Sunny day at the park

The BYU I Collegiate singers came to Post Falls a couple of weeks ago and we had the opportunity to house 2 of the singers. They stayed with us for 2 days and we were able to show them around Post Falls. We took them to Cabelas and shot Guns and then got Ice Cream form Super One.

Other than that nothing new has been going on. Kanyon and I have been playing soccer and we have slowly been planting trees in our backyard.
Enjoy Your Week! :)

-BZ

Boy Scout Awards Banquet

Here I am at the awards banquet receiving my "Golden Scouter Award."  It is given to one person a year who had given a lot to scouting for at least 20 years.  I am standing beside John McNamara who is one of the local leaders in our district.  He was the scout master of a troop in Pullman for many years.  He looks like a mountain man right out of the history books.  Actually he is a professor at WSU and I quite enjoy working with him.  Can you find the mistake?

We're Home Again (for a while)

We left Moscow, Friday the 17th, after the Boy Scout Awards Banquet and drove to Seattle.  Arrived at Seth and Lacey's at 1:00am Saturday morning.  Grabbed a few hours of sleep and then Mom and Lacey went to the baby shower for three women in the ward (Lacey and two others). 

 After the baby shower we drove to this skate park and skate boarded, climbed, and rode bikes.  Sunday we attended church and then just enjoyed a few days until the Pinewood Derby on Wednesday.

 Weston with his Seahawk colored Lamborghini

 Weston and car at the race

 Lacey, Grandma Z, and Grandma J, (I think that is Weston across the track just in front of Lacey)

 Thursday morning we headed home but made a left turn at Ellensburg, drove over Blewett  Pass and arrived in Leavenworth (we had booked a room a couple of days earlier when we made this last minute decision.  This is what you do when you're retired).  We walked the town, shopped at Mom's favorite Christmas store, ate at our favorite places, golfed, and relaxed.  Friday morning we got up, ate their delicious omelets, listened to the owner play the Alpenhorn, and headed to Wenatchee.  We stopped at Lowes in Wenatchee to buy some sweet potato vine plants (thanks to the Internet) and then headed up the Columbia River.  We drove past Rocky Reach Dam (where we used to visit the museum in the dam and play on the playground equipment), past Entiat (where Grandpa Z, Brant, Erik, and I went to Fathers and Sons Outing while living in Quincy), past Pateros (where there was the largest wild fire in Washington's history last fall).

 This is looking up Lake Chelan (when I was in high school our Honor Society took a boat trip up to Stehekin at the north end of the lake). Then we drove across miles of scab land to Grand Coulee Dam.  I had been wanting to go here again because I am fascinated by the shear magnitude of the construction project and because it created the area where I grew up.

 We were too late to take the bus tour across the dam but enjoyed a film about the history and construction of he dam.

 This was taken from a vantage point a couple of miles down stream.

 This is the beginning of the canal that carries water to the Columbia Basin.  We then drove across miles and miles of wheat country, through small towns I had heard about growing up but never visited, and finally home

 The crab apple tree was in full bloom.  None the worse for wear due to the earlier freeze.

 The flowers were flowering.

 Not bad for the first year of our new Daffodils and Tulips.

We love the Phlox although it is very short-lived.  We're glad to be home.  Love to all, especially Garrett Scott in Denver.

It's a boy!

He arrived last night at 11:45pm, a couple of weeks early. 6 lbs. 9 oz. 20 inches. No name yet, but doing well. 

Just for Fun

As some of you may be aware, I had this briliant idea of collecting all of the "Zirker Adages" (or sayings) that I can.  I need your help.  When I sit down to write my mind goes blank and I can't think of any.  Can you all jot down old family sayings and send them to me?  Add a little back story just for fun.  Some can be attributed to Grandpa or Grandma Z, to me or Mom, or other family members.  They must be clean and appripriate for printing without breaking any FCC rules.  Have fun and let's see what we come up with.

Spring is here

My Spring pic of the week. I took this right across the street from my office.

 I was really missing the days when I owned a pickup yesterday. Bundling branches in 4 ft. lengths (and the bundles can't be more than 30 in. in diameter or weigh more than 45 lbs) and setting them by the curb for pick up is no fun. This is what a bundled up mulberry tree looks like.

 Kelly and her new apple tree.

 Kelly and her new friend. We went to a show at Ford's Theater last night and found this guy in the basement.

Spring Equation

Crab apple Tree + mild winter + warm temperatures = early blossoms + more seasonal temperatures + sub freezing nights = frosted buds + warm days = may not be as bad as I originally thought.  We'll see what happens in a week or two.  Right now the little pink blossom buds look pretty sad.

