Skeen Family

Weekend at the Beach!

2009-10-19T07:30:00.001-07:00

Our first annual trip to Westport! We had such a fun time...the perfect family getaway.

At least it wasn't Eucerin....

2009-03-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

When John and Jacob did "the lotion thing" they used Eucerin...it was awful! This was just a pina colada body butter...they sure were proud of themselves : ) Sure do love these babies!

New pics of the kids!!!!

2009-03-02T23:12:00.001-08:00

Have I mentioned how much I love this camera???

Sew fun.....

2009-02-21T11:53:00.000-08:00

I got my sewing machine out and made a couple dresses and a skirt for Jenny...I forgot how much I loved it! It's fun to create something from a couple yards of fabric....now if I only had a room where I could store all the stuff - LOL!

Silly hats...

2009-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

James and Jenny love raiding the hat basket...they are cute!!!!

15 Years!!!!

2009-01-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

John and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary on Jan. 8th. It's been a crazy ride - but I'd do it again...thanks for marrying me : )

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-01T03:12:00.000-08:00

We celebrated the New Year at Chad and Marla's house...we had a great time! Thanks for having us : )

Me, John, Marla, Chad, Michael & Katie (Marla's sister & hubby - up from Colorado)

Even the babies were up past midnight to celebrate...

Jenny didn't wan't a glass...she wanted the whole bottle!

John and Jacob celebrating with some bubbly (cider, that is...)

Merry Christmas Morning!

2008-12-26T23:07:00.000-08:00

Santa brought little John his favorite book!

James and Jenny had a great time opening presents...

...and sharing a horse ride.

Jacob got some new clothes
Grandma Bliss got the "Mamma Mia" video...she and I saw it in theaters....loved it!

Jenny still gets excited to see all the snow James and his favorite character from "The Little Einsteins".
Grandpa Ray and Grandma Loretta braved the snow to bring Christmas pajamas!

Christmas Carol Karaoke!!!

2008-12-26T22:41:00.000-08:00

We had a great time - even James and Jenny got into the action!

More Snow!!!

2008-12-21T11:16:00.000-08:00

Isnt' it pretty? It's been a long time since we've had anywhere near this amount of snow.

I love how it makes everything look so clean : )

You can tell that I haven't taken the van anywhere...John's truck has 4 WD - so you can guess which vehicle we use : )

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

2008-12-17T15:49:00.000-08:00

James only smiled for the first 5 minutes....then he was ready to go back inside : )

Jenny wasn't sure what to think! She lasted about 5 minutes longer than James...

John & Jacob, on the other hand, had a great time building a snow frog (see below) and having a snowball fight. I may never get them in the house....

Another soccer season comes to an end.....

2008-12-16T22:04:00.000-08:00

Team Revolution had a great season this year...they came in 3rd place in their league (which is awesome considering they are a rec team and the teams they competed against were select...) This was Jacob's 7th year ...how is that possible??? We are really proud of him! Love you, Jacob!!!
I love this picture....you can totally see Jacob watching the kid he's guarding (is that what they call it in soccer?) and repositioning himself to be between #24 and the ball...cool!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

2008-12-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

Grandma Bliss came with us to Hunters Tree Farm to find the "perfect" tree!John, Jacob & James were on the lookout....Jenny found her favorite tree right away : )James thought it would be a super fun place to play 'hide & seek'The conquering heroes!Every year, John hangs the lights.... (You can tell James was really impressed...)
And John & Jacob finish the job!

Perfect!!! Now it feels like Christmas in our home! Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Girls Weekend in Leavenworth!!!

2008-12-08T00:27:00.001-08:00

We had such a great time this past weekend! Of course, we couldn't have done it without our fabulous husbands! It was the fist time all 6 of the sisters were able to make it :) We stayed up way too late, ate way too much food (I learned that I like schnitzel - though I'm not positive that's how you spell it) watched lots of 'chick flicks' and laughed, laughed, laughed. What a gift this weekend was! Thanks, ladies! Love you all!!!

James has glasses!

2008-11-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

Last week we found out that James is REALLY far-sighted...so now he gets to wear these super cute glasses : ) He's kept them on most of the day without any problems! I think it will be a whole new world for him...he was so cute doing his puzzles and reading his books. Little John was about James' age when he got his first pair of glasses...he flushed his down the toilet, threw them out the car window, hid them in the heating vents, etc. We'll see what clever things James' does with his : ) !

