MARCH 30, 2009

Durham's 1st Birthday
Handsome Boy

Durham's 3rd Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DURHAM

4 years old

DURHAM'S STORY:

Durham comes in number 4 following THREE sisters!!! I still remember when we went in for the ultrasound and the tech said, "it looks like a boy"! Eric and I just stared at each other like "did we hear her right? Surely she doesn't know what she's talking about--we only have GIRLS" We had already decided he was going to be a girl, and we'd have "The Mach Girls". Eric said he loved the girls, and it didn't matter if he ever had a boy! Well...I think he told at least three people on the way out of the hospital, and the usually shy Eric would strike up conversations with strangers just to tell them he was having a SON! Since then, EVERYTHING has CHANGED in out family dynamic!! Our calm pink inspired and Barbie cluttered house is no longer!!! Durham has brought balls, trucks, noise, and chaos into our family, and we love every minute of it, wall almost every minute! :)

My first boy, I love doing his hair--for the first couple of years I spiked it all over, it reminded me of a little lion! The boy was known for his hair, I cried when I cut it, but Eric said it was "out of control". Now, per Durham's request, I only spike the front! He says he likes it "cool"!

He is VERY SMART! He is definately a thinker! I am always asking him how he knows the things he knows, to which he assures me, "Because I MART!" He loves to talk and tell stories, he speaks v e r y s l o w l y so we can be sure to understand him clearly, but FYI, DO NOT INTERUPT!!! Any interuption will result in him having to "START ALL OBER"! So before you start a conversation with out sweet boy, make sure you have plenty of time to listen.

He is ALWAYS jumping off of things, tons of energy! He just got a new bike, and he launches himself down the hill full speed, whereas the girls still try to avoid the hill all together.

He is a very sweet boy, when we put hin to bed at night, I always say "goodnight handsome", to which he replys "goodnight butiful"! He always offering hugs and kisses, and when we drop the girls off at school he make sure he tells each off them "Have a good day, I love you!" The ladies in the drop off lines think he's a doll!

My precious baby boy, I love you so much and you bring so much joy into our family!

HAPPY 4TH BIRHTDAY1

Durham's 4th Birthday Party

Durham decided that this year he would have a Thomas the Train Birthday. He loves his trains, in fact he has had a Thomas birthday before, but you can never have enough trains!!!

He wanted a Thomas cake, but when we went to order, they didn't have Thomas stuff, but not to worry he searched through the book and found a really cool TRANSFORMER cake. But alas, it was not to be, no Transformer available either...sooo, we found a cool MACH 5 SPEEDRACER cake!!! Yeah, we are MACH'S, that will be awesome--we ordered it, and headed to Party City to get the decor--evidently Speedracer is too old, no Speedracer wah, wah,wah :(

Mom to save the day, we just ordered the Thomas cake somewhere else, duh! On with the show! Thomas the Train Cake and PRESENTS!

What do teenagers do at a 4 year old's birthday party??? Make faces in the camera, vulture around the snack table, eat all the strawberries, and make faces into the camera! But they wouldn't miss Durham's Birthday!

ALL ABOARD!!! The party favorite was the "train station"! The kids were constantly lining up for a ride on the train--Durham decided that since he was the birthday boy he never had to get off the train, so he road again and again and again. What a great Dad for making the rounds!

Durham did an AMAZING job hitting the mark on "pin the number on Thomas". Did he peek??? We'll never tell :)

Taking off the blind fold to admire his mad sticking skills

Dad, Mom, and the BIRTHDAY BOY!

Daddy and his first born son, the son he thought he'd never have!

Durham on the tree swing

Dad was working all the rides, perhaps he has a future with one of those traveling carnivals? "Eric the Carnie"

The kids really liked the jump castle too...when the train rides where closed.

Marshall thought the cake was pretty good! He's just saving some frosting for later.

Durham and his friend Max enjoying the cake and icecream.

Blowing the candles--MAKE A WISH!

