Our Crazy Life

Too Long!

2010-07-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hope Everyone Had a happy 4th of July... we spent it at our Favorite Place.... The River in Az... it was wonderful creating yet another year of wonderful memories with my family and our friends the Parkers!!

So it has been forever since I have updated my blog!!! First things first Chris and I celebrated our 10 year wedding Anniversary in Vegas with our kids and my parents and it was so much fun... :) I am so thankful to have such an awesome husband who is a great father to our kids and

a wonderful companion to me!!! I love you Chris!!! Here is to another wonderful crazy 10 years with you!!

After Vegas, the summer started and things have just been super fun and crazy! We decided to head out to the river for the 4th of July with our fabulous River Rat Friends we love the (Parkers)!

We have been spending a lot of time in the pool in our backyard so all of us are nice and Tan! Cant wait for family to come visit and have some fun with us in good ole Southern Cali! Hope all of you are well and here are some 4th of July River pictures :) For all of my sisters and brothers the before mentioned was an invitation....... just so theres no misunderstanding!!! xoxxo

So Sweet so Kind.... its Ashlyn

2010-02-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

Ashlyn's class does a silent vote every month for students of the month and there are different categories Ashlyn's class mates voted her in for the CARE award!!! I just want to take the time to Tell all of you how proud I am of my sweet, loving, funny and kind little girl.... who isn't so little anymore, She truly is such a caring girl who loves to help others. She is such a beautiful girl who an infectious smile that is just as pretty as she is!! I am so grateful to be her mother. I love you Ashlyn Nichole Durham!

Collin is 2!!

2010-02-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Well I cant believe that it is February 19th again my lil dude is 2! Time seems to be passing all to quickly.... I sure do love my lil man he keeps me on my toes and that is an understatement! :) For as difficult as my lil man is he along with his sister are the light of my life, the best parts of me and chris are in tangled into them! I look at Collin and sometimes think holly crap you are a stink pot but then he smiles and melts my heart and I know that all of his attitude makes him him! I might have to continuously tell myself this and I will have re read this at times but right now I am feeling so lucky to be his mother! He is a very bright little boy with so much energy and such a kind heart ( when he gets his way) just playing for the most part my son has a wonderful kind sensitive spirit, it just takes one hug and kiss and I forget all the hell he just put me through just seconds ago!!! So here is to my lil hell raiser..... I love you and I wish you a very Happy Birthday!!! We are having the party tomorrow so stay tuned for the pictures!!

Update!!

2010-01-21T13:13:00.000-08:00

Okay so first things first.... we had a wonderful Thanksgiving at my mom and dads house we got to see most of my siblings and nieces and nephews! here are some random photos of Thanksgiving.... We tried to get all the grand kids that were there together for a photo and they turned out pretty good. Me and my dad and my lil dude collin, and collin finding G-pa very very funny!

Before we Had to go back home we celebrated Ashlyns b-day a lil early... my big girl turned 7!! ooh how time has just flown by!!

It was hard leaving my parents house but we managed to get back home and celebrate Ashlyns B-day and Christmas here is a sneak peek of some of the Christmas and b-day photos. (more pictures to come at a later date.

Collins Birthday is coming up next month he will be 2... more photos to come.

Family photos

2009-11-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

So last Saturday we got our pictures taken by one of our friends who is a photographer and Kelly did a great job. So I cant decide which ones to get for grandparents and family and which ones to print for my own house! Take a look and tell me which ones you like!!

I thought they turned out pretty good even though I am not very photogenic! Hope all is well with everyone hopefully we can make it to see you all for thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween

2009-11-01T14:35:00.001-08:00

We had a fun and safe Halloween and I hope all of you had the same. Collin had a blast going up to the houses and getting candy put in his pumpkin it got so full that he couldn't even carry it after a while! He sure did make one hell of a cute dinosaur! Ashlyn was a beautiful Angle and she told me that "now everyone will know I work for god." We had a great month of October one holiday down two to go.... bring it on!

2009-10-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

Its been so crazy around here lately always something needing to be done or someone needing attention and the list of things to do goes on!! We have been adjusting to life with a first grader the homework alone is madness and then the pressure to get her ready for her tests! I was so wrong when I thought that I had finished school..... um no I was just on a long break!! I also volunteered to be Ashlyns room mom and let me just tell you that this year will be my last!!! Collin is growing up and becoming more mischievous and a true boys boy. I can finally say that the dude is finally allowing me to breath without him being right on top of me! He is becoming such a daddy's boy and no this does not hurt my feelings at all!

Even though life gets crazy we manage to always take some time and create fun family memories.! Here are some pictures of the things we have been up to. We had Chris's Sheriffs picnic for his work that was fun for the kids and dad got to show the kids what being a part of the sheriffs department is all about! We are very proud of Chris he works so hard and is so good at his job and is going to go far in his career! We also took the first desert camping trip of the season, we had so much fun and the countdown is on for the next trip with all of our favorite peeps; and last but not least a few pics from the pumpkin patch. More Halloween pictures to come... Ashlyn has her fall festival on Friday and then trick or treating I will post pictures of what they are for Halloween soon. Love to all and we sure do miss everyone.

Family Fun!!

2009-09-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to the past couple of weekends. We spent Labor Day at the Beach having fun in the sun. The weekend before that we had a b day pool party at our house and Chris took Collin down the slide and he loved it.... he kept pointing to the slide wanting to go down again!! Man my little dude is sure getting big fast. Ashlyn is such a big girl but still loves her dad to show her how everything is done. Chris enjoyed teaching Ashlyn how to dive under the waves... she will need more practice, she still hasn't got use to the Salt water we really need to spend more time at the beach!!

Well I hope all of you are doing well and your school year is off to a great start. Cant wait for all the holidays that are just around the corner.... more fun family times!! love to all.

My big girls fist day of 1st grade

2009-08-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Well I did it I sent my daughter out into the real world! I did it with minimal amounts of tears! She woke up super early like 6:00 am and was waking me up saying mom get up we are going to be late!!! Ashlyn insisted on getting her teacher a green apple for the first day of school, so we stopped off and got Mrs. Stone a green apple!! We got to school and she walked up to her teacher gave her the apple and a hug and told her she was so happy to be in her class!! It was super cute, she then proceeded to tell me that she was OK and that she was a big girl and that I could leave now. I put down my shades and let the tears start falling! She did give me a hug though, how kind of her to throw her old mom a bone. I stayed to see her walk into class and get some pictures, when she realized this she looked at me and said mom I said you could go.... I was very heartbroken by this statement and she walked over gave me another hug and whispered in my ear not to cry she would be a good girl and if I cried I would embarrass her!! Well needless to say she had a wonderful day and is ready to do it again tomorrow!!! Here's to my big girl having a great year.... Oh how I love my little oh excuse me big girl Ashlyn!!

I don't think Ashlyn and Haeley let go of each others hands until they had to!!! Best of friends, I am so glad that they are in the same class together!!

River Vacation/ Happy 4th of July

2009-07-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

Okay so life has finally slowed down a little so that I can update you all on what a wonderful vacation we got to take... a special thanks to the Parkers for sharing it with us!!! We love the river!! we had lots and lots of fun on our week long river adventure, here is just a few pictures of all the fun we had!!! We cant wait to do it again. I just have to stay the camp site we stayed at was the River Lodge Resort but it should have been called the Donkey River lodge cause the wild donkeys were all over the place and the kids loved to feed them, and at night the donkeys loved to mate and make lots of noise doing it! he he good thing the kids were in bed!!

