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 :)

Our Weekend Getaway

It was our TEN year anniversary this year.

And here's our story...

Eric proposed to me under the Century Tree at Texas A&M University on March 31, 2000

We were married 1 1/2 months later on Friday MAY 19, 2000. I remember it was a friday because when you only have about 45 days to plan a wedding your choices of venue are limited. Everywhere was booked on saturday (it was May--EVERYONE gets married in May), but we were finally lucky enough to find a place that had an opening on FRIDAY. THAT is how a devout Mormon, non-drinking couple got married at a WINERY! :)

We were married at MESSINA HOF WINERY in College Sattion (well Bryan actually) ;. It was a beautiful place, and a beautiful ceremony! But as soon as the photographer took the last photo, it POURED!!! (The worst flooding in Houston in the last 50 years) We however were dry and safe inside the reception...though I did slip and fall down the stairs going to the limo--oops!

Shortly after the Honey Moon, less than a month, Eric left for the summer to finish his Master's Degree in AUSTRALIA! :( We were soo love sick and spent hundreds of dollars on phone cards. When he got back he told me how BEAUTIFUL it was and vowed that he would take me back there on our TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Dinner

Oh the foolish dreams of childhood...little did we know that we would have 5 kids, a job that would not allow a long vacation and the expense of the trip now seems a little extravagant. Since we have frequent flyer miles and free hotel stays, we thought Hawaii would be a nice alternative. Oh did I say "we"? I meant I! Eric felt the trip would have to be several days to justify the long flight, AND it would be hard to get back if the kids needed us...:( BUT there is always the Bahamas!!! We LOVE the Bahamas! And the flight is a quick one! But alas, it was not to be, there were NO flights available at on the day we needed to fly home...we could get there, but we couldn't get back (and YES that is a problem). So choice number 4! We went to College Station for the weekend!!! Australia, College Station, Australia, College Station...Now don't get me wrong, you would be hard pressed to find a more maroon bleeding, horn sawing, whooping and humpin, Aggie out there, but for a Ten Year Anniversary?

We booked a weekend getaway at Messina Hof Whinery, strolled down memory lane, and relaxed our way into the very best anniversary we could've had!

A photo op with the owner of the winery/vineyard--quite a friendly and excentric guy! He chatted with us for about 15 minutes at dinner

The Vineyard

This pic was taken from the upstairs where we had our wedding reception.

This is the little Bed and Breakfast at Messina Hof where we stayed.

Our room was the "Antoinette", it was soo fun! It was very antiquely decorated--Eric said it was like staying at a grandma's house. :) This was where Eric's parents stayed the night of our wedding, the bridal party all got ready in their room. We got to sleep in every morning because breakfast wasn't served until 8:30am. We had a delicious breakfast each morning with the other couples staying there. The bed and breakfast thing is kinda neat.

Me displaying the cute little grape cluster in the vineyard

Eric posing with the wine barrels.

With our stay we got a free tour and wine tasting...it was free so we couldn't pass it up! It was fun and an interesting tour--we took the last tour of the day and our guide had been through quite a few wine tasting already that day so he was quite interesting! The tasting was very educational, I had no idea there were so many categories of wine, and different ways of tasting each--oh yeah, that's probably because I don't drink wine!!! They gave up glasses of sparkling grape juice, and we got to keep the wine glasses (bonus).

The guide told us about all the CRAZY/DRUNK turtles in the pond, I thought "um, crazy/drunk guide", but the next day we walked by the pond, and YES! It was full of CRAZY turtles...

I have never seen anything like it1 I was just stand ing by the pond, no food, no sign of turtles, and within 2 minutes about 100 turtle heads popped up and started swimming toward us! But they didn't stop at the bank, they just kept coming!!!! They climbed right out of the water, all over each other and right for us!!!

Our little weekend getaway was just right! Very low key, very relaxing, and very close to home--just in case. Eric's parents had the girls, mine had the boys, and we had a BLAST! Perhaps Australia for number FIFTEEN?

Happy TEN YEAR Anniversary

May 19, 2010

What an amazing TEN YEARS it has been!

