Fashion Statements....

On Saturday December 17, we hosted our 2nd Annual Ugly Sweater Holiday Party. Friends came sporting their most festive outfits while mingling over hot cider, hot cocoa, Egg Nog, and an array of holiday snacks. We were amazed that more than 20 people could be crammed into our little apartment. In the end, everyone went home with great holiday memories and a new ornament for the tree.


Happy hosts with our sweaters from Montreal!


The Johnsons


The Taylor Family


The Quinns


The Abelmanns


The Steeds


The Larsons


The Curtis Family


The Pattersons


The Seelys



....and our winners for best sweaters....Abe and Clarissa Thomas with their beautiful homemade "Teddy Bear" and "Poinsettia" sweaters.

We can't wait for next year, and are already searching for bigger and better sweaters!

Happy Holidays from The Skinners!!!

giving thanks...

I love the Thanksgiving holiday, not only for the food, but also for the time to be with family and friends in gratitude for the blessings of life. At this time I am so grateful for Michelle, for her love and support, for her kindness and passion, and for her dreams and aspirations. I am grateful to be living in a city as beautiful and as diverse as San Francisco. I am grateful for satisfying jobs that allow us to live comfortably, to give back to those who are less fortunate, and to travel. I am grateful for good health and strength. I am grateful for faith and hope that provide comfort and direction. We have so much to be grateful for, and I recognize how blessed we are!

This year we hosted our very first Thanksgiving....we were happy to have Michelle's parents with us to make sure we didn't mess anything up. We bought new dinnerware, linens, and place settings. We cooked all of our favorites. The day was perfect (except the 49er's lost)!



The spread...Cornish hen, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, croissants, and sparkling beverages.



Sugar pie with my name written all over it.


Setting the mood for dessert.


Friday evening we joined thousands of San Franciscans in the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Luckily this year, the weather was perfect! We later decorated our smaller, just as breathtaking, Christmas tree.


Before

After

Michelle & Me

Greg & Jan


Before

After

I look forward to the next month of activities and celebrations (drinking warm beverages while watching Home Alone or Love Actually or Christmas Vacation, listening to Christmas music, throwing our annual Ugly Sweater Party, and of course, celebrating the birth and life of Christ.

La Belle Provence

The long awaited trip to Canada with friends Martha and Brandon brought laughs, fall leaves, eating, cold weather, missionary memories, sleeping in, runny noses, and lots of Christmas cheer.

Before meeting up with M&B, we spent a few days in Ottawa (Canada's capital city)...








We escaped the gray of San Francisco and enjoyed the fall colors of Northeast Canada.





ByWard Market had a large array of fresh produce and knick-knacks. The best find was this BeaverTails stand...we partook of these "smashed churros" daily.

After our weekend in Ottawa, we caught the train and headed to Quebec City...


The beautiful train station foreshadowed the great stay we were going to have in this old city.







Vieux-Quebec (the old city) has so much charm and European flair.

After two days on our own, M&B arrived to join in on the fun!



Michelle and Martha enjoying the scenery.






Our Christmas spirit was stoked thanks to the fact that Canada had already had its Thanksgiving Day celebrations in October...the city was in an all-out Christmas mode.




The lobby of our hotel.


Our new Christmas stockings.

After our adventure in Quebec City, we hopped in the car and road tripped to Montreal where Brandon would be studying...



The views from on top of Mount Royal.






An enjoyable afternoon at St. Joseph's Oratory...the dome is the third largest dome in the world.



Loving the cobblestone streets in Vieux-Port (old Montreal).


After an unsuccessful day of shopping (probably why Michelle and Martha are frowning, but Brandon in smiling), we rested at the metro stop before heading home.

A la prochaine!