Guess What I Got!!!

I have always said that my husband gets me the best gifts!!! He really listens when I talk and gets me things I didn't even know I wanted...okay so yes, I knew I wanted it, but I didn't tell him I wanted it. For my birthday Eric super surprised me with a Cricut Cutting Machine. I'm so excited, I can't wait to play with it! Thanks Eric! You're the BEST!

I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!!

Today is my birthday!!! I LOVE birthdays, I just wish you could have them without it meaning that you are turning another year older! I am 31 years old today! I remember turning 25 and thinking, "Oh my gosh, am I really only 5 years from 30???!!!" Then 30 came...sad, sad day. It's all over, the youth, the fun, I was no longer "20 something". NOW, I'm not just 30, I'm "in my 30's"!!!! HOLY COW!

"They" say (who the heck is "they" anyway) that you are only as old as you feel. Well, I have 5 kids, a mortgage, I don't remember the last time I actually painted my toe nails, it is 12:25 in the afternoon and I am still in my pj's and haven't showered, I am starting to see wrinkles is my face, it takes me FOREVER to lose 5 pounds, and I think I found a grey hair!!! So you tell me, how old is 31??? Did I say that I LOVE Birthdays??? Let's change that to LOATH Birthdays!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!

A Romantic Night Picnic
The SEXIEST 33 year old man alive!

Yesterday, February 26, 2009, my sweet hubby turned 33 years old! I wanted to do something special for him--two problems: 1) I hate to spend alot of money on him--it's his money anyway and 2) He ALWAYS does the most sweet and romantic things for me and I never think of anything good!

Well, NOT THIS YEAR! I was sooo proud of myself. I had a raquet ball court reserved at the REC Center at Texas A&M for two hours so we could play raquetball. We met at the REC, playing volleyball, but I figured raquetball was easier to play for two! He LOVED it! It brought back so many great memories...we walked around the REC, and sat and watched the students play vball on the court that started it all. Then we ran a few laps around the REC track just for old times. It was so fun, even the smells take you back---aahh the euphoric smell of youth and sweat!

THEN, we took a nice evening stroll through campus, and by the Century Tree where he proposed to me in front of our friends and family! We booked it over to the take out line at Outback Steakhouse, our first "evening date", I had the meal ordered online. We took it to the park for a night picnic! When we first started dating he decided it would be romantic to set up a picnic in the park at night. He took me out, but had no idea that I am deathly afraid of the dark!!! I ruined the whole date. I was terrified, and kept looking around franticlly like a warewolf was going to jump out any minute and eat us both--you laugh but these things really go through my head!!! Well, this time I had siked myself up for the dark, but luckily there was a baseball game going on nearby so the lights cast a ever so soft glow, so I could see clearly any approaching warewolfs!

We had soo much fun and Eric said it was his best birthday ever--what a sweetheart!

What I love about Eric:

His smile and dimples--they're gorgeous

He's an AWESOME Dad--he loves to play

He is very romantic--he always tells me he loves me

He has a great sense of humor--he's hilarious

He takes good care of his family--he always puts us first

He's fun!--he gets sooo excited about things

He's not afraid to shop with me--grocery store or mall, he's there

He's HOT!

Eric, I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!! I love you!!!

LOVE is a walk in the park . . .

. . .or a SWING in the park!

Eric and I decided to go very low-key this Valentine's Day. When he asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day, I told him I just wanted to sleep in. Sooo, that's what we did! We slept in until 10:30am then we all loaded up and headed to Denny's for breakfast. Yeah, for me, no cooking!!! Then we decided we'd all go to the park. We had so much fun just playing, sliding, swinging, and being together. Then we took the kids to the movie to see "Hotel for Dogs"--they loved it. We were home by 5pm and relaxed the rest of the evening. What could be better? It was a PERFECT Valentine's Day!

Now if you are one of those who thinks that Valentine's Day is for couples, I would have to disagree. It's a day to celebrate LOVE and for me, LOVE is FAMILY! Or maybe that's what you tell yourself when you have too many kids, that are too young to get an overnight sitter, and you don't have the money to take that romantic getaway to the Bahamas??? Either way, friday night we did get some grown-up only time. We had a nice dinner and Newly Wed Game night with friends. We did NOT win, however a few had picked us for who they thought were the most romantic couple, BUT it didn't take long for one of the spouses to correct the assumption by reminding everyone, "do you not notice that they are ALWAYS arguing?" Well, Cory, if you must know that "playful bantering" is how the Mach's FLIRT with one another!!! Hey, everyone has their thing, right? We like to tease and argue for our own entertainment, probably not the healthiest thing, but it makes Eric laugh and flash his GORGEOUS dimples, and that drives me CRAZY!!! Oh romance!!!!

