Hello Sunshine my old friend......

A lot has happened since I was last able to get on. Let's start from the beginning. I have gotten lots of concern and questions about FB posts so here goes, last Friday I had surgery. Don't worry, it was a planned, elective surgery. I had a breast reduction and lift done and am recovering like a champ. I will tell you that it was the worst pain I have ever been in my entire life. Worst than tearing my knee any of the three times I did, worst than drug free child birth with a sunny side up kid, worst than umm anything. That said, that horrible pain only lasted the first 24 hours. After that, with the help of vicodin and napping, I was alright. I stopped taking the pain killers Monday during the day because I needed to function since Frank was at work. Now 9 days out, I am no longer in pain at all and not even uncomfortable unless I move my arms or chest muscles too fast. I still cannot lift anything more than a few pounds and no gym for another 2 to 4 weeks but the girls look good :) Thank you for all the concerned emails and texts.

Meghan (our helper) arrived Monday. She was scheduled to come in late Sunday but her flight out of Philly was delayed and she missed her connection in LA. She stayed overnight there and flew in to Vegas on the 6 am flight Monday morning. She has been a huge help since and the kids adore her. We will be going to Newport Beach, CA next Friday for a weeks vacation and Meghan is going to stay behind and house/dog sit for us. She will be staying at the Skinner house until June 9th when she then has to move to DC to work the internship she was awarded at Georgetown.

Kids are doing awesome. Devin finished with swimming lessons last Wednesday and he had a ball. It would be silly to sign him up again since it is summer out here soon and the pools will be opening up outside to go in. He only has 3 weeks left of school, and sadly one of those weeks he will be missing since we will be on vacation. I am going to have to think of lots to do this summer or I think I may go out of my mind.

Riley is finally talking more. She says what she needs and wants and she and Devin talk to each other in little conversations (when they don't want to kill each other) up in the playroom and outside. She is fully potty trained so no more need to wear pull ups out of the house. Potty training so early was tough since she was not talking yet all the time. Now she tells me when she needs to go and I am not freaking out that she may wet her car seat anymore. She stays dry during her naps too, but I do put a pull up on her at night. She sometimes wakes up dry, but mostly wet. She cries around 5 am but falls back to sleep. I am guessing that is when she goes? Who knows, but I am thankful to not have to buy box after box of diapers anymore.

All those that have been to Vegas or live out here know how stinkin hot it gets. We have a covered patio, but this Friday got an outdoor fan installed. BRILLIANT I tell ya! Today is about 85 and b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l and underneath the patio cover and the fan blowing is just a hair shy of pure awesomeness. Maybe if I had a fruity drink in my hand and a yummy appetizer I would be 100% there ;).  We had another weird cold front last week, but from here on out I am thinking we will see nothing below 90. I am OK with that, and I definitely am excited for pool weather (once I can swim again.) Sun is great for the soul and a lil vitamin D for the skin is just what the doctor ordered. Don't worry, we all wear sunscreen daily and limit exposure...

Today we went to Bonnie Springs in Red Rock Canyon National park. It is only about a 7-10 minute drive from our house and it is tucked away in the mountains. On the way, we ran into some wild burros. There was about 6-7 of them along the road. Two came to say hi to us, two were totally doing IT in front of our car and a few others were walking around. Originally Bonnie Springs was an old western town that is now vacant and haunted. It was on Ghost Adventures and I will tell you that it was super cool to watch that episode. Next to the "town" there is a petting zoo, duck pond, small restaurant and horse stables. Today we went to take the kids for a ride on the ponys and feed the ducks and crap. I do not know what kids obsession is with ducks and birds, but this is heaven for them since ducks are everywhere and peacocks and other birds walk around free. Although they have a petting zoo we decided to skip it this time. Kids rode on ponys and we checked out the bull, horses, bison and peacocks then left. It was much dirtier than it has been in times past and I for one was not really into staying any longer.