A Joyous Occasion in May

Being entirely to far behind on blog posts... I bring you back to May! The end of May to clarify if that makes it any better. An event that had the family traveling. Traveling and staying overnight for the first time as a foursome! 

Preparations had to be made to keep everyone happy.

Speaking of keeping everyone happy... can I just say thank goodness for cartoons at all times of the day!

The event that had everyone excited involved a rehearsal. That's how big this event was! After the rehearsal, there was wind down time as well. 

For some of us... for others it was "push great grandpa around" time.

Even though the kids never seem to want to wind down, it's okay! 

Because that's why there are aunts and uncles around!

Thanks to those aunts and uncles...

A husband and wife can actually pose for a picture!

Alone!

Like it was... once upon a time...

A time before, well, a time before a queen size bed had to be shared with a little gremlin.

Pretty please with yourself eh, Levi?

I thought so.

Alright... let's let out the reason for all the excitement...

I'll tell Avery first...

"Avery... your auntie Steph is going to get married!"

"Listen, I'm serious! She really is!"

"She's going to take the plunge and marry a really awesome guy."

"That IS exciting news! I know!"

"There she goes!"

"It's okay. Don't be nervous! She'll do fine, she'll repeat the words right, he'll say 'I do' and they'll both ride off in to the sunset."

"Oh, Avery... it's okay! She's in good hands! Er.. or... are those tears of joy?"

I had some of those also! You and I are some emotional saps! 

How's Levi doing?

Stone. Cold. Levi.

A real man. :)

He wants to get on with the celebrating.

Bottoms up Levi.

Looks like you're not alone, buddy. Uncle Brad is going to join you. 

Wait a minute. I don't remember taking a picture of Brad having a drink...

That's not really my type of picture. Hmmm...

Ah Hah! Now it's starting to make sense...

 Let's get that camera back. Thanks Levi. Family pic! Everyone in your best pose!

Yeah, that's as good as it gets!

"What's the matter Avery? Sick of your ma and pops? 

Who else you think your gonna hang out with?"

I should have known!

While you're gone... more pictures!

It's so nice to have everyone together for such a wonderful reason!

All the different parts of the family are always in different parts of the land! 

Wait a minute... 

no kids!

Say Cheese!

Where are the kids?

Who's with them? 

It's Dave and Steph! Cutting a rug!

All my pictures of Dave are fuzzy! 

It's a good thing I have great pictures of my gorgeous Sis!

What a great day! Not complete until I can pick on my lil sis a little however!

The next morning was a slow start...

Eventually, we got it together however.

We enjoyed a little more time with family before we all parted again!

Well, some of us enjoyed it. Others under the age of 2 started a downward spiral.

This was the beginning of Levi's with a still happy Uncle enjoying his limited time.

Lastly, because it is so rare since we've been blessed with Avery... another picture of me and my own bride.

Even more rare... was the smile on the ride home! It must have been during a rare moment of silence. 

Overall, a great weekend! 

We welcomed a new brother in to the family and shared a forever awesome moment in time with a sister we love dearly!

Who can ask for more!?! Not us! :)

Uncle Badly and Daddy Time

One of Uncle Badly's last breaks from school provided an opportunity for him and I to take Avery out and do some exploring at the Journal Sentinel Sportsman Show at the State Fair Park grounds. It was a cool day with a piercing wind and we were thankful that all of the show was indoors. 

Daddy had a new tech device that was only a week old and picture taking was a must!

Can you blame me when I get shots like this one?

Uncle Badly was helping Avery find her inner biker girl. Ummm... Inner biker girl with a cookie to be more precise. Avery is too young to understand Daddy when he says that she will never have a motorcycle. Are there any cookie eating biker women that disagree? (Do you like my safe phrasing of that question? Incriminating, isn't it?)

Daddy is a lot more open to the next picture...

"Honey! We're home! We bought a 4 wheeler!"

It does look like Avery may feel the need...

The need being of course for speed!

It's tough driving a boat when you have to depend on leg coordination in addition to arm, isn't it, Avery?

To cap it all off that day...

A local celebrity siting!

Ok, everyone. Let your inner Milwaukee area redneck out to play. Who is the gentleman in the picture with Avery and I?

$100 bucks to the winner.

A lot to be Thankful for...

Greeting Everyone! I hope the holiday was good to everyone and there was much time for reflecting, praying, and enjoying the time with friends and relatives!

My absence from the blog was due to several different reasons that include but weren't limited to our absence of internet and my first "Black Friday" as a store manager. Some things have to be sacrificed in the name of priorities and this blog (I'm sorry) and even deer hunting took the fall this year. I am hoping that both will return for the next Thanksgiving week!

