Blizzard '09

Once the Blizzard left I decided to let the kids venture outside to check it out. They had been begging me since the first snowflake dropped. I hate dealing with the in and out and all the wet clothes so I always make them wait. Abigail is usally pretty good about staying out and making the most of it. She's an outdoor girl like her daddy. Jacob and Alison are a lot like their mother. They're good for about 10 mins and then they're ready to head back in :( All three of them stayed outside for about an hour though. I think they were in "awe" of all the snow. It was beautiful and I enjoyed watching them play in it (from the window in front of the wood stove of course :) )

Abigail, Jacob and Alison trying to make it out to the play park.

I just love icicles. But look how much the snow drifted off the roof.

Our grill is under all that snow somewhere :)

Sleds Away

After we dug ourselves out of the 22" of snow we headed up to Gammie and Grandpa's for some sledding. Mom and dad have a pretty good hill on their property but because of all the snow my dad had to put it somewhere so it was kinda hard to get to where the kids sled. Mom and I decided to run a few errands instead. While we were out we passed a park in the heart of Winchester. Tons of kids were sledding down the park hill. Mom and I promised the kids if they behaved we'd take them back home to get their sleds and outfits. I guess they really wanted to go 'cause my little rug rats were little angels the whole day:) I should bribe them more often :)

Once at the park I realized I was dealing with professionals :) These older gentleman and their kids had cleared paths, made ramps. I'm talking hardcore :) The only think missing was the bonfire :) The only sledding I ever did was on Hay Road outside our house and it was a great sledding hill. This hill was just as nice. It brought back a lot of memories.

Yes, I had to make a couple of trips down. So much fun!!!!


Abby getting ready to make the trip down.


Jacob wondering why I needed to take a picture. I
was wasting valuable sledding time :)

4th Generation

I'm always telling everyone that driving a school bus is the family business. Well, here is the fourth generation :)

We are at Mountain View Elementary waiting for Abby and the rest of the elementary kids to come out.

And just for fun....here is me at 2 on my mom's bus :) Like I said before. It's the family business!

Happy 3rd Birthday Alison

I can't believe my baby girl is 3. Time sure is flying by. Can it be that we are having way too much fun? :) Alison's birthday (10/17) fell on a Saturday this year. Go figure she wanted to spend her birthday at Chuck-e-cheese. Lucky me. I'm not big on parties. I can't take the stress. So I came up with an idea that makes the kids happy and me stress free :) I let the kids pick where they want to spend their birthday. Then I tell the Grandparents and Aunts what are plans are if they want to participate. This year Aunt Doe Doe, Uncle Boo and Nana made the early trip. Chuck-e-cheese really isn't that bad when you get there early.

The kids and I were pretty wore out by 1pm. Lucky for us Gammie and Grandpa invited us up their way for dinner, cake and ice cream. Uncle Tom joined us for that adventure. He missed the whole Chuck-e-cheese event due to work.

Too Good of a Day Not to Be Outside......

What a beautiful November day and a great day to catch up on a long overdue play date. I couldn't believe how warm it was. The kids had a great time playing with their cousin Jaden. He is growing up so fast. It seems like only yesterday that Christine and I were bringing them home from the hospital. I'm really surprised at how smoothly the afternoon went. Four "Skinner Kids" and no major problems. Now that is a surprise :)

Just for you Shelley :)

My friend Shelley posted on her blog a month ago about her mission to find a four leaf clover. I couldn't help but laugh at her post. Ask anyone, I have a knack for finding four leaf clovers. I use to find one a month usually while I was out in right field in softball or walking the ASAP kids from Ashburn Elm to the Sports Pavilion. I hadn't been looking in sometime. After reading Shelley's blog I decided I was overdue. Plus I wanted to see if I still had my talent. Let's just say "I still got it!" :) Found this one while I was walking around outside the corn maze waiting for Gammie and the kids to find their way out. I had to laugh at my dad. He pulled the one I gave him back in high school out of his wallet. I couldn't believe he still had it after all these years. I never keep any of them. I always give them away to family and friends. Shelley, this one is headed your way :) Enjoy!

Skyline Drive, Corn Maze & Pumpkins

Mom and I decided that it would be a nice weekend to drive Skyline. We ventured out after breakfast for a fun filled day. The views were breath taking. I wish I had taken my camera out a little more often but I was too busy enjoying the views.


A view from Skyline Drive

We got off of Skyline drive in Luray. I wanted to go down in the caverns but it was just too expensive and the wait was too long. Maybe another weekend when the kids are older and can appreciate the trip down into the caverns. On our way home we stumbled upon Valley Star Farm. This was the highlight of the trip for the kids and I. Farmer Dave was wonderful and made the trip very educational but fun for the kids. I wish this place was closer. It was by far the best farm I've been too in a long time.

Abigail & Alison in the pumpkins.

Abigail & Jacob petting Lola.

Picture of the Cow Corn Maze.

This was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. This cow was made to simulate cow milking. Gammie having raised and shown a dairy cow had to show the kids and I the proper technique to milking.