Megan and I were so lucky that our men like to cook and that they are sooo good at the dutch oven because the chicken and the desserts were soooo yummy thanks to our wonderful dudes!!

We had such a fun 4th of July the we went into town and had dinner and then we went to the fire works.... let me just say the best show ever.... it could of been our awesome seats!!!

Chris and Ashlyn had a blast riding the tube together and so did Megan and I!!!

I cant tell you all enough how much I enjoyed spending time with my family and our great friends it was so rejuvenating and my hubby got to spend his favorite holiday his favorite way.! Its times like these that make me take a step back and realize just how awesome I have it hear in this thing called life, I have a great dude and great kids and wonderful friends, here is to many more fun filled memories and good times!! love to all I did miss family as well but am glad to have friends who make living far from my mother and sisters not so sad!

Let the Summer Begin!

2009-06-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

So me and my gal pals, he he.... seriously now me and the girls took our kids to the Wild Animal Park last week. We all had a great time and the kids did so good they only had one melt down and little baby Logan was so good! My little dude was even good and for those of you who know my little dude are amazed right now... ha ha he really is a handful but we love him anyway and his personality! Collin loved seeing all the animals it was cool to see his face and the look of what the hell is that thing! I love seeing him grow and experience life! Ashlyn loves animals and being with her friends so it was a perfect day for her and it was a beautiful hot day! We meaning the mothers forgot to bring their swim gear but it didn't matter they got wet anyway and dried with in no time out in the sun! I miss my sisters and wish we lived closer so that we could do days like these but that being said I am such a lucky girl to have found such a great family of friends who I wouldn't trade for the world they are truly my sisters just as much as my blood ones who I love dearly as well! Thanks Kyla and Megan for such a great day!

This next week we are off to the river for the 4th of July and Chris's Birthday!!! We are going to have sooo much fun with our friends the Parkers we will be gone for 8 to 10 days so hopefully we will have lots and lots of fun pictures to share so stay tuned!!

Lots to update!

2009-06-21T11:30:00.001-07:00

Okay so first things first Chris and I celebrated 9 years of marriage!!! Our life is full of craziness but at least we have each other to make the craziness fun craziness! I love Chris and the family that we built together!! Here is to another 9 years and many more!! Who knows what lies in store for us we are two of a crazy kind! he he

Well summer is finally Here and my little Ashlyn has graduated from Kindergarten to first grade and oh man did I think letting her go to kindergarten was hard, oh let the tears begin! For most of you who know me you find the sappiness a little odd because I am not one of those kinds of mothers I like when they get independence, it makes my life a little easier, but man I don't know how I am going to be without my Ashlyn all day I know in theory its a great idea one down one to go but the pain in my heart is very weird to me! I know my little princess is outgoing and easily makes friends and by no means is she a follower but I cant help but feel a bit protective... I don't want anyone to hurt her and I want her to know how much I love her!!! so with that being said I find her going to first grade a hurdle of hurt waiting in the mist for me. She on the other hand is so excited for school lunch and being a big kid!! We shall see!

So here are a few pictures of my Princess graduating from Kindergarten, way to go Ashlyn, you are so smart and beautiful and me and your dad love you so much and are proud to be your parents!

So next Chris took Ashlyn on a Daddy daughter outing, those two have so much fun together! Chris to Ashlyn to an Angles game, they had so much fun and didn't get home until very late Ashlyn felt so special!

Well just as everything was settling Collin got very sick!!! My little dude got gastroenteritis, its a nasty virus and can be very serious! Collin was throwing up and diareah for 5 days my little dude had to get a IV because he got so dehydrated! My poor baby but all is well and he is back to being my little monster!

And finally Happy Fathers day daddy! We are so glad that you are ours we couldn't of asked for a better dad, you do a great job at loving us and we sure do love you!

Well there you have it, that's what we have been up to as of late. I am going to try and keep you all up to date this summer because we have a lot of fun stuff going on and hopefully some fun and cute pictures to share. Stay tuned for some pictures of Chris's new Harley!!!

2009-05-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

Okay so its been a long time since my last post so I thought I would update you all!

Well first things first Me and my kids went to Utah and Idaho for Spring Break and Easter. We spent two weeks with my family, we missed Chris but it was nice to see everyone! While we were there Collin got his very first haircut!!! Oh how time has just flown by, he is a big boy now! Collin also got weaned from nursing!! Yeah for momma and so sad for little dude, its been like three weeks almost 4 and he still will ask every once in a while...:( poor boy!

I got to spend some time with two of my sisters, oh how we missed you jenny! Meagon, Amber and I had a lot of fun taking the kids around to the falls and taking pictures and just being together! I also got to spend some good time with my parents, oh how I love just being around my mom and dad and the kids just adore them. Even though Collin took a while to warm up to my mom he finally did and then he couldn't stop giving her loves!

Easter was a blast Collin didn't know what the heck to think, he was so funny all he knew was that the stuff in the eggs you could eat so he didn't bother taking the wrapper off of it! Ashlyn loved hunting for eggs with her cousins and the Easter bunny was very good to her and Collin both!

Well we loved visiting Family and had a great time. Love you guys!

Ashlyn loved the trapoline, she went crazy on that thing!

Spring Fever

2009-03-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well there has been lots going on around here to keep me super busy! There is always some kind of activity going on when you have young kiddos!!

St. Patricks day was a busy day but we had a blast.... we had a pot luck at the park and the weather was perfect. We even went home to have our very first swim day of the season!!

Spring break is just around the corner and me and the kids are going to go to Utah and Idaho to visit my family!! so I will have lots of pictures to update in a couple of weeks. For now here are some pictures of the kids playing at the park.

Chris and the kids always have wrestle time in the evening its too cute here are some pictures of wrestle time with daddy..

Collins 1st Birthday!!

2009-02-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

So my little dude isn't so little anymore!! Colltin turned 1 on February 19th and we had a party with all of our friends on Saturday!! I cant believe that my little dude is already 1.... man where has the time gone, I can remember when I was big and pregnant and thinking I would be that way forever and now he is 1! So here is to my precious little dude growing up, Happy birthday Collin we love you!!

My little dude was so polite eating his very first birthday cake! He is so stinking cute!

Okay Ashlyn decided to just starting scraping the frosting off with her fingers so it looks like I didn't even finish it, but that being said it still is a pretty sorry excuse for a decorating job.! yes the frosting turned out pink.... it was supposed to be red! The cake tasted good but it didn't look so good.

Collin loves his lawn mower toy! Look my little dude is walking!

My awesome Valentine!

2009-02-14T23:27:00.000-08:00

okay so its been a long time since my last post so here is a little update.... anyone who knows me knows that I am a shoe fanatic, and that is putting it mildly. I love shoes of all kinds as long as they are very pretty! With that being said our family does a lot of outdoor activities and when we are out in the dessert even though its low key and fashion really isn't top priority out there it is to me along with comfort and warmth. So for my valentines day present my hubby bought me some uggs! yes I did say uggs.!! Now I know you all know what they are they are boots very warm comfortable and very expensive boots! My hubby is all about imitation brands so that I don't make him broke! Well most of you know that when it comes to my shoes I do not penny pinch.....! Well my wonderful husband took me to the store and let me pick out the news style of uggs out..... he rocks!!! I know I know shoes do it for me they make me happy! They are very pretty and super comfy! I love you Chris Durham!

