Where has the time gone?

I know that I have slacked writing in this blog and I am going to catch up to speed. Chris and I both work full time to pay the bills. It is hard to live paycheck to paycheck so me working full time gives us the opportunity to be ahead and and see the future in a positive way. We are so blessed to have my parents and Ginger helping us out with the kiddos. We know that they are getting the attention that they need. Chris is really liking the Dept. of Corrections! Emma is a beautiful 5 year old and loves full day school. She is so intelligent and because of all the physical activity in school she has actually lost weight. Hayley is at home with me and Jack and is the little mommy in the house. And last but not least my Jack Jack! He is the best baby. Not really a baby anymore, he turns 1 in Jan....boohoo! He is a great sleeper and eater. And he is oh so handsome!
That's all for now but will keep in touch!

Halloween

I know its been forever! I have been super busy with working full time and Chris as well! I am one of the managers at Souper Salad still and Chris is working at the prison in Florence. He likes it and has great health insurance! Here are some pics from Halloween!

Chris' Graduation!

Oct. 9th Chris graduated from the Dept. of Corrections! YEAH! He was honored with a badge,certificate in shooting, and the top 3 in the best test scores! My mom,Hayley,Jack and I( Emma was in school) all went to Tucson to see him get these awards! We are so proud of him and am very happy to have him home! I love you babe!

Emma and Hayley

I was looking for the camera this morning. I asked Emma if she had seen it.She said " Why are you looking for it?" I said so I could take a picture of you looking pretty. Then she said "Mom I could look in the mirror, because I look pretty everyday!" Oh boy she is only 5 years old! I took this picture of the girls because they wanted to wake up with their hair all crimpy...It only took about a half hour each girl. And of course they had to wear the same pj's. I think I will purchase a crimping iron next time!

Jackson

My little baby boy is almost 9months old! He is such a good baby. I love him so much! He just learned how to crawl and from the belly he can sit up all on his own. He has such a great personality....good lookin too! Here is one of the pictures I took of him sitting up all on his own.He also has two bottom teeth and two coming in on the top!


He is talking to me "oohhh, oohhh"!

Cherish

I haven't written anything in a while so I thought it was time. Believe it or not my sweetie is almost done in Tucson! I am so excited to have him back home. The weekends fly so fast and the weeks just drag on. I know that this is all happening to teach us a lesson. To appreciate each other and to spend what little time we have here on earth with the ones we love. I have missed our late night talks in each others arms but am so grateful for the phone conversations we have every night. I have grown these last 6 weeks. I find I am less judgmental of others. Nobody is perfect and I unfortunately have found this out at the ripe age of 27. I have always looked at others with different lives and beliefs than my own and felt sorry for them! I was so wrong. I hope one day I can ask forgiveness of those I have unrightfully judged. This may seem like a big mess of a blog but it has been good therapy for me. And to all who read this...hug,kiss,cherish, and tell the people in your lives that you love them, for them!

Chris and Mom

I love this picture of Chris and his Mom. I was going to through some pictures and found this one. He misses her so much and I know he will be pleased to see this picture!

I think I can!

With Chris going on his second week at the Academy I think I have done a pretty good job! I always looked at moms who had to do the "parenting thing" on their own and felt sorry for them. I could never understand how they did it on their own. Now I know...YOU JUST DO IT! I miss Chris like crazy but I also know that this is temporary. This is the start of a whole new chapter for us. I am so proud of Chris. He has scored the highest points in test scores so far and has lost a few lbs!(10lbs) I know the Lord is there for me. I have prayed many times for peace and assurance that this is the right path. So far my answers have been good. Wish us luck!

Can I do it?

Last week we received a call from the Dept. of Corrections offering Chris a job. I was so happy at first then it sank in! I am going to be alone without him Mon-Fri until Oct.9th! Oh my goodness...Am I strong enough? Chris is such a great daddy and a huge help. He does things I simply can't. I know this will totally be worth it once he has completed this training but until then...I hope I don't fail! Praying about it has eased my thoughts some what. I know the Lord will provide strength in areas I thought I never even had. Anyways wish me luck and keep us in your prayers:)

How Many Teeth Do I Have Now?

Emma is getting so big. Not only is she in full day school, but she starting the Tooth Fairy days! She has 2 teeth gone so far and she loves it...She loves to drink thru the hole! I took this picture, sorry for the blood
!

To My Wife

This note is well over due. However I do need to publicly proclaim my love to you, Amber and openly admit that I am forever indebted to you! We're coming up on 7 years of marriage, and after all we've been through (enough for 50 years!), you still haven't given up on me!

The greatest day of my life was the day we were sealed. And at that time, I hoped we'd never change. Oh, how I'm grateful that wish didn't come true because every day has brought me new joy, new insights and even though I never thought this possible... deeper love and admiration for you. And although we think we know all there is to know about each other, I look forward to growing old with you!

I used to be embarrased when you would catch me staring at you. I don't care anymore as you well know. You present yourself as a lamb, but you are stronger than anyone I've known. Your strength is fueled by an undaunted faith and conviction that I've only seen once before. You have a beauty beyond description, a touch as soft as silk. And yet you can be as brazen as a mother bear protecting her cub and as strong as steel! What a combination! You are what I picture the angels of Heaven to be. I know I'm bragging here, but it is well founded.

Looking back, I didn't fully expect what happened next when I asked you out many years ago. Before I knew it, I was giving you a piggy back ride into Basha's! It seems just like yesterday.

And now today, although we've done and been through a lot, we are about to open a new door. And where that leads us will be an adventure. I don't know if it will be smooth sailing or a hurricane. But I do know that I love you more than anything and everything I do is, well, really for me... for me to see you smile! I hope to have that faith in me that I have in you! You really can do anything. Just remember that I will always love you.

