Friday, July 30, 2010

It's Time to Share News... Baby Carrot News???


Kathleen and I have been quite happy and quite blessed in our time as a family thus far. The last 13 months with our little Avery has been everything its meant to be and more rewarding than a person can ever fathom until they have a little one of their own. Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! There. There is the best I can describe it right now.


While our little "baby carrot", as creatively interpreted by the picture above (found on the Bent Objects blog) has been such a blessing to us and continues each day to be quite an adventure... we have always know that we probably wanted to have more than one little blessing in our lives. So...


We are happy to announce that we are going to be blessed another time and officially soon have our own "side of baby carrots"  in our family. I'm sure that is going to be quite an adventure as well! So, its official and secret time is over. There is a bun in the oven. There is another little peanut on the way. Maybe a brother or maybe a sister to our little pumpkin... ok. Hold on. I just realized something... Whoops! Now I remember why I don't blog on an empty stomach...

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

You Might Be A Redneck...

If you light a tree stump on fire...
 on your front lawn...


or if you think this looks better than a just a dead tree stump...
 on your front lawn...


or is it if you light a tree stump on fire once again...
 on your front lawn...


or maybe, just maybe, you might be a redneck...

if you then proceed to burn garbage multiple times now in your new
burn barrel that might be a burned out tree stump...
on your front lawn...


I don't know. The thought comes to mind that such said person that would do such things...

just might be a redneck...

then again, its not like there weren't any other earlier signs...

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Wind Powered Blogging From the Past

Driving home from work a couple days ago I found myself staring at a couple monsters that I used to feel were the ones always doing the staring. I used to live between and around about 3 of them that it seemed no matter which way the wind was coming from or which part of the sky the sun was in... at least one of 'em was making its presence know. Now I don't live where they have such a presence and it dawned on me how much I appreciate that! Regardless of what it was like living around the giants in the country... I do remember how interesting it was when began to be raised. Here are a couple pics I managed to take during that summer/fall that it happened.

Here is some of the raw material before it began to really take shape...


The lovely model Kathleen giving us a perspective on the actual magnitude of one of the "creatures" arms...


Milwaukee people and Brewers fans... remember "Big Bertha"? Same size. Different crane. I'm going with "Huge Hank". Can you see the workers waiting for another piece?


How about now?


As a little more time passed. Once again there was a good reminder that when we marvel at the accomplishments of man... its really not just that simple is it?


Nope. There's really a lot more to it...

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

You Got What You Were Huntin For!

Just got news today that someone I have been in a mentoring relationship with at work was promoted! It takes me back to the promotions that I have received over the years and the feeling that comes with such an accomplishment. Wow. God is great and How Great Thou Art are thoughts that come to mind. We are all so undeserving and in truth actually deserving of His wrath instead, and yet... he continues and continues to bless us. That thought alone is just plain mind blowing. There is no other relationship like that in existence. None.

So in celebratory congratulations to the once again newly blessed individual...

Congratulations! You got what you were hunting for! :-)

(You know who you are... and I'm not sure if its public knowledge yet. Lol.)

(This sweet pic is from Terry at his blog "Bent Objects". You can check it out through my user profile of blogs I follow. Thanks!)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Avery's First Date!?!

If you saw yesterday's post you will understand what is going on here... it appears that big man Davin may be taking my little girl out! I have mixed feelings... but at least he appears to be a gentleman.


I'm pretty impressed that he would go through these lengths to please my daughter even after their "ride" breaks down apparently.


It seems that he also is fairly impressed with himself...


...and Avery? Well, she seems pretty smitten by the gesture!


Wait... wha... what's... what's going on here?


No, there is no way. Don't worry Avery, he wouldn't just leave you on the side of the road alone. Not a chance. I know his parents. He was raised better than that.


Are ya kidding me!?! Where is he? Do you see him Avery? What's he doing?!?


Oh wow. Avery... I'm so sorry. It seems that he might just be chasing other girls... older girls... girls with working vehicles it seems. That's it! He's done! No more cruisin with Davin.


Well, Avery. Lesson learned early I guess. Gotta look out for yourself. Your heart is bound to be broken eventually. I just didn't think it would happen this soon. Whatcha gunna do, hey?


Oh! That's what you're gonna do! The only thing you can, huh? Take matters into your own hands! Forget him! Good for you!

Monday, July 19, 2010

He's Quite a Man...

A couple days ago, last minute, like always, the Z's had the good fortune to go hang out with some friends and our little godson, Davin. Davin was featured in this blog once or twice before as he was born only a couple months after little Avery. Despite his younger age, we constantly marvel at his much larger size, he is quite the "beast" as we so lovingly refer to him as. He is not quite walking on his own yet, but he decided to show us a feat of his strength during our visit anyhow. Who needs to walk when you can pull this off?


That's right. Pushing your truck home. Like I said, who cares about walking when you impress the ladies with bulging baby "muscles" man handling a Ford F150? You should have seen his proud papa! It was just so entertaining that I couldn't help taking a video of this little brut in action...


Avery was so impressed and "swooned" by his feats of strength that it just plumb tuckered her out! By the time the night was over she decided that she had better get in a little more beauty sleep! Even though she doesn't need it...



Saturday, July 17, 2010

I Try to Accurately Represent...