I was able to spend some time with the family on Thanksgiving and also did get to enjoy the traditional holiday "fixings". Yum!

Speaking of which...

Who wants some pie?

I thought so...

...anyone else?

I'm thinking Sam and Kathleen might be interested...

Is that it? Anyone else?

Ok, we have a piece for you as well Steph... Kathleen... there's no limit.

Make sure you feed our boy!

That's right Avery! Not to far away!

"Seriously?"



Yes, Avery...

Next year you might have to share your pie!

Feel the Love?

Below is a Facebook post I made after being reminded what day it was. Turns out it was National Unfriend Day. So, I made a very threatening post to let my friends know that they might want to think about stepping up their game little. (Friends... I am just kidding. Maybe.    ...No, really I am kidding. Probably.) Below is the interaction I received instead.

Adam Zastrow (Status Update) :Today is national unfriend day... nothing personal... actually that's not accurate. Maybe we can be friends again next year.

Wednesday at 9:00pm via Android Friends Only ·LikeUnlike · Comment · View Feedback
Samantha Zastrow likes this.


Bradley Zastrow (Status Update) : I celebrated by knocking off 100 of my friends. Since I received this update, you must have slipped through the cracks again...
Wednesday at 10:15pm · LikeUnlike · 1 person-Kathleen Zastrow likes this.

Pick up on all that?

The only facebook family participants missing are the ones smart enough not to leave evidence.



Yeh. Hilarious. What a loving family. I cried many a night since this happened.

Now is the part where you comment something lame below about how you are sorry for the torment that you all put on me as we grew up and you've realized now that it has continued and is even present today. Try to stop smiling and hang your head in shame for the broken shell of a person you have made me to be today! Scared to speak, slave to my wife, and nervous around people... 

Go ahead. Let it all out. :o)

Fun in the Park

Miller Park that would be. Granted I am assuming that more people other than myself had fun. However, you will notice in the following pictures that I personally had a good time!

Have you ever wanted to attend an MLB game and just take in the sights?

Just enjoy the crowd and get into the game with fellow spectators...

Then someone starts snapping pictures... great. Who's the guy trying to be slick over there?

No flash, so not everyone notices right away...

Wait... hold on... now you see the guy. Sure enough. He's actually trying to snap pictures on the sly! What a loser. The nerve of this guy!

You're just trying to enjoy the game! Can't he just leave you alone and watch the game!?!

It's enough to make a person...

Crazy!

Sorry, Nate. I had to use the picture. :0)

Good times though! Thanks for coming brothers!

County Fair!

Avery went to her second county fair earlier this summer and by almost all accounts perceived... had a blast! Her first carousel ride was a little shaky at first and she clutched pretty tight to uncle Brad the first ride. Here she is with Mommy having a pretty good time her 3rd time around.

Uncle Brad was the first one to take her on the carousel and as you can see (before the ride started) Avery looked a little nervous...

Ah, now she's relaxing a little! As she should. Her knight in, uh, patterned armor (?) is standing right next to her! : )

Why is it that Uncles always get to be the cool ones!?!

Is it the shades?

That's gotta be it...

Oh Brother What A Summer

Looking at a few pictures that I had yet to "file" today made me think of my brother Nathan who has moved out of state and then leads my mind to think of my brother Brad who will moving back out of state soon. There is a large difference of accessibility to Wisconsin again through the next year. However, one similarity is that neither one will be as conveniently as available as they have been through this summer.

The most exciting part of the summer has to be what they were able to witness and see with little Avery growing and learning so many things. Those are memories they won't forget and will be able to reflect on as they see her get confirmed, graduate, and maybe even (shudder) marry some day. Wow. I can't imagine.

There was one day towards the beginning of the summer that Brad and Nate stopped by and both of them spent a good amount of time playing with a particular family member or two.

Nathan's time that afternoon was spent with Avery who was just getting comfortable trying to walk. As long as someone had her hand at that time she kinda, sorta, okay, barely was able to step along a little.

Actually, back then I believe that both hands were still necessary. I remember thinking that Nathan was remarkably patience and stuck with her for quite a while.

Those summer days are over however and Avery will have accomplished much by the time Uncle Nathan sees her again. We are happy we had them though!

As for the other brother and then other family members mentioned...

Enjoy him while you still have him boys! :-)

... and thank goodness for pictures! Sometimes they last longer than memories! I guess they are an insurance plan of sorts!