Holy Blogging SLACKER Batman!

Good grief, I sure wish whoever was supposed to keep up this blog would do it! If I want anything done around this place I have to do it myself! What a summer and fall it has been! Busy busy busy and still livin' and lovin' it! We have done so many cool/fun things but in no particular order (does this sound familiar?) here are a few pictures now that I have a place to put pictures on my computer again!

Summer time with new friends! These people have a huge blow up water slide! It was such a blast to play on! We loved it! The friends are awesome as well! ;) By the way, isn't he so dang cute?!

Labor Day weekend on Mt. Graham. We hiked with all of these kids (don't worry, their parents were there too) up Soldier Rock. What a blast. It made me a little nervous to have my kids climbing on this HUGE rock but we all made it down slowly and safely! We also have picture somewhere of President Kimball's tree! For those of you that don't know, President Spencer W. Kimball grew up in this little valley and carved his name in a tree. Its about a 2 mile straight up hike! No kidding but the kids made it and it was a blast! You can totally still make out his name. Rumor has it Seth's great grandpa's name is in there too!

This boy and Q tips! He loves them. No, really. Love is not too strong of a word here. If I ever can't find him, he is more than likely in my bathroom doing this. I have never gone through so many Q tips! Phone home? ;)

Scary moment here. Chloe was playing at Grandma's one Sunday evening and was stung by a scorpion. She couldn't walk, was salivating like crazy, hot and then cold, eyes darting back and forth and was totally restless. We finally called my EMT brother and he said get her to the ER quick (this was after about 5 hours or 1 am). We hesistated because we 1) didn't know about a trial anti-venom that our hospital happened to have and 2) we are self pay (ER's aren't cheap to be told there was nothing they could do and to let it run its course). She didn't even cry when they put in the IV. She was such a trooper! After 2 doses she was sound asleep and the next morning, NOTHING! What a blessing!

Labor Day on the mountain again. Ahh, we loved this weekend! 5 days of no phones, TV, movies, hardly electricity (except at night to play games or put kids to bed with the generator). Pure dirty mountain bliss! The bike belongs to Seth's uncle and they brought it up to our cabin so we could take the kiddos for a ride. A blast!

Climbing Soldier Rock. He is getting so dang big!

Mud holes with cousins. Isn't this the cutest picture? And no, the shirt was not originally white! Whew! :0)

Dance Class!! I've waited 3 LONG years ;) for this day! She REALLY does LOVE it! She didn't want to text this picture to dad but isn't she cute!? You should see these 7 little girls that are 3 and 4! Monday's are one of my favorite days now!

Ahhh, the BIG finish to the BIG HUGE race! I trained for and did my first (yes there will be more) triathlon! Can I just tell you this was the hardest yet one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life?! I learned how to swim strokes just this summer and did awesome on my swim time. Complete the entire race in 1 hour 57 minutes and my goal was under 2! It was a 625 meter swim (25 laps) 15.5 mile bike and 3 mile run. The run stunk. It was brutally hot! Like late August in Arizona hot! I was totally beat. I felt drained and amazing at the same time! Gave me the courage to train for my half marathon in January. I've discovered a whole new world of athletes and I love it! One word... amazing!

I went with Seth's mom and sisters and all of the nieces to see Cinderella at a dinner theatre. The dinner was gross but the play was a blast!

Skinner family reunion 2011. It has been more than 6 years since this bunch was ALL together. Probably closer to 9 when we got married. It was so much fun to be with everyone. The company, activities and of course the food was awesome!

Ha! Love this picture! T-ball in June (again, AZ heat...ahhh)! He was so nervous but had super awesome coaches and LOVED it after the first at-bat! We got one of these after every inning!

Another one of the hardest things I've ever done. I know, you are probably totally laughing right now and I am sitting here with tears in my eyes! This day was one that I totally looked forward to but dreaded at the same time. He walked on in and didn't look back. He runs off the bus and then slows it down to a cool guy walk. We were totally bored the first two weeks without him. Would sit by the window for 10 minutes waiting for the bus to drop him off. The other kids would beg for him to come home. We are mostly adjusted now and he is learning and growing so much. He's lost that little boy charm and has gained a "kid" adventurers outlook on life. He is so much fun and it is a blast to see how much he is changing. I still yearn for my baby boy, the one we like to watch in family videos sometimes. But, he still comes and cuddles me and now reads to me before I read to him.

Life is busy but good. The two biggest kids are in soccer and dad is the assistant coach. It is so fun. They have lots of little friends and are loving being close to cousins and grandparents. Mason is also growing like a week. He is asking to be potty trained and I am psyching myself up to doing it! ;) He talks a ton and has us all wrapped around his little chubby fingers!

Seth is enjoying work and life back "home". He always has tons of little projects going on and takes the time to take kids with him and teach them. I fall in love with him all over again when I see him on a horse and back to his old tricks and his old self that I remember from when we dated in high school.

I keep busy with the usual house and home and projects and training. We are enjoying being by family and loving the life we are making here.

Ahh, that feels good! Maybe I will stay a little more caught up now on blogging. No promises though! Love to you all!