Playing Dress Up

I finally got their old Halloween costumes hung on hooks vs. jammed in a tub so now they are finally enjoying playing dress up.

Pancakes for Dinner?

One of my favorite things as a child was when my mom made breakfast for dinner. As I was running late for a meeting last night I decided the boys were going to be initiated into one of my favorite childhood memories...and they even got a little something extra - Mickey Mouse pancakes! Yummmmmmmmmmmm

Fun in the sandbox

These pics were prior to Eric pouring sand on Eric's head. I knew it was too good to be true to think sandbox fun could end peacefully. Brothers will be brothers I guess.

Brett and his token "I'm smiling" mom...love this phase

My first nephew turns ONE!

Hey Dad - I was saving that for later
Eric and Brett decide the bread baskets make more suitable birthday hats
James Langston's namesakes: James Arnold (Grandpa) and James Stephen (Daddy)
Big brother, Eric, reading to his brother
The Birthday Boy - my sweet nephew

While we were in Oregon at the mountain house we celebrated James Langston Sykes' 1st birthday! Langston enjoyed his cake briefly before his daddy (my brother, Stephen) snagged it from him claiming he'd had enough sugar....Just you wait Langston until you come go to Grandma and Grandpa Sykes' house (aka "The land of ofcourse you can!" hee hee)

We were privileged to be at the birth of Langston and it was such a joy and honor to celebrate his first birthday (and congratulate Stephen and Sara on surviving the first year of parenthood!) :) However, they better rest up - #2 is arriving on December 31st!!!

Eric starts Pre-K at "The Joy of Children"

Eric and his crazy hair for his first day of school at "The Joy of Children"
Brett REALLY missed his brother while he was at school. He kept asking, "Where's Eric Mama? When can we go get him?"
His new school house - white picket fence and all.

We have been waiting 2 years for Eric to be able to attend this school. His first day started off on a fun note with "Crazy Hair Day." fyi - we have yet (after FIVE shampoos) to get all the goop out of his air. His head is currently very similar to an oil spill. poor guy!


He attends two days a week and has a longer day than he's used to - he attends from 8:45am til 2:15pm. He shared with Daddy yesterday that he was "exhausted" after school yesterday.

S'mores anyone?

Our little "Vanna White" proudly displaying his hot dog (which he didn't eat)
We are sending this one to Oscar Meyers in hopes they are hiring child actors.

A favorite activity at the mountain house is roasting hot dogs and making S'mores at the firepit. As you can tell by the photos, Eric has become quite the "sous chef" assisting now with the roasting of hot dogs and marshmellows. Brett guards his S'mores with all his might. If you try to help him while he is eating one he sternly shakes his finger at you and says, "No no no. No thank you." So much fun!!! Brett saving part of his s'more on his face for a snack later
Eric assisting Papa Arnold with the marshmellow roast

Cousins Joshua and Lindsey (visiting from Houston/soon to be Denver) enjoying a cool Oregon evening by the firepit

Mommy getting in on some of the roasting action. Cousin Wade overseeing the process.

Daddy and his marshmellow/chocolate covered boy

Family Fun at Ski Bowl on Mt. Hood

Whenever we visit the mountain house we always go to Mt. Hood Ski Bowl at least once a week. They have go karts for the kids to ride w/ mommy or daddy as well as go karts they can drive themselves. We race down the hillside in innertubes, play in the ball pit, climb through tunnels, play miniature golf and much more! It has definitely become a Skinner Family favorite!

Daddy taking Brett on his first go kart
Brett trying to keep his safety glasses from flying off
Another fun day on the mountain for the Skinner Family

"When is it OUR turn????"

Great times with Mimi and Papa Arnold on Mt. Hood

For the last two summers we have been blessed to spend all or most of August with my (Melissa's) parents, my brothers, sister-in-law and nephew at our mountain house on Mt. Hood, Oregon. It is such a special time for us as a family to reconnect. Many laughs are had and great memories are made!

Face Painting turns into BODY ART!!!

This is what I get for trying to keep the boys "occupied" while I did laundry and cleaned the mountain house yesterday. :) At least they had fun, right? It took over an hour to get the paint off of them!

DC will never be the same....

At the end of July we had the great opportunity to visit our nation's capitol - Washington DC! What a fun trip we had! Eric is so interested in history it was just the perfect trip! We were able to have a tour of the Capitol via our Congressman's office which offered viewings of some rooms that were not available to the general public.

After DC we went on to Virginia to our good friends' lake house and had lots of fun with our "USC traveling families." (Sorry Crawford - I know you're a Cal guy, however that is the designation I've given our group so that others know who I am talking about...)

Aaaah, they really DO love each other. :) This was just so darn cute I had to capture it on "film."
Skinner Family in front of "Honest Abe." President Lincoln is the first President Eric ever learned about. He was awestruck seeing how large this statue is.
This was interesting seeing the very house and bed where President Lincoln passed away and the room where his wife, Mary Todd, sat and waited hoping his condition would improve.
Brett said,

I have had ENOUGH touring!

The "Gang" at Monticello - what an incredible trip we had. So many laughs!

In front of the Capital (with "Lady Freedom" on top as we learned on our tour)