Jenny's do...

2008-11-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

It is so much fun to have a little girl who will let me do her hair!

Patrolman John

2008-11-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

John couldn't wait to be a 5th grader so he could do patrol...look at him now!!!

James David Skeen's sealing day...

2008-10-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Oct. 25th, James was sealed to us in the Seattle Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony and a sun-shiny day!

Can you tell my kids aren't used to having their pictures taken in the sun??? We couldn't get them to uncover or open their eyes for even a second : ) You gotta love Seattle weather!

Trunk-or-Treat

2008-10-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

Our ward had it's annual 'Trunk-or-Treat' activity for the kids on Saturday. It was a lot of fun and a great practice run for costumes on Friday : ) (John (Superman, year #5), Jacob (Dark Knight), James (Sully) & Jenny (Boo) ).

It's a bird, it's a plane....

2008-10-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

...it's Super John!!! The kids got to dress up for their last day of HorsePower. John had a great time riding Jubilee and his bike : )

Happy 40th Birthday, Daddy!

2008-10-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

John turned 40 on Oct. 23rd. We love you!!!

Liberty Tree

2008-10-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

On Sept. 11, 2002 we planted this tree in the front yard of our house in Puyallup. It was to honor all who had died the year before - specifically Cathy - the aunt of a couple of my piano students - who died in the Pentagon. A couple weeks ago, we found out that the people who purchased the house no longer wanted the tree and they were kind enough to save it for us! It was only 2.5 feet tall when we brought it home. We used to take the boys' "first day of school" pictures next to it - and now we can again! I love this tree....

Jack-o-latern

2008-10-21T14:05:00.001-07:00

Carving Pumpkins for Family Home Evening! This is our first time ever carving pumpkins as a family. We've always drawn or painted them (mostly because the mess grosses me out : ) But this year Jacob was determined! He did all the digging and pulling of seeds...and only complained once about the smell.

Great job, Jacob!!!
Our front entry...if it were up to the boys we'd have skeletons, goblins and bats hanging everywhere! This year they settled for a dead pirate, cobwebs, spiders and an angry pumpkin.
Happy Halloween!!!

Pumpkin Patch Kids

2008-10-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

We went to the pumpkin patch with Kristin, Adam and Aaron...it was a beautiful day!!!Our pumpkin patch kids : )If you can carry it....you can have it!!!

James turns 2!!!!

2008-10-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Our cute boy turned 2 yesterday! Every time James turned around someone was singing "Happy Birthday" to him....I think it might have confused him just a little bit : )
James loves farm animals...particularly horses, cows and pigs. Moooooo....

Birthday kisses from Jenny...Happy Birthday, James!!! We love you -

If we were born in another time....

2008-10-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

Kristin introduced me to this great site....it's fun to see what might have been : ) http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

BYU Homecoming!!!

2008-10-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

John is turning 40 this year : ) so to celebrate we took a trip to Provo for BYU's homecoming game. While we were there, we got to see some of our favorite people.Dan & Jenny - we love you...wish we could have spent more time hanging out!!!
Our mission president and his wife...Dave & Connie...always great to see you!!!Linda, Maggie, Elizabeth, Lia & Catherine...our sister-in-law & nieces...what a fun surprise!!!

Justin & his wife, Tricia....so great to meet you, Tricia!!!
Some of our best mission & college friends, Shawn & Jody...at one of our favorite restaurants "Los Hermanos".

(Not Pictured: Candi & Brian...sorry we didn't get a picture! It's always great to see you!)

There are so many others we would love to have seen...our next trip will need to be more that a couple days! We also spent some time walking around campus...At the new athletic training building...The Tanner building - where John spent the majority of his time... We were a little early : ) It's a beautiful stadium...
What a great game!!! We were ready for rain and snow...but the weather was perfect and we won!!! Happy early birthday, John!!!

HorsePower Awards Ceremony

2008-10-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

We spent a rainy afternoon sitting in the arena where John takes therapeutic horseback riding lessons. He was so excited and proud to get his trophy...

One of John's best friends, Anna-banana.
Grandma Loretta and Grandma Bliss braved the weather and came to support little John.

Our cute kids....

