...and then we were four: 2008

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Alter Egos

1. My rock star name: *Food Versa*
{First pet and current car}

2. My gangsta name: *Reeses Milano*
{Favorite candy bar and favorite cookie}

3. My detective name: *Pink Puppy*
{Favorite color and favorite animal}

4. My Star Wars name: *Skaki of none*
{First three letters of last name and first two letters of first name then the word "of" then a medication you are on}

5. My superhero name: *The Gold Acai*
{2nd favorite color and favorite drink with "The" in front}

6. My Nascar name: *Barbara Irene*
{First names of your grandmothers}

7. My "lover" name: *The One Truffles*
{Name of your favorite perfume/cologne and your favorite candy}

8. Witness-protection name: *Gigi J*
{Mother's and father's middle names}

This is fun...everyone should do it!

Past & Present

Last week we went out Sunday Brunch with Brendan, Jack, Scott, Joanne & Rachael & the three of us. It was fun for about 10 minues. We were all talking and visiting. Steve and I actually got a picture with just the two of us for the first time in a long time. So I had to post it. When I printed this picture to scrapbook it, i came across a picture from when we were young and had to put it up to. It was so cool to be able to compare pics from the span of a decade. From young teens with a crush to happily married parents. I thought it was neat.

Anyways, Griffin decided to bring his attitude with him to brunch...as you can see from the picture. He threw the biggest fit. It was so embarassing, so I got my food to go and took him home...he fell asleep on the way home and I put him down for a nap and actually finished my book before everyone came back to our place!!! So all is well that ends well.

Halloween

Happy Haloween!

This was Griffin's secong halloween and it was a blast! We went to Cornbellies and did the haunted hay ride & corn maze and eat really yummy fried food. Griff was a lion for halloween and we almost has him saying roar...and by almost I mean not really. Every time I would ask to to "ROOOAAAARRR" he would say "quack"...I should not have laughed so hard the first time he did it becuse he did everytime after that and laughed and got that mischievious look on his face. It was cute!
Here is my happy lion cub, in his favorite place...his car seat. He finally got some teeth!! I was wondering hen they would make their apperence. He did not get his first tooth until he was 11 mos old and the other 5 took their time. More comming I am guessing, from the super fun tantrums we have had over the last week!

At Corn bellies they have little wagons shaped like ears of corn. He thought it was really fun to his daddy to pull him around, but it made Steve nervouose to pull it behind him where he could not see his "little buddy". He is so funny. That is why is decided to push the wagon and watch Griff the entire time.

They had tire swings that were all shaped like different things. We decided to ride on the motorcycle one. Lunch Box was not as excited as I thought he would be but I think he liked it for a second. He is much happier if he is running around...but mommy liked it!

Later that night we had our Army friend & all of their kids over. (we are the only couple in our group of friends that is not in the army.) We played games and passed out candy. Scott & Joanne came by for a while to, followed by Brendan & Jack. So we had a full house. Mom could not be there because she was off to Colorado volenteering for McCain & Palin. All in all it was a fun halloween! Holidays are so much more fun when you have kids! Now I am getting excited for Thanksgiving in Shelley!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Skarda Family reunion

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. "

~Joyce Brothers

Justin, Jessica, Jill, Danael, baby Colton, Austin, Steve, baby Griffin, Lauren, Dad, Skyler, Tara, Jason & Baby Ashlyn

In September the Skarda/Rickards/Mellow family had a reunion. Although, we had so much together at Asilomar on the CA coast, the reunion was bitter sweet for us all. Not only was Sam away on his mission, but this was the first time we have all been together without Ronna. As cleche as it sounds, I could feel her with us all weekend. I saw the family threw her eyes and imagined how happy she must be to see her children, grand children, sister, nieces, husband and little boy all together and happily enjoying eachother for 2 wonderful days. I missed her hugs, her smile and seeing her in her pearls, not to mention watching her as a mother. I don't think I have ever seen anyone more gentle, patient, graceful & loving then she was with Skyler. Watching him play, I found myself remembering when she was pregnant with him and when he was born. Life is so confussing sometimes, but full of lessons. Thru the memory of Ronna I found myself slowing down and enjoying every little detail of life. Motherhood is so beautiful and such a gift, I don't want to take one minute of it for granted.

Dad & Ronna had visited Asilomar before and she had commented on how much she loved to go there. It was wonderful to be at a place that she loved with all of the people that she loved.

On this side of the family, I am blessed to have 4 beautiful sister in laws, 4 wonderful brother in laws, 2 darling nephews & 3 gorgous nieces.

The older kids had so much fun playing in the waves, even thou it was freezing cold! They played together on the beach for a few hours! It is so neat how babies, kids & adults all love the sea & can enjoying it together and no one gets board!

While the older kids played chicken on the beach with the waves, the babies were having just as much fun playing together. Tara, Danale & I were all pregant at the same time and the babies are all within a few months of eachother. It is going to be so much fun to watch them grow together. Griffin & Ashlyn (who's nick name is Bunny just like me, so cute!)

