Merry Christmas!

I am so thankful for Christmas, and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. My family has been so blessed this year. Friends, Family, Strangers have come into our lives and brought joy, through time, support, prayers, gifts, yummy food, and love. The Chief and I have been in awe and amazement for the past month. It has been difficult to be on the receiving end this year, but it has also shown us how important acts of kindness are, and how they touch us.

We were able to go to Idaho to visit my sister and her family. We drove up on Thursday. We were going to come home yesterday, but I was sick and did not feel well, so we decided to come home Friday late afternoon. Yesterday, we spent the day together, read Christmas stories, and the Chief and I made a wonderful German dinner for the boys: Wienerschnitzel, spaetzle with brown gravy, rotkohl, and potato balls. It was all so yummy. I also had tried my hand at making a caramel coconut flan. Yes, I realize it is not German! We were so full from dinner, we didn't even eat the dessert last night! We had it for "lunch" after church today!

We are headed to our friend's home today to have Christmas dinner with their family. We are all so happy and filled with the Spirit of Christmas!

Oh, I almost forgot...the best Christmas present of all came in the form of the Chief receiving a job offer this week as well. He will be working in his field, and it is something he is so excited about. The job comes with a longer commute, but that's fine...we'll be staying put, and I'll be able to cut back on hours soon at the second job.

Merry Christmas!

More photos will come soon!

My baby is 6!

Six years ago, I was awake in the middle of the night too! I had had a horrible cough, similar to the one I have now. I had woken with a coughing fit, and naively believed that I had coughed so hard that I wet my pants, not realizing that my water had broken. Some hours later, when I finally got it that Seth would be born, we packed up his older brothers, and headed to my sister's house in Lehi to drop them off and head to the hospital. I still believed that somehow they could stop my labor, since it was 6 weeks before my due date. But just minutes after arriving at the hospital, before the midwife even had a chance to take off her coat, Seth came flying out, and our adventures with this little boy began. Even now, we haven't decided if he looks more like the Chief, or more like me...he is himself...with a little mixture of both of us thrown in.

Here we are six years later, and he woke us again in the middle of the night with some aches and pains. He took a shower, and announced that it helped me feel better. Then laying in bed, he kept talking our ears off. Maybe it is a combination of uber-excitement over his birthday party or his weird desire to be the first to find Eli the Elf, our elf on the shelf, or maybe it just is a coincidence, but it definitely takes me back to six years ago, when he entered the world at 5:19 a.m.. 

Now, my tiny baby has grown into a cute, inquisitive, active, funny boy with a loose tooth that he doesn't want to fall out! He loves to cuddle, and play with his hotwheel cars, ride in bike, play soccer basketball and soccer. He is learning to read, and loves going to school. He loves traveling and is a good companion on road trips or just running errands. He doesn't watch a lot of television, but if he ever gets to pick what to watch, he'll pick Caillou over anything. Seth is one awesome kid, and I'm so grateful he is a part of our family, and my baby boy!

Happy Birthday, Setheroo!

We love you so much!

An Unbelievable Saturday

I'm going to tell you a story this morning. Maybe one day I will be able to laugh at it, but not yet. This story starts a few weeks back. My McKay asked if he could go with his two good friends to see a special showing of the Pokemon White movie, which was only playing one show this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. Not wanting to break the Sabbath, he knew that Saturday would be the only day he could see the movie. We told him yes, as long as he had money for the ticket, which he did. So that was the plan.

The Chief and McKay before a campout, 2010

Then, a wrench gets thrown into the plans....when they announce a Boy Scout Camping trip scheduled for Friday night. Such a dilemma, as the scouts didn't plan to return until noon, long after the movie started.

Finally, the Chief decided he would go along on the camping trip with McKay, so they could leave early in the morning, and be home for the movie. Did I mention that the Chief had a surgical procedure the previous day? It wasn't a huge deal, and the doctor said it was fine to go as long as he wasn't doing heavy lifting or walking 5 miles!

So, Friday came...and off they went. Soon, after they arrived at the campsite, an hour and a half south west of us, it began snowing. And the temperatures plummeted. And they discovered that the van somehow got a flat tire. So, they put on the spare. And did their best to stay warm.

The next morning, I get up and head to work, taking advantage of still  having my sister, Kari, here to watch the other two boys. The Chief calls me at five to 9, and tells me they are underway and all is on schedule. I take my next client back. After a few minutes, I hear my phone vibrating. I ignore it. I ignore it 3 more times. Finally I answer and the Chief tells me he has another flat tire. They are stranded!

