Brilliant!

Oh look at my daughter reading...she is so smart!  She did this all.on.her.own.  Instead of watching TV or asking to play her DS she decided to climb into my bed and R.E.A.D.  Oooooo Amazing Mysteries of the World...wow...not even a schoolbook...this is educational reading FOR FUN FOLKS! 

THIS my friends, is an example of superior parenting.  If you model the desired behavior your children will learn and emulate you.  You will be setting them up for a lifetime of happiness and academic success!

***giving myself a great big pat on the back**

Let's peak in on my little book worm....

oh wait......

nevermind...carry on folks!

Mom?

I was watching "Bobby Flay's Ireland" on TV last night. Michael came in and snuggled in next to me. He watched the segment on the organic farm and cooking school...

Michael: "Mom? Will you teach me how to cook?"

Me: "Yes, I think that is an essential skill for you to have."

Michael "Mom? Will you teach me how to grow our own food?"

Me: "Yes, we can learn that together."

Michael: "Mom? Can we grow tomatoes*?"

Me: "Of course!"

Michael: "Mom? I really want to grow Oranges."

Me: "Hmmmmm, how about apples?"

I love that he has an interest in these things. I love to cook and I aspire to have a killer garden. I've been pouring over garden designs for the new house and picking out the perfect spot. I am going to give Michael and Abby their own little garden to plant 3 things they want and they will be in charge of tending it. I think this is going to be a really great summer!

*his favorite food - and thank god something I can grow with little trouble :)

Big Kids

We have this GREAT table grandma and grandpa got me for my birthday a couple of years ago. This is where we eat, color, craft, etc. It is the best table ever! So Damien was tired of being in his high chair and so far away from the action that he kept trying to climb out. Mommy was a little afraid a trip to the ER was in his future so she decide to let him eat at the table with the big kids. He LOVES it - he can get up and down by himself and jabbers and prays with us. hmmmmm...one empty seat at the table...I think Mommy and Daddy should have another baby...a girl...to even the odds...just sayin'.

...life...

I can't believe we are already into March. Spring is everywhere...the grass is growing like crazy...the daffodils are peeking their heads out...and the Zoladz Family are shielding their blue eyes from the bright sun!

Life has been so crazy (wonderfully full and busy) that many things have fallen by the wayside - like updating the blog. Just know that I'm still here and hope to get at least one post a week up (it's good to have goals! lol).

Ben is halfway done with grad school and is starting to interview for jobs. Hopefully one will pop up before he graduates next winter. The kids are thriving. Michael is doing very well in school and loves to curl up with his daddy at night and look through Ben's chemical engineering books. Abby is a whirlwind of spunk. She loves to take care of everyone and do art projects with me. Damien is walking/running everywhere and is starting to "talk" - mama, pup pup, hi - and understands when you give him a simple direction "Damien, go get daddy a beer."... hahaha j/k..."Damien, go get pup pup."

the picture is from Thanksgiving...I just love my boys!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Zoladz Family

We hope this season is full of peace and lasting memories for all of you. We are so thankful for all that we have and pray for all of our friends daily.

basil!

Ben's parent's visited us in May and were kind enough to bring me a basil plant. I planted it and the next day we had a HUGE rainstorm that flooded the raised herb garden (overflowing). I thought the basil had drowned...but it came back better than ever and now is a hardy plant that has kept us supplied with pesto and other goodness all summer! I look forward to drying some of it for the winter. Thanks mom and dad!

:)

Auntie Jenney and Mr. Eric...

So on August 15th we piled in the car and drove to a beautiful park outside Philomath. We were there to celebrate Auntie Jenney and Mr. Eric's elopement a few weeks earlier. Auntie Jenney is mommy's earliest bestest friend (you too Auntie Amanda!). Auntie Jenney and Mommy were bestest friends since Auntie Jenney moved to Corvallis in 7th grade. They've had their ups and downs but always have been totally devoted to each other. Auntie Jenney was there when Michael and Damien were born. She is SUPER special and we love her LOTS!!! So we were happy to go and celebrate with her and Mr. Eric.

When we arrived at the park we had fun running around and were told Auntie Jenney and Mr. Eric would say a few things about there elopement. We gathered around an ancient tree and learned....they hadn't actually eloped and they were getting married right then!!!!! Mommy almost started crying......she gets teary alot!

Wait...it's a wedding?!?!