The Picnic

When Kyla is at school, and Marshall is down for a nap, Cami and Durham play so well together. They really are very good friends. The other day they decided they wanted to have a picnic. They picked a nice spot under the tree in the back yard, spread out a blanket, and enjoyed the beautiful day together. . .

What a sweet scene, they are about 16 months apart in age and will be back to back in school, I can't wait to watch these two grow up together.

My little Monkey

I just thought this picture captured Durham so much, I had to post it. It amazes me how a little boy's mind works, how their eyes see this world of ours. We were just walking to our car from a friends driveway, a trip that should take about 30 seconds. I was in a hurry, we had stayed too long, the babies were getting tired and cranky, and I needed to just strap everyone into their carseats and be off to pick up Camden from school. Well...to Durham that walk across the street was an ADVENTURE! He had to run the opposite direction of the car just to do it and laugh! He had to hop on the curb and skillfully walk across what, in his mind, probably was a beam treacherously suspended over some dangerous river filled with crocs?!? He leaped and jumped ran and skipped. Then when I thought we had FINALLY made it to the car, he found the fire hydrant! He pounced on top of it like some defeated Dragon.

I was about to rip him off and place him (not so gently) into his carseat, when he yelled out, "Mom, get your camera and take a picture of me!" He was sooo proud of himself, I had to comply. Durham is FULL of energy, but he has taught me that what matters most to a little boy is HAVING FUN. Even a walk across the street can be fun when viewed in the proper perspective! Perhaps I need to check myself sometimes and adjust my perspective! I love my little monkey boy!

Ashley and "Little Momma"

Okay so this is not anything new, in fact it happened when Ashley turned about 11 years old, I think, but I was looking through some pics that we took together around Christmas time and it is soooo depressing!!! I mean don't get me wrong, I am proud to have such a young, fun, and beautiful daughter...but when did I start looking so old, feable, and just plain tired. Where's all my youth and beauty, my spunk and gorgeousness??? I used to have it, I PROMISE!!! That's it, from now on I will ONLY take pictures next to short wrinkly old women in there 90's--know any, I really need a pick me up! :) I guess a little makeup would help right?
Young, beautiful, and STRONG!

I used to carry this little girl around EVERYWHERE on my hip...um, sorry Ash, but I don't think that's happening!

I did it! But somehow it just doesn't seem as "Motherly"

Gotta love the teenagers!!!

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, I get it! YES, I am a RUNT! Even my "little" sister is bigger than me! You know what, paybacks are...well, you know. And one day you two will be old and married, with kids draining the life out of you...your daughters will make fun, not acknowledging that you too were once young and a sight to behold....

Anyone ever seen CATS the musical??? Grizabella "The Glamour Cat" comes to mind! :)

It has been a lot of fun though, watching Ashley morph from a little, cute as a button, tiny tot, that used to snuggle up with me for hours. I remember her watching, eyes wide, as I would dress and put on my make-up and she would copy everything I did, tell me she thought I was beautiful, and she wanted to be just like me...

To a beautiful young woman! She doesn't need make-up tips or fashion advice, in fact now she feels she needs to give ME the advice--"are you really going to wear that?" "Mom, what do you have going on with your hair?". But I love who she has become, and now I get to step down, let her take the stage, and watch from the sidelines as she takes to the runway of life! I watch and applause, and wait for those few special moments when she still snuggles up with me and I know she'll always be my little girl no matter how BIG she gets!

