Outie

There are different ways to tell if a bird, such as a chicken or a turkey, is done. You can check the temperature of the bird or wiggle the leg. But sometimes, I buy a bird with a built in pop-up thermometer. Once the red button pops up...Dinner's ready!
Well, my belly button has popped up (it is now an outie instead of an innie). Does this mean the baby's done cooking?


I wish!


I can't wait for him to be born. The time is going too slow!

P.S.
Was this a fowl comparison?

12- A Magical Number

Happy Birthday James!

I l o v e y o u!

I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you and held you for the first time.
I remember the nurse lifting you up for me to see,
but I couldn't hold you until the doctor finished sewing me up.
Once in the recovery room, I was finally able to meet my little James.
The nurse that brought you to me commented that she had never seen a newborn with hair as white as yours.
She was right!
Now you are 12 years old! Where has the time gone?
Your role in our family is HUGE!
It could not have been filled by anyone else.
I am so proud of the choices you have made in your life thus far.
Seeing you ordained to the office of a Deacon on Sunday
was an example of your good choices.
Wasn't it amazing to look around your classroom
and see 11 other deacons that you will grow up with?
The bishop mentioned that this is the first time in the
Branham Ward to have a full Deacon's Quorum.
It was truly a memorable day.

Bless Mom

This morning was Kirsten's turn to give our family prayer. Her prayers are usually the same. But today, she decided to surprise us. Kirsten began to bless every member in our family. She was in-tune with each family member's needs.

I was thinking to myself, "Wow! Kirsten's really giving her prayer some thought."

Then it was my turn to be blessed. Here are Kirsten's exact words:

"Please bless Mom to learn something that she can do."

I wonder how long it will take Heavenly Father to answer that prayer...

Our New President

At 8:50am, I stopped what James, Steven, and Kirsten were doing in order to watch Barack Obama and Joe Biden be sworn in as our new president and vice president. Even though I don't approve of the two now leading our country, I did feel it was important for the children to see the process and hopefully be inspired. I was hoping to be inspired myself. I was hoping that I would walk away from this day feeling better about America's choice.

Yes, it was a historic event. Our first African American president. I am proud of how far our country has come in such a short amount of time. I am grateful that my children are living in a country that offers so much! I am grateful that most Americans can look at another individual and not care what color of skin they see.

But, President Obamas' speech did not inspire me. Nor, did it seem to inspire the two million people gathered to hear it. The only time the crowd got excited and cheered was when Obama mentioned race in the past, present, and future.

Then, Joseph Lowery gave the benediction. This had some high points, but ended horribly. I was left feeling upset and offended. Here is what he said,

"Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their neighbors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask You to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around; when yellow will be mellow; when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white would embrace what is right. Let all those who do justice and love mercy, say amen."

"...when white will embrace what is right." Instead of uniting everyone, Lowery separated us in a matter of seconds. Was he blaming me? Black people don't have to sit on the back of a bus anymore. I thought our country had moved on. Didn't we just elect a black president? Why are white people still getting blamed.

EVERYONE should embrace what is right!

Good luck President Obama. I truly hope you do a good job because this is my country too. I want to keep the freedoms that I have left. I want my children to grow up in a country that is full of opportunity. Opportunity that they have to work for. Not opportunity that the government will give them on a silver platter.

A Flop

Pinewood Derby...Just the hearing the name stirs excitement in a young boy's heart (and dads).

It's a chance to dream.
A chance to sketch your dream on paper.
A chance to see your sketch come to life on a little block of wood.
A chance to be funny (last year Steven made a "Monkey in a Barrel" car).
A chance to do a project with your dad while reminding him that it's not HIS car.
A chance to use spray paint all by yourself.
A chance to race your friends.
A chance to win.
A chance to lose.

