It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I have no idea why I have a camera since I refuse to use it. Unfortunatly my iphone doesn't do well with low lighting.

Our favorite part of Christmas is getting out all our ornaments and putting them on the tree. It was Camden's turn to put the star on the top of the tree!

The Decorating Elves

"Can't wait for Christmas!"

Friends are Forever

Another great thing about College Station is that I feel closer to my best friend Tami. I used to visit her grave every now and then whenever I came to College Station, but lives get busy, and I didn't make it up as often as I used to. Now I get to stop by and see her anytime. I took Marshall by the other day, and we sat and talked to her. It's sometimes feels just like when we used to sit on my bed together and just chat. :)

Tami and I met at church in College, and instantly became attached at the hip. She was from College Station. We felt like we had finally "found" each other. She was my very best friend, even though our time together was short--too short. Our birthdays are both in February, hers on the 17th and mine the 27th. For our 21st birthday we had a huge party at my apartment. The very next month she was killed in a car accident on March 27th. She was my light, my strength, my angel, my very best friend. I think I am who I am because she was a part of my life.

When we moved back to College Station and into our new ward, I saw her parents. I didn't think they would remember me, it has been so long. I hadn't seen them since the funeral. As soon as I walked into the room, her mother looked in surprise at me and fingered to me to come over. We sat together for the next hour laughing and crying, hugging and crying. It felt good to be with her mother and feel her spirit--they look alot alike. Her mother shared some things she said she hadn't shared with anyone, and she asked questions about me. She wanted to know how old I was (even though she knew Tami and I are the same age), how long I'd been married, how many kids I had. I know she was trying to see where Tami would be. I often think of that too. When she died, I couldn't understand why, we were just starting to make plans for the rest of our lives, we were just starting to mature, to figure out our place in this world. She wanted to serve a mission. But everytime I visit her, I feel peace. I know that we will be together again. I know that there is a plan, that we all have our parts, and this earth life is such a minor part of that plan in the vastness of eternity. I know my Heavanly Father loves us all, each individually. I am thankful for that knowledge, for that peace. And I am thankful that I got even the short time I did to spend with Tami here in this life, to build that bond that will last through the eternities.

Picking out the "Perfect" Christmas Tree

Every year the Mach family sets out to find the"perfect" Christmas tree.

The problem is, every year it gets more and more difficult to find one the everyone agrees on. There was once a time when the kids were just excited with whatever we brought home--not anymore! Everyone has an opinion.

Mom picked out a very nice pre-lite fake tree...Dad vetoed, too expensive! So we went out to find a nice real one. We needed a nice tall thin one, we don't have a very large place to put it in the new house.

Camden found one...then Kyla found one! Ahhh which to choose, it was a tough one, Dad even considered buying them both just to keep the peace--Mom vetoed! We decided it would go to vote, not pretty! After threatening to just not have a tree this year (should have got the fake one) Dad decided that life just comes with some disappointments, and it was time our children learned to deal with it! He chose the tree, and that was that! Oh the magic of the season. :)

The "Perfect Christmas Tree"

Posing with the final selection. Marshall raising his hand for the tree vote!
In the end we got the tree home and set in it place, and it really was the perfect Christmas tree, and everyone was HAPPY!

*MISSION ACCOMPLISHED*

B.T.H.O. Nebraska! Gig'em Aggies!

At the kids Fall Festival we bought Durham's classroom auction item:

"AGGIE TAILGATE BASKET"

It included Mike Sherman's (The Texas A&M Head Coach) donated tickets, field passes, and a ton of cool Aggie stuff...the game was AWESOME!!!

Texas A&M University vs. University of Nebraska
November 20, 2010

Kyle Field

Eric sporting his Field Pass that gave us access to Kyle Field before the game...AWESOME!

We watched the Parson's Mounted Calvary Parade in, The Corps march in, and the The Aggie Fish Drill Team come in and perform, all so close we could have marched with them!

Then the team came out and did their pre-game warm-ups and lined up on the sideline. Let me just tell you, this pic is taken with my iPhone (no zoom lens) I literally was standing "with" these guys! "Put me in Coach!" :)

Warming up the Aggies! Eric questioned what EXACTLY I was taking a picture of?!? :)

Eric took the opportunity to take what should have been his spot on the Aggie bench.

Again, Mike Sherman donated the tickets--AWESOME!

