City workers

Seriously, what is wrong with them? I don't even know if they work directly for the city or not, but what is wrong with them?!! We went to the library today. Yeah, two years here and we finally made it there, AND got a library card, I know, big deal, huh? Anyway, the place was like a dead zone, I spotted like 5 people across the entire place and 3 of them were employees.

Anyway, I walked right up to one and asked about getting a L-card, and he asked me if I had EVER had a library card before. I was slightly confused by the question (who's confused by that?!) Because sure I HAD before in my life been the holder of a library card, to a library somewhere on this Earth, is that what he really wanted to know. I think he sensed my confusion, and then when I said, yes, I had indeed held a L card before, he calrified and asked if it was in the SA area... AH, makes much more sense. He should have just asked that in the flippin' beginning.

So, he gives me the "application." And then tells me I can have a seat at the table to fill that out. What? I mean, it was my name and address... how long does it take you to come up with that info? So I slid down the counter, so I wasn't in anybody's way, and proceeded to fill it out. Mind you I do have 3 kiddos with me, one of which is asleep in a carseat. He then tells me again, that I need to take a seat at a table to fill it out... okay? So I had to go find a table that didn't have mounds of books at it, rope my kids into sitting down, long enough for me to wrap up writing my zip code in before I could take it back. Seriously... how do they find these people to work at these places?

Anyway, good news, my application passed. Apparently my library score is high enough to get a card. Yeah, I did eventually take that ONE book back, and therefore there aren't too many damaging dings on my L record.... for real, is anyone ever DENIED a card? like maybe if they don't live there or something, but who makes up fake addresses, just so they can get in on the children's book action?

So, it's official we are now book-lending citizens of SA! Cool, huh?

Time for New...

I guess it's time for a new post... although I don't know what to post about.... having so many blogs is getting kind of hard... you really have to keep up with me in all different places!

I haven't been able to scrapbook too much lately, since I've been more focused on getting a good gym-groove. I've been feeling really good about my gym class attendance, I'd say enough to atleast swing a B !! Anyway, since I've been on a workout kick, a fellow ward member roped me and my gym buddy into running a 5K. Which if you know me well, you know that I hate to run. I always have, it's always seemed nearly pointless, I far prefer playing some kinf od team sport. Something that you can keep score at, and it has a "point." I was immediate less than enthuse, but once I got a training schedule and thought more about it, I've gotten myself qutie excited, over having a real goal. Not only that, I know that I could complete the 5K today, I mean, I could easily walk it in less than an hour... but where's the fun in that? So I'm really striving to not just do it, but to get a decent time at it also. So, that's my 5K madness!

Let's see, what else... it seems as though I am living weight-loss, workout program, and don't have much time for anything else... I got a new pedometer, and now I need some new shoes to train in.

Ooh, we had a bbq over the weekend with some friends, and for real... any of you that don't live around us, are TOTALLY missing out on TJ's smoked barbeque, it is to die for! He did a gigantic brisket this time. I put in a request that next time be ribs... mmmhhhh....!

Oh yes, up above is a pic from our most recent YW mutual. Yeah, if I failed to mention earlier... they put me (of all people!) in the YW presidencies.... I hope I do an okay job! So I swiped this pic from Beth (thanks:) We went to Salvation Army and picked out modest outfits to wear for our fashion show. Some of them I am totally IN LOVE with, like that hot senorita "teacher" to the left, and you can't see, but she had some rockin' winter socks on! There was also some sweet beach get up, an awesome old lady moo-moo, and yes, the to die for work out leaisure suit! Oh, and in case you're wondering about me: I'm there on the left-ish in black and sparkles... I was nominated to be the MC for the evening.

I guess that's about all that has been going on at the Z-house.