2008-10-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

We spent a very long afternoon cramped in a tiny, hot room at the doctor's office yesterday...but the kids were such great sports. John and Jacob needed shots which required (of course) a milkshake bribe...sure do love them!!!

Papa & Nana Skeen

2008-09-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

We had a great visit from Papa & Nana Skeen!
They brought John and Jacob a motor bike! John hasn't ridden it yet...but Jacob has and he LOVES IT!!! Thanks, Papa & Nana!
James and Jenny had a super weekend entertaining their grandparents.
All the kids waving good-bye...we will miss you.

Pea pods....

2008-09-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

Jacob planted a pea plant and and is enjoying the fruits (well, vegetables actually) of his labors.

Holy Cow...33 years!!!

2008-09-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Sue, Heidi & I have been friends since 1st grade...school, primary, young women's, girls camp, stake dances, etc., etc., we did it all together. Tonight, we finally got our families in one place and had a super time just hanging out. Thanks for a fun night, ladies!!! (The only person missing, was our 4th friend, Kim, who lives in UT...next time, right Kim?)

Goin' for a ride...

2008-09-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

John bought me a helmet for my birthday...then we went riding down in Capitol Forest. A big thank you to Marla and Chad for watching our kids so we could go play for a few hours.

I actually rolled my quad on top of me today. It was a little scary....fortunately, all I have to show for it is a bruised arm and back. I'm a little sore now - but I may not be able to get out of bed tomorrow : ) Should be exciting!
Here is a picture of one of the trails we rode....you can barely see John at the other end (he's the little white speck)...it was beautiful...you know, just one of those western Washington forests we've all read about for the last few years : ) though I didn't see anything even remotely scary...bummer!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

2008-09-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to get up this morning @ 5:30 (like every other M, W & F) and go walking with my friends, Mandy & Marla. However, I woke up with a migraine, took a pain pill and fell back asleep...what I didn't know was that they were waiting for me at Mandy's house with a big Birthday breakfast! Really sorry guys!

Later, Becky brought me chips and homemade salsa, Cathy dropped by some Lindt truffle balls, and Kris and Liz made me a fantastic lunch! I am blessed to have friends who know how much I love good food!

Then, as soon as I was back from YWs, my kids took me to McDonald's! Little John bought my dinner with his own money : ) He was so proud of himself...It was wonderful! What a great day!!!

Fergalicious....

2008-09-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

My friend, Marla, and I went to see Fergie at the Puyallup Fair last night. We had a great time in spite of the fact that Fergie was totally drunk and completely off the entire concert! So not g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s...but the opening act (The Saturday Knights) and her back up dancers were really good and a lot of fun to watch. Not a concert I would recommend to anyone... I'm not sure if she's crass by nature...or if it was the alcohol talking : ) I woke up with a migraine this morning and thought of how she was probably feeling worse than I was! LOL.....thanks for taking me, Marla! I had a super time!

Scout Camp

2008-09-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

Little John took his dad to the 11 year old scout campout. They cooked, hiked, slept, and even caught a snake. His favorite parts were the fire and the chocolate and marshmallows : )

You can do it at a trot....

2008-09-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Yeah! It's Puyallup Fair time! Going to the fair has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember...now John and I take the kids out of school one day a year and we spend it "Doin' the Puyallup" : ) Little John's favorite ride is (you guessed it!) the train....James and Jenny entertaining themselves while their big brothers enjoyed the rides...they were great the entire day! Jacob learned to 'milk' the cow....

...then Grandma Loretta showed him how my grandparents milked the cows on their diary farm. Walking into this room reminded me so much of going out to do the morning milking with my grandpa...it's amazing how a certain smell can instantaneously flood your mind with memories. We completely wore Jenny out...even with all the noise, she stayed sound asleep. What a GREAT day!!!

Double Trouble

2008-09-11T21:32:00.000-07:00

I heard James and Jenny giggling the other day and went to investigate...here is what I found. There is no way our house is going to survive the next 18 years.

Rise and shout the Cougars are out....

2008-09-09T13:30:00.001-07:00

John and I went to the BYU vs U of W game last Saturday...it was SO MUCH FUN!!!! Of course, it helped that we won : ) We saw some friends from our 'Y' days, Justin and Shawn, and had a great time catching up with them. We can't wait for Homecoming in October - two BYU games in one year....wahoo!!! Go Cougs!!!

