Tyndale's Blessing Day, Oct. 9, 2011

Tyndale was given a beautiful blessing by his father in church. It confirmed to me things I'd already felt about his special spirit, as well as giving me new insight into this precious son of mine. He was such a handsome little man in his blessing outfit.

Love the smiley stage! It's been said he looks like he would do well in a horse saddle. :)

Our sad attempt at getting a happy family picture. The little ones were tired and hungry and done with taking pictures! (That's our home in the background--the upstairs portion.)

We were so happy to have Sam's parents come for a visit and be a part of the blessing.

Ked loved having Oma and Opa around. Especially getting extra attention from Oma. She was great about taking him outside and doing other things with him while I was busy with Tyndale.

Oma (Sam's mom) giving Ked an FHE lesson about Abinadi.

Ked absolutely refuses to wear any jacket or sweatshirt other than this "dragon" one my friend Kristel gave him at birth.

Day of Service

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the LDS Church's Welfare Program (which I'm discovering more and more is pretty amazing!) all were asked to participate in a day of service.

I thought it was pretty cool too, that our Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell even proclaimed Sept. 24, 2011 to be our state's Day of Service, announcing, "2011 marks the 75th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' welfare program, an effort which has improved the lives of countless individuals in our Commonwealth, these United States, and throughout the world, and which should be a model to all organizations and faiths as we work together to build a true Commonwealth of Opportunity."

Sam and I debated whether to just have Sam go and really help, or to bring the whole family (both boys) and just kind of help. I'm glad we decided it should be a family event. Ked loved it, and Tyndale slept like a champ a good portion of the time, allowing us to participate a lot anyway.

I have to admit, ever since I first saw those Mormon Helping Hands yellow vests and t-shirts in Spanish and Portuguese (it started years ago in Latin America), I've always wanted a Mormon Helping Hands t-shirt. True, we weren't cleaning up after a major natural disaster or anything, but it was fun to work together and do a little something to improve our community. We did get the t-shirts too. . . just not until after it was over.

Ked loved working with the tools. And everyone was patient with him (and all the other kids) even though he was mostly in the way!

Sam and our friends from church mulching the trail at the nearby park.

Kid corner. Tyndale (in the middle) sleeping like a champ!

Sept. 24, 2011

Chew-Chew

Conversation with Ked, while I'm changing his messy diaper. . .

Me: Ked, you need to chew your food better, Buddy.

Ked: Choo-choo! Tika-tika-tika-tika-tika-tika-tik, choo-choo!

Yes, my boy is obsessed with trains.

One of the many objects Ked has turned into a train.

Where his name came from. . .

Tyndale: William Tyndale has been one of my heroes since I first learned about him in a World History class at BYU. Born around 1490, he became a devoted student of the Bible, and the "pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply." Fluent in eight languages, he undertook the translation of the Bible into English from the original Greek and Hebrew text, hoping that all would be able to read directly from it. Church leadership at the time was very much against what he was doing. In an exchange with one clergyman, he exclaimed, "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!" (1) He performed this work at great personal sacrifice, heavily persecuted and eventually martyred.

It's estimated that the King James Version of the Bible retains roughly 80% of Tyndale's translation, and his work has been the foundation of almost all English forms of the Bible. I am so grateful to him and to many others who understood the importance of everyone being able to read directly from scripture, and who sacrificed so much for it to be so. Not only so that I and my family and friends can do so, but because in the early 1800s, it also allowed a 14 year old farm boy in upstate New York to be able to do so. . .

Coincidentally, this year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, and we have been noticing William Tyndale's name being mentioned even more often, even after we'd already decided on it. (He was even in the centerfold of this month's Ensign. (click here for the web version)

We considered spelling our Tyndale's name more like it sounds (rhymes with 'kindle'), but ultimately, we decided to keep the most commonly accepted spelling.

(1) As quoted from Boyd K. Packer in May 2011 Ensign, from David Daniell, introduction to Tyndale's New Testament (1989), viii.

William Tyndale is featured in this window in the Emmanuel College chapel, Cambridge. Photo by Kenneth Mays, Ensign, August 2011.

Conrad: When I was in grade school, I read and loved a book called Konrad. Ever since then, I thought I might name a son that. Then I found out that two of my sisters had the same plan, and that my grandfather's middle name was Conrad! Somehow, my sisters (who had all their kids before I'd started) let me win. I love the name even more knowing it was Grampa's middle name. He was always a man I loved and respected and was comfortable around; one who was kind and who always encouraged me towards worthy endeavors and good works, both by word and example.

And somehow, it turned out that Sam really liked both of these names (and who they honor) too!

Introducing Tyndale Conrad

Tyndale Conrad

(Tyndale rhymes with 'kindle')

Born August 3, 2011

7:38am

6 lbs 12 oz

19 3/4 inches long

We are loving him! This was the same afternoon when Sam brought Ked.

More details/photos to come. . . eventually.

Me and My Boys

Sunday, July 31, 2011; almost 39 weeks

Ward Campout

Before the annual ward campout, a member of the bishopric gave me special instructions to not go into labor until after it was over. Sam was asked to give a talk/fireside at it. He did a great job, and I received a public thank you for not going into labor. (This was July 29-30; I went into labor on Aug. 2nd.) I always love this event and was really glad we could make it.

Sam starting the morning fire with a bunch of the kids. Ked had a great time being outside and getting really dirty. Obviously I failed at my attempt to teach him to not sit on the grill.

We had a great time playing in the creek by our campsite. The little fish were cool, but as usual, Ked mostly liked just throwing rocks in the water.

Feeling Spoiled

Our new home. Cheaper rent than our old 2-BR apartment (well, until you add utilities. . .), but 3 bedrooms, basement storage, much bigger kitchen, a balcony deck, a yard to call our own, parking right next to the door, and best of all, a washer and dryer. Lovin' it!

