The Skinners

Ivy, Daniel and Justin, Ian, Emily, Garrett and Owen are here now. Daniel just got through with his internship at Disney World in Florida and now he's looking for a job. They moved out of their rented home in Florida and trekked accross the US, arriving in Ramona on Monday the 19th. With one week to catch our breath (after the Silva's left) we are now a house full again! It was so much fun seeing the kids for the first time. Justin has grown and, at 13 1/2, he's pretty much the same heighth as his dad. We have really enjoyed having them here. Ivy's homeschooling. Yesterday they went to the Maritime Museum. I'll post some pictures when I get them downloaded from her camera.

Yesterday evening the Krauses came over. The cousins have so much fun together. The noise level was way on up there!

Fun With Twins

Balboa Park with Babies

Comtemplating the Koi.

Balboa Park

Leah has been here for almost two weeks now with three year old, Gavin, and 9 month olds, Teagan and Beau. What fun! Matt came home last Wednesday from a trip with some friends to Ireland. I've enjoyed playing with the kids and having Leah home.

Yesterday we went to Balboa Park and Matt and Leah went to the IMAX theater. They took Gavin in but he was scared and Leah brought him out after a few minutes then she went back in. Ally came with Pyke and Ollie to help me with the twins and Gavin and it went very well. Five little kids three years and under.... no problem.

Here are some pictures taken there. The fountain right outside the theater and the Koi Pond near the... plant place. I can not remember the word. Arboretum? It's where they have orchids and ferns and all kinds of beautiful flowers and plants. Oh, it's the Botanical Gardens.

Frosty logs and weeds

It's almost Christmas...

So it's the 22nd of December. I think this is the first Christmas since I got married that I've not been stressed way beyond human limits. I don't know exactly why but it might have something to do with the fact that I let Dennie make (or forced him to make) some of the major decisions. And then I went with it, without second guessing or reevaluating, like I know way more than he does. I think I'm getting old. I haven't got near the "fight" left in me that I use to. Imagine if I'd done this years ago....

It's raining and you know how I feel about rain. I love it with all my senses. Sight, smell, sound and (to a lesser extent) feel. Hmmm, what else is there? Oh, taste. I guess rainwater tastes good too, but I'm not so sure when it's filtered through the smog and stuff. But the first three for sure. And I guess it makes it even better when you live in Southern California where it goes for years without a drop!!! I'm exaggerating a bit here. It alway rains a little just to tease me. This year it has started early and hard. I don't know what our totals are but I bet they're on up there.

Some pictures of morning frost.

My Photography, My Grandkids

I love photography. Recently I took some pictures of Pyke and Ollie and today I was messing with them on Digital Image Pro. Here are some black and whites.

The Eastern Idaho Kids

I went to Idaho while Dennie was working in Salt Lake City, to see the Leah and Erin families. (Same trip to Provo to see Ethan in the Symphonic Orchestra) The weather was great and the kids were cute. Leah went with me to Erin's house. The Erin's kids were a whirlwind of dancing, playing the piano and getting their back stratched. That evening we went to Erin's Releif Society Christmas Dinner where Erin played the piano and sang. She was very good. I don't think I've ever actually heard her sing a solo before. We left all the kids except the twins with Jon. Teagan and Beau are starting to crawl but they stayed put pretty well during the program and we were able to see most of it. Erin's ward is very friendly and made us feel welcome. The food was excellent!

Back to Erin's and then home to Leah's by around 9:30. Spent the night and the next day we met Erin and kids at Erin's in-laws, a five acre place on the west outskirts of Idaho Falls. What a beautiful place. Just what I picture me and Den living on when he retires. I took pictures of Leah and the kids and then headed back to SLC to pick up Dennie and head on down to Provo where Ethan had fixed dinner for us. All my kids beat me at cooking but some really have a talent for it. I think Ethan is one of those. We had pork chops, cooked to perfection, and salad. We then went to a voice recital, a girl Ethan knows from the cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie. It was very entertaining. She sang opera to show tunes to some really clever stuff.

Here are some pictures of the trip.