So, my stress level increases as I continue to work with my client, and stay focus, and say a prayer that they will find a solution.

They ended up waiting for two hours, until the scouts were coming down, and saw them on the side of the dirt road. They helped them take the two tires that needed repairing and brought them back home, dropping the tires off on the way.

Meanwhile, my last client canceled so I was able to go home and get Seth to his basketball clinic on time. When we returned home from that, the Chief and I took off to go retrieve the van. We picked up the tires and headed out. We decided to make the best of it and call it our "weekly date" doing for a car ride. It took us an hour and a half to get down there, with the Chief forgetting a little where the turn off was, but we did become reunited with the van! Then the task of putting on the two tires. It was so cold out there, and the wind was blowing. I did my best to help the Chief, while he did the majority of the work. Finally, with the sun going down, we finished up and took off again, this time with me following the Chief.


As we were driving, I heard a noise, like a rock bouncing around on the side of the car. It worried me a little, but we had been on a rocky road, so I just assumed that was what it was, as it stopped after about 20 seconds. We planned to stop and gas up at a Station we saw that was a decent price ($3.08/gallon). Since it was next to a Super Walmart, I told the Chief I was going to run in there and pick up a few things. He came over afterward, and looking to park near me, located the car, and then noticed that I was missing the gas cap from the car. What next??? There was an auto parts store nearby, so the Chief went there and bought us a new gas cap.

We just looked at one another in disbelief! How had our day gotten so crazy? Most of the plans that we had made didn't happen! We figured we could either laugh or cry. Or write a long blog about it! Guess what choice won out? The blog for now, as I just couldn't get myself to laugh about it yet!

The good news was I was able to get home in time to go to a girls night out with some very wonderful women in my neighborhood! It was a really nice evening, after a really strange day!

Giving Thanks

Back around March or April, I started to realize that the Holidays would be different for me this year. Every year of our married life, we have celebrated Thanksgiving with my sister, Suzanne and her family. I absolutely love Thanksgiving! I love her family. I love that our kids play so well together. But I also knew that going to Idaho for Thanksgiving likely was not going to happen. She has all her grown children there, with her grandbabies, and so if we were to go there, we'd have to stay in a hotel, and that would be hard with the current unemployment circumstances we are dealing with. Plus, we have our two huge dogs, so that makes it tough. We debated on what we should do, going back and forth with having it by ourselves, just the 5 of us, or accepting our friends' invitation to share Thanksgiving with them. We finally accepted their invitation. However, two days prior to Thanksgiving, Pat's brother ended up in the ICU, and she felt completely overwhelmed with hosting the festivities. So, the Chief and I decided to offer our home, and invited all of their family here. We all kept our food assignments, so all we had to do was round up some chairs and tables, and clean up the house.

We moved the furniture out of the family room, and set up tables, and prepared for the feast. We spent the day watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and then playing games once Shauna and Craig arrived! It was such a wonderful day, even if we weren't with our family. Our friends have become our family. We all are so grateful for the many blessings we have, especially our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

One of our three tables set up to serve all 23 of us

We even had place cards!

It was such a beautiful day that the boys had a pick up bball game!

The adult table!

Seth with his chocolate turkey, Brendan in the background

The beautiful bird

Lou and Pat

Shauna and me

Autumn at Alta

Beautiful Autumn Colors

The boys loved the hike up to Alta

The boys make sure we get photographed too!

McKay wanted to make his first snowball of the season!

The Colors of the Canyon are a visual gift from God!

The plan had originally been to hike up to Secret Lake, above the Albion Basin Campground. It is a pretty easy 1 mile hike up to the Lake. However, as we drove up there, we discovered that they had already locked the gate right past Alta Ski Resort. So, we decided to park there, and just hike up from there. Since it was still another 4-5 miles from the Lake, we knew we weren't going to make it all the way there that day. Instead, we had a blast hiking up under the ski lift chairs, and seeing the sights from above Alta. We probably only hiked 3 miles that day, but we all had fun, laughing, and chasing one another. There were a few snowballs flying too! Lots of mud to slip and slide in as well. Afterward, we enjoyed a picnic lunch amid the beautiful foilage in the canyon! It was a perfect way to spend a day off for Fall Break!