Well I had to give a shout out to my hubby. Ashlyn and Collin had a pretty good valentines day as well, we spent the day playing the wii and eating good food and just enjoying each others company. I love my family and am so thankful for my husband and my kids I really do have it pretty good even without the boots but don't tell my husband you cant have your cake and eat it too!

Hope you all had a great Valentines Day. I will post some pictures soon! XOXOXO

Snow Day!

2009-01-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

After my mom and dad left we were all feeling a little sad :( my wonderful husband suggested that we take a snow day! We got are warm cloths on and we piled in the car and he took us to palm springs were there is a tram that takes you up to the mountain! Let me just tell you riding on that tram was an experience! First of all it fits like 40 to 50 people on it at a time and then it takes you way up the mountain the tram ride is about 10 minutes and although the view is breath taking beautiful it was a little nerve racking to know how high we were and that we were only being held up by cables! Anyhow we got up there and had a blast. When you get up there you go to a lodge where there are restaurant's that look out over the peak and rooms to lounge in and let the kids play and so on, then you go out of the lodge and then you have to hike down a big hill to get to the snow. So there was a lot of exercise involved that day. We had a lot of fun and we remembered why we like living in Southern California.... because we can play in the snow and then go home to semi warm Weather!

This was Collins first time in the snow and he loved it for the first couple of seconds.... just enough time for his hands to get cold and then he was done and the screaming started and didn't end until he passed out from sheer exhaustion while I hiked up the hill back to the lodge!

When I finally got back up to the lodge Collin was passed out and I was almost dead.... caring him screaming with all his winter clothing and mine up a hill oh hell and yes I said hell cause that is what it was! There was this nice older couple that thought this was a cute picture so they got my camera out of my pocket for me and took the photo!

We had a great day and some good memories! We miss our family but we also love living where we do!

Goodbye to 2008 hello 2009

2009-01-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

Well first things first here are some pictures of Christmas morning..... Collins first Christmas and he wasn't to sure of what was going on but he loved all the boxes and wrapping paper!
We had a good Christmas.! We were bummed that we weren't able to make it to Twin because of the roads but we were grateful that we have such wonderful friends to spend the holiday with we went to the Parker's for Christmas Dinner.... so stinking yummy thanks Josh!

Next my mom and dad were able to make down to bring in the New Year with us and I am so thankful that they made the trip I really miss my parents I am so lucky to have such a wonderful mother and father! My kids just loved them to pieces we missed the rest of the family but I think my kiddos loved having one on one time with their Nana and papa!

Ashlyn loves her Nana and papa and she just didn't want to let them out of her sight, she slept on the floor in the room next to them! Now my little dude Collin is a very big mommas boy.... but that ain't nothing compared to how big of a papas boy he is! Every time papa would come into the room Collin needed him to hold him and if papa left the room with out him stand by for the fit! I have some pictures of Collin and my dad but let me tell you his face would just light up when papa would take him and hold him all smiles and loves for papa. We had such a great time with my parents we went to the zoo and got to spend quality time with them! Thanks dad for staying up with me on New Years Eve I have always enjoyed spending time with my dad, I love you! Mom thanks for being my mom you are so good to me and I love you! I cant wait for the next visit! Hears to a great 2009, we send our love to everyone Happy new year

All about Ashlyn

2008-12-21T21:55:00.000-08:00

Ashlyn turned the big 6 years old and I have been such a space and forgot to post some pictures of her big day.... we went bowling and then we came back to the house and opened presents and ate cake and ice cream! She is becoming such a wonderful little girl... she is doing so well in school and she loves it! I am so proud of her, and lets not forget what a great big sister she is, Collin loves that sister of his!

Okay so Ashlyn had her school Christmas program last week and she was a beautiful rag doll... she was so cute she would go around the house and practice her little rag doll routine. I would post a clip of her little dance but it wont upload so here is a picture... isn't she just the cutes little rag doll you have ever seen! I am so very proud of what a great girl my Ashlyn is becoming she loves school and she is doing so good she is getting so smart and she loves doing her homework, lets not forget what a great big sister she is and a wonderful helper to me. Collin loves her so much and she love s him!

On another note.... I am totally bummed about not being able to go to my parents house for Christmas, we will miss everyone and we will miss Michealas' sealing to my big brother! We love you Micheala and we are so excited that you are officially a Thueson even though we have always thought of you as one of us..... now it is official! What a wonderful way to ring in the new year then to add a family member to us for time and all eternity we will be there in spirit!

Happy Holidays

2008-12-15T09:39:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Camping at El Mirage

2008-11-29T09:07:00.000-08:00

okay so now that we have our trailer we try and go camping with our friends at least once a month!

So all of you who really know me know that I have a phobia of letting my kids get dirty! Well my hubby is determined that our little dude will be just that a little dude playing in the dirt and running a muck. I am very proud of myself I let my 9 month old baby boy sit and play in the dirt... I was having anxiety the whole time but I did it and he had a blast, and I have the proof!

We had lots of fun.. I love being able to get out of town and spend quality time with my family and our friends.

Here are some more pictures of our camp site and of all of us riding... Ashlyn was a big girl this time and went on a ride with the big kids and adults on her quad!

The HUNT!

2008-11-18T19:32:00.000-08:00

So my little princess went pheasant hunting with her dad, I wash a little shocked that she actually went, for as big of a girl as she is she can also hang with the boys.....um I don't know if that's good or bad for future dating life! There is my princess holding a dead bird yes I did say a dead bird! Chris said she loved the pretty colors and how soft they were.... ewe! I must not have taught her anything about cleanliness! Ashlyn loves spending time with her dad and she loves the outdoors so they are a match made in heaven. The big bear with her is from school, all the kids get a turn with bubba bear and it was her turn. I cant believe how fast this year has gone its already almost thanksgiving..... Chris and I were planing to go to Idaho but with his work schedule the roads and saving money for Christmas we have decided to stay home and celebrate with our friends who have become our family here in So Cal! Happy Thanksgiving to all..... I am so thankful for my hubby and my two wonderful kiddos and that I have such wonderful friends who I love and who make living away from my mom and dad and sisters and brothers easier. We have our trials but all in all Chris and I get through them together and have a great life! I hope to see my family real soon.!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-11-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

I hope that everyone had a good Halloween. We at the Durham house sure did, and now we are glad its over... bring on the Holidays!!!

Well Collin is crawling, so we thought it was fitting to make him a spooky crawling spider! Too cute... we just put him in pj with spiders all over them! Ashlyn was princess jasmine, I think she has decided to be a different Disney princess each year until she has been each one of them at least once.

We went over to our wonderful friends the Parkers! We had pizza and let the kids play and then took them trick-or-treating, after that we went back to their house and just hung out it was low key... and fun.... just the way we like it!

A big thanks to the Parkers for having us over on Halloween! We did manage to make it to the trunk or treat for our at our church but we had another party to go to as well so we didn't get to stay long but Ashlyn want to be Cinderella for this party so here are the costumes they wore to the trunk or treat that night.

They also had a blast carving pumpkins! We had a good time this year lots of fun activities that we did with the kids.... Chris got to be a part of most everything weather he liked it or not... its kind of different with his new detective hours! We had a great month hope you all did as well.

lots to update!

2008-10-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

So there have been lots of happenings here in the Durhams "Crazy Life" household!

