Eski's Christmas Party

On the 23rd Eski had her annual Christmas party. She put on quite the show! She invited Santa and he brought a toy for everyone. And we had lots of yummy finger foods. Each year she makes every family a printed book of pictures from the whole year. It was so nice! We also drew names so that every child drew the name of another child. So lots of fun for everyone!

--Eski cooking in the kitchen--

--getting the kids some snacks (Drew-Drew, Kenna and Sadie)--

--Macie and Sadie--

--JJ and Tyler (hard to believe they are both 5!)--

--santa came and brought zachary a spinning top toy--

--and he brought kenna a butterfly barbie--

--kenna helping her brother with his new toy--

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful lady watching our kids!

Andersen Christmas

On Decdmber 21st we had Andersen's over for chili and cornbread - and some present opening.

--kenna knew she loved her gift even before she opened it :)--

--Lucy just wanted to eat hers--

--was hard to get all the kids in the same shot!--

--Chloe got her this bouncy dog...and man does she love it!--

Lucy got Zachary a cool plate and silverware set that looks like construction vehicles. Chloe and Kenna played for quite a while up in Kenna's room....its nice that they can just go and play together...hard to believe that they grew up so fast!

Santa and Mace Christmas

On the 19th we had our Mace Christmas. Before we went to Bridgot's house we stopped by the Ames Best Buy because they were hosting Santa this year! Kenna told him that she wanted a princess castle. She also told him that she has been VERY good this year.

--no fear at all, she went right up to him this year--

--zachary wasn't a fan...right after this he started crying--

After Best Buy we headed to Mike and Bridgot's. Usually we have a big Christmas at Grandma Greats. But, this year, she decided to spend the winter in a nice assisted living apartment with her friends. She LOVES it! They prepare her meals, clean for her, and she gets her hair done once a week. That and she is surrounded by friends that are always keeping her busy. So, since the house was shut down for winter, Bridgot offered to host. She made quite a feast, and it her house was so cozy! After lunch we did the Chinese gift exchange then opened the real gifts.

--we barely all fit in her basement :) --

--tight, but very fun!--

Kenna did a great job being patient and watching as everyone opened their gifts. Mike and Bridgot got the kids some fun clothes and musical instruments. Grandma Great made us family pillow and sewed some money on it - very cute! Then Colton drew our name at Thanksgiving. He is always so quiet and sweet....well don't be fooled! I got the joy of opening our gift. I picked up a small bag and read the note as to what was inside.....WHISKERS! Not only that - it was the whiskers left over from the first time Mike shaved.....GROSS! Mike is notorious for pulling pranks - but now he has corrupted Colton....In the end we did get a gift card - but we had to work for it!

Another fun Christmas! Thanks to Bridgot for hosting!!!

Skinner Christmas

On December 20th we had our Christmas at Gona's and Baca's. We decided to make a day of it and get there a little early. The tradition is that we eat spaghetti and play all day :) We had a great time just being goofy, eating yummy food, and opening gifts!

--kenna impersonating groucho--

--the girls got sweatshirts from Mexico--

--all the grandkids got Gona and Baca a wii--

--kenna playing with christmas decorations--

--Kenna loved helping her brother open his gifts--

As usual the we were all spoiled rotten! Gona and Baca treated Josh to Mexico, and got us some gift cards for Jax, I now own a bread machine and other fun cooking books and christmas molds, the kids got a CD player, polly pocket, shirts, and other fun toys!

Aunti Em and Mark got us socks (another fun tradition), calender, bath toys, vanilla from mexico, a hand mixer (which I have already used twice!) and other fun toys for the kids.

We definitely got so many things - but didn't list them all. The best part of the day was watching everyone else open their gifts, and enjoying each other's company. I like the new day-long Christmas celebration - was relaxed and low key....perfect for us!

Christmas Photo Session

For those of you who did not receive our xmas card - sorry! But I did have a great time shooting the kids pictures for the card! I hope you enjoy :) The hardest part was picking which ones to use! The kids had so much fun as well!

Kenna's First Dance Recital

Kenna has been looking forward to her first dance recital for WEEKS! She was so excited to show off all the things she has been learning to mommy and daddy!