True love

Today is our anniversary, although we celebrated a few nites ago. (And boy what a celebration it was!) We've now been married for 6 years, I can't believe that many years have gone by. We actually had a really good time hanging out. We had went out for some simple dinner, where at I presented TJ with his gift. You see... some time ago he stopped wearing his wedding band because he was working on cars so much, and what not, and it really is a safety hazard. Anyway, ater that time of not having it on, his fingers apparently swelled up, and now the ring no longer fits. So I decided it was high time to have him branded again and get the man a new ring! When we were out at the restaurant and I gave it to him, he tried to convince our waitress that I had just proposed to him. It looked like she almost peed her pants or something, she was in such shock, that she would get a proposal in her tip, totally funny! Then we went out for a ghetto (I mean, great) game of miniature golf. It was totally cool to go hang out and play, but it was super-ghetto! All in all it was a really fun evening out, and so nice to spend some alone time together without the millions of kiddos.

How long have you been married? 6 years

How long did you date? Um, I guess we dated for 3 months before he proposed, and then for another 6 until we were married. But we dated off and on over two years before we got together for good.

Who said I love you first? Hmm, I probably did, although he was the one that kept asking if I loved him... so it's really his fault!

Who is smarter? That's not really a fair question... he is way smarter about lots of things, like the actual how to do it, but I think I'm the one that pays way more attention to the detail.

Who asked who out first? I did. He was "the new guy" and I invited him to go to a get-together... we were friends there on out.

Who's taller? He is, but not by much.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? While laying in bed, he is on my left, and I on his right. We tried to switch it up to figure it out when first married, and now it's just weird to be on the other side!

Who mows the lawn? He does. But on the occasion that I do, I way faster at it!

Who is more sensitive? I think I am in a bad way, and he is in a good way. I'm always the one that reads more into things, and he's always the sweet one, that fixes it again!

Who has more siblings? His family far beats out mine. He has 11 kids in his family, I have 5. Although (for right now) my family wins out on the grandchildren.

Who kissed who first? Me again. It just had to happen like that!

Who has more friends? I do. Not because he's any less cool or anything... because I NEED to have friends, and he doesn't as much.

Who proposed? Despite what the restaurant waitress might think, it really was him! He was going to do it on Valentine's Day, but the day he picked up the ring, he just couldn't wait. So he proposed at a stake valentine dance, in front of like 300+ people, it was so fun!

Who sings better? He does, by far! I love to sing, but I'm glad I don't have to hear myself, because I don't think it's pretty! And, he's way more obsessed with music than I am.

(By the way, this is my parent's yard where we had our reception at. We had to landscape the place all summer long, just for the event. My dad is crazy, and put some brilliant fire in the middle of the pond, it was a totally awesome hit!)

You can check out more of our wedding photos in our album. I'll be putting even more up, as I get them scanned.

Tristan's heart

We had Tristan's cardiology check up yesterday, which went very well. First off she weighed in at 17 lbs 15 oz. which puts her just above the 50th percentile -not bad! She seems nice and chubby, but she's really not a big baby, so I think she's perfect!

So, back to the cardiologist: he said that he could hear a faint murmur, more likely from her bicuspid aortic valve than her coarc repair. And sure enough when he looked on echo, that's what he found. The good news is that the leakey valves aren't leaking. We talked about a long term care plan for her, which consists of annual follow-ups, and maybe an MRI every 5 years or so. But for now, everything looks great. Oh yes, he reassured me that she would have no developmental delays because she wasn't ever put on bypass, so her brain was never even effected by her surgery.


So, here's a few of my favorite photos from the last week. She is crawling everywhere now, still the belly crawl. But she likes to crawl under her excersaucer and play!

This would be her in her strawberry shortcake outfit! Too bad I didn't get with the hat on, it's a total doosy! But SOOO cute!

For thos who can't tell, these would be the same photo jsut cropped tighter. I was playing with them a bit. Anyway, since she crawls everywhere now, she likes to go into the kitchen to find us or be with us. She's even started crawling into the space under the chair, on top of the bars! Yeah, she's gotten stuck there a few times, it's really kind of funny!

