We made it!

Virginia is beautiful, it seems out in the country but with all you need nearby, the people are friendly, and Virginia Tech seems like it'll be great for Sam, but what I've loved most is having my sister and her family so close by.

I love having all the kids around, but Paige is making me especially excited to have a little one of my own. She is one of the most easy-going babies I've known, and I can't get enough of her. Sam appears to feel the same way. Sometimes we're a little jealous over who gets to hold her.

The day we got our apartment was my birthday. We'd arrived the night before and stayed with Summer. We spent some time cleaning our apartment, then Summer helped Sam move some furniture they had for us while I played with the kids (Clint was out in El Salvador, and once again, I wasn't much help lifting things), fed us meals and gave me a little birthday party. Sam gave me the Children's Songbook, which I've been wanting for a long time.

Kaden, Paige, Summer, Lindy, Amber

Kaden has really taken to Uncle Sam. Here Sam is teaching Kaden how to do the dishes.

The worst part about our apartment was that it had apparently been smoked in. A lot. Even with new carpet, it was really bad. We've spent a lot of time attempting to get the smell out. It is definitely better than it was, but it's too absorbed in the walls to ever really go away.
I thought Sam had a good idea with the goggles, but decided to take it a step further with a mask.

Ingenious Sam

I came home one day (in Provo) wondering what all the blue tape marks on the floor were. Sam explained that he'd mapped out the container we were going to use to ship our stuff out to Virginia. He then measured and mapped out each major piece of furniture we were moving (which wasn't much--we didn't even have a couch and left the desk--but the container was only 6'x7'x8'), allowing us to see what space we'd have for everything else. I was pretty happy to have such a smart husband, and it eased my concerns about everything fitting. Though I was still a little unsure. . .
Sam was quite the Tetris-master fitting everything in. We filled it pretty much up to the very top. Apparently, we also went way over weight, but they didn't charge us extra. When the forklift operator was delivering it to our new apartment in Virginia, he commented on how heavy it was, took one look at me, and said, "What you got in here--baby stuff?" Here's the container when it was mostly emptied. (I promise it was much more impressive when it was full.)

We were grateful for a lot of help, both from our old ward and our new ward in moving all the boxes and furniture in and out of the container.

Trip to Virginia

On our drive moving out to Virginia, we spent two days in Iowa with Sam's family. We were just in time to get some of their famous rhubarb pie.
Ginny, Amy, Mama L, Gordon

Doris and Estel came for a visit. Here with Josh, Melissa, and Morgan.

He probably just wanted my pillow, but I was flattered that Eli wanted to come be next to us. I fell asleep watching home videos, and the next think I knew, I was the only one on the floor and their home teacher was in the middle of giving a lesson. Kind of embarrassing. . . I'm not usually such a heavy sleeper.

We went to check out a train that had derailed. Sam, Guy, and Gordon had fun climbing on top and jumping from car to car. I was a little jealous I couldn't join them. (And a little nervous about some of their jumps.)


The day we left Iowa, we stayed the night in Kentucky with Brandi and Alan and Alan's family. That was a treat as well. Too bad I didn't get any pictures.

Elder Z

Though Derek hadn't gotten his call yet, I knew this would be the last time I would see him. We took him out to dinner the day before his birthday. It was pretty exciting to get his phone call a couple of weeks later to announce he'll be serving in the Morristown, New Jersey Mission--Spanish Speaking, leaving in September.

I Love to See the Temple...

Sam, Beth, their cousin Jen and I went through the open house tour of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was neat going through, and pretty amazing to be able to see other temples (Jordan River and Draper) from this one.

Just a few days before we left, my friend Veronica invited me to go with her to the Provo Temple one last time. I will sure miss this temple and the service and experiences I've enjoyed there (and all the people I love there). I've sure grown in so many ways since first attending there six years ago, attending it with Sam our first year of marriage, and being an ordinance worker there for the last three. I will especially miss that. I wish I'd gotten a picture of it in the daytime. It's especially beautiful in the spring and with the mountains behind. Here you can just barely make out the spires.