It was a fun party. This was the first year that Durham really had an opinion about how he wanted his party to go. He loved having so many of his friends over and being the center of attention. He deserves it, He's a really good kid! I love you Durham, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Announcing Our Newest Arrivals...

Our house has attracted cats that seem to mulitiply before, so we were not suprised, but when we finally were cat free and loving it, we came home one day to the cutest little baby kitty at our door. She warmed our hearts with her sweetness. The kids codddle and care for her and she follows them around the yard like a puppy. They named her "Socky". We decided to keep her, but procrastinated a little too long before taking her to the vet to get "fixed" She grew plumper and plumper--I felt sorry for her, I've been there!

Well, the very much anticipated time has finally arrived, anticipated by everyone EXCEPT Mom! Our, or should I say "the" so as not to accept ownership, stray cat decided that she would bless our home with five little kittens--FIVE!!!

The girls were soo excited!!! They made her a little box to sleep in with her kittens and decorated it with stickers and polk-a-dots
FIVE! What a convenient number...five kittens, five Mach kids! They each picked out their favorite. Dad thinks it's pretty cute, Mom thinks she already has enough to feed and clean up after!!! Anyone need a Kitty???

Where have I gone wrong?

So Kyla, my sweet but notheless sassy 6 year old has been having a hard time lately. Whenever I pick her up from school she throws a fit because some kid brought a dog to show and tell..."It's not fair, why does EVERYONE have a dog except me? All I have is a cat, and she doesn't like it when I walk her. I WANT A DOG!!!" or she wants a neighbor "How come I can't go to a friends house, why do I not have neighbors, it's NO FUN!" or she wants a slush "Can we go to Sonic? Why not? Why do you never have any money? I want to go to SONIC!" all followed by the most horrific whining any human being could possibly stand without just throwing themselves off of a cliff!!! I can't figure it out, except maybe it is time for SUMMER! Then again, will that just mean I have 8 more hours in the day to listen to the complaints?

Anyway, today when I picked her up, and endured the "Why did Camden have to come too?" and the "I want to go to Jade's house" and "I don't want to go to gymnastics, I want to quit!" I got to glimpse her folder...where there is normally a proudly displayed sticker signifying a great day at school, there was the words written in disapproving black ink:

FIGHTING ON THE PLAYGROUND

What???? This is the FIRST GRADE, has my precious girl gone juvenile delinquent on me???

After the shock wore off I asked Kyla what happened, and with whom she was fighting? She said she was "wrestling" with Dylan and she didn't know that she wasn't supposed to. I've got to check this story out with the teacher tomorrow, but I'm not sure which is worse, fighting or wrestling with a BOY on the playground. Does anyone have their copy of the Parenting Handbook, I seem to have misplaced mine?!?!

Spring Break Part 2: Jetskiing

We went back to the lake Saturday. We had the boat and both jetskiis out again, this time it was even COLDER!!! I didn't get a lot of pics, water and cameras don't tend to mix too well, but we had TONS of fun!!! Daddy and Durham

Everyone rode the jetskiis, this time I was wearing a wetsuit--much more enjoyable!!! Especially when my little brother TYLER was on the other jetski trying to splash, play chicken, or just out right CRASH into me (not safe!!!) to get me to fall off and WET. We all had our share of time floating in the freezing water, and getting back on these things in the middle of the lake is NOT an easy task! However even Hypothermia can't stop the Mach's from enjoying SPRING BREAK 2009!

Why Blogger, WHY???

Why Blogger do you refuse to let me post more than 5 pictures at a time??? Do my pictures not look cute enough?

Why Blogger do you torment me with picture posts that never come out in the order I think they are going to? Do you have a secret shuffle button just for fun?

Why Blogger do you not allow me to preform the simple function of moving my pictures around in my post, then I least I would be able to forgive the shuffle button?!

Why blogger do you make it impossible for me to post a single post in less than 2 HOURS? I really would rather spend that time making more memories to post!!!