It's so hard to actually grasp that 8 months have gone by since we've had here. She's closer to a year old than being born! I'll admit one day after she's started being so mobile I got a little sad because I felt like I didn't have a baby anymore. But I had to jsut remind myself to enjoy everything of hers now, there'll be time later for another baby (maybe? probably grandkids!) So, I've been trying to take more photos and do more things so I don't regret not getting to do anything. And of course my goal to take more pictures of more outfits so I don't turn into a crazy, insane, baby clothes-hoarding lady! Eh, the good news is I can pass them all on to my lil' sis who's having a girl also!

The Diet

Okay all... here goes... I've had enough of carry these extra 20 pounds, so I'm determined to lose them! I've lost my few baby pounds from after having Tristan, it was Brooklyne's pregnancy that did a toll on the pound count. So, a few close friends and I have started a new blog tracking our weight-loss progress.

What a tough thing to have to decide that you are really going to do it this time. I'm not sure when (or if) another baby will be in our future and I don't want to carry the extra 20 for any longer. It's a dream to be a size 6 (again), I think I could make it there, but I would easily settle for an 8 (hey, I have low standards!) So, check in on us often and make sure that we are stickin' to it. If you want to try to lose weight or work out with us, you are more than welcome to comment on your own progress. BUT, we definitely need some support here, so please make sure to check in on us sometimes, and see that we are working our butts off -literally!

I'll have a permanent link there on the right, you can also find us here at The Skinny Hippos

For Linz:

My old roomie asked me what I had been up too lately and wanted to see some pictures. Normally I doubt most of you would care... Well, maybe you would... you DO read my blog!!So, for all that were wondering... we painted our living room red this weekend, to show our patriotism.

That there clock hanging on the wall, is my newest addition to accessories. In fact, I'm teaching a class at Super Saturday this weekend on how to make them. It was SO easy. I'll try to take pics so I can post a tutorial for anybody that's interested.

We also painted a wall in our kitchen the same red, of which this beauty of a cake is photographed in front of. This was for TJ's birthday, of which I have now consumed more than half of, while he has yet to have a whole piece! Oh well, it's a good thing that German Chocolate is my fave too. Heck, I even went ALL out and made my own frosting....mmmhhhh!

This project is a bit old, but I finally got it hung in the girls' bathroom. It's some wall stickers that my mom got me that I refuse to stick directly onto the wall... for tackiness' sake. I have another to frame for their bedroom too. I'll get to that later.

There you go... paint, clocks, frosting, and frames... makes up any free time I might ever have. I hope you are all jealous of my cake... you won't be jealous of the extra 10 pounds it's caused me to weigh! More on that coming soon!

Just to prove we were there

Here are some pictures from our 4th of July celebration.... We went with some friends to watch some fire works. I took my camera and "all" my gear, intending to actually set it all up and take pictures of the fireworks, and then when I started to unload it all, I realized that I had brought every tripod I own, except for the one I need that holds my camera... so taking pics of fireworks was kind of out. SO... I grabbed out the camera to take a few pics before the firworks started, jsut to show that we did actually do SOMETHING for our holiday.

So, in all our glory, Whataburger and all... here's US, staking out our ground in a parking lot... gotta love it!

For a few more fun 4th photoes... visit our web album.

The Answer

Alright, I'd hate for any of you to lose sleep over your holiday weekend because you were wondering if you guessed correctly or not... Admit it, you've lost sleep over it...!

Alright, APPARENTLY it was way too easy, because you almost ALL got it right, or at least nearly right. So here's how it breaks down:

#1 -Tristan
#2 - Madison
#3 - Mommy
#4 - Brooklyne

I think that T and B's pictures look most alike, but from what I hear, Tristan is identified by her wrinkley forehead, which all of us have to an extent, hers is jsut always wrinkled since she's always giving that "what are you doing?" look.

We'll try again in a few months when maybe T gets some more hair or something; I'll make it harder then!

Happy 4th!