Abby's First Day of School!

On September 4th Abby started her first day (this year) of preschool. She is in the 3 year old class and actually has the same teacher as last year (which really pleased her). Thank you Nana for the pretty clothes!

Michael doesn't start school until next week so he got to stay home with Mommy...they went out for pancakes.

Here I am in front of my school with the book I brought to share that day.

This is me with my best friend Olivia (Livi). She is in my class this year. She comes over to play at our house twice a week while her mommy works. Her big brother, Landon, is in Michael's class too!

The first thing we do at school is wash our hands. I'm not scowling here, Mommy just caught me as I turned around and before I could smile. I super like school!

Joshman!

This is our friend Josh (his daddy and our daddy were roommates at Notre Dame). Josh hasn't been feeling very well and the doctors found that Josh has a Wilms' Tumor in his kidney that has spread to his lungs. He is having surgery today to take out his kidney and the big mean tumor and install a port for chemo (to treat the lung tumors). Josh is a very strong, brave boy! We are praying lots that his surgery is successful and that he'll be back to distroying things very soon!

"Cool people only need one kidney!" - Josh

You can get further updates here.

Cousins!

This is my cousin Jack (Uncle Paul and Aunt Susan's boy - he's 3). I like Jack - he is a lot of fun. He came down to visit because Grandma and Grandpa had a BIG party for Uncle Jim. Uncle Jim was leaving to spend the next 5 years studying Theology in Rome (like Uncle John did WAY before I was born). We won't see Uncle Jim for 2 years...we will miss him a lot...especially Jack...it is no secret that Jack LOVES Uncle Jim.

Climbing Abby

This is from May but Mommy thought you'd like it anyways. This is the climbing gym at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I like it a lot...except when there are bugs...I super don't like bugs.

Warners or bust!

At the end of July we loaded up the minivan at 3am and started heading south...to Warner's Hot Springs, California for our annual family reunion. We took two days to get there. The kids did great...we had a portable DVD player but never needed to use it. The kids kept themselves entertained and were model passengers. We did learn that Michael gets carsick - at the end of the Sisqu's he said his mouth felt funny and then threw up on himself. He only got himself and his car seat so we got him cleaned up and laid towels all over his booster and continued on our way. Fortunately our hotel had a laundry room where I could wash everything that night. We had the same cabin at Warners that we had last year and this year cousin Rachel stayed with us. Great Uncle Bob has all the pool pictures...for some reason I didn't take any. He does have a very funny one of all the nieces and nephew playing tug o' war with Ben in the pool - if I can get a hold of it I'll post it. The kids did great in the pool and loved playing with their cousins. I did not get into the pool. My eczema was flaring up and I can't take my medicine when I'm pregnant so it was too painful for me to get in the water. The kids got to go on pony rides...they LOVED that. There was also a barn cat that would chase pine cones...that was actually more fun for the kids than the pony rides. My cousin, Julie and her family came as well and she brought a bunch of craft stuff for the kids to do. We LOVE our time at Warners and look forward to going back next year.

and ZaBaby is...

We are very excited to announce that we are going to have another boy!

Michael is beside himself that he is going to have a little brother...Abby is just excited to have a baby to take care of. The baby looked wonderful and I'll post a couple ultrasound pictures this week (the tech was REALLY stingy with what she'd take a picture of).

I'm feeling much better and can really feel the baby move now. That is my favorite part of pregnancy - I love feeling the all movement and kicks!

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!

Baby Clare

When we got home from Nana and Dziadzia's Aunt Amanda brought baby Clare out to Oregon for a visit. We super love baby Clare!

I was very interested in playing with baby Clare - I am ready to be a big brother again. I'm very good with babies!

Off Nana and DziaDzia's house we go...

At the end of June we flew out to South Carolina to visit our Nana and Dziadzia. We had lots of fun playing in their pool and celebrating Michael's 5th birthday and Abby's 3 1/2 birthday.

Dziadzia brought Abby a beautiful gardinia from his garden to wear in her hair for her birthday party and Nana let Abby wear her kitty cat brooch.


Nana made Abby her favorite foods for her birthday lunch.

(see the gazelles on the wall behind the table? Abby called them ghosts and named them Uncle Pat and Joe)

Abby LOVED the Madam Alexander doll that looked like her and came with a little lamb (just like her).

"Happy 1/2 birthday to Abby!"

I'm a princess!

Nana and Dziadzia's neighborhood had a 4th of July parade and picnic. Nana led the parade and Michael and Abby walked behind her. I walked with them until Abby got tired and then I carried her back to the club house. After the parade we had yummy food...we really liked the watermelon. It was a very hot and humid day so we were ready to go home and jump in the pool.

"Happy 5th Birthday to Michael"

(Michael handled the singing better than in years past, 3rd and
4th)

Then it was out to the pool for more fun. Abby was very independent and didn't want any help in the water. Michael was more cautious and stayed on the step or with Daddy and Dziadzia.

That night we celebrated more with sparklers - the kids really enjoyed those (once they got the hang of it).

Unfortunately the week went by really fast and we had to go back home. Thank you Nana and Dziadzia for such a wonderful visit!

Well It's A Good Thing...

We sucked it up and bought this last summer.

because we are now expecting one of these!

Baby Z #3 is expected to arrive December 20-23, 2008!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Today is Ben and I's 8th Wedding Anniversary (holy camoly!).

Our beautiful flower girl Rachel was 4 years old.
(she is 12 now!!! - and our chief babysitter)

[these are just a few of the pictures I have scanned to the computer - our wedding was way back in the dark ages before photographers were really using digital cameras - :P]

Pirate Day!

Today was Pirate Day at school (which Mommy forgot about and scrambled before we left for school to put something together). I was NOT happy about my pirate bandana. I finally agreed to wear it to school but I wouldn't let Mrs. Vicky take my picture and I wouldn't smile for Mommy.