2008 News Letter

“Everything changes doesn’t it baby;
It’s amazing how time flies.
Turning the pages of yesterday
In only a blink of any eye.
Everything changes, everything changes.”
~ Little Big Town “Everything Changes”

The chorus of this song sums up our year. We’re ending the year in a new home, in a new city with a new job. Last year saw us in a one bedroom apartment in New Orleans as Erik was finishing up in the Coast Guard. Now, we are the proud owners of a beautiful new home in Humble, Texas (just outside Houston), and Erik is a courageous member of Houston’s Police force.
It’s been a whirlwind of a year as Jordyn started out a quiet little one who was just learning to sit up on her own, and is now a full fledged toddler running all over the place and talking up a storm.
We’ve had the privilege of being able to see all of our family this year as we went to Virginia for Uncle Scott’s wedding and got to see Grandpa Zugner, Great Grandma Gallagher and all the Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins on that side. We also went to Austin for Aunt Kelli’s wedding and got to see Aunt Shannon, Uncle Karl, and our sweet cousins Kendall, Breck, and Alta. Then Jordyn and I were able to fly to Utah for Great Grandpa Wahlquist’s funeral and were so grateful to be able to see Great Grandma Wahlquist, both sets of Stratton Grandparents, and all of our Aunts, Uncles and cousins on that side (especially baby Keegan).
As Erik patrols the streets of downtown Houston (having way too much fun at work), I get the opportunity to stay home and play with Jordyn (along with pick up after her). This year, we also welcomed a 7 month old kitten, Max, into our home. Jordyn just loves her cat, and Erik & I enjoy having him around as well. We can’t wait to see what changes this next year has in store for our family. We hope you all have many happy and welcome changes in the coming year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Amy, Erik & Jordyn Zugner

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From Captain Underpants and the rest of the Zugner Family!

Children's Museum

Play Day

It seems like Erik's days off (Sunday & Monday) are always spent on the go. On Sunday, we have church, and then it seems like we always have visitors, or visits to make, and then on Mondays we run errand which I can't do without Erik. Today, for once, we actually got to play. We went to lunch and then to the Children's museum here in Houston. Jordyn is a bit young for most of the activities at the museum, but she loved their "Tot Spot" and we were there for a couple of hours. It was an enjoyable day spent as a family, and we greatly look forward to more play days with Daddy.

Car Troubles

Maybe that should read car SEAT troubles. Yesterday as I was driving home from our ward Christmas party, I heard Jordyn struggling in the back seat (I figured she was trying to figure out how to pull her tights off, which is a frequent occurrence). When we were about a block from the house, she managed to wiggle herself free from the car seat and climb completely out (our car seat is very similar to the one pictured above). I managed to hold her down until we got off the main road and into the subdivision, but she was sitting on the front seat by the time we pulled into the drive way. So . . . any suggestions on how to keep a monkey in a car seat?

House Plant

This is what I found while picking up clothes off the bedroom floor (yes, it was Erik's side of the bed).

I Am Like A Star

A beautiful rendition of this primary song was sung at a funeral today for a sweet little girl who lost her battle to brain cancer. Over the past several months, we as a ward family and community have watched this sweet family as they have gone through their trials. We have prayed with them, and for them. We have seen their strength and faith grow, yet as their faith has been tested for all to see, all of ours too has been tested. As we ponder what we would do in their situation, how we would act. Would our own faith sustain us if we were asked to make the decisions placed before them? We don't really know, and we hope we don't have to make those choices, but we each have our own battles to be fought, our own hills to climb? Will our faith sustain us through those? We hope so, and as this young family has made a resolve to choose the right every day so that they may see their daughter and sister again, we too must resolve to choose the right every day so that we may see our Father again. I know that my resolve to shine just a little bit brighter was strengthened this day, my trust in our Heavenly Father in these we cannot understand is a little bit stronger. From watching this sweet family over the past few months, I have been strengthened, I have been given courage, and my faith has grown. They have been a great example of faith, of hope, and love, and of trust in our Heavenly Father. My prayers continue to be with them, and will all of us as we strive to overcome our own personal battles. May we all have the courage to put on the Armour of God one more day, climb one more hill, overcome one more trial. May we be like this sweet Christmas Angel and always remember that we are children of God.

Snow???

This is the scene outside as we turn in for the night. Can't wait to see what will await us in the morning!

100 Things

I found this interesting...


Copy this and bold the things you have done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own?

NEWS FLASH:

The little town of Bethlehem lay still in the early hours of the breaking day. The unsuspecting citizens still in a deep slumber dreaming of the miraculous events that unfolded in their tiny town. Then, to their utter dismay, the town was attacked and destroyed by the awful, the terrible, the frightening JORDYNZILLA!!!

(aah, run for your lives!). As the town lay in utter ruin at her feet, Jordynzilla looks on with pride.

To add to the horror of the event, baby Jesus was last seen in the back of a police car (driven by a donkey from the stable) speeding across the kitchen floor.

(all in a days work for our little monster)

Jordyn's Tree

Upstairs in our playroom, we have a 4' Christmas tree all decorated for Jordyn. It is her tree (and she knows it). It has wonderful soft ornaments made out of felt,


and beautiful hand painted wood ornaments (all courtesy of my wonderful mom!).

Every morning when Jordyn wakes up, we go out to the playroom and turn the light on the tree on, and she oohs and aahs and plays with the ornaments. This morning during our morning ritual, we had a surprise in the tree.


Max, had decided to climb into the tree (think he was trying to climb under the tree but didn't quite fit). Jordyn thought this was very silly of Max and really started to giggle. I hope she enjoys the surprises under the big tree on Christmas morning just as much!

15 Months

We had Jordyn's 15 month appointment today. It went well, the Dr. is impressed with Jordyn's skill level and kept saying that she was "ahead of the game". Since Jordyn knows so many words, including several body parts, the Dr. wants us to start working on colors & shapes with her (I guess that means there will be a shape sorter under the Christmas tree this year). Unfortunately, Jordyn had to get a few shots as well today, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, we were told that she'll get a few more at her 18 month appointment, and then she wont need anymore shots until she's 4! That was music to my ears. I hate having to hold her hands while they poked her. Here's Jordyn's 15 month stats...

Height: 31" (70%)

Weight: 24 lbs 2 oz (71%)