50 YARD LINE/FIRST DECK

Check out those stands! We broke the record for college game attendance

90,079 FANS

It was soooo loud!

We stood the entire game, and I was hoarse the next day!
VICTORY Texas A&M 9-6

*BONUS*
While we were down on the field I got to meet and take a pic with

ESPN College Game Day Sports Analyst

Kirk Herbstreit

Yeah me! Eric spotted him, and asked me, "You know that guy you always see on ESPN and ask 'Who is THAT?', there he is!" I then made a bee line to meet him--HOT! :) He was very nice too, he was sweet about taking a picture with me. Still have it saved on my phone!

Disclaimer: He was NOT as cute as my SUPER HOT HUBBY!

Eric and I had a Blast and it was the BEST game all year!

GIG'EM AGGIES!!!

Happy 7th Birthday Camden!

October 10, 2010

This year Camden's Birthday fell on 10/10/10 we all thought that it was a pretty cool day to have a birthday...too bad she wasn't turning 10!

But turning 7 was really pretty cool too! I can't believe my BABY GIRL is already

7 YEARS OLD!

On the morning of her actual birthday, we had EGGO waffles! Camden's favorite. Even when she was a bitty baby, she would pack away 2-3 Eggos every morning for breakfast, well at least for her first breakfast. She usually would eat "2nd breakfast" too, and sometimes even "3rd breakfast"--yes, that's what we called it :) . Camden has always been my big eater, I can't believe my chubby little butterball has grown into such a beautiful girl! No more chubby cheekies to pinch :(

She decided she wanted either a "Fancy Nancy" birthday, or a Halloween themed birthday. Cami is definately my FANCY little lady, but in the end Halloween won out (she did dress as Fancy Nancy for character day at school, but I forgot to get a pic)

"Aunt" Kara made the coolest pumpkin jack o'lantern cake, yummy too. Kyla made some spider crackers, we had wormy dirt pudding, and spooky orange smokey witches brew. It was a fun party. Since we were actually still in the middle of moving, we couldn't decide whether to have it at home in Waller and invite all her church and school friends, or here and invite the culdesac kids...in the end we did the easy thing and had the neighbors all come over! Neighborhoods are so fun! We got to play with our new friends and get to know everyone better.

Camden the Mummy

The Mummy wrap game was a big hit, and we played "hot pumpkin". Camden had a great time, and the party was a success, my baby girl isn't a baby anymore.

Back in AGGIELAND!!!

This Aggie family FINALLY made it back "home"!

In October we MOVED! We LOVE it here where the air runs thick with the yell of the "WHOOP", there is MAROON as far as the eye can see, and AGGIE FOOTBALL SPIRIT runs deep through everyone! It really does finally feel like we are home.

Eric has another project breaking ground this month here in College Station, and after not seeing him very much over the last year while he built in San Marcos, we figured it would be nice to be close to where he was working. We are really enjoying having Daddy home so much! We love the school the kids are in, love being so close to civilization, and LOVE getting to support our Alma Mater at all the sporting events. The kids are members of the Junior Aggie Club (you have to start the brain washing early) and as members they get into all the sporting events for free! We've already been to see the Aggie girls play volleyball and soccer, and are looking forward to the basketball and baseball/softball seasons! The kids LOVE it! And of course AGGIE FOOTBALL has been a BLAST!
WHOOP! GIG'EM AGGIES!

Boys Will Be Boys

"A picture is worth a thousand words"

but for these pics a few words of explanation might be in order... Before you call animal cruelty, let me just say, IT WASN'T MY FAULT!

Everyone knows that I have 5 brothers, how lucky am I, all these great roll models for my boys...

Well, Uncle Quinten graciously volunteered to watch Marshall so that I could take Durham to his kindergarten orientation by himself (the girls were with a friend).
I happily accepted and was in the middle of "meet the teacher" when these two pics pop up from Quinten on my phone--my gasp was so loud, the teacher stopped talking to look at what I was doing! :(

Thanks Uncle Quinten for showing my boys how to be boys!

There's a New Sheriff in Town...

...and it doesn't get any better than that!

First Day of School

September 23, 2010

Summer came and went way too fast!!! We made sure we had all our clothes laid out the night before, and set the alarm to wake up extra early and Daddy gave each of the kids their annual "Father's Interview and Blessing". Something both Dad and the kids look forward to and enjoy...it's a time for Eric to really talk to the kids one on one, he always asks how they're doing and if they have any worries. Kyla was worried about getting to school on time--we vowed to do much better this year :) Camden and Durham weren't worried about a thing, just ready to GO! So the day came...the First day of school!