Fall Break can't get here soon enough!

I don't know why it is, but I am so looking forward to Fall Break this year. Maybe it is having 3 kids in school this year, that makes it feel so overwhelming! Maybe it is because I've been working so much more, and leaving the Chief in charge of checking the boys' school work, and then they want me to go over it again, when I get home! They get a whole week off! Yippee!

We're going to spend a night in St. George...just a quick trip, as the Chief has an interview down there. Yup...an interview! Crazy, huh? We haven't thought past the interview...trying not to get the cart before the horse!

I'm going to take a couple days off from work, and hopefully come up with some fun ideas to do with the boys! Maybe we'll just hang out...I don't know yet!

So, just one more day...and then a week break from HOMEWORK!

Footloose

The Chief and I got some free screening passes to see the new Footloose Movie that opens in October. We got to go this past Friday! It was such a blast! Seeing a movie in the theatre, and NOT having to pay...right there it is a great date, but then to see such a fun movie, that takes us back to our teenage years, it was definitely a great night out! For a grand total of $3 for drinks and parking!


There was inappropriate language and too much of it, which was the one negative. The music was awesome...many of my favorites songs from the first movie made it in this one, with updates, of course!

I hope you will get to enjoy it too!

Everybody cut footloose!

Julianne Hough kickin' it up in her awesome red boots!

Cinnamon Rolls and President Monson

It has been a glorious weekend in some many respects! The weather was absolutely stunning this weekend. Warm, with a nice, gentle breeze. I'm loving that the windows are still open, and we are enjoying the fresh air of autumn. It is also General Conference weekend for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. So, that means lots of things for me...first, my office is closed in honor of the conference, so I didn't have to work on Saturday, and didn't have to have guilt about taking a Saturday off. Yippee! Then, it meant from my family room, I could listen to a Prophet of the Lord, and his apostles too!

President Monson

Their messages were inspiring, and helped me feel hope. So many of their words led to reflection on the trials we are facing, and not losing faith. Their words are a buoy to me. I'm excited about the announcement that the Provo Tabernacle will be rebuilt and dedicated as a temple! Such exciting news!


Also, having no specific responsibilities pulling me out of my home, I usually feel an overwhelming desire to bake. I typically love to bake, however, I have so little time to do it, and honestly, I have no need of the baked goods, and little willpower to resist their temptation if they are in the house. I put that aside this weekend, and set my heart to work baking. Let's see, I started with crepes for Saturday morning breakfast. Then I baked banana bread and zucchini bread on Saturday evening. Today, I woke up early and started cinnamon rolls, and then between the two sessions today, I made a peach cobbler with the delicious peaches my neighbor and friend, April, shared with us. My house smells amazing.

Because the batch of cinnamon rolls makes so many rolls(its my mom's recipe, so you know that it makes like 5 dozen rolls), the boys and I took yummy, warm rolls to a few neighbors and friends. Share the love and the calories, right?!

It has been a fabulous weekend! Gonna go close it with some quality time with my boys before another very busy week begins!

October already?

I didn't mean to let September get away like that. I so love September and she gave us beautiful weather this year too! I wanted to blog this past week and gush about the love of my life, in honor of our 14th wedding anniversary, but when I had a minute to sit, the computer was occupied. That's basically how its been for months now as the Chief continues his job search. Its okay, I'm fully supportive of his continued searching for that right job that we know is out there somewhere. We know that Heavenly Father will send us that blessing soon. I just don't know what soon means to Heavenly Father. 

The reason the computer was free tonight is because the Chief took McKay downtown to the conference center for his first Priesthood Session. McKay was nervous, and didn't feel "ready" to go. He just called me shortly, and told me that he was so glad he went. He discovered that the Prophet likes to make jokes, and the men all laughed a great deal. The Chief is taking him to get some ice cream, and make the evening special. 

In the meantime, back at the ranch, I was Holly Homemaker and baked some banana bread and zucchini bread. I took some to a few neighbors. I think it turned out yummy. It was a busy day. Being General Conference, I didn't have to work, so I started the morning making crepes for the boys. This is their favorite breakfast. And it ranks pretty high up there for me too! After that, the Chief left to go take an assessment for a job. The boys and I did yardwork...weeding, pruning, and mowing. I also put away the summer furniture and got ourselves ready for winter.We went to 3 soccer games this afternoon (one for Seth and 2 for Noah)which were all victorious! We also pulled out our Halloween decorations. The boys love to help me, and they braved their fear of heights and climbed the ladder to put stuff up on our ledge. So, we are spookified here at the Skelly abode. And we're ready to welcome October in, despite not really wanting to say good-bye to September yet!