Happy 34th Birthday Matt!

This picture was taken on your 24th birthday! It's amazing how 10 years have flown by.  Happy Birthday!

Canada red

A few months ago a wet heavy snow storm broke the top branches of our front tree. Erik brought home a tractor this week and we cut down the tree. The house looks pretty bare for now. Here are some pictures from the whole ordeal. 

 We're finally getting some good weather around here. We spent Saturday in the yard planting a garden, cutting down a tree and doing overall spring cleaning. We finished the day with a bbq and s'more roast with Marlo, Jamieson and fam. Here's Kelly, Jamieson, and Eve trying out our bbq pit.

 It's cherry blossom time here in DC, so we stopped by for some photos on our way home tonight. Tons of people and endless fun for someone with a camera.

 I think this was the best shot I got.

Easter and Other Stuff

As you might know Mom and I decided it was time to purchase a laptop computer so she could do genealogy work with Linda when we go down the first part of May.  We figured we could also use it when we travel to pay bills, surf the net, and keep in touch while we are on our mission.  After some research on the Internet, several phone calls and e-mails for you all, and a number of in-store visits, we bought an HP from Wal-Mart and are now trying to get used to using Windows 8.1.  Wish us luck.

 We drove up to Post Falls Friday afternoon to share Raya's 9th Birthday, visit, watch General Conference, and visit a friend of mine (the Post Falls Facilities Manager).  We had a great time, lots of good food, listened to great talks, survived a Monday morning snow storm (about 1"), and returned home Monday afternoon.  Thanks to everyone for a great visit!

 Raya modeling her new birthday umbrella.

 Dying Easter eggs Saturday afternoon at Matt and Kimbre's.  Notice the traditional spilled orange cup of dye.

 Braxton and Adria finding eggs that Grandma hid all over the yard.

 Riley hunting for eggs, Matt taking her picture, more eggs still in the tree.

 Braxton and Kanyon counting their haul.

 Successful Easter egg hunters.

 Everyone checking in with Lisa and Grandma.  Grandma knew how may eggs were hidden and didn't want to leave any unfound chocolate for Kya for find.

 Can you say "sugar high" for the next few days.

Don't bug me, I'm eating my Easter eggs.

I had my final check-up for my eyes yesterday.  It was actually about a week early for my right eye but she said they looked fine and tested me for new glasses.  They should arrive in about a week or so.  They will be clear glass with a progressive bi-focal in the lower part of the lens.  I've been e-mailing Mark Secrist the last couple of weeks.  He had the same doctor and operations and his aren't responding as quick as mine.  Yesterday he said things were improving and things are looking up (another pun).

We will be heading to Settle again next Friday (April17th) so Mom can attend a baby shower for Lacey and two of her friends.  As we walked into the house from Post Falls on Monday the phone was ringing and it was one of the District scouters telling me that I was to receive the Golden Scouter Award (it is a district wide award given to one scouter each year) at the recognition dinner the night before we are to be in Seattle.  It is a nice honor so we will attend the dinner in Moscow and then drive as far as we can (maybe Ellensburg) Friday night and then finish Saturday morning before the 11:00 am shower starts.  Wish us luck!!!!!



Seattle Adventure

Spring Break was this past week so we skedaddled to Seattle for a quick trip.  Lacey and Seth were awesome to put us up for the weekend.  The cousins LOVED playing with each other and we left on good terms so I think we might be invited back. Hopefully. 

The handsome cousins getting a picture taken while the girls were still primping inside

We were able to pop over and see our friend from our college ward, Erin "Blue"-she was a mutual friend of Kevin and me.  It had been too long!

Monday we cruised into Downtown Seattle and ventured around the Seattle Center, which is where the space needle is.  But at $20/ticket we couldn't quite stomach the cost of the entire family going up.  This is right outside the Needle

The Needle, now we can say we saw it!

We then hopped on the Monorail and rode down to Pike Place.  We wandered around looking at the amazing crafts, beautiful flowers and even was entertained by a Vietnamese Magician.  And we couldn't stop until we found the pig, which we finally did.  We had started off in the opposite direction.

On the walk back to the monorail we passed this sign, and I chuckled at it. 

This was in between the parking lot and the settle center, cool artistically. See if you can find all 4 kids. 

On the way out of town we stopped to see the Seattle temple.  Kevin has many memories attached to this temple so it was fun.  It was a good way to start our break!