Feeling Good

I wanted to update my blog, but I don't have any pictures to post because my camera is outside in the Durango and it is stinking cold outside so I refuse to go out and get it!!! Besides I am happily cuddled up on the couch, the kids all tucked in their beds, and Eric is at church playing volleyball, not due back until who knows when. So, I have been checking out all of my friends blogs and seeing their cute families and fun escapades and I was just thinking "you know what, life is pretty darn fun!" I have a great family, great friends, and a warm blanket...a far cry from my thoughts just an hour earlier when I got home from grocery shopping (two different stores) with all four little ones tired and hungry--had to do the shopping tonight (grocery game--don't laugh I saved $100), I usually try to do it monday day. Eric came too, but the kids were not happy and it was cold and drizzly--I'll probably spend more than $100 at the doctor when my kids all get sick for having them out in this nasty weather. Anyway, we get home, too late to take baths, it'll have to wait for the morning, I LOVE rushing around trying to get baths in before school!!! And, throw pj's on, read scriptures and say prayers as the children continue their "meltdowns". Can it get any worse??? Then the phone rings!!! Thanks JEREMY, reminind Eric he is late for Volleyball, so out the door he goes while I put the kids to bed HYSTERICAL that Dad is leaving...I get Mister down! Yeah, a victory, then Kyla trips over a toy in the hall and must have cut her foot off because the wailing is now unconsoleable! Finally I get the girls in bed, and proceed to take Durham to his bed...I open the door and a wonderous ODOR knocks me over--Marshall has pooped in his pants, aauuugh! I had to wake him up to change the not solid poop, and while I was trying to roll up the NASTY diaper he PEED ALL OVER HIS BED!!! Pillow, sheets, blanket, teddy, it all got it. So as I am cursing Eric's name, I pull Marshall out of bed, set on the bed with Durham, change bedding, and watch as he, now fully awake, jumps on top of Durham's head just to hear him SCREAM!!!

I did finally get everyone to bed, and escaped into my world of blogging...So I guess this is a THANK YOU to all of my friends that let me escape into their worlds of happy blogging bliss when I can't handle my world another second. And help me realize we all go through and survive the maddness, and the good times far outweigh the bad! Eric thanks you too, he won't get his head bitten off when he wlks through the door, and I might even let him snuggle up with me on the couch in my cozy blanket, and chat about how much we LOVE our little sleeping babies!

Heating up the kitchen

I was really excited when I opened my Christmas gift from Eric and the kids...a KitchenAid Mixer!!! For years I have wanted one, but could not justify the expense with my sad lack of cooking skills, but skills or not my sweet husband appeased my wants. I love my family!!! We were so excited to try it out, the other day Eric and I decided to put it into action and a bake some HOMEMADE BREAD! I have never made bread before--I stick to chocolate chip cookies, cakes, and brownies...it was sooo much fun, and YES I was using my shirt as a hand towel!
We began our "adventure" at about 6:30pm with visions of soft, warm, mouth-watering bread to accompany dinner...um, so now I see why we just run to the grocery store and pick up a loaf or two. I was a little apprehensive, but I had the trusty Bernard's New and Complete Book of Breads--Revised and Expanded. The book is about 4 INCHES THICK! so I figured it was thorough enough for even me. I found the "Beginner's Loaf" recipe--THAT'S IT! THAT'S ME! We read and mixed and watched, read and mixed and watched, then FINALLY at 9:25pm we heard the final oven beep gloriously announcing the pecious loaves finished...

Eric says, "NICE LOAVES"
Two beautifully golden, hot, and perfectly browned loaves!
A MASTERPIECE
BUT, would it be edible???

Kyla and Durham, the only two kids still awake, volunteered to be taste testers, and...TWO THUMBS UP!!! WE DID IT! But, wholly cow, someone could have told me it takes FOREVER!!!

I love my mixer, and today I made a nice QUICK batch of chocolate chip cookies. My visions of never buying bread again, and always having nice warm homemade slices at every meal were quickly clouded, but perhaps once a month?!?

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year!

What a great 2008, hope you all had fun ringing in the new year!

We celebrated the New Year at Rainforest Cafe! They have a New Year's party from 6-8pm that is lots of fun and AWESOME for the kids... BUT, we didn't exactly plan ahead, and because it was "reservation only" and we didn't have a reservation we had to wait 30 minutes until the reservations were all filled, but they had an extra table for us and we were EXCITED! Face painting, cookie decorating, balloon drop, and New Year's goodie bags with all sorts of fun things, it was worth the wait, but next year I'll be sure to call ahead.

The kids loved the aquariums

Kyla with her balloon hat

a balloon clown made the kids swords and hats...

Cami was very proud,

Marshall wasn't too sure about Mr. Clown

Mom and Kyla

Mom & Mister

Daddy & Camers

what a cute couple

The cookie decorating station that was very yummy!

Party! Party! Party!

Even Daddy got into the celebrating spirit!

Durham decided to take on the boys at the next table in a balloon sword fight

At the end of the night the servers passed around sparkling cider in plastic champagne glasses that the kids all thought were very cool--Camden even brought her glass home with her. At 8pm they had a balloon drop and a TOAST to the New Year!

And we still made it home for bedtime!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009