Getting ready for Boulder/Bladen/Stone/M1Abrams

M1 Abrams? What kind of name is that for a boy? A sweet action sweet name, that's what! What kid wouldn't want to be named after this?We are getting pretty excited for our little bundle of joy and diapers. Some of us are just a little more excited than others to hold a baby again.
But what about Rock? Shouldn't DeA feel like she's cheating on Rock a little bit? That's a good question, and so I asked Rock. He didn't seem to worried about it. But he was pretty concerned with the hydraulics on the front bucket.
"Ugh! How am I supposed to carry all of those Goldfish Crackers now?"
He quickly realized that he was going to need to make a trip to market, but his shoes were all the way upstairs. So, he borrowed mine.

Back in Business!!

We finally got our new internet hooked up today. DeA made me promise that if I got the internet that I also had to sign up for TV with the sports package. It was a hard bargain, but I took the deal. Our little house is starting to feel more like a home. Even Rock is getting used to it. Here he is roaming the halls of his new pad.If you were here (and why aren't you here visiting yet?) he would show you our living room.
He would also let you see his bedroom. He is finally sitting on our laps at night so that we can read him a story. Tonight we read the first three pages of 'Hop on Pop' and the middle two pages of 'Go Dog Go' before he tried to escape down the stairs.
Speaking of giving tours, uncle Dustin came over and got the VIP treatment from Rock.
After the tour of the digs, Rock helped Dustin prepare for his mission. Missions take a lot of work and practice, and Rock is making sure that Dustin is putting his work in.
Rock is still trying to figure out when the presents will show up. He thought that if he put some decoy presents under the tree that the real ones will feel comfortable.
We were trying to get a good cute picture of Rock for Christmas e-mails. We got lots of pics, but none that look 'stoic, heroic and commanding' enough for DeA to want to send to people.






Rock likes our new counters because it gives him a firm, solid surface where he can bust out his push ups.

DeA really likes her new kitchen. It gives her more usable space to make chocolate pudding.


Our little pet monkey knows that the yummy snacks are on top of the fridge. He is going to figure it out, even if it means falling many, many times.


Rock heard that our government is conspiring with aliens to brainwash the mind of our youth. Rock didn't want his mind turned to delicious chocolate pudding, so he put on a protective helmet.
When Rock wakes up in the morning, he likes to run into the kitchen and make himself a bowl of cereal. He isn't really a morning person, but some days he gets going faster than others.



Tonight was our the Christmas party in our new ward. Rock was really excited, and was practicing showing off for Santa.

During the awesome dinner and play, Rock went and showed some kids what's what in dodgeball. He did pretty well, his final stat line was: two broken noses, three scratched corneas and six girls crying.

The moment finally came when the big guy finally showed up. Rock was pretty stoked!

"Wait a minute, you don't smell like Santa! You smell like beef and cheese!"

"You sit on a throne of lies!!"

Editor's note: Rock didn't really say that. Santa was really nice and Rock liked it, but I hadn't quoted Buddy the Elf yet this Christmas. That just didn't seem right.

Super-Spectacular-Catch-Up-Post!!

Rock found his favorite window in the whole house. Why's he like it? Because there's a good lookin' kid looking right back at him.
While at Gma & Gpa's house, Rock learned how to survive on the mean streets of Central Point. He knows the biggest thing about the streets is to strike a menacing pose.
One car seat + one bundled up Rock + one warm car = I'm checking out of here soon.
We have some bigtime exciting news: We've moved into our own place! We are renting a house right next to a soccer field and two blocks from the church/temple. Anyone is welcome to come crash with us, since we have three bedrooms and 2.5 baths. That's a big size upgrade from our Iowa homestead, so we are excited to show it off. Rock loves it because he has completely fenced backyard where he can roam without Mom and Dad following him everywhere.

We received a gifted Christmas tree from Lisa's cousin, Chris. It really makes our house feel Christmasy and like home. Rock knows that presents will appear under the tree, and so he's waiting to try and find them right away. Oh, and he doesn't like how I did the lights, so he's been trying to fix them.


DeA has now made it a tradition to take pictures in front of the tree while pregnant. Here she is with a little incubating baby Rock, and below she is posing with baby Boulder.
Rock didn't like being left out of the posing, so maybe the tradition will be DeA and the kids.
Our new house has one light switch that he can flick on and off, so he likes spending his day doing that.

Slowly we are unpacking our Christmas decorations, and Rock is in charge of inspecting all the decorations. Here he is sizing up the little Santa.

He also wasn't sure about this Santa, but he likes listening to him recite 'The Night Before Christmas'.
Hmm...turns out that he didn't like where Santa was.
I finally set up the all-important Sony. A house just isn't a home without a Playstation. Although...a house is more of a home with a PS3, so if anybody is thinking of Christmas ideas, there is a freebie idea.
Rock likes our new, fluffy carpet. It's perfect for sliding in safely.
He still doesn't like my light placement.

There is more coming soon, but our trusty (sometimes...) laptop had to be wiped clean, so I need to find the rest. Merry Christmas!