First things first...... Ashlyn lost her first tooth! Oh my goodness my little girl is getting so big, I only thought that time was moving fast to get her to this point but now that she is in school time has managed to speed up! Ashlyn is such a great little girl, very head strong and independent, much like her mother! I know what you all are thinking cause I am thinking it as well..... we are in for some big trouble.... pay back is well you know not very nice.... well at least my parents well get a kick out of it! Ashlyn has also had to have four root canals... yes you read it right four root canals.... talk about a slacker mom huh. So my little princess has a mouth full of metal ;( I am so thankful that they are just her baby teeth I have a chance to pick up the slack and make sure she brushes her teeth and flosses right. Hopefully she wont have those silver teeth for long and she can start over with her adult WHITE teeth! So there you have it Ashlyn and her toothless smile and her tooth!

NEXT!

Last weekend we went out to the desert and camped with some new friends...... we are having so much fun with our new trailer.... I am declaring it a great purchase! I didn't get a lot of pictures because my camera went dead! We had a great time riding our quads and dirt bikes, and met some great new friends! We are going again in November. I will say that this last trip was absolutely cold.... I will pack better next month for the cold weather! Collin did pretty good... he loves being out doors. I did manage to get some cute ones of Colin and daddy. Here are all the pixs I have. This picture we took ourselves and it didn't work out too well but cute enough!

She got to do a lot of riding this trip, she is getting so good. Chris and I took turns taking her on trails! she would follow us on our bikes. Of course she likes to go with her daddy better he takes her on the fun ones... mommy takes her on the more safe rides!

I love this picture of my two dudes!

Too Cute!We were in a canyon area there were all kinds of rocks everywhere..... people go there to rock climb so my little Ashlyn and all the other kids found some cool caves and rocks to climb they were right behind our camp site.

and the trip wouldn't have been complete without our two dogs!Okay next!

Well we got home and it was turning out to be a very boring week.... when on Wednesday night Chris came home with a smashed thumb! He didn't want to go to the Doctor so he came home on Thursday evening with a very sore and swollen thumb........ well needles to say he and he alone fixed the problem. Chris heated up a needle and poked a hole... well three holes in his nail and let all the blood drain!

Well that's that for now everything has pretty much settled down for now.... Halloween pixs to come!

Laughing little dude

2008-10-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

I love this little video clip.... I took it myself so its not that good but I couldn't resist. Collin loves his big sister she makes him laugh so hard. I really tried to get Ashlyn in the clip so you could see why he was laughing so hard but I couldn't hold the camera right, anyway Ashlyn is hiding behind a counter so that Collin can't see her and then jumping out and yelling boo at him Collin found this hilarious!

I cant believe that my little dude is already 7 and 1/2 months old.... it has gone by so fast, I don't know what I expected.... My little Chika is going to be 6 years old in December I blinked and she was a big girl!

We are all trucking along trying to make the best out of life.... nothing new but the whealther! yah we are finally getting some fall whealther! Happy Haloween to our friends and family.

Overdue

2008-09-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

I know I know kindergarten started a while ago! Here are some pictures of my big girl on her first day of kindergarten. She was so brave, no tears no I'll miss you so much mommy, she was a little nervous but you would never know it unless you were looking for it. When I picked her up from her first day and we were walking to the car she said mommy mommy I can go back to kindergarten, there is no school bully! I laughed a little and said Ashlyn is that was you were nervous about, and she said yes but that she was over it because there was no bully! Oh the things our little ones come up with. So here is my kindergarten princess!

She made a fast friend!

She loves her teacher, Mrs. Walters.

The River!

2008-09-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

I am super excited! This past month the Durham family decided to make a new purchase so that we can do what we love as a family! We bought a Toy Hauler... for those of you who don't know what that is its a Camping trailer but the back opens so that you can put your toys inside like dirt bikes and quads or sea dues and so on and so forth! Anyway for our first vacation camping trip we went with our good friends the Parker's to Parker Arizona to the River and camped and spent time on the Parker's boat! We had a blast!

We had so much fun and we loved hanging out with the Parker's. Ashlyn, Grace, and Ethan had so much fun playing together and Megan and I had a great time as well, and of Course our dudes loved hanging out relaxing and getting out of the office!

It was a nice way to end the summer season! Now we are planning an Ocatiou Trip to ride dirt bikes and quads!

Family Vacation

2008-08-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

Okay so I know I said I would post pictures of my trip to Idaho and then I didn't ..... life is crazy, trying to get into a new routine with Ashlyn being in school! Well we are a good 2 weeks into school and we are starting to settle in with homework and playtime and then bedtime.

I just want to take a minute and just say that I love my family.... we are all in such different places in our lives but we love each other so much and we are there for one another and this makes me very happy, although I live far away and have a life here I know that I also have a place in the hearts of my family back home.

I enjoyed spending a week with my sister Megan and her family we had such a great time and she kept us busy with all sorts of fun things! I am so grateful for her and the way she loves me... I love you too girl!

They took us to Cherry Hill a water park with water slides and a lazy river! Ashlyn had so much fun with her cousins!

Oh how cute me and my sister Meggy

That was a fun week. We went from Meagon's house to my moms house in Twin Falls and met my sister Amber and her kids there and had a fun week with my mom and her.... meagon had to get back to her hubby. Amber and I had so much fun together... I miss living in the same house so that we can share cloths and do each others hair!

So we took our kids bowling and there was no one to take a picture of me and my sister but me so this is how it turned out.... our little ones were like what the heck, but we did it! Brook is so stick en cute! I am so lucky because not only do I have my sister Meagon but I have my sister amber as well I love her so much and am so glad that we are sisters! I love you girly! I have one other sister who is just as great.... she lives in Texas and I miss her and her kiddos I wish we saw each other more, thank heavens for blogs!

Here are some pictures of the kids bowling! Carter and Ashlyn were so cute and they played so well together!

I don't know if you noticed but my little Ashlyn likes posing for the camera each pix she is striking a pose.... oh what a drama queen.

I always have a wonderful time visiting my sisters and I love spending time with them and their kids, I also love spending time with my mom and dad they are such great parents and I love them so much.... I love getting to know them as an adult I feel so lucky to have them as teachers throughout my life, I can appreciate that now that I am grown and have my own kids!

I love seeing my parents with my kids its like the circle is complete we are one big happy family and I love it! I love my mother she one of the most selfless people I know, and I have always been a daddy's girl there is just something about him that owes me... he know just the right things to say he knows how I think a little scary sometimes but I am sure that comes in handy because I can be a little crazy at times. I love you all and thanks for loving my hubby and my kids, and making it such a great visit.... until the next time.... and yes this is a formal invitation to my family to come and visit me here in calil!

I love this video of my mom playing with Collin its so cute!

Summer!

2008-08-15T13:59:00.002-07:00

ok so I haven't posted in quite some time but to my defense I was gone for two weeks visiting my family in Idaho! I had a great time, then as soon as I got back I was off again at the beach and then we went to our friends wedding.... it was a great way to end the summer! Ashlyn is on her third day of kindergarten and she loves it, wich makes easier on me!

I have so many pictures to post be prepared its gonna be a long post! I will start with what a blast we had at Brook and TJ and Jaylens wedding, jaylen is brooks son and they did such a good job at making him apart of the day... a shout out to how beautiful their wedding was we love you guys.

look how cute their family is!