A day at the beach....

2008-08-30T23:11:00.001-07:00

We went to Ocean Shores with the Brands family! We had such a great time...it was windy - but sunny and almost warm : ) You gotta love Washington beaches.

It was James and Jenny's first time at the ocean. Jenny loved the water (that is until she fell in...) we'll try again next year. James wasn't crazy about the water - but LOVED the sand and the seagulls.
The wind made it a perfect day for flying kites. Jacob did a great job and had a blast!
John spent a lot of time in the water....we were really surprised - but he loves Austin and Adam and will try just about anything they are doing...thanks, guys!
Our family - Ocean Shores, summer 2008Mexican with the Brands'...(sorry that I cut off half your face, Will)...thanks for a SUPER FUN day!!! We love you.... (left to right: Will, Kristin, Aaron, Austin, John Jr., James, Jenny, John, Jacob & Adam)

John turns 11!!!

2008-08-30T22:57:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, John!!! Eleven years ago we brought you home from the hospital and our lives have been blessed with magic and adventure ever since : ) We love you!!! Cousins, Marissa and BreAnn helping blow out the candles...make a wish!
Left to right: Nykele, Grandma Loretta, Jacob, John, Aunt Jodi, Justin, Marissa & BreAnn (not pictured - Grandma Bliss who had to leave early)
Punching bag from Grandma Bliss...when John isn't punching it, James and Jenny are riding it like a bucking bronco....I hope bozo survives : )

These boots are made for walkin'...

2008-08-30T22:52:00.001-07:00

Jenny insists on wearing these boots every day. I've tried everything I can think of (I even hid them in the back of my close - but she found them in no time)! Should I be worried that she's only 16 months old and already this opinionated?

Why the glass coffee table had to go....

2008-08-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

John's parents gave us a really nice glass coffee table over a year ago. It was great until the babies discovered what coffee tables are truly made for (a stage, of course)...we gave up the fight and replaced it with a solid oak one : )

OUCH!!!

2008-08-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

Not sure what happened...I was unloading groceries out of the car and the kids had gone in the house in front of me - before I carried my first load in, Jacob came running out saying that James had fallen and there was something seriously wrong with his head : ) I should have taken a picture right away (any true blogger would have done it...)! This was later that night...

It all started with the large bulbous area on his forehead (the one the flash on the camera is reflecting off of) you can barely see the purple stripe running down the center of it.
A couple days later the swelling on his forehead had gone down - literally - his eyes and nose got puffy and started turning colors.
Pretty soon, the color concentrated on his forehead and the area between his eyes and nose...hard to tell in the picture...but it was actually a really pretty shade of green. In pure James' style...he fussed a little right when it happened but hasn't complained since...he's the best.

Happy Birthday, Jacob!!!

2008-08-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

Jacob turned 10 years old today. He is such a great kid! We had a fun few days in celebration of his birth. First, his best friend, Adam, stayed a few days with us...they had a blast and kept each other busy and out of trouble. I asked Adam's mom if we could keep him...she said "no". Bummer...
Then Jacob and some friends went to see "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3D - apparently the perfect movie for a group of 9-10 year old boys. Finally, we celebrated again as a family...for the next few weeks we have two 10 year olds and two 1 year olds. We are truly blessed!

HorsePower!!!

2008-08-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

John continues to improve every session on his horseback riding! He has a new horse named Jubilee. Jube is really good at vocal commands and has a really great temperament. Perfect for Little John... James loves the sawdust in the arena...it's a challenge to keep him from eating it (yuck!!) He also loves the horses...we may have a future rider : )