Thoughts on Thursday

I really like Thursdays. Sometimes, I have to go into work early, to teach a class, but I don't mind because it is a class I feel passionate about and believe that if the kids learn the stuff being taught, it can help them in their lives. So, I don't mind getting there early for that. Usually, I try to wrap everything up by Wednesday, so Thursday can be my paperwork day, and the day I follow up on all the things that need to happen before the weekend. And when things are especially good, I can leave a few hours early from work. And that is something I really appreciate! Especially when I seem to get home so late most other evenings. I like being here when the boys come home and helping them do their homework, and study for their spelling tests, and hearing their "after school" chatter. It does my heart good!

And I especially enjoy Thursdays when it is book club, which it happens to be tonight! Yeah! We read How to hug a Porcupine by John Lund this month. I'm sure we'll have a good discussion tonight.

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the afternoon with my boys!

My family in pics at Storm Mountain



Beautiful Storm Mountain

Love this pic of my oldest

The Chief questioning my picture taking...gotcha!

Taking a short break

The Skelly Fam

Isn't my BYU Fan such a cutie! Can't hardly believe Noah is 9!

Three boys pose for mom

we obviously didn't dress for family pics!

My favorite family pic of the day!

This one is a close second. Isn't it funny that Noah is sitting on lap? He saw some bees and sitting on my lap was the only way he would get in the picture!

Just a few more for mom! My boys humor me!

McKay wouldn't mind if some agent saw his photos and wanted him to be the next Disney Zack and Cody!

The Lovebirds

Another shot of McKay up on a boulder

I loved this photo of my two oldest because if you look closely you will see both of them have their tongues hanging out. They get that bad habit from me, unfortunately. I find it so funny!

More tongue wagging!

This is definitely my fave of McKay from this day! I love his eyes and his smile!

Okay, that's enough for today...maybe the rest of the month!!!

No Laboring Here

These days, I feel like I am working ALL THE TIME. Oh wait...I am! I've been working 6 days/week since April, with a few days off here and there. So, when the Labor Day holiday was coming, we planned a day trip to celebrate our family getting to spend the day together. We planned a trip up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Storm Mountain with our favorite family friends, The Price Family.

Monday arrived and dh and I got to sleep past our normal 6:15 to the glorious hour of 7 a.m.! That was a good start right there! We had our family scripture study, and then dh and I snuck in a little date time when we made a trip to Wally World to get some groceries. The boys enjoyed a reprieve from chores and watched a movie together!

Upon getting home, we packed up the van, made a picnic lunch and headed out to meet up with the Price family down the road at the Mav. The radio station was there, and had a wheel to spin, so of course, we all took our turn! Seth seems to have my good luck and spun first and landed on the prize slot. We helped him pick 2 tix to the Rocky Mountain Raceway for this coming Saturday. The other boys took their turn, and came close, but no luck...then the Chief spun and it didn't win. Next up...me and I landed on the lucky spot...so 2 more tix to the Raceway and we have a free family outing for next weekend. McKay gladly gave up going, with his comment, "That's not my thing...but you guys have fun!" He is looking forward to an evening of having unlimited television! And to not have to share the remote! He felt he had won the jackpot!

Finally, we were off...up the canyon...only a 40 minute drive for home, and we were in beautiful country! We found a picnic area and set up. The boys had their buddies and went exploring. They played a game of ladder golf, and we got in a few games of cards. We had lunch, and just relaxed. The weather was perfect! It was just a perfect way to relax and kick back. And we got some fun family pictures....

Off to School he goes

August 29th was the day that my baby, my little guy, my Setheroo, Sethers, Sethy left the house without any tears and went out into the big, bad world...kindergarten.

Seth is excited to get to school!

He wanted us to drop him at the curb, but the Chief and I followed him in and waited til the bell rang, while he loudly whispered "you can leave now!"

My boys love school!

Seth with Mrs. Olsen, his teacher

I took the morning off and the Chief and I went and picked him up from school. He LOVED it and was so excited to go back the next day! We took him to lunch, as has been our tradition with the other boys too!

I hope every day of school is as exciting and happy as your first day was for you, Seth!