Brook and I on her big day!

megan and I trying to cool down from dancing our booties off!

Chris and I getting ready to eat... yum yum.

Okay so my hubby let loose and decided that he was going to be a good sport and dance and have fun.... I thought it was great when he danced with me without having to beg him! Boy was I sure surprised when he came onto the dance floor wearing my heels, (I had to take them off so that I could dance more) and started dancing with me.. I couldn't believe it and at first I was a little embarrassed and then I was like did someone spike your drink babe? It was a great night!

All of his buddies were getting pictures on there cell phones they couldn't believe it either!

It was a fun night! I love hanging out with my friends they are all so good to me and it nice to be back home and know that even though my family is far away I have manage to make a pretty good one here in cali!

2008-07-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

So I don't post a lot of pictures of myself ex specially after I had Collin, but these weren't so bad and my kids always look good so I decided to post them. You know its bad when your 5 year old daughter is darker then you and you both have had the same amount of sun.... she will be thanking her dad for getting his skin tone.
I have to admit that this picture is cute.. I think that I am even more pale then Collin!

Ashlyn still loves to be around Collin and he loves her... he is ether laughing at her or he just likes to watch what his crazy big sis is doing.

Its been so long!

2008-07-10T23:17:00.000-07:00

So hold on to your hats its going to be a long one. I know that its been a long while since my last post but my life just seems to get crazier and crazier!

First things first... my little Ashlyn graduated from preschool and I am just so proud of her. I cant believe how the time has flown by.

So here is to my little one starting a new chapter in her life.. Kindergarten!

Okay so now for the second event on my list. Well my awesome hubby got promoted again! yeah for chris he is on the fast track now. He is now Investigator Durham. He works at the professional Standards Devision in the internal affairs, I know that he is not thrilled to be doing this end of police work because he says its not police work but its a compliment they don't just pick anyone to go here they know he is an honest hard working cop and anyone who is anyone in this department does their time in internal affairs so this is good for his career, not to mention for the first time in 8 years we are acting like a normal family.... he gets to be home for dinner and on the weekends.... although I have to start making sure I have dinner prepared, ha ha!

Here is chris getting promoted to Investigator! He is shaking hands with the sheriff! Go chris, we sure are proud of him.

Okay so I don't have a lot of pixs of the 4th of July.... but for the first time in 5 years Chris had the holiday off, (like I said normal family stuff), so we spent it at our friends house by their pool, it was a great day and the kids had a lot of fun with poppers and so on... the adults had some fun as well we decided it would be fun to have a Popper fight and throw them at each other! good times. Well the next day everyone came over to our house for another pool party, fight party and birthday party for chris... he is 30 wow how time flys! I need to charge my other camera and get the pictures off of it so I can post them. We had a great 4th we missed our family but as I have said before our friends our our family! Collin is getting bigger and starting to roll over and move all around. Life is always moving and I am just glad that I have an awesome family to share it with.

Girls night out and so much more!

2008-06-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

Okay so it has been a while since my last post and a whole lot of craziness has been going on... craziness and fun. Me and my gals got out for a night out on the town! We went to the Sex and the City movie and we laughed our *#@ off! I had so much fun with my friends... after the movie we called my man who was on duty and he met us in the parking lot and took our picture!! We are so hot!!

So time is just flying by... the time has come for Collin to start rice cereal!! He is almost 4 months old and he still wants to nurse every 2 1/2 hours.... he does really good at night but during the day he is hungry, So I decided that I would try and give him some rice cereal in the mornings and at night so that he could start getting a little more nutrients during the day! Well this is what I got when I gave him the cereal.....

as you can see he didn't like it, and that is an understatement! He is jut growing so fast, and looking more and more like his daddy! I am still trying to get him use to it, its getting a little better but not by much.

On one of Chris's days off we usually try and take the kids out for a family fun day... this day we went to the Family Fun Center. This place has an arcade and then an outdoor play place with miniature golf, kid rides, and go carts, and bumper cars..... Ashlyn is finally old enough to drive the kids go carts she had so much fun! We played miniature golf, ashlyn rode rides and we had a great family day.

Life gets so busy with all the responsibilities and day in and day out duties that we forget to stop and enjoy what is truly important! I love my family and I am so grateful for the days that I get to stop and just enjoy their company. Life goes by so fast you blink and you miss it! I am trying to just relax and enjoy every part of it!

Its been an amazing 8 years!!

2008-05-28T23:04:00.000-07:00

well it was Chris's and my 8th anniversary!! It truly has been an amazing 8 years, I am so lucky to have found such a great love. We have had our ups and our downs but no matter what happens we always find our way back to one another! 8 years and two kids later we are still so much in love and still our spunky selves.....! If you know us you know what I mean by spunky, I could never of imagined a better partner to go through this life with! Here is to another 8 years and many more, life with Chris is never dull and I am sure he would say the same thing about me. I love you chris, thank you for my two precious babies... Ashlyn and Collin. We have created a great family together!!

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-05-28T23:01:00.001-07:00

Hello Lover!!!

2008-05-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

Okay readers if you know me at all you know how much I love shoes!! I am so excited for this month it is Chris and my 8th anniversary on the 27th! I am also so excited for the Sex and the city movie... so needless to say I have been shopping for some new super hot and sexy heels! Well I found one pair so far and I cant decide if they are for the girls night out to the movie or for my super hot sexy date with my super hot sexy husband for our anniversary? Chris is taking me out but I have no idea what we are doing or where we are going.. its supposed to be a surprise. So I will let you all know.

So I absolutely love Sex and the City.... if nothing else I loved watching all the pretty shoes and the incredible fashion statements and beautiful cloths! So me and my gals are going to go out and have some fun with dinner and a movie! I like the character Carrie in the show love shoes! I love a good pair of expensive or inexpensive pair of heels, wedges, stilettos, etc. They just make you feel so pretty! Here is my newest pair of shoes!

Now you know why I say hello lover!!! I also want to add that the way they make my legs look is great!!! I love them I love them, and the bonus is that chris loves them as well!

Bath time fun and my smiley little dude

2008-05-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post, but in my defense I have been busy trying to get my family and my little life on a schedule.. it doesn't seem to be working one day is different from the next! I am slowly realizing that there are some things that I just have to let go, like I don't have to vacuum and mop twice a day that its okay if I just do it once every other day! I am realizing that I make a lot of my own anxiety... but its so hard I feel like if my house is not clean then I am a bad wife and mom. I feel like I can never keep things clean and neat because Ashlyn is following behind me messing it up again. well I have decided that my little 5 year old is old enough to start having a chore list and instead of making myself crazy picking up after her several times a day and me making her bed and cleaning her bathroom... she is going to do it. The rule is that every morning she gets up and gets dressed makes her bed and uses the bathroom and cleans up after she uses it... then if its a school day she doesn't get the toys out until after school she may color and do arts and crafts or go outside, and at the end of everyday before our bedtime routine she cleans up her play room and her bedroom, this way while she is at school I can get the cleaning done for the week faster cause I don't have to pick her toys up as well and on the days she is home we can enjoy each other cause I am keeping up with my house work and I don't have to be aggravated by her messiness because she is helping me and I am teaching her how to clean up after herself!!