One Love Family Reunion 2008

2008-08-07T00:57:00.001-07:00

Of course our first morning there...the men went golfing. Took them ALL day (shocker!). At least they had a great time. Left to right: Gary (Christine's hubby), John, Dave (brother), & Brian (Candi's husband). Not pictured: Don & SpencerWe got to watch Dave play in the State Softball Championship Tournament. It was so fun! Of course, his team won (great job, Dave!!!) We sure do love our softball : )John with the babies, mom with Logan and Candi & Cody. Jacob loves to ride on Grandpa Ray's motorcycle! What a great time they had!James and Jenny having a fun time...being cute as ever!Isaac, James, Jenny & Logan...Dave & Tracey's twins born 3 days before Jenny. It will be fun watching them grow up together!Isn't he handsome??? Little John had a great time with his cousins. We all miss them terribly since moving south...He especially enjoyed the Karaoke Dance. He calls it Polky-oaky and hopes we will do it again at the next reunion. He sang "You've got a friend in me" with his cousin, Cole and danced with all the pretty girls : ) James and Jenny LOVED the quads. We weren't sure how they would do...but they took right to it! You can see that Jenny is completely relaxed...that's how she rode the whole time. Left to right: Erin, me, Candi, Dave, Jodi & Christine. The empty chair in the middle is for our sister, Shannon, who couldn't make it this year...we missed you, Shan!

Dave, Christine, Jodi, Erin, me & Candi...I am truly blessed to have such great siblings. They are my dearest friends and I can't wait for reunion 2009! Love you all....

Breaking Dawn

2008-08-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

Yes...we were some of those crazy women who waited in line at a Borders Bookstore to receive copies of the last book in the Twilight Saga. Mine actually came in the mail on Monday...I finished it at 1:30 this morning and am already looking forward to my second read.
Top: Candi (sister), Erin (sister), Jodi (sister)

Bottom: Me, Christine (sister), Tracey (sister-in- law), Mom, Nykele (niece)

Thanks for a super great time! Love you all... (BTW, my shirt says "Bite Me"....get it???)

20 Years!!!!

2008-08-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's official...I'm old. John and I went to my 20 year high school reunion last Saturday. We had a great time! It was fun to see old friends and catch up on each others' lives. This crazy thing happens when you look around the room and realize that your peers are actually grown-ups...serious grown-ups with real jobs and families...I started feeling all grown-up, too. Don't worry though....it passed : ) I always forget how much taller John is than me...I was wearing really high heels in this picture and I still barely pass his shoulders...
Two of my best friends growing up...Sue & Heidi...don't we look great???

Crazy Hair Day

2008-07-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Brands' family came to play...

2008-07-23T16:52:00.001-07:00

Kristin, Austen, Adam and Aaron came for a day...we had a great time and love every chance we get to see them! The boys are so good with the babies (and I know John and Jacob were super excited to see you, too)...thanks for making the REALLY long drive down : ) We love you all!!!

Soccer season has begun!!!!

2008-07-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Jacob's season began with the "King of the Hill" tournament last weekend. He played GREAT!!! We are so proud of him...unfortunately, this is the only picture we took (when did he get so big???). We'll take more actions shots in the future : )

James' Blessing

2008-07-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 20, 2008. Thanks to everyone who came!!! James is a miracle and a blessing for our family and we'll take every chance we get to celebrate!

Lazy afternoon...

2008-07-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

Sunny Sunday afternoons in the backyard with my family...I love it!

Sing us a song...

2008-07-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

James and Jenny love to play the piano...it's one of the only times that they are not very good at taking turns...good thing they both still fit on the bench : )

2008-07-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that we have two nephews with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Christine's sons - Josh & Sam) so, this year, John is participating in the 2008 Thurston County MDA Lock-up. We need to raise $2,000 in order to keep him out of jail! I will get more info soon - in the mean time here is the link to his web page:

https://www.joinmda.org/08thurstonlockup/john

Something you may not know: Muscular dystrophies are genetic disorders characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. In DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), boys begin to show signs of muscle weakness as early as age 3. The disease gradually weakens the skeletal muscles, in the arms, legs and trunk. By the early teens or even earlier, the boy’s heart and respiratory muscles also may be affected. There is no known cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Fun with cousins!!!

2008-07-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

We went to Yakima for the 4th of July weekend to visit my sister, Erin, and her family. We had such a wonderful time! The kids had a great time on the trampoline, in the pond, watching movies and playing games! Jenny, Rachel, Cole, Maia, Jacob, Corinne, James and John together on the trampoline : ) Rachel, Cole & Jacob...I always thought Jacob looked like these two...
John & Uncle Spencer...chillin'
Fun in the pond with Corinne & Rachel...we were surprised and so pleased that little John went in! Of course, he was nervous at first, but warmed up to it and had a great time!
Cole & Jacob cooling off in the water : )
Maia, Corinne, Rachel, Jacob & Cole getting ready for fireworks!!!
Makin' each other dance....don't you just love 'Pop It's' ? We had a fabulous weekend and are so grateful to Erin, Spence and their kids for letting us come over to play...we love you guys!!!

