Piano Overhaul Part 1

When opportunity knocks you open the door right, or in our case we demo a piano.

We got an opportunity to upgrade our piano.  Neither of us play but we are hoping that one day our kids will.  Who am I kidding it won't really be an option for them actually, but that's beside the point.  Our old piano was a craigslist freebie find.  The family that owned it before us were moving and couldn't take it with them. They started their own renovation but I am quite sure this was not what they had in mind.

Avery helped Uncle Nathan pull away the bottom front panel and loosen up some other things underneath.

She was quite happy to do so as you can see.  That helped us detach the front of the piano completely.

She also helped Papa with some very large blots holding the giant back metal piece that had a large part with the strings.

Levi also helped in the back with some little baby wrenches just his size.

At the end of last night we removed a giant seemed to be cast iron metal thing, and cut and removed the bulk of the wires.

My job now is removing the rest of the wires, then next I get to remove all of those pins that the wires were wrapped around.  Fun hey!?  Well, that part might be a pain in the neck but I have a feeling it will be worth it in the end.

Hopefully progress wont be too slow in this piano redo project, but at least we started out with a bang.  Hopefully I will be to report some new progress soon!  Until next time, enjoy pondering what in the world I am doing to my piano.

Auctioneer Avery

Ok, so Avery isn't really looking in to the auctioneer career yet. She did get a kick out of her Dad trying to imitate the auctioneer however. About 3 weeks back a farm auction took place on the weekend and far too close to home for Avery to resist going to see the goods with Grandpa and Dad. 

There was really only one thing in her mind that cold morning as Dad clipped her in to her car seat...

"Tractors!"

Little Avery is going to have to wait a while before truly getting to experience tractors the way she envisions I imagine. For there is one large problem for little Avery when it comes to tractors...

being that she is little...

 and tractors are large!

While an auction itself if only so interesting to a 1 year old, there are other VERY exciting things around to occupy time.

Try picking up stones and pretty yellow flowers and giving them to Grandpa!

Then do it again... and again... and again...and... you get the point.

There are enough stones and pretty yellow flowers around that it could last a really, really  long time.

I said it could last a long time. 

Through experience only, this little girl would tell you that the stone and flower picking stops when you find yourself in a cattle water tank.

Apparently flowers don't grow in and stones are rare in a water tank. Luckily, there is other fun to be had when a small puddle of water is found on the bottom. More on the studies of shoe meets water rapidly later... a very interesting experiment though. Look it up. 

After all that excitement it was time for the main event...

guess what it is.

Were you right? 

Apparently Grandpa guessed correctly.

Watching cattle being auctioned off can really only get better in a couple of ways.

Can you see how it got better?

No? Didn't see it?

Try now.

Avery, they're not getting it. 

Can you help them out?

There ya go!

Now the full experience has been had!

February 1st... Another Date We Will Never Forget

The Z's were due to have a baby boy on February 10th of 2011. That was the date the doctor, several tests, and all "planning" was centered around. However, in a token reminder that we are truly not the ones in control, the good Lord decided that little Levi Adam Zastrow was going to make his intro into the world two minutes before 11 am on February the 1st of 2011. 9 days before the predicted date! Little Levi was barely entering our "radar" by the 1st of the month and several things were planned to occur in preparation and anticipation of his arrival. Hah!

In great contrast to his older sister's journey of arriving 4 days after her due date and after 26 hours of labor... Levi entered this world 9 days before his due date and after 5 hours of labor. What a go getter, hey?

So, I am blessed to introduce the newest member of the Z's...

*drum roll*

He "stands" 20 1/2 inches tall...

He weighs in at a generous 6 lbs 12 ozs...

and his favorite colors are Green and Gold...

(I couldn't resist.)

Levi Adam Zastrow!

The wonderfully blessed mother that couldn't have been happier that morning!

My beautiful wife was not the only mother that met little Levi that day...

Beating a whopper of a snow blizzard were both Grandma's of course!

Almost as happy as Levi's mommy!

I'm sure sharing in the little bit of pride and joy of having a boy that the men seem to have...

was the driver and courageous leader that made it possible for them to visit before the storm... Grandpa!

(He also made it possible for the Z's to return after the storm as well! Thanks Pop!)

Oh yeah! I think there was someone else pretty happy to welcome Levi to the family!

Who was it?

Herman?

No...

of course it was the new "big" sister! Avery!

She was all to happy to begin pointing out how healthy Levi was!

Yes, he has a nose!

Yes, he has eyes!

Yes, he has a mouth...

uh huh, that's his chin...

yep, you're right, Avery, those are his ears...

She couldn't be prouder... yet I couldn't help but notice that she didn't count his toes.

Oh well. It's early. She has 20 years of school before she's official anyway. :-)

So, of course the Z's will be focused on one thing in particular for the near future...

Well... maybe two things in the near future...

It's okay, though. It's how Levi would want it. :o)



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!

Another Grandpa's Birthday!

Yep! This time we celebrated Grandpa Z's birthday!

Do you see a common thread between the Grandpas' birthdays? Do you?

How about in the second picture? Anything? Or rather... anyone? I'll give you a hint... pink overalls.

Avery seems to be hoarding in on the birthdays in this family lately.

I think I might have figured out why. She's got her eye on something similiar this time around also...

I guess she really is Daddy's little girl... we share similiar interests I see. Hmmm... I wonder if Grandpa Z is as much of a push over as Grandpa L?

Well, first signs point to the answer being no...

After a second look, I'm not so sure though.

Everyone has been commenting lately on how quickly Avery is growing... do you think it's the mustache and soul patch that prompt the comments?