Am I That Controlling?

My mom reminded me of this Trevor story that transpired a couple weeks ago. I'm sorry if they bore you, but I have to record them somehow so that I have documentation of the things this kid says. One day, when his wife comes to me with their struggles of child rearing, I will give her a hug, smile at her, & then hand her this manuscript. I will then kiss their sweet child and wish them luck! Just kidding, you know I'll stay and help :-)

A couple weeks ago we were getting ready for church and Trevor starting pitching a huge fit over his church shoes. He wanted to wear flip flops to church. He said to me, "the girls can wear them to church, why can't I?" He did have a good point, but I pointed out to him that no boys wear them.

This battle went on all morning long, and continued as we journeyed to church. In the parking lot, I told him that he was not allowed into the chapel without church shoes. I opened his door to help him put them on, and he screamed at me, "Why are you always trying to control my life." At that point I knew I needed to leave and give him some space. Kayla and I went into church, but I stayed out in the foyer to wait for him. Eventually, he came walking up wearing flip flops and stood outside the glass doors. Another couple came up to the church, obviously seeing the struggle we were having. They tried to help, but Trevor was sticking to his "guns" and I was sticking to mine.

He eventually went back out to the car and got his shoes and we continued with trying to have a nice Sunday.

Follow up story:

Wednesday when I picked up Trevor from preschool, I could see he was struggling a little. I was trying to talk to his teacher, and ended the conversation early because Trevor was not behaving. When I got out to the car, I explained to him that I didn't appreciate his behavior and that it wasn't acceptable. He then said, "When I turn 18, will you stop controlling me?" I responded back, "With pleasure."

We really do love Trevor, and he and I have very similair personalities. We are TRULY INDEPENDENT people, so it's difficult for us both to feel like we're being controlled by each other.

I know we will laugh at all of this one day!

Memories

This morning while I was going to school, I was listening to Bob & Tom. This song came on, and it brought memories back of driving home from Fort Wayne to Cincinnati. This huge gianormous image was always an indication that we were almost home. Below is a picture of what the statue looks like. As the song indicates, it just might be an "engraven image".

A Day of Fun

This last weekend Grandpa and Grandma Lough came down to Vincennes for some fun. Saturday morning we all loaded into the cars and headed for fun in Santa Clause, Indiana. We spent the day riding rides, getting wet and being cold, but oh the fun. Kayla and Melissa road the Voyage, a huge wooden roller coaster. Kayla said no more of those for her. Though she did take the opportunity to ride down the Pilgrim's plunge, a huge. Lots of water; lots of fun! Trevor enjoyed spinning around and around with a g-force ride and gave himself a bloody nose on the bumper cars, and shot many turkeys with a laser. Grandma and Kayla even spun around and around and up and down on a tilt-a-turkey ride and both looked a bit green coming off the ride. To make it more fun yet, we meet our good friends the Klein's and their children in the park and the kids really enjoyed the opportunity to spend some additional time on some of the more queasy rides with Adam and Matthew. Thanks all for a great day and many memories.

SCHOOL TIME

This is Trevor and his almost first day back to preschool picture. I'm not sure who was more excited that morning Trevor or mom. This year Trevor has a new teacher, so he'll have to learn all new limits. This boy is growing quick and is getting more clever by the day. What new things will he learn, what new trouble will he invent and How mad can he make his mother, these questions and more answered for you here as the semester progresses. ---Ryan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

We (Ryan, Kayla, & Trevor) would like to wish our very special, wife and mother a very special Happy Birthday. She means a lot to us. She works very hard to serve a very busy family with lots of activities. We appreciate her patience, love and understanding as we all grow together as a family in the Gospel. She is our everything, She is the glue that keeps it all together. We love you we appreciate you and we hope that you have a wonderful day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. LOVE YOU ALWAYS,

YOUR FOREVER FAMILY.

First Day of School

This little girl woke up three times during the night, and finally got up at 6:00 a.m. for the day. She was so nervous about the first day of school. I do have to admit that I choked up a little bit when I dropped her off this morning. It's hard, even though I was ready to get back into a good routine a month ago, to give her up to someone else for the majority of the day. Each year a little more innocence is lost, and frankly, I don't like it!

Don't I have a cute family? There's some missing in action, Ben stayed home to study; Ryan and Trevor went to a family reunion; Scott and his family live WAY too far away, especially for our liking; and Eric is on a mission...but here are the favorites, oops, did I just say that! Just kidding, we all know that James is the boy favorite, and I am the girl favorite. Wait, did I mess that up again! My mother LOVES all her children NO MATTER what.

Grant and Trevor enjoying a game of bowling.


Kayla sportin her knee high socks while bowling. The girl almost beat me!


Giving her mama some love.


Enjoying an evening with the cricket. If you haven't seen what the cricket from Provo Craft can do, go check it out. It's fun and very addictive!

More Family Fun

We just can't seem to get enough of each other this summer. We gathered as a family (minus one brother and his family), to spend some time with Grant who flew home from college for a few days. Here's some silly Zinn family fun!


We had a push up contest. I'm embarrassed that I only did 12 AND they were girl push ups! Grant, on the other hand, threw out the most (30)! There were some that wouldn't participate. May I suggest this website: www.hundredpushups.com


This family LOVES computers, and some are trying to convert everyone to iMac. I do have to admit, I was impressed and would love to have one (hint: James buy your very dedicated, I gave up my name for you, bore you two wonderful obedient children, Stay-at-home-wife, who never complains that they live in Chicago and you work in New York and are never home during the week a new iMac, so I can have the hand-me-down one :-) How do you like that for a plug, Tam?


Here we are with the very loyal apple customers taking pics to add to the contact list for their iphones. Ryan and my brother's fam have iphones. This time here's my plug: Ryan dear, I REALLY love this phone. I love going to the dentist office with you as our children are getting their teeth cleaned, and you and I are watching YouTube. I need one so that I too, can be just as organized as you!


Sweet Amanda and Kayla at Panera's. This girl really belongs more with her Aunt Amanda than she does with me.