Kyla (3rd Grade)

Ms. Ferguson

Camden (1st Grade)

Ms. Macha

Durham (Kindergarten)

Ms. Beyer

Marshall (Home with Mom)
He was NOT happy about not being able to go to school with his sisters and brother, until... he realized having Mommy to himself all day wasn't such a bad thing. We made chocolate chip cookies for everyone for their after school snack.

*not pictured is the two of us and the entire kitchen covered in flour when Marshall decided he needed to turn the mixer on full speed while I was on the phone. Oops!

The first day of school was a success all around, we got there on time, everyone loved their classes and teachers, and we had yummy chocolate chip cookies and milk to celebrate with when we got home!

NO MORE DIAPERS!

It has actually been about two weeks now that the Mach household has been diaper free! I can't believe that for the last 8 years I have been changing diapers, sometimes on two and three hineys at the same time, and now it is all over! Mister Marshall Man was a trooper, the easiest by far! It only took him a day to get it down and now he is sooo proud he loves to show his new skills off to everyone, his favorite is when he gets to go "tee-tee" outside! Oh how fun it must be to be a little boy! Today, it was so funny, Marshall and I were cooking in the kitchen and I had set the oven timer (the timer I had used the day we potty trained to remind us to go). When the timer beeped Marshall said, "Time to go potty" and started laughing at his own little joke. It was so cute, my little man has quite a sense of humor. NO DIAPERS is SERIOUSLY AWESOME!

Bath Time Babies

I had to document the very last time that all my little babies were able to take a bath together. This is how I've been able to get through the last seven years of bath times--group bath!!! Now we have had to split it up to girls in the shower (they are too big to fit in the little tub together anymore) and boys in the bath. I just miss when they could all bath and play together. This is a super cute pic, but behind the scenes was lots of "Durham has his bottom on my foot...", "Kyla will NOT scoot over", "I don't have any room!!!" "Tell Marshall to stop jumping on me!!!".

Bath time is FUN time! :)

There's a SNAKE on the roof!!!

Yes, I realize that this isn't a very good clear picture, BUT seriously, I'm surprised I could compose myself enough to take a picture in the first place--I just didn't think anyone would believe me! Here's the story:

The kids, one of their girl friends and I were all sitting down at the table for dinner. Dinnertime is always a silly time at our house, we love to play games at the table. We play "movies" where we take turns quoting a line from a movie and everyone has to guess the movie, and "telephone" the game of whispering from neighbor to neighbor and the last person repeats the sentence out loud to see if it made it around the table in it's original form, or when Daddy is home we all take turns telling jokes--that game is only fun with Daddy because Daddy knows all the good jokes, and Mom always forgets her punchlines.

Anyway, we were all absorbed into our game when Durham states calmly "Mom, there is a snake on our roof." A little annoyed because Durham has a tendency to change games in the middle quite frequently and LOVES to be able to shout out"tricked ya" even when no one even acknowledged the attempted trick, we all ignored him. Then as another movie line was being quoted with great enthusiasm, Durham looked over with wide eyes and horror on his face he said, "Mom, there is a snake on our roof", I thought he's definitely getting better at this tricking, I decided to see...

Just as I was telling Durham, "Oh, buddy, it's just a stick someone tossed up on the...IT MOVED!!!!" "OH MY GOSH THERE'S A SNAKE ON THE ROOF!!!" I ran outside, ran back inside, ran in circles trying to think who to call. Eric-out of town, Dad-out of town, Quinten, August--out of town!!!! TYLER!!! I called Tyler. HE WAS IN CYPRESS!!! "When are you coming back?!?!? There's a SNAKE ON MY ROOF!" Tyler being the hero that he is made a call to a friend, and he came over within minutes to rescue us from our horrifying ordeal!!! He jumped out of his truck, machete in hand, and saved the day! As the kids all watched in amazement, begging him not to hurt the snake, I quivered in the doorway ordering it be killed and taken away IMMEDIATELY!!! I was sure it was an extremely venomous snake just waiting to "jump" on top of the next passerby. Those of you that would tell me it was probably just a chicken snake sunning itself, harmless, and that snakes don't jump...you were NOT HERE!!! It was a HUGE SCARY CREATURE!!! Thank you Tommy for slaughtering the beast!