I can't beleive it's been sooo long...it feels like we just met, just fell in love. I can't believe how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful man and have FIVE beautiful children. My blessings are abundant! When you first fall in love and decide to be married ten years seems soo far away, but I still remember...that first glance, that first kiss, the first fight, the first time we held hands, the first time we said "I love you". It feels like only yesterday that I was pinching myself hoping that this guy was really into me, "How could I be soo lucky", and now I'm still pinching myself, wondering, "How could I be soo blessed"? I truly have found the love of my life, and I am so thankful that that love can last through the eternities.

Thank you Eric, for being my HUSBAND, my LOVE and BEST FRIEND!

April Showers Bring May HURRICANES!!!!

The month of May has always been a CRAZY month for the Mach's, but this year May is INSANE!!! We have been caught up in a whirlwind that just won't stop blowing!!! Every year we celebrate:

Ashley's Birthday (May 3)

Kyla's Birthday (May 17)

Our Wedding Anniversary (May 19)

Grandmommy's Birthday (May 21)

Niece Megan's Birthday (May 22)

and all while winding down the school year with tests, end of year parties and finals...

BUT THIS YEAR:

Kyla turned Eight--Plan a Baptism

Ashley graduates High School--Plan for graduation day AND a graduation party

It's our TEN YEAR anniversary--Plan a getaway

It is a HUGE month of CELEBRATION, but WOW, it all hit at one time, and I'm just hoping we get it all done, and live to tell about it!

Happy Birthday Kyla!!!

May 17, 2010--EIGHTHappy Happy Birthday sweet Kylabel!

Now you are Eight years old, so big, so strong! You have such a wonderful independent personality and such a creative mind. You are such a blessing in my life. It has been fun watching as you have become such a little person--your own ideas, your own thoughts and opinions. I love to just sit and talk to you and have you share all that is in that fabulous brain of yours. You truly are a unique soul and I am so thankful that I get to be your mother!

"HAPPY COWGIRL"

Texas is full of cowgirls, but the Mach family has a very Happy Cowgirl! Every year the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has a big Art Competition and Expo. Over 300,000 pieces of art are submitted from children all over South Texas. This year 100 schools and 60 private schools participated. The art was judged and 681 pieces were chosen for awards and displayed in the Hayloft Gallery for the duration of the Rodeo.

Camden's masterpiece "HAPPY COWGIRL" recieved a Gold Medal!!!Showing off the Gold!Cami proudly pointing out her artwork in the Gallery--one of the very few (3-5) kindergarden and first grade art work chosen.

LITTLE Camden sitting down there in that BIG arena with all those BIG kids waiting for her BIG AWARD

A proud Momma and Cami waiting for the awards ceremony to beginEric and Camden on the bus ride over to the Rodeo

Mom and Camden after the Rodeo and Concert--we rode that Ferriswheel!

Cami getting to ride the horse named "Gem".

Part of the Award was 3 free tickets to the rodeo and Jason Aldean concert ?(Camden loved singing to "Big Green Tractor"). We had to wake up super early to get to Reliant Stadium by 7am to sign in for the awards presentation that started at 9am. So Pa and Gammy brought everyone else up at 9am to watch Camden get her award, then they took the kids back home with them so that Camden and Mom and Dad could enjoy the whole day at the rodeo. She felt so special getting to ride the ponies, and pet the animals, go to the fair, and just spend so much time with Mommy and Daddy all to herself!

On the way home late that night she said, "Mom, this was the BEST day EVER!"

It was definately a very special day.

Happy Birthday Ashley!!!

MAY 3, 2010--SEVENTEEN

It was really only yesterday that you were our tiny little "goose" and now you are all grown up, ready to take on the world. We used to play dress up and you would twirl around in my dresses and heels, so proud of how "grown-up" you looked. Now you have your own dresses and heels, and I look on, proud of how grown up you are.

You are a wonderful daughter and we couldn't be more proud of you!

Mister in the Bluebonnets

Marshall and I go running every morning with a friend and her two little ones, but the other day they weren't able to make it so it was just the two of us. It was nice to just run and chat with my baby boy--he is growing up too fast! We sang and counted and told stories, but Marshall kept pointing out the pretty flowers. So at the end of the run, we had to take his picture in them! He was soo cute, he was very careful not to step on any of them!

Cute Kids, Smart Mom!