Yes, it's competitive. But, boys love competition. No matter the out come, they know how to move on. They don't harbor any resentment towards the winners. Boys put it behind them and start dreaming of next year's race.
Well, last night was our pack's pinewood derby.
Boy! Was it a disappointment!
The cubmaster opened the race up to families. Siblings were able to build and compete in the race. David and I were upset! It took the specialness (is that a word?) out of the race.

It gets worse...The "racers" stood in a line and were told that they could race whomever they wanted. The winner of each heat received a star to stick on the bottom of their car. By the way, the judges were two eleven year old boys! After your race, you got right back in line again. Does this make sense?

This wasn't a real pinewood derby race. This was a joke! Little kids were sneaking the star stickers and were seen putting them on their cars. The judges changed towards the end of the race and the new ones didn't know what they were doing. This time they were nine year old girls and they were putting stars on ALL the cars.

What a mess!

It is so hard to watch this happen when I have seen it done the right way.

Steven left the race disappointed. This was he last pinewood derby. And it ended in a FLOP!


By the way...
Our next pinewood derby will be in 8 years! David will have a long break.

Un-American?

I just came across this article and loved the response to Tom Hanks' comment.

Tom Hanks, an Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.

“The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he told Tarts. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here's what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed, and people can see who's responsible, and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting Constitution, and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So let's have faith in not only the American, but Californian, constitutional process.”

When informed of the "Forrest Gump" star's comments, Kim Farah, a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, told Tarts, "Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets."

Bill McKeever, a rep for the Mormonism Research Ministry, added, "Personally, I find it un-American to tell people that they shouldn’t vote their conscience. Hanks said he doesn’t 'like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.' Considering that just about every law discriminates in some form or another, makes this comment ridiculous. Hanks’ comment shows that he very much believes in discriminating against people with whom he disagrees. I may not agree with Mormon theology, but I certainly defend their right to express their opinion."

How do I Lose This?

Dedicated to my friends who are Dallas Cowboys fans.

I thought I'd share another funny Kirsten moment.
She was looking through her football cards (the boys give her the ones they don't want) smiling proudly with each one.

Then, I heard her yell, "A Cowboy card! A Cowboy card! How did I get this?"

Next, I hear a scream!

"I need to lose this card! But how do I lose it?" she asks herself.

Kirsten proceeds to look around her surroundings. We are in the office, so she is in the right place to lose something (it's a disaster area).

The light bulb above Kirsten's head goes on.

Next thing I know, she tosses it over and behind the bookcase.

"There!" she says with relief. "Now I'll never see it again!"

A Whale of a Good Time!

You can never get tired of visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Every time we go, we see something new. For example, on this last visit (Tues.), an octopus had just laid eggs, we saw the otters being fed, and we even found another otter exhibit that was tucked away in a corner we had never explored.

The day was BEAUTIFUL! 76 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. It felt like spring.

While eating our packed lunch in the car, we drove to Seaside beach. Two things happened to us while playing in the sand. The first one was the most exciting. We saw a gray whale! It was swimming very close to the shore (as close as a surfer is when catching waves). At first we didn't know what it was. Then, I saw water spray in the air. I noticed a guy taking pictures of it with a very nice camera (I was envious of it). He told me that it looked like a gray whale and that there may be two of them. He and I and a group of other people watched in awe. Unfortunately, our entertainment ended almost as quickly as it had begun. Just as I came to my senses and had gotten my camera ready to record the whale, it went under and we never saw it resurface. I did get a shot of a fin as it went down, but that's it. I guess it was waving good-bye.

The second unusual incident was, the kids found hundreds of lady bugs that appeared to have been washed up on the beach. They were wet, but alive. James, Steven, and Kirsten spent the rest of the time saving the lady bugs by putting them in a pit of dry sand for them to dry off in.


It was a wonderful afternoon.

Did I mention that it was 76 degrees! Ahhh! I love California!

Seeing the Same

I just went on my mom's blog and saw the picture of the moon that she saw last night. I began to laugh because we saw the same moon, probably at the same time. And we thought it was beautiful as well. In fact, we also took a picture of it as it rose above the mountains.
Unfortunately, my picture isn't as majestic. The power lines were competing with the beauty of the moon.
You see...We really aren't that far away from each other.

