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.

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!

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!

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!!!

Bursting with Emotion

Today is a great day to reminisce and reflect...

Here is a memory I am fond of that occurred a little after 6:34 AM one year ago today...

I know there are simply not words to describe the feeling... so I won't try. Today, we reflect, we celebrate, & we thank the Lord for such a wonderful and gracious gift!

One year later a lot has changed. Our little Avery has gone from this sleeping beauty...

to this sleeping beauty at exactly 6:34 AM this morning...

One of my favorite hymns pops in my mind at this moment... hymn #256, see if you can catch the tune in your head, it goes a little like this,

"Then sings my soul, my Savior - God, to thee, 'How great thou art! How great thou art!'

Then sings my soul, my Savior - God to thee, 'How great thou art! How great thou art!'"

Those of you familiar to the tune know what kind of emotion it inspires.

Happy Birthday Avery! Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives. We love you lots!