question or just an affirmation of what should be an implied form of respect?

Jordan turns 4....

Jordan turned 4 and shared her birthday with Emily. Karen made a wonderful cupcake butterfly cake, as well as the traditional birthday cake. Lots of fun, lots of sugar....

Happy Valentines 08'!

Ya... we celebrated Christmas....

Here are a couple of pictures from Christmas of 07'. Thought we should get around to posting them.... The annual gingerbread making extravaganza at Aunt Melissa's place, co-sponsored by Aunt Gail and mother Karen (not pictured :( but she was there). In addition, we have Jordan and Karen sprinkling magic "Reindeer Food" which helps Rudolph find his way and Grandma and Grandpa spending some time with us during Christmas.

"Saturday, in the Brock House, I think it was the middle of November?"

Another step in the past - found this little nugget as I was perusing my bag of pictures (circa 07'). Just a Saturday afternoon and the kids decided they wanted to dress up:) Mom handled the makeup, dad the hats. The hat and makeup book looked like a lot of fun to read when we purchased it... Moral of the story "Be weary of books your children wish to READ"

A stuffed animal carrying Western Princess who dabbles in cards, and small fairy dolls.

"Papa was a rolling stone, and wherever he laid his hat" was Jordan's opportunity to pick it up and wear it. We always have new guests and royalty at our home - (circa Jan 08')

"Wow Dad... did you know the cushion can be used as a Flotation device?"

One trip to Utah, (circa Feb 08') on the return trip - Karen did not come with us.... yes, 3 children, one parent, Southwest was out of coloring books, you know, the ones that keep your children occupied. Seth found he could get in some of his homework minutes for school by reading some of the safety information conveniently contained in the back of each chair pocket. Boy howdy was it fun having Seth read it to me...

"Once there was a Snowman..."

When you only blog once every 6 months... then "purdy" much everything is recent. We have traveled several times to Utah and spent time with Grandma Brock. She currently has cancer in her lungs and bones, which means every day is a gift. She is good to play with us when we are there!

Dresses

We went to the Seattle Science Center today-- and so once Jordan found out she was going somewhere, she went directly into her bedroom to pick out "just the outfit". She has been going into her room and changing 3-5 times a day BEFORE noon. She just loves to put outfits together and feels so pretty when she does. She is very into dresses right now, the concession that she allows me is that if we go outside, she has to put tights on. The picture is not very clear so you can't really see the detail of her outfit but she is perfectly matched and has her "red rubies" on-- which, of course are the fantastic red glitter shoes that she wears whenever she can and often plans her entire outfit around them. She goes back and forth between wearing the beautiful dresses in the princess dress-up box and her Sunday dresses that she loves. I started out fighting her on her outfit choices, but, I have decided that there is a limited time in life that one can wear FORMAL attire to the grocery store, to Grandma's house, over to friends to play, to McDonalds, out to run errands....etc... at three, if wearing the most beautiful dress in her dress-up box is making her feel beautiful, so be it. The world will make her doubt all of those confidences soon enough, so, for today, beautiful dresses, beautiful jewlery and sparkly shoes is pure joy!

More Halloween pictures

Just a few more fun pictures from Halloween-- we went over to the church and participated in a costume contest and other fun events--

The Builders

Alan is building a shed-- Any time Alan goes out to work on it, Seth is right behind him with his "gear" on. Seth keeps his nails in his apron and has his own hammer, screw driver, measuring tape and pencil (which he usually tries to balance behind his ear). Seth spends more time asking questions than actually working on it--he fancies himself a builder but he displays more of the investigative reporter qualities... (what are you doing that for Dad? Why are you doing that now Dad? What will you do next Dad? What part should I work on now Dad? What day will we be done with our shed Dad? etc etc etc-- too cute!