Livin' It Up: Our Last Few Adventures in Utah

Realizing we were leaving Utah and there was still so many places we hadn't been and things we hadn't done, we tried to cram in as much as we could before we moved. Still never made it to Arches, Great Salt Lake, etc., but we had some good times.


One last time up beloved Rock Canyon. We'd had an unusually wet spring, so it was pretty green.

And the snow run-off filled the river bed. (Not the most flattering picture if me--27 weeks along, but I loved this little make-shift bridge.)


I'd never known that when the river up Rock Canyon is flowing, it actually continues flowing through Rock Canyon Park. The water wasn't very deep, but we decided to try tubing it anyway.

The best part is at the end when it gets a little deeper and faster, and then you get sucked in the drain.

We convinced Kristel to come along with us. Here she just missed the pipes that the water seems to aim you towards.

Sam found another good use for the tubes. He got going pretty fast.

June 12, we went camping with Dave and Jeff (Sam's co-workers from Terracon) and their families up American Fork Canyon. It was one of the neatest camping areas I've been in (with tons of different types of trees, deep ravines and streams, hills and mountains with rock outcrops, etc.), but it was raining most of the time, and we didn't explore much at all. Went to Cascade Springs the next day instead, having made it through the night without getting too wet (which seemed a miracle to me).

More Family in Utah!

On the way back from California, we stopped in Cedar City to see Pete, Emily, and Henry--a nephew we hadn't yet met. Pete (Sam's brother) brought his family out for a summer internship.

I'll bet Sam can't wait to try this one out with our little guy.

Hoover Dam

We took a detour on the way to the Z fam reunion so Sam could see the Hoover Dam. He was like a kid in a candy shop, exploring this engineering marvel and the new bridge they were building. Just disappointed we couldn't get down below the dam or closer to the bridge.

Family Reunion... aka, "The Zierenberg Zoo!"

This post is going to be a continued work in progress.


Click on the picture to see it bigger.

Classic

Lest you judge her, keep in mind that of all of us that tried, Wendy was the only one that took the paddle board out in deep water and back without ever falling. . . until the end, of course. I could hardly stay up at all, but I'll blame it on my shifted center of gravity and loss of stomach muscles... Make sure the volume is decent--the 2nd best part is her scream. That's Sam on the boogie board.

Sam's BYU Grad

Sam wanted me to show that this is "proof" that he has officially graduated.

Sam graduated from Brigham Young University, Civil Engineering, Cum Laude, April 23 and 24, 2009.

Sam's parents flew for out for half the week to celebrate with us. It was great having their company and getting to know them better.

Sam and Beth.

I love being on BYU campus. It brings back so many great memories and feelings and motivates me to be a better person, as did the commencement ceremony with Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Russell M. Nelson speaking. The Hinckley Center (background) wasn't even around when I graduated, but I still love this building. (I'm about 22 weeks along in this shot.)

We ate out, met Shari's friend and got a tour of the Hale Center Theater in West Valley (pretty incredible), enjoyed dinner and visiting Kaleb and Suzanne (Sam's cousin's family) and Aunt Pam and had fun playing with the kids on the trampoline, and went to the Provo temple using some family names that Shari had researched. We also took Sam's parents for a drive up Provo Canyon and visited my Aunt Beth in Heber. We stopped up at Squaw Peak. The whole weekend was cloudy and rainy, and you can see that it snowed in the mountains.

Jim and Shari

Feel free to ask me about the "van experience" we had while we were up here. Quite the surprise.

It was a great week, seeing everyone and enjoying various activities. I think my favorite part, though, was just seeing a lot more of Sam. I took the day off Friday and didn't have my usual Saturday morning commitment, and Sam didn't have any work or classes or studying to worry about. I loved waking up and being able just to talk and hang out with him without having to rush off immediately. And then having him with me throughout the whole day.

We celebrated Sam's birthday with everyone here.

Cam was one of Sam's missionary companions.

Happy Spring! April 16, 2009

Snow wasn't exactly what I had in mind for my spring break, but it's pretty cool anyway! I just hope we still get some blossoms, since many of the trees were starting to bloom.At least the duck is camouflaged now.

After taking Sam to work this morning, I had to stop by BYU's botany pond and take a few shots. Good thing I was wearing my most hideous pajama bottoms, so I could be extra noticeable, tromping around in the snow.