This one was a small audience of just parents. There will be a larger one in the spring for all ages where they rent an auditorium!

I was soooo proud of my little girl. While about half of the girls sort of stood there and goofed around, she really watched her teacher and tried to do the coreography. The girls were asked to dress up in whatever they had that was dance and Christmas appropriate. We had to settle for black leotard and green and red hair pieces :)

She was so proud of herself at the end! Growing up so fast!

--all the girls leaving the practice room, heading into the main studio--

--doing first position (look at those toes!)--

--waving at me :) --

--sitting with her classmates--

I have had a good time getting to know the mothers in the class. Two of the moms I really like are parents to the two girls that McKenna clicks the best with, Tannith and Lilly. I hope that she continues to enjoy dance!

Zachary's 9 Month Stats

Today we had Zachary's 9 month checkup. He is right where he should be with everything both physically and developmentally!

Head 18" - 50th percentile
Weight 21.5 lbs - 60th percentile
Height 28" - 50th percentile

He is really starting to take to table food now - and has almost mastered the sippy cup!

More Kenna-isms

Last night we were talking about her day. I don't remember the context, but she was going on and on about something. When I laughed and challenged what she was saying, she said very sternly "mommy, I am so serious...." cute!

Then today we were reenacting Lady and the Tramp (one of the movies we watched during blizzard time.) She assigned me the role of Aunt Sarah and I was to shoo rylee (aka Lady) away. When Rylee didn't go and just sat on Kenna's lap she looked up at me and said "mommy, she isn't shooing?"

They say the darnedest things!

Baking Extravaganza!

The snowy days assisted in this years baking. I made a bunch of goodies to give to my work friends, neighbors, and most importantly, Santa!



This year I tried something new. I found this amazing recipes for personal pies in a jar. So, I made one pie for each member of my coworkers families. It ended up being 22 pies, but they were so cute, and looked so yummy! Our digital camera is in Mexico with Josh, so using web images.

--used these pie cutters from Williams Sonoma to make them extra cute--

--I made blueberry, cherry, cherry crumble and apple--

--then I made frosted pumpkin cookies--

--and about 100 peanut butter chocolates--

--then I tried this defrosty the snowman recipe this year, too cute!--

--and cherry almond bites--



--and finally my FAMOUS buttermilk brownie recipe--

I make little tins for all the neighbors and will probably deliver them today. My coworkers seemed pretty psyched at all the goodies!

Spelling and Mexico

Kenna is OBSESSED with letters right now. She is always asking how to spell something, or what does that word start with? At bathtime I have to force her to get out because she is writing her letters with bathtub crayons.

Today, we are stuck inside because of the 14" of snow we got last night! Josh spent an hour shoveling tracks to get the car out of our driveway. He had to leave early to attempt to catch his flight to Mexico. He is going with his mom, dad, and sister and there was only a few flights that were getting out at all today.

So, we are watching movies, eating popcorn, and snuggling in blankies. As I was making lunch, Kenna giggled and said "Mommy, I know how to spell movie! D - V - D!" She is so smart ;)

Disney on Ice

On Sunday we went to Disney On Ice Princesses, and boy was it fun. Kenna has been watching the video on their website over and over for about a month. We went with Andersens and they both have been talking about it for weeks. We took Zachary to Eski's and her daughter Alyssa watched him while we took the girls. It was a special big girl only night. The girls both dressed up in their best princess gear, and just LOVED watching all the princesses

--posing in their princess clothes--

--daddy bought kenna a rose--

--she loved eating the snacks...her own special popcorn--

--jasmine and the genie--

--seven dwarfs--

--we had great seats right in front. Here are cinderella's stepsisters fighting right in front of us!--

--the mice also dancing--

--cinderella's coach--

--the grand finale. All the princesses dressed in white with their princes. Jasmine, Aurora, Snow White, Cinderella, Mulan adn Belle--

--last scene--

What a great time. McKenna sat through the whole thing (over two hours) and even Josh commented on how beautiful ice skating is. We really had a such a great time, and this will hopefully be a tradition every year!