Cute Pic From the Past

Found this pic the other day when browsing for pictures to put in Kyla's picture slideshow at her baptism. I can't believe my little girls are growing up so fast!!! Look at those two cute little faces, don't they just say, "Mommy we'll be your babies FOREVER!"??? How dare they grow up!!! Ashley is graduated, and Kyla just got baptized! Not "babies" anymore! :(
I have enjoyed every moment of watching them grow and become the beautiful young ladies they are. Every moment EXCEPT the realization that the years have gone by much too fast!

Ashley's Graduation

Friday June 4, 2010

CLASS OF 2010

Ashley worked hard all year and it paid off! She graduated from Angleton High School an entire year early!!! We're so proud of her accomplishment! Her commencement ceremony took place at the new Wildcat Stadium friday night. It was HOT! But soo exciting getting to hear her name be called, "Ashley Marie Mach", over the loud speaker as she walked up to recieve her diploma. She looked beautiful! I can't believe she grew up so fast!!!Proud Dad

Found my phone! Losing my Mind!

I finally found my phone!!!! I just new I had thrown it away mindlessly, just like I do so many other things when my multitasking body leaps ahead of my much slower and less capable brain. It was in my church bag! The one place EVERYONE told me to look first! Stubborn, stubborn me, I just knew I had lost it saturday with all the comotion of Kyla's Baptism, therefore making it impossible that it could be in my Sunday bag...oops! It would have been much easier to check the church bag than dig through the NASTY, poopy diaper laden garage trash, or scower the entire church building several times, or tear up the house from one end to the other. Next time, next time.

What I've learned after a week with no phone...

I've learned that if I had to depend on my brain to recall a phone number in an emergency, I'd be in pretty bad shape! I had to look up phone numbers in the "phone book", yes they still exist! But, alas, no one publishes their cell numbers, and few people still have a house phone--if they do, they don't answer it (I have to include myself in that category).

I learned that people are confused if you have to physically go into a store to ask for directions somewhere...evidently I should call the place or GPS it!?!? Duh, I HAVE NO PHONE!

I learned that this IS my last Iphone, and if I lose it again, my husband will have no sympathy, and I will be forced to get a cheapo--No more GPS, Internet, or cool apps! :(

But, most importantly, I learned that I can get alot done when I'm disconnected from the world. I took my kids to the museum, and instead of constantly being interrupted, got to talk with them and explore and enjoy all the exibits. I have some pretty smart kids!

It's funny how we can feel like every call is important or might be an emergency, but they very seldom are. It's such an automatic response to answer the phone every time it rings...in fact, it's VERY difficult not to. But after a week, I found that no major crisis happened without me, and if it was something important people found a way to get a hold of me. I think this summer, I'll spend more time with my awesome kids, and less time with my phone! So if it's important, call twice!!! :)

I'm back in the stone ages...

Okay, maybe not the stone ages, but I lost my cell phone AGAIN!!! This is the THIRD iphone in the last year that I have either lost or broken--Eric is not too happy with me right now! :) But, seriously, how in the heck are we supposed to survive without the technology we depend on. It's funny how you think the technology of smart phones has propelled our generation farther forward, but I think it has rendered us incapably of self survival! I had somewhere very important to go today, and couldn't find the way because without my phone I had no GPS, and no way of calling for directions--I had to stop at Walgreens and ask for directions! Who does that anymore!?! I had a very lonely, day because the ONLY phone number I have memorized is Eric's, so everytime I needed to call someone I had to call him to get the number from his phone, and then I had to listen to his reminding me that he is still on his first iphone!

Kyla wanted to call her friend, and we had to look up the number in the phone book (what's that?) and she couldn't figure out how to work the house phone!!! I really hope I find it soon, I have a horrible feeling that I threw it in the trash, with all the comotion of the baptism, and parties this weekend...that's the problem with multitasking!!! I can't tell you how many times I've misplaced or throw things away, because I'm doing 10 things, while thinking about 15 others!!! Oh and by the way, the only house phone we have is plugged into the wall, so when I AM on the phone, I'm STUCK sitting there!!! Ugh! Why, phone, why?? Why did you have to run away, I was treating you soo much better than the others, I even gave you a pretty pink case! Come back to me, I promise I'll never drop you again or let the kids play with you with sticky goopy fingers...perhaps I'll even keep you nice and charged! Please come back, I can't live without you!

