Our 1st Annual Family Easter Party

We had such a fun Easter Party the Friday before Easter. We began the evening with a delicious dinner...b-b-que ribs, twice baked potatoes, baked beans, fruit and rainbow jello...yum! It was followed by our 1st Annual Easter Party. Whitney flew home to surprise everyone and Kristin, Mike and Avery came from Tucson and we had such a good time together. Family is the BEST! (We missed Dustin and Mariel but they were enjoying Mariel's family in Utah.)

Avery, Halle, Kate, Molly and Maddie getting their baskets (made by Kristin)

ready to go hunt eggs.

The little girls LOVE Whitney and she loves them! (She always wanted a little sister and I think she finally got her wish...times 6...at least for now :))

Lucy and Whitney in their hoodies :)

Our egg race!

Getting ready for the fishing pond...always a favorite!

The cupcake walk...not sure the little girls understood the game but they sure had fun dancing around the circle of colored squares.

JuST for FuN

Just for fun...a few pictures of whats been happening...

Bonka and little Lucy

We went with Jeremy, Hannah and girls to the Queen Creek Olive Oil Festival...had a great lunch and then went to take pictures of their family. Such a fun afternoon!

Molly and her Daddy

Whitney riding bikes with Kate (just a few more trips around the backyard and we will let Whitney try the sidewalk in front!)

In March I was in Provo shopping at Costco with Whitney. We saw this cute little clubhouse and she said, "If Dad saw this he would so buy it for the little girls!" She was right! When I came home and Bonka and I were at Costco he saw it and bought it! He loves his little granddaughters and they love him, too!

Avery, 20 months

Kate, 2-1/2 yrs.

Kate and Melissa

A date with Maddie

This post is waaayyy out of order but when I saw the pictures I just had to post them. In November 2009, Bonka and I took Maddie on a date, just the three of us. It was so fun to pick her up and have her come to the door all dressed up. She looked so cute in her sparkly "princess" skirt. We began the afternoon with lunch out. We let Maddie pick the restaurant and she chose "sandwiches" at Jersey Mikes. Then it was off to see "The Frog Princess". After popcorn and treats at the movie we headed home and Mimi and Maddie did crafts together (she painted a nativity set her Great Grandma Buckley gave her) and then we made brownie treats to share with the rest of her family. Our time together went way too quickly and she was an absolute angel the whole time. We love you Maddie!

Look Whitney, we took a picture of the three of us, just like you would have done...holding the camera out in front of us! I'll bet you are so proud of your old parents :)

"Go ahead and take my picture...please!"

Ok, so this is a VERY random post but I just can't help myself. When I saw this picture it reminded me of all the patience Whitney has for helping me learn how to take a decent picture. If I find the pictures we took on New Years Eve I'll show you what I mean but for now, thank you Whitney for teaching me how to smile with my teeth showing, holding my head a bit forward (helps disguise the double chin), and keeping my eyes open :) Now, to figure out how to disguise droopy eyes, wrinkles and an extra 10 pounds..hahaha!! Oh well, ten years from now it will be worse so go ahead and take my picture...please!!!

Christmas 2009

Wow...where to begin? Christmas 2009 was in Kaua'i, Hawaii...Wow!!! Christmas 2008 Danny, Whitney and I realized we would be spending Christmas alone so instead of staying home and feeling sorry for ourselves we decided we needed to go somewhere and Whitney's only request was that it be someplace "warm" and away from the snow. Well, I think Dad did a pretty good job of meeting her request!

It didn't really feel like Christmas in the 70 degree weather, no decorations or gifts so when we saw this decorated pine tree we thought we'd better get a picture so we wouldn't forget it was indeed Christmas time.

While Whitney and I waited for our luggage to arrive in Kaua'i, Dad went to get the rental car. We both laughed when we saw a little PT Cruiser drive by and Whitney said, "That would be really funny if Dad drove up in a Cruiser for us to "cruise" around in." Well, sure enough...he did!



It was difficult to decide what pictures to post so here are just a few of my favorites...

Whitney at Hawaii's own "Grand Canyon"...Waimea Canyon

Almost sunset on the beach of our hotel...awesome views, great company, perfect vacation!

Dad let us splurge and take a helicopter flight around the island...what a treat!

Whitney got to sit in the middle front! They seat you by weight so Dad and I (the bags of the family) were in the back :)

The views from the sky were spectacular!

We survived :)

Whitney, having fun with Dad's camera...it was a bit boring for her at times :)

but not always :)

I LOVE pictures of Whitney with her Dad! They are such good friends!