Okay enough of my spouting off at how I am a compulsive clean freak and a little obsessive compulsive about it and other things and another one of my obsessions is taking pictures of my kids taking their bath.... I love clean clean kids and the way they smell oooh its so sweet! Ashlyn loves to help with Collin and the one thing she had not helped me with was his bath so I got Collin in the bath with her and she helped wash him she was so gentle with him.
Collin is getting so big and I cannot believe that he is already 2 and 1/2 months old its so funny that at the end of 9 months we cannot wait until the baby is out we feel like being pregnant is never going to end and then once our precious little ones our here they grow up so fast and all you can do is try and love them enough and teach them what they need to know to go through this life. I love my two children and I prey that I am doing right by my children. I hope that they know that at the end of the day no matter what that they are loved and we will make it through life together.! I am so excited that I caught Collin smiling and laughing on camera, he is just starting to laugh and really get smiley at different things so its cool that I caught it on camera. You can totally see his dimples.

The joys of children

2008-04-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

So I was totally fooling myself that two children wouldn't be that big of an adjustment' because Ashlyn is 5 and she is so independent and she would be my big helper! Don't get me wrong Ashlyn loves to help me and she is great with Collin. Ashlyn prides herself on what a good big sister she is! With that being said she is not as independent as I thought.. she still relies on me for so much! She may be able to dress herself, brush her own teeth, get ready for bed, etc... but she still needs my guidance to know what to do and when to do it. Instead of packing things for one child when we go places I have to remember to pack for both... getting use to caring for both of them although their needs are different is still a huge adjustment and that took some time to get use to! Collin is now sleeping through the night and is adjusting to life outside the whom quite nicely now. He is a good little dude and I am so glad he is all mine. Ashlyn is all registered for kindergarten and she is so excited. Although getting her physical for kindergarten and having to get four shots wasn't fun she was so brave and let them do it with minimal crying, it helped that daddy was there!! So with my schedule starting to even out and Collin becoming more predictable I have started working out.... The baby weight is so much harder to loose with your second then your first at least for me it is! So I have been walking/running with some girlfriends every morning and then going to the gym for some body works classes one a week.... oh my goodness was it hard to stick with the first three days but now I am finding that the walk/run in the mornings gives me more energy to do everything with my kids and cleaning my house. So for all of you who need more energy exercising really does help with that.... I know I know I didn't believe it ether at first but its true. I am still trying to figure out how to spend quality time with just Ashlyn. I try to spend one on one time with her everyday so that she doesn't feel so abandoned by me. Everyday that I get to spend at least a half an hour with her just the two of us,( it doesn't mater what) I notice a difference in her behavior.... she is more obedient and she is just all together happier and easier to hadle. She amazes me with how smart she is and is continuing to get. I just hope that I have prepared her enough for her school years to start... I know that she still is a little girl and I still have a lot of teaching left but kindergarten came so fast and I just hope She knows that I am here for her no matter what that I will protect her and be there for her through everything. Collin wow I cant believe he is already two months I couldn't wait to get him out and now it seems like we are at warp speed. Its funny raising children is so difficult and at times can be depressing but the bond and love that I have with and for my children is what makes life worth living that also includes my husband. At times my little family is overwhelming and I go a little crazy okay somewhat crazy, I wouldn't trade, or change them for anything in the world! Life is a learning process and I will continue to do the best I can for the people I love.

I'm Crazy!!

2008-04-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

Okay with everything that has been going on in my life with the new baby, getting Ashlyn registered for kindergarten and her dentist appointment, and Chris's promotions; I feel like I have no control over anything that is going on. Of course with all this going on my hormones are going crazy, I am up and just as quick I am down. Collin is starting to regulate and he is sleeping through the night... yeah! That totally helps with my emotions so I am hoping that this is the beginning of everything starting to work itself out.

So it was my Birthday like two weeks ago and I just want to give a shout out to my girls Megan and Kyla oh yeah and to their handsome husbands. Chris did take my birthday off but got called in anyway so the Parkers and the Browns made my day special. They took me to dinner at Chillies and then we went to the Parkers and played rock band on the Xbox it was great all of our kids had fun as well. On days like my Birthday I miss my family and my sisters they are so great to me and it makes it hard so I am so blessed to have great friends that are just like my sisters. I love living in California even though I miss my family, Chris and I have great friends who we consider family! Here are some pictures from my Birthday.

Okay so there are some pictures of my birthday we had lots of fun!! okay so this morning Chris went outside in the backyard to find two ducks swimming in our pool!! He called Ashlyn and I both outside to see the ducks... it was fun to see but through out the day today they came back I guess are pool is becoming the local hang out pond for the ducks... and although its cute we really don't want duck poop in our pool so we left the pool gate open so that our bird dog duke would chase them away and he did I haven't seen a duck since he went out there! Okay so thats all I have time for right now Collin is ready to be put to bed as well as Ashlyn.

A couple of crazy weeks

2008-04-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

Okay so its been a very long time since I posted last, but in my defense it has been very busy around here with Collins blessing and all the family that came in. It was so great to have my mom and dad here, we went to Disneyland and I didn't realize that my dad had never been before but for his first time it was unbelievably crowded, of course it was it was Saturday and it was spring break! Well despite the crowds we had a good time. We also had a great day swimming in the pool. Dad went down the slide and despite his valiant efforts Ashlyn would not go with him but my friends little boy ethan did.! I got the cutest little swim trunks for Collin they are red and have blue swordfish on them.... needless to say we got Collin into the spa for the first time and he loved it.

okay so there are some pictures of a family fun in the sun and the water...! Ashlyn looked so cute in her Easter dress I got some really cute pictures of her and her dad but as for Collin and I.. I totally spaced it I am still getting use to doing everything for two children instead of just one my whole way of doing things has changed and I am trying to get better at it hopefully my children will be patient with me!!! I love them both so much I hope I can be a good mother to both. So here are some Easter pictures of Ashlyn I did buy Collin a cute Easter outfit I will have to take some pictures of him in it even if it wasn't on Easter.

Well Chris's parents weren't able to be here for Collins blessing but they were there in our hearts.... but they were able to get her a couple of days afterward so we were able to spend time with them and they got to spend time with Collin and Ashlyn and how happy we were, they don't get to come down here very often the last time that Terri was here was when Chris and I were married so we were so excited to show them are little life that we have made for ourselves here in Southern California. I have more photos but I cant seem to find what file I put them in on my computer. We had lots of fun thanks for coming!!

I finally got the birth announcements made!

2008-03-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

Okay here are the announcements that I will be sending out, so for those of you whom I don't have address for here is the announcement His name is Collin Stanley Durham he was born on the 19th of Feburary of 2008 at 7:49 A.M. he wieght was 8lbs and 4 oz. and he was 19 3/4 in. the pictures below are just 2 of like 5 pictures I will be sending out. I know I am slow to get things done but I tell you what getting back into baby mode has not been the easiest task!!! We are getting ready to bless Collin on the last Sunday of this month so that will be the 30th of March I am so excited that my parents will be able to make it I cant wait to see them and my dad will get to finally see our new little boy!! We are also going to be getting the kids pictures taken for easter so I hope to post some professional pictures soon. I have the cutest little outfits for Ashlyn and Collin both so hopefully Collin will be in a good mood as well as Ashlyn but my little girl loves to pose for pictures she is so camera friendly its funny well thats about it for right now.

I was tagged by my sister-in-law Michelle!!

2008-03-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B. Each player answers the question about themselves.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. What was I doing ten years ago? Well lets see I was almost 17 so I was way into my boyfriend and getting into way to much trouble.. and all about my friends thinking that my life and my boyfriend and friends were the only thing that mattered in life oh the teenage years... I don't miss them at all!