Spring 2010

Kyla 7yrs (2nd grade)

Camden 6yrs (Kindergarten)

Durham 5yrs (PreK)

So it was Spring Picture time at the kids school...not a very easy time for the pocket book! Some would say your kids pics are priceless, especially those that come around twice a year documenting the inevitable growing up of our babies. Although I am that sucker that countinues to shell out the cash, for the sake of tradition, to see my beautiful children captured in time with the awkward smile, forced uncomfortable pose, backed by some hideous background, and taken right after either lunch (stained shirts) or PE (red face and crazy hair) or BOTH, this year I decided to buck the system! After calculating that I would have to spend almost $100 and still not get enough pictures to share with family, and nothing larger than a 3x5 (seriously! ) I decided to "volunteer" on picture day, and instead of buying 3 packages, I just bought 1 big one and made them throw all 3 of my kiddos in it! I think it turned out pretty cute! My Elementary School babies! We'll see if I can squeeze Marshall in there too in a couple of years. :)

Missing My Hubby

Eric has been out of town a lot...I miss him! But, I guess I can start catching up on my blogs... I was going through pics and found some of this year's joint birthday celebration. We had such a great time, BUT it only made me miss him more. :( We went to San Antonio and stayed on the Riverwalk at the Westin...it was sooo nice. It was just a quick weekend getaway, we only stayed two nights, but it was so nice to just be together with no responsibilities and no schedule. We delayed our checkout time 3 or 4 times! :)

We took a took a ride in the evening on one of the riverboats, and got to see the sights in the evening light and all light up at dark--it was beautiful. It's funny how just being alone and only having to worry about the moment, can make everything seem peaceful and beautiful. I think too often we spend each moment stressing about the next, then life just passes us by...

One morning we got to sleep in (that NEVER happens) and had brunch at a neat little resturant on the river. We sat on the balcony over looking the river and passersby. It was so beautiful and so peaceful, and so yummy! I LOVE brunch!

We went up on the Hemisphere Needle in HemisFair Park and even though Eric is absolutely TERRIFIED of heights (and No it absolutely does not make him less manly :)...He says that when you are as big as he is safety railings don't seem quite so stable--silly boy!) He braved the walk around several times so I could check out all the views! Thanks babe!

We did it all--HemisFair Park, the RiverCenter, The Riverwalk, The Market, The Villitas, The Alamo...It was fun to have my own private tour guide. I don't know why, but I have never been to the Riverwalk as an adult, but being the SUPERNERD hubby that he is (a VERY SEXY quality) he knew everything about everything, the history of the Alamo, Texas, the architecture of the buildings, the development of the Riverwalk, the aquaphor--you name it he knows it! I always laugh when we watch the Big Bang Theory on TV cause that's HIM. Only cute and athletic too. I always tell him that he's the whole package, and he laughs (gorgeous dimples) and says I just have low expectations and was homeschooled for too long! I don't think so! Man I miss him, this blogging thing is only making it worse!

Happy Birthday to US!!!

What the Mach's have been up to. . .

Haven't blogged in a while, so I have some catching up to do...it seems that when too many things happen at once and I take too many pictures, I get overwelmed and just avoid my blog altogether!!! We've had fieldtrips, birthdays, a retirement party for Eric's Dad, Easter (pics still to come), Spring Sing, and surely there's been more. But between all the major events, we've made a little time for some fun "minor" events. . . The boys play in the water and mud almost everyday. They LOVE it, but it makes for lots of LAUNDRY!!! :(
Durham's favorite thing to do is SOAK little brother Marshall

Ashley has been practicing driving, and she's gotten a lot better! Although, I'd stay off the roads for a while! J/K :)

Pa let her drive his big diesel dulley--she loved it! She says she wants a Dulley Truck, um, have you seen the price tags on those babies??? Maybe not anytime soon!

The little girls have been busy making "Lemonade" stands! The actual beverage varies by the day, and Daddy put a big kink in their idea to set the stand out by the highway, but they've made a pretty good haul from parents and grandparents willing to empty their pockets for a half drank glass on koolaid! My little entrepeneurs!

They have all also been lobbying for animal rights causes...Kyla wants to be a vegetarian, except she says she'll still eat chicken :) and...

They want to keep ALL of the 5 kittens, AND the additional stray cat that showed up two weeks ago--that makes SEVEN cats! "What if someone tried to take one of us away from our family???" Smart girls, but mom has no pity for more mouths to feed, and more poop to clean up..AND Kyla wants a DOG for her birthday! Where am I, a ZOO???

So, to all who wonder, we are still alive and still having fun! Keep checking, lots more posts and pics to come!

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!