Casita Update

Gona and Baca just got back from Mexico. They stayed in their Casita and spent Christmas on their patio toasting in the Christmas season. It is realy homey now, complete with bikes, new furniture and a cozy little backyard! Will be fun when the kids get older and we can all make a trip down there :)

Major Milestones

A few major events in the Skinner house. Grayson has one tooth (bottom right) and is most assuredly working on more. He has not been taking naps/eating/happy at all....poor Eski this week. Poor mommy at night...

On an unrelated note, I decided that I will stop nursing him. I made it 7 months, but the last few days he has been interested in looking around, and using me as more of a teething ring than a food source. Needless to say it hurts. He is now eating baby food, and in a few months will be able to have whole milk, so I guess this is it. We had a bit of a "moment" last night where he was eating and looking at me lovingly. I rubbed his head and started bawling knowing it would be the last time I would ever feed a baby that way again. It sounds ridiculous, but was a really hard decision for me. This is a stage of my life that has gone by far too quickly...no more new babies.

And on a much lighter note, I got teary eyed again tonight. McKenna had her friend Megan over for dinner, after spending the night at her friend Peyton's house. I love watching her interact with her friends, seeing the sort of playmate she is, and the friend she has become to them. We were eating grilled sandwiches and pan roasted potatoes. I forgot to put ketchup on the table. Rather than ask for it, McKenna got up out of her chair, grabbed it out of the fridge and brought it to the table, all while holding a conversation with Megan. I stood there, aghast....who is this grown up little lady? Again, it seems silly, but that is the first time she has ever just gotten an item that she needed for dinner rather than asking for it. We are in the twilight zone!

Hmmm....where does she get it?

Last Chrsitmas

We had our last Christmas at Gona and Baca's. They had a mexican style cuisine (pork and rice, queso and chips, and chocolate flan.) It was all delish! Josh brought his new kinect and the kids played that.

Josh played a funny trick on his mom. She has been dying of anticipation about this "gadget" that Denny bought her. Josh found a gag gift box for a coffee maker that you put in the shower. As you take a shower it brews coffee for you. Kathy did a great job of faking excitement as Josh laughed hysterically. She figured out it was a gag a few minutes later :)

The kids got spoiled rotten as usual. We could barely get all the toys in our house! Today I spent the entire morning going through every toy in our toy room and getting rid of half of them!

Christmas at Gramma Rue's

What an adventure. Thursday we opened presents from eachother and packed up to head to Gramma Rue's on Friday afternoon. We left around 1, and the kids did pretty well. No delays, no problems, lots of ipad, portable DVD player, snackage, books and toys. We got into Pasco around 7 their time (9 ours) and got the kids home in time to crash :)

Much of the trip was spent just going to movies, playing board games, eating (a lot), and relaxing. Josh had to work a little, and was sick some of the time and Grayson was teething and didn't sleep more than 3 hours straight (tired momma) aside from that we had a wonderful time.

getting ready to open gifts Christmas morning

Zachey got a Batman castle

He liked the wrapping paper too

Grayson opened his first present ever

First Christmas with uncle Spencer. Kenna was IN LOVE with her uncle...climbed all over him, constantly wanted to play card games with him and have him read her stories.

Grayson tried veggies, LOVED EM!

And he liked playing on his new blankey Chels made him

Sleeping on Auntie

Took a bath in Gramma's sink

The only pic I got of Brandon!



We went to dinner at the country club the last day we were there. Got some good pictures :) The ride home was less than stellar....we got to the aiport in plenty of time just to find out our plane was delayed on one screen but on time on the other. Then we waited in line for over an hour in security. Like somethign in a movie, people saying things like..."oh I have to put my cell phone on the conveyer?" Just seemed completely unorganized especially with three tired kids. We waited with no screen to update us and finally asked a security guard what was up. Luckily we got on the plane and made our connection in Denver. But, with Grayson teething, it was a little touch and go on both flights. It was great to be home and in our own beds! The kids slept in till after 8!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Decor

This year I splurged and finally bought matching stockings for my whole family. I think that now we are complete I don't have to worry about them discontinuing the stockings in the event we had another baby :) I just LOVE them...they are so cute!

Eski's

Eski had her annual party this year on the 22nd. It was filled with food, kids and santa! Kenna got a happy napper, Zachey got a chainsaw and Grayson got a fun hippo shape toy.

 

I made these cute little santa brownies. They were cute and yummy!!

Goodies

This year I probably went a bit overboard...but I had fun as always!

Cherry Almond Cups 

Twix Trifel 

Birthday Cake Fudge (sans sprinkles) 

Mint Brownies 

Cookie Bark 

Apple Cider Caramels

Chocolate Cookies with Peppermint Kisses 

Oreo Balls

My neighbors got a full plate :)

I DID IT!

I finally did it, I am DONE WITH GRAD SCHOOL! I have submitted my final portfolio and finished my final internship hours. I do need to apply for licensure, but aside from that....finished! I can't believe it after 4 long years....I'm done. I want to thank my amazing family who definitely sacrificed a lot so I could cross this off my bucket list. All of the hard work paid off, as I ended the program with a 4.0 GPA!

I got home after my last day and saw a card from Kenna and balloon and flowers from Daddy. At first I thought I had a child prodigy for spelling congratulations....but then I noticed it was written on the balloon ;)