Trying to Trick my Body

I awoke this morning thinking my body would be feeling better. (Mind over matter isn't all it's cracked up to be.) After all, my niece, Mary, was actively enjoying life again after day three of this horrible flu. This is day four for me and yet my body still aches, my nose is still congested, and my cough still persists. Oh, to be young again. I envy you, Mary!

After eating breakfast and downing my Advil, I found enough energy to make a quick trip to Target. I desperately needed to get out of my house, thinking I could trick my body into feeling normal again.

An hour later I was wiped out. I crashed on the couch and watched bits and pieces of General Conference. Dave-o was very excited to see his mommy out of bed and insisted I be his play buddy (which was fine by me; I had missed our play dates).

In between rainstorms, a friend of ours came over to help David rebuild some new gates for our yard. Next they'll work on the fence.

In the evening I sent my boys and man off to the Priesthood session of conference and quietly hung out with Kirsten and Dave-o. We ate cereal for dinner and watched a lot of Backyardigan episodes until Dave-o's bedtime.

It is now 9pm and my eyes are as heavy as a two ton elephant. Good night!

Temple of God

I awoke to the same sickness Mary has. Poor Mary is feeling AWFUL today. She is disappointed in having to miss our temple trip. After taking some Advil, Lori and I drove James, Steven, and Mark to do Baptisms for the Dead. I didn't feel much like getting wet, so Lori and I spent an hour doing the Initiatory work for the ladies that I baptized a couple of weeks ago. Words can't describe what an awesome experience that was! Before leaving, Grandpa Zinn treated the boys to some ice cream in the Temple cafeteria.

(Steven, James, and Mark)

(Lori and Mark)

When we got home, Dave-o immediately asked me where I had been. I told him that we were at the temple and he broke down in tears crying, "I wanted to go to the Temple of God!" I don't know where he got the idea to call it "Temple of God"...

David had spent the afternoon getting hooked up to a heart monitor that he gets to carry around for twenty-four hours. It is the same machine that I wore when pregnant with Dave-o. A week ago, he was having severe and continuous heart palpitations. The doctors took an EKG and an ultrasound and had some concerns. So, now David is taking this test to rule out any problems.

Jumping Zinns/Shaws

Today's activity was spent at Great Jump. The kids LOVE the dodge ball area. When we first arrived, The Zinn/Shaw family played a number of matches against another family (who coincidentally were LDS as well). Our family dominated every time. The last half hour or so, we had the whole place to themselves.

They didn't want to leave, but we had to get on the road before rush hour traffic bogged us in. I felt bad for Steven, who had to sit out for our entire visit. He somehow got a kink in his neck on the drive to Great Jump. The staff gave him a complimentary ticket, however, to use on his next visit.

This evening, Lori, Kirsten, Mary, David, and I went to the mall to do a bit of shopping. As we were leaving to go home, Mary began to complain of not feeling well. She is feeling achy and plain miserable right now.

An entire month has been spent counting down the arrival of the Shaw clan. After being delayed in Elko, Nevada due to a blown engine, they finally made it over the Sierras and into our little silicon valley.

With the men at work, Lori and I took some of the kids to the Tech Museum (always a favorite). The boys took off on their own, leaving us girls to fend for ourselves. We explored the different sections of the museum in peace and serenity. It felt like we had the museum to ourselves!

Mary and Mark in the jet pack chair.

(Lori and Steven)

Lori eventually drove back to her parents house while Mark and Mary stayed with us. For Family Night, we played badminton and basketball in the church gym followed by ice cream sundaes back at the house.

What's at the End of Your Rainbow?

You're my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

(Idea found here)

Irish Art Project

(Kirsten's art project)

"God is found in the smallest of spaces."

Visiting Teaching Your "Peeps"

I am having a lot of fun with my new calling as Visiting Teaching Coordinator for our ward. The second Sunday of each month I make a handout to be given to all of the sisters as a reminder/incentive to do their visiting teaching. "Peeps" were my inspiration this month.

Recycled Backback

Dave-o has claimed Justin's childhood Pokemon backback as his own. For the past ten or so years, the abandoned pack has lived in the dark recesses of the closet. That is, until Dave-o discovered it while moving in with his big brother Steven. Now, the backpack is full of hot wheel cars. I'm sure Justin doesn't mind giving up his once prized possession.

My Birthday

One of my favorite parts of the S.F. zoo are the peacocks that roam the park. And, if you are lucky enough one might spread its tail feathers for you. When leaving the zoo, James asked me what animal I would want to be if I were in a zoo. I said a koala bear (my favorite animal). But I like James's answer better. He would be a peacock because they come and go as they please; wandering around the park to their hearts desire.

(Kirsten and I...Steven, James, Me, and Dave-o)

(David, Dave-o, Mom Zinn, James, Steven, and Kirsten...Justin spent the day in Oakland performing for a youth conference with the Zion Choir)

Steven and Kirsten...Grandma and Dave-o watching the pink flamingos.

Seeing the cassowary (James's favorite animal) is always a must.

Just a few of the many animals we saw today.

Dave-o and Kirsten in front of the 107 year old steam engine.

Dave-o LOVED riding the train. Kirsten told us afterward that there are lots of bubbles when going through the tunnel.

I bought everyone cotton candy. (One of my favorite sugary concoctions.)

This is the only spider I am not afraid of...Kirsten a beautiful butterfly.

David, Dad and Mom Zinn....Kirsten holding Dave-o up to see the prairie dogs.

This rooster cockle-doodle-dooed over and over. Dave-o laughed each time. It was quite the show.

The children's zoo was full of fun activities.

When we tired of the zoo, we went across the street to spend a little time at the beach.

We only had a half an hour of fun before a thick, drizzly cloud cover rolled in. (Brings back fond memories.)

James, Steven, and Kirsten all fell quickly to sleep on the ride home. Dave-o, however talked to David and I for the entire duration. At one point in our conversation, he realized that we didn't see any elephants at the zoo.

He asked, "Were the elephants at the park?"

I explained that I didn't know where they were.

After pondering my answer for a moment, Dave-o said, "Oh! I know! The elephants were invisible!"

He's such a clever, funny guy.

In the evening, Mom and Dad Zinn came over for pie and presents. David made my favorite pie: "Tin Roof Fudge Pie"

My family made my birthday a very special day!