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!

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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