It's a BOY!

I'll admit, I've never cared much to see other people's ultrasounds. But seeing our own baby's form and movement was absolutely incredible. He's got Sam's nose, our wide feet, and some great little soccer legs. He was big enough that they set the due date to two days earlier--August 25th.

Three days later (April 10th, one day after hitting the 20 week mark), I couldn't sleep at night. I had gotten to bed at 10:30 or 11 after enjoying Sam's BYU grad night, and was apparently too wired from the ice cream or from beating Sam at bowling or something. I was supposed to get up at 4:45am and was super frustrated that I couldn't fall asleep.

I never did fall asleep until about 1am, but somewhere in those still hours, I felt our baby move for the first time! That was definitely worth it. It's been pretty amazing feeling the life within me. A few days after that, he was moving enough for me to feel it from the outside with my hand. I probably scared Sam calling him to come fast, but our little guy apparently went to sleep right after.

General Conference

Sam's mom got us some tickets to the Conference Center for the Sunday morning session. Beth and her friend came with us. I loved being there in the session, and I loved being in and around Temple Square. Such a beautiful place in so many ways! (My nineteen weeks was really starting to show.)

Glessie, Beth, Sam, Amber

Like so many others, Elder Holland's was one of my favorite talks from this session. And perfect to keep in mind during the Easter season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc
One of these days I'll learn to link this better. Beth, how'd you do it?

THE GREAT RACE

A few months before she passed away, my sister Ginger ran a 5K in the Great Race with the goal of getting in under 30 minutes. Her time was exactly 29:59:55. Her friend Tiffany said that Ginger had been great about cheering and encouraging everyone else running as well. She thought running in the Great Race this year would be a fitting tribute to her memory. She designed a shirt, and 72 other friends and family of Ginger joined. I was so glad to be able to make it to be there, just for that day. (If anyone has group shots with others, please let me know!)

This is something my brother (Jason Z.) wrote about Ginge, who was 30 years old when she passed away: "Ginge, you ran a great race and you finished at 30 (at least this leg of the race). You didn't let anyone hold you back, but you definitely helped countless others along your way. You broke the tape first in our family and we look forward to seeing you when we cross the line and giving you a huge Ginger-style victory hug on the other side of the finish line. Until then, we know you will be watching us, cheering us on."

This is all our family that either ran or came to support. Derek, Heidi + Don, Jace + Jen and I were able to fly in or drive down to be there. We missed the rest that couldn't make it, but they participated in their own ways. (Double click on the picture and it should show up clearer.)

Walking to the starting line.

"Happiness" was the title of Ginger's last family blog she posted. She added it the night before she passed away.

The back of the shirts simply said "gdc" . . . for Ginger Dee Clinton.

Jace C. ran a half marathon.

Rod, Derek, Jace Z., Dad, Don, Luke, Mark, Carson ?, Tyler?, Trevor, Brady, Jace C.

Before the race: Nat, Heids, Mom, Kate, me, Jen

I have to admit, once I realized that Dad had been ahead of me for a long time, a slight bit of competitiveness came out, and I did push myself a little. I was impressed that he never stopped running, though. I took a lot of walking breaks.
I was 19 weeks along, so I wasn't supposed to really train or push myself. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much better I could breathe down at sea level! My time was 31:09. Not great (quite a few minutes slower than my last one), but better than I expected.

Enjoying all the free food afterwards. Hmmmm, Great Harvest bread!

Nat started the rolling down the grassy hill. We were both itchy for the rest of the day. Monica and I had a good time with some hula hoops too. Have her demonstrate her trick for you sometime.

Rod came in first of all our family. Monica had an injury and couldn't run. (Probably would have beat us all if she could have!) But she stood a little ways away from the finish line to cheer us on and let us know that we could run full speed the rest of the way. That really helped!

Over 70 people ran the race in Ginger's memory. Here are some of them.

A trip home is never complete without dinner at Lalo's--home of the world's best chicken tacos ever! It was great to be with the family the whole day.
Mark, Kate, Monica, Rod

Jason C., Heidi, Don, Dad, Mom
Amber, Jason Z., Jen, Natalie, Trevor, Wendy