Mimi and Bonka: December 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".