So, the little darling is becoming much less of a little darling on several occasions now. It seems that it all started happening the week after she turned 1 year old. Funny how that seems to happen, hey? I've posted so many picture of a smiling little girl and for the most part that is an accurate representation of Avery thus far. However, now I am going to have to accurately represent the rest of her life and one of these days I am going to get one of her really "good" tantrums on film. On film... hmmm... right. When was the last time anyone put anything actually on film? You know what I mean!

The pictures below were taken as Mommy was trying to change Avery's post breakfast shirt. You will be able to tell what I am talking about with accurately representing our sweet little Avery some days.







It would appear that life is pretty rough, heh? As unemotional and/or discipline focused I seem to be at times during these little "episodes" it is still perplexing to me how I can look at the picture now and a week later start to feel bad for the little angel. Funny how that works.

Here is a video I took that morning as well when I was attempting to catch her crabby in the act... note the unfortunate timing of my laugh at her and then the oh so sympathetic reaction of her Mommy. LOL. I think you will be able to tell what we had already gone through that morning...

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Thanks Effery!

The Z's were gifted with a webcam not to long ago by Uncle Effery... I spent some time trying to figure it out...


I gotta admit, I started with quite a bit of skeptism...


I installed it and then began to try to figure out how to use it properly... it wasn't working quite right...


It just would not work for me! I needed a break and a beverage...


Shoot. Still nothing. Plus my mouth seemed glued shut... maybe my skeptism was not undeserved you difficult webcam!


Wait. Hold on a sec...

Lets not jump the gun just because the operator is having some problems...


Give it chance, Adam....


Ahhhhhh!!! There it is!


Totally worth it! :-)



Monday, July 12, 2010

Critters Like Other Critters

What could it be that demands such attention from the critter below?


What is such a thing that would seize the eyes of a second critter as well, so promptly?




Apparently,     critters       like        critters...                a  lot.








So much so that things just get down right depressing when a critter has to leave...




down right doggy depressing.





(You can't tell that I'm trying to use some old pictures I wanted to use before I "filed" them away...  can you?    Nah. Didn't think so. )

Sunday, July 11, 2010

First Time Out to Eat (Alone) with Avery


I have been one to very seriously make decisions and paths in my life based on the solid and reliable advise I have received from various fortune cookies at any given time in my life. They are so often true and can guide and inspire you at the right time with the right topic. Sure. This is of course after I have finished my Chinese dinner and at said dinner I have also read my horoscope, which advised me to let my dinner guest, Santa Clause, read my palm and give me my life story which as it turns out ends under a rainbow where I find horseshoe that picks all the right numbers for the power ball next week which I cannot play because I was led to the rainbow to die as foretold by Santa. Oh, yeah. Go figure. Turns out I am a leprechaun.  Now I understand my impulse to grow the beard. It all makes sense.

Anyway, one of the above fortune cookie fortunes was in Avery's cookie and the other in my cookie. Any speculation which one was in who's?

Keep in mind that one has been trying to get comfortable walking and just got a haircut a week or two ago before celebrating their first year of life. The other has been alive for a while, doesn't have much hair, and is walking about as good as they'll ever be.


Saturday, July 10, 2010

Good Times Celebrating Avery


This little girl turned one year old on the 3rd and there was some celebrating! Here she is in her birthday outfit enjoying the great weather we had that day.


Most of the immediate family from both sides were there that day and were lucky enough to enjoy warm weather, a cool breeze, and a big shade tree that was ever so generous to keep us all protected that day. If you look close enough at the picture you can see a great idea for a gift for the G&K Zastrow's.


Yep! They seem to enjoy our only piece of outdoor patio furniture! Spongebob! Go figure. I never had them pegged for the type to go with themed outdoor patio furniture. If anyone wants to go in on it next christmas or whatever, let me know.


Seriously, here they are asking Avery where she got it and as usual, Grampa checking the quality of the chairs.

Overall, it was a good day! Avery couldn't ask for more quality family! She's a blessed little lady! Thanks for coming everyone!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Weez Gots Music!

Thanks to the keen eye of my pop-in-law and his memory of hearing me proclaim that I'd really like a piano some day for myself and kids, I aquired a free (the best price) upright piano possibly made somewhere in the the 1850's to the 1890's for our house today! 10 points to the person who can identify the small smiling person on the yellow cup.


If you are having trouble guessing, you could ask for the assistance of this little maestro...


So, I'm pretty excited about having a piano in the house and I believe I will be making the attempt to "self teach" myself back into being able to play again. It needs some work and some tuning... but overall, a great score. Big thanks to J.P., Nathan, and Brad who all helped make it possible! Thanks guys!

Monday, July 5, 2010

1st Hair Cut!

Someone got a new and 1st hair cut a little while ago! Guess who it was! If you guessed Avery, you are right! If you didn't... c'mon, really?

So, you like her new 'do'?


If you guessed right for the first question, you probably will have no problem guessing who it was that gave Avery her first haircut...

I'll give you a minute. Yes, it was her mommy!

I know she was in capable hands... but it doesn't appear that she is so sure of the same thing!


Luckily, there was a quality tasting comb to ease the nerves...


I think it turned out pretty good, don't you? I guess the only person that really needs to be happy with it in almost any hair cutting situation is the one wearing the hair, right? I'd say she looks pretty happy with it!


Either way... good haircut or bad haircut... happy or not so happy...

at least there's still a tasty comb to either drown sorrows in or celebrate joys with!



Yummm!!!