Jacob giving it a go :)

Abigail milking

Abigail, Jacob & Alison duck racing.

Great Country Farm

Fun was had by all at Great Country Farms. Harmony Preschool takes a field trip there every year. The kids are always so excited to go. The weather was awesome this year. The kids enjoyed the hayride to the pumpkin field, picking a pumpkin, feeding the animals, jumping on the pillow and sliding down the tunnel slide. The kids and I could have spent all day there. Unfortunately duty calls and I had to be back at the house by 1pm to feed the kids and pack our bags for the afternoon bus run.

Jacob & Alison on the "Sit & Scoot"


Alison on the Tunnel Slides



Alison & Jacob


Jacob showing off his pumpkin.

Jacob and his classmates.

Daddy, Jacob and Alison pumpkin hunting.

Jacob & Alison with their pumpkins.

Daddy & Jacob on the Hayride.

Swim Lessons Paying off!

Abigail & Jacob finally got swim lessons this year, thanks to Ms. Karen. It definitely made mommy a lot more comfortable at the pool. The kids are looking forward to another round of lessons next summer. Alison is super excited that she will be able to participate next summer.

Alison & Abby practicing in the tub.

Abby showing Grandpa what she can do.




Jacob enjoying his freedom.


Jacob, Daddy & Ali.

Alison & Daddy

Two Down One To Go :)

Leif bought a Harley this summer. About a month later he got a fixer upper Harley to work on so that he could learn more about them. To get Jacob interested he told him if he helped he could have it. Well, one day Jacob asked him when he could ride it. Leif thinking he was being slick told Jacob that he couldn't ride a motorcycle when he still needs training wheels on his bicycle. That very same day Jacob asked to take off his training wheels. He's been riding ever since. That's my "Skinner boy". Luckily he's been so interested in his bike that he's forgotten about riding the motorcycle, For now that is :) Abby of course didn't like her brother beating her at something so she came home the next day and started practicing. About a month later she had her training wheels off too. Leif and I didn't have to show them anything. They totally learned on their own. You go guys! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!

Abby with No Training Wheels


Jacob with No Training Wheels


Alison Still Enjoying her Trike :)

Ocean City, MD

It only only took us 8 years to go on a real vacation but it was definitely worth the wait. We headed to Ocean City, MD the 2nd to last week of August. The kids were so excited to spend the week with Gammie, Grandpa and Aunt Den Den. We headed out Sunday morning after Hurricane Bill hit OC. We left 2 days early because Hurricane Danny was due to hit OC Saturday. The joys of Hurricane season :) Neither Hurrcianes were too damaging but I wanted to leave OC on a happy note. We did lots while we were there and many firsts for the kids :) The kids favorite was Putt Putt (and mine too :) ) They were actually really good too. All three of them scored a hole-n-one. I had some really great photos of them playing but somehow they got deleted :( Here are a few of the beach photos.

A "Show Me Love" Photo



Alison playing in the sand.



Daddy & Mommy Enjoying the Sun.



Jacob watching the waves come in.

A Western Kind of Day

Kyler and Kaden came over today for a play date. It was way too hot today to play outside so we sent the kids down into the basement. They managed to play for 2 hours without getting into too much trouble. Cindy and I were pretty amazed. Abby and Jacob were happy to have someone who enjoyed dress up as much as they do. They created a western show for us moms. Seeing them put the act on reminded me so much of myself as a kid. We had some good laughs watching them. At one point Alison and her boyfriend Kaden had emptied out the cabinet and shut themselves in. It was like their own little version of 7 minutes in Heaven. We laughed it off now but in a couple of years it won't be so funny :) It was definitely a play date I'll always remember! Thanks guys!

Sheriff Kyler, Princess Abby, Horse Ali & Bad Boy Jacob


Sheriff Kyler & Princess Abby

Sheriff Kyler

Kyler & Abby Pole Dancing

Alison & Kaden playing doctor :)

A Friday's End to School Shopping

Today was the last day to shop for school supplies tax free. We got most of the school shopping done. Gammie bought Abby a pair of shoes, 2 pairs of flip flops, some hair bands and several outfits for her first day of First Grade. We didn't have to get any actual school supplies because Mountain View has a supply program that we joined at the end of the year. You pay the fee and the school supplies are waiting for the student the first day of school. Definitely beats having to go from store to store trying to find the right stuff. Each of the kids still managed to swindle Gammie into getting them each a notebook and crayons and markers. Gammie is such a sucker :)

Gammie couldn't forget Jacob's 2nd year of Preschool. She bought him a pair of pj's, a pair of light up lightning McQueen shoes and a batman watch. Gammie not wanting to leave anyone out bought Alison a dress and 2 pairs of flip flops. Jacob and Alison didn't get as much because they get a lot of hand-me-downs.

We ended the morning with lunch at Friday's. Abby and Ali got BBQ ribs. Abby couldn't get enough of them. Had to take a few pictures to show you just how much she really enjoyed them.