Build A Bear!

Don't you hate it when people never update their blog! How rude:) Brook came up a couple of weeks ago and we had a lot of fun. I had SEP dinners for PTA and Halle had a field trip, so we didn't get to have a lot of free time, not that we really wanted to take 7 kids too many places. We did decide to go to Build A Bear for Mallory and Sydney's B day! The kids all had fun, although I don't think Maverik and Charly quite understood the concept. Here are a couple of photos:Heading to the Par-Tay!

Everyone and their animals

The stuffing machine!

We went to Applebees afterwards and the balloon man was there! It was great! The kids had a great time! Thanks Tuttles for coming and hangin' out. We love you guys!

What a DAY!

So, today has been a crazy day! The countertop guys got here at 8:30(they told me 9 or 10). I was still making breakfast and trying to get the girls ready for school. Sydney came down while I was doing hair and said the guys need to talk to you. So I go upstairs and the guy says, It won't fit. Your cabinets aren't level. And then he stands there and stares at me! So I called my cabinet guy and he came right over and fixed them so they would fit(thanks Tyler). But I am thinking, Isn't this something they should have figured out when they came to measure with their fancy lasers? Not to mention the installer guy was very unfriendly and not very helpful at all. Well during all this time, I guess I wasn't paying to much attention to Maverik and I went upstairs and found my home phone floating in the bathroom sink. UGH! We just had to buy a new one! So the countertop guys leave (I get a free sink) I feed Maverik lunch and then put him in bed. Next thing I know he is walking down the stairs and says HI mom! He has finally figured out how to get out without landing on his head. yeah me! I told James if naptime goes away, I will go crazy. So after making Mav lay down 3 times he finally went to bed! Hallaluah!! I guess I am having a "Calgon take me away" moment! And now the girls will be home soon and Mav will probably wake up! One final note: James is out golfing w/a vendor from work!!

So I was standing IN the kitchen and turned around to see this! I guess he needed a drink of milk:) Can't help but love him!

First Day of School !

Mallory 6th Grade-Lookin Hip! She didn't want to take a pic, but I said I would come to her class and take one if she didn't let me take it. That seemed to do the trick!

Sydney 4th grade-Sassy as ever! She was excited to go to school and see all her friends- The only one who said I could walk with her!

Halle 2nd Grade- Cute new do and ready to go! Her teachers name was Brittney Brown before she got married over the summer! Pretty Cool.

Maverik- 2 years old -He thought he was going to school and he put on his backpack and said Bye mom! He trys to go with the girls everyday! I think he could pass as a kindergartner, ya?My stylin girls and their cute backpacks!

All my cute kids. They grow up too fast! I love you guys!

Summer's Almost Over!

This summer has not really turned out as planned. We didn't get a family vacation and house renovations have taken all our time and money. But I have enjoyed sleeping in and having no schedule. The girls start school next week and James and I start the week after that. I think the girls are excited. I am excited, but I hate to see summer go. Here are a couple of things we did do:

Maverik and Anessa turned 2! Since their birthdays are a day apart we had their party together. It was a swim/bbq party w/ tons of food and even more kids! It was a blast.

Mallory and I went with 6 other ladies to a Breaking Dawn Party. We ate at Tucanos and went shopping and then over to Borders bookstore for Trivia and games. Mallory knew all the trivia and won some prizes. We were number 90 in line! We got our books quick! Mallory read for about 3 days straight and then I read it! We loved it.

As soon as I can find my cord to my camera I will have pics of James and Mav at their first fathers and son's outing and our trip to Home Depot to see Tony Stewarts car! And 1st day of school pics soon to come!

I love you Ryan!

I know it has been a long time since I posted. Things have been crazy. In June we went down to AZ for James' Family reunion. We were about 20 miles from the reunion when we got the call that my older brother Ryan had passed away. It is crazy how life can change so quickly. I know that we will all be together again someday, but it makes me sad to know he is gone. I have realized that life is not about what size you are or how much money you have but about being thankful for everyday we have and counting your blessings. I will miss Ryan and his great sense of humor. I can see his smile every time I look at his 2 beautiful girls. My sister Steph said it the best- We are 10 strong no matter what. I love you Ryan.

Barnhouse

http://www.barnhousebh.blogspot.com

So since Nan doesn't have a blog yet (or is still in the works?) Everyone has to see the cute stuff she has been doing. She has been working with her friends Joe and Jermone(?) at their new antique shop, Barnhouse. Check out their blog and you can see some of Nan's stuff. We had such a fun time visiting. Mom and Briley are going to have so much fun up there! I am a little jealous. Nan says it's even prettier now than we went, if that is possible. I love ya Nan, You are so talented! You need to help me with my disaster of a house!

I am so blessed!

I'm going to update my blog soon with everything we have been doing, but I was driving this morning and thinking how blessed my life is! I have 4 beautiful, healthy kids, a great husband, awesome sisters (&brothers) and a great mom! I want to tell everyone how much I love them and I am so grateful to have you all!