Distance is relative.

Last night we were close enough to see the same full moon.

I love you Mom!

Knowing When to Hold On

Thursday morning, I got a call from the Dartmouth Middle School nurse telling me that Justin had been hit with a lacrosse stick during P.E. I was told he had a big gash on his upper lip that needed to be looked at by a doctor.

After changing out of his bloody P.E. clothes, Justin and I drove to the E.R. In the car, he expressed his fears of getting stitches. I tried to ease his fears by sharing my own experiences with stitches. But, I quickly realized that there were no words to comfort him. The unknown is always scary. Justin would just have to experience it for himself.

When the doctor finally saw us, Justin's lips began to quiver as he told her what had happened.

His courage was slipping.

Tears began to fall as the doctor explained to him that he would need about 5 stitches because of the shape of the gash. It looked like an up-side-down y.

It's hard being a mother to an almost 14 year old boy. What was my role? Should I keep my distance while offering words of encouragement? Or should I stand by his side and hold his hand? Would he be embarrassed if I did that? Would he think I were treating him like a baby?

Those of you who have teenage boys know what I'm talking about. At this age, they act like they don't need any help, especially from their Mom. They walk and talk tough, but deep down, I think they still want to be loved and treated like they did when they were little.

Can you guess what I ended up doing?

As the doctor put the needle in his gash to numb the area, I walked around to the other side of the table and took his hand in mine. He squeezed tight as the pain increased with every poke of the needle.

Yes...He did need me.

Have we talked about it since?

No.

Will we ever?

I don't know. Perhaps it will come up when I'm old and gray and he's standing beside my hospital bed, holding my hands as I get pricked with a needle. Maybe then he will say, "Mom...Do you remember that time when I got stitches for the first time and you held my hands..."

Oh Boy!

What are Little Boys Made Of?

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails
That's what little boys are made of !"

In case the poem wasn't obvious enough...We are having a BOY!

David and I brought the kids with us to see the ultrasound (although when we arrived we were told that only 2 people are supposed to be in the room. But they let everyone in). It was such a fun experience. David, Kirsten, and I guessed right. Justin, James, and Steven were betting on a girl.

The baby's hand was by his face. It was so cute. The kids laughed when they were able to see him move around and kick his legs.

After measuring the head, femur bone, and other parts of the body, the technician changed the original due date. So instead of May 30. it is now...

May 22

Hurray! That's less time to wait!

We can't wait to meet you in person

David Milton Zinn!

A talented bird

This is a video of a bird that we saw at Pier 39.
Watch and enjoy

Double Digits

My once 7 pounds 7 ounce little New Year's Eve baby,
is now a strapping boy who's proud to be 10 years old!
Steven tells everyone, "I'm finally double digits!"

Here's an overview of Steven's big day:

Woke up to french toast with buttermilk syrup.

Opened presents-Cheechoo Shark jersey to wear to a promised Shark's game, a rubber chicken, and a loved stuffed pig that Kirsten gave.

Ate ice cream for lunch at Ghirardeli Square.

Spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Pier 39 wondering when the sun would burn off the fog.

Left San Francisco at 3pm just as the sun decided to make it's presence (a little too late)

Had cake and ice cream with family and Grandma and Grandpa Zinn.

Opened another present - Frank Gore SF 49er jersey

Watched Eragon

At 9:25pm received birthday spanks

Played Sequence - James and Steven crushed Kirsten and I

Made party hats

Welcomed the New Year - 2009

Changes

Life is always changing.

On Dec. 30, Steven's braces were put on.
I struggled more with this change than anyone else...I think.
I was so used to Steven's smile just the way it was.
I called it "cute".
The dentists called it a crossbite.

Well, here's proof of the change.

What do you think?
I think Steven looks even cuter than before!
Why was I so scared?

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS
From the Zinn family