The car ride home...John threw up, James pooped is pants, Jacob spilled his milkshake, & Jenny screamed...it's good to be home : )

2008 Haynie Family Reunion Theme!!!

2008-06-25T21:39:00.001-07:00

James' Adoption Day

2008-06-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

It finally happened!!!! James David Skeen is officially ours : ) You may recognize the judge from Jenny's adoption pics...what a surprise to see us back so soon!!! Grandma Bliss & Grandma Loretta both came to celebrate the big day.
Here is our attorney, Margaret Holm...she has been there for us for over 10 years now - and has overseen all four of our adoptions.
The BEST DSHS TEAM EVER!!!! Debbie (James' adoption case worker - awesome), James, Amber (James' case worker - she totally rocks...and she kept me sane through the last year), Denise (James' CASA - always looking out for James - especially during visits), Jacob, me, Jenny, John Jr., & hubby John.
We are so grateful that the wait is over...we love James and can't imagine our lives without him (now we don't have to!!!) What a great day!

Last Day of School Campout

2008-06-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

Every year we have a campout to celebrate the end of school and the beginning of summer! It is always a great time and we actually had sun this year : ) ...in June - imagine that! Thanks to Aunt Tracey for bringing the slip n' slide!!! (Unfortunately, I ran out of room on my camera...so I didn't get a pic of all the cousins together....bummer)

Our Protector!!!

2008-06-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

Jacob...warrior of strength & defender of the weak. I'm not sure if he even plays on the swings....the world is his mountain - he'll climb anything (last week we found him on the peak of the roof) and has no fear (it's okay though, I feel enough for the both of us : ) ).(here he is close up....he's a cutey!)

Skeen Family Reunion

2008-06-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

John got to go to Lewiston, ID for the Skeen family reunion. He had such a great time! We wish we all could have been there....we miss you papa & nana! Papa Skeen, Levi (John's younger brother) and John
Uncle Marvin, Uncle Larry, and John's dad, Lowell (Papa Skeen)

It's almost here!!!

2008-06-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

The date is set....June 24th we go to court to have James officially adopted!!! It has been over a year coming and we can't wait!!!

Stephenson Family Visit....

2008-05-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

Candi & Brian drove up (in their new van) for a short visit...it is always so fun to see them and we wish they lived closer (hint, hint)!!!

(standing) John Jr., me, Candi, Brian & Caleb (sitting) Cody, Jacob & Austin

Jacob, Candi and Caleb hanging out on the hammock - doesn't get much better than that!

Memorial Day Fun....

2008-05-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

With gratitude in our hearts for the men and women who have given their lives for this amazing country (we owe them so much!)....we took advantage of the sun and the time off to go riding!!! (left to right) Tracey Haynie, Gary France, David Haynie, Christine France, John & me (isn't my bike buff???)
Dave & John discussing something very serious - lol!!! (left to right) Tracey, Gary, David, Christine, Brian & Candi Stephenson

Our weekend project....

2008-05-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

We spent Saturday finishing our hammock arbor - currently my favorite place in the universe : )

Jacob was a super big help! He watched the babies, measured wood and hammered nails...
It was in the mid 80's here so when the arbor was done John took a well deserved nap!

Here are some more pics from our day............ To top it off - John bought me some jasmine. It is beautiful this time of year and it smells fabulous!!!

Jenny's one!!!

2008-05-08T21:14:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it's been a year since we brought our baby girl home? Little John calls her 'our angel'. It is a perfect description....she is a miracle.

John Jr., Jenny, James & Jacob (and grandma Loretta)... how lucky are we?

Go Mariners!!!

2008-05-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday David!!! We went to a Mariners Game to celebrate Dave's birthday...it was super fun to have a night out with all grown-ups! Seems like forever since we've done that ; ) And bonus....we won!

Rats.......

2008-05-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: We are rat free! The first night we caught 1 1/2 rats (a whole one, plus a tail - eeew!) then a few more here and there...and now, the traps have been set for days without any activity. We'll keep them there for awhile - just in case. Peanut butter on cheese did the trick. The traps were really intimidating at first...they are huge and really loud when they go off - kind of creepy if you ask me ; ) but we got the hang of it and now, I feel quite confident in my ability to capture the little creatures....just one more thing to add to my ever growing resume ; ).