No More School!

So is everyone sick of seeing the same pic on my blog? I know I am! I love ya honey but I'm sick of looking at your truck! I'm going to post new pics soon but right now I am too lazy to get them off my camera! So since James and I finished this semester I thought I would be getting so much done! Organizing the house, blogging, paying bills, but I'll I do is lay around! And I have to say I LOVE it! I play with Maverik and maybe go to the store but when Maverik is asleep, I either take a nap or read a book! Maybe someday I will get bored and do something but right now I love doing absolutely NOTHING!

Dang that is a sexy truck....

We recently reached a major milestone with our Dodge. 100,000 miles and still going strong. This event occured on my most recent trip to AZ for work.

I always end up doing a lot of thinking when I drive, which to Britt's defense, does get me in a lot trouble.

In the four years we have had our truck we have gone through the following...

5,800+ gallons diesel fuel consumed

180+ fill ups

20 oil changes equaling 60 gallons of oil

Countless number of trips to AZ

One new set of tires

My most recent addition is the RanchHand Bumper replacement that I got from my good buddy Alan. Not only is it massive and beefy, it is also bomb proof and comes with a 15K winch option. Thanks Alan for the bumper and helping me get it mounted up. Haven't hit anything with it yet, but I feel sorry for what ever is brave enough to jump out in front of my truck (insert evil laugh here).

Here are a few pics.

Mallory got to go with Dad to help with the install and she was a big help. She said she had fun, I hope she did since I had fun having her with me.

I love ya Mallory

Thanks for the hook up Alan..... your the man

Regards,

James "Mule" Skinner

We LOVED Washington!!

They were all very sad to leave! Except Molly the pug! She was glad

Maverik was leaving!

Nan's house is so cute! We had a lot of fun at the Falls. It was raining but still cool!

Ok, I have been wanting to post pics for awhile now, but things got crazy when we got home, homework, sick kids and James still working 24/7. But we had so much fun in Washington and Oregon! It was beautiful and we were glad we got to go! Thanks to Nan & Lynn for letting us stay! Our kids had so much fun visiting their cousins and cried when we had to leave. Thanks to Nan for decorating and making a cake for Halle! We loved everything! Even Maverik throwing a fit at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Happy 12th Anniversary!

I can't believe we have been married for 12 years! Where does the time go? I have to tell everyone the top five reasons I love my husband

1. He always makes me laugh (sometimes almost making me choke to death)

2. He is a hardworker!

3. He loves to cook and is great at it!

4.He can fix anything(atleast I think he can) and always fills my car with gas!
5. He is my best friend and still my high school Sweetheart!


Every year just gets better, I love ya babe!

My Partner

I read Melissa's blog and can totally relate. Here is what me and my partner in crime have been up to.....

Going for a jog! Iremembered why I hate to run with a stroller!

Watching the girls leave for school! He gets very lonely with mom!

!

Maverik with his smoothie mustache!

I told Maverik it was time for nigh-night and I came upstairs and found that he had gotten up on my bed and under my covers! He obviously knows what he wants!

Go Jazz!

Our school won a contest for reading and got to have a Jazz player come. Mallory's class read the most and so they got a picture with Jaron Collins. I was helping take the picture so I grabbed Mallory and got a pic with Jaron, He also signed Mallory's shirt. It was cool!

What a fun weekend

A day at the park (with BEAUTIFUL weather) What a bunch of HOTTIES!!

Just trying to update my blog. I wish I was more computer savvy, but oh well. I wanted to say thanks to my mom, sisters and ecspecially James for a great weekend away. I love AZ and the weather was great! I missed my kids a lot. (still trying to convince James to move back) It was a great break from our crappy weather!! STILL SNOWING!! We have had more snow than ever!

Valentines Day-Late Start because of blizzard! Nice!!

James digging us out after our crazy blizzard!

I miss my sisters!!!!

okay I know everyone was glad to see my blog finally change, but I haven't been blogging lately because I'm really homesick and it sucks to see everyone having fun without us!!(Amazing Race, Snow, Shopping) Maybe it is this crappy weather but I feel like I'm going crazy here! I wish I could just call one of my many sisters and say meet me at the park for lunch! I was talking to Brook today and I know we could have both used a reason to get out! I just want to tell all my SISTAS, I love you guys! Maybe some day my girls will stop fighting long enough to realize how cool sisters are!

We can't wait for spring!!

I can't believe my last post was in Nov! We have been very busy. We had a great holiday and are getting back to school and our busy schedule. I miss everyone SOOO much! I can't hardly read everyone's blogs! We especially miss the AZ weather! Yesterday the weather was so bad! Mallory called me from school and said they weren't letting anyone walk home and the buses weren't coming because the roads were so bad!

So I had to pick them up and then I had to take Maverik to the Dr. and then we went to James work so Mallory could do her science fair project and then I went to school only to find out they had closed the campus! It was a crazy day!

Mallory's science project: Can you taste the

difference between regular and sugar free

candy?