I LOVE my blog! I love to look back at all the memories made, but I swear one day blogger and I are going to have to throw down!!! OR...perhaps I'm just an idiot!!!

Spring Break

Okay, let me just vent!!! This picture was set in the middle of this post, then when I was trying to delete all the spaces that love to appear for no reaseon in the post the pic got deleted, and of course I can't put it back where it goes because blogger cannot seem to perform the basic function of moving pics within the document, sooo if anyone knows any tricks, PLEASE tell me, because I am about to pull my hair out and it shouldn't take all day to post one blog!!!!


That being said, we had a fabulous first half of spring break. This is a pic of the kids tubing!

Monday night we decided to join my family up at Lake Summerville. We packed up and arrived at the campsite in just enough time to set up camp and go to sleep. Setting up tents in the dark isn't exactly the most easy of tasks but we had fun! It's been a while since we went camping and our family has grown--we discovered we don't all fit in our tent anymore, or at least not unless we pack in like sardines. So the first night we were the Mach Sardines! We had two queen sized air matresses and a port-a-crib for Marshall.
The three little ones slept on one matress and Ashley and Mom on the other...Dad ended up on the floor after Ashley got stung by a bug and refused to sleep alone!

So the next night Ashley and Mckenzie slept in Ashley's 3 man tent which worked out well, but we missed having her snuggled up with us. That morning the boys thought they were sleeping in too late and decided to take down the tent while they were still in it!!! Not happy campers!

What a cute couple!!!

Ashley hauling down the tube...AGAIN.

Mister Marshall Man

Durham spent most of his time digging in the sand

Camden smiling for the camera

Kyla collected shells, and carried them around everywhere in her little blue basket.
Now we have a bucket of sandy shells proudly displayed in the house

"THE BOAT"

This bad boy seats 18 people and has tanks that fill up to make the wakes bigger for death defying wakeboarding and terrifying tubing...it's a BLAST!!!

Mom and the little girls tubing with Quinten and August

Ashley and McKenzie excited to be on the boat

Beautiful Beach Babes

The boys LOVE being on the boat, I think it's funny they look so disgruntled in this pic, maybe they wanted to go tubing?!?

That's better! However, note the sweaters...it was FREEZING cold!!! The sun did not decide to come out until almost 2pm! But we didn't let it deter us from having fun!

Captain Pa

****THIS IS WHERE THE TOP PICTURE BELONGS!!! UUGH!!!****

Teenage Tubing Mania

(August,Tommy,Tyler,McKenzie,Ashley,Quinten,Kyle)

Ashley narrowly escaping a freezing cold dunk...run Ashley run!

The Mach kids enjoying the sun and sand!
Lake Summerville

Durham the DRAGON

I really love it when my kids use their imaginations and I try to appease them when ever I can. The girls are always pretending that they are babies or princesses, mermaids or even cats! I remember Ashley would pretend she was a dog so often that I kept two little bowls on the kitchen floor for her to "eat" out of, one for water and one for "food"--usually a cut up cosmic brownie, evidently dogs LOVE brownies?!?

Anyway, the other day Eric and I were in his office and Durham came in with what I thought was a new role play for his imagination:

Durham: "Mom, does my tongue look like a dragon tongue?"

Mom: "Let me see...(he sticks out his tongue)...Oh, yes! It looks just like a

Dragon's tongue!"

Durham: "Do I look like a Dragon?"

Mom: "Well,...(mom inspects very closely)...oh yes, your eyes look just like Dragon

eyes! Oh you MUST be a Dragon!"

(DURHAM LEAVES THE ROOM)

(MOM IS VERY SATISFIED THAT SHE JUST MADE HER SON'S DAY)

(DURHAM COMES BACK MINUTES LATER EYES FILLED WITH TEARS)

Mom: "Durham! What's WRONG???"

Durham: "Why do I look like a DRAGON???"

Mom: "Oh, baby, don't you want to look like a dragon?"