We have rats living in our garage....(well, I've only seen 2....but that's all it takes, right?) They are not cute or clever - no matter what Disney/Pixar would have you believe! John Jr. doesn't want us to kill "Remy" and Jacob is worried about us messing up the food chain. He's sure that by killing the rats in our garage we are somehow putting the entire lion family in danger of extinction. However, I fully intend to rid my house of them once and for all! I purchased 8 rat traps and have been putting cheese on them for the last few nights so the little creatures get used to having them out there.....and tonight is the night!!! If I remember I'll post pictures tomorrow ; )

John & Jacob's new scooter!!!

2008-04-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: We found another one (identical) on Craigslist...so now they each have their own...can't wait for summer!!!

I found an electric scooter on Criagslist (don't you just love it?) Today was the first day the boys got to ride...I think they had a lot of fun ; ) Watch John try to wave and drive at the same time...he watched the video over and over and totally cracked himself up! He kept making me pause it at the part where he slips. I had to talk Jacob out of making a jump....let's just stick with the cones for today!!!

Cheesehead : )

2008-04-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

Jenny just figured out how to "smile" for the camera. She cracks us up!

Jenny's walking!!!!

2008-04-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Can you believe we have two toddlers now??? I've already surrendered...they win....I can't keep up! My house will be clean again someday, right???? I'd forgotten how much trouble little ones can get into. For example, this morning, Jenny took eggshells out of the kitchen garbage and crushed them (and the leftover egg whites) into the carpet in the dining room....bummer...while she was doing that, James was spreading the moss from my silk plants all over the living room floor and down the heat vent. In the mean time, I'm trying to lovingly send John and Jacob off to school...I think I need a nap ; )

Funny babies.......

2008-04-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to have babies and not take pictures of them in the bathtub? Not sure why that is...but they sure are cute!

Jenny was way more into this than James....notice the two different shoes on James' feet. That's how he prefers it...if we are staying home I let him choose his shoes and he inevitably picks two that don't match ; ) He was yelling at me if you can't tell....I'm sure he was saying, "PUT THAT CAMERA DOWN ALREADY!!!"

Pinewood Derby Day!!!!

2008-03-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

Jacob and John had a great year at the Derby race! We had a fun time working on their cars - Jacob chose a Spongebob design, while John went with the Sheriff from the movie 'Cars'. We were confident the boys weren't going to do as well this year (little John has won the last 2 years and Jacob took 3rd last year), because our preparation was a bit hasty....so we had a family home evening the night before on being 'good sports' and roll played with them on how to cheer for others and compliment the other scouts when they won.

Well...Jacob ended up smokin' everyone with Spongebob! We were pleased for him, but more proud of them both for showing respect and kindness to the other scouts...they so totally rock! Congratulations boys!

Roller skating a go-go!

2008-03-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

We had an Elder's Quorum 70s roller skating party! It was a blast getting dressed up....it's been almost 20 years since I've been roller skating (scary!!!) - but it's still just as fun!

Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma & Grandpa's!

2008-03-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!!!

Science Fair Projects!!!!!

2008-03-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Jacob and John did science experiments for their school's science fair! Jacob's anwered the question "What bubble gum blows the best bubbles?" (Bubblicious, by the way) and John's hypothesis was that there are more brown M&M's than any other color (which turned out to be false : ( They did a great job and we are really proud of them!

Shake it like a polaroid picture!

2008-03-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

Pt. Defiance Zoo

2008-03-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

We took our monkeys to see the animals!!! It was a perfect day and we had a great time (thanks to Liz & family for the invite)!

The Sound of Music.....

2008-03-11T11:05:00.001-07:00

James and Jenny have discovered the piano. It seems I hardly get to play by myself anymore...when I sit down they walk (or crawl) from anywhere in the house to 'help' me! We try to make sure their hands aren't too sticky.....on Sunday mornings we have choir at our house and I forgot to wash the keys off last week! I'm sure the accompanist was a little grossed out though she was nice enough to not say anything! Ooops. I love it!

fun visit from Hailey!!!