Auntie Jenney's friend, Stephanie, got ordained for the occasion. She was the only one who knew. Not even Auntie Jenney and Mr. Eric's families knew!

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Miller and Jenney Lee

Mommy's FAVORITE picture of Jenney. heeh heeh heeh

The monkey tree where Auntie Jenney and Mr. Eric got married.

There were beautiful paths to explore and even a creek. Some guests caught crawdads and grilled them up for the party.

The happy couple!

Mommy is SO happy that Auntie Jenney married someone who is SO obviously in love and devoted to her. Now hurry up with those babies!!! :)

Mommy and Auntie Jenney

[Auntie Jenney and Mr. Eric both have celiacs disease and run their own bakery]

hydrangea!

I love Hydrangeas and have been blessed with a HUGE hydrangea bush in our front yard. I've been making bouquets all summer. Today's pruning provided not only large and small blue blooms but also green and white. They are SO beautiful!!!

Mommy likes sleepy kids...

....and sometimes I get SO sleepy....

38 Weeks...waiting...

I am now 38 weeks pregnant. I had an appointment yesterday. I'm making good progress (hooray!) but my doctor doesn't think labor is imminent. As much as I'd like to be done I'm not ready yet...funny thing about your 3rd child...your daily life goes on and you have to make extra time to get everything ready (especially right before Christmas).

Ben and I are very anxious to meet this little man and the kids are very excited, Abby has been practicing on her babies. We are trying to spend as much time cuddling and loving on the kids knowing that once the baby gets here the first few weeks will be a little crazy. I am thankful that Ben will have 2 weeks vacation (mandatory HP plant shutdown for Christmas). That will take a lot of pressure off me.

When I do go into the hospital I'll try to post something, at least on twitter, saying that we are going in. So stay tuned!

Don't forget to enter your guess on the birthday, weight, length, etc on ExpectNet - link to the right.

Take A Gander...

So now that we are getting into the home stretch I thought it would be fun to have a little guessing game. Click on the 'ExpectNet' link to the right to enter your guess as to when you think Rusty will be born and how long and heavy he will be.

To make your guess a little more informed here is some information:

- Ultrasound confirmed we are having a boy...really...there is no doubt.
- Michael was 5 days late, 7lbs 15oz and 22in.
- Abby was 3 days late (induced - ending in emergency c-section, probably would have been born closer to her due date if she hadn't been so tangled up), 8lbs 8.6oz and 21in.
- I am going to attempt a VBAC. I am an excellent candidate for one and my doctors and midwives are very supportive of my efforts. I cannot be induced so if I don't go into labor on my own I will have another c-section (no date has been set for that).

If you need any other information to make your guess just ask! :)

Dishwasher...I Haz It!

So we have been without a dishwasher since March...and it has NOT been fun. Well we got our new one and Ben installed it (by himself!) today. I'm so proud of him!!

Our old (14 year old) dishwasher

and now wait for it...

...

Our brand new intigrated dishwasher!

Say it with me everybody: "Ahhhhh...Oooooooo!"

it might be the happiest day of my life!

we also have brand new flooring and hopefully a new fridge to come!

VOTE FOR ZaBABY!

So the BIG ultrasound (3D baby!) is scheduled for July 28 (next Monday). If ZaBaby cooperates we will find out if he is a boy or she is a girl...then Ben and I can argue all the way to Southern California over names...it could be a blood bath....I'm just saying.

So if you are so inclined you may vote on if you think it is a boy or a girl. Look to the right of the page...under my twitters.

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For those of you who don't see me day to day and haven't had the pleasure of talking to my despondent self on the phone...I still feel crappy. I'm not throwing up anymore but GOOD LORD! You'd think by the 3rd pregnancy my body would say "Oh yeah...I know what this is all about...I won't make Mary a tired, cranky, pukey mess this time." *sigh*



ps - I'm behind - I know this and it is on my 20 item 'To Do' list - right after 'Find flooring for kitchen so we can get the new dishwasher installed...and oh yeah...order said dishwasher!'
I have last day of school pictures...Misc summer pictures...South Carolina pictures (where we learned that Abby is a water baby)...Michael's 5th birthday party pictures...and I'm sure others that are on the camera that I've forgotten I took. I also have some video to post...if I could find the power cable that goes to that camera. Don't ask my husband...he's made his feelings on that matter known.

What do you want from me!!! I'm incubating over here and I haven't had a dishwasher in 4 months!