A few pictures from our beach front...

We finished our trip in Honolulu. We spent Sunday at church with Mariel's grandparents, Tutu Joan and Papa Johnny, and then accompanied them to "the Punchbowl" Hawaii's Arlington Cemetery and Pearl Harbor.

Whitney, Tutu and Me :)

Dad, Whitney and Mom at the Hawaiian Temple (which has been closed for rennovations for over a year and will be closed until summer 2010). We enjoyed seeing BYU Hawaii, as well, as the Polynesian Cultural Center.

We finished our trip around Oahu by eating at Dustin and Mariel's favorite hamburger spot, Kua-Aina Burgers where they put 1/2 of an avocado on your hamburger. We were so excited to try one, however, when we walked into the restaurant there was a sign that read, "No avocados today"...wouldn't you know it :) We tried the pineapple burger though and we were NOT disappointed!

It was a wonderful trip and we will cherish the memories forever.

The wall at the airport says it best...

Thanksgiving 2009

I admit right now that there are a lot of pictures in this post but I make NO apologies for that. It was a fabulous weekend with a lot happening and I didn't even begin to dent the surface of what I could have posted. :) So here we go...

We were blessed to have all our children and grandchildren in Arizona for the holiday. Whitney had suggested that we all participate in the Mesa "Mi Amigos" Turkey Trot and so we did. Joshua,, Whitney, Dustin and Mariel all ran in the 10K and did GREAT! Old Dad and I ran the 2 mile run and take great pride in the fact that we never had to walk (and with no training, haha) so next year we have set a goal to run the 10K, and since we may be alone, who would dispute if we did or didn't accomplish that goal? :)
Jeremy, Hannah and the little girls walked in the 1 mile family fun walk. Hannah made each of the little girls their own "official" competition numbers and they looked so cute!

Melissa and Katelynn were our cheerleaders and we couldn't have finished the race without them!

Whitney, our family race organizer
Dustin and Mariel (this was Mariel's first "official" race but I bet it isn't her last :)

Traversing the desert on our way back to our car...thank goodness this wasn't our AZ raceway :)

Later when we got home and while we waited for the turkey to cook, we made "handprint" turkeys with the little girls and listed our blessings on the feathers.

I forgot to mention that Kristin, Mike and Avery were so fast at the Turkey Trot that I wasn't even able to photograph them. So glad they sat still for this one :)

Whitney and her "blessings" turkey.

We also wrote letters to our serviceman to give thanks for their service to our country. Thank you everyone for taking the time to do that. Thank you Uncle John for being one of those servicemen!!!!
Great weather and food + wonderful family = perfect Thanksgiving dinner

Friday was not just the day after Thanksgiving and "black" Friday but at the Skinner house it was the day we "ushered in Christmas".

The little girls LOVE their Aunt Mariel and had fun decorating a gingerbread house with her and eating it as they went along. Thanks Mariel!!! Molly looks VERY happy!

That evening we enjoyed a Mexican dinner with yummy new recipes for enchiladas and then headed to the backyard to let the little girls break a pinata full of Christmas candy. They loved swinging at the pinata but Uncle Dustin finally had to take a turn and break it open.
Kate, Molly, Maddie and Avery ready to go to bat!

Kristin, Mike and Avery (17 mos.)

Josh, Kate (2 yrs) and Melissa

Dustin and Mariel

Jeremy and Hannah (I just loved this picture of them...so cute!)

After we broke the pinata we came in the house and Mimi read a Christmas story to the little girls and we shared Christmas gifts with each other. We could have waited until Christmas but it wouldn't have been as much fun not seeing the smiles on each other's faces since we will all be in separate places...Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Hawaii. :)

Maddie 4 yrs (our oldest granddaughter) She REALLY did listen to the story :)

Saturday morning was "family pictures". I should have put the silliest one on this post (and we had quite a few to choose from :)) but I couldn't figure out how to get it on...I'm obviously still learning how to blog :) Anyway, Whitney picked the colors this year...black and purple. All in all, they didn't turn out too bad. It's a shame we knew that in just a few days they would already be obsolete. Sorry Lucy!

That afternoon while the boys watched the ASU/UofA game the girls snuck out of the house and went to lunch and had a little shower for Melissa and Lucy. I am very blessed to share my life with these sweet girls.

After we got home it was time for our pedicures by Whitney! Ahhh!!! Our toes look so much better and the little girls can't quit looking at their purple glittered toes and saying "Whidney...toes".

This Thanksgiving weekend was too short and went way too quickly but will be a treasured memory for all of us.