2008-03-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hailey came for a visit on Saturday....it is always great to see her. She is beautiful, funny, and such a great niece and cousin!!! We love you, Hailey!

There was an old lady.....

2008-02-26T13:33:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, little John and I were in the scout office getting awards & badges for an upcoming Pack Night. A kind woman was helping us get everything together. A couple of times I saw John watching the woman with curiosity.

Out of the blue he asks her, "Are you an old lady?" to which she replies, "Why yes I am!" I smiled, a little embarrassed, already preparing the speech I would give him in the car about asking people their age....when he continued, "Did you eat the fly?"

The Jennys...

2008-02-08T22:38:00.001-08:00

It's February, which means that we were lucky enough to have a visit from one of our favorite people in the whole world!!! My bff Jenny Sampson (who our Jenny was named after) came and spent the weekend with us. It's hard to believe that it's been 16 years since we were companions in the MTC. She is a wonderful person and we always love spending time with her! (BTW, she was here for a camp fair...she and her husband own a summer camp in Southern Utah. It's an outdoor adventure camp and is super fun! You can check it out at www.navajotrails.com/).

Cheeeeeeese!!!

2008-02-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

Jenny has 3 new teeth!

Peek a Boo!

2008-02-07T17:27:00.001-08:00

James' new game...isn't he cute!

Double Trouble

2008-02-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

I found James and Jenny emptying our shoes off the racks in our closet.....

...but once they started eating them I knew I had to put a stop to it! In addition to their organizational skills, they have also taken up cooking!

a silly hat....

2008-01-30T19:49:00.000-08:00

James thought this would be really funny! Porter was thrilled...can't you tell?

Soooooooo big.......

2008-01-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

How big are babies? Can you tell they are pretty proud of themselves? Jenny just started this but it's old hat for James, one hand is good enough!

Guess who's walking???

2008-01-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

James took 4 steps at Grandma Loretta's house last night. He is still cautious - but gets more brave as his confidence grows!

Twice as cute....

2008-01-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

Jenny discovered herself in the mirror today! She was hilarious.....don't you just want to pinch her? She started crawling yesterday, too, but everytime I tried to get it on video...she would sit up and just look at me. Maybe tomorrow....

Funny James

2008-01-15T17:41:00.000-08:00

We finally broke down and put child locks on all of our cabinets! He is busy and keeps us on our toes....but what a smile!!!

Jacob's first play!!!

2008-01-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Jacob got a role in the Missoula Children's Theater production of 'A Little Mermaid'. He did a great job and had really good time! (Plus, he looks super cute in that hat....)

Big weekend for our family!!!

2007-12-30T02:32:00.001-08:00

On Friday, John Jr. was baptized and Jenny was blessed!
Aren't they handsome?
We are so proud of you, John! I think his favorite part was

that he got a new set of scriptures just like Jacob's.

On Saturday, Jenny was sealed to us in the Seattle Temple! She was beautiful! She smiled from ear to ear during the entire ceremony. We love her so much! John and Jacob were able to attend the sealing as well...it was wonderful to be there with all of them. We hope James will join our family by the beginning of next year...so we can do it all again!

These pictures were taken almost 14 years to the day apart from each other! It's hard to tell, but we are standing in the exact same spot just outside the Seattle Temple.

Jenny's adoption is final!!!

2007-12-18T11:20:00.000-08:00

11:00 am, Tuesday morning, Dec. 18, 2007. We just returned from the courthouse where Jenny's adoption was finalized. John is at work, the boys are at school and the babies are asleep and I am exhausted! I hadn't realized the toll that a 6 month waiting period would take on me. The anxiety that accompanies the unknown is tiresome. But she's ours now!!! We will go to the temple on the 29th of this month and then all that's left is the simple task of raising her ; ) ! She is a miracle. (BTW, the people on the left in the top pic are the judge (obviously) and our attorney Margaret Holm - she helped us with John & Jacob's adoptions as well).

Big week for Jenny

2007-12-15T21:09:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Jenny Day Skeen's adoption will be finalized! It has been a long 6 month wait...but it is finally here! She is such a blessing to us.....

Wow!!! This is fun!

2007-12-15T21:03:00.000-08:00

I have to thank my friend, Jenny, for introducing me to this great hobby ; ) ! I am going to have a super time with it.....for now, here is the most current pic of our family and our super cute kids!