Durham: (through tears) "No, I don't want to be a dragon! My tongue looks like a

dragon tongue!!! (more sobs)

Mom: (very confused) "Durham, wait let me look again...(inspecting even more
closely) wait, look at Mommy's tongue, it looks like yours, and no you have blue
eyes like Mommy, turn around, (Durham turns) oh now I see, you don't have a
tail, you CAN'T be a dragon!!! You look like Mommy! You are Mommy's
BOY!!!" (Mom gives him a big hug)

Durham: "Dad, IS MOM A DRAGON!"

Dad: (laughing hysterically) " No, son...well, only ONCE A MONTH!"

Mom: (NOT laughing--gives Dad VERY dirty look)

Durham was finally satisfied enough to continue his play, as a BOY, but now Dad was left in the office to fend for himself with Mom the DRAGON!!! :)

She's Growing Up...

With the weather getting nicer the kids have been venturing outside more and riding around on their bikes. The only problem is Kyla has shot up so much in the past few months, and when she went to ride her bike she looked like those clowns on one of their little clown cars. Her knees were practically hitting her chin. It is obvious she has grown out of her bike, BUT until we can buy a new one, Eric extended her handle bars and seat up to the highest setting. I can't believe she got that bike for Christmas in 2007 and it was sooo BIG for her she could barely ride it, now she's outgrown it!!! Big girl, little bike...
Daddy's here to save the day!!!

With Marshall as a sidekick, they got the job done.

It seems like just yesterday we were taking the training wheels off of Ashley's bike, and now she's getting ready to get a driver's license...in the blink of an eye, they will all be grown, where does the time go? :(

To Do List:

1) Get Kyla a bigger bike

2) Teach Kyla to ride without Training Wheels!!!

3) Find out how to keep my children from growing up

Monster Truck Mania

This post should have been posted a month or so ago, but I'm just getting around to it-not surprising, I am a SLACKER!

My dad, the Best Pa in the world, invited us all out to the monster truck races at Reliant Stadium. Why doesn't he ever call about Disney on Ice, or the Nutcracker, or I don't know even the museum or zoo. NO, with my Dad it's always Monster Trucks, the Gun Show, the Boat Show, or Car Races. When he originally invited, he asked if the grandkids wanted to go to see the monster trucks. I told him Durham and Marshall probably would, but he could ask the girls too. He asked if Eric and I wanted to go, um, a quick "NO not really, especially if you are taking all the kids...Eric and I could have a night alone". Sounded like heaven on earth. Well, being the "hilarious"-note sarcasm, Dad that he is, he called Eric and told him he had invited us all--Eric was excited! Then I told him the other offer, and he too felt tricked! Oh, Dad, you are such a stinker!!!

Anyway we ALL went, at least we would have fun with the kids. And we did, it was much less "hickville" than I expected, although there were plenty interesting characters to watch, and possibly AVOID! But then again, we were with MY family, it's kinda hard to get any more strange than that. :) LOVE YOU GUYS!
Pa had to get just the right seats, high and center, so...up, up, up we walked. Little ones in tow, thanks to my brothers for helping keep track of everyone.

We FINALLY made it up to the top, the kids thought it was sooo cool to be so high and be able to look down on the city! My mom and other brother Tyler and Sister McKenzie were already up in the seats waiting for us, my Dad and brothers Quinten and August waited for us so they could help with everyone--I do have a great family! My dad was really excited to show everyone the BIG, LOUD Monster Trucks!

I jumped in the pic for this one, when you're the family photographer you don't get in many!

Kyla thought the gas, or what ever they are burning for fuel stinks! It did kinda give me a headache, or maybe it was the noise!!!

Marshall LOVED the big trucks, especially when they did donuts!

Durham was on the edge of his seat the whole time, he liked it ALL!!!

In the end we all had a GREAT time, and the kids talked about it for weeks. I guess that is what grandparents are for, making fun memories, even ones MOM tried to avoid. Thanks Pa and Gammy for taking us all out! It was a BLAST!