Kyla's Baptism Day

Saturday May 29, 2010

Yesterday Kyla was baptized.

She looked so beautiful in her white Baptism dress.

When she was blessed as a baby, she wore a tiny little flower corsage bracelet tied around her wrist--Grandma Judy bought it for her, and it came with a little poem:

A bracelet for this little girl

Tied softly at her wrist,

Will hold a sacred memory

Of the day that she is blessed

Then let the flowers sit untouched,

Safely tucked away,

To nestle in her shiny hair

On her Baptism Day

As days turn into weeks and months...

Years filled with tears and joy,

Your precious girl will tell you

That's she's found the perfect boy.

So on the day that she is wed

The garter 'round her knee,

May hold the tiny flowers

Full of love and memories.

*Copyright Michal's Perfect Touch

I remember when we blessed Kyla, Eric held her in his arms, she was so tiny, so fragile. Her blessing dress swallowed her up completely. She wore her little bracelet. I thought at the time that baptism was so very far away, I was sure to forget all about the bracelet by then...Eight years went by way too fast. As I tied the little bracelet into a bow, and clipped it into her hair, and admired my beautiful little girl in her second white dress as her Daddy lowered her into the water, I thought about how fast my girl is growing up. How way too soon, I will be pinning it to a bridal garter and sending her off on her own. I am so very thankful to my Heavenly Father for entrusting me with such a precious sweet spirit.

I gave the talk on Baptism, as I've done times before for others, but this time as I explained to Kyla that she was now old enough to make her first covenants with her Heavenly Father, and that she was taking her first step in her own journey through this life, I felt the magnitude of my own responsibility to help guide her along the way. So many detours and distractions in this life, so many opportunities to loose your way. I am so grateful that I have the gospel in my life to pass along to my children. I am so grateful for the knowledge that we are NOT alone on this journey, that our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ love us. That They have given us a roadmap to follow and continue to help guide us along the way. My prayer is that Kyla will always remember her Baptism day. That she will always remember the special spirit that she felt that day. She is a wonderful, beautiful, and sweet little girl.

Kyla, I love you so much! I am so proud of you.

Kyla's Project Pride

Kyla is always proud of her projects, and she should be! She does them all by herself! It is no secret that Kyla is VERY creative brained. She is always creating something. This month has been an extremely busy one, and with the school year finally winding down, and so much on our already full plate we had procrastinated a dinosaur project Kyla was supposed to do.

Ms. Beyer's 2nd grade class had been researching their chosen dino all week in school then had a week to create a habitat. Kyla chose the ALLOSAURUS They were told that they had to make sure that the habitat included their dinosaur and was true to the region and time period in which that dinosaur was found. I was washing dishes the night before the project was due, and Kyla reminded me, for the hundredth time, that we needed to get started. I told her "after dishes," besides aren't projects always done last minute by parents anyway...

Kyla, being the determined girl she is, went about "doing it herself." I saw her going back and forth from craft room, to my room, to the boys room. I figured she'd have some cute ideas, and some things together and when I got around to it I could just pull it all together, check off the project as done, and move on. About 30 minutes later (no it doesn't take that long for me to do the dishes, but as my kids know once I start cleaning I have a hard time stopping) Kyla waltzes into the living room with a shoe box..."Do you want to see my project", oh yeah the project! I stopped cleaning and came over to "help" her start her project. TOO LATE! PROJECT COMPLETE, and it was AWESOME!

She was very detailed, even down to the three toed footprints, river with a log across it (dinosaurs have to drink), and a skeleton of a Stegosaurus with partial flesh attached and a big hunk of flesh in the Allosaurus' mouth.

As Kyla presented her research and project to the class I was amazed at just how smart my little girl is. I looked around at the other projects and hers was outstanding! I had to giggle, because after each kid presented, the class could ask questions...They always asked, how'd you do this, or how'd you do that, and the kids would just shrug their shoulders and say "I dunno my Mom did it!"--and sometimes a Dad or two came up. BUT when it was Kyla's turn, she gave a detailed description about how she did her project ALL BY HERSELF!

I DID print out the two little info squares for her to glue to the lid! Great job mom! I think it is amazing what our children are capable of doing if we just let them do it! I just can't figure out why this same little GENIUS has a hard time placing her dirty clothes in the hamper--she must get that from her Daddy :)