2. Five things on my to-do list today: My list for today all depends on how much the baby will let me put him down!! I need to do 2 loads of laundry, I got my vacuuming done, I managed to even get the dust mopping done on the wood floors, now hopefully he will continue to be a good baby and let me put him down after he feeds to get dinner done later tonight. I also want to go and rent a movie for me and one for ashlyn and finish collin's birth announcements!!

3. What snacks do I enjoy? I love milk shakes!!! I also love chocolate chip cookies, I pretty much love sweets but I am trying to cut back gotta loose the baby weight

4. What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire? I would have to say we would pay off all our bills including our house.. help family were they needed it and I would have to buy some Louie Vitton shoes and some Manolo blonik shoes I am in love with shoes!!! I would also make sure to keep some in the bank and make some good investments!!

5. Three bad habits: I like to procrastinate, I over think things to the point of panic attacks, I love to spend too much money on shoes... not just for me but for chris and my children as well.

6. Five Places where I lived: Twin Falls, Idaho, Sun Valley, Idaho, Perris, California, Riverside, California, and Murrieta California

7. Five jobs I have had: Certified nurses Aid, secretary, and leasing consultant

8. Five things people don't know about me: 1. I love to sing, I did singing lessons all through school. 2. I am addicted to tattoos, I already have two working on my third. 3. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was like 10 years old. 4. I thought my husband was a complete jerk when I first met him! 5. I am a neurotic mess most of the time but I take medication to keep myself in check!!

okay there you go that was my first time being tagged, I thought that I might have gotten away with not being tagged but she got me so I did it. well this week has been kind of crazy Collin is still trying to work out all the kinks of being a newborn so sleeping and everything else is new from day to day. Collin is a pretty high maintenance baby, more so then ashlyn was so I am trying to get use to doing everything including sleeping with a baby in my arms!! I so love my baby I just forgot how much work and how sleep deprived you are when you have a new baby!

On a lighter note, Ashlyn is so cute with Collin she loves to hold him and she is so patient with him when he cries she stands up with him and sways him and sings to him and just loves him and gets him to stop crying... I walked in on her doing that and it was so precious and it makes all the sleep deprivation and all your crazy emotions all worth while to see the little precious moments you kids have. I have the most great kids even if I only get to see how truly great they are at glimpses. Okay hopefully I can be a better blogger and post more often to keep you all updated and I enjoy writing about my life it helps put things into perspective it helps to step back and say its not so bad I am making it through and I am a good mom and life is pretty good.

Everything thats new with the Durhams'

2008-03-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

All right here are some more photos of the baby and our family. We are so grateful for my mother and my sister for coming to help out me with baby Collin. I am so lucky to have a family who loves me enough to come all the way to California to help me for a couple days so that I could have a chance to get back on my feet. I love my mom and wish that we were closer but life has taken my family to southern California and we love it here. I am also very lucky to have sisters who want to help me as well. Meagon you are such a blessing in my life and thank you for your support. Amber would have come as well but her little cute Brooklyn and her sweet boy carter got sick and being a mother she didn't want to bring that into my home with a new baby so thank you for that. Well the baby is crying and we need to say prayers with Ashlyn so I hope you enjoy these pictures

Okay Ashlyn has been having a hard time lately, being 5 and the rules are changing and getting more strict, throw in a new baby to the mix and you have one hard to handle little girl. Well with that being said Chris decided to get her something that she has been wanting something him and her could do together and maybe remind her that she is still daddys little girl and they still get to do fun things together. So he bought her a quad... yes my little baby girl is now old enough and big enough to ride a quad all by herself! Take a look for yourself, she grew up so fast, oh how I love my little girl!

Introducing Collin Stanley Durham!!!!!

2008-02-27T17:09:00.000-08:00

okay I am finally updating my blog...... it has been one crazy week of new adjustments! So my story starts out on monday Feburay 18th; I check into Fallbrook Hospital at 6:00AM to be induced. We were so excited we were going to have are baby today...... oh boy were we wrong. After 26 hours.. yes I did say 26 hours of labor I finally gave birth to our son on Tuesday the 19th of Feburary at 7:49 Am he was 8 pounds and 4 ounces and 19 and 3/4 inches long. It was a long ordeal for chris and I both... at least I got to be druged for most of it! poor chris had to sleep in a really uncomfortable recliner.... he could barely move to get out of it when it came time for me to push. But all in all it was all worth it to have our beautiful son here. we are so greatful that he is heathly that I would have done 26 more hours for the same outcome.with no further adue here is Collin Stanley Durham!! So cute even with all the guck still on him!my cute little family I cant believe it we are afficially a family of four!!Ashlyn is a great big sister! she loves to hold him for me she is so patient with him even when he is fussy she just loves to be mommy's big helper.

Proud yet very tierd mommy!!
Proud yet well rested daddy!! just kidding Chris has been really great with helping me in the middle of the night even though he cant feed him he gets up and gives me moral support and asks if he can do anything. He cant keep his eyes off his cute little son, who yeah looks like daddy!

One handsome Corpral!!!!

2008-02-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

Isn't that sweet, Ashlyn sure loves her daddy!! Chris was officially promoted to Corpral today the sheriff himself pinned his new badge on him and made him a Corpral. He also got an award from the captian at the Moreno Valley Station, recognizing him for all his hard work and dedication at the Moreno Valley Station.... it was a great day for Chris.

Tonight Chris is working his first shift as a Corpral at the Temecula Station!!! Ashlyn and I were so excited for him that we wanted to take some pictures. On his left sleeve are his corpral stripes and Ashlyn is covering up his new badge but thats okay, you can still tell that he is very important not only to us his family but to his job.!!

Well here he is right before he left to go to work! He is so handsome!! I just wanted to let you all know how proud Ashlyn and I are of our main man...... well enough of that today was valentines day as well and although chris was having a big day he still managed to make me and his daughter feel special. I woke up to a dozen sterling silver roses and choclates and ashlyn got a teddy bear and some candy and balloons. Even though my husband is rough around the edges and sometimes not the most sensitive man in the world, when I need it the most he always manages to make me realize just how much he loves me and our life together. I am so lucky to have married such a great man who is such a great father. I know this is sappy and sappy usually isn't my style but I just wanted to take the time to publicly acknowledge my husband and let everyone including him know just how much I love him. I know that latley my I have been a little crazy, my hormones are out of control to say the least and the sooner this baby comes the sooner my hormones will start to regulate, and his sweet wife will return!!!

On another note I got Collins' room all done and set up, everything is ready for him to come home..... he just needs to come out now!!! I am happy to say though that if he doesn't make it out on his own this weekend that Monday Feburary 18th at 6a.m. I will check into the Fallbrook Hospital and my Dr. will induce me!!!!! yeah at least I have an end in sight! Well hopefully the next time I post it will be pictures of our new little baby Collin.

2008-02-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Well our little family of three is about to become a family of four and we couldn't be happier. Here are some pictures of this past year. I love my little family and wouldn't change any of the time I got to spend with my daughter and my husband, it took us a while to get pregnant and looking back on the past and how much fun we had its clear that the timing of this new baby is happening exactly when it is suppost to... its hard to understand your trials when you are going through them but in retospective I know that heavenly father knows what he is doing and that things happen in his time not in ours. We had some great times this past year and I cant wait for our little Collin to join in the Durham Family Fun!!!! Congratulations Chris..... My awesome husband just got his promotion I am proud to announce that he is a CORPRALL!!!! good job honey. My husband works so hard for his little family and we are so proud of him and I know that the promotions are just going to keep on coming.