Cousins Griffin & Colton

While we were at the beach, a seal came on to the shore. He was so cute and patient. He stayed the entire time and let us take pictures of him and tollorated all of the kids curiosity and excitment.

Here is Steve, Lunch Box & I near the seal. we did not want to get to close and scare it away.

Here are my boys watching the waves together. Steve LOVES the ocean and has talked about taking Griffin to see it since the day Griffin was born.

Me & my darling son taking a walk on the beach.

It was a wonderful vacation and I am so glad that we were all able to be there together & with Ronna in spirit. We all decided that we are going to do this 1-2 times a year, so the three of us are super excited about getting together again ASAP!!!

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Family Pictures March 2008

Below are a few of our family photos from March 2008. We had so much fun...until our toes were numb since it was freezing cold!!!!

Lets start at the very begining...

It all started on May 2nd 1997 at 7th grade back to school night. Steve and I met at the ripe old age of 14. We have not left each other alone since. We dated other people but kept falling for each other over and over again. We are best friends, solemates and I love him more everyday that I live.

Steve proposed to me on Christmas Morning 2002 with all of his family there. It was (at that time) the happiest day of my life. We were married at the Granite Bay Golf Club on August 15, 2004.

We lived in San Ramon for the first 2 years of our marriage and in El Dorado Hills briefly, before moving to Draper, UT 3 years ago. We love it here and plan to stay forever!

I worked as a event coordinator & PA (as Republican politics are a passion of mine) for Weatherby Foundation International, for the last 3 years. Because of the types of events that I coordinated I had the chance to meet a lot of influential people including Generals, Past Presidents (from near and far), Vice-Presidents, Kings and diplomats from almost every continent and a huge variety of CEOs and owners of this countries finest companiesand non-profit organizations.

Once we decided to start our family, I left my job and became the Domestic Goddess I was always meant to be. I plan to volenteer for WFI each year at the Foundation's major fund raiser every January, and stay active in raising money for a variety of conservative platforms. I just don't want to HAVE to do it. But now that I stay home I should have enough time to donate some of it.

We FINALLY got pregnant in November 2006 after trying for 10 months. It does not seem like very long but when you want to be pregnant it seems like an eternity.

Day before I went into labor.

Griffin Thomas Skarda was born on August 30th, 2007. 15 days after our 4 year Anniversary.

He was 8 lbs and 21 inches long! How I ever carried a baby that size, is still a wonder to me. He is named Griffin, as that is my Maiden Name and Thomas is a middle name that he shares with his father and Paternal Grandfather.

I was in active labor with him for 52 hours most of which I did without an epidural (hoping for a natural delivery. But after a full day of contractions, I gave in. THANK HEAVENS) and ended up needing a c-section to top it off.
He had a hard time for the first few days, but came through with flyingcolors after being given a 40% chance of living. Because I was in labor for so long after my water broke, there was no barrier between the baby and the outside word. I had so many differnt people checking me & that coupled with the length of time we were open & exposed to whatever happend by we both got an infection. I spiked a 104 feever all of a sudden and eventually the baby got it too. When he was first born he had PERFECT apgar scores. He was very healthy and very big. It was not until he was admitted to the egular nursury thatone nurse noticed him start to breath funny and took his temp. They immidiatly moved him to the NiCU and came in and told us that he was VERy ill. It was so scarey and so emotional. Because I got the infection too & lost 1/3 of my blood, I was out of for the first few day and Steve had to deal with me & Griffin skating on this ice. I have never seen him so upset in the 11 years that I have known him. Ever since then he has held me a little bit tighter and never taken one minute with his son for granted. Bringing Griffin home was the best feeling in the world. I was discharged before him. We had to go home and leave our newborn son in NICU and not know if he would ever get to come home. But he did. For the first week we had to have a home nurse and Griffin had an IV in his head and it was so sad. But once he got his strength back he has not had a problem since and his as healthy and happy as he should have always been. Needless to say, I will be using a different Dr. next time. Who does not let their patients labor for 52 hours. Had I just had the c-section to begin with nin of that would have happend.

My husband Steve has an amazing job drilling for Oil, for the Company Shell Oil, that enables me to be a full time wife and mother and I could not imagine doing it any other way. I am so grateful that I get to spend all of my time with my son. I love staying home and have no plans to return work....EVER!!!!! Instead, I aspire to be a PTA/football/baseball/ going, husband spoiling wife & mom for the rest of my life. Which is exactly what I have always wanted.

Griffin just celebrated his 1st Birthday. We had a magician come and do a magic show in our backyard. They also did face-painting and lots of games. It was so much fun. Griffin and all of his friends had a blast!

Griffin looking very stylish in his Ed Hardy!!!

We are hoping to become pregnant VERY soon. Going on 11 months of trying...once again. In the mean time just enjoying our happily ever after. and counting the many many blessings.

Below are some photos from the last year... I will try to keep up on this blog and not have a year worth of photos to upload!

12 months old!