-Me

Emma's First Day of School

Monday August 10,2009....the start of Emmas school days! I have been kinda grumpy the whole weekend. You can ask everyone around they'll tell you! Its so hard for my to grasp that my Emma will not be here all day with me. I can't be there when someone is mean to her and need to wipe away tears. I can't be there to help her tie her shoes. I can't be there when she learns SO much!! I love her so much and am so proud of her. I also know that this time will be wonderful for her to be more independent. Here are some pictures with her at her bus stop...boo hoo hoo...I feel old!

Our Family

I decided one day that it was time to take family pics. So Chris found this lady on Craigslist who needed a couple families willing to pose in front of her camera and take some pics! She needed them for her enterence letter into NAU. She did all of this for FREE!! She took over 277 pictures! She was awesome and we had a great time doing them! I love these so much and am so grateful for her and her service. Thanks Stacey!

Fathers Day

I thought I would express some of my feelings on some of the men in my life. First there is my Dad. The man I can and have always gone to for council and unconditional love. I live him so much and am so proud of the man he is and has become. He is the light of our family. I love you dad!!
And to my wonderful Chris. He is such a wonderful father and husband. He loves his children so much and shows them that love daily. He is strong in the gospel and a great example to all. Besides handsome and funny he is smart and very loving! Most of all he is my BEST FRIEND!
So Happy Fathers day boys! You are loved more than you will ever know~

My Family is Growing!

It seems the days go by so fast these days! My Emma turns 5 in a month and starts all day school in 2 months!! While I am excited I am also very nervous and sad! I love having my little helper with the other kids. Hayley turned 3 in April and Jackson is a 16lb 5 month old. We still love living with my parents but hope to find a place of our own real soon. We have thoroughly enjoyed living with them but know that we can't stay here forever....even though my kids would love that!


These are picures taken outside of my parents house

Hayleys love

Hayley has such a gentle touch. She loves her Jack Jack!! She always has a way of getting him to smile. I love my kids so much. They make me crazy, but I love them!!

Blessing Day

This was such a great day. We are so grateful to have such a supportive family. This was a beautiful moment in our lives!

Catch up time!

Well where do I begin....First of all Chris found a job! He is working at State Farm Insurance and seems to like it so far. So that means I only work when I want to. I love that!! I get to stay home with my kiddos! They are getting SO BIG! I don't have my cord to download pictures but I do have the most recent of Jack saved on my computer. He is a wonderful baby and a blessing to our family!!

Goodbye Home :(

Well we did it...moved back into my parents home! All 5 of us! I am so sad to see my beautiful home gone. I think this is the first time I actually LOVED my home. I loved everything from my countertops to my floors. But most of all..the memories! My family has had so many great times there. We had created a beautiful, warm, loving enviroment. Which thank to my parents will be carried on to their home. I guess its just the thought of saying goodbye! I am just sad!! Chris and I are ready to see the rainbow already. We have been through so much over the last 2 1/2 years. We need a break. I am currently working for Souper Salad AGAIN!! I work 5-6 days a week mostly 2-10pm. Chris was layed off as of 2 weeks ago so I am working. I do love to work but it is really hard playing mommy,wife and money maker. I feel for every man out there, it is really hard taking on this role. But the one thing that Chris and I know is that if we continue to have faith everything will be fine. I am at piece when I listen to the spirit of God. I know that I am sad now, but that still small voice keeps on tell me that we are going through this for a reason (I wish I knew) and it will end soon. Only through our faith. I guess the reason why I am writing this is to reassure myself that everything will be fine. I know it will!!

Memories

Memories.....this may look like Jackson dressed up like a girl, but it is actually Hayley when she was a baby!! How crazy is that? I actually love it that all three of my kids look some what the same when they are little!!

Pre-Valentines Day Date

Chris decided to take the girls out to lunch the day before Valentines Day. I got them all dressed up and he took them to Applebee's. They loved the date with daddy!! I enjoyed staying home with Jackson. He loves to give kisses...I actually love it more!!

And there were 3!

Emma and Hayley are in love with their brother. I never knew how helpful and loving they would be towards him. We have three mommys in the house now!! Poor little Jackson!

Jackson Alan Skabelund

On Friday Jan 16th around 3:30pm I was starting to feel labor pains. So I called Chris home and he and I went to the hospital. I honestly thought they would send me home because to me it all was happening so fast. I wasn't due until Jan 31st. So I was waiting to be admitted and they checked me and said that Jackson was breech. But after an ultrsound they said he wasn't, it was his hand that they were feeling not his feet. BIG RELIEF!! Anyways after a very long night in the hospital the doctor came in around 9am and broke my water. But by then the epideral that was put in me the day before started to wear off! I felt everything for the last 3 hours in labor. My doctor came in at 12:05pm and I gave birth to little Jackson at 12:10pm on Saturday January 17th. He is such a blessing and the girls just love him. He sleeps mostly through the night and hardly ever cries! We are a family of 5 NOW! EESH!!

Hats!!

I am so excited that 2009 is here! I know that it is going to be a good year for everyone! We only have 30 days left until Jackson is here and boy am I tired! I think it has a lot to do with it being my third and having Emma who is 4 going on 16 and Hayley who is 2 1/2 who wants to still be my baby. Oh, what fun!

We have to make hats for my parents Christmas Eve party and here is Hayleys....

Emmas that was made from a cereal box..I never said I was creative!!

Christmas '08

Its that time again! I think this the only time that I agree to take pictures of myself! I am 34 weeks pregnant with our baby Jackson too! Oh well, memories right? I love to look back and see how big my girls have gotten. They are the most beautiful little girls. We are so blessed!