Waitng and Waiting!!!

2008-01-31T16:20:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken a while ago, I was just barley showing the fact that there would be a new additon to our family. we took Ashlyn to the San Diego Wild Adventure Park. We love doing family outings and Ashlyn loves to look at all the animals. Well this is what are family looks like as of now but in a matter of weeks there will be a new little person in our photos as well!
Okay after all the drama in my 8th month, with my contractions and my liver and kidneys not functioning right, little Mr. Collin has decided.... now that is okay for him to come and Mommy wants him to come Collin is going to make us wait. Not even out of the whom and our litttle boy is assurting his will. Ashlyn likes to attend my doctors appointments with me, she finds great joy in hearing Collins heartbeat and she just thinks that is so cool; but we are getting to the point where my doctor has to check me; and my five year old is not shy and she will ask questions or say things that well aren't exactly appropriate. Chris and I have taught our daughter the proper terminolagy for her body parts. At my doctors appointment this last time Dr. Bianchi had to check me and Ashlyn was standing up by my head and when she realized what was going on she flat out asked my doctor..... are you getting the baby out of my moms vagina? I thought my doctor was going to turn into a red rasberry and run out of the room. Ashlyn proceed to ask him when are you going to give my mom some medicine so it doesn't hurt her, she doesn't like to hurt, she gets kind of mean. My dr. was great he answered her questions in the most honest and quick way. I guess I won't be bringing her to my next appointment?

Beauty Queen!!

2008-01-16T22:12:00.000-08:00

Well its been so crazy around here lately, we are trying to get ready for our new baby Collin. With all the craziness I think that Ashlyn was getting a little overwhelmed with it just being about the new baby. We moved Ashlyn's room down the hall one room and she didn't think that it was fair that the baby was going to be closer to mom and dad then she was....... well I told her that she was a big girl and that she doesn't need mom and dad as much as the baby will need us; and to show her what comes along with being bigger I took her to the Libby LU make over shop for little girls. I told her that this is what big sisters get to do because they are older and bigger, she liked that and was all into being the big sister. She is such a girl she loved getting her make up, hair, and nails done. When she was done she was like mom I can't believe how beautiful I look take some pictures and send them to my grandma... well I did her one better I posted them so her Aunts and grandparents and our friends could see just what a Beauty Queen she is. I was going to post pictures of her new room but they just don't do it justice and its hard to see the colors.

2008-01-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris had to work but that is nothing new since he has worked every year for the past 4 years in a row...... all the deputies that are on special teams are mandated to work that holiday. Ashlyn and I went over to the Martins with the rest of my friends because most of our husbands are on special teams and have to work as well so us girls rung in the new year in style with fire works singing games ect... Ashlyn was there but she was outside and upstairs and all around playing with one of Mary Kays' daughter watching movies and lighting fireworks with some of the men that were there.

Ashlyns' Big Night (School Christmas Program)

2007-12-21T19:11:00.000-08:00

Well I think that my little girl is going to be an actress....... She was an angle in her Christmas program and she held the star of belthlem. She was so excited about that night and she was practicing all week long to know all the songs and know her big speech. She closed the program and she said thank you all for coming and always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!

The city that we live in has a Christmas program that they put on every year and they have Santa go around to every neighborhood on a fire truck and let the kids sit on Santas lap and he gives out candy canes and some coloring kits and stickers, and there is also frosty and rudolph.... she had a blast see santa, frosty, and rudolph... when we were done she looked at chris and I and said I think that, that rudolph wasn't the real one because the real one needs his rest to get ready for his big night of flying all over the world. NO one can fool her she knows whats going on.

Merry Christmas everyone, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year! We wish that we could be with are family during these holidays but they aren't far from our hearts and that is what is important. May the new year bring you all nothing but joy and happiness! Love Chris, April, and Ashlyn Durham

Happy 5th Birth Day Ashlyn

2007-12-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Well it's official my little baby isn't a baby anymore she is a big girl all of 5 years old. For all you mothers out there Chuck E Cheese is a mad house for Birth day party's....... although Ashlyn and her friends had fun I was running around trying to keep an eye on all of the children and keep them going with the time schedule that Chuck E Chesse puts on you. I rented the table for an hour and a half and let me just tell you trying to keep a schedule at Chuck E Cheese with five 5 year olds is impossible..! Ashlyn had a great Birthday and she loved her Tinker Bell ice cream cake. Ashlyn told me that night when she was getting ready for bed that that was the best b-day she ever had... and that she got everything that she wanted so today when she got two more presents she was blown away she told Chris and myself that we were the best parents a girl could ever have! Sorry that the pictures aren't great things were very crazy, but it was a great day.

Big belly

2007-12-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Okay this is what my belly looks like as of now. I am 7 months and I have 2 more months to go can you imagine how much bigger I am going to get.

I wanted to join all the pictures of sleeping kids so here is Ashlyn sleeping on the stairs. Chris and I were watching a movie that was not suitable for her and she was supposed to be upstairs watching her movie but her movie got over before ours and she kept coming down stairs to be with her dad but when daddy told her to go upstairs and wait for him she only made it half way.... she got too tired of waiting.

I didn't mean to post this picture but somehow it snuck in here so this is Ashlyn and her best friend at school Madison at there preschool halloween party.

halloween pictures

2007-12-04T20:24:00.000-08:00

Okay well I know that Halloween was over a long time ago but this pictures is most recent of Ashlyn and me. We went to a Halloween party and our friends house and we had a great time. This picture is one of the only pictures I have taken since I started to show..... I was big two months ago imagine how big I am now. Well I just thought that I would post a little something even if it was a little past due. Saturday is Ashlyns birthday party and I will post pictures of her party on Saturday night so take another look then.

2007-11-29T17:10:00.000-08:00

chris and I are so happy that the next addition to our family will be arriving in Feburary. I am due the on the 26th. This pregnancy has been great, we had been waiting a long time for this baby. We are so out of baby mode, our little Ashlyn is four almost five and she gives us a run for our money!! Our crazy family will be perfect with our little boy add to the mix, he better like the outdoors cause he is being thrown into a family who likes doing things outdoors.... I think dirt bikes and quads are in his blood along with surfing, Ashlyn loves to do all those things with her dad so it must be in the blood.

Ashlyns' 5th Birthday is comming up!

2007-11-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

Ashlyn is turning 5 and we are having her party at Chuck E Cheese, its her favorite place to go and play games. She is so excited and we wish our family could be there but pictures will have to do so I will post when we have her party. Here is Ashlyn at the begining of this year I will take more pictures to show how much she has grown.

Ashlyn cant wait to be a big sister to her new baby brother she can't wait until he is born. She will be a great big sister.

My next doctors appointment will be on monday and I will officially be 7 months my how the time has flown by, soon we will be a family of four. Chris is working hard getting ready to see where he is on the promotions list...... I am so proud of him he past all of his tests and did great with all of his interviews he is up for 3 different positions: Corpral, Detective, and Sargent. He is great at what he does and supports his family well... I am praying for the Sargent position!! We are all so excited for our new baby and working hard to get ready for him. We are pretty sure that our little boy will be named Collin James Durham.