Happy Birthday Penny

Today is Halloween! It is also the day that my boys "decided" is Penny's Birthday. We adopted her about a year ago, and the Humane Society told us she had just turned 2, so the boys decided "just" meant on Halloween. So, they sang to her this morning and gave her too many treats. Thankfully, treats of the doggy kind and no kit kats that they collected last night Trick or Treating. They gave her lots of love (like every other day) too, and celebrate that she is now 3 years old.

Penny has been a good companion to Mousse and she gives the boys a play partner too as she is a really active dog. Unlike Mousse, Penny wants to be with the boys at all times. Mousse prefers to be hanging with the Chief and me until we go to bed, and then he goes in and lays on the floor of one of the boys.

Happy Halloween to all of you!

And Happy Birthday to our girl, Penny!

Ohhh Baby!

The Chief was wonderful and supportive recently when I asked if I could go to Denver alone to spend the weekend with my oldest friend in the world, Julie. It was a big deal as he had to be dad and mom all rolled in one and coordinate schedule, carpool, football practice, and daycare. Meanwhile, I just got to fly off, and relax in beautiful, sunny Castle Rock!It was an amazing weekend for me! (Thanks, Schatz, Ich liebe dich)

Big Brother Nicholas plays and sings to baby Lydia...He was so sweet with her!

Some tummy time for Lydia

This little girl was only 12 days old when she lifted herself up off this contraption! It almost looks like she is smiling! On this little toy, she lays on her stomach, with her feet touching the ground, and she is able to "kick" herself around and the thingee in the middle spins. It made me laugh! It amazed me that at such a young age, and only 6.5 lbs. she can do this. Reaffirms to me that God is Great!

Here's Mamma Julie and Sweet Lydia. I love this photo!

I got to tend Nicholas and Lydia while Lee took Julie to her 2 week follow-up appointment. I absolutely loved snuggling with this sweet girl! I loved this photo because of the way she was looking up at me. Made my heart melt!

 Julie is my oldest friend. We met when we were 15, and have been there for one another since then. Isn't she beautiful? She is so smart too, and a wonderful mommy! I love being in her home, with her family. It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend for me, and I look forward to going again. Maybe next time, I'll let Seth come along, to play with Nicholas!

Thanks for sharing Lydia with me, Lee & Jules. IU friend!

No Juice

I just haven't felt the Juice recently. So, I've neglected my blog. Hmmm...

Noah, 8, at the Regatta

Tonight was the Cub Scout Regatta. Noah was excited to race his boat. He did well! It was fun to watch all the boys.

We are dealing with a broken washer again. Second time in just a few months. Yes, we have the extended warranty from Lowe's, but it takes them FOREVER to fix it. The guy came out and has to order parts so he scheduled to come back on Nov. 5th! So, that means a total of 15 days I'll be without a washer! That is just not reasonable for a mom of five. Any mother knows that more than 3 days without a washer is major pain in the bum. Thankfully, I have two friends who are out of town and have offered to let me wash there. So, tomorrow, I'll be going to do my laundry at my friends' places.

I'll have lots of photos from my trip to Denver...I'll post them soon...give you the baby update...so stay tuned...

Baby Time

I've been craving some baby time recently. Not so badly that I want my own 24/7 baby time. I just wanna hold and snuggle, and sniff some newborn for a good few hours! I love being with a newborn, watching them unfold their hands, and wrap their fingers around mine, and the big baby yawns, and the sweet newborn smell, mixed with Johnson's Baby powder. And the feel of their soft, tender skin...makes my heart sing!

This past weekend, we spent some time with my nephew and his wife and their 2 month old baby girl. But there were a ton of people there...so that meant my time with baby girl lasted just minutes. Although she was a sweetheart...I wanted more. After that, we headed to the hospital to visit my niece and her hubby and I was excited to hold her baby boy, less than 48 hours old. But it wasn't to be...he was under the bilirubin lights. I didn't even get to see but through the glass window. So, I'm still seeking my baby time. Thankfully, my bestest, oldest (as in longest, not old) friend from High School, had a baby last week too! So, the Chief is supportive of letting me go and spend 4 solid days holding that baby, cooing that baby talk, and taking in her sweet newborn smells. Here I come baby, Lydia!

I'm not sure if the Chief is hoping I get my baby fix or if it turns into an addiction and I'll be looking for that 24/7 thing! Don't be getting any ideas there, Buster! Cuz,I'm betting that those 96 hours will give me my fill, and I'll be just fine...until the next time. And hopefully by then, my nieces and nephews will be ready to expand their families!

I found my next pick!

I'm in a book club! I love to read, and I love talking with other people who love to read. This year we have read a variety of books, of which there were a few I really did not enjoy, and then some re-reads, which were great the first and second time around, like Tess of the D'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy. Well, it is almost time for book pick...in December we all get together for a yummy potluck and an evening to suggest books for the coming year. I try to find a book or two that I think will appeal to everyone. Sometimes I'm successful and sometimes not so much. Well, I think I have the book for 2011 that will be of interest to everyone in my book club!

So excited to share it with them...so if you are in my book club...don't read it early...it will be a good discussion book! I'm so excited for it! I read it in just 2 days (about 5 hours) because I couldn't put it down!

I'm not going to tell you more about the book, but I found it a compelling read, and I was drawn into Mercy's story. Sure, Meissner could have fleshed out the characters a bit more...I wouldn't have minded it being 100 pages longer, but I still felt drawn in by the three women, especially Mercy.

So, this is definitely one I will be recommending come December. Anyone else have a book that is a must read? I read about one book a week, and I'm constantly chasing down good books!

Treats for my Tricksters!

Boo!

October 1st means Halloween Decorations come out in full force at the Skelly home! I think the boys are almost as excited for the decorations as they are for the candy treats! I love decorating too, although it is a chore hauling it all out of the storage room!

I took photos this year to share...our home at Halloween...

Welcome to the Skelly's house of Haunting!
Only silly ghosts herein!

My mama gave me these little ghouls when I left for BYU 22 years ago. They sit on my stove every October!

Our X-Large Treat Bowl, that has to be up until 10/31/10 or else!

Mr. Happy Jack-O-Lantern

My boys think this is the MOST hilarious thing...having a plastic, "bloody" leg sticking out of the ground!

I'm really excited for October to be here! Especially since the weather is still so warm (89 degrees today!). We like going to the corn maze, pumpkin patch, drives up the mountains to see the changing leaves and having hot apple cider and carving pumpkins. FHE seem to be filled with lots of fun activities during this time!

Autumn is filled with fun!