Sam with Ked playing in the sprinkler. (Another couple lives below us, which is one of the downsides, since the place is old and rickety and I'm sure we drive them crazy with all the noise we make on the hardwood floors. . . but they are nice!)

And yes, the day I have been waiting for!!!! A garden to call my own. Okay, so it's really small and doesn't get quite as many hours of sun as it should, but it's something, and I'm also putting garden containers on the balcony deck--the place even came with some!

36 weeks along

The Opportunistic Cowboy

Sometimes I think Ked purposely spills food so that I get down to clean it up and he can climb on top of me. This morning he even said, "G'yup!" when he got on.

His Enemy, My Love

I originally probably thought it was a little odd when my sister Ginger posted a picture of her "new best friends"--a washer and dryer--on her blog. http://jasondgingerd.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-new-best-friends.html Obviously that was before I had a kid. I LOVE having a washer and dryer.

Only problem is that this one buzzes REALLY loud and long when it's done (with no option to not have it come on, until we open it up and get to the wires. . . ). Ked is already known for being really sensitive to loud noises. He doesn't get as terrified as when we first moved in, and has learned to cover his ears, but it's still a little traumatic. This picture was taken probably half a minute after the buzzer had been off.

Elder Z

While I was home, I found these picture of my "baby brother." He is working hard and loving it as a missionary in New Jersey, Spanish speaking.

Derek left right when Ked was born and will be returning home soon after our #2 is born. Can't wait to see him again, and for him to meet two more of his nephews. He will be a great example for them to look up to.

Back at the Ranch

Ked was maybe a little too comfortable with the horses. . .

He kept offering them rocks. I finally showed him the tangerines and he was much more successful, though I kept fearing the horses would bite his whole hand off. They didn't, but they left plenty of orange slime on his hands.

Playing with Papa on all of Grampa's cool toys.

Hooray for Sam finally being there with us!

Picking berries with Holly and Lindy from bushes I planted years ago. They sure don't grow as easily there as out here in Virginia!

Some of the cousins born within a year of Ked.

Porter, Ked, Claire, and Dane. You can't tell here, but Porter started cracking up laughing so hard--it was awesome. Ked liked holding him.

And sometimes it was all just a little too much. . .

Ked, Lindy, Holly, Kaden, Brady, Dane

May 2011, Ked 19 months

Family Reunion May 2011

Once again, too many great people, experiences, and memories to even make mention of here. So just a sampling of the Z family reunion. I LOVE this time getting to be with my family!

My parents and most of their posterity. Sam flew in the next day, Clint couldn't make it, and we sure missed Ginger.

Having a toddler this time (and no husband until the last day) was sure a different experience. Utterly exausting. But I loved enjoying how much Ked loved it! His cousins, the water, the rocks, the sand, the sea gulls, the spa, the hose, the garbage can on wheels, the trains, the sticks, the shovels, etc.

Ked, Caleb, Reid?, Davis

Ked, Reid, Kai, Ethan, Gabe, Dane

He loved throwing rocks in the water. He got soaked doing so.

The humidity can do great things to my hair. . .

Lunch with the cousins

Maddi, Abigail, Ryan Jane, Ked, Brady, Gabe, Devonae, Kai, Kaden, Ethan

Mother's Day special dinner for all the mothers.

Jen, Amber, Brandi, Heidi, Monica, Monica's mom Deanne, Gramma Z, mom, Nat's mom Cathy, Natalie, Kate, Wendy, Summer

Little Moments

I don't remember what was going on here, but they both seem pretty content!

4/17/2011

One afternoon, I was thinking Ked was sleeping longer than usual. Then I heard some thumping sounds. This is what I found.

Impressive as his tower of food was, I'm really looking forward to having a kitchen where I can keep all the food and to Ked having his own room that is not also a storage room.

5/23/2011; 21 months

A typical breakfast stunt.

Ked loves to find new friends (dogs and cats) in the windows of the apartments around us. Every once in a great while, he'll even find another kid!

Lips

Ked has this thing he does with his lips that has always cracked us up (as well as our pediatrician). He did it when he was a lot younger and has recently started doing it again a little. I've still never been able to get a good picture of it, but this is almost it.

Riding Toys

I think it's time to get this kid another riding toy. He will try to ride anything, including toy vehicles much smaller than these.

4/15/2011

Kentucky Visit

Our six hour drive to visit Brandi was kind of a practice run for when Summer and I would drive all the kids to the DC airport to fly to California in May. This moment was bliss. All 5 kids asleep. It didn't last long.

It was great for us three sisters to get to hang out with all our kids. I loved seeing how Ked had matured enough to really enjoy playing with his cousins. Dane, Paige, and Ked had a great time jumping off the couch together and onto my bedding or sliding down on the sleeping pad.

3/24/2011

Family

4/10/2011

Sam getting ready to catch some sharp-looking kid falling from the sky.

It was great having Oma and Opa for a few days as they were driving through.

Personal Air Conditioner

And we wonder why the electric bill is so high.

It has been nice that Ked can get his milk cup out of the fridge himself, and that he can bring the gallon of milk to me or Sam for a refill and put it back. But sometimes this new trick of his is a battle. . .

4/1/2011; Ked, 19 months

The Royal Wedding

Back in April, Kristel and Stephen were married in the Salt Lake Temple on the same day as the "Royal Wedding." (I didn't know anything about it, until the happy couple was interviewed by a TV crew as soon as they walked out of the temple.)

So glad I got to be there for their sealing! A great couple! I also enjoyed getting to visit with my old roommate Kristen (on the left) and many other old friends and roommates.